If you want to have a perfect smile, practice the rule of two, says Dr. Dorcus Priya Mare, Oral Surgeon at Clover Medical Centre in Dubai. “The rule of two is: Brush two times a day, and at least for two minutes,” Dr. Dorcus tells Expat Media. Oral health is integral to general health, which makes dental care important, Dr. Dorcus says. “Thankfully, there’s very good oral hygiene in this country. Almost everybody comes for their six-month checkup,” she says. Don’t visit a dentist only when an issue arises, she adds. “Make regular dental visits, and brush your teeth at least twice a day,” she reminds residents. A dental myth that Dr. Dorcus would like to debunk? “That scaling and polishing will make your teeth white. This is a myth. Dental scaling and polishing are done to remove plaque and tartar to keep your teeth clean and your gums healthy,” she says. Dr. Dorcus, who has a Masters in Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, came to Dubai 10 years ago to “spread wonderful smiles”. “It has always been my dream to be a dentist and my father always encouraged me,” she says. She is the only dentist in her family and is a member of the Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India. Her specialty revolves around oral surgical procedures like removal of wisdom teeth, frenectomies, abscess drainage, gingivectomy, apicectomies, cyst enucleations and gum contouring. Her current interests include minimal invasive dental surgery and the use of lasers in dentistry. She has developed excellent surgical skills, which is why patients call her the woman with “magic hands”. “They say they I have very gentle, magic hands. When patients appreciate my work, it really motivates me every single day,” Dr. Dorcus says. Dr. Dorcus says working with Clover Medical Centre lets her work her magic on people. “I also appreciate that we follow a no-wait policy. When the patient comes in, they are on the dental chair right away,” she says. She does her rounds among the four branches of Clover Medical Centre in Barsha Heights, Bur Dubai, Al Nahda and Mirdif. “I love my job and there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing,” she says.

Did you know?

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specialised dentists who treat a variety of conditions affecting the face, mouth, and jaw. After training in general dentistry, oral surgeons spend an extra four to eight years specializing in oral surgery. When a problem is beyond the scope of a general dentist’s expertise, oral surgeons step in. An oral surgeon’s job ranges from simple to complex dental work, including wisdom teeth extraction, reconstructive dental surgery and removal of tumours. ICA/Expat Media A condensed version of this story appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine
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