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Betel nut still a cause of tooth disease
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Posted on Aug 03 2005
Betel nut chewing causes tooth disease, according to the new owner of local dental clinic Toothworks, during yesterday’s regular monthly meeting of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce held at the Azucena Room, Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach.
Dr. Alan Stuart Markoff was given a brief privilege speech yesterday and announced his take over of Toothworks last December 2004.
He said chewing Betel Nut has been the cause of a lot of dental problems in the CNMI. He told fellow members that he might be stepping on their feet by saying this, but he said he is very alarmed about the consequences of the habit of chewing betel nut.
Markoff said chewing the betel nut for a long time has been a great contributor to dental diseases. He said he was surprised to diagnose the condition of the teeth of his patients. He found out that the set of teeth of young people ages 20 and below would have a set of teeth of a 90-year-old.
He also said prolonged chewing of the plant also caused discoloration of the tongue of the patients and the skin inside their cheeks. He added that the habit also could affect the bones in the mouth area. “Ideally, the people should stop the chewing,” he said.
Markoff, a dental practitioner since 1961, said he appeals to the local government to help bring this awareness forward to the local community. He said the more it takes longer the habit is practiced the more the local community will be prone to dental diseases.
Markoff said he took over the dental clinic Toothworks last Dec. 16, 2004 and found out that the former resident dentist there was not licensed and authorized to perform practice.
