Medical dictionary

What are dentures? Dentures (also known as dental prostheses or false teeth) are prosthetic devices designed to replace missing teeth. They consist of artificial teeth, usually made of acrylic, nylon, metal or porcelain. There are two types of dentures: Removable dentures – conventional false teeth can be removed at night or for cleaning. They provide protection to the remaining t

What is depression?Depression is a mental illness characterised mainly by a prolonged and severe feeling of sadness. This feeling is associated with other symptoms and alterations of thought and behaviour. Depression can affect people of all ages; either to adults, teenagers or even children. It can vary in severity and can last a lifetime, or be temporary. As such, there are different types of de

What is De Quervain syndrome? De Quervain syndrome is an inflammation of the tendon sheath (a membrane encasing the joints in the human body) of the tendons that control thumb. This condition causes your thumb to thicken and the tendon sheath to shrink, limiting your articular motion and leading to overall pain in your hand and wrist. What is the prognosis of De Quervain syndrome? The

What are dermal fillers? Dermal fillers are one of the most popular treatments used in cosmetic surgery in this day and age, due to the pleasing results they offer without the need to undergo a surgical intervention. The results are achieved by non-invasive techniques, with no risks or secondary effects. The fillers are used to eliminate wrinkles and deep facial folds, volume replenishme

What is dermatomyositis?   Dermatomyositis (DM) is a disease that is characterised by chronic inflammation of the muscles and the presence of rashes on the skin. People of any age can be affected by DM and the condition affects about twice as many women as men. There are different types of the condition such as paraneoplastic dermatomyositis, which is associated with cancer, an

What is dermatopathology?   Dermatology is the medical specialty that deals with the study, prevention and treatment of the skin and its diseases, as well as dermocosmetic techniques to maintain healthy skin.   Among the areas of study of dermatology is dermatopathology, an area focused on skin exams at the microscopic level. That is, it is based on biopsies to stud

What is dermoscopy? Dermoscopy, which is also known as dermatoscopy, is a skin examination technique that uses a dermatoscope. A dermatoscope has a high quality magnifying lens which allows careful examination of the skin structure, and can be used to diagnose skin cancer and to map moles. A dermatoscope is a hand-held device that takes high-resolution photos. What does dermoscopy involv

What is developmental delay? Developmental delay is when your child doesn't reach expected developmental milestones at the times expected. It can be an ongoing major or minor delay in the process of development. If your child is temporarily lagging behind, this would not be developmental delay. Delay can occur in one or more areas—for example, language, social, fine motor or thinking

What is a DEXA scan? A dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, (or bone density scan) is a technique used to measure bone density. The scan is quick and painless and involves the patient lying on their back on an X-ray table. There is no tunnel to pass through as with an MRI or CT scan, so there is no feeling of claustrophobia.   What is the procedure for a DEXA scan? The