When P&G heard about the plight of a white lion called Aslan, who had suffered such a fate, they decided to take action. With the help of Kevin Richardson, an animal behaviourist who lives on a lion sanctuary with Aslan in South Africa, they’ve produced a short film detailing Aslan’s story and the amazing rehabilitation that took place with the help of Gerhard Steenkamp, a dentist with expertise in operating on big cats.
Aslan lost his canines when he was just nine years old – right in his prime. It was only two teeth, but it had a huge effect on his life. He couldn’t defend himself anymore, or command his share of food. He became antisocial and began isolating himself from his pride. It is hoped that through producing this film viewers will reflect on the challenges of tooth loss and the impact that it has on the individual’s quality of life, whether animal or human! Almost a third of all Europeans who do not have all their natural teeth wear a removable denture. In the UK alone, an aging population has seen the number of denture wearers rise to 9.7m.
While Aslan couldn’t be given dentures or implants, his suffering could be eased. His surgery involved performing root canals on three of his teeth, and the extraction of a fourth tooth. It was interesting to see how his oral health issues affected his physical and emotional wellbeing; it mirrored the feelings that people with tooth loss often experience. Teeth may be functional in purpose, but any changes impacting them are likely to affect our emotional life too. Whether it’s the ability to enjoy our favourite foods, the confidence to speak publicly, or the freedom to laugh out loud with friends and family, the quality of our teeth can determine the quality of our lives.
The film shows Aslan’s emotional and physical journey – from a lion who is depressed without his two canines, to a lion who is once again the king of his pride thanks to the operation that Fixodent sponsored. Although this is the first feline that Fixodent has helped, the brand is focused on helping adults who’ve lost teeth. By giving people the strong hold they need for their dentures, you give them back more than just their bite; their confidence and self-esteem can also be restored.
To view Fixodent’s Aslan film, search #SavingAslan or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BRwxQ7tq5c&feature=youtu.be Practices wanting free Fixodent patient samples should visit www.dentalcare.com