A new study of the contribution of the periodontal microbe, P. gingivalis, to inflammation of heart tissue is just one more step to justifying closer integration of dental services with medical services. The study reports certain byproducts of P. gingivalis regulate the inflammatory cascade which gives rise to atherosclerosis. Good science for sure, but what … Read more
YouTube has emerged as a clear winner by far among various social networks, particularly when it comes to driving targeted traffic to your website and helping consumers make buying decisions. If you have any new dental product, technology or procedure to introduce to your audiences, YouTube videos may be the most effective way to … Read more
A new study reports that nearly half of falls by older folks are caused by an infection. Falls are one of the leading cause of death for those over 75 years of age, due to complications arising from a fracture. So what kind of infections are involved? 44% were urinary tract infections, 39% were bloodstream … Read more
Could it happen in your practice? A common topic for our speakers is what dentists misunderstand about embezzlement. Here is our list: MYTH #1 — Embezzlers only steal cash, and it is difficult for thieves to monetize other forms of payment. FACT — It is simple for a thief to turn a check, credit card … Read more
The only constant in life and in business is change. Changes are happening in the dental marketplace with offices opening almost on every corner. Large corporations are buying existing practices and building new practices in many locations. The dental marketplace is very competitive which is creating a secondary problem of a shortage of staff. It … Read more
“People today are about 10 percent heavier than people were in the 1980s, even if they follow the exact same diet and exercise plans.” This was a disturbing conclusion of a recent study of American adults, which has also been reported in The Atlantic. What might be the reasons? First, people are exposed to more … Read more
Two reports crossed my desk recently, which raised some possible serious concerns about how we go about delivering dental care. First, a report suggests that anaesthetics are linked to permanent tooth failure in younger patients. The study authors concluded that it is possible for local anesthetics to inhibit pulp cell growth for still-developing permanent teeth. … Read more
Rheumatoid diseases, a subset of arthritis, are associated with poor oral health. Studies show that if you have rheumatoid disease you likely have other chronic diseases, are older, and have dry mouth and far more dental decay. It’s a package. This association may be bidirectional. It has been reported that gum disease may contribute to … Read more
Surpassing the “been there, done that” dental visit … Numerous studies have shown that the way patients rate their level of satisfaction with services provided is largely based on the depth of emotional connection they have received. Patients rate connection and care as “very important” on the scale of what they expect. Visiting the dentist … Read more
More studies are showing that a small segment of the community needs medical care on an ongoing basis. This pattern is called persistent care and it seems to be associated to those with more than one chronic condition. It may well apply to the chronic diseases in the mouth too. Our surveys report that 1 in … Read more
A research conducted by the Content Marketing Institute (CMI) in 2013 revealed that webinars are the third most effective online marketing tool. Webinars can deliver real-time content and engage the interest of the audience in an interactive manner. They are live and interactive, which makes them superior to videos in some ways. Making Online Events … Read more
As the population ages and science marches on, we are seeing significant connections between chronic diseases. One big one is diabetes and dental decay — diabetes increases the risk of having oral health problems two-fold. And another is chronic inflammatory bowel disease and dental decay. A new study which tracked Swedish adults for several years … Read more
Turning inquiries into appointments.. Dental administration team members are truly the “Directors of the First Impression” for new patients, and they have approximately 17 seconds to “make it or break it.” Many new patient phone calls start with the patient asking: “Do you take my insurance?” While your first instinct is to provide an immediate … Read more
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act ( AODA) is a law in Ontario that allows the government to develop specific standards of accessibility and to enforce them. Recognizing the history of discrimination against persons with disabilities in Ontario, the purpose of this act is to benefit all Ontarians by: 1. Developing, implementing and enforcing … Read more
The number one reason patients do not accept treatment plans is lack of perceived value; how the dental treatment plan or recommendations will relate to them or their individual health goals. The lack of value is often expressed by patients with the most repetitive question asked in a dental day: “Does my insurance cover it?” … Read more
Dental plaque (the biofilm) is remarkably stable in its composition of microbes despite mechanical abrasion (tooth cleaning and flossing) and dental cleanings by the hygiene team. But once it becomes unstable (a process called dysbiosis), dental disease (dental decay or gum disease) can commence. And dysbiosis is also remarkably resistant to brushing and flossing and … Read more
A new, 3-year prospective Japanese study involving over 2500 university students (mean age of 18 years at baseline) examined various risk factors for the emergence of high blood pressure (hypertension). The study found that amongst a group of students who had elevated (or prehypertensive) blood pressure at baseline, 3 factors which led to high blood … Read more
Search ranking algorithms of leading search engines such as Google and Bing have become highly sophisticated in recent years. It is no longer a wise move to indulge in negative SEO tactics in the hope of pushing up search rankings for your website by manipulating the search algorithms. Such a move is most likely to … Read more