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
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
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
Move great ideas forward….. Ever have a great idea bubbling in your brain that you share with one or two colleagues throughout the day? An idea to minimize tasks, bring new patients to your practice or how to save on expenses? Sharing your idea with one or two people usually means that’s as far as … Read more
What are the top 10 tips? Tip #1: Act as a role model and inspire employees to identify what they are passionate about at work. Then provide them with some projects in their area of passion or interest. A happy employee is a motivated employee! Tip #2: Clearly define the organization’s vision, mission and strategy … Read more
A recent survey of American adults found that 1 in 4 did not purchase needed dental care last year, because they couldn’t afford this service. Dentistry was, amongst all healthcare services, the least affordable (see chart). And this was when the American dental waiting rooms have never been emptier, and dental incomes at their … Read more
American insurers are now using sophisticated computer algorithms to predict who, amongst their clients, will require early re-admission to hospital or who will have difficulties with their diabetes. For those who are predicted to get sick (again), the insurers offer additional services such as a health coach or more more home care. Our Canadian medical … Read more
Green Shield Canada, our fourth largest administrator of dental claims, has just published the list of the most commonly prescribed medications for Canadians between ages 50 and 70. These are listed below in terms of number of prescriptions. Note that 4 are for blood pressure and the most common drug is for mood disorders. Combining … Read more
Andre Picard, the Globe’s healthcare columnist, recently wrote an article on the aging population’s impact on overall Canadian healthcare. But what about the impact of the aging Boomers on the dental care system? Many of you will already know — the older the patient, the less likely they are regular attenders and the more likely … Read more
Have you been following what Tesla (Elon Musk) is doing to electricity markets with its new Powerwall battery for your garage? This new technology promises to disrupt the source, distribution and use of electrical power and give the household new options as both a consumer and a supplier of electricity. It redefines what we know … Read more
A new report on early childhood caries in the UK shows how serious this disease really is: •Tooth extraction, mainly under General Anaesthesia (GA), is the main reason for hospital admissions of 5–9 year old children in the UK •Repeat treatments are frequent (20%-25% of cases). So, the report interviewed 18 family dentists in the … Read more
A new study reports that gum disease is an independent risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at mid life. The study showed those adults between 40 and 60 years of age suffering from periodontal disease, had double the risk of AMD compared to healthy controls. This risk accounted for confounding factors such as hypertension, … Read more
I am always amazed when I visit the U of T dental school that the biggest room ever is dedicated to drilling and filling. Seemingly hundreds of chairs over which are bent hundreds of dental students practicing their techniques on folks who need low cost care. And I ask myself, is this where the profession … Read more
A new study found that Parkinson’s patients have up to 10 times more untreated decay than a healthy peer. And they live in the community on average for 15 years before being institutionalized. So, most every dental team has a few Parkinson’s patients, or at least, patients with preclinical symptoms to Parkinson’s. A recent study … Read more
For a week this past March we were fortunate enough to participate in an outreach mission to Honduras. The mission was lead by pediatrician Dr F. Gorodzinsky and pediatric dentist Dr. C. Friedman, and included pediatric residents, registered nurses and pediatric dentists; this was the first of fifteen years that dental students participated. This has … Read more
Attached are 2 photos of our recent annual trip in January 2015 to Quesada, Guatemala. This is part of an official Canadian charity (12+ yrs going) called Health Outreach (founded by Dr. Tim Lee, Mississauga), where the volunteers (dentists and support personnel), provide free dental work to needy children. In our 6 days of work, … Read more
Oral Health Group had the opportunity to participate in the US Pavilion at IDS 2015 which took place in Cologne, Germany. Be sure to look out for the next IDS – the 37th International Dental Show – is scheduled to take place from 21 to 25 March 2017.
American companies are getting tough on disease. Increasingly, they incent their employees to participate in wellness programs by connecting healthy behavior to lower cost healthcare insurance. In some cases, poor health behavior leads to increased premiums. They are following the lead of some German insurers who limit dental coverage for those who skip their hygiene … Read more