The shingles vaccine provides a good model for a new kind of dental care which is emerging to better serve an older, more knowledgeable and sicker population. The shingles vaccine is indicated for those at high risk of this acute infection — those over 60 years of age (older folks have difficulty generating immune cells … Read more
Recently, I received a petition by nurses and hygienists which argued for OHIP payment for hygiene services. It seems the petition was started by nurses who were frustrated with the growing demands of ER patients experiencing dental problems. So, what are the chances that OHIP or any medical system will pay for regular hygiene care? … Read more
A recent news story in the US concerning over-treatment in dental care coined the term “creative diagnosis”. The story attributed this phenomenon to the emergence of corporate dental chains and the availability of dental insurance. It recommended the patient take a consumer approach of asking the dentist and hygienist “why”, “how”, and “show me”. So … Read more
Such is the future of the British population and that in Canada too. The UK prognosticators now say: Newly retired men in the UK can expect to live more than two years longer than those who finished work a decade earlier. But they also face almost an extra year of ill health. Women currently aged … Read more
Acid reflux (GERD) occurs in as many as 4 in 10 adults. At that prevalence, it is one of the most common chronic or episodic diseases. A new Korean study reports that acid reflux is a significant, independent risk factor for chronic gum disease. A patient with acid reflux is almost 3 times more likely … Read more
Fluoridation – the addition of fluoride to municipal water supplies to prevent dental caries – is one of great public health achievements of the 20th century. Fluoridation is also the inspiration for all manner of conspiracy theories, such as it being a mind control drug developed by the Nazis, and a scheme by aluminum companies … Read more
This intriguing statement recently appeared on the PBS newsletter for older Americans called Next Avenue. (I recommend you subscribe to Next Avenue to better understand your aging community — it is free.) The article reported there are two different groups of Boomers. The Oldsters (those born between 1946 and 1954) and the Youngsters (born between … Read more
It is not unusual for dentist Dr. Gary Glassman (www.rootcanals.ca/www.drgaryglassman.com) to speak at the Society of Aesthetic Dentistry in Romania, or run a course called Train the Trainer in Prague. He is also involved as a professor in the new dental school in Kingston, Jamaica. The world-renowned oral health expert is founder of the Goodwill … Read more
I recently visited a great dental practice which is symptomatic of where much of Canadian dentistry is headed: most of the patients were over 60 many had root caries all, reportedly, had dental insurance even into retirement. both dentists were part-time, and my guess, so too were the hygienists. We talked about what patients prefer … Read more
The saying goes “anything catching on in California, comes to Canada sooner or later”. That is just one reason we should pay attention to the Great American Wellness Experiment, most recently described by the Wall Street Journal. Let me summarize some of its key developments, because there are some real lessons and implications for Canadian … Read more
Please join us as we kick off AIDSbeat this year. We will be opening the night at 8pm. Here are a couple of videos from last year: SoSumi – Foo Fighters (Cover) SoSumi (Pearl Jam Cover) Click below for tickets and don’t forget to check off that you are supporting “SoSumi”. For more information, please … Read more
Have you been watching how American drugstore chains like CVS and Walgreens are redefining themselves? They all want to be part of a healthcare network first rather than a convenient general store dispensing prescription medications. In Walgreens’ case, it is now offering to diagnose and treat chronic conditions. Diabetics are responding – they visit their … Read more
This is the most common comment I get on social media, and it is the focus of a new report on improving the affordability of care to large/growing segments of Canadian society. This report argued rather weakly that more public funds were needed to enable more (uninsured) folks to visit the dentist. I don’t think … Read more
The Gum Guardians believe dental professionals can be perceived as “healers” rather than “cleaners” by using 9 questions to guide their patient discussions. By initiating conversations with patients during dental visits that reinforce their role as gatekeepers for their patients’ health, dental professionals can be recognized, not as tedious teeth cleaners, but as valued healers. … Read more
Dentist puts the squeeze on toothpaste hype New York, NY – When you go to your local drugstore, there is a dizzying array of options to choose from when it comes to selecting the right toothpaste. Whether it’s Crest, Colgate or one of the new, dentist-designed toothpastes, such as BriteSmile or GoSmile, the myriad of … Read more
A wonderful series of pictures of dental plaque has been published in the UK’s Daily Telegraph. Two pictures are excerpted below. They show the infectious nature of dental disease. Both caries and periodontal disease are biological in origin and in progression. That is why we encourage brushing and flossing but also why we need to … Read more
Imagine if you were an influential on the physical fitness of your patients. You can be. A new Brazilian study shows that younger men with gum disease (indicated by bleeding gums amongst other symptoms) were in much poorer shape than those with healthy gums. This finding adjusted for age, weight and regular exercise. Gum disease … Read more
Prophylaxis. Root canal. Periodic evaluation, or porcelain/ceramic crowns. While these are basically part of a second language to dental professionals, consumers want to know more about what procedures are available to them, and how much these services are going to cost them. Compiling that information in one central location is FAIR Health, a data company … Read more
Good question. As it turns out, just about everything. Let me tell you why. This week I posted on social media a study linking periodontal disease to chronic kidney disease. The response? It is the first time our Facebook page for Partners in Prevention got 100 “likes” in 24 hours. There were also 41 “shares”. … Read more
How do you rank? After decades of coaching thousands of dental practices in North America to be their best, via patient retention, new patient growth and case acceptance, I have created the following list of characteristics that patients value most, in order of importance, about their dental experience. These characteristics are essential for patient loyalty, … Read more