Pediatric dental infections contracted at an Anaheim clinic increased to 22 on Tuesday, as Children’s Dental Group said most of the 500 children who underwent root canals there have been examined for signs of illness. The Orange County Health Care Agency said among the 22 patients, ages 3 to 9, six remain hospitalized. The children … Read more
Dentists are urging Moncton to resume putting fluoride in its water after its five-year moratorium on the practice expires on Dec. 31. Suzanne Drapeau-McNally of the New Brunswick Dental Association says “a tremendous change” has occurred in the level of tooth decay in Moncton patients in the last five years. Drapeau-McNally estimates tooth decay in children … Read more
Dental surface restorations composed of dental amalgam, a mixture of mercury, silver, tin and other metals, significantly contribute to prolonged mercury levels in the body, according to new research from the University of Georgia’s department of environmental health science in the College of Public Health. This research, which analyzed data from nearly 15,000 individuals, is … Read more
Protein drugs, which derive from biological sources, represent some of the most important and effective biopharmaceuticals on the market. Some, like insulin, have been used for decades, while many more based on cloned genes are coming to market and are valued for their precise and powerful functions. Yet the field of dental medicine has very … Read more
I am a retired dentist who has a passion for preventative dentistry and preventive medicine. I recently became painfully aware of the ramifications of acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) on the oral cavity. I developed severe GERD late last year. Unfortunately, complete understanding of the difficulties experienced by patients comes best through direct … Read more
An investigation is underway by the Orange County Health Care Agency after several children were hospitalized with serious bacterial infections following a common dental procedure. The children were seen at Children’s Dental Group of Anaheim, located at 2156 E. Lincoln Ave., between May 3 and Aug. 2 for pulpotomies, or “baby root canals,” and later … Read more
Introduction For some of our patients, esthetics is not a chief concern as lip posture accommodation has enabled them to hide their smile. A precipitating event, such as an accident resulting in dental trauma or critical comment from a stranger or spouse, often motivates a patient to seek esthetic dental treatment to address their esthetic … Read more
Millions of Americans endure pain and shame because they can’t afford dental care. The issue is particularly pronounced in rural areas, as emphasized by a recent report by National Public Radio. People in rural areas are not only more likely to lack the jobs that connect them to dental insurance or the money to pay for … Read more
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) joined the Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity’s (AO) Winnipeg, Manitoba, chapter to announce that its members have begun providing free dental care to Holocaust survivors in need as part of the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program. The program was launched in November 2014 in response to … Read more
FDI World Dental Federation has today released a white paper ‘Dental Caries Prevention and Management’ under the banner of its Caries Prevention Partnership with Colgate. The paper outlines strategies to prevent and manage dental caries (tooth decay) through concerted action by oral health professionals, policymakers and the general public. Dr Patrick Hescot, FDI President, said, … Read more
Regular medical checkups are recommended for pregnant women, but doctors will tell you oral care is important as well. Periodontal disease can be problematic for both mother and baby. Now, the Colorado Medical-Dental Integration Project (CO MDI) is working to reach mothers-to-be. It is an initiative of the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, providing funding … Read more
Three maxillofacial dental surgeons in the province have opted out of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Medical Care Program, leaving the province looking for other options for low-income patients. Health Minister John Haggie told reporters today at Confederation Building the surgeons gave notice to his department that as of the first of August, they would no longer … Read more
Providing clean, safe dental water is critical to implementing and maintaining effective infection control protocols. Exposure to poor water quality can pose a health risk for people and conflicts with universally accepted infection prevention protocols. Noted most recently, in 2011 was the fatal case of an 82-year-old otherwise healthy woman who developed Legionnaire’s disease after … Read more
A coalition of more than 50 advocacy groups in Kansas has suggested educating dental therapists to work under the supervision of established dentists to help cover a service gap in the state. Four out of five counties in Kansas don’t have enough dentists to meet demand and 14 of the state’s counties have no dentistry … Read more
A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health is calling on the federal government to expand a program to prevent tooth decay in remote Inuit and First Nations communities. The Children’s Oral Health Initiative (COHI) is a Health Canada program aimed at increasing access to preventive oral health services for Inuit and First … Read more
People in Arviat, Nunavut, are finally able to see a dentist, after equipment issues resulted in a painful break in service. A dentist typically visits the community every month, but the July and August trips were postponed due to a broken dental chair. “When the dentists are here the lineup to see them is out the door,” … Read more
Members of the Niagara Dental Health Coalition are calling on Niagara MPPs to support the expansion of public dental programs to adults and seniors who cannot afford to pay for private dental health care. OHIP does not provide health coverage to prevent and treat diseases of our teeth and gums. As a result, between two … Read more
Dentistry is part art, part science, but all about people. In dental school, the people part of the equation was overlooked, and it takes a number of years in practice to realize its importance. Dentistry is a service business, and communication is paramount to success. Communication, by definition, is “the exchange of ideas, messages, or … Read more
Every dentist has experienced it: a choppy hygiene report that creates chaos, patient confusion and a ripple effect of schedule delays. When it becomes chronic, it has a deleterious effect on your entire operation. How to fix this common but potentially dire problem? As with just about every aspect of practice development, consistent process is … Read more
The success of a modern dental practice is entirely dependent on how effective it is at influencing its patients to say yes to optimal dental health. It’s simple consumer economics: no matter how exceptional the practice, if the patient rejects the recommended treatment and won’t (or can’t) pay us more than it costs us to … Read more