What can be said for 2020? Dentistry was completely shut down and no one was prepared. The dental industry had to fight for its life and for survival. On March 15, we closed our office and expected to create a plan to open within two weeks. We experienced pain from revenue cessation, overhead continuation, lack … Read more
I had virtual coffee with my former classmate last week. We’ve been having coffee nearly every month since we graduated from dental hygiene school together in 2007. We chat about dental hygiene, what’s new in our offices, cool things we’ve read, the weather, politics, the most recent Zara sales, and let’s face it, Facebook group … Read more
In March 2020, as Corona virus cases grew rapidly, it was advised that routine, non-essential oral health care be delayed until there had been sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates. What followed was an almost complete global shut down of most sectors of our society. While these measures have been central to mitigating the spread … Read more
Regardless of whether you are just starting your business or already have an established business, the steps to building a great culture are the same! Step One: Clarify core values and eat, breathe and sleep them. In other words, live them by example modeling the waddle. I suggest limiting core values to no more than … Read more
“There is nothing permanent except change.” This is a quote I was introduced to at a young age, and it has stuck with me. It is commonly attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. I think the reason it resonates with me is that it helps me accept that no matter what the situation, things will … Read more
Given the requirement for aerosol generating procedures to provide effective dental treatment, the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for all dental professionals. As leaders of our teams, dentists are used to being prepared for all sorts of emergencies. However, emergencies and disasters are quite different. During an emergency you need quick decision making; there … Read more
Without a doubt, 2020 will go down as one of the most unique “leap years” in history: 28 days in February, 100 days in March, and 500 days in April and May. In March, the state of emergency was announced and dentistry closed its doors, ceased all elective dental procedures, laid off employees, notified the … Read more
I have a newfound respect for the simplicity of a perfectly made pizza. When done correctly there is total harmony between the definite crunch of the charred crust, the subtle chew of the soft and pillowy centre and the perfect balance of ingredients – fior di latte cheese, San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh basil and … Read more
This month’s issue of Oral Health Office is a perfect snapshot of fall 2020, with articles on COVID-19, patient retention, and taking better advantage of social media. These are three separate pieces, but I can’t help but see the narrative thread connecting them. Putting the health and safety of our patients first has been a … Read more
COVID-19 (the SARS-CoV-2 virus originating in Wuhan, China) has devastated the world. By July 2020, more than 11 million cases worldwide resulted in over 500,00 deaths. Untold misery, families shattered, businesses shuttered. Canadian dentists have faced practice- and career-threatening disruptions that will continue for many months. Most Canadian dentists were totally shut down by government … Read more
In the 1990s, I initiated a resident exchange between our program at the University of Toronto and the same Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical program at the University of Witswatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa (RSA). The registrar (resident) from their university (“Wits” for short) and I would switch posts for 3 months, performing the duties we … Read more
The Oral Health Group has a fantastic resource on its site, curating several helpful news items and “what-comes-next” features all related to COVID-19. A number of the headlines reflect both frustration about the lack of clear reopening guidelines in different areas, as well as anxiety about the cost of reopening before patient capacity is back … Read more
Catherine Wilson was a British serial killer who was hanged for one murder, but was generally thought at the time to have committed six others. She worked as a nurse and poisoned her victims after encouraging them to leave her money in their wills. She was described privately by the sentencing judge as “the greatest … Read more
It’s fair to say that day-to-day life and dentistry as we’ve known it have been turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overnight, we went from normal, day-to-day dental care to a near medically induced coma with many, if not most, dental offices shutting their doors. Even though these are fluid times, the common … Read more
I never thought the day would come where I would be writing for Oral Health, but I guess there’s a first time for everything. My name is Hunter Soll, daughter of co-chairman of the editorial board of Oral Health, Dr. Jordan Soll. There are many differences between me and my father, one of them being … Read more
As I write this editorial I certainly feel how time has flown by. Sitting in front of my computer, I realized that my 30th anniversary of graduating from dental school is approaching in May. I thought to myself, “Wow that’s a lot of years!” I started wondering, what is it that motivates me to keep … Read more
Remember a few years back, when a new regulation came into effect that required us to ask our patients for a piece of ID when we wanted to prescribe something as common as Tylenol #3? Personally, I thought, “Oh sure, bring on more rules and restrictions!” Actually, it forced me away from prescribing opioids and … Read more
Do you recharge yourself as much as you recharge your phone? While I was home this past weekend visiting my family in the Niagara region, my five-year-old nephew told me that he lost a ‘digital detox contest’ that my brother and sister-in-law challenged him to. I’m not surprised. For his birthday last June, he was … Read more
“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign/Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind/Do this, don’t do that/Can’t you read the sign?” – Signs by The Five Man Electrical Band A repeated discussion that I have with colleagues is that dentistry, as a profession, is over-regulated. While it’s true that we have rules governing everything in our practices … Read more
If you read this month’s Data Driven Dentistry feature, it focuses on the importance of loyalty to help your practice grow. Based on our survey findings, the data tells us that the number one reason your patients trust you is because of the relationship you’ve created with them. This stands true to any workplace environment. … Read more