Spring is in the air! Especially after attending the Pacific Dental Conference in Vancouver with all the beautiful weather. The benefit of the esthetic issue coming out in April every year is that it allows me the ability to look outside as I write this editorial, as things start to bloom, and reflect. What a … Read more
Introduction There is no arguing the fact that we live in a society where appearances are important. When I was growing up, I was told frequently, “you only have one chance to make a first impression, so make it a good one!” A smile is one of the most powerful tools for opening channels of … Read more
To ensure long-term success, a greater understanding of occlusal concepts needs to be incorporated into the restorations we provide our patients. We must ensure that the beautiful smiles we create today will hold up to the rigors of mastication and occlusal forces well into the future. Fixed restorations have come a long way since the … Read more
With the increase in awareness and popularity of cosmetic dental procedures, most general practices are offering some level of cosmetic and esthetic treatment to patients. There are many possibilities; from teeth whitening to cosmetic bonding and porcelain veneers; as well as minor orthodontic procedures, tissue re-contouring and more. Patient demand has fueled the attention to … Read more
Dentists are often faced with conflicting demands between function and aesthetics. Patients demand from their dentists an improved smile at a reasonable fee. Dentists want to not only meet the patients wants but also want to do that in a durable and evidence-based way. Thanks to the well-known improvements of enamel and dentin bonding, it … Read more
In order to establish a comprehensive treatment plan, it is essential for the entire dental team to be able to visualize the final result before commencing treatment. A compromised or wrong treatment choice can affect a patient’s dental and medical health as well as their appearance. Orthodontists often are first in a decision-making process that … Read more
Mention “Botox” (the neuromodulator Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A or “BoNt-A”) sold in North America as Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin (Fig. 1), and the average person thinks immediately of wrinkles. However, the January 16, 2017 issue of Time Magazine’s cover page article (Fig. 2) identified 800 medical uses of BoNt-A including depression, heart trouble, migraines, erectile … Read more
Introduction Wendy Jordan, a professional model, presented to my office for general care. After radiographic and clinical examination, it was determined that she needed only a prophylaxis. Her overall dental health was good with no periodontal disease or active caries. In a subsequent re-care appointment, we discussed the possibility of orthodontic realignment of her maxillary … Read more
Developing good habits is an incredibly important part of ensuring that your clinic maintains the best Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) standards. However, this is often easier said than done. Upholding standards can sometimes feel onerous because current training programs available are not designed to be habit-forming. What’s Available Today for Dental Care Professionals Some … Read more
Why Do We Have a Problem? The apparent epidemic of OSA which is occurring in all industrialized countries should not come as a surprise. Many in the sleep community routinely cite the increase in obesity rates over the last three to four decades as the cause of this epidemic. 1-7 There is no question that obesity … Read more
Many people experience a deep fear of sitting in the dental chair even though dentistry can significantly improve their health. By understanding a few key basics about the nervous system (and how fear, pain, and anxiety work in the body), you can help minimize pain, shut down fear responses, and decrease inflammation. This understanding can … Read more
Abstract The development of the dental drill was one of the most significant innovations in dentistry, occurring in the late 1800’s; 150 years later, it is still our “go-to” instrument for most procedures, whether for removal of decay, endodontic instrumentation or surgical extraction. We have witnessed these machines being powered in many different ways, as … Read more
Throughout history, successful treatment of a health condition has often preceded an understanding of what caused the problem. This is surely true of malocclusion. A malocclusion of any significance is not a disease but it does represent a failure of development. Understandably, the great majority of effort by the dental profession is directed towards treating … Read more
What is functional dentistry and why is it worth talking about? I am curious if this is a movement or new direction in dentistry. Here are my thoughts. Functional medicine and dentistry are using your detective skills and sleuthing out underlying root causes and abnormalities that have lead to a patient’s complaints or symptoms and … Read more
Before you were born, there were countless forces shaping your growth and development. You had your own set of prenatal conditions and a unique path to birth before your very first taste of oxygen. This inaugural breath was then shaped by primitive reflexes, breast feeding (or lack thereof), oral tethered tissues, oral habits, oral nasal … Read more
The search for the cause of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by mainstream medicine has followed a profound predilection for autoimmune conjecture, in spite of the absence of evidence for any “mechanism by which the immune system is tricked into seeing myelin as foreign in MS patients,” said Dr. Bruce Trapp of the Cleveland Clinic. He continues, … Read more
They say a lady always knows when it’s time to leave and so it is with mixed emotions I tell you that I am retiring from the dental group and Newcom Media as of March 29th, 2018. I’ve only worked for the two largest publishing companies in Canada (many, many owners) since 1986, a feat … Read more
After 40 years of tenancy in a fifth-floor suite at the building on the north-west corner of Yonge and Lawrence, Luks Orthodontics, moved operations, a stone’s throw away, into a new modern store front space on Yonge Street just south of Lawrence Avenue. While it was difficult to leave the comfort of our corner office … Read more
We are still in the first quarter of 2018 and already we’ve seen enough stomach churning volatility in the stock markets to last the whole year. The month of January was euphoric, with both the Canadian and US market indexes hitting new highs. Then February crashed the party, sending stocks tumbling very hard and very … Read more
As the marketer of a Canadian dental practice, you naturally want to know why prospective patients call. However, this information doesn’t quite go far enough. You need data that you can act on as well. Before Call Intelligence, it was difficult to track the journey of people who found a business by using both the … Read more