I have been placing and restoring dental implants for over 25 years and was intrigued by an article by J. Derks et al. “Effectiveness of Implant Therapy Analyzed in a Swedish Population: Prevalence of Peri-implantitis” JDR January 1, 2016, 95: 43-49. A copy of this article was sent to all dentists in Ontario, Canada, by the … Read more
In recent years, measures of success in implantology have significantly changed. Due to the fact that we have assumed functionality of implants as a result of improved osseointegration parameters, the main focus now lies on aesthetic and long-term stable rehabilitation. The imitation of ‘natural’ is the biggest concern and the goal in modern implant dentistry.1 … Read more
PERIODONTITIS AND OXIDATIVE STRESS Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by our body’s immune response to pathogenic bacteria. Periodontitis results in a loss of connective tissue and alveolar bone supporting the teeth and when left untreated, will often result in tooth mobility, pain, swelling and the eventual loss of the involved teeth. The destruction … Read more
The presence of a “gummy smile” can be bothersome for patients and clinicians alike. Approximately, 10% of patients have excessive gingival display when smiling with its presentation more common in women than men (Tjan et al., 1984; Silberberg, 2009). Ideally, when an individual smiles, the gingival display of the maxillary anterior teeth should not exceed … Read more
I was perusing the exhibit floor at a major meeting I usually attend yearly and stopped by a booth prompted by an advertisement that caught my attention. A refinement of a long established technique that was supposed to solve all the problems associated with what we all know to be an issue. Learn the technique and … Read more
Weighting over 400 kilograms, the Galápagos tortoise1 lumbers slowly above the lush grass, grabs the Azolla (mosquito, duckweed, water-fern and fairy moss) with its fully edentulous jaws (yes that’s right – no teeth for these creatures), squishes out the moisture and swallows the bolus to be slowly digested. Although Charles Darwin had a more-detailed explanation … Read more
In 1984, Oral Health, our monthly clinical journal, was 73-years-old and Dental Practice Management was born. DPM was meant to be the source for all things not clinical. Employer concerns, staffing, legal matters, marketing, finance, transitioning, office design were all topics for discussion in DPM. Not long ago, the magazine morphed into Oral Health Office. … Read more
Is this the end of professional corporations? It’s been over a decade since the government allowed non-dentist family members to become shareholders of a dentistry professional corporation (DPC). Just as the government gives, it can also take away. The introduction of new sweeping tax changes is causing frustration among many dentists and essentially reverses many … Read more
You don’t approach a cosmetic case with the intention of creating a smile that looks “okay,” or design a crown to fit “good enough.” Why should you settle for a profit margin that is “okay,” or practice growth that is “good enough?” The answer is that you shouldn’t, and you don’t have to. You can … Read more
Achieving and maintaining peak performance certainly involves a focus on marketing, operational efficiencies and controls and the use of new technologies. Often overlooked or neglected are the many legal relationships, agreements and statutory requirements that have over the years become all the more important in light of the recognition that dental practices are marketable assets. … Read more
When Dr. Lloyd Pedvis decided to open a new practice in a different demographic area from his previous location, his intention was to provide outstanding service by investing in state-of-the-art technologies, and to promote a sense of well-being for new patients by virtue of an inviting and comfortable environment. Because there was to be no … Read more
Live Long and Prosper Aurora Borealis Orthodontics is believed to be the world’s only Star Trek themed orthodontic practice, filled with authentic, screen-used props from all of the television series and motion pictures. Located in downtown Aurora, ON site started out as a bank/ financial institution. The office experience includes Federation, Klingon, and other alien weaponry and … Read more
The idea of this project is to create a dental office that is functional but at the same time, beautiful and relaxing for the patients. In most cases, patients are nervous when they go to the dentist, so we decided to provide a cozy, homey, and welcoming place that feels a lot less scary to … Read more
Dear Doctor, When I wrote this book, “The Elite Practice Formula”, it was not intended to be the bible of running an Elite Practice. My goal was not to tell you exactly what to do. My goal was to get you to think differently about your practice, and start to question some of the tightly … Read more
There are multiple factors involved in the development of favorable or unfavorable outcomes from our repetitive routines. Anyone involved in dentistry is aware of the potential for stress to become a negative factor. There is a growing body of scientific evidence that directly links long term stress to physical problems often with a strong inflammatory … Read more
The efficacy of fluoride varnish in the prevention of dental caries, remineralization of tooth surfaces and treatment of dentin hypersensitivity is well supported by literature. Varnishes allow for the delivery of high concentrations of fluoride in small amounts. Furthermore, the effectiveness, the relative safety, the uptake of this form of delivery combined with its ease … Read more
According to the CDC, “47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease increases with age, 70.1% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease.”1 The numbers of adults with untreated periodontal disease are high. The dental hygienist is front line defense in the office for periodontal … Read more
The dental office is a great place to work. It is very satisfying to be able to help patients improve their health while creating long term relationships and earning a good living. Unfortunately, 83% of dentists and their staff perceive their profession as very stressful. Coping with difficult, anxious patients, scheduling stresses, causing pain and … Read more
Canadian Dental Hygienist, Patricia Blundon, is the developer of a dental mirror that clips on to a saliva ejector to aid dental hygienists, assistants, and clinicians in treating patients. In response to growing demand for the Dental Hygiene Clip Mirror, she has introduced the device to the U.S. market and plans to expand her business … Read more