Dental health professionals in Ontario have been told that, “child abuse should be considered a ‘State of Emergency’ in North America.”1 Statistics in the United States report an estimated 3,140,000 cases of child abuse or neglect in 1994.2 The same report claims 1,271 children died because of this abuse in 1994 alone. The Canadian population … Read more
In our cozy corner of the world, we exist without too much concern about infectious disease worldwide. The World Health Report 1996, published by the WHO, revealed that, of all the 52 million deaths worldwide, 17 million were due to infectious diseases. The wide world is becoming smaller. The infectious person travelling more by air, … Read more
EDITORIAL NOTESterilization of air turbine handpieces is standard protocol in dental practice. This study shows that some sterilized handpieces can exhaust contaminated air into the tray table or inside the dental unit, thus creating an unhealthy work environment for dentists, dental assistants and hygienists.The study was conducted in two series. The first study was planned … Read more
(York, PA)–Dentsply International Inc. has purchased Degussa Dental, a unit of Degussa AG, for approximately US$500 million. Degussa Dental is expected to add $430 million to Dentsply’s annual sales. The combined company is expected to generate total revenues in excess of $1.5 billion in 2001. The transaction combines the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental … Read more
When thinking about statistics on child abuse, it’s important to note that the very idea of child abuse is controversial. Only recently–and only in certain countries and cultures–has child abuse come to be seen as a major social problem. Even the most objective scientific research is imperfect. There are even conflicts about how to define … Read more
VIEWPOINT/INFECTION CONTROLDr. Neiburger’s article containing some pseudo-scientific statements, in my opinion, was presented for publication against my better judgment by a member of the Editorial Board of Oral health. The basis for my objection was: (1) awareness of the agenda of a group of dentists in Ontario who wish to dilute the standards of infection control in this province and: (2) past experience with the author’s publications. However, I was persuaded, and foolishly agreed, that I could not continue to reject such articles even if the pressure came from someone not associated with my area in the book. This “group”, under the guise of the well-respected “evidence-based” format has, in my viewpoint, used this system in many instances, including Dr. Neiburger’s article, to expand their own agenda. This agenda is designed to lower the high standards of infection control, which have placed the dental profession on a high pedestal and protected dentists, staff, patients and families. This high benchmark has made the dental profession the envy of the health care system. The deliberate attempt to reduce or dilute the standards of infection control is made easier by the fact that studies to prove the effectiveness of certain techniques or to prove the cross-infection of patients does not fall under the umbrella of pure science. You cannot invade the privacy of patients, nor endanger their well-being, to check the validity of an infection control procedure. Human beings cannot be treated like hamsters and the “group” knows that some of their accusations will never be answered and they use this as a lever against the present standards of infection control.
The ability to cover denuded root surfaces has been a long-time goal of periodontists. Procedures available today allow us to achieve root coverage predictably. While marginal tissue recession seldom results in tooth loss, it is often associated with root sensitivity, predisposes to root caries, may cause frenal involvement with marginal tissue irritation and are perceived … Read more
The SLSA program is based on current, referenced literature and consists of 40 questions, answers, rationales and references. Answers appear at the end of each quiz.Dentists who complete the 15 question quiz in the November, 2001 issue of Oral Health may be eligible to receive continuing education points. The names and license numbers of all … Read more
Sinusitis is a common disease affecting 35 million people annually in North America.1,2 It accounts for an estimated 2 to 3 billion dollars in health care costs annually3,4 and patients spend approximately 150 million for products prescribed or recommended for the treatment of the disease.5 Even so, sinus infections are among the most frequently misdiagnosed … Read more
What separates truly exceptional individuals from the rest of us in athletics, arts, music, science or any activity we endeavour in? What creates a virtuoso or are virtuosi created? Was Wayne Gretzy great from the beginning or did practise and coaching make him great?After many years I finally found the courage to register for hockey … Read more
Table 1: Signs and Symptoms associated with Maxillary SinusitisMajorMinorFacial painDental PainNasal obstruction, blockageCoughNasal or postnasal dischargeFatiqueHyposomia, ansomiaEar pain, pressure, fullnessFeverHalitosisConjunctival inflammationChewing tendernessTable 2: Local and systemic factors that predispose to sinusitisSystemicLocalCystic fibrosisUpper respiratory tract infectionImmune deficiencySmokingBronchiectasisDental infectionsImmotile cilia syndromeAllergic rhinitisDecongestant overuseAdenoid hypertrophyBarotraumaPollutantsOsteomeatal complex abnormalitiesTable 3: Odontogenic Sources of Maxillary Pain/SinusitisPeriapical abscess, granulomaPeridontal diseaseMucous retention cyst … Read more
Often dentists see young children in the office with malformed, decayed, and extreme hypoplastic teeth, and the first assumption is to criticize the lack of home care as a cause of this dental disorder. However, by observing the dental pathology during early development, special considerations should alert us that there maybe a systemic disorder that … Read more
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Due to space and quality requirements, we are unable to print every photo we receive.Please note: PHOTOS WILL NOT BE RETURNED.
For those practitioners providing services in elective cosmetic dentistry, the subject of consultation fees for a new patient of record for their initial office visit is a hot issue. Some seem to suggest that free consultations are an indication of low self-esteem by our profession. I suggest the reality of the situation is not so … Read more
Abstract: The interrelated and combined benefits of placing all-ceramic restorations include enhanced esthetics, overall health of the soft tissues and an improvement in patients’ oral health and hygiene habits. These benefits result from the many material characteristics and specific placement protocol associated with modern all-ceramic restorations. However, despite very positive anecdotal testimonials regarding the soft tissue benefits of all-ceramic restorations, more long-term in-vivo research is necessary to demonstrate a direct correlation between the placement of all-ceramic restorations and improved soft tissue esthetics and gingival health.
The title “Treatment Planning for Success in the Esthetic Practice” can easily be broken down into three parts, The Esthetic Practice, Success, and Treatment Planning. No Doubt today’s practices have to be focused on delivering esthetically pleasing dentistry. Materials, techniques and laboratory support, coupled with the expertise of the supporting team of dental specialists, allow … Read more
Creating consistent results with cosmetic dentistry is certainly the ultimate goal that every practitioner wants to achieve. However, achieving this result and patient satisfaction can be elusive at times. Because cosmetic dentistry is artistic in nature, there is much subjectivity in fabricating the final esthetic look. In providing indirect cosmetic dental restorations and prosthodontic services … Read more
Resurrection of endodontically treated teeth has traditionally involved a post, core, and crown.1 The use of a cast metal post and core has been the standard procedure taught in the curriculum of nearly all the dental schools. With the advent of pre-fabricated threaded posts and parallel-sided post systems, the use of the cast post in … Read more
