I think I might be getting old (I am almost a senior!). Time passes quickly and with age comes reflection. What I have learned from my journey is that most people view their lives in two possible universes as it relates to their retirement. The first universe deals with exposure and risk management. The second … Read more
When you hear the word chlorhexidine it is easy to guess the first things that pop into your mind: stain, poor patient compliance, great bacterial killer, terrible taste, works well but causes calculus, and adds a lot more work. If you speak with a dental professional about chlorhexidine there are usually two camps of thought. … Read more
A vast amount of my career has been spent on defining our powerful role as dental hygienists in the earlier discovery of an abnormal lesion through effective visual and tactile examination of the structures of the head, neck and oral cavity. Frankly, the omission of a thorough and effective extraoral/intraoral examination can cost a life. … Read more
Oral dysbiosis is an imbalance of bacteria in the dental plaque whereby pathogenic bacteria dominate the biofilm and, in turn, initiate destruction of the hard and soft tissues in the mouth. Caries and periodontal diseases result from oral dysbiosis. A new treatment option for oral dysbiosis called Prevora (10% chlorhexidine) is now available for high-risk, … Read more
Is dry mouth a complaint you hear frequently from your patients? Does your mirror ever stick to your patient’s cheek during their dental visit? We can all probably think of those patients – those patients with severe dry mouth. The American Dental Association reports that anywhere from .9-64.8% of patients suffer from dry mouth.1 The … Read more
Q: Has the definition of “localized” and “generalized” changed in reference to describing the extent of periodontal disease? There seems to be a lot of debate among the new grads and seasoned hygienists in our office. A: The new 2018 American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Classification changed the definition of these terms when describing extent … Read more
A rainbow has arrived – no more fallow time! For years, dentistry has weathered the pandemic storm (“Hurricane”) of shut-down, isolation, cabin fever, new normal and re-build. It experienced waves of shock, fear, worry, paralysis, confusion, conflict, loss and change. It demanded us to work together, seek help and lead like never before, regardless of … Read more
There are times when tradition is to be embraced – a marriage ceremony, a parade or a graduation. And there are times when doing things the way they have always been done just doesn’t cut it. If you are a practising or retired dentist in Canada, there is good chance you are familiar with the … Read more
Dr. Mike Finn Compass Dental, Campbell River, BC How would you define or summarize your practice philosophy? Our philosophy has always been to treat everyone like they are family. We believe in forming long-term relationships with our patients and delivering a level of quality care that makes us proud. What is one thing you know … Read more
With so much of a recent focus on digital marketing, it’s important to remember how vital word-of-mouth marketing is for your dental practice. Of course, all of the marketing advice shared through Oral Health’s blog and Oral Health Office is extremely valuable for conducting marketing efforts for your practice, but, according to our survey last … Read more
Now that Defy Gravity, the University of Toronto’s new campaign, has been launched, the faculty has put together a Campaign Cabinet of alumni who want to help the school achieve its goals. This volunteer group is made up of nine individuals who exemplify service to the school and have not only expressed an interest in … Read more
INTRODUCTION Periodontal diseases are a diverse family of inflammatory conditions that affect the periodontium and negatively impact our oral health.1,2 Orthodontic appliances, such as traditional brackets and wires can create numerous plaque retention sites, increasing the patients’ risk of developing periodontal disease and dental caries.3 The periodontal tissue reaction to the orthodontic appliance depends on … Read more
The congenital absence of one or more teeth is the most common anomaly of dental development in humans. Several terms have been used in the literature to describe this anomaly. Agenesis is considered to be the most suitable term, since from its’ Greek derivation it describes the failure of an organ to develop during embryonic … Read more
Introduction Class II subdivision malocclusions can be difficult to treat because of their asymmetric occlusal relationships. An accurate diagnosis, etiologically based when possible, is essential to perform a correct and efficient orthodontic treatment. The aim of this article is to illustrate a case report treated with customized lingual brackets in association with a simple vestibular … Read more
Keywords: Palatal constrictionMaxillary constrictionSegmented Lefort 1 osteotomyMaxillary expansionPalatal expansion stability INTRODUCTION: Insufficient transverse palatal dimension is a major component of several types of malocclusion.1 This skeletal anomaly is rarely isolated. Most of the time it is in association with a problem of vertical maxillary excess, a mandibular retrognathism or, more rarely, a mandibular prognathism, a … Read more
In North America, there’s a trend toward consolidation of individual orthodontic practices as the specialty evolves – from people and operations to technology and the business model itself. Some have predicted this change, seeing other medical professions consolidating in recent years, including dental, fertility, endocrinology, and even veterinarian clinics. But since most orthodontists are already … Read more
People often ask me how I “do it all” and if I have any balance in my life. Being a working mom with a busy practice isn’t easy. But I’ve discovered that the key to finding work/life balance is to not do it all. I’m a partner at Forest Hill Orthodontics – the same practice … Read more
Dental fluorosis is an enamel anomaly that adversely affects inorganic phase deposition and organization causing enamel hypomineralization.1 Despite the essential effect of fluoride in remineralization of dental hard layers when used topically, a direct relationship has been established between the frequency of fluoride ingestion and its quantity during tooth development and the severity of fluorosis … Read more
Oral and pharyngeal cancer, also known as head and neck cancer, poses a significant (if somewhat underappreciated) global public health issue, with over 50,000 North Americans diagnosed each year.1 The 2019 Canadian Cancer Statistics report indicated that 5,300 Canadians were diagnosed with oral cancer (3,700 men and 1,600 women), of which 1,480 died (1,050 men … Read more
There has long been much debate around the concept and management of oral mucosal lesions and conditions that have the potential to turn into malignant lesions over time. To address this and to try to establish a route to disseminate knowledge to European healthcare professionals on this topic of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD), a … Read more