Heading into the third year of the pandemic, many dental hygienists are feeling frustrated, beat down and overworked. There is no doubt that we are experiencing a shortage of dental hygienists. You just Google the topic and find many articles and surveys conducted; however, it is not just our field in which people are getting … Read more
Just when we thought that we had the PPE shortage issue under control, had put up barriers, air purifiers and made sure our patients felt safe to come back to the office for treatment, here comes yet another hurdle we must overcome – NO STAFF! What happened to all the assistants and hygienists who used … Read more
In the world of dentistry, we all know that, in reality, there is no such thing as a “solo practitioner”. Even a dental office owned and run by a single dentist needs a team to create a prosperous dental practice. And while we know the job market is inevitably cyclical, the pandemic has made it … Read more
Dr. Zahra Gangji Stony Plain Dental Centre, Stony Plain, Alberta What are the two key qualities you look for in a new team member? I want people on my team who have a positive attitude and are motivated to work. We have had team members who have had no dental experience, yet they were motivated … Read more
ABSTRACT Toothpastes have evolved substantially over the past few decades. Major strides have been made in the industry with the introduction of novel formulations that have the potential to provide significant clinical benefits. The main components of toothpastes are surfactants, abrasives, and active ingredients. Of these, the active ingredients dictate the therapeutic indications of the … Read more
BACKGROUND: Six years ago, in the May issue of Oral Health, I wrote a case report on the successful treatment of root resorption in the lower premolar with the help of Er,Cr:YSGG and diode lasers. The case was diagnosed as hopeless by a local endodontist who recommended extraction. The patient was willing to try a … Read more
INTRODUCTION In the past few decades, dentistry and dental technology have advanced by leaps and bounds. These advances have been driven by improvements in computer processing power leading to advances in digital technology (CAD/CAM). The evolution in biomaterials has led to the development of zirconium oxide ZrO2 or, as it is most commonly referred to, … Read more
This article is dedicated to Dr. Mervyn Gornitsky, a dear supervisor, mentor, and a friend who has served the dental community since 1953. I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Gornitsky since 2015. Dr. Gornitsky served as JGH Chief of Dentistry from 1971 to 1998 and was given the title of Emeritus Chief … Read more
Gone are the days when only tobacco and alcohol were the main risk factors that needed to be discussed with dental patients during head and neck cancer screening examinations. A widespread change in how patients are educated on prevention of head and neck cancer is urgently needed because of a new and distinct type of … Read more
One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Bien-Air Dental is its commitment to quality and integrity. Situated in Bienne, Switzerland – considered the “Watch Valley” – Bien-Air operates on its own timetable to do the job right. The result is Nova – the new contra-angle launched at the 2022 Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting … Read more
Provinces across the country are slowly beginning to reduce the protocols and restrictions that were put in place as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is important to stay diligent when practicing safety protocols in your dental office. 79 percent of dentists shared with us that they have found managing staff stress a … Read more
Far too often throughout history, and in far too many countries today, the lives of millions are brutally affected by the imperialistic ambitions of the few. Across our network, too many of our colleagues, neighbours and loved ones know firsthand the pain and suffering of fleeing war-torn nations, something that is now being felt by … Read more
Selling your dental practice now or in the next 5 years? Get yourself checked now – legally that is. Otherwise, it could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, plus delays and aggravation when you do go to sell. Let’s start your self-check: grab the following: Your professional corporation’s (“PC”) minute book (that’s the big … Read more
Data is driving business in all industries. Not even dental care is immune. The insights made possible through data collection enable better service, so professionals of all backgrounds are flocking to this resource. Fortunately, modern practice management software and other data-driven tools make using patient data to improve your service offerings simple. These are some … Read more
When you see you it, you don’t forget it. Cancer. It’s as scary to look at as it is to tell a patient that they have something suspicious in their mouth – something that may be oral cancer. What if you saw the lesion in your own mouth? Would you say, “It can’t be cancer. … Read more
When your dental website appears in search results, the first thing viewers will notice is the page title. Therefore, it has a significant impact on your CTR (click-through rate), as well as the first impression that your practice makes. Getting the titles right is essential, and Google recently made it a bit more challenging. Let’s … Read more
Prior to receiving dental care, patients in Canada have the right to be fully informed. This means that oral healthcare clinicians must advise their patients of all reasonable treatment options, the associated risks and benefits, and the rate of success or failure of each procedure (or test) that is recommended. Informed consent is a legal … Read more
THE WHY: Owner’s story Bitehaus Dental was built in 2018 as a result of a dream in the hearts and minds of Dr. Aisling Whitaker and Dr. Anand Iyer (who are married and parents of one young child). Their journey to practice ownership began after meeting during dental school in Ireland. Dr. Whitaker was born … Read more
I don’t get it. Why are we talking about women in dentistry? More females are graduating dental school than males, and females are increasingly owning dental practices, becoming specialists, influencing, educating and leading dental organizations. In fact, several provincial dental associations have female presidents and the next president of the Canadian Dental Association is female. … Read more
Have you ever said to a client during their dental hygiene appointment, “oh there is just a little bit of bleeding”? Overall, giving the client the impression, this is expected, normal, or really not something to be overly concerned with. ⠀ Throughout my career I have seen communication strategies of active inflammation evolve, and now … Read more