THE WHY: Owner’s story Dr. Karyna Figarella and Romeo Fermin are the husband and wife team behind BiteCraft Dental. Prior to moving to Canada, they were both practising dentists who owned a dental clinic in Venezuela. Approximately 10 years ago, their passion for healthcare and love of people collided with a desire to experience Canada’s … Read more
On September 20, 2021, the RCDSO (Ontario’s dental regulator) encouraged all dentists to “support vaccination efforts, model responsible behaviour … and address vaccine hesitancy.” Other provincial dental regulators have recommended that all dentists and dental health care professionals get vaccinated against COVID-19 and, in PEI, the dental regulator went so far as to mandate vaccination. … Read more
We go through life on many roads picking up information and details as we grow, mature and age. The journey of life is a journey of knowledge. How do we gain knowledge? How do we know what we know? The ancient Greeks created a branch of philosophy dedicated to this question called epistemology. A quick … Read more
Dr. Clare Whitney Co-owner of Downtown Dental, Calgary, Alberta How would you define or summarize your practice philosophy? I enjoy doing dentistry, but I really value forming meaningful connections and relationships with my patients. I aim to deliver clinical excellence while caring FOR my patients. I appreciate getting to know people, sharing conversation and a … Read more
The Biggest Impact of COVID-19 on Dentistry According to our survey results, the largest impact of the pandemic on dental practices in Canada has been the drop in revenue. However, it has been proven that dentistry is an essential service and practices have been able to remain open throughout the rest of the pandemic despite … Read more
Introduction Neutrophils (Polymorphonuclear neutrophils or PMNs) are a highly abundant white blood cell type, that are the first cells recruited to acute sites of infection. Through their essential role in immune surveillance and maintenance of organismal homeostasis, PMNs innately recognize tissue damage and infection, quickly home to relevant sites throughout the body and destroy invading … Read more
Introduction Dental plaque, what has been re-termed “oral biofilm”, has long been connected with periodontal problems and to a lesser extent caries related to the bacteria contained within it. Oral bacteria have long been ignored for any effects outside the oral cavity. Yet, research has been accumulating directly connecting a link between oral health and … Read more
Introduction Most restorative dental treatment is because of dental caries, the most-prevalent disease in humans. Unchecked dental caries infection causes dentinal spread (cavitation) and destruction of tooth surfaces. Although we have been well trained as dental clinicians to diagnose caries lesions as early as possible, identifying the presence of early caries lesions proves to be … Read more
Implant supported dentures provide many individuals with a better quality of life, but this is not without some challenges. Specifically, what is the recommended self-care for this type of prosthesis? There are two areas for discussion: removable dentures and fixed dentures. Research in the area of implant self-care is limited and often based on low-level … Read more
Statement of Problem It has been established that maintenance is of utmost importance in the delivery of comprehensive prosthodontic treatment. Therefore, consideration of the possible factors which impact the maintenance phase is essential to take into account during the treatment planning stage. Although, most clinicians recognize the importance of prosthesis maintenance, few of them are … Read more
The main objective in the treatment of periodontitis is removal and disruption of bacterial biofilm.1 This can be performed via non-surgical approach (scaling and root planning/SRP) or via surgical approach by employing open flap debridement (OFD) for deeper inaccessible periodontal pockets.2 Along with oral hygiene instructions for improved oral care at home, this can result … Read more
INTRODUCTION Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the hard and soft tissues that surround the teeth and is estimated to affect 10-15% of the world population.1 Following the 2017 world workshop on the classification of the disease, a system was created to encompass the staging and grading of the disease.2 There are four stages … Read more
In looking back at 2021, I wanted to leave you a “Last Word” of what I considered gamechangers that had an impact on this last year. COVID-19 Vaccines COVID-19 has changed the way we practice both physically and emotionally. Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are the companies that created our vaccines in break-neck … Read more
In our profession, there has always been a big push through December leading into the holiday season, which can be both mentally and physically taxing for the entire practice team. This year, the impact of this hectic time was further amplified by our second full year of maneuvering amid a global pandemic. Aside from being … Read more
The Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto recently opened its new state-of-the-art clinic at 777 Bay St. The more than $7M project has created a beautiful 15,000 square foot clinic featuring 41 enclosed operatories that will enhance the patient experience and enrich clinical education. It is well located for patients to access it … Read more
Mandatory COVID vaccination policies implicate a complex intersection of laws including employment, human rights, occupational health and safety, privacy, personal health information, administrative and constitutional law. And this area of law is in near-constant flux as this article goes to print. 1. Must you have a COVID vaccination policy? The short answer is: probably. The … Read more
TIP #1: Prepare Years in Advance Begin planning 2 to 5 years before contemplating selling. Why? Because it can take up to 2 years to put your team members on contract. It can also take 2 or more years to set up or clean up your professional corporation in anticipation of a sale (if you’re … Read more
At the center of a good dental marketing plan is a good website. However, when you expand to multiple locations, a website might not be enough. You may need one for each office. There are several factors to consider when making your decision. Does a single website make sense for your business model? One website … Read more
THE WHY: Owner’s story Willow Dental is a well-established practice that has been serving dental healthcare to its community for over 50 years. In 2018, its latest owners moved Willow Dental to its most recent location in Mississauga, Ont. Dr. Neil Elman (Principal Dentist) and Lisa Duncan (Hygiene Corporation) share a collaborative strategic alliance that … Read more
Do you remember the classic animated movie, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss? It’s my favourite Christmas movie. You probably know the premise: an evil monster – The Grinch – steals all the Christmas presents hoping he can ruin Christmas. But then he sees that Christmas isn’t gone, that surprisingly, Christmas actually goes … Read more