Seven out of ten Canadians will develop gum disease at some point in their lives, making gum disease and resulting tooth loss the two biggest threats to oral health.1 Gum disease –and the resulting tooth loss– are associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.2-6 This may occur partly because, with fewer … Read more
Abstract Behcet’s disease is a rare autoimmune disorder with nonspecific clinical manifestations that can pose diagnostic challenges for healthcare professionals. This article describes a case in which an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool (ChatGPT), an advanced language artificial intelligence model, played a pivotal role in aiding a periodontist in diagnosing a patient with Behcet’s disease. The … Read more
Soft tissue grafting procedures have long been used to help manage gingival recession defects. Initially, the approach was to use autogenous, full-thickness, palatal soft tissue grafts to increase the width and thickness of keratinized tissue to minimize the progression of recession and improve patient comfort.1 Subsequent introduction of the de-epithelialized, palatal connective tissue graft (CTG) … Read more
Interaction, cooperation, and common ground between periodontology and orthodontics will be the focus of Perio Master Clinic 2023, the conference for dental clinicians that the EFP will organise in Antwerp, Belgium on 3-4 March, 2023. Perio Master Clinic is a triennial, hands-on conference which aims to upskill and update the technique and practical mastery of … Read more
Introduction Displaying an optimal amount of gingiva while smiling is one of the critical elements in the ideal conceptual smile.1 In orthodontics and aesthetic dentistry, it is not rare to encounter a patient complaining of a ‘gummy smile’ or excess gingiva on smiling.2 Therefore, it is essential to understand the etiology, biology and management strategies … Read more
Much has been discussed recently about the challenges of finding new team members and retaining current ones. The pandemic has shifted perspectives, and what teams needed in the past has now changed. Among the top stressors reported during the pandemic are finances, social isolation, and the health of family members. In any given year, 1 … Read more
Restorative dentistry and periodontology have always been and forever will be inextricably linked. Integrating all elements of dentistry is an art and the science and is salient to long-term success of dental restorations and patient care. When placing a restoration, one must consider its effect on the entire stomatognathic complex. Case in point, the placement … Read more
Chronic Diseases and Periodontal Health Every 24 hours, 480 Canadian men and women are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D).1 In 2019, 11 million Canadians were diagnosed with T2D or pre-diabetes.2 The high prevalence of this disease equates to a high economic burden. For example, treatment costs in Canada reached approximately $30 billion in 2019.2 … Read more
The American Dental Association (ADA) is an international authority guiding dentists in safeguarding personal health information (PHI) and protecting its members from cyber threats. On May 26, 2021, the ADA published a bulletin for its 161,000 members to increase awareness of potential ransomware issues affecting dental practices.1 Around April 21, 2022, the ADA was the … Read more
Gum disease affects 70% of Canadians and is associated with many systemic diseases for which the benefits of plant-based diets have been well-established.1,2 In ‘A Plant-Based Diet and Periodontal Health’,2 published in last year’s October edition of Oral Health, we discussed the findings and potential implications of studies that have reported the association between plant-based … Read more
Many psychotropic drugs cause dry mouth, most commonly due to anticholinergic effects. Xerostomia a common issue in dental practice, affecting about 1 in 4-5 adults.1 It can cause a range of signs and symptoms, from a mild sensation of dryness and stickiness to more serious effects such as difficulties with chewing, swallowing, and speaking.2 If … Read more
We trust our dentists to tell us the best oral health care routines, and based on our dentists’ recommendations, we teach our children about oral health care. Our pets do not have any oral care capability and rely on us to keep their mouths clean and healthy. Dentists are often asked by their patients about … Read more
The first European guideline for the treatment of advanced (stage IV) periodontitis has just been published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology (1), official publication of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP). This groundbreaking S3-level clinical practice guideline (1) has been announced today during the press presentation of EuroPerio10, the world’s leading congress in periodontology … Read more
Q: I just started working in a practice where restorative dentistry has been the primary focus and periodontal therapy has been neglected. How do I begin to make the transition toward a more perio-focused process of care? A: Chances are that most patients in your new practice have active periodontal disease, and a standard “cleaning” … Read more
It’s been over a year since we have been asked to lead our teams through the crisis and attempt to dismantle the disruption. Much progress has been made, but it’s never made alone and no one can forecast exactly how we will emerge. Based on the last major disruption of the world, the commercial advent … Read more
Introduction It is well known that current strategies for managing peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis are highly varied, and in many cases, unpredictable. This is an important issue since evidence suggests that the prevalence of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis range from 22–43 percent of implants placed.1 In most cases, the existing model for treating chronic periodontitis … Read more
Providing patients with proper oral hygiene instruction is recognized as an important part of dental hygiene appointments – but should we also be encouraging patients to exercise for oral health benefits? The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines recommend adults accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity each week.1 You have likely heard … Read more
ERIODONTAL DISEASE AND A PLANT-BASED DIET What is a ‘plant-based diet’? Essentially, this is an umbrella term that describes a diet characterized by a focus on food sources from plants with a lower, although not necessarily eliminated, consumption of animal and animal-derived products. Canadians are hearing and reading about this topic more and more, especially … Read more
Abstract Background: The classification system for periodontal diseases and conditions was revised in 2017. Evidence-based criteria were developed, and extensive revisions made, to reflect advancements regarding the etiology and progression of periodontal diseases. Among the many updates made to the previous classification system, a novel definition for periodontal health was introduced, along with a staging … Read more
Cleaning excess cement after cementation of a crown is a tedious but important clinical procedure. Failure to remove excess cement can lead to plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation and possibly even bone loss.1 Removal of cement is even more difficult when using resin cement. A recent Practice Based Research Network study reported that almost 40 percent … Read more