A New Era Has Begun

Photo: “Etherdome” at Massachusetts General Hospital (2006) Painting: “Ether Day” October 16, 1846 at the Massachusetts General Hospital. “The very first public demonstration of Anesthesia achieving insensibility to pain”. Dr. William Thomas Green Morton, A Boston dentist administered Sulphuric Ether to the patient Gilbert Abbott. The surgeon, Dr. John Collins Warren, removed a tumor from his neck. Knowledge of this discovery spread from this room throughout the civilized world and new era for medicine and dentistry had begun.

On February 17, 2023, the Canadian Dental Regulatory Authorities Federation approved the national recognition of Dental Anesthesia as a Specialty in Dentistry. Shall I be so bold to say “A New Era Has Begun”? As current President of the Canadian Academy of Dental Anaesthesia (CADA), I think I will be so bold as to name … Read more

Tips for Avoiding Burnout in Dentistry

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From daunting administrative and business tasks to dealing with difficult patients and staff, there are many reasons why most dentists agree their career leaves them feeling burned out from time to time. If you can relate to this, then these tips are for you. Start delegating tasks: To do this, you need to know yourself … Read more

How to Market Cosmetic Injectable Treatments in Dentistry

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It is no surprise that more of our peers are rolling out neuromodulators and soft tissue fillers to their patients.1 Maybe you have long considered adding these treatments to your vast menu of evolving services. You just have not made the plunge yet. Or, perhaps you are embarking on this new opportunity to attract patients and … Read more

Maximizing Wealth and Minimizing Tax: A Guide to Corporate Tax Planning for Dentists

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Navigating the intricate world of financial planning can be a challenge for dentists. This article provides a brief overview of the financial structures that dentists can leverage to protect their assets, reduce tax liabilities, and efficiently transfer wealth to future generations. Dentistry Professional Corporation (DPC) Establishing a DPC entails transitioning from an individual to a … Read more

Office Space: Wayside Dental Centre

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THE WHY: The Owner’s Story Lloydminster is a vibrant, fast-growing community of 32,000, straddling the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan. It is home to Wayside Dental Centre, a large and well-established 19-op general dentistry practice that serves the local families and devoted residents of surrounding rural communities. It was a well-established 12-op practice back in 2010 … Read more

Try A Dental Detox

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A dentist’s mind is always restless. Never enough patients to treat, profits to earn, trips to take, restaurants to try, tech and luxury items to own, movies and books to get into, or time to spend with family and friends. The mind is never content. Why? Because you think you’re only your “Person” (i.e. your … Read more

Rediscovering Balance in Healthcare

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In the ever-evolving field of healthcare, the relentless pursuit of perfection can be all-consuming. As a healthcare professional myself, I’ve often found that the desire to be flawless is deeply ingrained in our work. Let’s be real – healthcare, by its very nature, is complex and dynamic. Despite our unwavering dedication and meticulous approach, patients … Read more

Hygiene Spotlight: Sonya Dunbar

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Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month we are showcasing Sonya Dunbar, the face behind the Geriatric Toothfairy brand. Why did you decide to pursue dental hygiene as a career? When I was a child, I loved to see people smile. I would smile at people and wait for them to … Read more

Change for the Better: How Comprehensive is Your Comprehensive Oral Exam (COE)?

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Don’t let flawed processes hold your team back from experiencing better efficiency, healthier clients, happier employees, and continued practice growth. Challenge: As a new hygienist in my current practice, I’m noticing the comprehensive oral exams (COE) for new clients are falling short of provincial fee guide requirements when conducted by some of my colleagues, and … Read more

How Long Do I Have to Cure My Composite?

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The common answer is ‘It depends on the manufacturer’s instructions’. The resin manufacturer or the light manufacturer? What if they do not agree? Many aspects of restorative dentistry are based upon clinical learning or creativity. However, composite curing is not one of them. Hence, “how long to cure my composite” is a common dilemma. There … Read more

The Hall Technique – Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

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Background and Context Like many health fields, dentistry has been characterized throughout the years for innovating and improving upon existing interventions. Established and “classical” approaches, materials and techniques have often stood the test of time compared to more innovative and so-called “cutting-edge” technologies. In pediatric dentistry, this has proven to be true, especially when it … Read more

Best Practices for Transitioning for Patients Who Live with Disabilities

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If you are thinking, “this article is not applicable to me”, then please consider the list of questions below: The relevance of this article extends beyond care for persons of disabilities because patients who were once healthy in your dental practice will age and may develop disabilities (temporary or permanent). Access to dental care is … Read more

Tooth or Not, Advocate for Your Patient

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Identifying the etiology of acute facial swelling in children can be a challenge due to growth and development, complex regional anatomy, and difficulty with obtaining a thorough history. We present a case report from rural Alberta that highlights these challenges. In particular, this case demonstrates the necessity for open communication with the child’s family and … Read more

Top 7 Paediatric Questions Parents Ask At Dental Appointments

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1. “Is the cleaning really necessary today?” Many parents do not see the benefits of dental prophylaxis as they see it as treatment they can easily do themselves at home. The goal of dental prophylaxis is to remove supragingival plaque, stains, and calculus from the patient’s teeth. It provides an opportunity for oral hygiene instruction … Read more

Retainers and the Importance of Orthodontic Retention

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Following orthodontic treatment, retention is fundamental in maintaining teeth in their corrected positions. Irrespective of the patient’s age, underlying malocclusion, or type of mechanotherapy used, retention is necessary to preserve the final alignment and occlusion. Without retention, there is a natural tendency for teeth to relapse back towards the original malocclusion. This article will highlight … Read more

Data Driven Dentistry: 2024 Summary

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Oral Health is pleased to share the results of our annual Data Driven Dentistry survey! The purpose of the survey was to understand what dental practices are currently doing to thrive, grow, and prosper, with a focus on themes of technology and AI, marketing, team management, transition planning, and more. We will share the results … Read more

Thinking Outside the Box

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The other day I had a young patient with severe anxiety in my office for a new patient examination. When the young child entered the waiting room, they were tightly clinging to their mother. Upon first impression, our pediatric dental team was not too optimistic that we were going to be able to even look … Read more

Top Tips to Manage and Strategize for a Dental Office

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In a recent interview with the Oral Health Group, Dr. Les Rykiss (Linden Market Dental Centre) and Shawn Peers (Peers Dental) shared their best tips on how old and new dentists can better manage and strategize for their dental practices. In this two-part series, they shed insights on what’s up-and-coming in dentistry, how dentists can … Read more