Is Diversity in Dentistry Good for Patients?

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Ralph Ellison’s 1952 masterpiece novel, Invisible Man, compares and contrasts being black in America in the South and the North. Towards the end of the story, the protagonist asks, “Whence all this passion toward conformity anyway? – diversity is the word. Let man keep his many parts and you’ll have no tyrant states.”1 Fast forward … Read more

Chairside Chats: A Word With…Dr. Frederic Poirier

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Dr. Frederic Poirier The CLEAR Institute, Varennes, Québec What have you observed to be the biggest change to the dentistry profession since you began your career? The interest in dental treatments has increased drastically in all population groups in the past ten years. When I started practicing 26 years ago, it was sometimes tricky to … Read more

CE Courses: Online or In-person?

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We are witnessing more and more CE courses becoming available online, despite the pandemic restrictions lessoning, and dentists seem to be torn on their preference between attending in-person or online courses. Nearly half of survey respondents preferred the choice of online courses for the convenience and ability to learn about new topics from anywhere. However, … Read more

Letter to the Editor Re: “Dental Implant Failure and the Association with Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)”

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Letter to the Editor: As a practitioner, who spends a good deal of time embedded in Implant Dentistry, both chair side, and in the educational realm, I was curious to see the latest findings in the article, entitled, “Dental implant failure and the association with proton pump inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.” There is … Read more

Failed Mandibular Anaesthesia: Aberrant Nerve Pathways

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Failed mandibular anaesthesia is a burden on both patients and dental practitioners, as lack of profound anaesthesia can result in pain, apprehension about dental visits, and rescheduling of appointments. When considering factors such as the provider, patient, and techniques used, the incidence of failed mandibular anaesthesia has been reported to be as high as 50%.1 … Read more

An Update on the Current Opioid Crisis in Canada and Opioid-free Analgesia

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In Ontario, dentists are the third largest group of opioid prescribers after family physicians and surgeons, and therefore are possible contributors to the opioid crisis.1 The opioids commonly dispensed by Ontario dentists are codeine combination products (76.4%), oxycodone combination products (18.4%), and tramadol (2.8%).2 As recommended by the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario … Read more

Introduction to Oral Sedatives: Benzodiazepines

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Dental anxiety is a common phenomenon among Canadians. All clinically active dentists have anxious patients in their rosters. The simplest choices available to you for anxiolysis are nitrous oxide and oxygen or oral benzodiazepines. If your office does not offer nitrous oxide sedation or if nitrous oxide alone is inadequate for patient management, it might … Read more

Shifting Risks in Dental Radiography Using Artificial Intelligence

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We are living in a new chapter of human development. Known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it represents a fundamental change in how we live, work and relate to one another.1 This change is enabled by extraordinary technology, which blurs the physical, digital and biological worlds in ways that create both prodigious progress and potential … Read more

Let’s Get Excited About Medical History Forms

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Most dentists prefer to avoid lawsuits, regulatory complaints, medical emergencies or, for that matter, any clinical adverse events. Such incidents, at a minimum, cause stress, consume time, and erode profits. At worst, adverse events morph into traumatic career altering experiences. Fortunately, there is a tried-and-true antidote that helps clinicians prevent and mitigate such unfortunate events. … Read more

OraQ: The Power of AI with Thousands
of Mentors at Your Side

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How amazing would it be if you had thousands of knowledgeable and trusted mentors to confer with for each patient? That collective knowledge would undoubtedly raise the level of evidence-based care for your patients. Even better, imagine what that could mean for your case acceptance and overall production. OraQ, an AI-based, clinical decision support system … Read more

Fate Loves Irony: Meet Canada’s Singing Dentist, Dr. Sanya Arora

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A Delhi family of modest meansleft familiarities and flew overseasto a country known for maple treessyrup, snow, and civility.Where hard work promised prosperityand the kids could have opportunities. But none than Fate could foreseehow cruel Canadian kids would beto the young daughter, who was constantlybullied because of her ethnicity;because she was behind academically;because of her … Read more

How Dentists Can Protect Themselves Against Rising Tax Rates

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As a dentist, you’re probably aware of the impact the Income Tax Act has on your life, considering tax is likely your biggest expense. With the average Canadian dentist paying personal tax rates of 43%–50%, taxes drag on dentists’ ability to grow their wealth over time. Understanding how to reduce this drag is crucial in … Read more

Planning for Retirement: Part 3 of 3

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Two, Four, Six, Eight! Maximize and Appreciate! In our previous two articles of a three-part series, we shared the two most common ways in which a dental practice is sold, the four ways to maximize your practice’s value, and six critical themes that create a framework to maximize your wealth and minimize your risk. In … Read more

How to Market Your Dental Practice to Younger Audiences

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Marketing your dental practice to younger audiences can open new avenues to expand your brand. With social media’s rising popularity, especially among the younger ages of 18 to 25, broadening your online reach can help people in this demographic find the dental care they need, which may turn into leads for your business. To emphasize … Read more

Is it Time to Give Up on Social Media for Your Dental Practice?

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Social platforms such as Facebook have been a hub of society for years, and COVID-19 only cemented the trend. With a steadily growing number of users, most of whom are highly active, it appears to be a marketing goldmine. In reality, it can be a valuable part of your dental marketing plan, but it may … Read more

Office Space: Stringham Dentistry

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THE WHY: The Owner’s Story Stringham Dentistry is a well-established dental practice that has been serving Edmonton, AB residents and its surrounding communities for over 40 years. This second-generation practice was originally opened by Dr. Stringham Senior who was also involved in the construction of the original building. He subsequently transitioned ownership of the practice … Read more

Parents in the Dental Operatory

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Should parents stay or should they go? Does your office have a policy about parents being in the treatment room with the child? Decades ago, it was recommended that parents stay out of the dental operatory as it was believed that a parent’s anxiety would be transferred to the child.1 Times have changed and so … Read more