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
In baseball, triple plays are rare. They are game changers that can make all the difference. Candid brings that same energy to orthodontics. Candid is distinguishing itself from others by its Transformative technology Commitment to service Dedication to support Transformative Technologies One of the company’s software tools is the CandidMonitoring, which allows patients to scan … Read more
Every dentist aims to please by providing their patients with optimal treatment outcomes. This dedication to success can sometimes lead a dentist to offer patients a guarantee (a promise of a satisfactory outcome) or a warranty (a time-limited agreement to replace, repair or refund a defect in material or workmanship). Other dentists may feel obligated … Read more
Fraud is on the rise now more than ever in the dental industry. Usually, seven percent of dentists’ monthly revenue is embezzled, and it happens to two-thirds of all dentists, so don’t ever think it can’t happen to you. Dentists are at high risk because they are usually in the operatory all day, generating revenue … Read more
Our limited time becomes increasingly apparent the further on we progress in our careers. Yet it can become an abstraction when a large offer to purchase your practice is being placed in front of you over the course of a compelling sales pitch that can sometimes be months or even years in the making. The … Read more
Earned media, particularly mentions in the news, is probably the best brand exposure that your dental practice can get. Research has shown that earned media has a much greater influence on lead conversion than other brand exposure, potentially leading to nearly ten times as many new sales as blog posts. A downside to earned media is … Read more
Did you know that the price of a box of mac and cheese was about $0.99 before COVID and is now $2.50? The price of gas has gone up and down and up beyond anything we could have anticipated. And there you have it – the inflation of food prices and gas is happening and … Read more
A new patient walks into your practice. They’re in their early twenties, and generally healthy. After reporting their medical history, which reveals struggles with mental health, they tell you, “I’m not happy with my smile. I want white crowns on my teeth. My grandfather recently died and left me $40,000.” Your clinical evaluation notes healthy … Read more
THE WHY: Owner’s story Over the span of a 32-year dental career, Dr. Craig Siemens has transitioned his career through various practice settings. He owned and operated three offices in North Vancouver, eventually selling his final practice and moving to Victoria in 2012, around the mid-stage of his career. At that point, he had decided … Read more
I think I might be getting old (I am almost a senior!). Time passes quickly and with age comes reflection. What I have learned from my journey is that most people view their lives in two possible universes as it relates to their retirement. The first universe deals with exposure and risk management. The second … Read more
When you hear the word chlorhexidine it is easy to guess the first things that pop into your mind: stain, poor patient compliance, great bacterial killer, terrible taste, works well but causes calculus, and adds a lot more work. If you speak with a dental professional about chlorhexidine there are usually two camps of thought. … Read more
A vast amount of my career has been spent on defining our powerful role as dental hygienists in the earlier discovery of an abnormal lesion through effective visual and tactile examination of the structures of the head, neck and oral cavity. Frankly, the omission of a thorough and effective extraoral/intraoral examination can cost a life. … Read more
Oral dysbiosis is an imbalance of bacteria in the dental plaque whereby pathogenic bacteria dominate the biofilm and, in turn, initiate destruction of the hard and soft tissues in the mouth. Caries and periodontal diseases result from oral dysbiosis. A new treatment option for oral dysbiosis called Prevora (10% chlorhexidine) is now available for high-risk, … Read more
Is dry mouth a complaint you hear frequently from your patients? Does your mirror ever stick to your patient’s cheek during their dental visit? We can all probably think of those patients – those patients with severe dry mouth. The American Dental Association reports that anywhere from .9-64.8% of patients suffer from dry mouth.1 The … Read more
Q: Has the definition of “localized” and “generalized” changed in reference to describing the extent of periodontal disease? There seems to be a lot of debate among the new grads and seasoned hygienists in our office. A: The new 2018 American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Classification changed the definition of these terms when describing extent … Read more
A rainbow has arrived – no more fallow time! For years, dentistry has weathered the pandemic storm (“Hurricane”) of shut-down, isolation, cabin fever, new normal and re-build. It experienced waves of shock, fear, worry, paralysis, confusion, conflict, loss and change. It demanded us to work together, seek help and lead like never before, regardless of … Read more
Dr. Mike Finn Compass Dental, Campbell River, BC How would you define or summarize your practice philosophy? Our philosophy has always been to treat everyone like they are family. We believe in forming long-term relationships with our patients and delivering a level of quality care that makes us proud. What is one thing you know … Read more