A patient emails 20 different dentists her recently taken full mouth series of x-rays, stating, “My previous dentist took these just before I moved to town. The move was sudden (work-related), so my dentist never had a chance to tell me what work I needed done. I’m here for two years on assignment, and I’m … Read more
“A picture is worth a thousand words.” You may have heard this common phrase many times before. Have you thought about this when it comes to your daily interactions with patients? We are trained, educated and taught how to assess, identify and differentiate between healthy and non-healthy, normal and abnormal in terms of teeth, tissue … Read more
Q: Some of my patients resist getting recommended radiographs. What can I do to encourage them to consent? A: If you read my article, “Are you Taking Adequate Radiographs?” (November 2021 issue), you know that most practices aren’t taking the necessary images throughout the process of care, especially considering the recommendation of the new global … Read more
I’m sitting at my desk on a Sunday afternoon in March, contemplating the past 24 months. It was around this time in 2020 that I travelled to Malaysia for an annual academic meeting at IMU, our partner university in Kuala Lumpur. I had a slight concern about a newly emerging respiratory virus but believed that … Read more
Dr. Edmund Wong South Point Dental Centre, Surrey, BC How would you define or summarize your practice philosophy? My practice philosophy is simple. I’m treating more than just a mouth – I’m caring for a person. By keeping this vision clearly at the forefront, everything else I do falls into place from helping patients make … Read more
At this point it is a well-known fact that the dental industry is going through a very stressful phase. Staff shortages, increased costs, increased safety measures – these all impact the stress levels of practice owners and team members alike. In fact, the amount of stress being felt is leading to even more staffing issues … Read more
Introduction Altered sensation in the head and neck can be associated with a broad array of local, regional, and systemic etiologies. Though there are multiple cranial and cervical peripheral nerves supplying the craniofacial region, neurosensory disturbance of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), its terminal branches, and the lingual nerve are most likely to present in … Read more
Abstract Patients who are diagnosed with MRONJ while being treated with bone modifying agents(BMAs) at oncologic doses, there is insufficient evidence to support or refute the discontinuation of BMAs. Administration of the BMA may be deferred at the discretion of the treating physician, in conjunction with discussion with the patient and the dental specialist. The … Read more
The mandible is the only movable bone of the facial skeleton, as the condyle portion articulates with the temporal bone to form the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). A myriad of benign and malignant lesions (Tumours/Pseudotumours) may affect the TMJ, and many remain undiagnosed until they become symptomatic or are incidentally discovered through imaging. Further complicating diagnosis … Read more
In order to achieve long-lasting adhesive restorations, each detail in the bonding process must be considered. One often over-looked aspect of bonding is the step in which the bonding agent is agitated while being placed on the tooth. Manufacturers of dental bonding agents will often recommend a 10-20 second application time of the adhesive, during … Read more
Introduction The maxillary lateral incisors are the most common congenitally missing teeth after the upper and lower second premolars. Gender differences are negligible, with women slightly more affected than men.1 Agenesis of the maxillary lateral incisors presents a significant challenge to clinicians since it negatively impacts dental and facial esthetics. Furthermore, this condition impacts function … Read more
The prevention of oral cancer has been a key topic in oral health care for many years, as many oral cancer patients still present de novo at an advanced stage, often thereby jeopardising their ultimate prognosis. Lesion size at presentation remains a key factor in management outcome. Similarly, the main etiological factors still remain present, … Read more
My journey to Mozambique began at an early age with a fascination for Africa. I read what I could about the region and memorized all the African capital cities. I always had this dream to work there as a dentist. During my challenging years in dental school, I was motivated to succeed mostly by my … Read more
In the past two years, the strain of the pandemic has caused dental teams across the country to re-evaluate processes – a challenge at the best of times but essential to providing optimal patient care and maintaining practice production through a crisis. Practices that have succeeded during this challenging time share some key commonalities: clear … Read more
In the era of remote work, flexibility is vital. For some businesses, that means investing in a free phone number so that employees can work from home while customers can still call them anywhere, free of charge. For others, instead of hiring human agents to work in different time zones, AI chatbots can be a … Read more
Recently, I watched a crew team practice at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, FL. As I watched the team glide effortlessly across the lake, I made three observations. First, I noticed their boat. It had a beautiful wood interior; the outside was shiny and spotless. Next, I noticed the leadership of the coxswain and how … Read more
We always consider the staff an important factor when valuing a practice. Dentistry, much like many other sectors of the economy, is facing severe workforce shortages in all facets of their team. These challenges can be found throughout the country. Whether it is a shortage of assistants and hygienists, and unrealistic salary expectations from new … Read more
Instagram was a social media powerhouse, with over one billion active monthly users,1 before the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other social networks, its role in business and society was cemented by the diminished opportunity for in-person interaction. Global usership of Instagram increased by 16 percent between 2019 and 2021, making it the sixth fastest-growing network during … Read more
Imagine the following scenario: A temporary dental assistant loads a sterilizer before lunch, and despite pressing the start button, the sterilizer fails to begin the reprocessing cycle. Another assistant returns later to unload the pouches. In a rush because one of their appointments ran long, they fail to confirm the status of the indicators, incorrectly … Read more
THE WHY: Owner’s story Dr. Dac Nguyen is the owner and principal dentist at Clinique Dac located in the heart of Westmount Quebec, an affluent city that lies on the western slopes of Mount Royal, on the beautiful island of Montreal. This boutique practice has been serving great dentistry to its community for almost 50 … Read more