The ebb and flow of staff has always existed. Babies are born, people move cross-country, practices downsize, and often the grass is simply just greener elsewhere. But never, ever has it been like we have experienced for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revolving door syndrome Many practice owners are describing the … Read more
Remember October 2021? Outbreaks. Masks. Variants. Vaccines. Tests. Lockdowns. Mass resignations. Shortages. Inflation. Politics. Anger. Blame. And in that context, a group of Canadian dentists and support staff, mostly strangers, left home to provide free dental services to the impoverished locals of Turks & Caicos – a tiny Caribbean island known for its accessibility to … Read more
It is often said that word of mouth is the best advertisement. That may be true, but only if people are saying good things about your dental practice. Otherwise, it can become a PR nightmare. Furthermore, the modern version of “word of mouth” is actually the written word, which is widely shared across social media … Read more
Having a long-term plan ensures the hard work you put into building your business continues to pay off when you’re ready to transition and sell your practice. To make sure your team and patients are well cared for, keep these key considerations in mind. What involvement would you like to have in the practice after … Read more
THE WHY: Owner’s story McAllister Dentistry is located in the heart of Ottawa and is the brainchild of Dr. Jessie McAllister. She initially had concurrent aspirations of being a medical doctor. Drawing inspiration from her physician grandfather and artistic mother, she ultimately decided to choose dentistry as the exciting path that would allow her to … Read more
Being a boss is hard! Ask any business owner in any industry the most challenging aspect of running a business and they will all give you the same answer: people. As dentists, our focus is on seeing patients and we can easily overlook the most important aspect of being a hands-on business owner, which is … Read more
Do these statements sound familiar? Discussing treatment with patients makes me feel pushy. I don’t want our patients to feel “sold” to. Our patients would never want to hear above and beyond the minimal care needed. If you have ever thought any of these phrases, you’re not alone. Supporting optimal treatment, discussing this with your … Read more
Poor oral hygiene leads to gum and dental disease (the most prevalent disease in the entire world), causing pain, misery and expense, yet in spite of all scientific and technical advances, there has been no reduction of dental disease in the last 10 years. Every dentist and hygienist knows that caries and gum disease are … Read more
Most people understand the benefits of gut probiotics, but fewer individuals and oral health professionals are aware of the preventive and/or supportive health benefits that oral probiotics can provide by reducing the risk or severity of oral disease. Could the addition of this modality to our traditional therapies be a “missing link” that could improve … Read more
When my journey as a hygienist began over 15 years ago, never did I believe I would find myself fulfilled in a career as an orthodontic clinician. As a fresh graduate with a suction in my left hand and a scaler in the right, I was going to save smiles, one tooth at a time! … Read more
This issue we take our final in-depth look at the 2018 AAP Periodontal Classification. We’re excited to bring you more Q&As from Gabriele Maycher in 2022 on such topics as client care, record keeping, technical skills, office communication, and much more. Email your questions to amy@newcom.ca with Stay Sharp in the subject line. What systems … Read more
Heading into the third year of the pandemic, many dental hygienists are feeling frustrated, beat down and overworked. There is no doubt that we are experiencing a shortage of dental hygienists. You just Google the topic and find many articles and surveys conducted; however, it is not just our field in which people are getting … Read more
Just when we thought that we had the PPE shortage issue under control, had put up barriers, air purifiers and made sure our patients felt safe to come back to the office for treatment, here comes yet another hurdle we must overcome – NO STAFF! What happened to all the assistants and hygienists who used … Read more
In the world of dentistry, we all know that, in reality, there is no such thing as a “solo practitioner”. Even a dental office owned and run by a single dentist needs a team to create a prosperous dental practice. And while we know the job market is inevitably cyclical, the pandemic has made it … Read more
Dr. Zahra Gangji Stony Plain Dental Centre, Stony Plain, Alberta What are the two key qualities you look for in a new team member? I want people on my team who have a positive attitude and are motivated to work. We have had team members who have had no dental experience, yet they were motivated … Read more
ABSTRACT Toothpastes have evolved substantially over the past few decades. Major strides have been made in the industry with the introduction of novel formulations that have the potential to provide significant clinical benefits. The main components of toothpastes are surfactants, abrasives, and active ingredients. Of these, the active ingredients dictate the therapeutic indications of the … Read more
BACKGROUND: Six years ago, in the May issue of Oral Health, I wrote a case report on the successful treatment of root resorption in the lower premolar with the help of Er,Cr:YSGG and diode lasers. The case was diagnosed as hopeless by a local endodontist who recommended extraction. The patient was willing to try a … Read more
INTRODUCTION In the past few decades, dentistry and dental technology have advanced by leaps and bounds. These advances have been driven by improvements in computer processing power leading to advances in digital technology (CAD/CAM). The evolution in biomaterials has led to the development of zirconium oxide ZrO2 or, as it is most commonly referred to, … Read more
This article is dedicated to Dr. Mervyn Gornitsky, a dear supervisor, mentor, and a friend who has served the dental community since 1953. I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Gornitsky since 2015. Dr. Gornitsky served as JGH Chief of Dentistry from 1971 to 1998 and was given the title of Emeritus Chief … Read more
Gone are the days when only tobacco and alcohol were the main risk factors that needed to be discussed with dental patients during head and neck cancer screening examinations. A widespread change in how patients are educated on prevention of head and neck cancer is urgently needed because of a new and distinct type of … Read more