It’s been said that there is no health without mental health—the truth of this statement is difficult to refute. Mental illness presents a serious barrier to receiving good health care and dental care is no exception. The enormity of this public health concern becomes clear when you consider that, at any moment in Canada, mental … Read more
Yes. I’m still writing poetry. I hope you liked my other two poems (see Michael Carabash, “A Love Affair: DMC’s 2019 Grenada Dental Mission Trip”, Oral Health Magazine, October 2019). Now, this poem is about the tease. You know – the expectation and anticipation that just drives us absolutely nuts when we want something very … Read more
Dr. Ines Guedes is a certified orthodontic specialist from Manitoba. Her first office is located in the Pembina Valley region of the province, in the city of Morden. After a few years of practice, she decided to expand into a second location in Winnipeg. From the very start it was her wish to design a … Read more
How often do you use search engines to help with a decision? If you’re anything like me, the answer would be dozens of times every week. Whether it’s looking up restaurant reviews online or deciding which resort to book for a vacation, search engines and the associated results can dictate almost all decisions in today’s … Read more
It’s that time of year to get in some late minute tax planning before it’s too late. Here are our ten tips for a tax-friendly holiday: 1. Pay yourself If your professional corporation’s (PC) or other income is expected to be over $500,000 this year, you may wish to issue a bonus to yourself or … Read more
Let’s talk about the month of December. It’s that time of year when my office becomes increasingly empty as the days pass. My fellow employees start to use the rest of their allotted vacation time and I can’t help but worry if every task will be checked off not only my shopping list but my … Read more
Being pregnant is a wonderful time for women, and it’s packed with so much to do when preparing for their baby. Unfortunately, during this busy time, one of the things that sometimes gets less attention is dental health. This is really is troublesome, because dental issues like gum disease can lead to premature births. In … Read more
I recently had coffee with one of my dental hygiene classmates from the University of Alberta. We reminisced about our days of learning about the profession of dental hygiene with memories of our favourite instructors, exams, radiography labs, petri dishes and dental hygiene clinics. We shared our unique individual amazing stories of our experiences during … Read more
Irene: When did you know you wanted to open your own practice? Michelle: In 2015, the entrepreneurial vision began. Why? I’ve always had a passion for health. For wellness. For connection. For beautiful SMILES. My beginning was a shift. A shift in how the delivery of healthcare services can be provided when we recognize … Read more
Owning my own practice seemed insurmountable in 2010 when I put together my first business plan. It took me three months to add the lines and numbers into various spreadsheets and when I realized that I didn’t have enough money, time or knowledge about business, I put the well-detailed, colour-coded binder in a storage bin … Read more
I’ve been blessed to have an extraordinary support team of friends, family and colleagues who have helped me with every step of our mission, to help ‘Transform the Dental Hygiene Experience’, for the Clinician, the Client and the Practice. It is with this mission in mind that has led me on my quest to create … Read more
As you are all very aware, dental hygienists are educated health professionals who specialize in the promotion of oral health and the prevention of oral diseases. But in the grand scheme of things, you are so much more than that. You are a trusted resource provider. You’re an educator. You’re a professional. You’re more than … Read more
Historical thinking about the role of the dental hygienist as a member of the health care team is that their purpose is primarily auxiliary or clinical.1 However, a paradigm shift in the profession has been in process for several years.2 The shift in dental hygiene emphasizes the roles of educator and health promotor as primary … Read more
In the world of dental hygiene, we commonly refer to routine follow up exams with patients as ‘recall’ appointments. More appropriately, these can be considered re-care exams, as our patients aren’t recalled per se, rather compassionately re-cared for through the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of their oral health. Re-care exams play a very important role … Read more
Forget trying to lose weight for the next selfie on Instagram – get healthy and fit to boost productivity and mental clarity. You see being physically fit has major physiological benefits that go far beyond fitting into your skinny jeans. Exercise scientists have demonstrated that a fit body supports boundless energy, a more robust immune … Read more
As dental hygienists across Canada, we are united and bonded by one major, collective fear: The Continuing Competence, Quality Assurance auditing process. The mere mention of the term elicits a sequence of events including, but not limited to, sweating, blurred vision, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and a sense of overall dread. For many … Read more
As we approach the end of the year, it’s common for many people to look at their bank accounts and question where all the money they made has gone. Taking control of your finances requires discipline and we have provided some tips and tricks that will help you keep more money in your pockets as … Read more
Ivividly remember my interview, first job and very first day. I thought outside of the box to secure my first job. Writing my resume was a challenge being a new graduate without any dental experience. Unlike some of my 2007 graduates, I wasn’t a dental assistant first, and aside from having a dentist of my … Read more
Many believe that a successful job search is based primarily on our resume – education, previous employment, certifications, involvement in extracurricular activities. Yet there is so much more to it, especially for those who may not have a lot of work experience yet. There are two key things that can give a candidate an edge … Read more
The dental patients we once knew are a thing of the past – much like your old flip phone. Today’s patients are tech savvy, well educated and likely to have researched all of their symptoms and dental treatments prior to arriving in your chair. In today’s competitive landscape, dental care professionals need to inform and … Read more