We have all been mystified and even exasperated by our more challenging clients, for example: those with inadequate self-care despite having sufficient manual dexterity; and people who attend irregularly for dental care, or fail to show up for scheduled appointments. We might also encounter individuals who panic if reclined in the chair, or seem angry, … Read more
The traditional model of medicine treats the body as individual systems and organs. This “dis-integrated” model of medical care also frequently excludes the oral cavity. Some examples we are all too familiar with: a physician or an endocrinologist overlooks the mouth when considering a disease-management program for a diabetic patient; a patient suffering from chronic … Read more
Oral cancer is a serious disease and for dental professionals, the stakes are high. Detrimental cultural oral habits are deeply entrenched in today’s global societies resulting in greater potential for people to develop mucosal lesions and oral cancer. By learning and providing this new knowledge of how specific cultural oral habits can cause oral cancer, … Read more
We are being challenged every day to grow as professionals. It is often difficult to keep up with all of the new information that seems to bombard us. The necessity of oral cancer screening, routinely, on a younger demographic. Infection Prevention and Control guidelines that must be implemented. The impact on oral health that the … Read more
Is this you? “I get two bad colds a year, one in the winter and another in the summer.” A week or two of down time for a cold or flu can cost you thousands of dollars in sick days as a busy health care provider. I am going to share with you some insider … Read more
Simply put, change in inevitable. All around us, change is happening on a daily basis. Why is it that so many of us are instantly turned off by the thought of change? It’s constantly happening, yet we still allow ourselves to let it become overbearing. If we could only learn to let change encourage us, … Read more
As if lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease weren’t enough, there’s more bad news for cigarette smokers. Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine found that smoking also weakens the ability for pulp in teeth to fight illness and disease. In other words, smokers have fewer defense mechanisms on the inside … Read more
A new research study has determined that vaping sweet e-cigarettes can increase the risk of dental cavities. The study investigated changes in cariogenic potential when tooth surfaces were exposed to certain e-cigarette aerosols in a controlled environment. The combination of the viscosity of e-cigarette liquids and some classes of chemicals in sweet flavors contribute to … Read more
Many Texans would agree that healthy teeth and gums are important, however a Guardian survey shows Texans aren’t backing it up with regular visits to the dentist. In fact, 1 out of 5 Texans admit they haven’t seen a dentist in 5 years or more. 57% have seen a dentist in the last year, with only 39% … Read more
She felt nauseous and had a bad taste in her mouth but didn’t think anything of it until she looked in the mirror. After the accident that left the 55-year-old woman with both legs crushed, doctors told her to take antibiotics to prevent infection. But after a week, feeling nauseous with a “bad taste in her mouth,” the US woman … Read more
If we want to increase the chances of falling pregnant and produce a child that is as healthy as possible, it makes sense that both the male and female are as healthy as can be. So, this begs the question: can fertility in men be affected by poor oral health? The answer is a definitive … Read more
Although the thought of an acid in your mouth is unsettling, 20-to-45-percent of adults in the United States show signs of acid erosion on their teeth. “The exposure of our teeth to an acid can cause loss of enamel and eventually the dentin or inner layer of the tooth, creating significant problems,” said Paul Boyd, … Read more
Dental health experts worry that more people are using toothpaste that skips the most important ingredient — fluoride — and leaves them at a greater risk of cavities. Most toothpastes already contain fluoride. While health authorities recognize fluoride as a cavity blocker, the internet is dotted with claims, often from “natural” toothpaste marketers and alternative … Read more
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) believes in working with dental industry leaders to advance both the dental hygiene profession and the oral health of Canadians. The association recognizes the role that these global frontrunners in innovative oral health care products play in building a stronger awareness of the profession and promoting the importance of … Read more
“There wasn’t really much of a debate tonight,” said Sherry Bondy, moments after Essex town council voted against putting fluoride back in their drinking water. It was a unanimous vote which differs from the stance of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit — both cite fluoride as a safe and … Read more
A team of scientists from The Forsyth Institute, a global leader in oral health research, in collaboration with the NIH-funded Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS), has published the results of a new study indicating that differences in the mouth bacteria of youth born with HIV may increase their risk of cavities. The researchers found that … Read more
From an impressive field of 818 deserving nominees, representing every province and territory in Canada, the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is thrilled to reveal the winner of its inaugural dental hygiene superhero competition. This remarkable field of nominees was narrowed to 21 finalists and evaluated by a panel of judges who selected Donna Lee … Read more
You might not know his name, but Brisbane dentist Malcolm Campbell is a hero to hundreds of children in East Timor. Once a year, with the help of other volunteers, he loads up a truck with a mobile dental clinic and travels through the troubled country delivering dental treatment to orphaned and impoverished children. He’s … Read more
Scientists from the University of Sheffield’s School of Clinical Dentistry, working in close collaboration with Dermtreat A/S from Copenhagen, have developed a unique patch using special polymers which are able to stick to moist surfaces. The patch successfully administers steroids directly to oral ulcers or lesions whilst also creating a protective barrier around the affected … Read more
New Brunswick’s public schools are getting rid of chocolate milk and juices in a revamped nutrition policy that Education Minister Brian Kenny announced on Wednesday. The province unveiled reforms to Policy 711, also known as the “healthier school food environment” policy, at a news conference in Fredericton. The minister said the updated policy will give students access to … Read more