The Dental Association of P.E.I. says its members have noticed an increase in the number of patients complaining about measures meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Brian Barrett, the association’s executive director, says some dentists and their staff are frustrated about having to deal with angry complaints from people who don’t want to comply … Read more
When lockdowns were first announced, the first question many dentists and business owners had was, “How will I pay the rent?” Unlike staff wages, your place of business could not be furloughed. Rent was due regardless of whether your business was open or closed. Long term lease agreements were still valid and legal. Some could … Read more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Oral Health released a free, online training on safe care in the dental office and the principles of infection prevention and control. Foundations: Building the Safest Dental Visit is a self-paced training designed for dental health care personnel, infection prevention coordinators, educators, consultants and others. The CDC … Read more
An orthodontist in Timmins and past president of the Ontario Dental Association says dental care is considered health care, which means dentists will treat anyone in the province regardless of vaccination status. “We also recognize, you know, groups of people can’t get vaccinated,” said Dr. Lou Ann Visconti. “Lots of my patients are under 12 … Read more
The Canadian Dental Association (CDA), the national voice for dentists across Canada, is calling on the immediate action of the provincial and territorial governments to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for health care workers, including oral health care professionals. Oral health care professionals include dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental therapists, and all other dental office workers … Read more
Darcie Galbriath is back for Weekly Wisdom! Time to discuss space barriers and their function in the layout of your practice. Subscribe to Oral Health’s weekly e-newsletter to have the latest episode delivered straight to your inbox every week!
The federal government’s 2021 expansion of individuals qualified to deliver COVID-19 vaccines led Texas A&M University College of Dentistry to equip dental students to join the fight against the pandemic. “The idea started in January when dentists were still not authorized to give vaccines,” said Dr. Penelope Drayer, clinical assistant professor in comprehensive dentistry. “But the federal … Read more
As we observe more vaccinations being completed and reopenings happening across the country, we can see the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is on the horizon. Now is the time to reflect on what the biggest takeaways have been from this life-altering, not to mention business-altering, experience. Earlier in the year, we discussed the opportunities … Read more
A recent American Dental Association report shows about 30% of people who worked as dental hygienists voluntarily decided to quit practicing for fears of contracting COVID-19. Around 20% reported they had workplace safety concerns, while 16% stopped practicing because someone in their household had an underlying health condition. There were also nearly 40% who simply retired, and that added … Read more
MouthWatch, LLC, a leader in innovative teledentistry solutions, digital case presentation tools and intraoral imaging devices, recently published a highly informative and timely whitepaper entitled, “How Teledentistry is Delivering ROI and Driving Post-Pandemic Practice Success.” Written by CDC consultant, infectious disease expert, and teledentistry advocate Margaret Scarlett, DMD, the white paper explains the value of … Read more
After an early summer that seemed so promising, signs of a 4th wave are leaving all of us wondering what is next. How will we end 2021 and how will we begin 2022? Let’s face it…business planning has likely never been more challenging than it is right now! The impact on dentistry has been a … Read more
Due to the recent COVID-19 surge and the availability of safe and effective vaccines, our health care organizations and societies advocate that all health care and long-term care employers require their workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This is the logical fulfillment of the ethical commitment of all health care workers to put patients as … Read more
With the end of summer nearing, many Canadians are settling back into a routine with an increased focus on healthy habits. Numerous patients have delayed care for quite some time, and the demand ahead for treatment plans will be significant. As such, dental practices must be ready to support a return to packed patient schedules. … Read more
Before he played Walter White, actor Bryan Cranston played the lothario dentist Tim Whatley on NBC’s “Seinfeld”. While little about Whatley is realistic, the character touches on mental health issues in the dental profession; namely, the stereotype that dentists have the “highest suicide rate of any profession.”1 Even though this is an urban legend, “Seinfeld” … Read more
Some people are switching dentists over concerns about vaccination status. “If I were to ask my dentist or any medical provider whether they were vaccinated and they said ‘no’ I would immediately find a new provider,” said Christen Alexander. Alexander didn’t ask this of her dentist because at her visit she assumed they were vaccinated. … Read more
Quebec-based AMD Medicom Inc. (“Medicom”) has announced that their medical grade masks will now be made available directly to the general public through an online storefront. The decision was driven by a combination of increased production capacity at the Montreal-based manufacturing facility, the high degree of contagiousness of the Delta variant and the impending back-to-school season. … Read more
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The Manitoba Dental Association (MDA) regulates dentistry and dental assisting in Manitoba in the public interest. On August 5, the Province of Manitoba updated its Public Health Orders to loosen some restrictions. Effective August 7, 2021, health care settings, including dental offices, will continue to require mask-wearing. As health care settings, dental clinics will continue … Read more
It is with a measure of disappointment that I read this editorial (David Psutka, June, 2021). Have we somehow forgotten the lessons of the past? In the mid-80s, someone discovered that they could operate on joints arthroscopically and otherwise. So, joints were operated on with great flair and abandon. Then in the mid-90s it pretty … Read more
“Aiming to prevent or contain every case of COVID-19 is simply no longer sustainable…” Introduction The above quotation is from an open letter sent on the 6th July, 2020 to the Prime Minister and Premiers of Canada signed by many of the country’s Deputy Ministers of Health, Chief Public Health Officers and Medical Deans.1 It … Read more