A New Era Has Begun

Photo: “Etherdome” at Massachusetts General Hospital (2006) Painting: “Ether Day” October 16, 1846 at the Massachusetts General Hospital. “The very first public demonstration of Anesthesia achieving insensibility to pain”. Dr. William Thomas Green Morton, A Boston dentist administered Sulphuric Ether to the patient Gilbert Abbott. The surgeon, Dr. John Collins Warren, removed a tumor from his neck. Knowledge of this discovery spread from this room throughout the civilized world and new era for medicine and dentistry had begun.

On February 17, 2023, the Canadian Dental Regulatory Authorities Federation approved the national recognition of Dental Anesthesia as a Specialty in Dentistry. Shall I be so bold to say “A New Era Has Begun”? As current President of the Canadian Academy of Dental Anaesthesia (CADA), I think I will be so bold as to name … Read more

Got ‘Til It’s Gone

Dental Anesthesia

Don’t it always seem to go/That you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. – Joni Mitchell (“Big Yellow Taxi”) There is an active application to recognize Dental Anesthesia as a dental specialty nationwide. Dental Anesthesia is recognized as a specialty in Ontario as well as in the United States and Japan. This assistive … Read more

Escalating Patient Count Provokes Growth Of Dental Anesthetics Market At 5% CAGR During Forecast Period, Reports Fact.MR

According to a recently published Fact.MR report, the global dental anesthetics market has been prompted due its requirement in oral surgeries, particularly in complicated cases. Furthermore, the inclination towards painless treatment and active prevalence of oral health are other factor motivating the sales of dental anesthetics. In order to gain better insight, readers can access … Read more

Dental Patient Dies After Getting Too Much Anesthesia Too Quickly

Maureen and Gary Myers of Odessa are waiting – and have been for more than four years now. In September 2014, their 39-year-old son Tommy went in for a cleaning at Grand Dentistry in New Port Richey. Tommy, a special needs patient with Down Syndrome, was sedated by Dr. Veronica Thompson. Records show that, within minutes, … Read more

Two Patients Died After Going to Dentist Who Lost License, NC Officials Say

A North Carolina dentist has lost her license after two patients were hospitalized and died following visits, state officials said. The North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners revoked Shawana Patterson’s license to practice dentistry, as well as her general anesthesia permit, according to a board document. The decision was reached after a patient died following … Read more

Biomechanical Implant Failures Management of an Implant Failure: A Case Report

Implant Failure

Introduction The goal of modern dentistry is to restore the patient’s oral health to normal contour, function, aesthetics and speech. 1 The era of dental implants have ushered in a new treatment concept where the patients no longer have to use removable dentures, or sacrifice healthy adjacent teeth. The success and predictability of osseointegrated implants … Read more

Supplemental Oxygen in an Acute Myocardial Infarction

Acute Myocardial Infarction

You are about to begin dental treatment on your healthy 65-year-old male patient when he suddenly develops severe chest pain. You suspect he is having an acute myocardial infarction and immediately call 911. You then refer back to the treatment algorithm, MONA, an acronym (morphine, oxygen, nitroglycerin and aspirin) used in the management of patients … Read more

The New Standard (and Why We Should Comply)

Acute Myocardial Infarction

“Gotta hit the club/Like you hit them hit them hit them angles” – Nice For What (clean version), Drake On November 15, 2018, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario accepted a new revision of the Standard of Practice for the “Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia in Dental Practice”. This made Ontario the … Read more

Oral Surgeon Accused of Sexually Assaulting Patients Under Anesthesia

A Wilmington oral surgeon is accused of sexually abusing at least four of his patients while they were under anesthesia, according to the Wilmington Police Department. Michael Lee Hasson was arrested Thursday night and charged with second-degree forcible sexual offense and three counts of sexual battery. Hasson, 55, has been booked under a $1.25 million … Read more

Internal Emails Raise Questions About Dental Board Investigations

After receiving repeated warnings about a dentist’s falsified anesthesia credentials, Arizona Dental Board officials intentionally looked the other way, silenced staff, and even helped the dentist continue to practice, according to internal emails and documents obtained by ABC15. The board’s executive director also incorrectly attempted to guess the news station’s source. “Obviously (name redacted by … Read more

Health Officials Discipline Vancouver Anesthesiologist Accused of Unprofessional Conduct in Boy’s Death

Health officials in Washington state have taken disciplinary action against a Vancouver anesthesiologist accused of unprofessional conduct in connection to the death of a 4-year-old boy. The Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission previously filed claims again Dr. Chester Hu, alleging he put a dental patient at risk. The patient, identified as 4-year-old Mykel Peterson, … Read more

Trial Begins for Dentist Accused of Killing 3-Year-Old Patient

The trial is underway for the dentist accused of killing a three-year-old child during root canal procedures. Her defense attorney says the dentist did everything she could, but didn’t know vital information before she started the dental work. The prosecution claims the Dentist Lilly Geyer did nothing to revive Finely Boyle after complications arose from … Read more

Dental Board Votes to Allow Arrested Dentist to Keep Practicing

The Arizona dental board rejected calls from Governor Doug Ducey to take stronger action against a dentist facing criminal charges for falsifying his anesthesia credentials. At a public meeting Friday, board members defiantly called on the Governor’s Office to produce evidence that Dr. Pankaj Goyal presents a danger to the public. “If there’s anything in … Read more

Arizona Dentist Falsely Obtained General Anesthesia Permit

Governor Doug Ducey is demanding immediate answers and action from Arizona’s Dental Board after an ABC15 investigation revealed a Valley dentist obtained a general anesthesia permit using documents multiple people and organizations said are fake and fraudulent. In a letter sent Monday, Ducey directed the board’s executive director, Elaine Hugunin, to respond to his questions … Read more

Data Driven Dentistry

What better way to learn how to be successful than through the experiences of your peers and colleagues. Throughout our lives, we draw from our own experiences to make decisions and conclusions. Making informed decisions is a quality that will help you lead the life you want and more importantly, become as successful as you … Read more

Barriers of Access to Deep Sedation and General Anesthesia as Identified by Ontario Dental Patients

Infection Control

There are various indications for deep sedation and general anesthesia (DS/GA) in dentistry, including anxiety associated with dental treatment, pre-cooperative age, traumatic or extensive dental procedures, and cognitive impairment or motor dysfunctions.1–3 Although many of the patients who fall into these categories require DS/GA in order to facilitate dental treatment, not all of them are … Read more