I would like to tell you a story about a woman who was a great leader. Her name is Ione Miller, and she just happens to be my mom. Mom was a city girl who, at the age of 19, married a country boy (my dad Clem) and moved to a farm. She raised seven kids, … Read more
Definitions Confidence and competence are two words that are neither synonymous nor interchangeable. Confidence must be earned, as when it is simply imagined it can lead to a false sense of security in one’s abilities, which results in, you guessed it, incompetence. Why do we as dentists struggle so much with our confidence and question … Read more
Doom and Gloom. That is all that we have been consistently living with for the last 2 years. It’s time for all of this to end. We cannot possibly live comfortably with all of this negativity around us. Is life really as bad as it has seemed during this unprecedented time in our lives? Probably … 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
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
Welcome to 2022. We, as dentists, hygienists, assistants and office administrators, have now been affected by COVID-19 for almost two years in some way, shape or form. Our dental offices have experienced situations that none of us ever dreamed of even in our worst nightmares. As a dental practice owner, I have learned so much … Read more
COVID-19 has certainly turned our world upside down. Nowhere is this truer than in the dental profession. Dental offices all over our country have had to step up measures to ensure that our patients and staff are safe. In fact, dentistry has been a success story with how well we have all done to prevent … Read more
On September 20, 2021, the RCDSO (Ontario’s dental regulator) encouraged all dentists to “support vaccination efforts, model responsible behaviour … and address vaccine hesitancy.” Other provincial dental regulators have recommended that all dentists and dental health care professionals get vaccinated against COVID-19 and, in PEI, the dental regulator went so far as to mandate vaccination. … Read more
We go through life on many roads picking up information and details as we grow, mature and age. The journey of life is a journey of knowledge. How do we gain knowledge? How do we know what we know? The ancient Greeks created a branch of philosophy dedicated to this question called epistemology. A quick … Read more
Do you remember the classic animated movie, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss? It’s my favourite Christmas movie. You probably know the premise: an evil monster – The Grinch – steals all the Christmas presents hoping he can ruin Christmas. But then he sees that Christmas isn’t gone, that surprisingly, Christmas actually goes … Read more
Thousands applied, 10 were selected. Ready, set, BAKE! These three unassuming words are hovering over my head as I take part in Season 5 of “The Great Canadian Baking Show!” If you asked me what some of my favourite things are, orthodontics and baking would surely top that list (closely followed by naps, travel and … Read more
Knowledge is defined as facts, information and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. According to Krathwohl (2002), knowledge can be categorized into four subtypes: factual, conceptual, procedural and metacognitive. It’s important to clearly understand the distinctions between the four and strive to implement your strengths and limitations … Read more
I remember going to Expo ‘67 in Montreal when I was 10 years old. In one of the pavilions, they showcased a push-button phone where you could see the person you were talking to on the other end. I thought, wow this is magical. It was just like watching “The Jetsons” or “Star Trek”. This … Read more
The learning curve for recent graduates transitioning into private practice is steep and very rewarding for those who prepare themselves for thriving in a profession that is under rapid transformation. After four challenging and rewarding years, you will anxiously await the arrival of your licence. It will be an exciting time, filled with considerations and … Read more
It’s been over a year since we have been asked to lead our teams through the crisis and attempt to dismantle the disruption. Much progress has been made, but it’s never made alone and no one can forecast exactly how we will emerge. Based on the last major disruption of the world, the commercial advent … Read more
The dental profession often sets extremely high standards for excellence. I recall the pressure I felt to ensure I didn’t miss a thing. We were trained to measure in millimetres, feel specs of grain and see the slightest shade differences; so we can’t help but notice the minute. Even years after retiring from the profession, … Read more
Dental implants are a standard of care in dentistry but this wasn’t always true. I distinctly remember one of my dental instructors saying I shouldn’t get involved in that “voodoo” dentistry. Perhaps he had heard the ADA say in the late ’70s that dental implants were not recommended for routine clinical practice and was simply … Read more
In recent history, in situations when the world was facing global calamity, our leaders countered with great initiative and unflagging hope. The Lincolns, Churchills and Roosevelts rose to the challenges and overcame extreme odds. In the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China, hope, positivity and confidence have largely been absent. … Read more