Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and, indeed, all of the dental profession have been living with the COVID-19 pandemic for over sixteen months. The first few months were particularly difficult. Oral and maxillofacial surgical care, and dental care in general, was limited to emergency management only. Despite lockdown and severe restrictions, the ethical commitment in our … Read more
As a specialist, a significant portion of my patients present after endodontic treatment has failed or was abandoned mid-treatment, due to an unforeseen complication. Throughout my career, I have seen my fair share of my own failed treatments, and I have witnessed the distress these situations can cause my colleagues as I certainly know they … Read more
Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, dental practices continue facing unprecedented challenges on both personal and professional levels. We have had to cope with the universal concerns about health risks to our patients, families, and ourselves. Added to our concerns for physical wellbeing are those of fiscal health, as the uncertainty around the economic … Read more
Upon reviewing my Editorial from the April 2020 issue, I had discussed what motivated any of us to continue to practice dentistry on a day-in, day-out basis. Little did I know what was in store for us all by the time the editorial came out in print. As I sit here at my computer pondering … Read more
Is creativity important to you? Are you a creative person? If so, in what way? What defines you as creative? What makes you creative or increases your creative potential? How do you define creativity? Is creativity something that is just inherent to the way you operate, planned and strategic, or organic in that it just … Read more
Well, it’s been a year. Most of us would agree that the current pandemic is not something we had ever imagined we would live through. What have we learned through this past year? How will our lives, our careers, our relationships benefit from this chapter in our history? Dental hygiene garnered a top spot in … Read more
This editorial is dedicated to Dr John Miner, a dear friend and a colleague who has served the dental community since 1966. His positive energy and intellectual input will never be forgotten. Dr Miner was an active member of the Ontario Dental Association and the Ottawa Dental Society for 54 years. May his soul Rest … Read more
“It’s been too hard living/But I’m afraid to die/’Cause I don’t know what’s up there/Beyond the sky” – A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke. According to Bill Bryson’s book, The Body, there are about 8,000 things that can kill us. Of course, only one cause has to succeed, and at least one will … Read more
The U.S. Department of Education reports on its website that an astonishing 1 in 59 children in the United States are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – a far cry from the figure of 1 in 2,500 that had been the accepted prevalence when I entered the dental profession more than three decades ago. … Read more
CONGRATULATIONS! If you’re reading this article, it means you are one of the lucky ones who responded, persevered and continue to survive through the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. 2020 will forever be the year of COVID – the year that changed how we see, hear, think and feel. It disrupted life as we knew it with … Read more
What a crazy and upside-down world we live in! But if you slow down and pay attention, things may start to come together… About a year ago I decided to make the theme of this issue of Oral Health – oral inflammation and systemic health concerns. Having read much and written a little on the … Read more
What can be said for 2020? Dentistry was completely shut down and no one was prepared. The dental industry had to fight for its life and for survival. On March 15, we closed our office and expected to create a plan to open within two weeks. We experienced pain from revenue cessation, overhead continuation, lack … Read more
I had virtual coffee with my former classmate last week. We’ve been having coffee nearly every month since we graduated from dental hygiene school together in 2007. We chat about dental hygiene, what’s new in our offices, cool things we’ve read, the weather, politics, the most recent Zara sales, and let’s face it, Facebook group … Read more
In March 2020, as Corona virus cases grew rapidly, it was advised that routine, non-essential oral health care be delayed until there had been sufficient reduction in COVID-19 transmission rates. What followed was an almost complete global shut down of most sectors of our society. While these measures have been central to mitigating the spread … Read more
Regardless of whether you are just starting your business or already have an established business, the steps to building a great culture are the same! Step One: Clarify core values and eat, breathe and sleep them. In other words, live them by example modeling the waddle. I suggest limiting core values to no more than … Read more
Given the requirement for aerosol generating procedures to provide effective dental treatment, the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for all dental professionals. As leaders of our teams, dentists are used to being prepared for all sorts of emergencies. However, emergencies and disasters are quite different. During an emergency you need quick decision making; there … Read more
Without a doubt, 2020 will go down as one of the most unique “leap years” in history: 28 days in February, 100 days in March, and 500 days in April and May. In March, the state of emergency was announced and dentistry closed its doors, ceased all elective dental procedures, laid off employees, notified the … Read more
I have a newfound respect for the simplicity of a perfectly made pizza. When done correctly there is total harmony between the definite crunch of the charred crust, the subtle chew of the soft and pillowy centre and the perfect balance of ingredients – fior di latte cheese, San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh basil and … Read more
This month’s issue of Oral Health Office is a perfect snapshot of fall 2020, with articles on COVID-19, patient retention, and taking better advantage of social media. These are three separate pieces, but I can’t help but see the narrative thread connecting them. Putting the health and safety of our patients first has been a … Read more
Everyone will go through trying times – often alone. For the first time in many of our lives, we are collectively going through the same trying time – together. It has been fascinating to watch reactions to the evolving COVID-19 situation. Some reactions were completely unexpected and seemingly out of character. Some pulled relationships apart. … Read more