Oral hygiene among children and adults with severe hemophilia is poorer than in healthy controls, a single-center study suggests. The study, “Oral hygiene and dentition status in children and adults with hemophilia: A case–control study,” was published in the journal Special Care Dentistry. Dental care is a health concern often neglected by patients with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders due … Read more
Introduction Non-sterile clinical gloves are a key component of Standard Precautions. It was envisaged that their use, when there was a risk of direct contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin or mucous membranes, would prevent potential pathogens in those locations from being transmitted to other patients and, therefore, assist in reducing healthcare associated infections. … Read more
There are many systems that can be implemented in a dental practice to enhance time management between dentists and hygienists. Although these solutions are relatively simple and easy to implement, they require the cooperation of all members of the administrative team. Let’s look at managing hygiene exams and assessments. The first question to ask is, … Read more
The public’s perception of saliva is low indeed. The act of spitting on someone is considered a vile act, one of disrespect, and even hate. Yet, in some cases, spitting can be done in a joking manner, as in a Canadian produced comedic program where residents of one town, upon hearing the name of their … Read more
Do you find that each of your instrumentation kits typically contain the same instruments? Are most of your instruments similar to what you were taught in school? I usually start my instrumentation presentations by asking the audience these two questions. More times than not, the majority of the room agrees that their kits are the … Read more
It’s that time of year. The alarm goes off and you get out of bed to start the day. You peek outside the window and surprise – it’s still dark. Your motivation to get the day started is lagging. You pull yourself together and head to work. You manage to have a successful and productive … Read more
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is proud to recognize a number of individuals for their outstanding contributions to the dental hygiene profession, the national association, research, and knowledge translation. “Our 2018 award winners have set high goals and achieved much in their professional and personal lives,” notes Tracy Bowser, CDHA President. “We are thrilled … Read more
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
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
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
Combine a diet high in sugar with poor oral hygiene habits and dental cavities, or caries, will likely result. The sugar triggers the formation of an acidic biofilm, known as plaque, on the teeth, eroding the surface. Early childhood caries is a severe form of tooth decay that affects one in every four children in … 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
Oral appliance homecare has a major impact on continuing compliance, treatment success, and the patient’s overall experience with the process. Individuals utilizing dentures, sleep devices, retainers, aligners and mouth guards are at a significantly greater risk of developing oral infections. Clinical research consistently demonstrates that, in a majority of patients, these appliances become infected over … Read more
Every year, on 31 May, WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health and other risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2018 is “Tobacco and heart disease.” The campaign will increase awareness on the: link between … Read more