A new policy from the American Dental Association (ADA) “strongly discourages the practice of direct to the consumer (DTC) dental laboratory services because of the potential for irreversible harm to patients.” The new policy expands upon a 2017 ADA policy entitled “Do-It-Yourself Teeth Straightening” to include the sale of partial dentures, teeth whitening trays, snoring … Read more
A new study by the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) shows that hundreds of thousands of patients are wrongly going to their GP requiring dental advice or work each year. Around 380,000 dental consultations occur at GP practices each year. The aim of the study was to discover why patients consult their GP rather than … Read more
A West Des Moines dentist has agreed not to be alone with female patients while state regulators decide what to do about allegations he made lewd remarks and advances to women in his office. The Iowa Dental Board alleges dentist Phelan Thomas “has demonstrated a pattern of making improper remarks to and exhibiting inappropriate behavior with … Read more
The College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. is taking disciplinary action against a B.C. dentist who it says failed to diagnose and treat patients properly and billed inappropriately. The college is planning a public hearing, although the dentist, Bin Xu, is not expected to attend and the college has not been able to locate him. … Read more
My last blog on the legalization of cannabis did alter my recent focus on how technologies, not yet widely used in dentistry, are making their way into our industry. For some, “new” technology is a source of stress. It “de-personalizes” service at a time when offices are trying to emphasize their unique and personal, patient … 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
An Ottawa dentist says more needs to be done to help Ontarians access necessary dental care. Around 32 per cent of Canadians don’t have dental insurance, according to numbers from 2017, and approximately one in six Canadians aren’t able to access regular dental care. “Dentistry’s gotten quite expensive,” said Dr. Mark McCullough, owner and dentist of … Read more
New research shows that the body’s own microbes are effective in maintaining immune cells and killing certain oral infections. A team of Case Western Reserve University researchers found that antibiotics actually kill the “good” bacteria keeping infection and inflammation at bay. Scientists have long known that overuse of antibiotics can do more harm than good. … Read more
The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), the leading professional organization dedicated to the dental specialty of periodontics, has published its “best evidence consensus” (BEC) panel proceedings on the topic of laser usage. The proceedings are the result of the AAP’s second BEC meeting, a model of scientific inquiry rooted in the best available published research … Read more
Running a dental practice can be stressful, and at times it can be difficult to remember the reasons you went into medicine. Good dental practice management keeps your patients smiling, which is good for both your wallet and mind. Happy patients will keep coming back, recommending you to family and friends. Cheerful patients can make … Read more
You may recall in my last blog, I discussed technological changes that could become the norm in your office by 2020… just 17 months away. My focus was on how the digital office could reduce the human contact points with our patients, meaning the remaining contact opportunities must be more valuable to differentiate our level … Read more
To view figures, click on figure mentions throughout the article. Your patient in the chair has confirmed that their lips and tongue are numb from your block local anesthesia. As you are beginning to start the clinical procedure, your patient jumps to report that you are hurting them and they still feel pain. Feeling apologetic, … Read more
Health care administration has evolved drastically in the last generation, and the expectations about how health care providers communicate with patients ranks among the biggest of these changes. Numerous studies have shown that patient satisfaction depends upon the attitude that dentists and doctors bring to their work, while others have tied treatment outcomes to the … Read more
As technology changes and becomes a bigger part of our everyday lives, you must prepare for your patients’ expectations of a dental office to be tech-heavy. While they may not fully understand the benefits of the upgraded technology, they will know that the possibility of new and upgraded services exist, and will expect them during … Read more
A legally deaf Sarnia man who was told he couldn’t have his service dog present during a dental procedure believes his human rights have been violated. But the owner of the dental office who turned him down said there’s good reason why he won’t allow animals in an operating room – it’s not hygienic. Johnathan … Read more
A lot of your patients probably get skittish prior to getting braces right? The best way to calm them down is by reminding them why they are getting braces in the first place and how they will benefit from them. Better yet, show your patients how getting braces will affect their oral health in the … Read more
Robyn Duke, Clinical Product Specialist with 3M Oral Care, goes through how their single universal paste, Clinpro™ Prophy Paste, is benefiting and easing patient oral health.
An April 29 article in Medical News Bulletin reports on the JAGES Project Longitudinal Study, which sent out questionnaires to roughly 40 thousand Japanese men and women over 65. The study found that poor oral health was associated with a greater incidence of falls in the elderly population. The study seemed to make a connection with the ability … Read more
Dental experts have drawn up a definitive list of scenarios that patients should never face in a bid to ensure excellent patient care worldwide. The checklist – which includes failing to note patients’ allergies and not screening for mouth cancers during check-ups – is the first international agreement of its type in dentistry. The experts … Read more