Menopause is a silent epidemic, an often-overlooked transition that impacts every cell in the body, including the mouth. As a dental hygienist, educator, and woman who has experienced a hysterectomy and early menopause myself, I know firsthand the power of connection, education, and advocacy when it comes to navigating this challenging season of life. Sleepless … Read more
As obesity rates continue to rise across Canada, so does the demand for weight-loss medications. More than 63% of Canadian adults were classified as overweight or obese in 2018,1 a number that has likely increased in the intervening years, fueling a significant increase in prescriptions for these drugs. Originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, semaglutide—marketed … Read more
Oral health is an integral part of overall health, yet it often remains segregated from broader healthcare systems in Canada. Initiatives like the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), the Oral Health Access Fund, and the National Oral Health Research Strategy (NOHRS) have made significant strides in improving access to dental care and addressing oral health … Read more
Canadian ultrarunner and dentist Dr. Arden Young discusses how endurance athletes, including ultrarunners, can protect their oral health from acid wear while fueling their long runs—some lasting up to 13 hours—with high-carb intake. She highlights the importance of education in safeguarding athletes’ oral health and how sports companies are now developing products to help them. … Read more
Properly trained dentists and dental specialists can dramatically improve the impact of OSA and the burden of disease on patients and the Canadian healthcare systems. Obstructive sleep apnea is a global public health problem affecting nearly 1 billion people. The prevalence of OSA in individuals aged between 30-70 years has been estimated at 936 million … Read more
Local anesthetics (LAs) are indispensable in dental practice, providing effective pain management for many procedures. Their administration is generally safe; however, dentists must remain vigilant regarding potential adverse events, some of which, though rare, can be severe. This article delves into the safe use of local anesthetics in dentistry, emphasizing the importance of preventing and … Read more
This research paper explores the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) in addressing and assisting participants in overcoming nail-biting habits. The study aimed to understand how MI could be used as a behavioural intervention to support individuals in making positive changes regarding this common yet challenging habit. The outcomes of the study were notably positive. Motivational … Read more
Roles of the dental hygienist The key responsibilities of dental hygienists1 include health promotion, education, clinical therapy, research, change agent, and administration. We are familiar with some of these roles, especially clinical therapist and educator. The roles of researcher and change agent are not as widely fulfilled, yet they are vital to advance the profession and … Read more
As a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), my professional goal has always been to grow and evolve as an oral health provider. Simply, learn all the things—like orthodontics, laser therapy, tooth whitening, adjuncts to periodontal therapy, and so on. I even took on a casual role with my local health unit providing services, education, and screening … Read more
Abstract Periodontal disease is a chronic multifactorial disease of the periodontium, involving inflammation and destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth including the gingiva, periodontal ligaments, root cementum and the alveolar bone. Alcohol has been found to have a negative impact within the oral cavity and more specifically on periodontal health. Although alcohol has … Read more
New research from Cornell University suggests that brushing after eating starchy foods may be more important for some people than others. A study published Feb. 19 in Microorganisms found that the number of copies of a specific gene, AMY1, influences how bacteria in the mouth respond to starch. The findings help explain why some people … Read more
Researchers are increasingly studying the specifics of oral bacteria and their impact on overall health—both positive and negative. But when it comes to harmful bacteria, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found a new approach to suppress it. “Current periodontal treatments focus on reducing bacterial load mechanically, but understanding how these bacteria evade … Read more
What is value-based care? Value-based care (VBC) aims to improve health outcomes while lowering costs, compensating oral health teams for providing high-quality and cost-effective care. This includes coordinating care, involving a broader health care team, utilizing data to monitor clinical outcomes, and addressing social determinants of health. VBC models, which are slowly taking shape in … Read more
Although dental care typically aims to keep teeth and gums healthy, current research continues to show a deep connection between oral health and overall wellness. This link is significant, indicating that oral health issues can often hint at systemic problems such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, and more. The dental professionals at McLean Dentistry found it is … Read more
Indiana University School of Dentistry and IU School of Nursing students at IUPUI are learning clinical skills together through a newly developed experiential interprofessional education and practice program. Under the program, fourth-year dental students and final-year family and pediatric nurse practitioner students come together to learn assessments of the oral cavity and analysis of blood … Read more
From RDH – by Karen Davis – karen@karendavis.net Front office administrators, dental assistants, dentists, and dental hygienists have one thing in common: Patients will approach any of them to ask about something they just read or heard on TV regarding how the oral cavity impacts the rest of the body. They don’t discriminate. We’re all … Read more
Aspirin for Primary Prevention in Diabetes State of the Evidence William C. Gong, PharmD Previous guidelines recommended low-dose aspirin therapy for the primary prevention of stroke in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus who were at increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Risk factors included patient age older than 40 years, a family history … Read more