Best Celebrity Smiles Male and Female

The AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) has released their list of the best celebrity smiles for 2006, taken from a survey of dental professionals.

Halle Berry (X-men, Bond Gal, etc.) won for the best female celebrity smile with a 38% share from dental professionals while Mathew McConaughey won best male celebrity smile with 44% of the vote.

It's hard not to agree with the results :)

Reference:
AACD, 2006


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

New Google Maps to the practice website added.

Hi all,

Updated the contact page of my website at www.promenadecourtdental.com with new hybrid maps from maps.google.ca . They are a mix of satellite imagery with major streets overlayed on top. I also used an image of the exterior of the building (seen at the right) so that people trying to find the practice have something visual as a reference.

Take care,

Hans.


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Added Yahoo Oral Health News Feeds to the Blog

Hi friends,

I switched over to Yahoo!'s Oral Health News Feeds (left column) simply because they are more relevant to this blog . So far, the initial reports from family, friends and staff is positive.

Take Care,

Hans

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know? Medications known to cause gingival (gum) overgrowth.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of systemic medications that cause gingival (gum) overgrowth, but it's a base reference:

Anticonvulsants (Phenytoin)
Calcium Channel Blockers (Dilitiazem, Felodipine, Nifedipine, Nisoldipine, Verapamil)
Immunosuppressive Agents (Cyclosporin A, Mycophenelate Mofetil)

Reference:
DeRossi S and Hersh E, A Review of Adverse Oral Reactions to Systemic Medications, General Dentistry, March-April 2006, Vol 54, No. 2, pg 131-138.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know? The Tongue

The tongue is the only set of muscles in the body that have their attachment at one end.

Reference:
The Toronto Star, Ideas Section, Oct 22/06 Page 3

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know? Dry Mouth Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of dry mouth may include:

• Increased need to sip or drink fluids when swallowing
• Difficulty speaking
• Difficulty swallowing
• A burning or sore sensation in the mouth
• Inability to eat certain foods
• Diminished or altered sense of taste
• Increase susceptibility to oral infections
• Sleep interruptions due to thirst
• Difficulty wearing dentures
• Tooth decay
• Gingivitis
• Stale or bad breath

Reference: Academy of General Dentistry Factsheet on Dry Mouth

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know? Dry Mouth and Medications

Medications are the cause of more than 90% of dry mouth cases.

Source: Academy of General Dentistry Factsheet on Dry Mouth


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know? Periodontitis (Gum Disease) and Health

Potential effects of Moderate to Severe Periodontitis (Gum Disease) on the Body:

Stroke: 2 times higher
Chronic Respiratory Disease: 2-5 times higher
Coronary Artery Disease: 2 times higher
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: 4-7 times higher
Diabetes: 2-4 times higher

Reference: Articles in the "Proceedings of The Periodontal-Systemic Connection: A State-of-the-Science Symposium," Ann. Perio 2001


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Mississauga Dentistry: Across from Trillium Hospital's Mississauga Site

Looking for family dentist near Trillium Hospital in Mississauga? Promenade Court Dental is located across the street at 2233 Hurontario St (1/2 km north of the QEW). We welcome new patients and emergencies. All our patients can take advantage of our tooth whitening specials: only $149 for custom tray whitening (50% off, limited time only and complete exam required). Call my assistant Jodie at 905 273-7100 to schedule an appointment (open evenings and Saturdays).

Take care


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know? Tooth Whitening and Crowns

You should wait two weeks after tooth whitening to your desired shade to select the colour of your crown. It takes that long to have the colour of your whitened teeth stabilized.

(POW Laboratories/Fall 2006 Newsletter)

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental: Did you know? Part 2

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that 10-15% of the world's population are suffering from severe periodontal disease. (Currently 700 million to 1 billion people.)

Reference:
World Health Organization: Global Oral Health Data Bank, Geneva: WHO, 2002

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental: Did you know? Part 1

Smokers are four times as likely to have periodontal (gum) disease as someone who has never smoked.


Reference:
Tomar SL and Asma S Smoking-attributable Periodontitis is the US. Findings from NHANES III. J Periodontol, 2000:71:743-751.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Health Stories from Digg.com Integrated into Blog

Well, I've managed to get popular health news stories on the left column dynamically updated from http://www.digg.com/. The cool thing about this website is that users get to rate the stories over the newswire/internet based on their interest level (a social component to health news). Can't get just dental stories yet, but I will try again in the future. As always, consult your physician or dentist first on any issue or topic that you might have questions to.

Take care,

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Celara Denture Technique

Hi all,

Had a lecture at POW dental laboratory on the Celara denture technique for replacing complete dentures. It generally involves using the existing denture as a template and fabricating a new denture (with virtually any dimension or variable changed as you see fit). In short, it increases the predictability of a new denture since it is based in part on the old denture. Sounds like an interesting technique for certain cases. For more information you can head to their website: Dentovations

Take Care,


Hans.


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Swish if you can't brush!

Hi all,

Here's a great tip in the September isssue of Parenting Magazine and also the October issue of AGD Impact (p.20) that a good idea after meals is to swish with water for 30 seconds to remove the food acids that harm the enamel. Brushing is better, but if you are in a pinch, this is a decent alternative.


Take Care,

Hans.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Computers in the Operatory

Hi all,

I've started using computers in the op where I'm doing most of my dentistry. So far, I use it for patient education and playing music/podcasts/audiobooks from iTunes. In the future, the plan is to get a flat screen for the wall (and/or) ceiling facing the patient. The laptop in the op is an Dell Inspiron 8200 (I love it!) borrowed from home, but I hope to get a Core 2 Duo laptop some time around the holidays.


Take care,

Hans.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Green Bite Apple

Hi all,

Went to Dentalfest in Kitchener, ON to see some of the newer products and came across this bite registration material that tastes like green apples. I got a sample to try out and I have to say that I'm quite impressed with the rigidity and tolerance by my patients so far. (I'll give an update on the product later on to see if my opinion holds)

Take Care,

Hans.


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Sensodyne Pronamel

Hi all,

Just got this fax from GSK (Glaxo) about their new Sensodyne Pronamel products (Trademarks with their respective owners). Went to their website at www.dental-professional.ca (intended only for dental professionals) and got the following information about this product in Canada:

HELPS PROTECT TEETH AGAINST THE EFFECTS OF ACID EROSION AND SENSITIVITY

ProNamel helps to reharden softened enamel:

• Microhardening effect – high fluoride uptake from unique new formulation

ProNamel helps address the pain of sensitive teeth:

• Low Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA)
• Contains Potassium nitrate (5% w/w)

ProNamel also offers these additional benefits:

• Neutral pH
• SLS-free
• Provides the benefits of a regular toothpaste including fresh breath, caries protection, and plaque removal (with brushing)
• Two great flavours: Mint Essence and Fresh Wave

I'll follow up with my first impressions of this product when I get some samples. Remember that the features stated above are from the manufacturer. I usually recommend Sensodyne-F to my patients with sensitivity and before any sort of tooth whitening treatment.

You can read the headline page on their website here.

Take care,

Hans.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Steroid Abuse Harms Gingival Tissues

Hi all,

The great people at the American Academy of Periodontology have this article on the relationship between anabolic steroids and gingival (gum) enlargement. Here's the snippet:

Researchers found that prolonged use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) is closely associated with significant levels of gingival enlargement, according to a new study published in the Journal of Periodontology. Study Abstract *

Gingival overgrowth is a condition in which the gingival tissues become swollen and grow over the teeth. Overgrown gums make it easier for bacteria found in plaque to accumulate and attack supporting structures of the teeth, potentially leading to severe periodontal infection.

Just a reminder that a lot of medical conditions/drugs can cause gingival overgrowth. Always advise your dentist on the drugs you may be taking and any medical changes at every dental appointment. You can read the rest of the article here: Steroid Abuse Harms Gingival Tissues

Take care,

Hans.
Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Tech Hints I: www.download.com

Hi all,

I often get asked (as a tech-head) where I get most of the software applications that I use. Well, most is store bought (Win XP, HP Photo imaging/editing software), but a great many apps come from www.download.com, CNET's great archive of reviewed software (screenshot to the right). This site is great for downloading software that is free of spyware, viruses, and malware. (Although some programs still install secondary programs, it is usually stated before you download the program). Try it out here: CNET's download.com

Take care,

Hans.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Podcast Blurb Part II - Dentalcast

Hi all,

Here's a podcast that I regularly listen to: dentalcast hosted by Dr. David Dodell. The podcasts are generally aimed at the professional populations (dentists, hygienists etc.) and offer quite a bit of good information. (e.g. Episode 24 -Bisphosphonate Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw)

You can subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or go to the website here: Dentalcast


Take Care

Hans

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Podcasts Blurb Part I - ADA Podcasts

Hi all,

For the dentists in the crowd, the ADA (American Dental Association) has a nice series of podcast available at their site. Topics include: "Internet Marketing","Finding and Keeping the Patient", as well as Strategic Planning and Tax Management.

They also have a podcast RSS feed. You can get the podcasts, and more details here: ADA Podcasts

Take Care

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Amalgam Dental Fillings Fend Off Bacteria Better than Composite

Hi all,

As reported at the ICAAC (Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy), amalgam fillings tend to fend off bacteria significantly better than composite (tooth coloured) fillings, although both seem to be significantly behind the antibacterial properties of titanium (implants), gold (crowns), and good-ol enamel (teeth).

Here's a snippet from the article:

The debate about mercury in amalgam dental fillings not withstanding, amalgam is superior to composite material in reducing adherence of caries-causing Streptococcus mutans, researcher(s) said here.

The least bacterial adherence was seen for titanium, gold and natural enamel followed by amalgam, according to a German study of 73 samples presented in a poster session at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

You can read the entire article from www.medpagetoday.com here: Amalgam Dental Fillings Fend Off Bacteria Better than Composite

Take care

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100