Cool Dental Website: Evidentista

Evidentista is a nice evidence based dental site helping practitioners access the latest information in the scientific literature on common clinical questions. The webiste has 2 lay individuals review the evidence while 2 oral health professionals provide a subsequent review.

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: Mouthrinses, Plaque and Gum Disease

Initial studies have shown that over the counter anti-plaque rinses are not much more effective against plaque and gum disease than rinsing with water.

Source: AGD Impact, Factsheet, April 2007, p 51.

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

Periodontal Disease and Tongue Cancer

Hi everyone,

I saw this breaking story on gum disease and tongue cancer over the newswires. I decided to quote the Globe and Mail: Chronic gum disease linked to risk of tongue cancer

If the risk of losing all your teeth to gum disease isn't incentive enough, researchers have found another preventative reason to brush and floss religiously — tongue cancer.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute say they have found a possible link between long-standing periodontitis, or gum disease, and the risk of developing tongue cancer.

The study, published in the May issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology, found the risk of tongue cancer due to chronic periodontal disease increased fivefold with every millimetre of lost alveolar bone — the bone in the jaw that holds teeth in place.

... After adjusting for potential effects of age, smoking status and the number of existing teeth, researchers found that the men with chronic gum disease were 5.2 times (my emphasis) more likely to have tongue cancer with every millimetre of bone loss than those without gum disease.

Yikes! Yet another reason to keep great oral hygiene and regular visits to your dental office.

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

Happy Victoria Day!

Hi everyone,

Happy Victoria Day (for Canadians)! Have a great long weekend! The office is closed today and will be closed as usual on Tuesday. Jodie will be back to work on Wednesday fielding your calls. For any emergencies, give the office a call to leave a message (or to get my emergency number), or visit our website to get emergency dental tips.

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: Risks of HIV Transmission to Healthcare Workers

The risk of HIV transmission from infected patients is very low. Approximately 3 out of every 1000 cases (0.3%) in which a needle stick or other sharp instrument transmitted blood from infected patients to health care workers resulted in HIV transmission.

Source: Little J and Rhodus N, HIV and AIDS: Update for Dentistry, General Dentistry, May-June 2007, Vol 55, No 3, pg 184-196.

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

Cool Dental Site: Dental-Professional.ca

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to put up a link to a nice site for dental professionals (by Glaxo SK- makers of Sensodyne and other products). It has good information about their products and some patient friendly tools. However, as a company based site, it is natural that they will have a bias toward their products.

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

Botox for Bruxism?

Saw this in an issue of Chatelaine Magazine (March 2007, p 46). People with severe TMJ pain (the discomfort may extend to earaches, headaches, tooth pain, and facial/neck pain) may be able to get some relief by receiving Botox injections. However, multiple treatments may be required (at $400 a shot) and there may be side effects. My current recommendation is to stay with stress relief and the fabrication of a custom mouthguard if your case is mild to moderate.

Here's the teaser quote:

In the same way it paralyzes the muscles that cause wrinkles, Botox relaxes the tight, inflamed muscles around the jaw joint....patients usually see results in 2 to 3 weeks. Some people find long term relief after one session, while others need 2-3 sessions and then an injection every 3-6 months. The side effects can be...flu like symptoms for a day or two or some weakness in the face.

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: Dental Attrition

Dental Attrition: the normal physiological wear of teeth from chewing and tooth-to-tooth contact, without any foreign substances intervening. The degree of attrition is usually associated with age.

Source: Asa R, AGD Impact, April 2007, V35, No 4, pg 54-58

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

Cool Dental Site: Acid Erosion

Glaxo has put out a nice site (in the UK) explaining the causes of acid erosion. There is a multimedia explanation of the current research as well as an opportunity to get a CD-ROM with the data. Well worth the visit.

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: Smokeless Tobacco

Smokeless tobacco has over 3000 chemicals including 28 known carcinogens.

Source: Prevention Source BC Website: www.preventionsource.org

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