TWiD: This Week in Dentistry

My weekly or so survey of dental stories from the internet:

Crest Pro-Enamel Shield May Stain Teeth (Miami Herald)
Sensational headline for something we've known for a while about stannous fluoride.

Dental Floss Still #1 Choice for Cleaning in Between Teeth (The Wealthy Dentist)
Not really a scientific survey but not a surprising result either.

Lawsuit: Dentist Dropped Tools Down Man's Throat (Associated Press)
Oh my...and he did it twice to a 90 year old.

Schulich Dentist Takes Bite out of Cold Cases (Western News)
Love it! A real life dental CSI (kinda).


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

Hepatitis B Dental Facts

In general, all dental and medical professionals in Canada and the US are required to have documented proof of immunization against hepatitis B to prevent onset of the disease and to prevent transmission to patients.

Why is this needed and why are regulatory colleges so strict about it?

1. Worldwide, there were an estimated 350 million carriers of Hep B
2. 10-18% of surgeons worldwide have Hep B
3. The estimated risk of transmission from an infected worker is 240-1400 per 1 million procedures
4. The sero (blood) conversion rate from a potentially infected workers is 19-30%

Source: Anand R and Bowker C, RCDSO, The Legal and Human Rights Ramifications of Serology Testing for Dental Professionals, PEAK Bulletin May/June 2009


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