Have a Merry Christmas and our Holiday Hours

Hi everyone,

First of all, thanks for a record breaking year in terms of patients, procedures and gifts! (wow!). Jodie, Gloria and myself are truly blessed to have a great pool of patients. We are adding another hygienist to accomodate our growth as well as new computers in 2010. Our new flat screens (long anticipated.... should be a reality this year for our operatories). You'll be able to listen to a vast selection of music and shows as well as watch the Raptors and Leafs lose in stunning HD while having a procedure done.

On a more serious note, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Treasure your time with family and friends, life is very fast and getting faster by the day!

Just a reminder that we are closed the 25th and 26th and will return with limited hours on the 28th. We are closed on 29th and 30th as well as the 1st of January. Limited hours continue that week also, (we are closed on the 5th and 6th). Normal operations begin on the 7th.

Have a great holiday!

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

Ministry of Health Website for Health Professionals and Consumers

Hi everyone,

The Ministry of Health in Ontario has a nice website directed to health professionals and consumers that has a wealth of information. I've given a partial screenshot below.

Source: http://www.health.gov.on.ca

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 Family Health Teams On The Way

December 11 - Ontario is creating 19 new Family Health Teams across the province to provide better access to family health care.

December 4

Ontario Expands Flu Immunization Program

December 1

New Law Increases Access to Health Care

November 29

Ontario Expands Access to Cancer Drug

November 27

Join the Resistance Ad Campaign

Dental Did You Know: Dentists in Canada

Hi everyone,

Some quick facts about dentists in Canada:

1. There are over 18 000 dentists in Canada
2. Approximately 76% of Canadian dentists are male
3. Over 80% of Canadian dentists are 40 years of age or under

Source: Scotts's Dental Directory Profile Page, From the Publishers of Oral Health Journal and Dental Practice Management

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

Second hand (Passive) Smoking and Caries

Hi everyone, I saw this review of a study comparing children exposed to passive smoking (PS) and those that were not. It was found that:

1. The PS group had few caries free children
2. PS children had a mean DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) score two times higher
3. PS children had higher counts of S Mutans and lactobacilli
4. PS children had declines in salivary pH, flow rate and buffering capacities

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Cigarettes and Cavities, Ontario Dentist, Nov 2009, Vol 86, No 9, pg 14-15.

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 York Times Dental Article: A Dental Shift: Implants Instead of Bridges

Hi everyone, I saw this article in the New York Times Online. Here's the teaser quote:

If I have one serious regret about my age, it is that my permanent teeth developed before New York, my hometown, got fluoridated water. I first lost a permanent molar to decay in my early 20s, and the resulting bridge has had to be replaced several times in subsequent decades, ultimately as a four-part apparatus.

Now that has to go as well. Because I could not floss and clean properly under the bridge and between the supporting crowns, I developed a severe periodontal infection.

Dr. Michael Zidile, the young periodontist I consulted, took one look at my mouth and said: “This is not how we do restorations nowadays. A bridge is not a permanent solution and makes it too hard for most people to keep their gums and underlying bone healthy. Now we do implants and individual crowns where needed.”

Read the rest of the article here: A Dental Shift: Implants Instead of Bridges

Source: New York Times, A Dental Shift: Implants Instead of Bridges, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/health/17brod.html?_r=1&ref=health Read on Nov 20, 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

Dental Did You Know: Lung Cancer Risk After Quitting Smoking

The risk of lung cancer is reduced by 50% in recent quitters and 83% in long-term quitters.

Source: Smoking Cessation Rounds Vol 3, Issue 4 (Table 1) 2009, Available at http://www.smokingcessationrounds.ca

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 Services Most Valued by Canadians 40+

Hi everyone,

In a survey on dental services most valued by Canadians 40+ as reported in October's Oral Health Journal:

1. 75% wanted fillings for cavities
2. 74% wanted to prevent gum disease
3. 63% wanted treatment to prevent cavities
4. 40% wanted implants
5. 25% wanted cosmetic treatment
   

Source: Tenenbaum H et al, What Your Older Patients Want from Their Dental Services, Oral Health Journal, Oct 09, Vol 99, No 10, pg 42-53.

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

Web article: How to keep treats from doing scary things to teeth

Hi everyone,

I saw this article online on the CBC.ca website, here's the teaser quote:

Here are a few things to keep in mind before allowing children to dig into a bag of tasty treats.

Read the rest of the article here: How to keep treats from doing scary things to teeth

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/10/29/f-halloween-dental-health-candy.html Read on Nov 2, 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

H1N1 Update

Hi everyone,

OK, here's the official update from the Government of Canada's official flu website: www.fightflu.ca

High Risk Groups:

1. Children under 5
2. Women who are pregnant
3. People with chronic conditions such as: heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, asthma and chronic lung disease, liver disease, blood disorders, severe obesity, immunosuppressed people, neurological disorders

Protect Yourself:

1. Wash your hands frequently (for 20 seconds or use an alcohol based sanitizer)
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
3. Cough and sneeze into your arm
4. Get your H1N1 shot
5. Keep common surfaces clean and disinfected
6. If you get sick...stay home!

For more information, including how to recognise symptoms, go to the Government of Canada's H1N1 Website

Source: Government of Canada website and brochure http://www.fightflu.ca, read on Oct 30/09.

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

Diazepam (Valium) Usage in Dentistry: Basic Facts

Diazepam (Valium), a longer acting sedative, has been used on anxious patients to allow dental procedures to be done in a more reliable fashion. The usual use of Diazepam are as follows:

1. Dose range: 2-20mg
2. Tablet form: 2, 5, 10mg
3. Oral Solution: 5mg/5ml and 5mg/ml
   
4. Onset: 20-40 minutes
5. Half Life: >24 hours
6. Best used: in the evening before a sedation appointment and can be followed on the appointment day

Source: Bhalla J, Anxiety and Dental Management, Ontario Dentist, Vol 86, No 8, pg 20-23.

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

Shortage of Dentists for our American Friends?

Saw this article in the Canadian Medical Journal Website regarding the possible shortage of dentists in the US. Here's the teaser quote:

Residents of the United States who need teeth extracted may soon have to do it the old-fashioned way — with pliers, whisky and elbow grease — because there may not be enough dentists to go around.

The number of practicing dentists is projected to start declining in 2014, which will likely exacerbate an existing problem: the unwillingness of many to practice in rural areas. Further compounding the problem are such factors as a continuing migration from general practice to specialties like orthodontics, the closure of dental schools, a decrease in the size of graduating classes, the forthcoming mass retirement of older dentists and the growing number of female dentists, who tend to work fewer hours than their male colleagues.

You can read the rest of the article here: United States Faces Dentist Shortage

Source: Canadian Medical Journal Website http://www.cmaj.ca/earlyreleases/21oct09_dentist_shortage.shtml Read on Oct 27/2009

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

Triazolam (Halcion) Usage in Dentistry: Basic Facts

Triazolam (Halcion), a shorter acting sedative, has been used on anxious patients to allow dental procedures to be done in a more reliable fashion. The usual use of Triazolam are as follows:

1. Dose range: 0.125-0.5mg
2. Tablet form: 0.125, 0.25mg
3. Onset: 15-30 minutes
4. Half Life: 1.5-5 hours
5. Best used for: short to moderate length dental appointments (2-4 hours)

Source: Bhalla J, Anxiety and Dental Management, Ontario Dentist, Vol 86, No 8, pg 20-23.

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

Ativan Usage in Dentistry: Basic Facts

Lorazepam (Ativan), a sedative, has been used on anxious patients to allow dental procedures to be done in a more reliable fashion. The usual use of Ativan are as follows:

1. Dose range: 0.25-4mg
2. Tablet form: 0.5, 1.0, 2.0mg
3. Liquid form: 2mg/ml
4. Onset: 30-60 minutes
5. Half Life: >8 hours
6. Best used for: longer dental appointments (3 hours)

Source: Bhalla J, Anxiety and Dental Management, Ontario Dentist, Vol 86, No 8, pg 20-23.

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

Chewing Gum...It Really is Good for you!

Saw this article in the Science section of the www.canoe.ca website. Here's the teaser quote:

London researchers have found the simple act of chewing gum helps people with Parkinson's swallow, reducing a major problem for those with the debilitating disease.

Researchers believe repeated chewing leaves a lingering memory in the brain that can help patients cope a bit better.

"It was very helpful in terms of improving drooling and swallowing," Dr. Mandar Jog, London Health Sciences Centre neurologist and director of the Movement Disorders Centre, said yesterday.

You can read the rest of the article here: Chew gum, it's good for you

Source: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Science/2009/10/23/11497311-sun.html Read on October 23, 2009, Chew Gum, It's Good for you.

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

Poor Hygiene and Orthodontic Treatment Times

Studies have shown that when your dentist marks "poor oral hygiene" in your chart 3 or more times during orthodontic treatment, that it correlates to an increased treatment time of 1.2-2.2 months.

Source: Brown D et al, Systematic Evaluation of Patient Oral Hygiene for Orthodontic Patients, Oral Health Journal, Sept 2009, Vol 99, No 9, pg 52-58.

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

Dental Care During Pregnancy

Hey everyone,

I was just reading some of the latest findings/summaries in the Ontario Dentist Journal about pregnancy and dental care. Some interesting points:

1. 50% of women experience gingivitis during pregnancy due to increased hormone production
2. Roughly half of those women do not seek dental care
3. A study of 823 women at 13-21 weeks did not show any adverse fetal outcomes when periodontal disease was treated by scaling and root planing using local anaesthetic
4. Local anaesthetics are generally safe during pregnancy. However proper aspiration is particularly important to prevent inadvertent intravascular injection
5. Health Canada recommends that amalgam fillings should not be placed or removed during pregnancy. This approach is conservative since studies have failed to show an increased incidence of birth defects, spontaneous abortions, neurologic or infertility problems.
6. Prenatal x-rays are a small dose of radiation that has not been shown to be associated with any adverse fetal abnormalities

Source: Feferman I, Ontario Dentist, OD Healthline, Sept 2009, Vol 86, No7, pg 16-17.

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

Cosmetic Makeover in a few Pictures: Part I

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to give everyone a sample of how we do a nice cosmetic case. In this case, our patient had missing upper laterals that were replaced by some bonding a number of years ago. She was not confident in her smile, and therefore wanted her front 6 teeth redone with two bridges. Here's the before photo (and yes, those devices around her lips are just lip retractors...thanks to Deborah for the photos):

Notice the poor contour of the teeth, not to mention the lack of strength this type of restoration has. It will be much better with two bridges cemented in. After a consult with the patient, as well as getting all necessary hygiene appointments done beforehand, we had a few goals in mind with this case:

1. Improve the shape of the teeth to a more natural contour
2. Make the teeth larger for a more youthful look
3. Improve the colour so that the teeth look whiter
4. Improve the contacts so that we have a good chance at having the gingiva (gums) nicely fill in the space in between teeth.

So with the help of Krest Labs, we treatment planned the case.

Coming up in Part 2: The preparation of the teeth and the shape of temporary teeth.


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

Unfortunate Terminology: CBC.ca article - Will face masks protect you from the flu?

Here's an unfortunately worded article in regards to dentistry (Will face masks protect you from the flu?). While I have no issue with the premise and conclusions of the article with regards to the H1N1 flu, I wonder what this statement is doing in the article:

"Not all masks are created equally, either. Surgical masks — the kind your dental hygienist might use while inflicting a cleaning on you — offer some help, but they won't filter out smaller particles and don't provide a good seal."

Huh? Inflicting a cleaning on you? So much for preventive dental care. C'mon CBC you can do better!

Source: Will face masks protect you from the flu? April 28th, 2009. Read Sep 1, 2009. http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/04/28/f-flumasks.html

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: Oral Appliances

According to the latest RCDSO (Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario) guideline publication, 40% of patients with myogenous (muscle-based) jaw issues who had a placebo oral appliance (guard) experienced remission or noticeable improvement.

Source: Klasser G and Greene C, Oral Appliances in the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario PEAK Publication, Aug 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

TWiD: This Week in Dentistry (Episode 2)

Hi everyone!

Sorry about the delay in posting. I was on vacation in Europe (it was *fantastic*). I just wanted to acknowledge everyone's patience while I was gone and especially thanks to Jodie and Gloria for keeping things together while I was away. Anyways, this week had a few items of dental interest:

1) Do Redheads Feel More Pain?
A new study has found that redheads are more than twice as likely to avoid a visit to the dentist - possibly because they are more sensitive to pain. But does hair colour really mean more discomfort in the dentist chair?

(Wow, this is news to me...apparently redheads may need as much as 20% more anesthesia for the same affect...I think I'll wait for corroborating studies before I take it as canon)

Source: BBC online, Aug 11, 2009, Do Redheads Really Feel More Pain? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8195177.stm
Read: Aug 18, 2009

2) Canadians Reducing Dental Visits During Recession

The economic downturn is delivering a beating to Canadians' health as well as their wealth, a new poll shows. 25 per cent said they have cancelled or delayed a dental appointment to save money

(This is not a surprising result given the recession, it is unfortunate though)

Source: The Globe and Mail Online, Aug 16, 2009, Poor economy hammers Canadians' health, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/poor-economy-hammers-canadians-health/article1254083/
Read on Aug 17, 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

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

Happy belated Father's Day and the "Principles of Waiting"

Hope everyone had a great Father's Day celebration. I'm on a reduced schedule in Mississauga because I'm covering the senior dentist's vacation time at the Tavistock location.

I was scanning some of the dental publications at the office and came upon this little gem from Dentaltown Magazine. The publisher, Howard Farran had a list of the "Eight Principles of Waiting" first created by Harvard Business School professor David Maister:

The Eight Principles of Waiting:

1. Unoccupied time feels longer than occupied time
2. Pre-process waits feel longer than in-process waits
3. Anxiety makes waits seem longer
4. Uncertain waits are longer than known, finite waits
5. Unexplained waits are longer than explained waits
6. Unfair waits are longer than equitable waits
7. The more valuable the service the longer I will wait
8. Solo waiting feels longer then group waiting

What a great list! Jodie, Gloria and myself will try to adjust our process flows so that any waiting time is perceived as short as possible.

Source: Farran H, The Waiting is the Hardest Part, Dentaltown Magazine, Vol 10, No 6 June 2009 pg 12-14.

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

The Cochrane Library Available to All Canadians!

The Cochrane Library is universally considered the best source of high quality research studies and current evidence-based clinical treatments and guidelines. A partnership between the Canadian Cochrane Network and the Canadian Health Libraries Association has allowed Canadians free access to the library on a trial basis. You can access the library here: Cochrane Library.

Source: JCDA Vol 75, No 5, pg 323, June 2009 http://www.ccnc.cochrane.org/en/index.html

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

Evidence Based Dentistry Website from the American Dental Association

The American Dental Association (ADA) has launched a new website dedicated to evidence based dentistry (EBD). The database, which will be updated 4 times a year started with over 1300 systematic reviews.

Source: http://ebd.ada.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

The British Columbia Oral Cancer Prevention Program Website: Orcanet.ca

This is a fantastic oral cancer website with clinical guidelines for dentists and a nice question and answer section for patients and providers. Check it out!

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

Pancreatic Cancer and Periodontal Disease

A Harvard study on 63 000 male health professionals showed a 62% increase in pancreatic cancer in patients who had periodontal (gum) disease.



Source: Kammer C, Gum Disease is Killing Our Patients (and Our Profession is About to be Busted)! Dentaltown, May 2009, Vol 10, No 5, pg 20-23.

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

Demi Moore and the Missing Tooth

Well, this story has been making the rounds all over the internet and even a dental blog or two. Demi Moore's dental work on twitter. Here's the teaser quote:

When it comes to twittering, Demi Moore is known for really sinking her teeth into the latest communication craze. At least the ones she has left.

The 46-year-old actress hopped on her account over the weekend to post a couple of pictures in which she's smiling in a dentist's chair and revealing a gaping hole where a tooth used to be.

"I lost it and had to have it fixed! I personally thought this look went out after you were eight, didn't know I would be rocking it again!" she wrote. "Happy to share and always appreciate the opportunity to find humility!!! Or at least be able to laugh at myself!"

Read the rest of the story on E Online and see the pictures here: For Demi, Less is More

Source: E Online, Read on May 28/09 http://ca.eonline.com/uberblog/b125706_demi_sometimes_less_moore.html

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

Smoking Related Deaths in Canada

As recently as 1998, nearly 22% of all deaths in Canada were attributable to smoking.

Source: Smoking Cessation Rounds Vol 2, No 9, 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

Dental Did You Know: Breastfeeding Duration and Non-nutritive Sucking Habits

Children that were breastfed for fewer than six months developed non-nutritive sucking habits (e.g. thumb sucking) at a four-fold higher rate than children who were fed 6 months or longer.

Source: Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 130:531-534, 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

Practice in Pictures: Part 3

More from Phi Le, the photographer/denturist we refer to.

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 Dental Blogs and Dental Characters in Movies

Just perusing around the 'net and found a couple of interesting blogs. The first is the University of Toronto Dental Library Blog by Amy Beaith and in particular the post from December 11, 2008 on dentists in movies (as characters). Here's the teaser:

A web list of movies from 1940s to 1979 with dentists http://www.classicfilmguide.com/index.php?s=essays&item=24

Ghost Town (2008) - Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear Bertram Pincus, is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts. Ricky Gervais a dentist who can talk to the dead.
Good Luck Chuck (2007) - Dane Cook and Jessica Alba Standup comedian Dane Cook stars in this romantic comedy as Charlie Logan, a successful dentist cursed with the affliction of having the women he dates fall in love with the next guy they meet.
The Whole Ten Yards (2004) - Bruce Willis, Matthew PerryJimmy the Tulip's (Willis) quiet new life is shaken up by his old pal Oz (Perry), whose wife (Henstridge) has been kidnapped by a Hungarian mob. The Tulip and his wife Jill (Peet) spring into action.
Finding Nemo (2003) - Bill Hunter voices the dentistA father-son underwater adventure featuring Nemo, a boy clownfish, stolen from his coral reef home. His timid father must then travel to Sydney, and search Sydney Harbour find Nemo. Little Nemo ends up in a dentist's aquarium.

You can read the rest of the post here: Dentist Films. I'll post the other blog in an upcoming post.

Source: http://uoftdentistrylibrary.blogspot.com/2008/12/dentist-films.html
and http://uoftdentistrylibrary.blogspot.com/


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

Practice in Pictures: Part II

Another image from Phi Le (the denturist we refer to) of the very unique roof of our building.

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

Practice in Pictures: Part I

The denturist we refer to is a hobby photographer and he decided to take a few pictures during one of his visits...here's the first in the series:

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

April is Oral Health Month!

Yes, it's that time of the year....April is Oral Health Month. The Ontario Dental Association has taken a leadership role this year in enhancing Ontarians' understanding about the importance of oral health including:

1. downloadable patient fact sheets and an oral health month guide at http://www.youroralhealth.ca/
2. grants to local communities (via the local component societies of the ODA) during the month of April
3. Brush-a-mania, the annual program to educate our young students on proper dental care. This program has already reached over 230 000 students so far

I will try in the next couple of days to post some of the materials the ODA has regarding these great programs.

Source: Estevao R, April is Oral Health Month, Ontario Dentist, April 2009, Vol 86, No 3, pg 48-9.

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 News: Toronto-based Dentist Wins Torturous Desert Race

Saw this article in the Toronto Star Online a couple of days ago. Here's the teaser quote:

A Toronto-based Canadian Forces dentist has won a gruelling weeklong, 250 kilometre footrace across Chile’s Atacama Desert beating out more experienced runners from more than two dozen countries including several Olympians.

You can read the rest of the article here:

Source: The Toronto Star online, Read April 4/09, http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/613863


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

Free Dental Care for Kids: The CINOT Program

Here in Mississauga, the municipal and provincial governments have teamed up to provide free dental care to children in need (certain financial eligibility is required). How do you get into this program for your kids? Simple:

1. Call Peel Region Public Health at 905-799-7700 to book a screening appointment. A dental hygienist will determine if the child qualifies for the dental service. Ask for the Fairview screening clinic at 325 Central Parkway Unit 21, Mississauga, ON L5B 3X9. This screening office is the closest to Promenade Court Dental.
2. Paperwork will then be provided to see us at Promenade Court Dental (2233 Hurontario, south of Hurontario and Queensway) for treatment at no charge to you. You can call us when you receive the paperwork at 905-273-7100 to book an appointment for your child.

Cheers!

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

Veteran Affairs Canada Dental Information

The Veterans Affairs Canada website now features oral health information titled: "Your Mouth: It Affects Your Overall Health"

Source: Veterans Affairs Canada Website, Viewed March 16, 2009, www.vac-acc.gc.ca/clients/sub.cfm?source=health/dental


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

Patients Using Superglue to Fix Teeth

Yes, in these troubled times (TTT), it is sad to see people who are squeezed between good benefits and government assistance having their health compromised. View the video from CNN:



Source: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/03/04/zartler.woman.superglues.teeth.kkco?iref=videosearch
Viewed on March 5/09
Disclaimer: I do not endorse any products that may be seen in commercials during the viewing of this clip

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

Consumer Alert: Fake Toothbrushes

Saw this article in the Toronto Star Online, here's the teaser quote:

OTTAWA – Consumers and retailers should be cautious when buying toothbrushes after counterfeit products bearing brand names were found on the Canadian market, Health Canada warned Monday.

The toothbrushes are falsely labelled as Colgate Massager, Colgate Navigator, Oral B Classic 40, Oral B Contura and Colgate 360.

"If an imitation is suspected, consumers should stop using them immediately, as the quality, safety and effectiveness of counterfeit products cannot be assured," Health Canada said in an advisory.

Retailers with stock from Canadian importer AG Liquidation should check their products for authenticity and remove any they suspect to be bogus, the agency said.

Last July, a public advisory was issued about a sham Oral B Classic 40 toothbrush being sold. Health Canada received a report of toothbrush bristles dislodging and catching in a consumer's throat.


Source: The Toronto Star Online, http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/588359, viewed Feb 19/09

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

Practice Improvements: Video Lab Communications

Hi everyone,

We are now using the Become One video tool with our primary prosthetic lab Pow Labs. This allows for far better communication between our practice and the fabricating lab. The previous method was through lab scripts, phone calls and the occasional visit to the lab. This streamlines information flow, lab processing time and reduces errors.

I've put in a screen capture to show you the screen I would see using the video tool.

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

Practice Improvements: New Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) for our Patients

We have a Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) for the entertainment of our patients (especially our younger generation) in our main operatory. (It also entertains me between patients ;). I have loaded it with a few games and so far it has been an enormous hit with patients. (Here's an image I took of it at home)

















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

3000 Year Old Mummy had Perfect Teeth

Click the image below to hear the story on CNN:




Disclaimer: I do not endorse any products in the advertising shown in the video clip

Source: CNN Online, Viewed Feb 13/09, http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2009/02/12/mummy.revealed.roesgen.cnn


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 Medical Clinic

Hi everyone,

Most of our patients know that we are part of a great medical/health care complex. We have a pharmacy (Best Care Pharmacy), a female physician (Dr. Ngo) along with massage, physiotherapy and chiropractic services (In Motion Rehab).

Well, due to the growth of our facility, we are proud to announce the expansion of medical services in our building. The new All Care Walk-in Clinic will start operations this week with both a female and male physician on staff. Business hours initially will be Friday and Saturday from 10am-3pm. Should you want to book an appointment please call 905-268-0414.

Update (Feb 13/09): The phone number will be active February 16/2009 onwards.

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

Article: Early Humans had Nutcracker Jaws

Saw this article online on the Live Science website, here's the teaser quote:

Our ancient human relatives had jaws like nutcrackers that allowed the hominids to chomp down on hard nuts and seeds and adapt to changes in food sources in their environment, a new computer simulation reveals.

Today's humans have comparatively small faces and teeth, making us ill-equipped to bite down forcefully on hard objects. Apparently that wasn't the case for Australopithecus africanus, which lived 3.3 million to 2.5 million years ago.

An international team of researchers used computed tomography scanning to digitally recreate an A. africanus skull to see how the jaw operated and what forces it could produce. Then, they added measurements of how the facial muscles work in chimpanzees, which share common features with Australopithecus.

Read the rest of the article here: Early Humans had Nutcracker Jaws

Source: Live Science Website http://www.livescience.com/history/090203-nut-cracking-jaws.html , Read Feb 8/09.

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

Here we grow again! New Hygienist!

Again, thanks to our patients and community for making this possible. Just a few months after going to a 5 day week and having our best year ever in terms of numbers and variety of clinical procedures, I would like to introduce Gloria to our team. She is an experienced hygienist who I've worked with for a number of years. I've found her to be a great, kind, funny and an extremely diligent hygienist who is dedicated to her patients. I look forward to her expertise in setting up our hygiene department. We are starting her on Fridays and are currently in the process of refurbishing our second operatory (which was a overflow/storage room of sorts) to match our main (operatory 1). It will eventually become a fully-fledged hygiene operatory/emergency room. Stay tuned for details.

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

Formocresol Blood Levels in Children

Formocresol is a solution used by dentists for over 100 years as a medicament in baby teeth requiring the removal of pulpal tissue (pulpotomies). The solution used by most dentists is composed of 19% formaldehyde, 35% cresol in a vehicle of 15% glycerin and water. Concern has always been expressed about the exposure of these chemicals to young children and the impact on their health.

In a great study by Jeff Kahl and his colleagues, he showed that:

1. Formaldehyde is undetectable above baseline physiologic concentrations in plasma
2. Cresol is undetectable in plasma in patients receiving treatment
3. Benzyl alcohol was detected in plasma but in levels far below the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recommended daily allowance
4. It is unlikely that formocresol when used in doses typically employed for vital pulpotomoies pose any risk to children

Source: Kahl J et al, Formocresol Blood Levels in Children Receiving Dental Treatment Under General Anesthesia, Pediatr Dent, 2008;30:393-9.

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

Vacation Time!

Yes, it's time for the annual vacation clinic shutdown. The practice will be closed and will reopen January 23rd at 2pm. Jodie and I will preferentially accommodate emergencies the first few days back.

See you all soon!

Hans and Jodie


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: Six Toxins Present in Tobacco Smoke

Health Canada has identified the top 6 toxins present in tobacco smoke that are likely to cause harm in humans:

1. Tar - a sticky black residue containing hundreds of chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic or classified as hazardous waste.
2. Nicotine - occurs naturally in tobacco plants but it's highly addictive and is also used as an herbicide and insecticide.
3. Carbon Monoxide - a deadly gas the reduces the ability of red blood cells to deliver oxygen to tissues causing most of its damage to your heart, brain and lungs.
4. Formaldehyde - a probable human carcinogen and registered pesticide.
5. Hydrogen Cyanide - one of the most toxic agents in tobacco smoke. Many of the short and long-term effects of cigarette smoke have been associated with this chemical.
6. Benzene - This is a Group 1 carcinogen and has been declared toxic by the Canadian Environmental Act. Benzene is believed to be harmful at any level of exposure.

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 4.

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 Art: Salvador Dali's Ruby Lips Brooch at the AGO

I noticed the Toronto Star had this stunning image (The Ruby Lips Brooch (1949)) and an article on the Surrealism show at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) titled: Surrealism and Design.

Here's the teaser quote:

Salvador Dali was perhaps the most celebrated practitioner of Surrealism, and there will be a number of Dali showstoppers on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario throughout this summer.

They are among the 200 tantalizing objects in a deliciously enjoyable exhibit called "Surreal Things," subtitled "Surrealism and Design."

...Surrealism, which flourished in the 1920s and 1930s, was in a way the art of making the fantastic real. It also happened to be an incredibly important avant-garde movement whose influence is still being felt today.

Source: The Toronto Star Online: Viewed Jan 7/09 http://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/article/562741

Image Source: Toronto Star http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/99/7e/d67cb0bf44728fa922ae898077dd.jpeg
(C) SALVADOR DALÍ FUNDACÍO, GALA-SALVADOR DALÍ/SODRAC (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

CNN: Flossing Helps Extend Your Life

Saw this video on CNN's Paging Dr. Gupta. It goes to show how important limiting inflammation is to not just oral health but general health and longevity.



Disclaimer: I do not endorse any products in the advertising shown in the video clip

Original Source: CNN online http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2009/01/02/gupta.live.longer.flossing.cnn

Online Source: Flap's Dental Blog http://www.flapsblog.net/2009/01/how-to-live-longer-flossing-your-teeth.html


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: Smoking Perceptions Part III

24% of smokers think that the manufacturers label their products with "light" and "mild" as an advertising gimmick

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 1.

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