My musings about Dentistry. From the desk of Dr. Hans Skariah: Dentist at Promenade Court Dental and Plattsville Dental.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Dental Did You Know: The Worst Gender for No-Shows; 2010 North American Dental Practice Survey
Source: 2010 North American Dental Practice Survey Findings, Dental Practice Management, Winter 2010, pg 7-9.
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
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Dental Did You Know: The Worst Day for No-Shows; 2010 North American Dental Practice Survey
Source: 2010 North American Dental Practice Survey Findings, Dental Practice Management, Winter 2010, pg 7-9.
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
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Blog is Mobile Enabled!
Also a reminder that we will operate on a 1/2 day schedule on the 31st and be closed on the 1st of January. Monday January 3rd will be emergencies only (limited schedule) and our normal schedule returns on Wednesday the 5th of January!
Cheers and all the best for 2011!
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
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Hypnosis and TMD pain
Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Ontario Dentist, Dec 2010, Vol 87, No 10.
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
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer Facts
- Over 90% of oral cancers are carcinomas
- The most common areas are the tongue, lips and floor of the mouth
- Risk factors included tobacco and regular alcohol consumption
- Early detection greatly increases patient survival and only takes 90 seconds to perform initially
Source: Gardner M, Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations Regarding Screening for the Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas, Dispatch, RCDSO, Aug/Sep 2010, Vol 24, No 3, pg 26-27.
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
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Nice Slideshow on Food and Drinks that Cause Tooth Staining
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
Monday, November 22, 2010
A Reminder to Everyone About Their Dental Benefits
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
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Dental News: Penicillin Shortage in Toronto?
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
Monday, October 25, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Calcium Requirements for Middle-Aged (and Older) Adults
Source: Ward W Fritz C, The "Sunshine Vitamin" and Periodontal Health: A Vitamin D Update, Oral Health, October 2010, Vol 100, No 10, pg 33-36.
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
Friday, October 15, 2010
My Dental Implant Placement in 9 Minutes
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
Friday, September 24, 2010
Dental Did You Know: The Development of Peer Review
Source: Hardie J, Is This Article Worth Reading? A Critical Analysis of Peer Review, Oral Health , Vol 100, No 9, Sept 2010, pg 70-77.
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
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Dental Image Library: Supernumerary (Extra) Palatal Tooth
Supernumerary (Extra) Palatal Tooth (Summer 2010) |
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
Monday, September 20, 2010
Dental Image Library: Enamel Pearl on a Premolar
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
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Obstructive sleep apnea...its relationship to health and dental treatment options
- hypertension 40-50%
- coronary heart disease 34%
- congestive heart failure 34%
- diabetes 65%
- erectile dysfunction 50%
- renal disease 50%
- nocturnal strokes 84%
- oral appliances (like a SUAD device, which repositions the mandible)
- CPAP (continuous positive air pressure)
- surgical intervention
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
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer Rates in the US
Source: Rethman M et al, Evidence-based clinical recommendations regarding screening for oral squamous cell carcinomas, PEAK, RCDSO, August 2010, pg 1-15.
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
Friday, September 10, 2010
Dental Did You Know: High Fluoride Toothpaste and Cavity Reduction
Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Ontario Dentist, Vol 87, No 6, pg 20.
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
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Dental Did You Know: First Male Hygienist in Ontario
Source: Morana C, Dateline: Dentistry 1970, Ontario Dentist, Sept 2010, Vol 87, No 7, pg 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
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Dental Did You Know: The First Ongoing Dental Journal
Source: Freedman G, Dental Education...As You Like It, Oral Health, July 2010, Vol 100, No 7, pg 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
Monday, August 23, 2010
Practice Info: Dr. Andrew El-Faizy Recruited to PC Dental
We are pleased to introduce Dr. Andrew M. El-Faizy to our practice. Andrew will be applying his expertise in molar endodontics and oral surgery to some of our difficult cases. In addition, his experience in restorative dentistry will be a welcome benefit to our practice. Our practice has grown to a family of five...with more to come. Thanks to our patients for their great support during our growth!
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
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Calcium Hydroxide and Deep Fillings
Source: Hilton T, Keys to Clinical Success with Pulp Capping: A Review of the Literature, RCDSO Peak Publication, May/June 2010, pg 1-16.
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
Friday, July 30, 2010
Dental Did You Know: The Healing Rate of Root Fractures
When pulp vitality is maintained, root fractures heal spontaneously in 70-80% of cases.
Source: Gen Dent 57: 442-443, 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
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Dental News: Winston Churchill's Teeth Fetch $24 000 at Auction
LONDON—A partial set of dentures used by former British leader Winston Churchill — described as the teeth that saved the world — sold at auction Thursday for £15,200 ($24,556).
The upper dentures, one of several sets specially made for the wartime prime minister, were used to maintain his distinctively slurred speaking style. They were bought by a British collector of Churchill memorabilia at an auction in England at three times the estimated price.
The set of dentures were unique because they were designed to be loose-fitting so that Churchill could preserve the diction famous from World War II-era radio broadcasts, experts said.
Source: Toronto Star Online, Read and Published July 29, 2010 http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/841628--teeth-that-saved-the-world-fetch-24-000-at-auction
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
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Case Report: Supernumerary Teeth
Ran into this case of a young man who will be undergoing orthodontics, but has not one but two extra teeth between the natural central incisors. One is visible on the physical exam, the other is in a retrograde orientation on the radiograph. It is a fairly simple procedure to remove the teeth at an oral surgery office and to then proceed with the orthodontics. He will have an outstanding smile in the not so distant future :)
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
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Children's Visits to the Dentist
In an unfortunate statistic: 1 in 4 children in California have not seen a dentist. Here's the teaser quote:
A new study from UCLA researchers has one in four California having never seen a dentist.Source: http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/health/one-in-four-california-kids-ha/ July 8, 2010, Read on July 22, 2010 One in four California kids has never seen a dentist, Original Study Link http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/29/7/1356?ijkey=OR9Zf6tmdgyb2&keytype=ref&siteid=healthaff
There's a lot of illuminating, and heartbreaking findings in the study, published in the journal Health Affairs. There were significant disparities shown between races and whether the family had private insurance or some sort of public insurance such as Medicaid or CHIP:
For instance, 54 percent of privately insured children and 27 percent of publicly insured children had seen the dentist in the past six months, compared to 12 percent of children without dental coverage. (Fairly heroic on the part of the one-in nine uninsured families who managed to get their kids to the dentist.)
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
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Dental Video: How to Brush Your Teeth
Source: http://www.colgateprofessional.ca, July 13, 2010
Disclaimer: as usual we do not specifically recommend any products seen on this or any other video. Contact us for more information on a particular product. We'll give you the latest information and our current recommendations.
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 Websites: Colgate Professional Website
Colgate has recently introduced a new professional site. The site contains some nice patient education material, professional education opportunities and product information. I'm not a fan of the layout and the small font, but it's worth a quick look: Colgate Professional Website.
Source http://www.colgateprofessional.ca/ read on July 13, 2010
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
Saturday, July 10, 2010
News Article: A miracle treatment for cancer discovered in the mouth of the North American shrew
A miracle treatment for cancer may have been discovered in a very bizarre place-the mouth of the North American shrew. With its saliva, "we were able to reduce the growth of ovarian, breast and prostate cancer tumours at least as well as standard chemo," says Dr. Jack Stewart, who discovered the cancer-fighting properties of the furry mammal's paralytic venom-which it uses to stun prey-when he was working as a biochemist at Mount Allison University. Now he's the scientific adviser for Soricimed Biopharma, a small New Brunswick pharmaceutical company he founded to get the drug onto the market.
The venom contains soricidin, a peptide, that bonds to a calcium channel that's activated in the human body when cells turn cancerous. It then clogs up the channel, causing the diseased cells to self-destruct. The peptide only targets one chemical, produced by very few cells in the body, so it has almost no side effects, and is also very effective at locating tumours and detecting cancer early. "We attached a fluorescent tag to our drug and injected it into mice. Within two hours the tumours were lighting up."
Source: Tom Henheffer, Open up and say "aah": A miracle treatment for cancer discovered in the mouth of the North American shrew, from Maclean's Online Magazine, no original date given, http://lifestyle.ca.msn.com/health-fitness/health/rogers-article.aspx?cp-documentid=24795680 Read July 10, 2010
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
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Trucker attempts to remove tooth while driving - Weird News - Canoe.ca
Trucker attempts to remove tooth while driving - Weird News - Canoe.ca: "
Lambton County OPP say they stopped a big rig driver doing some driving dentistry along Hwy. 402 on Wednesday.
Const. John Reurink told QMI Agency Saturday it's the first time he's ever heard of a driver being pulled over performing dental surgery.
'I've never heard of this sort of thing occurring before,' Reurink said, adding he has stopped drivers doing their make-up, reading a map or talking on a cellphone. 'Somebody doing an amateur tooth pulling? That's a first.'"
You can read the rest of the article here: Trucker Attempts to Remove Tooth While Driving,
Source: Canoe.ca, Read July 4th 2010 Published July 3rd 2010 http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2010/07/03/14599611.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
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Alcohol and Maxillofacial Fractures
Source: Lee K et al, Role of Alcohol in Maxillofacial Fractures, Oral Health, Vol 100, No 6, pg 40-49.
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
Monday, June 21, 2010
Dental Did You Know: The Central Core Theory
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Made it on to a Top Fifty List of Dental Blogs
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
Friday, June 18, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Medication Protocol for Severe Dental Pain
Source: Frydman W, Effective Post-Surgical Pain Management, Oral Health, June 2010, Vol 100, No 6, pg 27-38.
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
Fake 'Dentists' Take Advantage of Immigrants
In basements and backrooms across the province, with outdated and unsterilized tools, a cottage industry of illegal and sometimes dangerous dentistry is thriving among immigrant communities, a Toronto Star investigation has found.
Offering cut-rate prices for inferior dental care, these bogus dentists attract patients, overwhelmingly new immigrants, who share the same culture. Vulnerable, ill-informed and desperate to save money, they have low expectations for care.
You can read the rest of the story here: Bogus `Dentists` Prey on Immigrants
Source: Toronto Star Online, Bogus 'Dentists' Prey on Immigrants, June 10, 2010 http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/821527--bogus-dentists-prey-on-immigrants?bn=1, Read on June 17, 2010
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
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Dental Injection Pace
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Mandibular Block Failure Rates
Source: Lecture from David Isen, May 26, 2010 (d.isen@rogers.ca) from a Powerpoint Slide referencing Claffey et al, J of Endo Aug, 2004.
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
Friday, June 11, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology
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
Friday, May 21, 2010
Our New Logo!
Our New Logo! |
Thanks everyone!
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
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Long Term Care Residents and Lack of Denture Hygiene
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Long Term Care Residents and Lack of Tooth Hygiene
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
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Vacation Day Today: Office is Closed
I am taking some time off this weekend for my wedding anniversary. (7 years on May 10th!) Oh my, time has flown by! The practice will be closed on Saturday and will resume normal operations on Monday afternoon at 3pm. As always, our emergency number is available by calling our main number and you can always leave a message on the voicemail. Jodie and I will be checking the messages over the weekend.
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
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Increases in Blood Pressure with Dental Anesthetics
Most dental anesthetics that are typically used contain epinephrine (adrenaline). Studies have shown an increase of 10-20 mmHg (to between 130-150 mmHg) in the systolic blood pressure vs non-epinephrine containing anesthetics.
Source: Wahl M and Brown R, Dentistry's Wonder Drugs: Local Anesthetics and Vasoconstrictors, Dental Style (Canadian Edition-Academy of General Dentistry), May 2010 pg 48-66.
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
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Dental Infections Part 4...The Three Stages of Infection (Abscess)
- mild, localized discomfort
- usually fluctuant and tender to touch
- pus is present
- skin is usually red in the periphery
Source: Gregoire C, How are Odontogenic Infections Best Managed?, JCDA, April 2010, Vol 76, No 2, pg 114-116
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
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Dental Infections Part 3...The Three Stages of Infection (Cellulitis)
Source: Gregoire C, How are Odontogenic Infections Best Managed?, JCDA, April 2010, Vol 76, No 2, pg 114-116
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
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Dental Infections Part 2...The Three Stages of Infection (Inoculation)
Source: Gregoire C, How are Odontogenic Infections Best Managed?, JCDA, April 2010, Vol 76, No 2, pg 114-116
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
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Dental Infections Part I
The first line of defence is a prescription for Penicillin V, 600mg every six hours, supplemented with 500mg of Metronidazole twice a day for advanced cases.
Source: Gregoire C, How are Odontogenic Infections Best Managed?, JCDA, April 2010, Vol 76, No 2, pg 114-116
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
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Tooth Whitening in the Past
Source: Alford A, Clinical Report: The use of 10%, 16%, 22% Carbamide Peroxide and 3%, 7.5%, 9.5% Hydrogen Peroxide Materials for at-home Vital Tooth Bleaching in Combination with Active and Passive Treatment Modalities for Control of Tooth Sensitivity and Gingival Irritation, Oral Health, March 2010, Vol 100, No 3, pg 90-101.
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
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Practice Philosophy
Dear Patient,
We understand that choosing a new dentist and dental health team can be a challenge, leaving you feeling somewhat uncertain. Let us welcome you and share some insights about what we do for our patients. The philosophy guiding our practice is as follows:
In other words, we help you be or become as healthy as you choose. Instead of just telling you how healthy you ought to be, we will try to help you understand your choices about dental health and then let you make a free and informed decision. Your first choice in this regard is how you would like to begin with us. There are five levels on which people may choose to be seen in our practice:"Our purpose is to help people achieve the highest level of dental well-being and in so doing, to enhance the quality of their lives."
- Level 1...URGENT CARE: People in crisis or with an emergency problem such as pain, swelling, or bleeding that need our immediate help are at this level. We see urgencies immediately, whenever possible.
- Level 2...REMEDIAL CARE: People who choose this level of care desire treatment only when something breaks or becomes uncomfortable. Generally people at this level expect a limited type of examination, focusing on obvious problems. They usually want to correct immediate problems with as little effort and cost as possible.
- Level 3...SELF-CARE: Patients who choose this level of care want a thorough examination and take an active part in the treatment and prevention of present and future disease problems. However, they usually choose repair solutions that are short range in nature.
- Level 4...COMPLETE DENTISTRY: Patients at this level are similar to people described in level 3. They choose to have a thorough examination. However, they decide on a MASTER PLAN to formulate a long-term treatment plan for health and repair. These patients are very concerned about treating the causes of dental disease, not simply the effects. These patients want all dental treatment provided to be completed in the most lasting fashion possible.
- Level 5... LOOK YOUR BEST: People in this group are in level 4 as far as dental health is concerned, but also want to look their best at all times. They know that their smile is one of the first things others notice about them and want to put their best foot (face) forward.
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
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Baby's Death Linked to Pregnancy-Related Gingivitis
In a landmark case, researchers were contacted by a 35 year old woman who had recently delivered a still-born baby at 39 weeks and 5 days gestation: full term. Postmortem microbial studies found the presence of F. nucleatum in the lungs and stomach. The baby died from a septic infection and inflammation caused by bacteria.
Researchers used DNA-cloning technologies found a match between the oral bacteria of the mother and the bacteria in the baby's lungs. Bleeding associated with gingivitis allowed the bacteria to enter the bloodstream and work its way to the placenta. The mothers immune system usually takes care of this situation, but she also experienced a upper respiratory infection which may have weakened her immunity enough to allow the bacteria to colonize the uterus.
Source: Han Y et al, Term Stillbirth Caused by Oral Fusobacterium nucleatum, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feb 2010, Vol 115, Issue 2, Part 2, pp 442-445.
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
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Article: How a family reduced its toxic footprint
I saw this interesting article in the Toronto Star Online Edition, about reducing/eliminating toxic products in everyday hygiene items. Here's the teaser quote:
I stick my nose deep into Marika Goode's armpit and inhale. She's right. She doesn't stink. Not bad for a woman who hasn't purchased deodorant for a year. Her breath smells minty. And her hair is voluminous and shiny. She hasn't bought toothpaste or shampoo for a year either.
How does she do it?
"I'm going to make you some toothpaste," says Goode, 47, setting a white mixing bowl on her kitchen counter. "Do you like spearmint or peppermint?"
Although, I like what she is doing, a warning needs to be let out on the toothpaste side, especially concerning people with sensitive teeth. Baking soda is an abrasive that might make sensitive teeth even more sensitive after use.
As always, when using a particular item we all have to weigh the pros and cons and come up with a decision on whether there is a net benefit. (By the way, the greatest impact in cleaning your teeth is not your toothpaste or toothbrush but the time spent brushing...2 minutes/twice day is great)
Source: Porter C, Porter: How a Family Reduced its Toxic Footprint, Toronto Star Online, March 24, 2010, Read on March 24, 2010, http://www.healthzone.ca/health/newsfeatures/article/784935--porter-how-a-family-reduced-its-toxic-footprint?bn=1
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
Friday, March 19, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Dental Personnel and TB
Source: Cleveland J et al, Tuberculosis Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Infection Control Recommendations for Dental Settings, Peak Dispatch, Feb/Mar 2010, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.
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
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
PepsiCo Pulls its Sugary Drinks from Schools (finally!)
The world's No. 2 soft drink maker, PepsiCo Inc., has pledged to pull high sugar soda from schools around the world by 2012. The company said Tuesday it is "voluntarily adopting" the global policy following discussions with the World Heart Federation in Geneva. The decision to pull the calorie-laded mainstay of the company's product line from every school marks the first such move by a major soft drink producer.
It comes after years of campaigning by public health agencies to limit children's access to foods linked to the rising tide of childhood obesity.
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
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
New Ad: (Proposed) Final Edition
Here's the (proposed) final edition of the advertisement. Thanks to friends, family and patients for their feedback (wow!). This will be posted in the elevators in the buildings surrounding our practice.
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
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Glaxo Removing Zinc from Denture Creams: Part 2
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) warns about a potential health risk associated with long-term, excessive use of zinc-containing denture adhesives Poli-Grip "Advanced Care," "Extra Strength" and "Ultra Fresh."
Media Releases from Glaxo Smith Kline:
GSK will stop manufacturing these zinc-containing denture adhesive and plans to replace them with zinc free products.
While zinc is an essential part of the diet, recent publications suggest that an excessive intake of zinc-containing denture adhesives over several years may lead to the development of neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms and legs, difficulties with walking and balance, and blood problems such as anemia.
Poli-Grip is safe to use as directed in the product label. However, some consumers apply more adhesive than directed and use it more than once a day. Therefore, as a precautionary measure to minimize any potential risks to these consumers, GSK has voluntarily stopped the manufacture, distribution and advertising of these products.
Health Canada has not to date issued a recall of the product. These measures are being taken by GSK.
ODA Members may wish to advise patients who use denture adhesives to:
- follow package instructions
- use zinc-free alternative such as Poli-Grip "Original," "Comfort Strips" or "Powder" and
- arrange a consultation with you to assess ill-fitting dentures.
Consumers with questions may call GSK at 1-888-521-8033.
Source: ODA Advantage Email Sent Feb 22, 2010, Read on Feb 23, 2010.
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
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Glaxo Removing Zinc from Denture Creams
I saw this article on Zinc and denture creams and the link with neurological problems. Here's the teaser quote from the Globe and Mail:
You can read the rest of the article here: Zinc to be removed from some denture creamsAfter being hit with dozens of lawsuits and growing questions about product safety, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Inc. announced yesterday it will stop selling denture creams that contain zinc.
Excessive zinc intake can cause serious neurological problems and lead to numbness, tingling or weakness in the limbs as well as difficulty walking and balancing or anemia and other blood problems, the company said.
The company said it’s a precautionary move designed to prevent any potential long-term health problems in people who use zinc-containing Poli-Grip in excess of the amount indicated on the label.
And they’re also warning consumers who are using too much of the product to immediately stop and see their doctor if they have any concerns.
Source: Globe and Mail Online, Feb 19, 2010, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/zinc-to-be-removed-from-some-denture-creams/article1474174/ Read Feb 20/2010
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
Thursday, February 18, 2010
I'm wanting feedback on this potential advertisement
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
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Dental Did You Know: What's in your Toothpaste Part 2
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
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Dental Did You Know: What's in your Toothpaste Part 1
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
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Dental Radiation and Airport Scanners?
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
Monday, February 01, 2010
Dental Records for Canadians Missing in Haiti
The massive earthquake that recently struck Haiti has affected an estimated 3 million people according to the Canadian Red Cross, resulting in extreme injuries and significant loss of life. As of January 22, over 300 Canadians are still unaccounted for in Haiti.
Canada is responding to the disaster in several ways including providing troops and personnel for humanitarian aid, search and rescue, and disaster victim identification (DVI). Dental records are one of the most important sources of identification for all DVI efforts. Since Canada has such a high standard of dental care, dental records will form the basis of the positive identification of missing Canadian citizens. Using dental records is a highly accurate and inexpensive method of identifying a person during a disaster.
Original dental records and radiographs of all types are needed to help identify missing citizens. Chief coroners, chief medical examiners and/or police departments in each province will develop a list of missing and presumed deceased persons. They will then attempt to acquire antemortem records for these people, including dental records from treating dentists and data from other sources such as medical records, fingerprints or DNA.
As always your generosity to the people of Haiti is needed at this time...please give generously.
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
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Early Childhood Caries and Body Weight
Source: Ezer M et al, Early Childhood Caries: The Dental Disease of Infants, Oral Health, Jan 2010, Vol 100, No 1, pg 8-12.
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
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Dental Did You Know: Early Childhood Caries (Cavities)
Source: Ezer M et al, Early Childhood Caries: The Dental Disease of Infants, Oral Health, Jan 2010, Vol 100, No 1, pg 8-12.
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
Friday, January 29, 2010
Dental Did You Know: First Visit to the Dentist
The concept of a dental home refers to the establishment of an early relationship between the child, parents and the dentist. This initial meeting allows the dentist to record a thorough medical and dental history, oral exam, establish the child's risk of developing dental disease, establish a patient-specific recall interval and educate the parents early on to prevent dental disease. (edited for brevity-HS)
Source: Farkouh D, Infant Oral Health-Establishing a Dental Home, Oral Health, Jan 2010, Vol 100, No 1, pg 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
Friday, January 01, 2010
Mobile Dental Website
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