Dental Did You Know: The Incidence of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Damage after Dental Anesthesia

Although very rare, the incidence of nerve damage due to anesthesia via inferior alveolar block is about 1:26762 and 1:160571. In more than 85% of the cases, the symptoms resolve within about 8 weeks, with a poor prognosis after this time period.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Inferior Alveolar Nerve Damage, Ontario Dentist, Nov 2014, vol 91, no 9, pg 16.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: Update to Survey of Canadian Dentists: Determinants in Choosing a Dentist

Dentist rated personal referrals from patients (81%) and proximity (12%) as the top two determinants in patients choosing a dentist.

Source: (direct quote) Levin L, Update to Survey of Canadian Dentists, CDA Essentials, Vol 1, Issue 5, pg 14-15.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: The Percentage of Female Students in first year at the University of Toronto Dental School

The number of female students in first year at the University of Toronto Dental School was 53.8% in 2012.

Fantastic News! :)

Source:  Embrett C, The Changing Face of Dentistry,  Ontario Dentist, Sept 2014, Vol 91, no 7,  pg 16-18.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: How Often Do Teeth Have Root Fractures?

Root fracture injuries affect 0.5-0.7% of permanent teeth.

Source (Direct Quote): Keceli T et al., Preserving Alveolar Bone Growth Following Cervical Root Fracture: A Case Report, CDA Essential Vol 1, Issue 3, 2014, Full Text Article Online: jcda.ca/article/d158 (Read Aug 3, 2014)

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: Codeine for Pediatric Pain is now an Unsafe Practice

As of June 6th 2013, Health Canada released an update recommending that codeine not be used in children less than 12 years of age. It appears that the use of NSAIDs (Advil) and Acetaminophen (Tylenol) along with Morphine (in cases of severe pain) are the recommended routes to treat pain in pediatric cases.

Source: Wong M, Prescribing Codeine for Pediatric Pain: An Unsafe Practice, Oral Health, June 2014, Vol 104, No 6, pg 62-66.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: The Best Time After a Root Canal to Restore a Tooth

It is always better for the tooth to restore it immediately to prevent leakage of oral fluids into the root canal space. If this can not be done due to the length of the procedure or patient comfort, then a seal over the root canal area and a restoration as soon as possible is recommended.

Source: Glassman G, Bioactive Endodontic Obturation: Combining the New with the Tried and True, Oral Health, May 2014, Vol 9, No 4, pg 18-28.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: Root Supported Overdentures

The idea of retaining the roots of teeth and putting a denture (overdenture) over them was first described over 150 years ago. The benefit of this technique is the significant reduction in bone loss vs. the complete removal of teeth.

Source: Ettinger R, Do Root Supported Overdentures Have a Good Prognosis in General Dental Practice?, Oral Health, March 2014, Vol 104, No 3, pg 22-26.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: Enamel Erosion

Enamel erosion is directly related to excessive soft drink or fruit drink consumption, dry mouth, acid reflux, medications and genetics. Additional physical factors include abrasion, malocclusion, bruxism (grinding) or trauma.

Source: Trost L, The Reality of Missing Enamel, Oral Health, April 2014, Vol 104, No 4, pg 88-92.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: 100th Anniversary of Dental Care at Sick Kids Hospital Toronto

Yes, the 100th anniversary of the Department of Dentistry at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (SickKids) was celebrated in May 2013. Congrats to this fantastic hospital and department! The hospital itself was established by a group of women led by Elizabeth McMaster in 1875.

Source: Kenny D and Wencer G, Dentistry at SickKids, Toronto, Ontario Dentist, March 2014, Vol 91, No 2, pg 14-19.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: Number of Day Surgeries for Early Childhood Cavities

There are approximately 19 000 day-surgeries to treat early childhood caries (cavities) in children under the age of 6 every year in Canada.

Source: Adams A, Trends in Paediatric General Anesthesia in Canada, Oral Health, Feb 2014, Vol  104, No 2, pg 38-41.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer in Canada

Oral Cancer is now the 13th most common type of cancer in Canada, with an estimated 4100 people diagnosed in 2013.

Source: Wilson C, Schmorgasbord ow la Catherine! (Editorial), Oral Hygiene, Feb 2014, pg 5.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: Average Onset of Eating Disorders and their Dental Impact

In a small scale study, the average onset of eating disorders was 16 years of age with an average duration of 4.4 years. Patients with eating disorders had more severe dental erosion, gingival bleeding and decayed, missing or filled teeth as compared to controls.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Oral Health, July/August 2013, Vol 90, No 6, pg 44-45.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dentistry in the Media: Are Actor's Teeth too White and Straight?

Found this article in the Globe and Mail to be quite humorous! It was a discussion that certain actors have straight white teeth in roles that you wouldn't expect them to be.

Here the link:  Molar Opposites: Why I'm Blinded by Actors' Pearly Whites in this Years Top Films

Source: Adams J, Globe and Mail Online: Jan 8/2014, Read Jan 9/2014, Molar Opposites: Why I'm Blinded by Actors' Pearly Whites in this Years Top Films   
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/why-im-blinded-by-actors-pearly-whites/article16242383/

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153