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