Microwaving of Dentures to Disinfect and Sterilize

Found this blurb in the International Journal of Prosthodontics:

Microwaving dentures for 6 minutes at 650w either sterilized or promoted the disinfection of the appliances. Inserting the denture in a plastic autoclave bag avoided both sparks and scorching of the base material.

(my summary)
Hmmm, not sure that I will recommend this technique yet, due to its inherent dangers.

Source: Int J Prothodont 19:288-293, 2006 via Ontario Dentist: Vol 84, No 6, July/Aug 2007 p 18.

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 Tech Upgrades for the Practice

Bought a nice laptop for the main operatory. It's a Dell Inspiron 6400 (see image), with a number of multimedia bells and whistles. It will allow us to stream video to the (future) flat screens for patient education and entertainment. We also obtained a nice Samsung flat screen (17 inch) for Jodie at the reception area to give her more room, a better screen and quite frankly a better/high tech look to the front desk area.

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

Changing our Hours for your Convenience

Promenade Court Dental is proud to announce that due to our continued growth and requests from our patients, that we are changing our Thursday hours (starting Aug 1st) and opening them up as full clinic hours. The new hours of operation will be 2-8pm on Thursday to reflect the great need for afternoon and evening hours. Thanks to everyone for making this possible!

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 Update: Oral Fluid HIV Test

As reported in the Academy of General Dentistry Impact Magazine (July 2007): Vol 35, No7, p26

McGill University Health Centre (Canada) and the Mahatma Ghandi Institute of Medical Sciences (India) have successfully tested an oral swab HIV test that is 100% accurate. The test involves rubbing a swab against gingiva twice to collect oral fluid. The applicator on the stick then detects blood HIV antibodies in 20 minutes or less.

(my paraphrasing)
What a great advancement in HIV testing (especially for the third world, which usually has limited access to high tech labs and equipment).


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: Salivary Glands Part 1

A bit of Dentistry 101:

There are basically 3 types of salivary (spit) glands and secretions they produce:

1. Serous (watery); mostly in the parotid gland (the largest salivary gland, its duct comes out at the level of the upper second molar) and glands of von Ebner
2. Mucous (thick); in the palatine and posterior lingual glands. They generally aid in swallowing.
3. Mixed; in the sublingual glands, submandibular glands (the most prolific producer of saliva), and the anterior sublingual glands. These glands (generally) secrete around the tongue.

Source: Crossley H, Unraveling the mysteries of saliva: Its importance in maintaining oral health, General Dentistry, Vol 55, No 4, July/Aug 2007, pg 288-296.

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

Pediatric Trauma and All Terrain Vehicles

It has been reported that in pediatric trauma centres, 40% of all terrain vehicles (ATVs) crash victims are fatalities, many of which are head and neck injuries.

Source: Humber C et al., Maxillofacial Injuries Associated with an All-Terrain-Vehicle Accident, Oral Health, June 2007, Vol 97, No 6, pg 35-42.

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

A Quantum leap for treating tooth decay?

I saw this article in today's Toronto Star about cavity detection without x-rays. It initially sounded similar to Diagnodent, which has issues detecting caries (cavities) in between teeth. I'm still waiting for more details before I form an opinion. Here's the teaser quote:

Once a cavity has formed and exposed itself on the surface, it's too late – it has to be cleaned out and filled.

Abrams says the industry needs to take a more preventative approach, and this is where Quantum Dental enters the scene. The company's research team, based out of the University of Toronto, has developed a prototype of a laser device that uses heat and light waves to detect tiny, below-surface lesions in teeth without exposing a patient to potentially harmful radiation.

A commercial prototype is scheduled to be launched next summer and, after a year of clinical testing, the company hopes to begin selling the device in the fall of 2009.

Dentists will still need x-rays to look at jawbone structure, but Abrams believes Quantum's device has the potential to be a fixture in every dentist's office. The absence of radiation means it can be a standard offering whenever someone gets in the dentist's chair, improving the chance of catching early-stage tooth decay before it becomes a bigger problem.

Read the rest of the article here:A Quantum leap for treating tooth decay

Source: A Quantum leap for treating tooth decay, July 2, Toronto Star, Business Section B, 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

Reasons People Don't go to the Dentist

The reasons people gave on why they haven't been to a Dentist in over three years:

1. Didn't think it was necessary ~35%
2. Cost ~18%
3. Haven't gotten around to it ~11%
4. Fear ~7%

(values are my approximation of the chart data)

Source: Papadopoulos C, The Latest on Dental Consultations in Canada, JCDA June 2007, Vol 73, No 5, p 391.

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: Contact Rate with Dental Professionals

The contact rate with dental professionals (once in a 12 month period) for all Canadians 12 years and older was 63.7% in 2005. The 12-19 year old age group had the highest dental consultation rate at 78.6%, while the lowest was the 75 year and older group (40.8%). People from Ontario see their dentist the most frequently at an 85% rate.

Source: Papadopoulos C, The Latest on Dental Consultations in Canada, JCDA June 2007, Vol 73, No 5, p 391.


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

Counterfeit Toothpaste: Read the Label

In the category of "always read the label". There has been an epidemic of fake toothpaste around the world containing harmful chemicals. As a rule, always try to buy from a reputable supplier or major chain and look at the packaging. Virtually all major brands of toothpaste sold in Canada are made here or the US and are packaged with english and french labels (without spelling errors on the package i.e. Colgate becomes Coigate).

The Globe and Mail had an excellent article on this, here's the teaser quote:

Health Canada is investigating suspected counterfeit toothpaste found in Southern Ontario that is similar to a product at the centre of a health recall throughout the United States because of fears it contains an ingredient used in antifreeze.

Steve Janke, 40, bought a tube of what purports to be Colgate brand toothpaste labelled as being manufactured in South Africa from a dollar store in Guelph, Ont.

The packaging was missing the French translation found on most Canadian products and the 100-millilitre tube was labelled as being manufactured by Colgate-Palmolive (PTY) Ltd. [CL-N] in South Africa.

You can read the rest of the article here: Tainted toothpaste sparks probe

Source: Globe and Mail Online, June 19, 2007
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070619.wcolgate19/BNStory/National/home

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 Tavistock Dental Health Group

Just wanted to throw a few pics online of the practice where I started working at after I graduated in 2002 (and the model of dental care that I use for my own practice in Mississauga.) The first pic is of the building and the second are the two great dental assistants that work with me: Megan and Sue.

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: Second-Hand Smoking and Death

In Canada, more than 1000 non-smokers die from as a result of second-hand smoke.

Source: CTI Update, Ontario Dentist, June 2007, Vol 84, No 5, pg 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

Dental Did You Know: Red Wine and Healthier Gums

Compounds in red wine called polyphenols which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties, may also have an effect on inflammatory periodontal (gum) disease. They work in part by scavenging free-radicals produced by immune cells in response to bacteria.

Source: Sevels I, Ontario Dentist, June 2007, Vol 84, No 5, pg 18-19.

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: Milk and Teeth

Enhancing milk with fluoride reduced the number of decayed, missing or filled teeth in a 21 month long study. Milk itself contributes to enamel remineralization (healing), prevents bacteria from attaching to teeth and forming biofilms.

Source: Sevels I, Ontario Dentist, June 2007, Vol 84, No 5, pg 18-19.

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 Do it Yourself Dentist

Found this nice article on some of the ways you can deal with a few common problems in the mouth. However, you should always contact your dentist for further advice. Here's the teaser quote: 7 maladies of the mouth and how to treat them — yourself.


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

UWO Dental School Receives 1.2 million from the Ontario Government

It's always good to see a news story about the government funding our dental schools. Dentistry is one of the most expensive professions for a university to fund and teach due to the massive infrastructure needed for dental operatories.

Source: Western News, University of Western 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

Nice Dental Article: Getting Young Kids to Brush

I found a nice article online on getting young kids to brush their teeth from www.canadianparents.ca. Here's the teaser quote:

Dear Mr. Dad: Our five-year old refuses to brush his teeth-almost every night my wife and I end up screaming at him (and each other) and he ends up in tears. We're thinking about bagging the whole idea. Does he really need to be brushing his teeth at this age? If so, what can we do to make the process a little less miserable for all of us (and our neighbors, who probably think we're torturing our son)?

You can read the rest of the article here: Getting Your Kids to Brush Their Teeth

Source: http://www.canadianparents.ca/CPO/SchoolAged/HealthWellness/2007/05/24/4205089.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

Cool Dental Website: Evidentista

Evidentista is a nice evidence based dental site helping practitioners access the latest information in the scientific literature on common clinical questions. The webiste has 2 lay individuals review the evidence while 2 oral health professionals provide a subsequent review.

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: Mouthrinses, Plaque and Gum Disease

Initial studies have shown that over the counter anti-plaque rinses are not much more effective against plaque and gum disease than rinsing with water.

Source: AGD Impact, Factsheet, April 2007, p 51.

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

Periodontal Disease and Tongue Cancer

Hi everyone,

I saw this breaking story on gum disease and tongue cancer over the newswires. I decided to quote the Globe and Mail: Chronic gum disease linked to risk of tongue cancer

If the risk of losing all your teeth to gum disease isn't incentive enough, researchers have found another preventative reason to brush and floss religiously — tongue cancer.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute say they have found a possible link between long-standing periodontitis, or gum disease, and the risk of developing tongue cancer.

The study, published in the May issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology, found the risk of tongue cancer due to chronic periodontal disease increased fivefold with every millimetre of lost alveolar bone — the bone in the jaw that holds teeth in place.

... After adjusting for potential effects of age, smoking status and the number of existing teeth, researchers found that the men with chronic gum disease were 5.2 times (my emphasis) more likely to have tongue cancer with every millimetre of bone loss than those without gum disease.

Yikes! Yet another reason to keep great oral hygiene and regular visits to your dental office.

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