Engineers designing tooth with built-in pump for drug delivery

Hi everyone,

Saw this in the Globe and Mail Online Edition (April 5, 07) regarding a unique method of delivering drugs more reliably and consistently to patients using a device in the mouth:

Researchers in Europe and Israel, funded by the European Union, are working on a tiny drug-dispensing system called IntelliDrug that goes into a person's mouth — with the ultimate goal of getting the parts small enough to fit into a replacement tooth placed in the back like a molar. The device can release a specific amount of medicine at certain intervals, ensuring that the patient gets the proper dosage at the right time.

Patients, on average, follow instructions on taking drugs only half the time, even for people who need them to survive, said Dr. Andy Wolff, an Israeli dentist who initially came up with the concept. Patients often forget or find it too inconvenient to take medicine, especially in the middle of the night. He believes the device will rectify the problem by automating the process.



Source: Globe and Mail Online Edition (April 5, 07)

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

Dental Sealants, Composites and Bisphenol A

Hi everyone,

Got this in the ol' email box from the ADA (American Dental Association) concerning the safety of sealants and composites:

The safety of bisphenol A (BPA) has been called into question in recent media coverage. BPA is a chemical found in many hard plastics and used in resins that line food and beverage cans. Although some believe BPA is an ingredient in dental sealants and composites, it isn’t, although there’s some evidence that some dental sealants and to a lesser extent composites may contribute to low-level BPA exposure, probably through the action of salivary enzymes on a minor ingredient. We see no cause for concern at this time but do look forward to the results of a review of a draft report on BPA safety by an independent NIH panel of endocrinologists, statisticians and biologists. The panel evaluated more than 500 scientific studies and was unable to reach a conclusion so the report isn’t expected to be finalized for at least several weeks. The panel has no regulatory authority, and the findings aren’t binding. We’ve posted a press statement about BPA on ADA.org and will continue to keep the profession informed.

Source: The American Dental Association email (ADA Update April 3/07)

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

Dental Practice Artwork

Hi everyone,

I truly feel that growing a dental practice in a community requires the obvious effort of the dentist and dental staff. However, I've come to realize the tremendous contribution from our associated professionals (the pharmacist, physician, chiropractor, and allied health in our building) and our patients.

Our patients have been great with the personal referrals (Thanks!) and the artwork given for display:
A nice sculpture (from Danny)
A fantastic mounted photo (from Paolo-displayed at the side. If you are interested in his work, I can put you in contact with him)

Thanks again, and 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

April is Oral Health Month: Part 3

Hi everyone,

Got this blurb from the Canadian Dental Association's website for Oral Health Month:

National Oral Health Month (TM)- Get snack smart with your kids

• Limit the number of times a day your child eats or drinks sugars
• Avoid sugary treats that stay in the mouth for a long time like hard candy or lollipops
• Avoid soft, sticky sweets that get stuck in your child’s teeth
• Serve sweets for dessert while there is still plenty of saliva in your child’s mouth to wash away the sugars
• Serve juice and milk during or at the end of mealtime. Drink water between meals
• Serve vegetables, cheese, nuts or seeds for snacks
• Have your child brush her teeth at least twice a day and before going to bed

Source: Canadian Dental Association Website; Oral Health Month Articles 2007

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

Cool Dental Link: Canada's Food Guide

Hi everyone,

While it's not strictly a dental site, the Canada's Food Guide website offers guidelines and recommendations for healthy eating. Most notably are the recommendations for dairy product consumption: typically between 2-3 servings for adults, 3-4 for teenagers and 2 for children. Milk, milk products (like yogurt) and milk substitutes (like soy milk) are great sources of calcium, which can lead to strong bones and teeth.



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

Dental Did You Know: Commercial Soft Drinks and Enamel Dissolution

A few facts from the research on soft drinks:

1. Prolonged exposure to soft drinks can lead to significant enamel loss.
2. Non-cola drinks are more erosive than cola drinks.
3. Sugared versions of cola and non-cola drinks proved to be more erosive than their diet counterparts.
4. The erosive potential of soft drinks was not related to their pH value.

Source: Jain, P et al, Commercial soft drinks: pH and in vitro dissolution of enamel, General Dentistry March-April 2007, Vol 55, No 2, pg 150-154.

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 few more interesting dental links

Hi everyone,

I decided to keep blogging today with a few more dental links, which (as usual) you will find listed on the right hand side under del.icio.us links.

These are professional links, (sorry non-professionals!):

• The Halton-Peel Dental Association is an organization of local dentists that provide continuing education courses and events for dentists around my practice area (Mississauga).
• The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is a website that helps small enterprises/businesses/organizations with tips/techniques and advocacy. The link will take you to the dental area of their website.

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

April is Oral Health Month: Part 2

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to post a few more links regarding the Ontario Dental Association's promotion of April as Oral Health Month. Included in the public awareness campaign are radio ads (1 and 2) and a PowerPoint presentation: Diabetes and Oral Health.

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

April is Oral Health Month!

Hi everyone,

April is oral health month and the Ontario Dental Association is promoting the fact that the monitoring of oral infections that affect the jaw and gums, may help in the detection of undiagnosed diabetes. This disease affects of 2.25 million Canadians, many of them are unaware of their condition.

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

Toronto Star Article: Saliva a new tool in disease detection

Hi everyone,

Woke up this morning to cloudy, but mild day in the Toronto area (14 degrees C). I browsed the morning Toronto Star (online) and low and behold, a fantastic article on saliva and its usefulness in disease diagnostics. Here's a snippet:

There may be plenty of things that aren't worth spit. But saliva is certainly not one of them, according to new research that pegs it as a potential gold mine for the bloodless diagnosis of dozens of ailments.

Scientists have uncovered the molecular "alphabets" of saliva's key protein and genetic components – work that will soon allow the early detection of diseases ranging from lung cancer to osteoporosis through the simple act of spitting into a vial, according to a study being presented today.

"Using these alphabets we can corner every human disease," says Dr. David Wong, associate dean of research at California's UCLA School of Dentistry. "The perception of saliva has now changed from a negative connotation to a positive medical fluid."

Read the rest of the article here: Saliva a new tool in disease detection

Source: Toronto Star Online Edition, March 22/07 http://www.thestar.com/News/article/194798

Quite an interesting article.

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

Dental Did You Know: The Patron Saint of Dentists

Hi all,

I was reading the wikipedia entry on dentistry and found this interesting tidbit (which I vaguely remember learning in my first year of training (History of Dentistry 101?))

The patron saint of dentists is Saint Apollonia, martyred in Alexandria by having all her teeth violently taken out.

(Ouch!)

Source: Wikipedia: Dentistry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentistry

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

Promenade Court Dental: 2233 Hurontario St, Mississauga, ON

Just a reminder that I have a dental practice in south Mississauga: Promenade Court Dental. It is conveniently located at 2233 Hurontario St, Mississauga, ON (1/2 km north of the QEW in the dome building on the east side). We're a full service family dental practice offering traditional care at convenient hours (evenings and weekends). Give Jodie a call at (905) 273-7100 to book an appointment.

p.s. A big thank you to all our new and loyal patients for choosing my practice to service your dental needs.


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: Secondhand Smoke and Tooth Decay

Hi all,

I was just reading the AGD (Academy of General Dentistry) Impact Magazine and came across this news blurb:

According to a study supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), children exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher rate of tooth decay than those who are not.

I'm not sure of the biological mechanism involved here (more research will be needed), but it is always a good idea to limit the exposure of secondhand smoke to young children based on the respiratory effects alone.

Source AGD Impact, March 2007, Vol 35, No 3, pg 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

Canadian Dental Association Website and Seal

Hi all,

The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) website is a great place to visit and one of my top recommendations. It offers patients a wealth of information on various oral health topics while offering dentists a number of practice management and research articles.

As a long time member, I am happy to see that the CDA is (finally!) getting "web-enabled" by offering their logo in electronic form for display on websites. Bravo!

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: The Longest Acting Conventional Dental Anesthetic

The longest acting anesthetic available in dental cartridges is bupivacaine (0.5%). It can "freeze" teeth up to 240(!) minutes and soft tissues (gums) up to 440(!!) minutes.

Source: Becker D and Reed K, Essentials of Local Anesthetic Pharmacology, Oral Health, Feb 2007, Vol 97 No 2, pg 17-34.


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: Grinding (Bruxism) and Neck Muscle Activity

When grinding your teeth (bruxism), neck muscle activity is 1.4 to 3.3 times more than their resting state.

Source: Laibovitz B, Temporomandibular Disorders and Headache: A Review of the Literature. Oral Health, June 2006, Vol 96, No 6, pg 12-18.


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

Added Flickr Photos to Blog

Hi all,

I added Flickr photos to the blog and (soon) to the website. Flickr (owned by Yahoo!) allows for the easy management of photos and images. New images that I take will automatically be displayed on the right-hand column of the blog. The entire and ever expanding set of dental images that I'm taking will be available at my Flickr site.

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

Dental Did you Know: Cocaine and Anesthesia

Hi all,

Yes it's true, Cocaine was the first local anesthetic (discovered in 1860).

Source: Becker D and Reed K, Essentials of Local Anesthetic Pharmacology, Oral Health, Feb 2007, Vol 97 No 2, pg 17-34.


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

Del.icio.us Website Tags on the Blog

Hi all,

We've added del.icio.us bookmark tags to the right hand column of the blog. What is del.icio.us? Simply put, it is an online storage area for web bookmarks. Every website that I consider useful and would like to share is listed here. The latest five sites are noted under "My Cool del.icio.us Dental Sites". Enjoy!

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

Great Story: The War on Poverty and its Effect on Dentistry

Hi all,

Here is a great series of stories in the Toronto Star on how poverty can have a disastrous effect on the oral health of young people. Here's the preamble from the Toronto Star (Feb 10th, 2007)

Jason Jones is a natural for a sales job. Trouble is, many people can't see past his mouth. Painful rot forced him to pull almost all of his teeth. This is the state of dental care for our working poor

The first story was on Feb 10th, 2007, with a happy ending revealed in the Feb 13th issue.

Sources: The Toronto Star Online Edition on the respective days noted above.


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