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

Happy Victoria Day!

Hi everyone,

Happy Victoria Day (for Canadians)! Have a great long weekend! The office is closed today and will be closed as usual on Tuesday. Jodie will be back to work on Wednesday fielding your calls. For any emergencies, give the office a call to leave a message (or to get my emergency number), or visit our website to get emergency dental tips.

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 Did You Know: Risks of HIV Transmission to Healthcare Workers

The risk of HIV transmission from infected patients is very low. Approximately 3 out of every 1000 cases (0.3%) in which a needle stick or other sharp instrument transmitted blood from infected patients to health care workers resulted in HIV transmission.

Source: Little J and Rhodus N, HIV and AIDS: Update for Dentistry, General Dentistry, May-June 2007, Vol 55, No 3, pg 184-196.

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 Site: Dental-Professional.ca

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to put up a link to a nice site for dental professionals (by Glaxo SK- makers of Sensodyne and other products). It has good information about their products and some patient friendly tools. However, as a company based site, it is natural that they will have a bias toward their products.

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

Botox for Bruxism?

Saw this in an issue of Chatelaine Magazine (March 2007, p 46). People with severe TMJ pain (the discomfort may extend to earaches, headaches, tooth pain, and facial/neck pain) may be able to get some relief by receiving Botox injections. However, multiple treatments may be required (at $400 a shot) and there may be side effects. My current recommendation is to stay with stress relief and the fabrication of a custom mouthguard if your case is mild to moderate.

Here's the teaser quote:

In the same way it paralyzes the muscles that cause wrinkles, Botox relaxes the tight, inflamed muscles around the jaw joint....patients usually see results in 2 to 3 weeks. Some people find long term relief after one session, while others need 2-3 sessions and then an injection every 3-6 months. The side effects can be...flu like symptoms for a day or two or some weakness in the face.

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: Dental Attrition

Dental Attrition: the normal physiological wear of teeth from chewing and tooth-to-tooth contact, without any foreign substances intervening. The degree of attrition is usually associated with age.

Source: Asa R, AGD Impact, April 2007, V35, No 4, pg 54-58

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

Cool Dental Site: Acid Erosion

Glaxo has put out a nice site (in the UK) explaining the causes of acid erosion. There is a multimedia explanation of the current research as well as an opportunity to get a CD-ROM with the data. Well worth the visit.

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: Smokeless Tobacco

Smokeless tobacco has over 3000 chemicals including 28 known carcinogens.

Source: Prevention Source BC Website: www.preventionsource.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

Emergency Dentistry Tips from Promenade Court Dental Mississauga

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to put out a primer on what to do when a dental emergency hits. These suggestions are general guidelines, contact your dentist for information specific for your case and any modifications to the suggestions below:


Bitten tongue, cheek, lips, etc: Gently rinse area with cool water or wipe with damp gauze or cloth. Swelling is controlled with a cold pack or crushed ice in a ziplock. If bleeding continues, apply pressure with cool wet gauze or teabag. Take appropriate pain medication.

Bleeding Gums: Normally associated with periodontal (gum) disease. The best way to minimize bleeding is brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing daily, cleaning your tongue and visiting your dentist for regular checkups. Very rarely, persistent bleeding gums can be a early warning sign for leukemia.

Canker Sores: Keep the area clean by gentle tooth brushing and rinsing with salt water. Healing should occur in about 2 weeks. Avoid acidic, hot and spicy foods and drink. If needed, take pain medications and give us a call for an assessment. Do not apply any pain medication to the area.

Fractured or Broken Tooth: Gently rinse area with water (salt water if possible). Control bleeding with a cool wet gauze or teabag (apply pressure only to the bleeding tissues, not the tooth). Do not remove fractured pieces and save all fragments. Take the appropriate pain medication and see your dentist right away.

Gum Boil: Keep the area clean by gentle tooth brushing and rinsing with salt water. If pain and swelling increases in the area then cool compresses and pain medications will help. Do not try to pop the boil. You may need to be put on antibiotics. See us as soon as possible.

Knocked out Tooth: Save the tooth or tooth pieces in a balanced saline solution, contact lens solution, milk or water. If bleeding continues, apply pressure with cool wet gauze or teabag. Take appropriate pain medication. Do not clean the area as the tissue fragments will help the healing process if the tooth can be reinserted. Be gentle with the developing clot, no spitting, smoking or use of a straw. You must get to a dentist within 60 minutes to have any real chance of saving the tooth.

Loose Baby Tooth: If the child can wiggle the tooth out...great! Encourage the child to move the tooth in all directions, but do not use large forces. Slow and steady usually wins out. If both the adult tooth and baby tooth are visible then see us for an assessment.

Toothache: Avoid the area as much as possible: no biting, or food items in the area, avoid hot and cold drinks. If pain increases and swelling occurs, then a cold compress in the area will help. Pain medications as needed. See your dentist as soon as possible, you will likely have to take antibiotics.

Teething Pains: Freeze or chill some baby carrots and apply them to the area. Ice chips in a ziplock or cloth is also good. Some mild pain relievers and teeth gel (follow the instructions closely, do not overuse) can help.

Wisdom Tooth: Keeps the area as clean as possible with tooth brushing and warm salt water rinses. If the area begins to swell and pain increases, a cool compress and pain medications will help the situation. You may need to be put on antibiotics and the tooth/teeth will likely need to come out. Give us a call immediately

In general, Advil (Motrin/Ibuprofen) 200mg every 4-6 hours should help pain and inflammation. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) 325mg every 4-6 hours is a good secondary alternative. Please review any allergies with your physician/dentist to these medications before using them. We can prescribe higher doses and different pain medications once an assessment of your situation is completed.

Hopefully this helps!

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

Tragic Story: Blindness because of the Lack of Dental Care

Here's a tragic story from the Toronto Star, Saturday April 28th, 2007 (online and paper editions):

Plunged into Darkness:
For want of $1,300 to pay an emergency dental bill, Moses Han went blind.

It was a simple problem to fix – for those with the money or private dental insurance.

But Moses, born in Korea with the name Jae-Bum Han, did not have either. He worked 14-hour days, seven days a week, in his Oakville convenience store, the sole source of income he and his wife, Gloria Joung-Rae Lee, used to raise three young daughters in their nearby townhouse.

Too embarrassed to tell his dentist he didn't have the money, Moses decided to take the pain. When he walked out of a Mississauga dental clinic last October, Moses knew only that the nerves in his back left molar were dying.

What he did not know is that abscesses can develop in dead teeth. Dr. Hazel Stewart, of Toronto Public Health, says these infections can expand swiftly, sometimes creating severe distress within 48 hours.

Left unchecked, infection can spread through the neck, jaw and torso. It can creep upward to the nerves and blood vessels that surround the brain, and the orbital cavities around the eyes.

(Read the rest of the story, it's a long expose: Plunged into Darkness)

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

Happy First Anniversary!

Hi everyone,

I am so very proud to announce that we have reached our first anniversary at our current location. I want to thank all the people that have made my first year as a practice owner so rewarding. First, I would like to thank my dear wife and family along with my friends and co-workers at 2233 Hurontario. A special note goes to Jodie Ton, who has done a magnificent job as my assistant/front desk person.

I am pleased to announce that we have added, in our initial year over 135 families to our roster of active patients. Both Jodie and I are very thankful for the support of our patients during the growing phase of our practice and appreciate the great number of referrals...keep it up :)

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

ODA Convention was a Blast!

Hi everyone,

Yesterday, some of our great staff at both practices went to the Ontario Dental Association convention (at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto) and we all had a great time there. I attended a nice course on oral surgery and bought a few more instruments to expand our scope and efficiency at extractions and other surgical procedures. Of course, it wouldn't be a day without taking a picture with the Listerine guys.

I actually won a prize at the convention: a great gift certificate from FTD flowers. Thanks to the ODA and everyone involved for making the day very interesting and informative.

(in the picture above, from left to right: Jodie, Deborah, and myself)

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

Donation of Toothbrushes for Fundraiser a Success!

Hi everyone,

We were proud to be one of the sponsors for the 4Unity Productions fundraiser. Who are they? Here's how they describe themselves:

4UNITY productions is a youth driven media association dedicated to facilitating multimedia-based opportunities [audio, video, new media] for youth [12-24] in Parkdale and across the GTA. 4UNITY productions stresses teamwork, creativity, critical thinking and arts education and is committed to improving the lives of urban youth by enabling the transformation of their often challenging life experiences into positive realities. 4UNITY integrates life and job skill development with urban art forms in an effort to help develop and foster self-esteem, self-worth, creativity and hard skills to youth at no cost.

They are based in Parkdale, which is one of the lower income areas of Toronto. Thanks to the Arts Management students at the University of Toronto and Sonia P. for contacting me for this endevour.

(I found it ironic that the toothbrushes were next to the candy, but if you're going to eat a few sweets, you might as well brush afterwards.)



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

ADA email: Infective Endocarditis

Hi everyone,

Got this email from the ADA:

New guidelines for prevention of infective endocarditis were released by the American Heart Association April 19. The AHA and ADA now recommend that fewer dental patients with heart disease receive antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures to prevent the heart infection called infective endocarditis (IE). The guidelines were developed by a group appointed by the AHA that included experts in infectious disease and cardiology and members representing the ADA. The guidelines were endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.

After reviewing relevant scientific literature from 1950–2006, the group concluded that bacteremia resulting from daily activities is much more likely to cause IE than bacteremia associated with a dental procedure. In addition, only an extremely small number of IE cases might be prevented by antibiotic prophylaxis, even if prophylaxis is 100% effective. Based on these conclusions, antibiotic prophylaxis is now recommended before dental procedures only for patients with underlying cardiac conditions associated with the highest risk of adverse outcome from IE, such as patients with artificial heart valves, a history of endocarditis, certain serious congenital heart conditions and heart transplant patients who develop a problem with a heart valve.

For more details see ADA.org.

Interesting... I'll be waiting for confirmation from all the relevant Canadian organizations before changing the way I practice.

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 Site: Straumann Canada

Hi everyone,

This site is mainly for dental professionals as it is the Canadian website for Straumann Implants. Straumann, along with Nobel Biocare are the leading manufacturers of dental implants in the world.

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

Oral Appliance Therapy and Tooth Movement

Hi everyone,

Oral Appliance (OA) therapy has been used in patients with primary snoring and mild sleep apnea and has been proven effective. The concept is to position the mandible and tongue anteriorly (forward) to help open the airway. However, long term use has been shown to cause tooth shifting in about 85% of patients with about 41% having a favourable change and 44% unfavourable. Overbite and overjet also tended to decrease.

Source: Sevels I, Snoring, Sleep Apnea and Occlusion, Ontario Dentist, April 2007, Vol 8, No 3, pg 20-21.


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: Transposition of Maxillary (Upper) Canines

Sometimes teeth can appear out of place in the mouth. The upper canine is the only tooth that can show up in the central incisor position; an apparent movement of two tooth spaces.

Source: Greenberg D, Restoration of a Transpositioned Canine: A Case Report, Oral Health, March 2007, Vol 97, No 3, pg 114-116.

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

Zirconia and Implants

Hi everyone,


I've started the transition to using zirconia abutments and crowns with my implant cases. Why? Two main advantages:

• The silver colour of a usual titanium implant abutment (structure underneath the crown) can now be a colour that more resembles the final crown. Allows for better aesthetics. (first image)



• The strength of the crowns is incredible (reportedly up to 1200 MPa), especially compared to all-porcelain crowns with very comparable aesthetics. Allows for better durability. (second image)

Thanks to POW Laboratories for the excellent lab work. The crowns can be cemented with a temp cement (yes, the fit is that good!) or a non-expanding permanent cement. The implants that we primarily use are Noble Biocare Replace Select.


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

Health Canada Alert: Salivart

Hi everyone,

I just got this alert via email from Health Canada via the Canadian Dental Association:

Health Canada Recall Advisory for Certain Lots of Salivart Oral Moisturizer

Since dentists can recommend the use of Salivart Oral Moisturizer, the Canadian Dental Association is bringing to your attention the following Health Canada advisory about the recall of certain lots of this product because of possible contamination with mould or yeast:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/2007/2007_38_e.html

We don't use Salivart at either of the offices that I work at, but I wanted to put this information out to our general readership.

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

Happy Easter!

Hi everyone,

Happy Easter to everyone!

(Remember to brush after eating those Easter bunnies!) :)

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