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

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

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

Cool Dental Website: Chief Dental Officer of Canada

Hi everyone,

I received information on this website from a CDA (Canadian Dental Association) email bulletin. It is the Government of Canada's website (reliable info) of the Chief Dental Officer (Part of Health Canada). To be honest, I've never heard of this particular area of Health Canada, but I am pleased that the government is promoting oral health and research. Here's how they describe themselves:

The Office of the Chief Dental Officer (OCDO) was created in October 2004 to improve the oral health status of Canadians and to increase awareness about the prevention of oral diseases.

The Office works to:

• Provide evidence-based oral health perspectives on a wide range of health policy and program development issues


• Provide expert oral health advice, consultation and information


• Integrate oral health promotion with general health (wellness) initiatives


• Assist in gathering epidemiological information for program planning on federal/provincial/community levels and establish priorities for research


• Develop integrated collaborative approaches to preventing and controlling oral and associated diseases


• Provide a point of contact/liaison with professional associations, provinces, academic institutions, and other non-government organizations on oral health issues

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 Website: Dentistry Canada Fund

Hi all,

Just another cool site to mention. The Dentistry Canada Fund website funds a number of great areas related to the field of oral health. Their mission is stated below.

DCF Mission: to mobilize and allocate resources for the advancement of oral health in Canada through education, research and public outreach.

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 Historic Facts: Crest and Colgate Fluoride Toothpastes

Crest toothpaste was the first commercially available fluoride-containing dentifrice in the United States. It was first available in 1955 and originally contained stannous fluoride.

Colgate with MFP (monofluorophosphate) was first marketed in 1967.

Source: Adair S, Evidence-based use of Fluoride in Contemporary Pediatric Dental Practice, Oral Health, Vol 97, No 1, pg 44-60.

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: Medline Plus Dental Health

Here's a great site for patients from both the US National Institutes of Health and the US National Library of Medicine. Great organization of topics in an easy to read format from a trusted source.

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 Web Link: AGD Dental Terms Page

Hi all,

This page from the Academy of General Dentistry(AGD) gives concise definitions of a few dental terms. Not comprehensive by any stretch of the imagination, but decent starting point.

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 Cost of Smoking

Hi all,


Smoking a pack a day would cost you about $2 555 over one year. Deposit this money into a retirement savings plan and over 20 years you would have over $104 743 (assuming a 7% rate of return and $7 per 20 cig. pack)

Source: I got this tidbit from a "Smoke Free Ontario" flyer from the Government of Ontario and the Canadian Cancer Society. I don't have the exact scientific citation, but I did get the flyer approximately around January 30th.

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

Benzocaine sprays and Methemoglobinemia (MHb)

Health Canada and the Canadian Dental Association have both sent out alerts regarding Benzocaine topical anaesthetic sprays and and Methemoglobinemia (MHb). Here's the quote from the CDA alert (dated November 28th):

Benzocaine sprays are one of the choices for topical anesthesia in dentistry. Used in excessive doses, it can lead to MHb, a potentially serious blood condition that can result in an impaired ability of red blood cells to bind and carry oxygen and may lead to cyanosis, weakness and coma.

Benzocaine sprays have been cited in several U.S. reports as a cause of MHb, generally involving the use of large amounts of benzocaine spray in patients undergoing endoscopy. One case of MHb was reported in an oral surgery patient with a large facial abscess requiring a fibreoptic intubation with the use of benzocaine topical spray. MHb has also been associated with excessive doses of the local anesthetic prilocaine.

Health Canada has received 9 reports of suspected MHb associated with the use of benzocaine to date, none of which have been fatal. Almost all reported cases were associated with higher concentration benzocaine spray products (14-20%) used in the mouth and on other mucous membranes. Sprays containing 20% benzocaine, as well as topical gels or ointments containing 20% benzocaine in a soluble base, are available for use in dental offices in Canada.

After reviewing Health Canada’s notice, Drs. Haas and Sándor provided customized recommendations for dentists, to help minimize the likelihood of benzocaine-induced MHb.
Benzocaine topical anesthetic should be avoided in dental patients who are susceptible to MHb, such as those with either congenital or acquired MHb or any disorder that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.

1. Alternatives to benzocaine sprays, such as topical lidocaine preparations, are available and should be used for patients with an MHb risk factor.
2. Mucosal damage or inflammation at the application site may result in an increased systemic uptake of benzocaine. Therefore topical anesthetic must be applied very judiciously.
3. Use the minimum quantity of spray needed to achieve the desired effect.
4. The cyanosis associated with MHb is not responsive to oxygen, although its administration should not be withheld. The presence of chocolate brown coloured blood is another sign of MHb. Patients may also develop other signs and symptoms of MHb such as pallor, nausea, muscle weakness, dizziness, confusion, agitation, dyspnea and tachycardia.
5. Patients with suspected cases of MHb should be sent immediately to a hospital emergency department for management, accompanied with appropriate information that MHb is suspected. This will help guide treatment, which includes the administration of 1-2 mg/kg methylene blue intravenously.

Given this information from the CDA and Health Canada, we (as are all health practitioners) are following the recommendations above. Click here to see the complete Health Canada Alert.

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

Soft Drinks are the #1 Choice for Vending Machine Beverages

In the "not a surprise" department, a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (October 2006) said that the most commonly purchased drinks from vending machines were soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened drinks.

The researchers also discovered that children who eat at fast food restaurants were more likely to consume these drinks.

Source: Source: AGD Impact Magazine, Vol 35, No 1, pg 21.

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 Roundup: Periodontitis and Preterm Babies

Hi all,

I just finished reading the latest issue of AGD Impact magazine (Jan 2007) and they had a few news stories that I'd like to share with you over the next week or so. First off: gum disease and premature babies.

The latest study in the Nov 2nd issue of the New England Journal of Medicine found that the treatment of periodontitis in pregnant women did not prevent preterm births. 13% of the control group gave birth early, while 12% of the treatment group did...a statistically irrelevant difference. These latest findings contradict the previous research on the topic.

I guess we will have to wait for more studies to definitively give us the answer on this topic.

Source: AGD Impact Magazine, Vol 35, No 1, pg 21.

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 Floss is Hurting Toronto's Sewage System

Hi all,

There is an almost humourous article circulating the major media outlets about floss "gumming up" the water system in Toronto. Here's the teaser quote from the Toronto Star:


... dental floss is wreaking havoc at several of Toronto's waste-water pumping stations and treatment plants. How?

The answer is simple: People are flushing it down the toilet.

Dental floss, especially newer brands, is shred-resistant, and when strands end up in waste-water, they bind with other waste, creating what one Toronto Water supervisor called a "snowball effect." Clumps are formed – one found last week was about the size of a softball – and they gum up impellers, which are part of the pumps in the city's sanitary pumping stations. Strands of floss wrap around the motors of the impellers – rotating devices that move the waste. When the motors don't have enough power to overcome the jam, they shut down.

I have to admit that I used to flush my floss, but I've now changed that practice. My new advice to patients and my own philosophy is: floss every day and throw it in the appropriate garbage system.

Cheers!

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

CNN story on the waterlase MD laser drill

I believe in the future, a significant portion of dentistry will be done by laser. The advantages are numerous: less discomfort, better tissue response and none of the typical drill sounds. However, the cost is pretty prohibitive as the moment ($85 000-$100 000 for each machine multiplied by the number of operatories in a particular practice...ouch). Wider adoption of the technology is sure to happen when the price drops significantly (say about $25 000 per machine).

CNN had an article this morning on the topic and how incentives are being used to stimulate sales of these lasers. Here are some teaser quotes from the article:

Some dentists are resistant to change, while others just have bad memories about the older laser drills. Older models were less popular with dentists because they were difficult to use and therefore not as safe as the new laser-water drills.

"There is a number of dentists who have a dated concept of what laser dentistry is, and that gives Biolase a challenge of reaching these dentists, [to teach them] how far advanced Biolase really is," said Biolase chief executive Jeffrey Jones. Biolase is wooing dentists with the promise that its HydroPhotonics technology causes no pain and therefore requires no anesthetic.

Also, to drum up business for its $85,000 Waterlase drill, Biolase and its distributor, Sullivan-
Schein Dental, offered a holiday sales promotion that included a $5,000 discount plus a 50-inch plasma TV and a $5,000 Sullivan-Schein merchandise gift certificate.

How about improving the manufacturing process and reducing the price? :)

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 Site Page: Canadian DAT links

If you are thinking of a career in dentistry (as a dentist), the Canadian Dental Association has a great selection of links about the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test or (DAT). To get into a dental school, you need the following:

1. an undergraduate degree with the prescribed requirements
2. great marks
3. a great DAT score
4. a well rounded existence :) (sports, volunteering etc.)
5. a great interview

If you make it in, it's a minimum 4 years more of schooling to become a general practitioner (in certain US states, you may need a further year of residency). Specialist training requires many additional years of training.

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: Why there is more buildup on the inside of lower front teeth

There is more calculus (hard buildup) on the lingual (inside) of lower anterior teeth as compared to other teeth for a few reasons. In general, an acidic pH is bad for buildup. Sugar actually slows down the buildup process due to an acidic pH. So this particular area of the mouth has:

1. Faster clearance: these areas are cleaned better (think tongue etc.) so sugars are not in the area too long which results in more buildup
2. Faster saliva film velocity (I) : again clearing sugars quickly
3. Faster saliva film velocity (II): also results in more urea being transported to the area, which help in the neutralization of acids...which helps create calculus

Whew! That was a bit technical, but I hope it provides some insight. :)

Source: Dawes C, JCDA, Vol 72, No 10, December 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

Happy New Year

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

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

Those Mistletoe Kisses may be Spreading Hundreds of Germs

Hi everyone, hopefully everyone is having a great holiday. I came across this interesting holiday article from the Academy of General Dentistry website. Here's the teaser quote:

Exchanging kisses underneath the mistletoe may leave holiday revelers with more than just friendship and goodwill tidings. Passionate partygoers may swap up to 500 different species of germs, including those that cause gum disease, warns the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing education.

“With just one kiss, this infection can be passed between couples and even to children,” says Gordon Isbell, III, DMD, MAGD, spokesperson for the AGD.

Gum disease, a chronic inflammation and infection of the gums and surrounding tissues, is the major cause of about 70 percent of adult tooth loss, affects three out of four persons at some point in their life and is easily transmissible though mouth-to-mouth contact.

Read the rest of the article here:

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

Merry Christmas to all!

My family and myself would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Peace on earth and goodwill to everyone. Have a great holiday.





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 Site from Crest and Scientific American

Crest has kindly put up online the Scientific American Special Issue on Oral and Whole Body Health. Great series of articles, but you will need a PDF reader (usually from Adobe) to view the stories. Enjoy!

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: Beverages and Dental Erosion

Acidic beverages such as fruit juices, soft drinks, sports drinks and alcohol can potentially cause dental erosion. Some findings:

1. Adding fluoride to drinks does not decrease the incidence of dental erosion
2. Dental erosion can be caused by both food and drink
3. Swishing or holding acidic liquids in the mouth promotes erosion
4. Citric acid has the highest erosive potential

Sources: Sevels I, Ontario Dentist, Dec 2006, Vol 83, Number 10, p.14 and American J Dent, 2005; 18:101-104


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

Coming Soon to Stores: Bacteria Reducing Gum

BASF, the German chemical company, is coming out with a gum that contains "good" bacteria to combat the "bad" bacteria that causes tooth decay. Cavities start when certain bacteria adhere to the surfaces of teeth and produce acid to breakdown the hard outer enamel surface. The bacteria in the gum causes the cavity producing bacteria to clump together preventing it from attaching to the tooth surface. Tests indicate that a 50% reduction in bacteria is possible by chewing the gum.

Source: AGD Impact, (Dental News), December 2006, vol 34, no 11, pg 24 and Marina Murphy from Chemistry & Industry

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: Essential Oils

Essential oils (such as eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate and thymol to name a few) can be commonly found in mouthrinses (e.g. Listerine) and can help facilitate the control of plaque, periodontal disease and viral contamination of saliva.

Source: Von Fraunhofer et al, The effect of a mouthrinse containing essential oils on dental restorative materials, General Dentistry, Nov-Dec 2006 Vol 54, No 6, pg 403-407.

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