Dental Did You Know: Lung Cancer Risk After Quitting Smoking

The risk of lung cancer is reduced by 50% in recent quitters and 83% in long-term quitters.

Source: Smoking Cessation Rounds Vol 3, Issue 4 (Table 1) 2009, Available at http://www.smokingcessationrounds.ca

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 Services Most Valued by Canadians 40+

Hi everyone,

In a survey on dental services most valued by Canadians 40+ as reported in October's Oral Health Journal:

1. 75% wanted fillings for cavities
2. 74% wanted to prevent gum disease
3. 63% wanted treatment to prevent cavities
4. 40% wanted implants
5. 25% wanted cosmetic treatment
   

Source: Tenenbaum H et al, What Your Older Patients Want from Their Dental Services, Oral Health Journal, Oct 09, Vol 99, No 10, pg 42-53.

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

Web article: How to keep treats from doing scary things to teeth

Hi everyone,

I saw this article online on the CBC.ca website, here's the teaser quote:

Here are a few things to keep in mind before allowing children to dig into a bag of tasty treats.

Read the rest of the article here: How to keep treats from doing scary things to teeth

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/10/29/f-halloween-dental-health-candy.html Read on Nov 2, 2009.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

H1N1 Update

Hi everyone,

OK, here's the official update from the Government of Canada's official flu website: www.fightflu.ca

High Risk Groups:

1. Children under 5
2. Women who are pregnant
3. People with chronic conditions such as: heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, asthma and chronic lung disease, liver disease, blood disorders, severe obesity, immunosuppressed people, neurological disorders

Protect Yourself:

1. Wash your hands frequently (for 20 seconds or use an alcohol based sanitizer)
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
3. Cough and sneeze into your arm
4. Get your H1N1 shot
5. Keep common surfaces clean and disinfected
6. If you get sick...stay home!

For more information, including how to recognise symptoms, go to the Government of Canada's H1N1 Website

Source: Government of Canada website and brochure http://www.fightflu.ca, read on Oct 30/09.

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

Diazepam (Valium) Usage in Dentistry: Basic Facts

Diazepam (Valium), a longer acting sedative, has been used on anxious patients to allow dental procedures to be done in a more reliable fashion. The usual use of Diazepam are as follows:

1. Dose range: 2-20mg
2. Tablet form: 2, 5, 10mg
3. Oral Solution: 5mg/5ml and 5mg/ml
   
4. Onset: 20-40 minutes
5. Half Life: >24 hours
6. Best used: in the evening before a sedation appointment and can be followed on the appointment day

Source: Bhalla J, Anxiety and Dental Management, Ontario Dentist, Vol 86, No 8, pg 20-23.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Shortage of Dentists for our American Friends?

Saw this article in the Canadian Medical Journal Website regarding the possible shortage of dentists in the US. Here's the teaser quote:

Residents of the United States who need teeth extracted may soon have to do it the old-fashioned way — with pliers, whisky and elbow grease — because there may not be enough dentists to go around.

The number of practicing dentists is projected to start declining in 2014, which will likely exacerbate an existing problem: the unwillingness of many to practice in rural areas. Further compounding the problem are such factors as a continuing migration from general practice to specialties like orthodontics, the closure of dental schools, a decrease in the size of graduating classes, the forthcoming mass retirement of older dentists and the growing number of female dentists, who tend to work fewer hours than their male colleagues.

You can read the rest of the article here: United States Faces Dentist Shortage

Source: Canadian Medical Journal Website http://www.cmaj.ca/earlyreleases/21oct09_dentist_shortage.shtml Read on Oct 27/2009

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Triazolam (Halcion) Usage in Dentistry: Basic Facts

Triazolam (Halcion), a shorter acting sedative, has been used on anxious patients to allow dental procedures to be done in a more reliable fashion. The usual use of Triazolam are as follows:

1. Dose range: 0.125-0.5mg
2. Tablet form: 0.125, 0.25mg
3. Onset: 15-30 minutes
4. Half Life: 1.5-5 hours
5. Best used for: short to moderate length dental appointments (2-4 hours)

Source: Bhalla J, Anxiety and Dental Management, Ontario Dentist, Vol 86, No 8, pg 20-23.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Ativan Usage in Dentistry: Basic Facts

Lorazepam (Ativan), a sedative, has been used on anxious patients to allow dental procedures to be done in a more reliable fashion. The usual use of Ativan are as follows:

1. Dose range: 0.25-4mg
2. Tablet form: 0.5, 1.0, 2.0mg
3. Liquid form: 2mg/ml
4. Onset: 30-60 minutes
5. Half Life: >8 hours
6. Best used for: longer dental appointments (3 hours)

Source: Bhalla J, Anxiety and Dental Management, Ontario Dentist, Vol 86, No 8, pg 20-23.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Chewing Gum...It Really is Good for you!

Saw this article in the Science section of the www.canoe.ca website. Here's the teaser quote:

London researchers have found the simple act of chewing gum helps people with Parkinson's swallow, reducing a major problem for those with the debilitating disease.

Researchers believe repeated chewing leaves a lingering memory in the brain that can help patients cope a bit better.

"It was very helpful in terms of improving drooling and swallowing," Dr. Mandar Jog, London Health Sciences Centre neurologist and director of the Movement Disorders Centre, said yesterday.

You can read the rest of the article here: Chew gum, it's good for you

Source: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Science/2009/10/23/11497311-sun.html Read on October 23, 2009, Chew Gum, It's Good for you.

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

Poor Hygiene and Orthodontic Treatment Times

Studies have shown that when your dentist marks "poor oral hygiene" in your chart 3 or more times during orthodontic treatment, that it correlates to an increased treatment time of 1.2-2.2 months.

Source: Brown D et al, Systematic Evaluation of Patient Oral Hygiene for Orthodontic Patients, Oral Health Journal, Sept 2009, Vol 99, No 9, pg 52-58.

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

Dental Care During Pregnancy

Hey everyone,

I was just reading some of the latest findings/summaries in the Ontario Dentist Journal about pregnancy and dental care. Some interesting points:

1. 50% of women experience gingivitis during pregnancy due to increased hormone production
2. Roughly half of those women do not seek dental care
3. A study of 823 women at 13-21 weeks did not show any adverse fetal outcomes when periodontal disease was treated by scaling and root planing using local anaesthetic
4. Local anaesthetics are generally safe during pregnancy. However proper aspiration is particularly important to prevent inadvertent intravascular injection
5. Health Canada recommends that amalgam fillings should not be placed or removed during pregnancy. This approach is conservative since studies have failed to show an increased incidence of birth defects, spontaneous abortions, neurologic or infertility problems.
6. Prenatal x-rays are a small dose of radiation that has not been shown to be associated with any adverse fetal abnormalities

Source: Feferman I, Ontario Dentist, OD Healthline, Sept 2009, Vol 86, No7, pg 16-17.

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

Cosmetic Makeover in a few Pictures: Part I

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to give everyone a sample of how we do a nice cosmetic case. In this case, our patient had missing upper laterals that were replaced by some bonding a number of years ago. She was not confident in her smile, and therefore wanted her front 6 teeth redone with two bridges. Here's the before photo (and yes, those devices around her lips are just lip retractors...thanks to Deborah for the photos):

Notice the poor contour of the teeth, not to mention the lack of strength this type of restoration has. It will be much better with two bridges cemented in. After a consult with the patient, as well as getting all necessary hygiene appointments done beforehand, we had a few goals in mind with this case:

1. Improve the shape of the teeth to a more natural contour
2. Make the teeth larger for a more youthful look
3. Improve the colour so that the teeth look whiter
4. Improve the contacts so that we have a good chance at having the gingiva (gums) nicely fill in the space in between teeth.

So with the help of Krest Labs, we treatment planned the case.

Coming up in Part 2: The preparation of the teeth and the shape of temporary teeth.


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

Unfortunate Terminology: CBC.ca article - Will face masks protect you from the flu?

Here's an unfortunately worded article in regards to dentistry (Will face masks protect you from the flu?). While I have no issue with the premise and conclusions of the article with regards to the H1N1 flu, I wonder what this statement is doing in the article:

"Not all masks are created equally, either. Surgical masks — the kind your dental hygienist might use while inflicting a cleaning on you — offer some help, but they won't filter out smaller particles and don't provide a good seal."

Huh? Inflicting a cleaning on you? So much for preventive dental care. C'mon CBC you can do better!

Source: Will face masks protect you from the flu? April 28th, 2009. Read Sep 1, 2009. http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/04/28/f-flumasks.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

Dental Did You Know: Oral Appliances

According to the latest RCDSO (Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario) guideline publication, 40% of patients with myogenous (muscle-based) jaw issues who had a placebo oral appliance (guard) experienced remission or noticeable improvement.

Source: Klasser G and Greene C, Oral Appliances in the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario PEAK Publication, Aug 2009.


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

TWiD: This Week in Dentistry (Episode 2)

Hi everyone!

Sorry about the delay in posting. I was on vacation in Europe (it was *fantastic*). I just wanted to acknowledge everyone's patience while I was gone and especially thanks to Jodie and Gloria for keeping things together while I was away. Anyways, this week had a few items of dental interest:

1) Do Redheads Feel More Pain?
A new study has found that redheads are more than twice as likely to avoid a visit to the dentist - possibly because they are more sensitive to pain. But does hair colour really mean more discomfort in the dentist chair?

(Wow, this is news to me...apparently redheads may need as much as 20% more anesthesia for the same affect...I think I'll wait for corroborating studies before I take it as canon)

Source: BBC online, Aug 11, 2009, Do Redheads Really Feel More Pain? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8195177.stm
Read: Aug 18, 2009

2) Canadians Reducing Dental Visits During Recession

The economic downturn is delivering a beating to Canadians' health as well as their wealth, a new poll shows. 25 per cent said they have cancelled or delayed a dental appointment to save money

(This is not a surprising result given the recession, it is unfortunate though)

Source: The Globe and Mail Online, Aug 16, 2009, Poor economy hammers Canadians' health, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/poor-economy-hammers-canadians-health/article1254083/
Read on Aug 17, 2009



Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

TWiD: This Week in Dentistry

My weekly or so survey of dental stories from the internet:

Crest Pro-Enamel Shield May Stain Teeth (Miami Herald)
Sensational headline for something we've known for a while about stannous fluoride.

Dental Floss Still #1 Choice for Cleaning in Between Teeth (The Wealthy Dentist)
Not really a scientific survey but not a surprising result either.

Lawsuit: Dentist Dropped Tools Down Man's Throat (Associated Press)
Oh my...and he did it twice to a 90 year old.

Schulich Dentist Takes Bite out of Cold Cases (Western News)
Love it! A real life dental CSI (kinda).


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

Hepatitis B Dental Facts

In general, all dental and medical professionals in Canada and the US are required to have documented proof of immunization against hepatitis B to prevent onset of the disease and to prevent transmission to patients.

Why is this needed and why are regulatory colleges so strict about it?

1. Worldwide, there were an estimated 350 million carriers of Hep B
2. 10-18% of surgeons worldwide have Hep B
3. The estimated risk of transmission from an infected worker is 240-1400 per 1 million procedures
4. The sero (blood) conversion rate from a potentially infected workers is 19-30%

Source: Anand R and Bowker C, RCDSO, The Legal and Human Rights Ramifications of Serology Testing for Dental Professionals, PEAK Bulletin May/June 2009


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Happy belated Father's Day and the "Principles of Waiting"

Hope everyone had a great Father's Day celebration. I'm on a reduced schedule in Mississauga because I'm covering the senior dentist's vacation time at the Tavistock location.

I was scanning some of the dental publications at the office and came upon this little gem from Dentaltown Magazine. The publisher, Howard Farran had a list of the "Eight Principles of Waiting" first created by Harvard Business School professor David Maister:

The Eight Principles of Waiting:

1. Unoccupied time feels longer than occupied time
2. Pre-process waits feel longer than in-process waits
3. Anxiety makes waits seem longer
4. Uncertain waits are longer than known, finite waits
5. Unexplained waits are longer than explained waits
6. Unfair waits are longer than equitable waits
7. The more valuable the service the longer I will wait
8. Solo waiting feels longer then group waiting

What a great list! Jodie, Gloria and myself will try to adjust our process flows so that any waiting time is perceived as short as possible.

Source: Farran H, The Waiting is the Hardest Part, Dentaltown Magazine, Vol 10, No 6 June 2009 pg 12-14.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

The Cochrane Library Available to All Canadians!

The Cochrane Library is universally considered the best source of high quality research studies and current evidence-based clinical treatments and guidelines. A partnership between the Canadian Cochrane Network and the Canadian Health Libraries Association has allowed Canadians free access to the library on a trial basis. You can access the library here: Cochrane Library.

Source: JCDA Vol 75, No 5, pg 323, June 2009 http://www.ccnc.cochrane.org/en/index.html

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Evidence Based Dentistry Website from the American Dental Association

The American Dental Association (ADA) has launched a new website dedicated to evidence based dentistry (EBD). The database, which will be updated 4 times a year started with over 1300 systematic reviews.

Source: http://ebd.ada.org

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

The British Columbia Oral Cancer Prevention Program Website: Orcanet.ca

This is a fantastic oral cancer website with clinical guidelines for dentists and a nice question and answer section for patients and providers. Check it out!

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Pancreatic Cancer and Periodontal Disease

A Harvard study on 63 000 male health professionals showed a 62% increase in pancreatic cancer in patients who had periodontal (gum) disease.



Source: Kammer C, Gum Disease is Killing Our Patients (and Our Profession is About to be Busted)! Dentaltown, May 2009, Vol 10, No 5, pg 20-23.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Demi Moore and the Missing Tooth

Well, this story has been making the rounds all over the internet and even a dental blog or two. Demi Moore's dental work on twitter. Here's the teaser quote:

When it comes to twittering, Demi Moore is known for really sinking her teeth into the latest communication craze. At least the ones she has left.

The 46-year-old actress hopped on her account over the weekend to post a couple of pictures in which she's smiling in a dentist's chair and revealing a gaping hole where a tooth used to be.

"I lost it and had to have it fixed! I personally thought this look went out after you were eight, didn't know I would be rocking it again!" she wrote. "Happy to share and always appreciate the opportunity to find humility!!! Or at least be able to laugh at myself!"

Read the rest of the story on E Online and see the pictures here: For Demi, Less is More

Source: E Online, Read on May 28/09 http://ca.eonline.com/uberblog/b125706_demi_sometimes_less_moore.html

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Smoking Related Deaths in Canada

As recently as 1998, nearly 22% of all deaths in Canada were attributable to smoking.

Source: Smoking Cessation Rounds Vol 2, No 9, 2009.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Breastfeeding Duration and Non-nutritive Sucking Habits

Children that were breastfed for fewer than six months developed non-nutritive sucking habits (e.g. thumb sucking) at a four-fold higher rate than children who were fed 6 months or longer.

Source: Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 130:531-534, 2006

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Practice in Pictures: Part 3

More from Phi Le, the photographer/denturist we refer to.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

New Dental Blogs and Dental Characters in Movies

Just perusing around the 'net and found a couple of interesting blogs. The first is the University of Toronto Dental Library Blog by Amy Beaith and in particular the post from December 11, 2008 on dentists in movies (as characters). Here's the teaser:

A web list of movies from 1940s to 1979 with dentists http://www.classicfilmguide.com/index.php?s=essays&item=24

Ghost Town (2008) - Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear Bertram Pincus, is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts. Ricky Gervais a dentist who can talk to the dead.
Good Luck Chuck (2007) - Dane Cook and Jessica Alba Standup comedian Dane Cook stars in this romantic comedy as Charlie Logan, a successful dentist cursed with the affliction of having the women he dates fall in love with the next guy they meet.
The Whole Ten Yards (2004) - Bruce Willis, Matthew PerryJimmy the Tulip's (Willis) quiet new life is shaken up by his old pal Oz (Perry), whose wife (Henstridge) has been kidnapped by a Hungarian mob. The Tulip and his wife Jill (Peet) spring into action.
Finding Nemo (2003) - Bill Hunter voices the dentistA father-son underwater adventure featuring Nemo, a boy clownfish, stolen from his coral reef home. His timid father must then travel to Sydney, and search Sydney Harbour find Nemo. Little Nemo ends up in a dentist's aquarium.

You can read the rest of the post here: Dentist Films. I'll post the other blog in an upcoming post.

Source: http://uoftdentistrylibrary.blogspot.com/2008/12/dentist-films.html
and http://uoftdentistrylibrary.blogspot.com/


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Practice in Pictures: Part II

Another image from Phi Le (the denturist we refer to) of the very unique roof of our building.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Practice in Pictures: Part I

The denturist we refer to is a hobby photographer and he decided to take a few pictures during one of his visits...here's the first in the series:

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!

Yes, it's that time of the year....April is Oral Health Month. The Ontario Dental Association has taken a leadership role this year in enhancing Ontarians' understanding about the importance of oral health including:

1. downloadable patient fact sheets and an oral health month guide at http://www.youroralhealth.ca/
2. grants to local communities (via the local component societies of the ODA) during the month of April
3. Brush-a-mania, the annual program to educate our young students on proper dental care. This program has already reached over 230 000 students so far

I will try in the next couple of days to post some of the materials the ODA has regarding these great programs.

Source: Estevao R, April is Oral Health Month, Ontario Dentist, April 2009, Vol 86, No 3, pg 48-9.

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: Toronto-based Dentist Wins Torturous Desert Race

Saw this article in the Toronto Star Online a couple of days ago. Here's the teaser quote:

A Toronto-based Canadian Forces dentist has won a gruelling weeklong, 250 kilometre footrace across Chile’s Atacama Desert beating out more experienced runners from more than two dozen countries including several Olympians.

You can read the rest of the article here:

Source: The Toronto Star online, Read April 4/09, http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/613863


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

Free Dental Care for Kids: The CINOT Program

Here in Mississauga, the municipal and provincial governments have teamed up to provide free dental care to children in need (certain financial eligibility is required). How do you get into this program for your kids? Simple:

1. Call Peel Region Public Health at 905-799-7700 to book a screening appointment. A dental hygienist will determine if the child qualifies for the dental service. Ask for the Fairview screening clinic at 325 Central Parkway Unit 21, Mississauga, ON L5B 3X9. This screening office is the closest to Promenade Court Dental.
2. Paperwork will then be provided to see us at Promenade Court Dental (2233 Hurontario, south of Hurontario and Queensway) for treatment at no charge to you. You can call us when you receive the paperwork at 905-273-7100 to book an appointment for your child.

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

Veteran Affairs Canada Dental Information

The Veterans Affairs Canada website now features oral health information titled: "Your Mouth: It Affects Your Overall Health"

Source: Veterans Affairs Canada Website, Viewed March 16, 2009, www.vac-acc.gc.ca/clients/sub.cfm?source=health/dental


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

Patients Using Superglue to Fix Teeth

Yes, in these troubled times (TTT), it is sad to see people who are squeezed between good benefits and government assistance having their health compromised. View the video from CNN:



Source: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/03/04/zartler.woman.superglues.teeth.kkco?iref=videosearch
Viewed on March 5/09
Disclaimer: I do not endorse any products that may be seen in commercials during the viewing of this clip

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

Consumer Alert: Fake Toothbrushes

Saw this article in the Toronto Star Online, here's the teaser quote:

OTTAWA – Consumers and retailers should be cautious when buying toothbrushes after counterfeit products bearing brand names were found on the Canadian market, Health Canada warned Monday.

The toothbrushes are falsely labelled as Colgate Massager, Colgate Navigator, Oral B Classic 40, Oral B Contura and Colgate 360.

"If an imitation is suspected, consumers should stop using them immediately, as the quality, safety and effectiveness of counterfeit products cannot be assured," Health Canada said in an advisory.

Retailers with stock from Canadian importer AG Liquidation should check their products for authenticity and remove any they suspect to be bogus, the agency said.

Last July, a public advisory was issued about a sham Oral B Classic 40 toothbrush being sold. Health Canada received a report of toothbrush bristles dislodging and catching in a consumer's throat.


Source: The Toronto Star Online, http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/588359, viewed Feb 19/09

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Practice Improvements: Video Lab Communications

Hi everyone,

We are now using the Become One video tool with our primary prosthetic lab Pow Labs. This allows for far better communication between our practice and the fabricating lab. The previous method was through lab scripts, phone calls and the occasional visit to the lab. This streamlines information flow, lab processing time and reduces errors.

I've put in a screen capture to show you the screen I would see using the video tool.

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

Practice Improvements: New Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) for our Patients

We have a Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) for the entertainment of our patients (especially our younger generation) in our main operatory. (It also entertains me between patients ;). I have loaded it with a few games and so far it has been an enormous hit with patients. (Here's an image I took of it at home)

















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

3000 Year Old Mummy had Perfect Teeth

Click the image below to hear the story on CNN:




Disclaimer: I do not endorse any products in the advertising shown in the video clip

Source: CNN Online, Viewed Feb 13/09, http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2009/02/12/mummy.revealed.roesgen.cnn


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

New Medical Clinic

Hi everyone,

Most of our patients know that we are part of a great medical/health care complex. We have a pharmacy (Best Care Pharmacy), a female physician (Dr. Ngo) along with massage, physiotherapy and chiropractic services (In Motion Rehab).

Well, due to the growth of our facility, we are proud to announce the expansion of medical services in our building. The new All Care Walk-in Clinic will start operations this week with both a female and male physician on staff. Business hours initially will be Friday and Saturday from 10am-3pm. Should you want to book an appointment please call 905-268-0414.

Update (Feb 13/09): The phone number will be active February 16/2009 onwards.

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

Article: Early Humans had Nutcracker Jaws

Saw this article online on the Live Science website, here's the teaser quote:

Our ancient human relatives had jaws like nutcrackers that allowed the hominids to chomp down on hard nuts and seeds and adapt to changes in food sources in their environment, a new computer simulation reveals.

Today's humans have comparatively small faces and teeth, making us ill-equipped to bite down forcefully on hard objects. Apparently that wasn't the case for Australopithecus africanus, which lived 3.3 million to 2.5 million years ago.

An international team of researchers used computed tomography scanning to digitally recreate an A. africanus skull to see how the jaw operated and what forces it could produce. Then, they added measurements of how the facial muscles work in chimpanzees, which share common features with Australopithecus.

Read the rest of the article here: Early Humans had Nutcracker Jaws

Source: Live Science Website http://www.livescience.com/history/090203-nut-cracking-jaws.html , Read Feb 8/09.

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

Here we grow again! New Hygienist!

Again, thanks to our patients and community for making this possible. Just a few months after going to a 5 day week and having our best year ever in terms of numbers and variety of clinical procedures, I would like to introduce Gloria to our team. She is an experienced hygienist who I've worked with for a number of years. I've found her to be a great, kind, funny and an extremely diligent hygienist who is dedicated to her patients. I look forward to her expertise in setting up our hygiene department. We are starting her on Fridays and are currently in the process of refurbishing our second operatory (which was a overflow/storage room of sorts) to match our main (operatory 1). It will eventually become a fully-fledged hygiene operatory/emergency room. Stay tuned for details.

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

Formocresol Blood Levels in Children

Formocresol is a solution used by dentists for over 100 years as a medicament in baby teeth requiring the removal of pulpal tissue (pulpotomies). The solution used by most dentists is composed of 19% formaldehyde, 35% cresol in a vehicle of 15% glycerin and water. Concern has always been expressed about the exposure of these chemicals to young children and the impact on their health.

In a great study by Jeff Kahl and his colleagues, he showed that:

1. Formaldehyde is undetectable above baseline physiologic concentrations in plasma
2. Cresol is undetectable in plasma in patients receiving treatment
3. Benzyl alcohol was detected in plasma but in levels far below the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recommended daily allowance
4. It is unlikely that formocresol when used in doses typically employed for vital pulpotomoies pose any risk to children

Source: Kahl J et al, Formocresol Blood Levels in Children Receiving Dental Treatment Under General Anesthesia, Pediatr Dent, 2008;30:393-9.

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

Vacation Time!

Yes, it's time for the annual vacation clinic shutdown. The practice will be closed and will reopen January 23rd at 2pm. Jodie and I will preferentially accommodate emergencies the first few days back.

See you all soon!

Hans and Jodie


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: Six Toxins Present in Tobacco Smoke

Health Canada has identified the top 6 toxins present in tobacco smoke that are likely to cause harm in humans:

1. Tar - a sticky black residue containing hundreds of chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic or classified as hazardous waste.
2. Nicotine - occurs naturally in tobacco plants but it's highly addictive and is also used as an herbicide and insecticide.
3. Carbon Monoxide - a deadly gas the reduces the ability of red blood cells to deliver oxygen to tissues causing most of its damage to your heart, brain and lungs.
4. Formaldehyde - a probable human carcinogen and registered pesticide.
5. Hydrogen Cyanide - one of the most toxic agents in tobacco smoke. Many of the short and long-term effects of cigarette smoke have been associated with this chemical.
6. Benzene - This is a Group 1 carcinogen and has been declared toxic by the Canadian Environmental Act. Benzene is believed to be harmful at any level of exposure.

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 4.

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 Art: Salvador Dali's Ruby Lips Brooch at the AGO

I noticed the Toronto Star had this stunning image (The Ruby Lips Brooch (1949)) and an article on the Surrealism show at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) titled: Surrealism and Design.

Here's the teaser quote:

Salvador Dali was perhaps the most celebrated practitioner of Surrealism, and there will be a number of Dali showstoppers on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario throughout this summer.

They are among the 200 tantalizing objects in a deliciously enjoyable exhibit called "Surreal Things," subtitled "Surrealism and Design."

...Surrealism, which flourished in the 1920s and 1930s, was in a way the art of making the fantastic real. It also happened to be an incredibly important avant-garde movement whose influence is still being felt today.

Source: The Toronto Star Online: Viewed Jan 7/09 http://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/article/562741

Image Source: Toronto Star http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/99/7e/d67cb0bf44728fa922ae898077dd.jpeg
(C) SALVADOR DALÍ FUNDACÍO, GALA-SALVADOR DALÍ/SODRAC (2009)

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

CNN: Flossing Helps Extend Your Life

Saw this video on CNN's Paging Dr. Gupta. It goes to show how important limiting inflammation is to not just oral health but general health and longevity.



Disclaimer: I do not endorse any products in the advertising shown in the video clip

Original Source: CNN online http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2009/01/02/gupta.live.longer.flossing.cnn

Online Source: Flap's Dental Blog http://www.flapsblog.net/2009/01/how-to-live-longer-flossing-your-teeth.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

Dental Did You Know: Smoking Perceptions Part III

24% of smokers think that the manufacturers label their products with "light" and "mild" as an advertising gimmick

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 1.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! May 2009 be a healthy and prosperous year for everyone. We will be closed Jan 1st but will be reopening Jan 2nd at our usual time.

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

Dental Did You Know: Smoking Perceptions Part II

59% of smokers found the terms "light" and "mild" confusing.

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 1.


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas/happy holiday and a very happy and prosperous new year! We are closed the 25th and 26th, but will resume our appointments on the 27th.


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: Light Tobacco Perceptions

47% of smokers think that "light" means lower in tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide.

Source: Clinical Tobacco Intervention Bulletin, Nov 2008, Vol 7, No 2, pg 1.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

The New Dentist Blog

Just added The New Dentist Blog to my list of blogs that I read. The blog's author is Dr. Joshua Austin, a new dentist documenting his experiences in the practice of dentistry.

Source: The New Dentist Blog, http://www.thenewdentistblog.com/


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Practice Update: Extended Hours on Wednesdays

Hi everyone,

Here we grow again! We are now extending our clinic hours on Wednesdays from 2pm to 7pm for your convenience. Thanks to our growing pool of great patients for this milestone!

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

Course Update: Anaesthesia and Conscious Sedation

Went to a nice course given by Dr. K Khaled from Children's Sleep Dentistry on anaesthesia techniques and conscious sedation. I wanted to thank him and his staff for the course (and of course the nice food spread!).


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 Dental Insider

Just added The Dental Insider to the list of dental blogs that I follow.

Source: http://dentalinsider.wordpress.com/

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: Sleep Bruxism (Grinding)

About 8% of the general population suffers from sleep bruxism (tooth grinding).

Source: Lavigne G, News and Updates, JCDA, Nov 2008, Vol 74, No 9, p 775.

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 2.0 and the Wikipedia Entry

Hi everyone,

Well it finally happened...I made my first wikipedia entry (actually, just a small addition) to the Health 2.0 entry. I decided to add the great definition by my friend and colleague Dr. Ian Furst to the webpage:

Health 2.0 is participatory healthcare characterized by the ability to rapidly share, classify and summarize individual health information with the goals of improving health care systems, experiences and outcomes via integration of patients and stakeholders.

I have to say, adding content to wikipedia is really not that hard. I've been toying around the idea of creating a dental wiki to formalize and organize a lot of the dental tidbits and facts of the blog. we'll see if it comes to fruition.

Take care everyone

Sources: Health 2.0 wiki and Dr. Furst's Wait Time and Delayed Care Blog: http://waittimes.blogspot.com/


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 Museum at Temple University

Temple University Dental School has a fantastic dental museum including a recreation of a Victorian dental office complete with life-sized figures.

Source: http://www.temple.edu/dentistry/museum/museum_photos.htm and
http://www.temple.edu/dentistry/museum.htm

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

Excellent Article on Universal Dental Care

Love this article on universal dental care (which I support) in the University of Toronto Magazine. The link is below to the online summary. Here's the teaser snippet:


Canada's Universal Healthcare System stops, for a series of complicated and unpalatable reasons,at the gum line – a boundary not recognized by the human body. According to Jim Leake, a U of T professor emeritus of community dentistry, this artificial dividing line leaves tens of thousands of Canadians – especially low-income families, First Nations people and children – without adequate dental care.

Read the rest of the article here:

Gum Control :http://www.magazine.utoronto.ca/08autumn/leadingedge.asp#gum


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: Premolar Morphology

Most mandibular first premolars (two teeth in front of your lower molars) have a single root and a single (nerve) canal, 24% have greater than 2 canals. Typically, people from the African-American, Turkish and Chinese populations have an increased incidence of multiple canals.

Source: Cleghorn BM et al, The root and root canal morphology of the human mandibular first premolar: a literature review, J Endod 2007, Vol 33, pg 509-516.

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: Stem Cell and Regeneration

It may soon be possible to regenerate injured/diseased dental pulp (nerve and nutrient transport system) by using stem cells from a disposable source (i.e. baby teeth). These damaged areas are the primary reason for the need of a root canal procedure.

Source: Cordeiro M et al., Dental Pulp Engineering with Stem Cells from Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth, J Endod, Vol 34, pg 962-969.

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 Gentle Reminder to take Advantage your Insurance Benefits

Hi everyone,

Hopefully everyone has recovered from a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday, the weather was just fantastic!

I just wanted to give everyone a reminder that with the end of the year fast approaching, any outstanding work should be done before Dec 31st to take advantage of any remaining insurance coverage. Most insurance plans are based on the calendar year, the exceptions being teacher and university/college student plans.

Call Jodie to schedule an appointment for your hygiene, restorative, crown or whitening appointment.

Cheers,

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: The Nerves Regulating Taste

The sensation of taste is mediated by 3 cranial nerves:

1. The facial nerve (VII)
2. The Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
3. The Vagus nerve (X)

Source: Klasser G et al, Taste Change Associated with a Dental Procedure: Case Report and Review of the Literature, JCDA, June 2008, Vol 74, No 5, pg 455-460.

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: Sensory Innervation of the Tongue

The trigeminal nerve (V) provides general sensory innervation to the tongue.

Source: Klasser G et al, Taste Change Associated with a Dental Procedure: Case Report and Review of the Literature, JCDA, June 2008, Vol 74, No 5, pg 455-460.


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

New Sport Guards from Caley

Hi everyone,

our orthodontic lab (Caley Labs) now offers multicoloured sport guards and retainers sporting the colours of your favourite (or hated) hockey team. We’ve scanned their brochure to give you a sense of the options they offer. As always, custom lab-fabricated guards are $50. These guards are a must-have to prevent damaging and expensive sports-related injuries to the mouth.

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 Number of Dentists in Ontario

As of 2007, there are 7400 dentists in Ontario and 933 in the area of the practice (Halton-Peel).

Source: Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, 2007 Annual Report.

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: Cavities and Age

The prevalence of dental caries (cavities) increases with age, ranging from 21% of those aged 6-11 to 67% among adolescents 16-19 years of age.

Source: Peak Enhancement and Knowledge, Evidence-Based Clinical Recommendations for the use of Pit-and-Fissure Sealants, A Report of the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs. Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, Supplement Aug/Sep 2008.

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: Alcohol Percentage in Mouthrinses

The concentration of alcohol in mouthrinses can be 20% or more.

Source: Gerlach R, Practice Implications of Therapeutic Mouthrinses, Oral Health, July 2008, Vol 98, No 7, pg 40-42.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Patient Hygiene Averages

Only 72% of patients with teeth routinely brushed twice a day. While only one-fifth or so flossed daily. The average brush time is less than a minute.

Source: Gerlach R, Practice Implications of Therapeutic Mouthrinses, Oral Health, July 2008, Vol 98, No 7, pg 40-42.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer Mortality Rate

The rate of mortality from oral cancer has not significantly changed in 50 years, even with our advancement in clinical therapies.

Source: Benjamin S, It's More than an Oral Cancer Exam, It's a Quality of Life Exam!, Oral Health, July 2008, Vol 98, No 7, pg 36-38 & 62.

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: Oral Cancer Survival Rate

Even with today's technology, five year survival for oral cancer is less than 50%.

Source: Benjamin S, It's More than an Oral Cancer Exam, It's a Quality of Life Exam!, Oral Health, July 2008, Vol 98, No 7, pg 36-38 & 62.

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

Technology Rules for a Dental Practice

Hi everyone,

I saw this mantra in the latest issue of Oral Health.

Once a new technology is acquired:
the entire dental team must adopt it. Then its parameters should be adapted for individual clinicians in the office. Finally, the dental team must work to be adept at the technology or process.

Hmmm...adopt, adapt and adept. Great key words

Source: Freedman G, New Technology: Do I need it? Strategies for the Successful Practice, Oral Health, July 2008, Vol 98, No 7, pg 3.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

New Sign!

I've always hated the tombstone-style sign just in front our practice. Thankfully, through the help of management (especially Dean Amini) and the cooperation of all the health practitioners in our building, have a new sign:

I'll be looking to improve the signage at street level in the near future too.

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 Dental Quote

From Dr. Sam Kherani:

The best and cheapest dentistry is when the right thing is done extremely well the first time and it lasts.

Source: Kherani S, Being a Star Dental Professional in the New Millennium, Aurum Ceramic Continuum Vol 21, Issue 2 Spring/Summer 2008 pg 4-6.

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