Dental Did You Know: Cases of Oral Cancer Worldwide

According to Vigilant Biosciences, there are over 600 000 cases of oral cancer every year worldwide. (Incidentally, they are making an oral rinse test to detect biomarkers of this disease. The independent data is not there yet on how sensitive or specific the test will be over the long term.)

Source: Apex 360 E-Newsletter: Posted June 6th, Read June 9, 2016. 
http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/apex360/2016/06/early-detection-of-head-and-neck-cancer-gets-a-boost-vigilant-biosciences-launches-first-of-its-kind-oncalert-labs-oramark-test-in-the-united-states.html?cmpid=Enl_APX_June-7-2016&eid=295478886&bid=1425856


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: The Reason you Crown Posterior Teeth that have had a Root Canal.

From the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario's PEAK article program:

In a retrospective study of uncrowned endodontically treated teeth, the overall survival rates of molars without crowns at 1, 2, and 5 years were 96%, 88% and 36% respectively.

Yikes! So no matter how conservative the access for the root canal is and the lack of any significant caries, you should crown these teeth within two years and preferably one.

Source: McComb D,  Restoration of the Endodontically Treated Tooth,  (PEAK article), Practice Enhancement and Knowledge, Supplement to Feb/Mar 2008 Dispatch. Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. 

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: Initial Newborn Evaluation Protocol-Tethered Oral Tissues

All newborn infants should have an oral assessment as early as birth. Infants having difficulty in achieving a deep, comfortable and efficient latch onto a mother's breast should be examined by a lactation consultant within (24-48 hrs) after birth and should have an evaluation of the oral tissues, especially of the tongue and upper lip attachments completed.

Source: (Modified quote from) Kotlow L, TOTS-Tethered Oral Tissues; The Assessment and Diagnosis of the Tongue and Upper Lip Ties in Breastfeeding, Oral Health, March 2015, Vol 105, No3, pg 64-68.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dentistry in Media: CDA Oasis App

Here's a fantastic app for iOS and Android that has the Canadian Dental Association's clinical and practice information at your fingertips. Unique clinical questions are answered along with the latest news/events/issues and people of note.

Source: CDA Essentials, Vol 2, No 1, pg 9,  Distributed Feb 2015. App is available on the app store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: There are Mutiple Pathways in the Brain when Experiencing Pain

I saw this quick summary about a pain study in the University of Colorado's (Boulder) website (I noted what I thought was very interesting):

A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder finds that when we use our thoughts to dull or enhance our experience of pain, the physical pain signal in the brain—sent by nerves in the area of a wound, for example, and encoded in multiple regions in the cerebrum—does not actually change (my emphasis). Instead the act of using thoughts to modulate pain, a technique called “cognitive self-regulation” that is commonly used to manage chronic pain, works via a separate pathway in the brain.

The findings, published in the journal PLOS Biology this month, show that the processing of pain in our brains goes beyond the mere physical pain signal and underscore a growing understanding among neuroscientists that there is not a single pain system in the brain, as was once believed.

Source: http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2015/01/12/study-finds-experience-pain-relies-multiple-brain-pathways-not-just-one (Read on Jan 18/2015, Original web article produced Jan 12/2015)


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: The Incidence of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Damage after Dental Anesthesia

Although very rare, the incidence of nerve damage due to anesthesia via inferior alveolar block is about 1:26762 and 1:160571. In more than 85% of the cases, the symptoms resolve within about 8 weeks, with a poor prognosis after this time period.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Inferior Alveolar Nerve Damage, Ontario Dentist, Nov 2014, vol 91, no 9, pg 16.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: Update to Survey of Canadian Dentists: Determinants in Choosing a Dentist

Dentist rated personal referrals from patients (81%) and proximity (12%) as the top two determinants in patients choosing a dentist.

Source: (direct quote) Levin L, Update to Survey of Canadian Dentists, CDA Essentials, Vol 1, Issue 5, pg 14-15.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: The Percentage of Female Students in first year at the University of Toronto Dental School

The number of female students in first year at the University of Toronto Dental School was 53.8% in 2012.

Fantastic News! :)

Source:  Embrett C, The Changing Face of Dentistry,  Ontario Dentist, Sept 2014, Vol 91, no 7,  pg 16-18.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: How Often Do Teeth Have Root Fractures?

Root fracture injuries affect 0.5-0.7% of permanent teeth.

Source (Direct Quote): Keceli T et al., Preserving Alveolar Bone Growth Following Cervical Root Fracture: A Case Report, CDA Essential Vol 1, Issue 3, 2014, Full Text Article Online: jcda.ca/article/d158 (Read Aug 3, 2014)

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: Codeine for Pediatric Pain is now an Unsafe Practice

As of June 6th 2013, Health Canada released an update recommending that codeine not be used in children less than 12 years of age. It appears that the use of NSAIDs (Advil) and Acetaminophen (Tylenol) along with Morphine (in cases of severe pain) are the recommended routes to treat pain in pediatric cases.

Source: Wong M, Prescribing Codeine for Pediatric Pain: An Unsafe Practice, Oral Health, June 2014, Vol 104, No 6, pg 62-66.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: The Best Time After a Root Canal to Restore a Tooth

It is always better for the tooth to restore it immediately to prevent leakage of oral fluids into the root canal space. If this can not be done due to the length of the procedure or patient comfort, then a seal over the root canal area and a restoration as soon as possible is recommended.

Source: Glassman G, Bioactive Endodontic Obturation: Combining the New with the Tried and True, Oral Health, May 2014, Vol 9, No 4, pg 18-28.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: Root Supported Overdentures

The idea of retaining the roots of teeth and putting a denture (overdenture) over them was first described over 150 years ago. The benefit of this technique is the significant reduction in bone loss vs. the complete removal of teeth.

Source: Ettinger R, Do Root Supported Overdentures Have a Good Prognosis in General Dental Practice?, Oral Health, March 2014, Vol 104, No 3, pg 22-26.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: Enamel Erosion

Enamel erosion is directly related to excessive soft drink or fruit drink consumption, dry mouth, acid reflux, medications and genetics. Additional physical factors include abrasion, malocclusion, bruxism (grinding) or trauma.

Source: Trost L, The Reality of Missing Enamel, Oral Health, April 2014, Vol 104, No 4, pg 88-92.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (226) 656-1000

Dental Did You Know: 100th Anniversary of Dental Care at Sick Kids Hospital Toronto

Yes, the 100th anniversary of the Department of Dentistry at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (SickKids) was celebrated in May 2013. Congrats to this fantastic hospital and department! The hospital itself was established by a group of women led by Elizabeth McMaster in 1875.

Source: Kenny D and Wencer G, Dentistry at SickKids, Toronto, Ontario Dentist, March 2014, Vol 91, No 2, pg 14-19.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: Number of Day Surgeries for Early Childhood Cavities

There are approximately 19 000 day-surgeries to treat early childhood caries (cavities) in children under the age of 6 every year in Canada.

Source: Adams A, Trends in Paediatric General Anesthesia in Canada, Oral Health, Feb 2014, Vol  104, No 2, pg 38-41.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: Oral Cancer in Canada

Oral Cancer is now the 13th most common type of cancer in Canada, with an estimated 4100 people diagnosed in 2013.

Source: Wilson C, Schmorgasbord ow la Catherine! (Editorial), Oral Hygiene, Feb 2014, pg 5.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: Average Onset of Eating Disorders and their Dental Impact

In a small scale study, the average onset of eating disorders was 16 years of age with an average duration of 4.4 years. Patients with eating disorders had more severe dental erosion, gingival bleeding and decayed, missing or filled teeth as compared to controls.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Oral Health, July/August 2013, Vol 90, No 6, pg 44-45.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dentistry in the Media: Are Actor's Teeth too White and Straight?

Found this article in the Globe and Mail to be quite humorous! It was a discussion that certain actors have straight white teeth in roles that you wouldn't expect them to be.

Here the link:  Molar Opposites: Why I'm Blinded by Actors' Pearly Whites in this Years Top Films

Source: Adams J, Globe and Mail Online: Jan 8/2014, Read Jan 9/2014, Molar Opposites: Why I'm Blinded by Actors' Pearly Whites in this Years Top Films   
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/why-im-blinded-by-actors-pearly-whites/article16242383/

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: Spending on Hair Care Products vs. Dental Care Products for Americans

Americans spend $100 billion annually on hair care products and only $2 billion on dental care products

Source: Wilson C, Get Up, Dress Up, Show Up, Never Give Up (Editorial), Oral Hygiene, November 2013, pg 5.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: Rate of Anaphylactic Response to Penicillin

Anaphylactic responses to Penicillin occur once every 10 000 courses administered.

Source:  Bronstein D and Suzuki J, How to Utilize Microbiology in the Treatment of Periodontitis, Oral Health, December 2013, Vol 103, No 12, pg 43-51.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: How to (Self) Check for Bad Breath

How do you check for bad breath? Lick your wrist, let it dry for 10 seconds and then smell it.

Source: Wilson C, Get Up, Dress Up, Show Up, Never Give Up (Editorial), Oral Hygiene, November 2013, pg 5.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Dental Did You Know: Total Length of Floss You Should Use in a Year.

If done properly and daily, the length of floss used in a year should be 122 yards. Only 18 yards are sold per person.

Source: Wilson C, Get Up, Dress Up, Show Up, Never Give Up (Editorial), Oral Hygiene, November 2013, pg 5.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada (905) 273-7100
Plattsville Dental
43 Albert St. West, Unit 8, Plattsville, ON, Canada (519) 998-7153

Reminder: Insurance year is almost up!

Just a reminder that for most people their insurance year is almost up. Call Jodie to schedule your hygiene or restorative appointment before your benefit year runs out! (905) 273-7100. As always, evenings and weekend appointments are available.

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: Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis

"Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis (HGF) is a rare benign, slowly progressive inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia of the maxillary and mandibular gingiva"

Essentially, it's a genetically related puffiness/hyper-growth of the gums. (An image search for Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis on Google will provide a number of images)

Source: Philips E, Functional and Aesthetic Rehabilitation of a Patient with Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis, Oral Health Labs, pg 14-15, Fall/Winter 2013. 


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: CDA Position on Breast Feeding and Early Childhood Caries.

The quote below is now the position of the Canadian Dental Association as of June 2013:

The Canadian Dental Association supports breastfeeding as it provides nutritional benefits to the infant and is recognized as an effective preventive health measure.

In the absence of daily oral hygiene care, breastfeeding is one of the many risk factors that may contribute to the development of dental caries. Therefore, it is vital that mouth cleaning or tooth brushing be part of the daily routine for all infants, including those who are breastfed.

CDA Board of Directors - Approved June 2013

Source: CDA Board of Directors, Does Breastfeeding Increase Risk of Early Childhood Caries, JCDA, June 2013, Vol 79, No 5, pg 280-281.

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: Gingival Recession (Gum Loss) Rates in the General Population

It's been estimated that at least 20% of the population presents with one or more teeth that has gingival recession (gum loss) with possible root sensitivity as a consequence.

Source: Kryshtalskyj et al., Clincial Application of the Mucogingival Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft, Oral Health, Oct 2013, Vol 103, No 10, pg 18-30.

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 Media: Brushy Brush Video From Sesame Street

Although not two minutes in length, I've found this video entertaining for me and hopefully other young toddlers/children. The best take home point for the kids is getting familiar with how long a (close to) 2 minute clean up actually is. (Ok, Elmo is cool and the tune is quite nice too ;)

Here's the link: Sesame Street Brushy Brush PSA

Source: Youtube, Sesame Street: Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me: Brushy Brush PSA, seen on Nov 11, 2013, http://youtu.be/wxMrtK-kYnE


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: Rubbing in Bonding Improves Bond Strengths

Vigorous rubbing of the bonding agent during placement of composite (white) fillings had a higher two year retention rate of 92.5% vs. 82.5% for the no rubbing/slight rubbing groups.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Managing Xerostomia, Ontario Dentist, Oct 2013, vol 90, no 8, 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

Practice Management: New Hours for the Dental Office

Hi everyone, in reaction to patient feedback and workflow, we have rearranged our office hours:

Tuesday 2-7pm
Wednesday 2-7pm
Thursday: 10am-7pm
Friday: 10am-7pm
Saturday: 9am-4pm
Sunday and Monday: Closed

These hours are effective immediately. We are looking at implementing very early hours on Wednesday to accommodate our health workers at Trillium Hospital. Stay tuned for more info and trial hours.

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: Survival Rate of Zirconia Crowns

In a recent study, the cumulative 5 year survival rate of zirconia crowns was 88.3%.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Oral Hygiene Damage, Ontario Dentist, Sept 2013, vol 90, no 7, pg 24. 

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 Rate of Infections at Pediatric Emergency Room Visits

47% of all dental-related attendances at pediatric emergency rooms in the United States were due to dental abscesses.

Source: Jundt J and Gutta R, Characteristics and Cost Impact of Severe Odontogenic Infections, PEAK, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, Supplement to May/June issue of Dispatch Magazine.

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: Pedialyte and the Preservation of Knocked Out Teeth

Yes, storing avulsed (knocked out) teeth in Pedialyte solution showed a significantly higher periodontal ligament (PDL) cell survival (p<0.001) versus tap water. It also supported less bacterial growth.

Source: Macway-Gomez S and Lallier TE, Pedialyte Promotes Periodontal Ligament Cell Survival and Motility, J Endod 2013;39: 202-207.

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: Dollars Spent on Tooth Whitening in the US

It was estimated that over 1.4 billion dollars annually was spent on tooth whitening in the United States.

Source: Lowe R, Tooth Whitening: Opening the Gateway to Treatment, Oral Health, April 2013, Vol 103, No 4, pg 42-50.

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: Relative Failure Rates of Dental Implants at Various Locations in the Mouth

Dental implant failure in the maxilla is twice the rate of the mandible while posterior sites have a higher failure rate than anterior sites.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Ontario Dentist, Vol 90, No 3, April 2013, pg 30.

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 Protocol When Faced With Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Bisphosphonate drugs are used commonly in the orthopedic and oncology fields. One of the severe side effects is necrosis of the jaw, a difficult condition to treat. The author of this article recommends that general practitioners:

1. refer to an Oral Surgeon
2. chlorhexidine 0.12% rinses
3. appropriate pain control
4. treatment with antibiotics (Pen VK) due to the presence of Actinomyces (Clindamycin if allergic)
5. minimize any attempt to remove bony spicules
6. no attempt to manipulate soft tissue to cover the exposed bone

Source: Zosky J, Bisphosphonates or Other Drug-Induced Osteonecrosis of the Jaw, Oral Health, Vol 103, No 5, May 2013 pg 63-67.

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: TMD and Digestive Problems

Temporomandibular Disorder (Jaw Joint Disorder) is associated with 112% more digestive complaints on average (in terms of the cost of medical treatment) as compared to a normal group.

Source: Hill L, An Introduction to Mastication Analysis in General Practice, Oral Health, March 2013, Vol 103, No 3, pg 20-26.

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: Using Straws After Oral Surgery

Contrary to what most dentists were taught, the use of straws after third molar extractions did not affect the percentage of patients developing dry socket or alveolar osteitis, a very painful condition. 15% of both the test and control groups having mandibular (lower) wisdom teeth out had this complication. No maxillary (upper) sites were affected in either group.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Ontario Dentist, March 2013, Vol 90, No 2, pg 20-21.

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

Dentistry in the Media: Dental Questions Answered on NPR

The Science Friday show on National Public Radio in the US had a nice segment on common dental questions. Here's the teaser quote:

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. And, it turns out, the dentist -- because that fibery skin is good for your teeth. Dentists Mark Ryder of the University of California San Francisco and Mark Wolff of New York University answer your toothy questions in this episode of our "Ask an expert" series.

Listen to the podcast here: Ask a Dentist: Facts to Sink Your Teeth Into

Source: National Public Radio (Science Friday) Aired on Feb 22, 2013, viewed on Feb 27, 2013
http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/02/22/2013/ask-a-dentist-facts-to-sink-your-teeth-into.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

The clinic is on our vacation schedule

The clinic will be on a limited schedule until January 31st as various members of our staff enjoy their vacations. As such, primarily emergencies will be handled currently and messages on our voice mail will be taken care of at the end of the day/evening.

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: The Eruption Time of Permanent First Molars

It takes 12-18 months for permanent molars to erupt to occlusion.

Source: Antonson D, Imagine a World Without Occlusal Caries: Are Glass Ionomer Sealants the Answer, Oral Health, Dec 2012, Vol 102, No 12, pg 31-36.


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: The Eruption Time of Premolars

It takes 3-6 months for permanent premolars to erupt to occlusion.

Source: Antonson D, Imagine a World Without Occlusal Caries: Are Glass Ionomer Sealants the Answer, Oral Health, Dec 2012, Vol 102, No 12, pg 31-36.

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: Success Rates of Veneers vs Composite Buildups

A small study has revealed that the 5 year survival rate of direct composite buildups was 79% (which was lower than the 6 year survival rate of veneers of 92%).

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Ontario Dentist, Dec 2012, Vol 89, No 10, pg 20-21.

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

Nice Dental Website: Region of Peel Oral Health Website

The region of Peel (Mississauga and area) has an informative oral health website. I'll quote from their press release:

This resource has been designed to provide parents/caregivers with clear messaging to guide proper brushing patterns as well as direct parents/caregivers to the Region of Peel oral health website (www.peelregion.ca/dental). At this website they will find additional information on caring for children's teeth and information on Region of Peel dental services including the Children in Need of Treatment (CINOT) Program and the Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) Program.

I've added a screenshot of the website below:

Screenshot of the Peel Region Oral Health Website (www.peelregion.ca/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

Added a New Blog to my Reading List: JCDA's Question and Answer Blog

Added the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association's Clinical Question and Answer Blog to our blog reading list. It is a tremendous resource for clinicians and worth a view from patients if you are so inclined. We are also honoured to be recognized by them as a top dental blog. Thanks!! :)

Source: Canadian Dental Association's Clinical Question and Answer Blog: http://www.jcdablogs.ca/, read Dec 7, 2012

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: Colon Cancer and Proposed Breath Screening

A small study from Italy has determined that it is possible to use breath analysis of volatile compounds to identify people with colorectal cancer.

Source: CBC News website, http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/12/04/colon-cancer-breath-test.html, first posted Dec 5, 2012, read Dec 6, 2012.

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

End of Year Reminder: Take Advantage of your Dental Insurance Benefits!

Just a reminder to everyone with dental insurance benefits that renew in January:

Take advantage your benefits by scheduling your hygiene or restorative appointments before the year is up to preserve the full amounts of your insurance for the following year. Statements for this year's dental expenditures for tax purposes will be ready anytime after January 1st, just phone Jodie with your request.

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: Obesity and Dental Health

Men and women with a BMI over 30 regardless of smoking or diabetes status had a greater risk of developing periodontal disease than those with a healthy body weight.

Source: Ward W and Fritz P, Obesity and Periodontal Health: What's the Link? Should I be Concerned? Oral Health, Oct 2012, Vol 102, No 10, pg 80-83.


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: Research Impacts of Dental Journals

The research impacts and influences of the three most prestigious medical journals are approximately 10 times greater than those of the three most frequently cited dental publications. (New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Associations vs. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, Journal of Dental Research, Oral Oncology)

Source: Hardie J, Why Research Findings are Usually Wrong, Oral Health, Vol 102, No 9, September 2012, pg 40-51.

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

Dental Did You Know: Lack of Brushing and Dementia

A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and summarized in the National Post newspaper showed that those reporting to brush less that once a day had a 65% increase in the incidence of dementia versus those who brushed daily.

Source: National Post Online, http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/08/21/good-oral-health-linked-to-reduced-risk-of-dementia/, read and published on August 21, 2012.

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 Smoke and Periodontal Disease

A recent study found that periodontal (bone loss/inflammation) disease was found 1.6 times more frequently in non-smokers with self reported exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts, Ontario Dentist, July/August 2012, Vol 89, No 6, pg 38-39.

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 Implant Care and Inflammation

It is very important to take care of your dental implants through regular hygiene at home and at the dental office. The long-term prevalence of peri-implant mucositis (inflammation) is as high as 76.6%, which ultimately can affect the retention of the implant.

Source: Massad J, Implant Home Hygiene, Oral Health, July 2012, Vol 102, No 7, pg 49-54.

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: White Spot Lesions After Orthodontic Treatment

95% of patients develop at least one white spot lesion or enamel surface decalcification following orthodontic treatment. Oral hygiene discussions before treatment helped reduce the incidence of these lesions.

Source: Sevels I, Clinical Abstracts: White Spot Lesions After Orthodontic Treatment, Oral Health, June 2012, Vol 89, No 5, 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

Dental Did You Know: Sugar Consumption in Canada

The average Canadian consumed 26 teapoons of sugar a day in 2004. (Wow!)

Source: Statistics Canada, http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2011003/article/11540-eng.htm (read on May 17/2012)

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: Women in Dentistry

As of 2010, the majority of Dental school graduates in North America were female. In Canada as of 2008, 6 out of 10 Dental schools had a female majority.

Source: J Can Dent Assoc 2012;78: c1 (citation style requested by journal) 

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: Baseball Players and Chewing/Smokeless Tobacco

Although the latest information was from the 1988-1990 spring training seasons, the data showed that 40% of players used smokeless tobacco. 50% of those had leukoplakia-like lesions where they held it in their mouths while 2% of  non-users had similar lesions.

Source: Feferman I, Healthline: Running Risks, Oral Health, May 2012, Vol 89, No 4, pg 26.


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 Equipment: Statim G4 2000

We are pleased to have one of the newest pieces of sterilization equipment in Toronto (at least according to our Henry Schein Dental Installer :) ...the Statim G4 2000. Similar to the older Statim, this model allows for the precise tracking of temperature and pressure during the entire sterilization process. It can also be accessed by the network for operating information.



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 Hygienist: Marchie Tan

Some of our patients have seen her already, but we are pleased to introduce Marchie Tan to our practice. She has been steadily working with us since January and now works  Monday and Wednesday evenings. Her style is similar to all our other hygienists.

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: Saving Hopeless Teeth

Teeth that are mobile and periodontally involved have traditionally been extracted. However, a case report in the ODA Journal suggests that some of these teeth can be saved by a course of deep scaling, antibiotics (Amoxicillin and Metronidazole; 250 each tid for seven days) and endodontic (root canal) treatment.

Source: Tenenbaum H and Szainwald K, Saving Hopeless Teeth: Case Report, Ontario Dentist, April 2012, Vol 89, No 3, pg 23-25.

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: Easter Holiday Hours

Hi everyone, just giving an update on our hours. We will be closed on Friday and Sunday this weekend, but will be open on Saturday and Monday on a limited basis for scheduled patients and emergencies. Happy Easter!

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: Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children

The prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (associated with oxygen desaturation, gas exchange abnormalities and disrupted sleep) is 2-4% in children with at a peak incidence occurring at 2-8 years old.

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: University of Toronto's Dental Library on Facebook

Yes, now you can keep tabs on the happenings of the Dental Library at the University of Toronto through Facebook via this link: http://www.facebook.com/uoftdentistrylibrary


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: Sports Drinks, Acidity and the Effects on Teeth

Most sports drinks are quite acidic (pH 3-4) and if taken to excess, may lead to dental erosion and demineralization. One study found that 57% of 11-14 year-olds had evidence of some dental erosion.

Source: Feferman I, Healthline: Risks of Sports Drinks, Ontario Dentist, March 2012, Vol 89, No 2, pg 20-21.

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 Did You Know: Smoking Rates for Canadians

Health Canada's Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey in 2010 reported that 17% of the population older than 15 years smoked. The rate among youth aged 15-19 was 12%.

Source: Dean B, Oral Health Month-Start a Conversation, Save a Life, Ontario Dentist, Jan/Feb 2012, Vol 89, No 1, pg 52-53.

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

Dental Did You Know: The Increasing Rate of Caries (Cavities) in Children

The prevalence of dental decay in the United States (and presumably in Canada) in children aged 2-5 has increased 15.2% according to recent data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Factors that influence this rate include:

1. Active dental caries in the primary caregiver
2. Socioeconomic status  
3. Dental IQ  
4. Medical history 
5. Dietary habits

Source: Cohn C, Why Does My Child Get So Many Cavities? What Can I Do About It?, Oral Health, January 2012, Vol 102, No 1, pg 46-53.

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

Here we grow again: New Hygienist!

We welcome Joni Nauss to our family practice. Joni has an easy going personality and has a style quite similar to our other hygienists. She will mostly work on Thursdays and Saturdays for us.

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: Warfarin

Warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist has been an effective oral anti-coagulant for over 50 years. It was discovered in 1945 as a result of research at the University of Wisconsin looking into a pesticide for mice and rats. (Patients may need additional management involving certain dental procedures such as extractions)

Source: Feferman I, Healthline: End of an Era (Warfarin), Ontario Dentist, Dec 2011, Vol 88, No 10, 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

Saw this infographic from Carrington College's Dental Assisting Program in California. I'm not sure I agree with the personality aspects of this graphic, but it's interesting to note what is out there in terms of information.

Source: http://carrington.edu/cccblog/programs/dental-assisting/teeth-and-your-personality/

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! Some Dental Resolutions for the New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! May it be happy, healthy and prosperous!

Just wanted to give some dental resolutions that could be implemented with a little effort to ensure a great smile for the New Year:

1. Brush 2 minutes twice a day...yes, I said 2 minutes (not 1 minute or 30 seconds or once a day). It really does take that long to clean the majority of surfaces your mouth decently.
2. Floss...yes, I know you tend to do it before dental appointments. However, 40% of your teeth are not being cleaned if you don't do it and a substantial percentage of cavities start in those areas
3. Clean your tongue. I would say 95% of patients don't do this. A couple of quick swipes on the tongue is usually enough.
4. Reduce your intake of candies/sweets: it will reduce the incidence of cavities, improve your blood sugar and weight.
5. Drink more water. In moderation, this a great thing, especially after staining drinks like coffee, tea and wine. Want to reduce all that coffee/tea stain between hygiene appointments? Take a sip or two of water after you finish your drink.
6. Regular maintenance appointments. Seeing your Doc/Hygienist for a checkup and scaling is truly the dental version of the oil change. Prevention is always the best option.
7. Get things fixed while they are small (don't procrastinate). Dentistry seemingly operates on an exponential cost scale as things get more involved and complex. Getting a restoration that costs a couple of hundred dollars (and is usually covered by insurance) is much better for you and your pocketbook than letting it turn into a multi-thousand dollar root canal/core/crown or implant

Again, all the best for the New Year! :) We will be back to normal operations on Wednesday Jan 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

Merry Christmas!

Have a great Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year to everyone! We will return to normal operations on Wednesday the 28th of December.

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

Reminder: Use your dental benefits!

Just a reminder for everyone to take advantage of their benefits before the insurance year resets (for most plans) in the New Year. Call Jodie to schedule at (905) 273-7100.

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

Here we Grow Again: Now offering Invisalign Orthodontics!

One of the most heavily requested services in our practice has been orthodontics. Over the last year we've been steadily upgrading our skills in a variety of orthodontic techniques and are pleased to announce that we are officially adding Invisalign (no bracket) orthodontics to our practice. Invisalign allows for minor to moderate movement of teeth with clear aligners that are custom fit to each patient. Minor movements can be done in as little as 6-9 months, while more complex movements can usually be done in about 2 years. 

Call Jodie at our front desk: (905) 273-7100 to book a consult appointment to further improve your smile and the health of your mouth. 

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: The Price of John Lennon's Tooth.

Apparently, John Lennon's molar was sold for about $31000 at the Omega Auction House on November 4th. It went for double its listed price and was originally given by him to his former housekeeper. It is also reported to be now in the possession of a Canadian dentist (not confirmed and not me :)

Source: Rolling Stone Magazine (Online), November 6th, Read November 7th, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/john-lennons-tooth-sells-for-more-than-31-000-at-auction-20111106


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: Halitosis (Bad Breath) Fact

87% of all bad breath originates in the mouth, the other major culprit is the digestive system (ENT causes 8%).

Source: Nogueira G, Pipelines for Halitosis, Oral Health, October 2011, Vol 101, No 10, pg 35-39

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 on the Acidity of Certain Foods and the Effect on Teeth

Saw this article in the Toronto Star Health Zone Section this morning. As always, a swish of water after a meal does wonders.

Source: Apple a Day May Keep the Dentist Close, http://www.healthzone.ca/health/dietfitness/article/1067949--apple-a-day-may-keep-the-dentist-close
Published on Oct 11, 2011. Read on October 12, 2011.

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: Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Periodontal Disease

77-79% of patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) have periodontal (gum) disease.

Source: Olmos S, Future of Dentistry (Part 3), Oral Health, October 2011, Vol 101, No 13, pg 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

Growing Again! Our New Hygienist!

We are so delighted to announce the hiring of Connie Raymer as our 3rd hygienist for additional coverage on Saturdays. She has previously worked with myself and our other hygienists Gloria and Megan at the Tavistock location where I previously associated. Her personality is outgoing and relaxed while her hygiene style is similar to Gloria and Megan`s. (She`s also a foodie like the rest of the staff :)

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

Going Digital!

We are doing the final testing of a digital system for the office, complete with multiple touch screens, large patient screens, a panorex (jaw and wisdom tooth imaging) and intraoral cameras. All integrated together, encrypted and backed up locally and online. Stay tuned for details, enjoy the preview image!

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: Tooth Whitening or Orange Juice, which is more harmful?

A recent study said that enamel samples treated with orange juice for 20 minutes over 5 cycles (to simulate daily exposure over 5 days) had a 64% decrease in microhardness versus no statistically significant changes in samples treated with 6% hydrogen peroxide (a component of many whitening packages).

Source: Ren Y et al, Effects of Tooth Whitening and Orange Juice on Surface Properties of Dental Enamel, Journal of Dentistry, June 2009, Vol  37, No 6, pg 424-431

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: Bruxism (Grinding) Stats

It is estimated that 45 million Americans (and likely 4 million Canadians, keeping the population ratios of the two countries intact-my comment) suffer from bruxism. However, only 4 million guards are fabricated in the US every year.

Source: Glazer H, The Chairside "Night 'n Day Guard", Oral Health, July 2011, Vol 101, No 7, pg 45-48.

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: Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Carcinoma of the lips is the most common malignant tumour of the oral cavity. In a large review of 1252 patients, 96.7% were found in males and 95.6 in the lower lip.

Source: Lin B, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lower Lip, Ontario Dentist, June 2011, Vol 101, No 6, pg 59-62.

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: The Incidence of Paresthesia after a Dental Injection

The incidence of paresthesia (loss or altered sensation) after the injection of an anesthetic is about 1 out of 785,000 (very low).

Source: Garisto G et al, Occurrence of Paresthesia After Dental Local Anesthetic Administration in the United States, PEAK, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, May/June 2011.

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: Dentist to Population Ratio in Ontario

The ratio of dentists to the general population over the years:

• 1970 1:2307
• 1980 1:1923
• 1990 1:1676
• 2000 1:1670
• 2010 1:1545

Source: Abate R, A Demographic Update for Ontario: Population and Dental Professionals, Ontario Dentist, June 2011, Vol 88, No 5, pg 38-43.

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: Estimates of Seniors in Canada without Dental Insurance

One estimate revealed that by 2021, there will be over 8 million Canadians 55 years or older without dental insurance. That will be about 1 in 4 Canadians.

Source: Belvedere P, Direct Composite Restorations, The Solution for our Aging Society, Oral Health, April 2011, Vol 101, No 4, pg 93-106.

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: Irrigation in Root Canals

When cleaning the pulpal (nerve) area of a tooth during a root canal procedure, sodium hypochlorite (a strong base - pH 11 and more commonly known as bleach) is usually used in concentrations between 0.5 and 5.25%. The overall effect is to dissolve organic tissues that can not be readily accessed mechanically.

Source: Basrani B, Endodontic Irrigation, Oral Health, May 2011, Vol 101, No 5, 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

Great Dental Blog added to the Blog list

I just added to our list of dental blogs the fantastic blog of Dr. Spindel, who maintains a practice in Manhattan, NY. Great full length posts on questions often asked by patients. You can read his posts here: Dr. Spindel Dental Blog

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: Common Systemic Diseases in Elderly Patients that Affect Dental Care: Arthritis

Arthritis can cause reduced dexterity for oral hygiene/restorative procedures, joint discomfort in the dental chair, and a tendency to bleed.  Providers should be aware of antibiotic coverage for joint protheses and the possible need for corticosteroid supplementation.

Source: Committee of Clinical and Scientific Affairs, Best Practices for Aging Adults in Private Dental Practice, J Can Dent Assoc 2011;77:b40.

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: JCDA is on Twitter!

The Journal of the Canadian Dental Association is on Twitter!  You can follow them at: @JCDATweets.

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: General Dental Website Info

The average time spent on dental websites was 142.7 seconds. The top 10 pages accounted for almost 79% of total page views.

Source: Sesame Communications Research Brief on Dental Websites, Read on April 20/2011 http://www.sesamecommunications.com. Research study completed Feb 2010 on 24 523 page views with Google Analytics.

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: Number of Dentists in Ontario and Professional Corporations

As of the end of 2010, there were approximately 8 500 dentists in Ontario with about 4 500 registered as professional corporations.

Source: Chong D, Incorporation: More Questions You Should Ask, The Professional Advisory, April 2011, Vol 49, pg 12-13.

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 Ontario Dental Association is on Facebook and other Dental Social Media Information

Yes, it has finally happened :) The Ontario Dental Association is on Facebook. (Search for Canadian Dental Health). In addition, a survey of 620 ODA members found that 82% of dentists were on Facebook personally and 28% for business reasons.

Source: Sorger C, ODA Launches on Facebook, Ontario Dentist, April 2011, Vol 88, No 3, pg 25-26.

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

Our New Hygienist!

We've just hired Megan Pearson as our 2nd hygienist. Megan has worked with me at the Tavistock Dental Health Group's practice in Tavistock Ontario and will be expanding our Saturday hygiene coverage at Promenade Court Dental in Mississauga. She has a style very similar to Gloria, our senior hygienist.

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: Mothers and Dental Appointments

Mothers make 90% of their family's dental appointments! (Wow!)

Source: Wilson C, Word of Mouth, Delivered Digitally, Dental Practice Management, Spring 2011, pg 5.

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: What is IPR?

IPR is an acronym for Interproximal Reduction. A technique usually used in orthodontics and restorative dentistry to thin teeth using sanding disks or strips. Up to 8-9mm of space per arch can be gained through this technique.

Source: Goodman J, Interproximal Reduction for Dummies, Oral Health, March 2011, Vol 101, No 3, pg 10-17.

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

Dental Did You Know: Analgesic Prescribing Patterns for Dentists

When combating pain, dentists prescribe acetaminophen (Tylenol) or NSAIDs (like Advil) 89.6% of the time, with narcotics being prescribed 10.4% of the time.

Source: Steele S, Dental Patients: Narcotics Abuse and You, Ontario Dentist, Vol 88, No 2, March 2011, pg 18-21.

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

Nice Decision Guide for Performing Root Canals on Compromised Teeth

Saw this nice link to the American Association of Endodontists website. It's a large PDF file (4.0MB) presentation showing some of the great ways to save near hopeless teeth through endodontics and selective restorations.

You can view the presentation here: Treatment Options for the Compromised Tooth, A Decision Guide

Source: http://www.aae.org/uploadedFiles/TreatmentOptionsGuideWeb.pdf Viewed March 2, 2011

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 Risk of Dying from Anaesthesia

The risk of dying from anaesthesia is very low: about 0.58 cases per million. In comparison, Air Canada lists its fatality rate at 0.33 per million flights and lightening strikes are about 0.11 per million.

Source: Nkansah P, Is it Dangerous?, Oral Health, Vol 101, No 2, pg  3-6, Feb 2011.

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 Canada

There are approximately 20 000 dentists in Canada.

Source: http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/cda/news_events/statistics/default.asp Read on Feb 12/11.

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: Bacterial Counts in Dental Plaque

Bacterial levels can reach more than 100 000 000 000 micrograms per mg of dental plaque.

Source:  Li X et al, Systemic diseases caused by oral infections, Clin Microbiol Rev, Oct 2000, Vol 13, No 4 547-558.

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 Greatest Opportunities for a Practice to Grow ; 2010 North American Dental Practice Survey

The greatest opportunities for practice growth identified by survey participants are:

1. Patient referrals
2. Increasing % of patients who come in for routine visits
3. Invisalign braces
4. Cosmetic services
5. At home dental hygiene products

I think the first two are no-brainers :)

Source: 2010 North American Dental Practice Survey Findings, Dental Practice Management, Winter 2010, pg 7-9.

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 Did You Know: The Worst Age Group for No-Shows; 2010 North American Dental Practice Survey

Probably not too surprising...the number one age group noted by those surveyed that were most likely not to show up for a dental appointment were:

• 19-24 year olds  (29.9%)
• 15-18 year olds (24.9%)
• 25-29 year olds (15.5%)

The age group most reliable? Those who were 50 years and older (0.7 %)

Source: 2010 North American Dental Practice Survey Findings, Dental Practice Management, Winter 2010, pg 7-9

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