Press Releases
2010
February 23, 2010
Fighting the Sugar Wars
Did you know that watching the Olympics can be hazardous to your health? It’s a well known fact that TV watchers tend to snack. And those snacks can pose a threat not only to overall health, but to teeth and gums too.
January 22, 2010
Are You Just a Little Too Sensitive?
It’s hard to imagine how one tiny tooth can make your life miserable…. even harder to imagine a whole mouthful of teeth that sting when you consume hot, cold, sour or sweet food or beverages. Sensitive teeth are not all that rare and can be the symptom of an underlying condition.
2009
December 17, 2009
Quitting Smoking this New Year’s You’ll Have Healthier Teeth and Gums
Quitting smoking is high on some people’s New Year’s Resolutions list. If you are one of them, Alberta dentists will be there to provide advice and support. Tobacco use is a significant contributing factor to dental disease and dentists are well positioned to assist patients in improving their oral and overall health by offering support to smokers who want to quit.
October 22, 2009
Hallowe’en Candy Can do Scary Things to Kids’ Teeth
Though candy and other sweets are obvious culprits, “sugar is present in most of the food and beverages we ingest, including food like potato chips that contain modified starches,” says Dr. Christine Botchway, an Edmonton dentist. “Even healthy snacks like fruit juice and apples contain sugar, so it is important that teeth are cleaned or mouths rinsed with water after eating.”
July 7, 2009
Mouth guards should be used for all sports
Mouth guards have become a common protective device in contact sports such as hockey, but they should be used in all sports, according to the Alberta Dental Association and College. Mouth guards act as cushions that redistribute a blow so the impact is absorbed more evenly. A mouth guard also provides a barrier between your teeth and the soft tissue around your mouth. Studies have shown that mouth guards help prevent chipped or broken teeth and protect against cuts to lips, gums and other soft tissues in the mouth.
April 16, 2009
Early Detection of oral cancer can reduce death rates
In 2003, an estimated 3,100 Canadians were newly diagnosed with oral cancer. That same year, 1,090 people died of the disease. In the US, oral cancer kills roughly one person per hour, 24 hours a day. Of those who are newly diagnosed, only half will be alive five years later. The death rate for oral cancer has not declined for decades.
March 26, 2009
Understanding the Dental Health Team
April is Dental Health Month. We tend to say “I’m off to the dentist” but who is it we actually see? Many of us are unaware of the team work and complex training behind our dental visits. Knowing who does what is important in maintaining your own and your family’s oral health.
February 25, 2009
Oral Health and Heart Disease
February is Heart and Stroke Month, Most people are aware of some of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke: family history, diet, obesity, smoking, a sedentary lifestyle (couch potato syndrome), aging or a pre-existing condition such as diabetes. But how many of us know that infected teeth and gums may pose an additional risk?
2008
December 15, 2008
Oral Health and Diabetes
Diabetes has long been associated with an increased prevalence, extent and severity of gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. More recently, researchers are looking at whether periodontal disease contributes to difficulty in controlling diabetes by making cells more resistant to insulin. With the world wide incidence of diabetes expected to increase by up to 50 % over the next 15 years (Canadian Diabetes Association), it is important this link is fully explored.
October 24, 2008
Who’s Afraid of the Dentist? Overcoming Dental Phobias
About 80% of people in North America have some form of anxiety about dentists. dentist. The majority overcome their fears and go to a dentist anyway. A small number of people are actually phobic – their anxiety is so intense it is debilitating and they can’t seek any kind of dental treatment even if their problem is severe.
September 18, 2008
Teen Years Time for Great Smile and Good Oral Health
A great smile can’t ensure an active social life for a teenager, but it sure can help. That’s why attention to oral health is so important in the teen years. Yet how to fit in proper dental care around school, work, sports and dating?
August 12, 2008
Teeth Whitening safest with qualified dentist
Alberta dentists are concerned that some people are having their teeth whitened in hair salons or kiosks rather than dental offices, and are potentially at risk for infection or other teeth and gum problems. Many of these patients show up in dental offices after their kiosk treatment because their teeth are aching or there are other complications.
July 9, 2008
Oral health as part of overall health
Research has proven there is a strong link between oral health and overall health. Though medicine and dentistry have operated in separate but parallel spheres for many years, today’s doctors and dentists know there is a strong link between the two and research offers proof. Pregnant women are prone to delivering premature babies if their teeth and gums are neglected or infected. Young children with many cavities can experience fever and infection elsewhere in their bodies. Older adults with poor health can lose teeth sooner; those with osteoporosis will have bone loss that affects the teeth and jaws.
June 26, 2008
Dental Implants offer options for missing teeth
When people lost their natural teeth in the past, there were few options open other than dental bridges or dentures. Today, thanks to the pioneering work of prosthodontist Dr. George Zarb and researchers who preceded him, implants offer an attractive option.
April 23, 2008
Dental Detectives
Oral health is closely linked to overall health, so it is not uncommon for a dentist to be the first health professional to spot a medical problem.
February 7, 2008
Oral Health for “Kisses Sweeter than Wine”
Valentine’s Day signals romance, a special time for sweethearts. If you find your loved one is backing away from your kisses, you may have an easily solved oral health problem.
January 11, 2008
Healthier Teeth and Gums Without Tobacco
More Albertans may choose to butt out with the introduction of new provincial legislation restricting smoking in public places. When they are ready to quit, Alberta dentists will be there to provide advice and support.
2007
December 6, 2007
Fighting the Sugar Wars
The holiday season means family, friends and plenty of sweet treats everywhere. Both adults and children should be vigilant about the amount and type of sugar they are ingesting and how often they are exposed to sugar.
October 17, 2007
Dentists’ Safeguards Protect Albertans during Flu Season
As flu season approaches, it’s reassuring to know that Alberta dentists practice stringent infection control. The Alberta Dental Association College (ADA C) has an infection control committee to set standards for the profession and continually updates an infection control manual that sits in every dentist’s office and is available on-line.
September 13, 2007
“Heavy Metal” a thing of the past in today’s orthodontics
Now that children and teens are back in school, it’s time to consider their oral health. Brushing, flossing, good nutrition, annual check-ups and professional cleanings go a long way to keep teeth and gums healthy, but in some cases, families may need to brace themselves for braces.
July 1, 2007
Alberta Dental Association College revving up for an exciting year
It is at once a registry, an educator, an information resource for members and the public, a source for standards of practice and professional advice, a community supporter, and a regulator and arbitrator operating in the public interest. The Alberta Dental Association College (ADA C) is one of the few professional organizations that offers all these functions as a “one-stop” resource for both its member dentists and the public.
June 29, 2007
Pregnant women need to address oral health
“Pregnancy brings challenges for the teeth and gums that require good management,” said Dr. Linda Niessen in a recent presentation at the Alberta Dental Association College’s annual congress. “Gingival inflammation during pregnancy affects 60-75% of pregnant women, even those who practice good oral care. Pregnancy changes the tissues in all areas of the body, including the mouth, and breaks down the natural barriers that prevent infection. Hormonal and vascular changes exaggerate the inflammation; sometimes it becomes localized and presents as a sore known as a ‘pregnancy tumor.’ If it is very large, it must be removed; if left untreated during the pregnancy, it will still be there after the pregnancy.”
June 12, 2007
Let’s hope “Look Ma, No Teef” is a thing of the past
Summer is here, and that means everything from spring cleaning, baseball and golf to yard work, building projects and bicycling. Unfortunately spring can also bring its share of falls and other accidents – many of them involving injury to the teeth and mouth.
June 12, 2007
Workplace accidents can lead to facial and dental injury
Workplace accidents can result in extensive damage to the teeth, jaws and mouth. There were 1,567 such accident claims reported in Alberta in 2006, many of them preventable. One hundred of these injuries resulted in lost work time. Many of them required the services of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and/or a prosthodontist.
May 8, 2007
Tooth Decay on Increase in Babies and Young Children
Your baby’s cries crescendo into screams and you realize you’re into another sleepless night. You think it must be the pain of teething causing the discomfort, but it may be that she or he actually has one or more cavities in the first tiny baby teeth that have emerged. “Right now, throughout North America, we’re seeing a marked increase in cavities in children under five, some of them as young as 15 months,” said Dr. Leonard Smith, a Calgary pediatric dentist who is president of the Alberta Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.