Although opinions on this question differ, current evidence does not support the systematic use of antibiotic prophylaxis for these patients. Read more

Ultrasonic dental devices have been in use since the 1950s and are important in the armamentarium of oral health care providers.¹ Ultrasonic scaling is as effective as hand instrumentation for the removal of calculus and is widely used. Read more

Alcohol consumption is accepted around the world. About 70% of the US population drinks alcohol, and 1 in 10 will suffer from problems of alcoholism, a statistic that is probably mirrored in the Canadian population. Read more

Today, a large proportion of practitioners, including ever-increasing numbers of dental students, avail themselves of surgical magnification in daily practice, to improve both their vision and their posture. Higher magnification entails a need for increased lighting at the clinical site.¹ Read more

Pulpitis and apical periodontitis are caused by invasion of bacteria deep into dentin or the root canal space. For apical periodontitis, the short- and long-term success of endodontic treatment depends on elimination of microbes from the root canal system and prevention of reinfection via coronal leakage. Read more

Clinicians, dental assistants and front office staff can all play a role in a successful first dental visit for infants and toddlers. Read more

A swollen lip is common in clinical practice, but the differential diagnosis and management of the condition may be challenging. Lip swelling may be related to a local or systemic condition, and it can be the earliest manifestation of a systemic disease. Read more

Three critical pieces of information are needed before a decision is made about an implant: the type of chemotherapy drugs, the timing of the implant in relation to the last chemotherapy treatment, and the anticipated interval before the next chemotherapy treatment (if needed). Read more

Dizziness isn’t the kind of thing that most dentists are worried about; however, they probably see it often in their practices.   Read more

The mandibular premolars are located close to the mental foramina (Fig. 1). As such, various events affecting these teeth, such as odontogenic infection¹ and orthodontic, endodontic, periodontal or surgical misadventure, may result in neurosensory disturbance of the mental nerves.^2-4 Read more

Radiography should never be “routine.” Like any medical test, radiography should be ordered only after clinical examination of a patient and when the history, a clinical sign or a symptom reveals a potential abnormality that cannot be investigated in any other manner. The results of the radiographic examination must be expected to influence diagnosis and treatment and, thus, the patient can be expected to receive a benefit from the exposure, which although minimal, is considered to carry some risk. Read more

Dental infections, including gingivitis, periodontitis, dental caries and odontogenic infections, result in numerous dental visits each year in Canada. They can range in severity from a mild buccal space infection to a severe life-threatening multi-space infection. All dentists should be comfortable with prompt diagnosis and management of these types of infections. This review of odontogenic infections describes causative organisms, management including appropriate antibiotic selection and the indications for referral to a specialist. Read more

Epinephrine is commonly used in health care and has multiple applications. Two frequent and often life-saving uses are the management of anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest. The word has a Greek origin and literally means “on” (epi) the “kidney” (nephros) referring to the anatomic location (the adrenal gland) where the drug is produced. Confusion still exists regarding the dose limits for epinephrine, particularly when the drug is administered to patients with underlying cardiovascular disease. Read more

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a feared condition recognized by all dental practitioners (Figs. 1 and 2). Some of us have witnessed this disease among our patients, and we learned in dental school how devastating it can be. The biologic effects of high-dose radiation therapy on the jaws have been well described by Marx.^1,2 Although there is no threshold radiation dose beyond which ORN becomes a higher risk, it usually occurs among patients who have had radiation therapy, surgery or both for oral cancer, usually squamous cell carcinoma.  Read more