Flossing remains an effective adjunct to toothbrushing, according to the results of a recent systematic review. Read more

Xylitol might help guard against ear infections in healthy young children, according to initial evidence published in a Cochrane review conducted by University of Toronto researchers. Read more

An excerpt from “Optimal Health for Frail Older Adults: Best Practices Along the Continuum of Care” appears in the print edition of JCDA 2011, Issue 2, pages 105–8. Read more

Tangible demonstrations of applying knowledge of the oral health and systemic health relationship to new models of population health within the Canadian health care system have begun to take place. Read more

The UBC faculty of dentistry has an exceptional history of research achievement and has implemented, through its strategic plan, a foundation for continued excellence in research. Read more

The American Dental Association Council of Scientific Affairs (CSA) published a report¹ in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) concerning potential associations between infant formula and enamel fluorosis. Read more

A case control study¹ examining the possible relationship between the flu vaccine and acute myocardial infarction (MI) was recently published in CMAJ. Read more

Two recent studies on self-reported toothbrushing behaviour and validated self-report questionnaires show that these surrogate methods are as reliable as traditional clinical indices for establishing the presence of periodontitis. Read more

In 2010, the CDA Board of Directors approved 2 position statements related to access to care, the first focusing on disadvantaged Canadians, the second aimed at residents of long-term care facilities. Read more

In April 2010, the CDA Board of Directors approved a new position statement on early childhood caries (ECC) and an updated statement on the use of fluorides in caries prevention. Read more

Studies highlighted in the latest installment by Dr. Anthony Iacopino examine quality of life issues in patients with Sjögren syndrome. This research reinforces the importance of the dental team in the co-management of patients with systemic diseases. Read more

The International Centre for Oral–Systemic Health, based at the University of Manitoba’s faculty of dentistry, was launched in January 2008. The centre is proud to partner with JCDA to provide summaries of contemporary literature and news in oral–systemic health that may affect modern dental practice Read more

The police department in Victoria, BC, is hoping that dentists can help identify a missing person, believed to have undergone a sex change from man to woman. Ronald Wayne Siemens (born January 8, 1956) is thought to have assumed the female identity Kyla Dawn Siemens. Victoria police are looking for dental records to help facilitate a positive identification. Read more

The British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA) has produced an educational CD on children’s oral health designed for parents and caregivers of children under 3 years of age. Read more

In previous columns I discussed the importance of interprofessional health education and practice as they relate to oral– systemic health and emerging guidelines for co-management of patients.^1-3 It will become increasingly common for health professionals in medicine and nursing to collaborate with the dental team in multidirectional screening and referral networks, to mutually reinforce health promotion and wellness messaging, and to jointly develop treatment plans and comprehensively co-manage patients. Read more

A newspaper article¹ in the Orangeville Banner provided an account of a 16-year-old girl who experienced serious complications after the removal of her wisdom teeth. Mercedes Moore of Grand Valley, Ontario, went into septic shock after surgery in February 2009. The article outlines how an infection spread to her lungs and brain, leading to her suffering a series of blood clots and strokes. She was ultimately placed into a medically induced coma to allow treatment of the infection in her lungs and brain. Read more

The goal of using active teaching strategies in dental education is well accepted. Yet lecturing remains a popular teaching method at our universities, a technique that can typically result in a significant drop in student attention anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes into a presentation. Read more

Interprofessional health education (IPE) occurs when 2 or more professions can learn with, from and about each other, with the overall goal of improving collaboration and the quality of care delivered to patients. Nearly 4000 students are enrolled at Dalhousie’s faculties of dentistry, medicine and health professions. It is a challenge to educate such a large and diverse group of students on the topic of interprofessionalism and to provide hands-on experience in patient-centred team care. One of the biggest obstacles is trying to integrate the IPE program into the compressed course loads of students, especially when individual students have individual programs of varying lengths. Read more

The mission of Dalhousie University’s Collaboration of Oral Health Researchers is to improve the oral health of underserved populations and to build capacity for oral health-related research through strong partnerships with decision-makers, stakeholders and the community. Read more

Dalhousie University’s communities of practice provide a network of oral care services that extends beyond the school walls to the Nova Scotia community, its provincial neighbours and internationally. Read more