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9 in 10
That’s what community surveys show to be the recognition by Americans that good oral health is essential for overall health — as reported by the Delta Dental Institute. So if there is this consensus, why don’t Canadian insurance companies, benefit advisors and Canadian Ministers of Health embrace the integration of preventive oral healthcare into the…
Read MoreLaying on of hands
In a recent article in the Harvard Business Review, a prominent physician put the rush to telemedicine (and teledentistry) into context. Here are his key points: well-trained clinicians use all their senses — not just hearing and vision. They appraise the whole patient: Is there a new limp, a shift in posture, a new pallor?…
Read MoreNew models are needed
“A patient with heart disease who is also food insecure costs $5,144 more per year to care for on average than a patient who is not food insecure.” An adult with poor oral health spends 17% more on medical and hospital services than a peer with good oral health (Aetna). COVID-19 has destabilized the finances…
Read MoreCOVID and chronic oral inflammation
Months into the pandemic, new theories are emerging about the nature of this disease. Many of the symptoms of COVID-19 are traced to an impairment in blood circulation. Given 40% of deaths from Covid-19 are related to cardiovascular complications, this disease may be a vascular infection as well as a respiratory one. A new report…
Read MoreTele-dentistry at the prodromal phase of poor oral health
Several models of tele-dentistry are emerging. It seems they are commonly based on getting the patient to come to the dental practice where the cumbersome conventions of tapping the tooth to check for decay, and measuring pocket depth and bleeding-on-probing to evaluate gum disease, can be performed. But is there a way of identifying the…
Read MoreWhat doesn’t work in long-term care
A new article in the Journal of the American Medical Association points to the futility of supervised brushing and flossing to improve the oral health and to lower the incidence of pneumonia among residents in long-term care. In a randomized trial over 2 years, residents with nurse-supervised oral hygiene routines experienced no reduction in pneumonia…
Read MoreSpecial Needs adults
Special Needs adults comprise 15% of our adult community. In a Canadian adult population of about 30 million, Special Needs adults would constitute the largest city in the country. A new report by the UK government found that this group has significant needs for oral healthcare because of: higher levels of gum (periodontal) disease greater…
Read MoreThe forgotten service in long-term care
“To date, Canada has the highest reported national proportion of COVID-19 deaths for LTC residents in the world, with 85 per cent of total COVID-19 deaths; the majority are women. Other comparable countries report percentages ranging from 29 (Australia) to 35 (U.S.) to 54 (England and Wales. Globally, the fatality rate for people with COVID-19…
Read MoreBad feet, bad eyes, early death
The odds for nerve damage, eye problems and a shorter life for diabetics with poor oral health, versus those with good oral health, are significant (see table). For example, a diabetic with gum disease has a 2.8 to 8.7 greater chance of bad eyes than a diabetic with healthy gums. There can be no better…
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