Natalie Archer DDS has shared her knowledge and experience as a pandemic dentist with the architect team at Diamond Schmitt and the builders at Walsh Canada who’re working together to upgrade George Brown College’s WAVE Dental clinic to be the market leader and a true innovator in dental education.
WAVE stands for Wellness, Applied Research and Visionary Education and this venue really is a model of efficiency. Completed in 2012, the WAVE Dental Clinics are where students from the Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting, Denturism, and Restorative Dental Hygiene programs put theory into practice. The clinic offers oral health care services to the public including health and dental history, an assessment of teeth and gums, dental x-rays, teeth cleaning, preventive services, fabrication of complete or partial dentures, repairing and realigning dental devices, and fillings.
But as you can see in the 2019 photo below, WAVE oral health training facility was like most other educational settings, a clinical classroom where multiple treatments occur with faculty supervision. Covid-19 changed the landscape.
Pre pandemic, WAVE Dental Clinic at George Brown was an open-concept classroom.
The pandemic wreaked havoc across the dental business world, and impacted education, making WAVE’s wide open teaching labs limited. That’s because dental hygienists have power tools which use high frequency sound and pressurized water to dislodge debris from teeth. This is an example of an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP) in which high concentrations of misty water droplets are spawned and because there is the possibility that such droplets may contain infectious viral particles, certain precautions must be taken to remove them from the atmosphere. Hence all AGP treatments are rapidly transitioning to glass-enclosed environments where the atmosphere can be more effectively cycled through air filters.
Governing bodies such as the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) and the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) mandate that aerosol generating procedures must occur in operatories which can contain the resultant aerosol. This requires floor-to-ceiling walls and a door (or other barriers) remain closed during and after such procedures. George Brown College worked with Walsh Canada, and Brad McCallum the Senior Project Manager worked with Natalie Archer DDS who shared her recent experience, having just created four new operatories at Archer Dental Rosedale which are glass-enclosed VIP dental pods. Natalie streamlined their proposed dental office design layouts and gave her opinions on how to best equip and manage AGP-suitable dental clinics in this unique educational environment.
Walsh Canada is contracted to deliver a ready-to-use dental clinic consisting of twenty-four dental operatories and support spaces, including medical device sterilization, storage, and administrative spaces. The new dental clinic will have raised flooring, interior glazing (windows) to allow open viewing from suite to suite, millwork, and all necessary equipment to support aerosol generating procedures that require enclosed spaces.
Accommodating this major Canadian college’s advanced special equipment and tailoring spaces to their unique needs is sure to make Dr. Archer even more knowledgeable and valued as a subject matter expert in dental office design.
Archer Dental Baby Point supports The Arts! In early December 2021, our Jane Street location was the site of an Indy film production: The Art & Craft of Smile is a short film which explores the idea of having a synthetically positive attitude, and is that really so bad?
The Art & Craft of Smile depicts a day in the life of a dental intern whose strong views on authenticity and the origin of true happiness are challenged by the people she meets while working at The Art & Craft of Smile Dentistry, a dental clinic played by Archer Dental Baby Point.
Rielle Ramos, the producer writes: The Art & Craft of Smile is a quirky off-beat comedy about a young person’s pursuit of the origin of happiness. Producing and making the short film has been challenging in a lot of ways, first of all because we were working with a very tight budget and we’ve had to make a lot of negotiations and sacrifices to make the shoot come together. Finding the perfect location was one of the biggest hurdles we’ve had to go through because of the distinct look and vibe we’re going for. Being able to shoot at Archer Dental Baby Point was truly the biggest blessing we’ve gotten for this short because not only did the look and feel of the clinic resemble to the detail the clinic we had in the story, but Dr. Natalie Archer was also very easy to work with and we truly felt her support for our creativity and the arts.
Lucy Margey plays Billie, a dental assistant that questions the quality of happiness in Marta Borowski’s The Art & Craft of Smile.
The film is being produced as part of a Canadian arts channel initiative and is not a straight-to-Netflix action adventure. Almost everyone on set was a volunteer, and passionate about creating the best possible motion picture. This story has a message; it’s designed to provoke viewers emotionally and cause them to ponder the origins and quality of their own happiness.
Archer Dental got involved when Rielle Ramos reached out to our business administrator in October to ask about using our Baby Point location, “…We absolutely love the façade and we think it would be a good fit for our film. That being said, we’re wondering if you’ll allow us to film in your clinic? Our team is fully vaccinated and adept to Toronto Film COVID protocol standards and have insurance to cover the production and its activities.” We agreed.
Who’s in this movie?
Readers might recognize some of the names and faces in the photos as up-and-coming Canadian television stars. Below are the cast members names alongside their roles in the production.
Lucy Margey (Billie)
Michelle Nolden (Dr. Jensen)
Chris Sandiford (Julien)
Will Carr (Alex)
Elena Juatco (Reese)
The Director is Marta Borowski and the Director of Photography is Sammy Inayeh. The cast and crew spent many hours on the morning of Saturday 06 Dec 2021 recording a walk and talk on Jane street. They were filming the main character’s commute to work at the dental office. It was hard to be unhappy in the beautiful weather we enjoyed here in Toronto that weekend.
Marta Borowski
Marta Borowski is a Canadian filmmaker who emigrated from Warsaw, Poland to Toronto, Canada just after the collapse of communism. For Marta, humble beginnings inspired dreams and fantasies from an early age. Her past, along with a passion for travel and photography, has allowed her to witness the world from a different perspective, which has had a strong influence on her writing and filmmaking. She won the Kodak Canada award for her photograph ‘Empty Repetition’ while attending film school.
Marta started her film career as a script supervisor and has since worked on over 250 episodes of television as well as over a dozen features and commercials. Select credits include Hannibal (NBC), Alphas (Syfy), Special Correspondents with Ricky Gervais & Eric Bana (Netflix), and Star Trek: Discovery (CBS).
As a director, Marta has worked on Family Channel’s sitcom Really Me and a handful independent projects, including her short film Jacob’s Arrow which premiered at the Phoenix Film Festival. Marta recently completed a short, Resolve, which premiered at the Blood in the Snow Film Festival and has since been accepted to festivals in Canada, the US and the UK. It was nominated for two Golden Sheaf Awards: Short Film (Fiction) and Director (Fiction), and was a Semi-Finalist at Flickers’ Rhode Island and Dumbo Film Festival in New York. We expect her latest project to do even better!
Archer Dental Baby Point became The Art and Craft of Smile Dental Practice for the movie.
The Art and Craft of Smile is a metaphor for creating real smiles synthetically. Smiling each day improves our immune system, makes up more resilient, productive and positivity, just like negativity is infectious. The Art & Craft of Smile explores happiness, specifically ‘synthetic’ happiness , and the idea that genuine happiness can be synthesized.
Where natural happiness predominantly works in a space where one gets what they want, ‘synthetic’ happiness works in a space of not getting exactly what you want and still finding a silver lining. Dr. Dan Gilbert, a professor of Psychology at Harvard University proved that synthetic happiness is actually longer-lasting even though it’s often viewed as inferior.
It may seem that positive thoughts, words and emotions have to be synthesized and perhaps feel a little forced or unnatural at first, but could such neuro-reprogramming create kinder, empathetic and ultimately happier human beings? Is faking it really that bad if the end result is for positive gain and the betterment of humanity?
The dental hygienist hero character Billie believes that anything not 100% genuine, or organic is inferior. She feels entitled to real happiness. She’s miserable and doesn’t realize that it takes hard work and good choices to be happy. There are fundamental skills and principles that make humans happy, and the film story explores these through the supporting characters: Julian, prioritizes creating and fostering positive relationships. Dr. Jensen enters a meditative flow state with her passion for dentistry. She also empowers her team, practices self care and has a donation system setup for those who cannot afford to pay. Reese on the other hand lacks purpose and looks to find happiness externally. At The Art & Craft of Smile, she rediscovers what really makes her smile.
Films exploring mental health are more necessary now than ever before.
People are more attune to their mental health these days as there has been a societal shift toward kindness and compassion. The barometer for success has shifted and is no longer measured with money and property – it’s now about how many people you can inspire. How many fellow citizens can you elevate with empathy and kindness? The word compassion has taken on a whole new meaning, and is now at the forefront of many conversations.
The mouth is a window to the human body and to patient health. Mental and physical wellbeing are more intertwined than we think, and having a healthy smile is personally empowering. But people have to work at it to find happiness; unlike other body parts, human teeth cannot repair themselves.
Hypitch Marketing on behalf of the Little Italy BIA has agreed to add Archer Dental Little Italy in a College Street (Little Italy) community attraction which turns residents into shutterbugs who share their best shots of ice sculptures to win prizes. Beginning November 18th, attendees at the annual Cavalcade of Lights can enter to win by snapping and sharing ‘selfies’ with ice sculptures to the tag @tolittleitaly.
The band played Christmas music in Johnny Lombardi Square
Beginning on Thursday November 19th, the Little Italy BIA will unveil different Ice Sculptures, one a day, all around Little Italy for visitors to enjoy! One of the prizes is from Archer Dental Little Italy.
Snap Selfies with Ice Sculptures to Win Prizes in Little Italy
Twelve Days of Giveaways is an Instagram photo contest that runs from the 18th right through to the 30th of November, 2021. Beginning on Thursday November 18th, attendees to Cavalcade of Lights can enter to win the Grand Prize by snapping and sharing a selfie of themselves at the event (with the tag @tolittleitaly).
Free candy and snacks were served-up right on the street.
Beginning November 19th, the Little Italy BIA will be debuting a different Ice Sculpture each day, for the following ten days, somewhere in Little Italy. To enter to win, visitors are invited to visit each ice sculpture, snap a photo of it or with it, and then share that image on Instagram with the tag @tolittleitaly.
Instagram users who participate and follow those directions will automatically be entered to win one of twelve great prizes from Little Italy businesses, including an item from our dental clinic. Winners will be randomly selected from qualifying entries and will be announced December 12th to the 24th.
Archer Dental will be sharing insights, stories, and ice sculpture selfies on our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook channels.
We have some exciting news to share. Take a look at something we have been working on since the early days of the pandemic.
On May 21, 2020, we announced that we were working with Myant Inc. to collaboratively develop a new line of personal protective equipment designed to address the tremendous risks that dental professionals face as they reopen their practices to serve their communities in need.
After eight months of work, researchers at this innovative Canadian company have unveiled the Myant 95 Mask. This new textile mask surpasses ASTM Level 1 standards for bacterial and particulate filtration at >95% filtration efficiency, creating a more sustainable alternative to single-use masks rated for the same level of filtration.
The new machine washable textile masks are specifically designed for dentists and dental office support staff who work in critical proximity to patients. They’re more comfortable, more efficient, and more professional looking than other face-coverings and they won’t fog-up the wearer’s glasses. They’re also the best possible solution for reducing waste caused by staff wearing disposable surgical masks every shift.
Single-use, ASTM Level 1 standard surgical masks are omnipresent in healthcare settings, and have become widely adopted by the public in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the epidemic drags on, our reliance on these disposable masks creates a society-wide environmental crisis. Now we have to deal with potentially hazardous, disposable masks piling up in landfills or worse, ending up on streets and other common spaces. Single-use masks present an economic challenge as well, since an average person may go through multiple masks per day, creating escalating costs as the viral outbreak continues without a clear end in sight.
Recognizing the need for a more sustainable alternative to single use surgical masks, Myant and Archer Dental have developed a knitted textile structure that meets internationally recognized standards for bacterial and particulate filtration.
The standards set out by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM, an international standards organization, see ASTM F2100 – 19e1 standard) include threshold levels for bacterial and particulate filtration efficiency.
With performance validated by independent third-party laboratories, Myant has leveraged its expertise with textiles to create a mask that meets and exceeds the ASTM Level 1 requirements for bacterial and particulate filtration.
Myant is on a mission to transform human connectedness. With an extensive patent portfolio, key exclusive relationships within the textile computing industry, a multidisciplinary team of researchers, engineers, data scientists, fashion designers and knitting specialists, and over 80,000 ft² of manufacturing capacity, Myant is changing the way people across society connect. The Myant 95 Mask is in full-scale production at the company’s facility in Etobicoke and dentists can order by visiting the Myant website.
These are troubling times and extra stressful for Canadians who believe they have dental issues but are too scared to visit the dentist for fear of being exposed to the Coronovirus.
Archer Dental is very aware of these concerns. Yes, there is still a pandemic happening, and that’s why we’ve taken extra precautions to ensure the continued safety of our patients and staff. Your next appointment will be a little different than your last visit. We’ve developed some high technology innovations and some low tech solutions to make our clinics as safe as possible, and I think you’ll agree our methods are very comprehensive.
Dr Natalie Archer walks viewers through of all of the new safety protocols at Archer Dental
In the video, Dr Natalie Archer describes the presence and details the function of new safety protocols at all three Archer Dental locations in downtown Toronto.
Dental Attendant – COVID19 Screening Tool
First things first, Archer Dental patients are screened before entry to any of our three dental offices using Dental Attendant’s Covid-19 Self Assessment tool. Safety begins at home on each patient’s smartphone or computer as our chat bot walks them through the questionnaire. Most people report that our easy-to-use tool is among the best Covid-19 pre-screening solutions they’ve experienced. It’s quick and painless. Our clients must answer all twelve twelve questions before their physical appointment can begin.
Social Distancing and Awareness
When patients arrive at their selected Archer Dental location, they’re likely to find the reception area empty and unattended. The usual mob of patients waiting for treatment has been more effectively streamlined by front desk staff who now work from home coordinating appointments. Visitors will see a sign that directs them to apply hand sanitizer. Another placard asks them to ring a bell for service. Moments later they’ll be greeted by an employee wearing a mask who will take their temperature with a touchless thermometer.
The books and magazines that were once available in the waiting room have become hand sanitizer and cloth wipes, tissues and masks.
What patients may not realize is that all visitor appointments are now spread apart with ten minutes intervals that allow staff more time to maintain the operatories and instruments. They will clean these rooms and materials and even some common areas to be routinely sanitized and disinfected as per SAFE Dentistry guidelines and Infection Control Protocols.
Virus KillerAir Filtration System
In each of our locations, Virus Killer air filters provide a total indoor air quality solution. The devices creates clean purified air, free from smoke, pollen, dander, odors, fungi, mold, mildew, fine dust, toxic gases (VOC’s), bacteria and airborne viruses. The complex air filtration system is comprised of washable pre-filters, and a thick HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorbing) filter, a medium filter and finally an activated carbon filter to combat allergens, dust and dander. HEPA filters are very effective and can capture 99.97 percent of particles larger than 0.3 micron in diameter. To accomplish this feat, the machine uses photo-catalytic oxidative (PCO) nano-technology. In summary, multiple Ultraviolet-C Lamps and titanium dioxide (TiO2) coated plates produce ‘super oxidant’ hydroxyl radicals, to neutralise 99.9999% of viruses and bacteria. Many people believe this is the best air sterilization technology available on the market.
STERILOG™ Tracks Our Vigilance
STERILOG™ is an automated inventory solution, both hardware and software, that records all data required for the reprocessing of instruments (sterilization) and leaves no room for confusion. STERILOG™ not only labels the packages, and completes the logging, but also allows for certification of the results of chemical indicator tests after the sterilization cycle is complete. Data is recorded on both the packages and in the log.
STERILOG™ ensures Archer Dental’s compliance with the latest protocols created by the Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) and the RCDSO Standards of Practice for Infection Prevention and Control. These protocols are in place to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of infectious diseases in health care settings.
PPE – Personal Protective Equipment
Archer Dental is developing its own P.P.E. specific for dentistry, and we’ll have more information on that soon. Visitors to our clinics today will see our health professionals wearing the latest in Personal Protective Equipment. The typical dress code is 1) mask, 2) visor, 3) gloves, and 4) gown.
To say someone has an infected mouth is really more of a subjective description than a proper medical diagnosis. That’s because an oral infection could be many different things.
If you feel like there’s something strange happening with your lips, gums or teeth, or perhaps someone has told you that you have an infected mouth, then read on and let’s try and determine the specific problem. Perhaps you’re worried that you have perpetually bad breath, unsightly blemishes or chalky white bumps in your mouth? Let’s find the symptoms that most resemble your condition.
To say you have an infected mouth may just another way of saying you have chronic bad breath or visible mouth sores, or discomfort. This document lists many possibilities with pictures and descriptions. Your condition may just be an infected tooth which is sometimes called an abscessed tooth and which causes a pocket of smelly puss to form due to a bacterial infection. It’s usually caused by tooth decay, or maybe a physical mouth injury or previous dental work.
Yeast Infection in Mouth
Perhaps you have a yeast infection in your mouth? If that’s the case, then you suffer from a common condition called Candidiasis.
Oral thrush, or oral pseudomembranous candidiasis is a fungal infection that is a caused by a yeast, which is a type of fungus. Dentists and other oral health professionals call this oral thrush. The fungus appears as slightly raised removable plaques resembling cottage cheese on the tongue or inner cheek. It can also affect the roof of the mouth, gums, tonsils or back of the throat. The creamy white bumps can be scraped off which separates this from other conditions. It’s most common in infants and children, and when it occurs in adults it may be a sign of weakened immune system.
Candida is the name of the fungus and in normal conditions it’s almost always found in small amounts in the mouth and intestines. It’s only when it blooms out-of-control that it’s a problem. That’s Candidiasis, and it’s the most commonly occurring human fungal infection.
The afflicted person usually suffers dry mouth, high blood and salivary sugar levels (diabetes). The sufferer could experience some discomfort when chewing their food and a loss of taste, and they may even have difficulty swallowing. This is a yeast infection that develops on the inside of your mouth, and on your tongue.
The condition can be caused by prolonged use of certain antibiotics or asthma inhalers (corticosteroid therapy) which can upset the body’s natural balance of friendly bacteria that would otherwise fight off such a yeast infection. This lack-of-balance allows the overgrowth of Candida that leads to thrush.
What’s the remedy? Saltwater is the number one recommended solution. One tablespoon of salt in a glass of water has many antiseptic, cleansing, and soothing properties. Don’t swallow it. This makes it a common home rinse for many oral problems. Simply rinsing your mouth with saltwater could help relieve yeast build-ups. Probiotic yogurts, baking soda and lemon juice are also common remedies for oral thrush.
Meth Mouth Just Looks Infected!
Meth amphetamine contains chemicals that are corrosive. Meth labs explode when inexperienced criminals cook these substances. Exposing your teeth to the same chemicals will make them look infected. Anhydrous ammonia, phosphorus, and the same type of lithium that’s found in batteries are commonly found in meth. Excessive consumption of the drug allows these chemicals to destroy the coating of your teeth enamel.
Canker Sores and Cold Sores
Canker sores and cold sores are different things. Canker sores only occur in the soft tissues of the mouth, such as on your gums or inside your cheeks. Cold sores form on and around your lips, although in some cases they can also form inside your mouth. They’re caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Herpes labialis is a type of infection by the herpes simplex virus that affects primarily the lip. Symptoms typically include a burning pain followed by small blisters or sores. The first attack may also be accompanied by fever, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes.
Canker sores are also called aphthous stomatitis or aphthous ulcers. They’re small, painful, oval-shaped ulcers on the inside of the mouth that appear red, white, or yellow in color. These painful, fluid-filled blisters appear near the mouth and lips. Affected area will often tingle or burn before the sore is visible and sometimes prescient people can detect this feeling and react before ugly blemishes appear on the skin.
Outbreaks may also be accompanied by mild, flu-like symptoms such as low fever, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms are seldom life-threatening and this condition is usually harmless and the .
Recurrent ulcers may be a sign of other diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, vitamin deficiency, or HIV. But then let’s remember that mouth sores are common ailments that affect the majority of people at some point in their lives.
What’s the remedy? Occlusive medications are used to prevent external stimulation of the wound site and hold therapeutic agents such as Benzocaine or Boric Acid in place. Products in this category include Zilactin® and Zilactin®-B, Orajel®, and Orabase® Soothe-N-Seal™. Mouth sores, which include canker sores, are usually a minor irritation and will only last only a week or two. In some cases, however, they can indicate mouth cancer or an infection from a virus, such as herpes simplex. Archer Dental has penned a terrific blog post entitled Cures for Canker Sores which seems to be very popular reading in this country and around the world.
Adult Scurvy
What’s the difference between Anemia and Scurvy?
Scurvy is the name for a vitamin C deficiency that can lead to anemia which is a condition with symptoms that include debility, exhaustion, spontaneous bleeding, pain in the limbs, and especially the legs, swelling in some parts of the body, and sometimes ulceration of the gums and loss of teeth. The human body has to have vitamin C as the European sailors discovered in long sea voyages to the Americas. But there are other causes of anemia.
Anemia happens when a body’s red blood cells are so reduced, damaged, or impaired that you have problems transporting enough oxygen throughout your body. Symptoms include pale, cold skin, pale gums, dizziness, light-headedness, fatigue, increased or decreased blood pressure, and racing or pounding heart.
Anemia has many causes and may occur quickly (such as after an injury or surgery) or over a long period of time. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, fatigue, mouth sores, tongue swelling, and prematurely gray hair.
Folate-deficiency anemia is a decrease in red blood cells (anemia) due to a lack of folate. Folate is a type of B vitamin which the human body uses to make and repair DNA and it’s critical to proper neural tube development in embryos. It is also called folic acid. Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Folate is an important B vitamin and anemia, or low red blood cells, is the most common result of folate deficiency
What’s the remedy? Folate deficiency anemia is prevented and treated by eating a healthy diet. This includes foods rich in folic acid, such as nuts, leafy green vegetables, enriched breads and cereals, and fruit. Your doctor will also likely prescribe you a daily folic acid supplements. Vitamin C deficiency requires more citrus fruits and juices. Read Archer Dental blog post on The Dental Diet book by Dr. Steven Lin.
Gingivomatitis
Gingivostomatitis is a combination of gingivitis and stomatitis, or an inflammation of the oral mucosa and gingiva. Herpetic gingivostomatitis is often the initial presentation during the first or “primary” herpes simplex infection. It’s of greater severity than herpes labialis (cold sores) which is often the subsequent presentations. Primary herpetic gingivostomatitis is the most common viral infection of the mouth.
Gingivomatitis is a common infection of the mouth and gums, often seen in children. It produces tender sores on the gums or insides of cheeks; like canker sores, but they appear grayish or yellow on the periphery of the spot and red in the center.
It looks awful but it’s not especially dangerous. The also causes mild, flu-like symptoms and may lead to drooling and pain with eating, especially in young children
What’s the remedy? Most people find relief when they take medications prescribed by their doctor. Rinse your mouth with a medicated mouthwash containing hydrogen peroxide or xylocaine. These are readily available at your local drugstore. Eat a healthy diet. Avoid spicy, salty, or sour foods.
Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause your mouth to look and smell absolutely terrible.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also known as human herpesvirus 4, is a member of the herpes virus family. It is one of the most common human viruses. If anyone is interested, there are over one hundred known herpesviruses, but only eight routinely infect humans. EBV is not that dangerous but complications can arise especially in people with preexisting conditions.
Mono mainly occurs in high school and college students who exchange saliva while kissing. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid kissing or sharing dishes, food utensils, or personal items with anyone who has the sickness. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, headache, fatigue, night sweats, and body aches.
What’s the remedy? It’s a sad fact that antibiotics don’t work against viral infections such as mononucleosis. The most effective treatment seems to be simply taking care of yourself and getting enough rest, eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of fluids.
Leukoplakia
People suffering from Leukoplakia look like they have infected mouths.
Leukoplakia is a medical condition that causes white patches or spots (sometimes called lesions) to form inside the mouth. Leukoplakia is different from whitening ailments such as thrush or lichen planus because it can eventually develop into oral cancer.
Leukoplakia causes thick, white patches on your tongue and the lining of your mouth that may be raised, hard, or have a “hairy” appearance. It’s commonly seen in smokers. Regular dental care can help prevent recurrences.
Cancers on the bottom of the mouth can occur next to areas of leukoplakia. And white areas mixed in with red areas (speckled leukoplakia) may indicate the potential for cancer. So it’s best to see your dentist or primary care professional if you have unusual, persistent changes in your mouth.
One type of leukoplakia called hairy leukoplakia, and this primarily affects people whose immune systems have been weakened by EBV and other disease, especially HIV/AIDS.
What’s the remedy? See your dentist and get a professional cleaning and then use antiviral mouthwashes. People with HIV/AIDS are especially likely to develop hairy leukoplakia. The use of anti-retroviral drugs has reduced the number of cases, but hairy leukoplakia still affects a number of HIV-positive people, and it may be one of the first signs of HIV infection.
Oral lichen planus
Oral lichen planus is an ongoing (chronic) inflammatory condition that affects mucous membranes inside your mouth.
Oral lichen planus may appear as white, lacy patches combined with red, swollen tissues. Depending on severity the sufferer may also have open sores. These lesions may cause burning, pain or other discomfort and they would certainly cause someone to believe their mouth was infected.
This chronic inflammatory disorder affects the gums, lips, cheeks, and tongue. White, lacy, raised patches of tissue in the mouth resemble spiderwebs or tender, swollen patches that are bright red and may ulcerate. Open ulcers may bleed and cause pain when eating or brushing teeth.
Sometimes health professionals will take samples to help search for other factors. Tissue may be collected taken from one or more lesions in your mouth and examined under a microscope to look for indications. Other more specialized microscopic tests may be needed to identify immune system proteins. Or lab technicians can grow cultures. In this scenario a sample of cells is taken from your mouth using a cotton swab. The sample is examined under a microscope to determine whether you have a secondary fungal, bacterial or viral infection.
What’s the remedy? Oral lichen planus is a chronic condition. There is no cure, so the treatment focuses on helping severe lesions heal and reducing pain or other discomfort. Your doctor will monitor your condition to determine the appropriate treatment or stop treatment as necessary.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an abnormal immune system’s response to gluten that damages the lining of the small intestine. Damage to the small intestine leads to poor absorption of important dietary nutrients like B vitamins, vitamin D, iron, and calcium.
Symptoms range in severity and may differ between adults and children. Adults often experience diarrhea, weight loss, stomach pain, anemia, joint pain, bloating, gas, fatty stools, skin rash, and mouth sores. Yellow or discoloured teeth are present in both adults and children with Celiac.
Celiac disease can cause tooth enamel defects and recurrent aphthous ulcers (canker sores). When dentists encounter these features, they should inquire about other clinical symptoms, associated disorders and family history of celiac disease. In suspected cases, the patient or family physician should be advised to obtain serologic screening for celiac disease and, if positive, confirmation of the diagnosis by intestinal biopsy. Dentists can play an important role in identifying people who may have unrecognized celiac disease. Appropriate referral and a timely diagnosis can help prevent serious complications of this disorder.
What’s the remedy? Once again there is no cure. The only treatment for celiac disease is to follow a gluten-free diet—that is, to avoid all foods that contain gluten. For most people, following this diet will stop symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. Improvements begin within weeks of starting the diet.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a mildly contagious viral infection common in young children. This ailment is characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most commonly caused by a coxsackievirus.
Coxsackieviruses are part of the enterovirus family of viruses (which also includes polioviruses and hepatitis A virus) that live in the human digestive tract. The viruses can spread from person to person, usually on unwashed hands and surfaces contaminated by feces (poop), where they can live for several days.
Afflicted people suddenly get a high fever, headache, and muscle aches, and some also develop sore throats and have abdominal discomfort or nausea. A child with a coxsackievirus infection may simply feel hot but have no other symptoms. In most kids, the fever lasts about 3 days, then disappears.
What’s the remedy? In most cases, coxsackievirus infections go away without treatment. But in some cases, they can lead to more serious infections. Depending on the type of infection and symptoms, the doctor may prescribe medicines to make your child feel more comfortable. Because antibiotics only work against bacteria, they can’t be used to fight a coxsackievirus infection.
Archer Dental’s Oral Health Professionals Are Dental Detectives
If you suspect there’s something wrong with your mouth, and if some of the medical conditions in the list conform to what you’re experiencing , please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact Archer Dental for an appointment.
We hope this message finds you and your family in good health, and it’s with some excitement that we announce we can now see patients in our dental offices for comprehensive care (it’s not just emergencies-only anymore).
On Monday June 1st 2020, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) released guidelines and a directive from the Chief Medical Officer of Ontario which permits the reopening of dental offices.
Archer Dental will take a slow and methodical approach to reopening as we adhere to evidence based dentistry guidelines. We’re working hard behind the scenes to have our clinics reopen seamlessly and to meet and exceed the conditions set forth by the government. While many things have changed, one constant truth remains: our offices are committed to ensuring your safety.
Infection control has always been a top priority in our practice. We follow all recommendations made by the RCDSO, IPAC and Public Health. We also follow all SAFE Dentistry practice protocols. Our offices may look and feel a little different, but we’re streamlining our processes to ensure our work space, work flow and patient experience conform to the strategy set forth to combat this global pandemic. We thank you again for your patience and support as we navigate these challenging times.
If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment please reach out so we may send access to our screening tool. The easiest path to treatment is however to simply visit our website where our virtual team member will assist you. Dental Attendant works around the clock to help patients schedule appointments. In the days and weeks to come we’re still prioritizing emergency care first. Alternatively you can call the office and our administrative team (who are working remotely) will happily assist you.
We’ll use the Dental Attendant Chatbot and its handy COVID-19 Self Screening Tool
On the day you arrive at the clinic everyone will have taken the COVID-19 Self Screening Test available via Dental Attendant chatbot software on the website. Everyone including yourself, and the results will be stored in our database. The staff will have taken this test prior to booking your appointment and you’ll need to speak with either myself or Joanna to secure your appointment after you have passed this requirement. Going forward, Archer Dental will not have front desk receptionists at any of our offices so any pre- COVID screening forms, deposits, financial arrangements, consent forms, screening and medical history forms, updates, and payments will all have to be done in advance to secure your appointment time. We thank you for your support as we work to keep yourself and our team as safe as possible. We’ll be seeing less patients, and limiting the number of staff in our office to ensure we maintain social distancing so we thank you in advance for your understanding.
Once inside the dental clinic, MASKS ARE MANDATORY and all guests must be escorted by a team member. We also ask that you leave any personal belongings at home.
Patients are to arrive on time and attend the office with either medical or non medical masks. Any latecomers to appointments will be rescheduled. Every person entering the office is expected to wear a face covering and will be asked to sanitize their hands. Please take your temperature the morning of your appointment. We’ll confirm your findings with a contact-less thermometer upon your arrival.
Our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, charging stations, children’s toys, and so forth, since these items are difficult to clean and disinfect. We ask you arrive to your appointment on your own and do not bring toys or outside items with you to your appointment.
We’ve been working hard to prepare the clinics for this day and we’ve streamlined our systems and embraced digital technology by training our team on new equipment, new protocols and new procedures designed to provide the public with the highest quality of treatment in the safest environment possible.
We truly look forward to seeing you. We’ve missed you and each other and our life helping people at our three clinics in Toronto. We’re here to support the public and help people manage their oral health. Don’t wait till the end of the pandemic to treat persistent problems. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the office in the near future.
Dave Trafford is easy on the ears and his weekend radio show on CFRB 1010 in Toronto has a wide audience all across Ontario. In the podcast below, dated Saturday May 23rd 2020, Dave interviews Dr Natalie Archer on the challenges facing dentistry in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Listeners may rejoice to discover it’s not all bad news.
Trafford begins the show by describing in his folksy way how Canadian society simply shutdown on or around the 11th of March 2020. He relates how his own dental office called to cancel his appointment and when they asked if he wanted to reschedule it put a spotlight on the awkward question, when?
This is how the CFRB veteran radio host of The Weekend Show segues to introduce his guest, Dr Natalie Archer an ‘emergency dentist in Toronto’ and the interview begins with what that’s like and what constitutes an emergency.
It was a moment in history and something nobody alive today will ever forget; the NBA closed its doors and the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games were postponed and the whole world followed their examples and shut down. Natalie describes her decision-making process to close her three dental offices, and how she didn’t have a lot of choice as all dentists in Ontario received instructions from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) which stipulated that clinics could only open in case of emergencies.
Dentistry has high overhead and lots of expenses Natalie explains; there’s lots of pricey equipment in modern dental clinics and patient volume is necessary to create a successful business.
What is the Future of Dentistry after Covid-19?
Dr Archer had a lot of ideas on the subject of how oral health care could change in the near future, and how our population could become more health conscious in general. Regarding dentistry she outlined how PPE or Personal Protective Equipment is obviously going to be very important and this is tied directly to the need for EBD, Evidence Based Dentistry and industry-wide reporting.
Teledentistry was an idea that Natalie mentioned next and Dave seized upon as being difficult for dentists. He couldn’t imagine how cell phone pictures and the patient’s own description of the issue could be beneficial. Dr Archer explained how such practices while not ideal can effectively reduce the duration of the patient’s in-person visit when treatment occurs.
And finally Natalie discussed Dental Attendant, an AI chat bot for dental clinic websites that does coronovirus screening of patients via conversational information gathering for a questionnaire and how it answers frequently asked questions.
“What’s the most frequently asked question?” Dave asked playfully.
“Is what I’m feeling an emergency?” Natalie replied.
The show ends with Dave imagining he’s on a Telehealth call informing the dentist of all his many oral health issues and garbling his voice.
Dentacoin (DCN) is more than a digital currency. Dentacoin is a ‘Blockchain concept’ designed to help the global dental industry and make it more affordable no matter where you live on Planet Earth, and now that includes downtown Toronto. That data collected and mined is generic dental industry information. There are almost two hundred different countries on this planet, but less than twenty nations include dentistry in a universal health care package for their citizens. Here in Canada our government-provided healthcare doesn’t include dentistry and it’s expensive. People with bad teeth and without dental insurance must pay out-of-pocket to maintain their oral health. That’s Canada, a First World Country, and everyone agrees we have it pretty good up here. In eighty percent of the developing world, dentistry is much less accessible and much less affordable. This is the problem Dentacoin aims to solve.
By promoting prevention, removing the insurance companies and placing authority back into the patients’ hands, and into the dentist’s hands, patient dental costs can be significantly reduced. One way this is accomplished is through the establishment of smart contracts between patients and dentists. These manifest as small monthly contributions of Dentacoin to dentists. Tailored directly to the patient’s needs, this smart contract solution will streamline dental care and remove the need for patients to pay high premiums to insurance companies.
Following a decentralized, Ethereum-based smart contract protocol, the DCN token rewards users through a system that inspires community contribution. Patients can earn Dentacoins by helping out the community, reviewing dentists and taking part in reputable dental surveys.
Ultimately, the project’s mission is to make high quality oral health care more accessible to nearly eighty percent of the world’s population that endures life without good dentistry.
Can patients mine Dentacoin like Bitcoin?
No. Instead of mining, the company distributes three-quarters of all existing tokens via its own ‘airdrop scheme’ which includes dispensing coins by rewarding patients for taking care of their own teeth and for helping entities such as dentists, suppliers, researchers within the dental industry. As an investment, Dentacoin becomes more valuable as more dentists and patients adopt the programs and use the currency as payment. Because it’s an ERC-20 token, DCN is storable in any ERC-20 compatible wallet. MyEtherWallet, Coinomi, and Ledger and Trezor hardware wallets are just a few. DCN is paid-out to users for leaving reviews, using Dentacare mobile oral health app, or taking surveys and can then be used to help pay for dental services.
Who created Dentacoin? Who controls it today?
Dentacoin was co-founded in March 2017 by Professor Dimitar Dimitrakiev, Jeremias Grenzebach, and Philipp Grenzebach. Today it’s powered by the Dentacoin Foundation, established in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Since it was created three years ago, the Blockchain solution for the global dental industry has continuously gained global traction. Today there are more than 1,800 dentists and 90,000 individuals around the world who are actively using Dentacoin and its related tools to improve global dental care.
Archer Dental is first dental partner in Canada, and we’re thrilled to amplify our shared vision for the future of dentistry. With our three new locations in Canada, and thirty-one locations in the US, we are bringing the tally up to 34 establishments on the North American continent. Meanwhile, the Dentacoin currency has been adopted as a means of payment by more than 80 locations in 21 countries on six continents.
How much is one Dentacoin worth?
Today, ten dollars buys a lot of coins. Tomorrow, who knows? A quick Google search will show you the value of dentacoin relative to other currencies both digital and sovereign.
Dentacoin Assurance is perfect for people with no private insurance. If you cannot afford private insurance for yourself or your family, you can benefit from Dentacoin Assurance and get all your treatments covered against low monthly payments. Dentacoin Assurance is the first blockchain-based dental assurance program that shifts the focus from treatment to prevention and brings the financial interests of patients and dentists into complete alignment without any intermediaries.
Patients are entitled to lifelong, preventive dental care against affordable monthly premiums in Dentacoin (DCN) currency. Dentists receive a stable basic income while simultaneously establish strong, lasting bonds with their patients. Dentacoin Assurance is also perfectly suitable as a guarantee for people who have completed their treatment, as well as for children. Establishing good oral hygiene habits early on helps encourage lifetime patterns. Sign an Assurance contract for your children and protect their teeth.
Ask us about enrolling in Dentacoin Assurance to take advantage of a lifelong guarantee plan.
How Archer Dental Uses Dentacoin
Archer Dental patients can earn Dentacoin at least three different ways. They can participate in Dentavox’s paid dental surveys. In the picture above you can see their poll of the day which had been done by 61 / 100 people paid 6153 DCN.
Dentacoin Trusted Reviews lets Archer Dental get valuable feedback. If you have the Dentacoin wallet and want to earn coins you can get rewards for leaving feedback on Dr Archer’s Profile page.
Dentacoin Aims to Alleviate the Financial Pain of Dentistry
Dentistry is not free in Canada but studies show that nearly 90% of costs can be avoided if patients take preemptive care and visit the dentist at least three times a year. That means there is real value in keeping people’s teeth clean and healthy and this amount is what’s being calculated in the block chain to ultimately give the currency its value.
With Dentacoin, patients are empowered to take control of their preemptive dental care, such as proper nutrition and flossing, and both patients and dentists benefit from the new-age health program.
Dentacoin Assurance is perfect for people with no private insurance. If you cannot afford private insurance for yourself or your family, you can benefit from Dentacoin Assurance and get all your treatments covered against low monthly payments. Dentacoin Assurance is the first blockchain-based dental assurance program that shifts the focus from treatment to prevention and brings the financial interests of patients and dentists into complete alignment without any intermediaries.
