Village Green Dental Care

Spotting Celiac Disease from Dental Damage

2012-01-31T12:02:00.000-05:00

2011 Oral Health Month

2011-04-18T14:40:00.000-04:00

The Ontario Dental Association marks National Oral Health Month in April.

It’s not just a time where we remind you to floss — it’s an opportunity

for us to emphasize how important your oral health is to your overall health.
The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 3,400 new cases of oral cancer

were diagnosed in Canada in 2010. It is also estimated that 1,150 of those

Canadians diagnosed in 2010 will die from the disease.1
This too-often fatal condition has a greater mortality rate than both

breast cancer and prostate cancer. However, oral cancer can be successfully

treated if caught at an early stage.
Your dentist can play an important role in the early detection of oral cancer.

Dentistry is about prevention and the dental exam is the foundation of

good oral health.

A dentist may notice subtle changes in the mouth that a patient won’t.
The oral cancer examination performed by your dentist during a routine

dental exam is fast, easy and painless – and it could save your life.

Book your dental exam today – your health will thank you for it!

What is oral cancer?

Oral cancer refers to all cancers of the oral cavity, which includes the following:

lips
tongue
teeth
gums (gingiva)
lining inside the lips and cheeks (labial mucosa and buccal mucosa)
floor of the mouth
roof of the mouth (palate)
the area behind the wisdom teeth

Most oral cancers are located on the sides of the tongue, floor of the mouth

and lips.

Oral cancer starts in the cells of the mouth. Normally these cells are quite

resistant to damage, but repeated injury from smoking, alcohol or even

friction may cause sores or painful areas where cancer can start.

Symptoms

Oral cancer symptoms include:

a sore on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal
a lump on the lip or in the mouth or throat
a white or red patch on the gums, tongue or lining of the mouth
unusual bleeding, pain or numbness in the mouth
a sore throat that does not go away, or a feeling that something is caught

in the throat

difficulty or pain with chewing or swallowing
swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become

uncomfortable

a change in the voice and/or pain in the ear

Your Dental Exam

Your dentist does more than protect and care for your teeth, gums and smile — your dentist can also help keep you healthy.

As oral health experts, dentists are in a unique position to help in the early detection of many medical conditions, including cancer.

Dentists are trained in medicine so they recognize the relationships between oral and overall health.

Most people see their dentist regularly, so your dentist is often the first

health-care professional to have an opportunity to detect the many health

conditions that affect your mouth. Many patients are not aware of the

extent that a dental exam can play in disease prevention.

Through the dental exam, your dentist can see if there are any abnormalities

or changes in your mouth that might be indications of health problems,

such as oral cancer or diabetes.

At each visit, your dentist will conduct a medical history review and ask

you about your current health.

It’s important to answer these questions carefully. What you say can help

your dentist alert you to potential health concerns that may require further

investigation, diagnosis or treatment by a physician.

Without an examination by a dentist, most early signs of oral cancer are

difficult to detect.

If you notice a mouth sore or anything out of the ordinary that does not go

away or heal after a couple of weeks, discuss it with your dentist.

Risk Factors

Smoking and chewing tobacco — particularly if combined with heavy

alcohol consumption

Heavy alcohol consumption — particularly if combined with smoking
Excessive sun exposure — particularly to the lip
Age — people over the age of 40 have a higher risk of developing oral

cancer

Gender — men are more susceptible than women to developing oral

cancer. In the past, men had a 6:1 ratio of incidence of oral cancer compared

to women. However; this ratio is narrowing and is now closer to a 2:1 ratio

HPV — more research is emerging that connects human papillomavirus
infection — especially HPV-16 — with oral cancers
A diet low in fruits and vegetables — fruit and vegetables have a

protective factor that is believed to reduce the risk for oral cancers

Prevention

See a dental professional for a regular dental exam
Quitting (or reducing) your tobacco and alcohol use lowers your risk

of developing oral cancer

When you are outside and exposed to the sun, use lip balm with UV

protection and wear a hat

Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables
Brush and floss your teeth daily

The mouth has long been recognized as a mirror reflecting the health of the

body. With regular visits to your dentist and good oral health routines, you will

have lots to smile about.

References: www.youroralhealth.ca: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2010.

Toronto: Canadian Cancer Society.

Best Wishes, Harnoop!!

2011-04-06T08:27:00.000-04:00

2011-02-03T16:37:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year

2010-12-24T19:11:00.001-05:00

Village Green Dental Care is closed until January 3rd 2011. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

VGDC Patient and sister return from Mexico after undergoing MS “Liberation” treatment.

2010-12-23T00:59:00.003-05:00

Laurie Chatigny and her sister, Valerie, traveled to Mexico to undergo “liberation treatment” for MS patients. Both sisters were willing to take the chance of undergoing treatment to improve their situation despite the controversy around the procedure. Laurie found that the procedure has really helped her. She is now able to do things she wasn’t able to do because of the effects MS was having on her. See the full CTV interview with Laurie:

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101201/OTT_ms_liberation_treatment_101201/20101201/?hub=OttawaHome

We’d like to wish both Laurie and Valerie, a speedy recovery from the treatment and continued improvement.

Incorportating Lasers into General Practice by Dr. Robert Convissar

2010-11-25T12:02:00.003-05:00

On November 19, 2010, the staff attended a seminar: Incorporating Lasers into General Practice by Dr. Robert Convissar. Lasers are being used in many medical fields these days and dentistry is no exception. Dr. Convissar gave us a little background on the different types of lasers, how each of them are best used for different procedures and the changes in the innovations since the inception of lasers in dentistry. Lasers do not expose an individual to radiation, they work by movement of energy. By choosing an appropriate wavelength, we can specifically target diseased tissue thereby leaving healthy tissue unharmed and enabling new tissue to grow in place of the diseased tissue. This is possible because lasers decontaminate and disinfect the area.

We learned about the benefits of incorporating certain types of lasers with conventional dental procedures and how they can greatly improve periodontal (gum) health. Other types of lasers can be used to remove excessive gum tissue, which grows because of the side effects of medications such as cyclosporine and dilantin given to patients who have had transplants or neurological disorders. In some cases, lasers can also be used to remove cavities without the need to freeze the patient.

*Laser Procedure*	*Conventional Dental Procedure*
Generally no injection needed	Injection needed
No bleeding	Bleeding
Sterilizes pocket/area	Doesn’t kill all bacteria
No post-operative medication/discomfort	May need NSAIDS(pain killers) to combat discomfort

We found this seminar very informative. We are always keeping abreast of new innovations and technologies in dentistry and this seminar really gave us a good understanding of what to look for when assessing the need for incorporating lasers into our practice.

Fall 2010

2010-11-24T16:49:00.001-05:00

The last few months have been busy around Village Green Dental Care. Not only have we been busy getting the office organized from the renovations, we've been attending continuing education seminars and going on retreats for team bonding.

In September, we attended a continuing education seminar hosted by Dr. Razavi of Palladium Orthodontics on Aesthetic Dentistry. The speaker, Dr. Kugel spoke about the importance of appearance, functionality and patient comfort after completing a restoration eg. filling, crown, veneer, bridge. He discussed methods to increase longevity or restorations and the importance of the occlusion (how one bites down) once the treatment is finished. Different ideas were presented to ensure that the patient is pleased with the appearance and comfort of the restoration.

October was especially eventful; Rayhana, Chris, Harnoop and Jen enjoyed our first weekend without rain in weeks at Maple Ki Spirit Waters in Tamworth, ON, for a Yoga/Zumba retreat. We participated in yoga and zumba classes, canoed, kayaked and hiked in the beautiful forest surrounding the retreat and even had a bon fire under the stars. The vegetarian food was plentiful and delicious. Many thanks to Jennifer Shillingford of Muttita Moves for organizing and leading us though relaxing yoga, Vivien Peh for the invigorating Zumba and our host Julianna Norrie.

We truly found our yin and yang!!!

The whole staff attended Core Communication Skills seminar hosted by Dr. Chong. It was a great seminar as we got an opportunity to go over the importance of our communication skills. It was based on how the Dentist and the entire staff should communicate with patients, colleagues and suppliers. Effective communication is very important to build empathy, to connect with patients, solve patient problems and resolve patient objections. We discussed negative and positive listening experiences and few annoying habits that should be avoided during positive listening. The speaker concluded by explaining different ways to resolve patient objections.

It was overall a great evening as Rayhana and Harnoop won the free draw and our table won in a communication incentive game of poker.

On Oct. 15^th, Dr. Baksh attended a seminar presented by the Ottawa Dental Society, which reviewed aesthetic dentistry. Smile patterns and types, and the various methods to restore or change smiles were discussed.

On the same day, Rayhana attended an advance course for Dentrix, the computer software that we use in our office. We have not received any training on the program since we first implemented it in our office 15 yrs ago, and there have been approximately 10 updates to the program since then. Some of the updates have helped us to improve the way we present treatment to our patients, others have helped us become more environmentally friendly, by enabled us to digitize all our files therefore reducing the amount of paper we use and our storage requirements. After attending this course, Rayhana discovered that we are using Dentrix to its potential even though we had not received any training in the past 15 yrs.

The long anticipated completion of the office renovation was celebrated on Thursday Oct. 21^st at our Open House. From all the comments we received from the people who were able to attend, it was a worth the wait. People were very impressed with the innovative new glass countertops from ThinkGlass. We would like to thank Carmen Gruska of CGC Interiors for doing a great job in redesigning the office for us and Terlin Construction and Spindler Furniture for making her design a reality. A very special Thank you to Shakira Whitton of Little Cakes for overseeing the renovation of the office for us while we were at the World Cup in South Africa and for providing cupcakes for the event.

Thank you to everyone who was able to make time in their busy schedules to come out and share this event with us.

To view more pictures, please go to our Village Green Dental Care photo albums:
Village Green Dental Care Photo Albums

Enjoy the pictures!!!

Dr. Baksh & Family Go to the World Cup in South Africa

2010-11-24T14:53:00.004-05:00

June 23rd:

As most of our patients are aware, we love football/soccer. When we heard 8 years ago that South Africa was hosting the World Cup in 2010, we started planning. It would be an amazing opportunity!!! We could visit family (Rayhana was born there and has lots of family) and experience the World Cup in South Africa, the first time on the African continent. This event is more than just football, with the history of apartheid in its recent past, this event is an opportunity to bring all the cultures and peoples of South Africa together to celebrate their accomplishment of working together to host such a huge international event.

So here we are days away from being at our first World Cup game and it happens to be in Rayhana's birthplace of Rustenburg.

Since we have been blessed with being able to make such an amazing trip, we wanted to do something for the less privileged children of South Africa. We have decided to take gently used soccer gear for the children. Our friends and Kanata Soccer have generously donated some gear. We would like to thank them for helping us do our small part.

June 28th:

The trip almost started early. The earthquake on Wednesday June 23, had our neighbors at the office wondering if we started our renovations earlier than planned.

Our drive to Toronto was fine, other than the torrential rainstorm for 20 minutes.

Our baggage, including the soccer gear for charity, was under the weight restrictions when checked into KLM for our flight. After a short layover in Amsterdam, we arrived earlier than expected into Johannesburg.

The Spain-Chile game was in progress. Airport staff was busy watching the game whilst working. Got a good night's sleep at Rayhana’s uncle’s place, after a combined 17 hours on two planes.

Went to FIFA ticket offices, slight line-up getting the tickets but well organized.

Traveled to Rustenburg on June 26th, about an hour away from Johannesburg, for our first World Cup game - US vs. Ghana. We saw police cars every 5-10 minutes along the way, just being visible. We met with family before heading to the game.

The Park & Ride was set up well, four different areas to park and shuttle buses to take you to the stadium for a short walk to the entrance. Security was tight, including metal detectors before your ticket was scanned.

Literally bumped into Dr. John Odai, from Capital Endodontics in Ottawa. He is a big Ghana supporter, being born there.

People were walking up to us and taking pictures with us, Zayn (our son) was walking around with a big Canadian flag, and we were wearing our Trinidad and Tobago shirts.

The actual game was fantastic. Technically no, but the experience as a fan was nothing that I had experienced before. I think the majority in the stadium, 35,000 in attendance, were cheering for Ghana, other than a few Americans who were there. The section that we were in was for non-aligned fans, but other than a couple of American supporters who were quiet, everyone was supporting Ghana, all different nationalities. I don't think our section was quiet for the whole match.

The vuvuzelas were blasting, the chants were going, and Ghanaian drums were pounding.

The vuvuzela noise is over-rated, sounds worse on TV. We had ear-plugs, but they were not used. You get used to the sound and it becomes a white noise, background sound for the spectacle you are watching. You blow the vuvuzela like a trumpet. The blast can be very loud if it is by your ear, quite deafening, The protocol is to point it in the air and blow your lungs out!

After the game, the Americans were devastated, but no one was rude or insulting, just celebrated the win.

Traveled back to Johannesburg the next day, after a big family brunch, for the game at Soccer City - Argentina vs Mexico. Walking up to the stadium, we were talking to fans from different countries who were excited to see two quality teams. The stadium was impressive, shaped like a calabash bowl and coloured. Easy entrance procedure, and easy access to the stands area. The place was loud even though there was still plenty of time before the game was starting; a roof and 85, 000 people will do that.

The game was technically and tactically better than the night before. Our section was quiet, probably too nervous. The skills of the players are wondrous to see.

Tonight we see Brazil play Chile at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. My throat is still sore from yelling in Rustenburg; not sure what it will be like after this game.

July 4th:

Brazil vs Chile game was played at Ellis Park in Johannesburg at 8:30 in the evening. We tried to drive past the stadium early in the afternoon, but they had already closed off the streets. We took a large detour through downtown Johannesburg. We got to try Mochachos chicken, better than Nando's! The game was like men against boys, Chile could move the ball but Brazil just ran through them. The crowd was mostly for Brazil; at times the singing and drums were louder than the vuvuzelas.

July 6th:

The night of the Brazil vs Chile game, I became feverish and tired. I slept the night and was tired the next morning. I stayed behind and slept and rested the day, while the others went to Pretoria to watch Paraguay play Japan. The report was not an exciting game but the crowd was fun. The whole stadium participated in doing the wave repeatedly.

We visited relatives the next couple of days then left late on Thursday July 1^st, to make our way towards Port Elizabeth. We stayed overnight in a small town called Middelburg, Eastern Cape at a guest house. We passed a number of construction sites on the highway. The difference between Canada and Africa became apparent instantly with the highway construction. Instead of barriers and temporary lanes, we saw lanes blocked off by small rocks, stones & sticks and line-ups to access one lane on the highway with each direction taking turns.

The next day started with a drive to Port Elizabeth, the roads crowded with cars racing to the stadium. The excitement was palpable before the Brazil-Netherlands match. We parked at the Park & Walk, 10 minutes from the stadium. The stadium was outstanding, nice design, great sight lines. There was a buzz (not from the vuvuzelas) from the time of the warm-ups. The crowd was 65-35% in favour of Brazil, but at the end even some of the Brazil supporters were applauding Netherlands for the game well played. The pace of the play was amazing, incredibly fast. Holland just played better and forced the game more than Brazil. The skill level is amazing to see in person, you can watch on tv but to see it live is different.

We drove to Knysna that night, along the coast towards Cape Town. The next day we finished the drive to Cape Town, along the Garden Route. South Africa is truly a breathtaking country with vistas that keep coming no matter where you are driving. We ended the day by taking in the Spain-Paraguay game at the Fan-Fest zone in downtown CapeTown. Most of the crowd was for Spain but the game provided enough excitement and talking points to keep the crowd buzzing throughout the evening.

July 4^th was our wedding anniversary and we decided to take it easy to recuperate from all the traveling and only started touring around in the afternoon. We went up to Signal Hill then to Camps Bay and walked on the beach and dipped our feet in the water, even though it is winter in South Africa. The Atlantic Ocean was ice cold.

Plans for Cape Town include Table Mountain, Cape Point and Robben Island. More to follow.

July 17

Tried to get into the Fan Park in Cape Town to watch the Netherlands-Uruguay semi-final that was being played in Cape Town, unsuccessful, the place was overflowing and no one was allowed in. While standing in line, got into some conversations with people from a number of countries, including Cote D'Ivoire. The atmosphere was outstanding. There was a fan walk to the stadium also with entertainment along the way. The next day was the Spain-Germany match from Durban. This time, we got to the fan park early. There was live entertainment at the park. Cape Minstrel players, musician and singers, were the most entertaining. The atmosphere in the park was great, everyone singing along, then excited for the whole game.

We had tickets to see Robben Island the next day, as we walked up to the ferry, it was announced that the tours were canceled for the day due to rough seas. We went instead to Table Mountain, the wind was very high, but the views and setting are spectacular.

The next day we drove to Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope, then up the peninsula to see penguins, baboons and ostriches.

We tried to get to Robben Island again but couldn't get a tour before we left for Port Elizabeth on Friday. On our way to Port Elizabeth on July 9th, we stopped at Cango Caves for a tour, fascinating caves with amazing stalagmites and stalactites, and the drive was heart-stopping. Narrow roads through mountain pass.

The game in Port Elizabeth on July 10th, for 3rd place, or the losers-final as it is referred to here, was exciting, lots of action. Fortunately the partial roof over the stadium covered us, from the torrential rain that fell during the game.

We woke early the next morning and drove to Johannesburg to see the final with Rayhana's relatives.

The whole experience was wonderful. Lots of enthusiasm and good will from all the fans as well as from the stadium and fan-park workers. The population is cynical about the amount of money that FIFA has taken out of the country but grateful for the exposure and increased sense of nation from the tournament being in South Africa. The people are expecting a bit of depression after all the visitors return to their countries. The crime incidence was almost zero. That is expected to increase with the decreased police presence in the coming weeks. Tourism is expected to keep increasing due to the exposure from the FIFA games.

Before we left, we decided to visit Fordsburg Primary School, an inner city school in Johannesburg and donate the soccer gear from Kanata Soccer and our friends to them.

Excerpt from an email sent by Mr. Lockhat.

From: Ismail Lockhat,

Principal Fordsburg Primary School

"The Staff, Learners , the School Governing Body and I, express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of soccer kits.

Most of our learners come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and were overwhelmed by your generosity. You can be rest assured that the kits are already put to good use.

A special thank you to Rayhana and Imran for having taken the trouble to bring the kits all the way from Canada and presenting it to our school.

Once again Thank You."

This was definitely a trip of a lifetime for our family. Being back in South Africa to see what this country and its people are capable of organizing, was amazing. South Africa is as beautiful as ever, its people are friendly and hospitable. The main focus of our trip was to see the World Cup Soccer but it was extra special to be able to reconnect and spend time, however short with our family and share this amazing experience with them. For more pictures of our trip, click here:

World Cup 2010 Photos

Eid Al-Adha 2010

2010-11-11T11:11:00.000-05:00

Eid Mubaruk to all those who are celebrating Eid Al-Adha.

Our office will be closed on Tuesday November 16th while we celebrate Eid with our family and friends.

Join us for our Open House and Grand Re-Opening Celebration!

2010-10-13T00:14:00.000-04:00

2 Ottawa chefs cycle 3,700 kilometres home from Alberta

2010-08-12T22:21:00.001-04:00

From time to time, we like to feature the accomplishments or initiatives of our patients. This summer, Village Green Dental Care patient Chris Rutihauser set out to cycle from Jasper, AB to Ottawa, ON.

Chris Rutishauser, 54, and his friend Mario Ramsay, 55, are both chefs who teach at Algonquin College.

This summer, they cycled from Jasper, Alberta back to Ottawa, a journey of 3,747 kilometers. They began their journey June 24th and arrived home July 22nd.

We are proud of the two men and look forward to hearing where their next journey might take them.

To read more about their story, check out their blog here:

http://ramsaymario.wordpress.com/

Chris Rutishauser (left) and Mario Ramsay

Village Green Dental Care is getting a Facelift! June 24th to July 25th.

2010-07-25T20:40:00.000-04:00

Yes, we are refurbishing the office! We've been closed since June 25th and our renovations are almost complete.
Some of you have been in the office in the last couple months and have asked, "Why, what's wrong with the way it is?"
Well, it's been 11 years, (April 12, 1999) since we opened our doors to Village Green Dental Care. We've been through 3 floods and many changes over the years. With all the advances in technology over the years, we have incorporated many changes. We started off by computerizing the office in hopes that we could eventually become paperless. We then digitized our x-rays and reduced the amount of chemicals we used; we were one of the first in the Ottawa area to use Vixwin. Implementing the use of intra-oral cameras enabled us to show our patients exactly what was happening n their mouth. Our dental software has finally allowed us to digitize all our patient records so that we can eliminate the use of paper files, one step closer to becoming paperless and saving more trees.

As a result, our needs have changed and we need to refurbish.

Photos coming soon of the 'work in progress'.

We look forward to seeing everyone when we unveil the new Village Green Dental Care!!

Community Feature - QuickStart - Early Intervention for Autism

2010-05-04T13:53:00.002-04:00

At Village Green Dental Care, we are dedicated to enriching the communities where we live, work and do business. We try to help those in need by supporting numerous nonprofit organizations through financial donations, product donations, and organizational support.
This month we would like to feature QuickStart.

Village Green Dental Care patient Suzanne Jacobson is the founder of QuickStart.
QuickStart’s mission is to advocate and to fundraise for early intervention for children at risk of or with autism.
QuickStart, in partnership with the Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre (OCTC), provides free services for children, six and under, prior to a diagnosis.
QuickStart is a non-profit organization where one hundred percent of every donation goes to support the clinic.

Village Green Dental Care is a proud supporter of QuickStart.

Click here to view QuickStart Early Intervention for Autism’s First Newsletter.

How Can You Help?

QuickStart is helping to fund services for children and families when the parent first becomes concerned about their child, prior to a diagnosis. This is critical since it can take up to a year for diagnosis. No one else provides this service in the Ottawa area.

Please let your family, friends and colleagues know what QuickStart is doing.

If you would like to hold a fundraiser for QuickStart please contact Suzanne Jacobson at suzanne@quickstartautism.ca or call 613-791-3757.

April is National Oral Health Month™

2010-04-01T23:57:00.001-04:00

April is Oral Health Month!

When you were a kid, taking care of your dental health was pretty easy. You brushed regularly, gave your baby teeth to the Tooth Fairy and visited your dentist every 6 months. But adult dental problems aren't the same as children's dental problems.

Here are some of the most common dental problems with some tips to help prevent them.

Gum Disease

Symptoms of gum disease may include, shiny, red, puffy or sore gums, a change in gum colour, gums that bleed every time you brush, chronic bad breath, a metallic taste in your mouth, or gums that are red around the base of teeth. The good news is that gum disease is almost always preventable.

Home prevention should include twice-a-day gentle brushing and flossing between the teeth and gumline. For best results floss first, then brush. Pay attention to the areas where your teeth and gums meet. Clean every surface of every tooth—the chewing surface, the cheek side and the tongue side.

Brush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth. Direct the bristles to where your gums and teeth meet. Use a gentle, circular, massaging motion, up and down. Don’t “rush your brush.”A thorough brushing should take at least two or three minutes. Daily flossing removes plaque from areas your toothbrush can’t reach, preventing the build-up of tartar along and under your gums.
The Ontario Dental Association recommends that frequency of dental visits be based on individual patient needs. It advises, however, that a minimum of twice yearly visits are in the best interest of the oral health of the majority of patients in Ontario. Your dentist can spot gum disease in the early stages, even before you notice any symptoms. Your dental team will help clean your teeth to remove built-up tartar before it causes gum disease.

Tooth Decay
Two cavity problems are unique to adults: root cavities and cavities at the edges of fillings. You can help prevent cavities in three easy steps: brush and floss regularly; eat a balanced diet and avoid sweets. Use a fluoride toothpaste recognized by the Canadian Dental Association, and ask your dentist if a fluoride treatment would be a good idea.

Smoking
If you smoke, you may be causing trouble for your teeth and gums. Smoking kills cells inside your mouth. Smoking can make your mouth more susceptible to infections and is one of the leading causes of oral cancer. Smoking can also discolor teeth and composite restorations. Smokers should be on the lookout for early signs of trouble such as white or red patches in the mouth, unexplainable bleeding, soreness or numbness. See your dentist if any of these signs occur.

Tension and Grinding
Many people clench or grind their teeth, especially during sleep—this is called bruxism. Over a long period of time, bruxism can wear down tooth surfaces. The main cause is muscle tension brought on by stress.
To help prevent grinding, simply try and relax. Become more conscious of when you clench your jaw and avoid biting on pencils and pens. Your dentist may be able to help you with a custom-fitted mouthguard or can recommend relaxation exercises to help you deal with stress.

Food for Thought ... and Healthier Teeth
A balanced, nutritious diet is good for your general health as well as your dental health. Without the right nutrients, your teeth and gums can become more susceptible to decay and gum disease. Sugar is one of the main causes of dental problems. The average Canadian eats the equivalent of 40 kg (88 lb) of sugar each year. Here are a few ways to reduce your sugar intake, and help your teeth at the same time.
• Try to choose sugar-free snacks such as milk, fruit, vegetables, nuts, plain yogurt, sunflower or pumpkin
seeds, cheese, melba toast, juice and salads.
• Add less sugar to your coffee or tea or try sugar substitutes. Try to avoid sugar-sweetened soft drinks and
look for fruit juices and drinks with no added sugar.
• Pay attention to the list of ingredients when you are grocery shopping. Honey, molasses, liquid invert sugar,
glucose, and fructose are all types of sugar.
• When you do eat sweets, there are things you can do to avoid harming your teeth: avoid sticky sweets that cling to your teeth and are harder to brush away; eat sweets with a meal, not as a snack, to improve the flow of saliva, which helps wash away and dilute sugar; and carry a travel-size toothbrush and use it after eating sweets.
• If you can’t brush, at least rinse your mouth with water or eat a fibrous fruit such as an apple or raw vegetables.
Or chew a piece of sugarless gum. Trident gum, which is the first chewing gum to be recognized by the
Canadian Dental Association, contains DentecTM (Xylitol). Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweetener that is found in plants, in fruits, such as raisins and strawberries and in vegetables such as lettuce, onions and carrots.

Why Should I Visit the Dentist?
Regular checkups are important for cleaning, the detection of cavities and periodontal examination. Plaque and tartar can build up in areas that are not easily reached through home maintenance. These can be removed during a dental check-up to prevent cavities and gum disease.

While semi-annual visits are sufficient for cleaning and detection of cavities, patients’ needs do vary and patients should discuss the frequency of visits with their dentist.

Patients should also contact their dentist immediately, if their gums bleed, teeth become hypersensitive to temperature or pressure, or in the event of tooth pain or abscess.

New Treatment Options
New materials enable less invasive and less expensive treatment for cosmetic defects, replacement of teeth and improved chewing ability.

New techniques for veneering for aesthetic purposes are also available, as well as implants to replace missing teeth.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-26T01:16:00.007-05:00

We had a wonderful staff party on Saturday Dec. 19th, enjoying each others company with spouses and friends outside the office. Dinner was followed by a 'friendly' round of video games. Apparently, some of us are more competitive than is normally seen at the office and should get our aggressions out at more frequent occasions. No blood was shed and everyone showed up at work no worse for wear on Monday morning.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, hoping everyone has a safe and happy holiday, and a Happy New Year.

We will be closed between Dec. 24th and January 3rd inclusive.

Dr. Baksh and team

GO GREEN with Village Green!

2009-11-04T23:49:00.005-05:00

Our Eco-Friendly Tote bags have arrived! Be sure to pick one up on your next visit to Village Green Dental Care.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Bags

Using an eco-friendly bag can be good for many reasons. You will lower your carbon footprint by using less greenhouse gases with an eco-friendly reusable shopping tote You can also help the environment by using a recycled tote bag, or a biodegradable tote bag, as both of these methods will decrease the amount of materials that permanently take up space in landfills.

An eco-friendly reusable bag means you don’t end up with a drawer full of plastic shopping bags or an overflowing trash bin.

Uses for Your Cotton Tote

A tote bag is a bag large enough to carry a variety of materials. Because they are so useful and versatile, cotton totes have a wide variety of uses:

A tote bag is a great way to carry your groceries or other things you buy on a trip, as opposed to using paper or plastic bags the stores give you. This also means that on a shopping trip through a large mall, you can store all of your purchases in one convenient bag, rather than wrestling with a fistful of different plastic bags from different stores.

A tote bag can also carry everything you need to enjoy a day on the beach, from sunscreen and towel to extra clothing and a good thriller to read!

A cotton tote can be great for the student who needs to carry their textbooks and notes to classes and the library, but wants something lighter and more stylish than a backpack.

Store them in your car so you'll always them have them on hand for the grocery store, library, or farmer's market! If you have too many shopping bags already, a cotton tote can be used to store things at home, like old books or piles of paper, to help keep you organized.

Cotton tote bags are also perfect to carry your kids toys, baby items and much more.

Continuing Education at Village Green Dental!

2009-10-15T23:04:00.005-04:00

We’re only half way through October and it has already been an eventful month for us.

The staff participated in two continuing education programs and before the month ends we will be participating in two more.

The first one was hosted by Dr. Sandra Chong, a periodontist whom we refer many of our patients to for gum problems.

Dr. Chong hosted a program at her office with mini seminars on various topics such as implants and laser dentistry. She also had representatives from various companies there to update us on new products. We’d like to thank Dr. Chong for including us in a very informative night which also included some great food!

The new members of our staff, Jen and Harnoop also attended an Invisalign course to reinforce and improve on the training which they have received on the job. They learned the importance of correcting spacing and crowding problems in the mouth, not only for aesthetic reasons but also for functionality. Invisalign is suitable for both adults and teenagers and it’s a proven alternative to braces. The average treatment time for Invisalgn is approximately a year depending on each individual case.

As Dr. Baksh is a certified Invisalign provider, we would be happy to provide you with a complimentary consultation to determine whether you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment.

Healthy mouths lead to healthy minds

2009-09-08T13:43:00.010-04:00

Send your kids back to school with a thorough check-up and these helpful tips:

Children across the province return to school this week and the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) reminds parents that they should do so with clean, healthy teeth.
"Tooth decay can impact a child's ability to focus, learn and even attend class," says ODA President Dr. Ira Kirshen. "The good news is that it is entirely preventable. Parents can help children fight off tooth decay by simply teaching them good oral health habits."

In a Special Report published last year - Tooth Decay in Ontario's Children: An Ounce of Prevention - A Pound of Cure - the ODA reported that tooth decay is a rapidly progressing disease and one of the leading causes of absences from school. It not only affects school performance, it impedes a child's ability to thrive and his or her sense of self-worth.

To emphasize the importance of prevention, the ODA offers the following tips to parents:

- When shopping for back-to-school clothes and supplies, be sure to include some new toothbrushes on your list.
A child's toothbrush should be changed every three months or immediately after an illness.

- To prevent spreading the bacteria that causes tooth decay, do not put anything in your child's mouth if it has been in yours,
such as forks, spoons or soothers.

- Pack your child's lunch with nutritious snacks like fruits, vegetables and cheeses which are also good for their teeth.
Avoid soft, sticky sweets that get stuck in your child's teeth or stay in the child's mouth for a long time, such as raisins, caramels and lollipops.

- Make sure your child brushes and flosses twice a day.

To encourage healthy habits, let your child watch you brush and floss your teeth as often as possible. Children are wonderful imitators, and there's nothing like a parent's example to teach them the way to healthy dental practices.

- Schedule regular check-ups with your dentist.

There are many things parents can do to build habits that will protect their children's teeth and lay the foundation for future health.
Make sure your child is ready for school and able to enjoy a full year's curriculum without being affected by oral health issues.

Office Closed for Holidays

2009-08-14T00:30:00.000-04:00

Village Green Dental Care is closed for Holidays from August 14th to August 30th and will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Monday August 31st.

Happy Canada Day!

2009-07-01T16:06:00.002-04:00

From all of us at Village Green Dental Care!

All the best to Kate!!

2009-06-03T22:37:00.003-04:00

It's been about a year since Kate left on maternity leave. Kate now has a beautiful baby boy, Tanner, whom she is enjoying very much and wants to spend as much time with him as possible. As a result, she will not be returning to work with us. As parents also, we understand Kate’s need to cherish the time with her son as he goes through his precious early years. We would like to wish Kate all the best and hope she enjoys and treasures her time with Tanner.

We are excited to introduce and welcome, Jen Toone, Dental Assistant and Harnoop Sandhu, Dental Hygienist, to our team. Both Jen and Harnoop are new to Ottawa but not to the dentistry field. Jen and Harnoop come to us highly recommended. Jen is from Alberta and Harnoop from Southern Ontario.
Both Jen and Harnoops’ warm and friendly personalities are a wonderful complement to our office environment. They are sure to make you feel very comfortable and relaxed during your visit.

Jen & Harnoop- Welcome to our team!!

MOUTHGUARDS!!!

2009-05-09T11:24:00.004-04:00

2009-05-08T00:24:00.004-04:00

Thanks Carla and All the Best,

As many of you know, Carla has been with us this past year while Kate was on maternity leave. This is Carla's last week with us and we just wanted to thank her for taking care of our patient's hygiene needs over this past year. We'd also like to wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

Dr. Baksh, Rayhana and Chris

Get Snack Smart with your kids

2009-05-05T16:50:00.000-04:00

Limit the number of times a day your child eats or drinks sugars
Avoid sugary treats that stay in the mouth for a long time like hard candy or lollipops
Avoid soft, sticky sweets that get stuck in your child’s teeth
Serve sweets for dessert while there is still plenty of saliva in your child’s mouth to wash away the sugars
Serve juice and milk during or at the end of mealtime. Drink water between meals
Serve vegetables, cheese, nuts or seeds for snacks
Have your child brush her teeth at least twice a day and before going to bed

April is National Oral Health Month™

2009-04-13T10:38:00.000-04:00

Most of us realize that diet and exercise play an important part in keeping us healthy. But did you know that a healthy mouth is also an important part of a healthy body?

5 Steps to Good Oral Health
As part of a healthy lifestyle and to help reduce the risk of oral disease, follow these 5 steps to good oral health.

1. See your dentist regularly
Regular checkups and professional cleanings are the best way to prevent problems or to stop small problems from getting worse.
Your dentist will look for signs of oral disease. Oral diseases often go unnoticed and may lead to or be a sign of serious health problems in other parts of the body.
Only your dentist has the training, skill and expertise to diagnose and treat oral health diseases and to meet all your oral health care needs.

2. Keep your mouth clean
Using a soft-bristle toothbrush, brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal disease (gum disease).
Floss every day. If you don’t floss, you are missing more than a third of your tooth surface.
Your dentist may also recommend that you use a fluoride or antimicrobial mouthrinse to help prevent cavities or gum disease.
When choosing oral care products, look for the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) Seal of Recognition. Oral care products that have earned the Seal of Recognition have been reviewed by CDA and will effectively contribute to your oral health.

3. Eat, drink, but be wary
Healthy food is good for your general health and your oral health. The nutrients that come from healthy foods help you to fight cavities and gum disease.
Limit how much and how often you consume foods and beverages that contain sugar. Sugar is one of the main causes of dental problems.
Limit your consumption of foods and beverages that are high in acid. The acid may play a part in causing dental erosion.
Avoid excess sugar. It is one of the main causes of dental problems.

4. Check your mouth regularly
Look for warning signs of periodontal disease (gum disease). Gum disease is one of the main reasons why adults lose their teeth. The warning signs include:
Red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums
Bleeding when you brush or floss
Bad breath that won’t go away.
Loose or sensitive teeth.
Change in the colour of your gums
Receding gums
Look for warning signs of oral cancer. The 3 most common sites for oral cancer are the sides and bottom of your tongue and the floor of your mouth. The warning signs include:
Bleeding that you can’t explain
Open sores that don’t heal within 7 to 10 days
White or red patches
Numbness or tingling
Small lumps and thickening on the sides or bottom of your tongue, the floor or roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks or on your gums.
Tell your dentist if you have dry mouth, a sore mouth or burning mouth syndrome.
Report any of these warning signs to your dentist.

5. Avoid all tobacco products
Stained and missing teeth, infected gums and bad breath are just some of the ways smoking can affect your oral health. Besides ruining your smile, smoking can cause oral cancer, heart disease and a variety of other cancers, all of which can kill you.
All forms of tobacco are dangerous to your oral health and your overall health, not just cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco such as chewing tobacco, snuff and snus can cause mouth, tongue and lip cancer and can be more addictive than cigarettes.
If you use tobacco products, ask your dentist and your family doctor for advice on how to quit.
If you take care of your teeth and gums at home and visit your dentist regularly, your smile should last you a lifetime. Your oral health is good for life.

For more information, visit the Canadian Dental Association website: http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/index.asp

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T10:27:00.001-04:00

From all of us at Village Green Dental Care, have a Happy Easter!
Remember to brush your pearly whites after eating all the chocolate the Easter Bunny brings!

Welcome to our Blog!

2009-04-06T15:52:00.006-04:00

We have recently revamped our website www.villagegreendental.com and we hope you like the new 'look'. Now, as we dive head first into the blogging world, we aim to achieve the following:

1. Express our thoughts and opinions.
2. Promote the products and services we offer.
3. Help other people! i.e. if we have mastered a certain procedure, we will share our story to help other dentists or a student still in dental school.
4. Connect with our patients and get their feedback on issues we can help them with, and by sharing stories, photos, videos and more.
5. Have fun! Share healthy recipes, travel tips, and more!

We hope you enjoy reading our blog and visit regularly. Follow us to have our newest blog posts sent directly to you!