Why does the dentist need to know about your hospitalizations, medications, allergies, and other personal medical problems? After all, having a dental cleaning or a filling is not a big deal, right?

The answer may not be as simple as you think. Most dental treatment is quite uneventful. However, sometimes your health condition can influence the way your dental treatment needs to be provided, and require your dentist to make certain changes to help avoid potential problems. What might seem like a small thing could really be important.

Your dentist wants to provide the best possible treatment for you, as safely as possible. Many health conditions, ranging from heart problems to allergies, even certain medications, can affect the way your dentist needs to approach your care.

Here are a few examples:

It is very important for your doctor to understand as much as possible about your past and current health condition. It also means that it is important for your dentist to take an initial complete medical history, and to keep it up to date by checking with you on a regular basis.

All this information on your medical history questionnaire is kept strictly private, and is protected by doctor-patient confidentiality. It will not be shared with anyone outside your dentist 's office without your permission.

Sometimes your dentist may wish to speak with your family doctor or medical specialist to get more details about your medical situation. If your dentist needs to consult with your doctor or another healthcare provider, this will be discussed with you first.

As you can see, your medical health and your dental health are closely linked. You and your dentist are partners, working together to provide you with the best possible dental care. That is why it is so important to carefully and thoroughly answer all the questions on the medical history questionnaire. Each question is there for a reason. If you do not understand any question, or you are not sure about the answer to any question, just ask us.

(This information bulletin was reprinted for distribution with permission of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.)

While the rates of oral cancer have dropped in the last 20 years, health agencies still anticipate that it will be diagnosed in more than 30,000 Americans this year. Of those 30,000, two-thirds are men. Knowing the risk factors as well as the signs of oral cancer can go a long way toward limiting the influence this disease can have on your life.

As with many forms of cancer, early detection of oral by checking your oral tissues periodically. Take a few minutes to examine your lips, gums, cheek lining and tongue, as well as the floor and roof of your mouth. You'll want to note any of the folowing:

• a colour change in the oral tissues (whitish or red spots, for example);

• a lump, thickening, rough spot, crust or small eroded area;

• a sore that bleeds easily or does not heal;

• pain tenderness or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips;
• difficulty swallowing, speaking or moving the jaw or tongue;
• changes in the voice;
• a change in the way your teeth fit together. In addition, watch for changes beyond the mouth that could signal oral cancer:
• drastic weight loss;
• a lump or mass in your neck.

If any of these conditions persists, contact your dentist for an examination.

You can take steps to reduce your risk of developing oral cancer by avoiding behaviours that researchers have identified as being strongly associated with the development of oral cancer.

Use of any kind of tobacco product (cigarettes, pipe tobacco, cigars or smokeless varieties such as snuff and chewing tobacco), particularly when combined with heavy alcohol consumption, has been identified as the major risk factr for oral cancers in the United States. While this combination poses the primary risk in the development of oral cancer, chemicals associated with cancer have been detected in all forms of tobacco.

As with some forms of skin cancr, prolonged, repeated exposure to the sun may increase the risk of cancer on the lip, especially the lower lip. Try to stay out of the sun as much as possible. If your profession or your leisure activities require that you spend extended periods outdoors, take precautions to minimize the effects the sun might have on your lips.

Other possible risk factors in the development oral cancer include genetics, liver function and certain medications. Diet, too, may play a role; some studies suggest that a diet low in fresh fruits and vegetables can increase your overall risk of developing cancer.

Regular visits to your dentist are important in protecting yourself from the effects of oral cancer. As part of your regular dental examination, your dentist can quickly and easily check the oral tissues for signs of cancerous and precancerous lesions. Detecting and treating cancerous tissues as early as possible is critical in helping you beat a potentially deadly disease.

Feel free to call us or ask questions at your next appointment.

(Reprinted from the Journal of the American Dental Association, November 2001 Issue.)

Dr Leclercq will be away from the office after Christmas until the 23^rd of January. Dr Ross will be available for emergencies and his regularly scheduled appointments during this period of time.

The new website design is almost ready. We will keep you posted for the exact date.

Several of our younger patients are cavity free at their checkup appointments. For the past few months they were:

Keep up the good work