In the News:
After 15 years, Gail has decided to retire. She has been a valued member of my staff and we will all miss her very much. Anyone wishing to say goodbye to Gail may do so by emailing her at gail@drdavidross.net or you can drop messages off at the office and we will pass them along to her.
I wish her all the best in her retirement.

Dr Ross

Periodontal Disease

General dentists and hygienists are the first line of defense in the fight against periodontal disease. Studies suggest that over half the population suffer from periodontal disease. Over 70 percent of adults ages 35-45 suffer from periodontitis and over 90 percent of adults 55-65.

Scary numbers when you consider that eighty percent of tooth loss is as a result of gum disease and if that is not bad enough, research continues to suggest periodontitis is linked to serious systemic disorders. Many of you are familiar with the study stating individuals with perio disease were reported to be 1.7 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease and 2.6 times more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those without perio.

The American Academy of Neurology reported in 2000 that "people who have gum disease may be at risk for a stroke due to an increased tendency to have blockages in the carotid arteries." New research indicates gum disease be more important than obesity or age as a factor in the onset of diabetes in adults.

Periodontal disease has also been linked to low birth weights in infants. Studies revealed that female subjects with periodontal disease were more than 6 times more likely to have a low birth weight infant.

All these are very compelling medical reasons to take care of your gums.

For more information or to schedule an appointment for your checkup please call the office at 733-5190 or email us drdavidross@rogers.com

If you are nervous about any aspect of dentistry, we can make your next visit a lot more comfortable with nitrous oxide. Commonly referred to as 'laughing gas', it is an effective anaesthetic with many benefits for our patients. This type of sedation dentistry is appropriate for those who are dental phobic, people with sensitive gag reflex, and people who require surgery or are scheduled for extended and complex treatments.

If you would like to know more or to schedule an appointment, please feel free to give us a call.

"Buzz, Wiggle and Rinse"
The December 2003 issue of Consumer Reports magazine did an evaluation of several electric toothbrushes and compared them to non-electric ones.

Their conclusion was that the electric toothbrushes proved no better than the regular brush at removing plaque. What matters most, they concluded was your technique and how long you brushed.

We agree with their findings. We recommend the Sonicare and Pulse electric toothbrushes to our patients who have difficulty for whatever reason with proper brushing technique when using a regular toothbrush. For these patients, the results would not be the same for both types of brushes.

If you need more information, or if you would like a copy of the article, please feel free to contact us.

Dr Leclercq will be away from the office attending Continuing Education classes from April 19th to the 29th and May 17th to the 25th.

Dr Ross and Dr Tarta will be available for regularly scheduled appointments and for emergencies.

In an effort to keep the cost of dentistry down for our patients, we will no longer mail out monthly account statements. If necessary, we will contact you by phone or by email.

PIPEDA or the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act took effect in January 2004. We have an information sheet on how our office uses and protects your personal information that we would like you to read when you come in for your next visit.

If you know someone who is new to the area or is looking for gentle dental care, please call or visit our office. Regular dental care including thorough exams is the only way to spot serious problems before they become costly and painful. Have them call us at 733-5190 or email drdavidross@rogers.com today for the important first appointment. Details on the New Patient appointment can be found on our office website www.drdavidross.net.