Category: Dental profession

Repost with Forewords: Cold Sore Is Herpes – Cancel Your Dental Appointment Because Your Dentist Won’t!

Dental Revelations

Dental Revelations Blog

I am reposting one of my blog posts in the light of the news of the 10-year-old Briony who died from herpex simplex virus which the doctors failed to diagnose.

In this blog post I wrote about a dental nurse who contracted the herpes simplex virus whilst the dentist was treating a patient with a cold sore. I wrote that the GP diagnosed a primary herpes (meaning she had never had herpes infection which most people do have as a child). What I did not share with you was the fact that the dental nurse attended the GP’s practice on Friday and the GP sent her home thinking she had gingivitis. The nurse tried to tell the GP that she had seen a periodontist in her practice due to the ulceration in her mouth and it definitely wasn’t gingivitis. Nevertheless the GP advised the use of chlorhexidine mouthwash and sent her home.

Over the weekend she developed high fever (40 degrees) and could not eat anything due to sore mouth. At this point the ulceration was covering every corner of her mouth including the lips. She returned the GP’s practice on Monday morning and was barely able to stand up. Still the GP insisted it was gingivitis. But at that point the nurse realised the GP needed to see more than what he could with her just opening the mouth and him poking with this wooden spatula. So she grinned as wide as she could. The GP jumped back and said “Well that is definitely a herpes infection!” and prescribed the antiviral medication.

So it is not so uncommon that the herpes infection goes undetected by the professionals. This is one more reason to take the virus seriously – even though the deadly side of the virus should be enough of a reason, eh? Please read my post Cold Sore Is Herpes – Cancel Your Dental Appointment Because Your Dentist Won’t!

In case you haven’t read the news about Briony, click here.

My heart goes out to Briony’s family who must be devastated. RIP little Briony.

A patient came in for a long appointment to have a bridge done. This appointment was to include filing down the teeth to abutments which meant that the high-speed drill was to be used. A lot. High …

Source: Cold Sore Is Herpes – Cancel Your Dental Appointment Because Your Dentist Won’t!

Eavesdropping

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Today I overheard a conversation between the nurses and the hygienists. They were sipping away their coffee on a lunch break when one of the hygienists said

“Today I punished a patient for missing his previous appointment by playing Justin Bieber. But it didn’t go as planned because he said that it wasn’t really that bad even though he was a fan of classical music.”

The nurses laughed in amusement.

“It is actually unfair how the nurses are forced to listen music the dentist has chosen.” the hygienist continued.

“Yes, I have to listen to the folk songs every freaking day!” said one of the nurses.

“Mine at least listens to the radio but the channel is not something I would choose.” another nurse added.

“I know! And your dentist turns up the volume when there is a good song – in her opinion – and doesn’t turn the volume down when she talks to the patient. So she’s nearly shouting.”

Everyone laughs and nods their head in mutual understanding.

“One of my patients once told me that his previous dentist used to play Rammstein loud when drilling. And he was a nervous patient!” said the hygienist.

Everyone around the lunch table rolled their eyes and were laughing.

Something to Think About

What do you listen when you work?

Do you let the nurse decide or are you the exclusive DJ in the surgery?

Do you play music for the patient or for yourself?

 

Told You So

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You think the floss is effective? In most cases it is not.

I couldn’t hide my satisfaction when I read the news in the US about effectiveness of the floss. Finally something I have been preaching about is out and in the open for everyone to read.

You see I have met many dental professionals who have doubted my way of giving oral hygiene instructions especially regarding the floss. I have met so many of them that I have stopped explaining the reasons behind my recommendations.

My hope has been that some day they would get enough experience to notice that the floss isn’t doing a proper job. Or that they would start using the disclosing solution (I use Rondell Disclosing Pellets) which would definitely prove it.

We’ll see what happens. My fear is that many will stubbornly stick to their old ways. Change will always bring along resistance.

If you haven’t read my blog before, please take a look at this page about my recommendations.

And click this link if you haven’t read the news about the effectiveness of floss yet.

You might also like:

Told You So, Part II

Told You So, Part III