We are so privileged to provide dental care for many of the core members of L'Arche Homefires in our town of Wolfville. L'Arche is an international organization which was founded in 1964, in France by a Canadian, Jean Vanier (1928 -2019).

Now with over 140 L'Arche communities worldwide, Vanier's vision of creating a world where "people with and without intellectual disabilities can live, work, learn, and grow together" is far-reaching.

L'Arche International has produced a series of short documentary films highlighting the way that the L'Arche vision plays out across the world.

This is one of Dr.Hennessy's favourite films. It will have you laughing and crying (sometimes all at once) and beautifully summarizes that when we support each other to live with dignity, we all reap the rewards! Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtLTpfjVvTk

Most of us now recognize that our mental health affects our physical health.  It is well known that when we are experiencing extreme stress in our lives, our overall health can suffer.  Even with short term stress, research shows that our immune system becomes compromised, and we become more prone to illnesses.

But have you considered how your oral health is specifically affected by your mental health?  Patients often find it strange when we ask them about their stress level, but we do so because we often see the ways that stress is causing changes to their oral health.

This week Dr. Hennessy was featured on Global TV discussing the link between Stress and Oral Health.  You can watch the interview here. 

Each year, the Nova Scotia Dental Association produces an Oral Health Report highlighting an oral health issue of interest to Nova Scotians.  This year's the NSDA has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association to produce a report entitled "Stress and Oral Health". Have a read to find out more about the connection between your oral health and you mental health.

For the third year, the gang at Wolfville Dentistry gang joined forces with other Annapolis Valley dental professionals for the annual "AVDS (Annapolis Valley Dental Society) Cares" Pro Bono dental event.  This event provides much-needed dental care to people who would otherwise not be able to access the care they need.  Participating clinics coordinate with their local organizations (food banks, shelters, churches, schools etc.) to identify patients in their communities who are in need of dental care. 

With over 50 volunteers (dentists, hygienists, assistants, office staff, and technicians) in 5 locations in the Valley, we offered care to 90 patients.  Patients received a free exam with x'rays in advance of the event to identify what they needed, and then were provided with an appointment to complete their care, and have a cleaning.  Across the 5 locations there were 104 fillings, 39 extractions, 4 root canals, and 90 cleanings done; this represents over $40,000.00 of dental services!  Thanks to all the volunteers, as well as Henry Schein for their support of this wonderful event!

In August 2018, Dr. Hennessy was  inducted into the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy.  These societies recognize a dentist's work in the profession as well as in their communities at large.  She was thrilled to share these honours with some of her favourite colleagues and mentors from across Nova Scotia, and the country at the Canadian Dental Association conference in Charlottetown, PEI.

We were excited to hear this week that, (ahem...) for the third year in a row , the "Wolfville Dentistry Duck" won "Best Dressed Duck" in the annual Rotary fundraiser event.  Our Duck put on her life preserver, ducky boots, and packed her fishing pole to attend the event this year.

Thanks to our ever-creative Debbie Usher for the execution of yet another brilliant award-winning concept!  You can see last year's tubing costume in last year's post! 

The many women, past and present, who have worked together with Jane over the years!

We danced the night away to "The Sundries"!

In a recent article in the Chronicle Herald, Dr Hennessy commented that barriers to care are concerning to the dental profession because oral health is absolutely linked to overall health. 

Dental fees are often seen by the public as one of the most significant barriers to accessing care.  Often our profession is blamed for "creating" a health care service that is inaccessible to the public.  However, it is important for patients and the public to understand that dental offices are heath care facilities that have no choice but to be operated as small businesses.

This means that unlike other areas of the health care system, ALL the costs of delivering dental services must be covered by the fees collected from the patients for those services. 
Despite what many people think, the money you pay for a filling or a cleaning is not going directly into the dentist's pocket!  It covers the many costs of running a dental office.

It is often difficult for patients/public to understand the costs of a dental clinic, because so many of these costs are not front and centre.  Of course there are the obvious things such as wages and employee benefits, rent, heat, and power.  But have you ever considered the costs of things such as the dental chairs you sit in (each the cost of a small car), the equipment used for your care, and the dental materials used everyday?  Dental offices are held to high standards of infection control, such that they are, in effect, "mini-hospitals".  The sterilization equipment and infection control processes alone are things that are often taken for granted, yet are a large cost to a dental practice.

I often think that if we were handed an invoice every time we visited our Medical Doctor or the Emergency Room, the public would have a much better handle on the high cost of the provision of health care!  It is an expensive undertaking, and indeed an important one that, as a society, I think we need to be more aware of.  So instead of taking aim at "dentists as bad guy", let's remember that dentists are health care providers, small business owners and employers. 

Are you a caring, energetic Registered Dental Hygienist?  If so, we'd love to meet you!  We are a busy, patient-centred dental practice located in the Annapolis Valley.  We are committed to providing our patients with the highest quality of care, in a kind and respectful manner, in our newly renovated office in the beautiful town of Wolfville, NS.

We are looking for a full time RDH to join our team to cover a maternity leave from June - October 2018.  We can be somewhat flexible with start dates, so 2018 grads should feel free to apply.  Monday-Friday full time hours.

Interested?  Send a resume/questions to us at:  drhennessy@ns.aliantzinc.ca

On a sunny Saturday, 28 October 2017, Wolfville Dentistry took part in the second "AVDS Cares/Henry Schein" dental day.  We were one of five Valley clinics  to take part in a group effort to provide pro bono dentistry services to patients who would not otherwise have been able to afford the care they required. This started as a pilot project at a single location and has grown significantly in only one year! (AVDS Cares Event 2016)

Working with community organizations (food banks, shelters, churches, schools), patients had a no-charge examination ahead of the event with where their various needs were assessed.  Patients were then provided with an appointment for a cleaning and/or treatment.   Volunteer dentists, dental assistants, hygienists, and technicians worked together to provide dental services, transportation, and childcare to make the opportunity as convenient for patients as possible.

We had a mighty group of 14 fantastic volunteers at our location, including 5 dentists, 3 dental assistants, 3 dental hygienists, Dr. Hennessy's son, Rory, and 2 technicians from Henry Schein (co-sponsor of the event).  

Between all 5 clinics involved, the event:

•had 52 volunteers
•saw 71 patients
•did 97 fillings,
•46 extractions,
•2 root canals, and
•48 cleanings
•totaling almost 33 thousand dollars of free dental care!

It was a wonderful event for everyone involved!  We are committed to this seeing this project grow and look forward to having more clinics, volunteers, and patients involved each year!