More Than A Number

When it comes to the movement for healthcare professionals to transition from paper records to electronic health records, one of the biggest concerns is ensuring the confidentiality that patients expect. It is estimated that as many as 150 people have access to a patient’s records during a hospital stay. This includes nurses, doctors, billing staff, and technicians. Up to 600,000 other entities have some access to the information, including providers and payers. If an open network such as the Internet is used for the transfer of an EHR across multiple points, there is always a risk for interception. By law, the healthcare individuals and organizations who handle this sensitive information are required to provide sufficient protection to safeguard the data. Additionally, they are required to ensure that only authorized parties have access to the information. As electronic information can be harder to protect than paper records, there are a wide range of new security challenges ahead for the industry.

Porcelain veneers can transform a regular smile into a glamorous one. While it’s true that porcelain handles wear better than natural tooth enamel, veneers require proper care to ensure that they last. First, it is possible to get cavities even with veneers, as they only cover part of the tooth, while the rest is covered by the porcelain veneers. Toronto offices and others all around North America can provide patients with veneers that can ideally last about 20 years—but this time span assumes proper care. How is caring for veneers similar to or different from caring for natural teeth? Keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Keeping gums healthy is important to maintain proper alignment. Puffiness, bleeding around the gums, or areas that begin to snag floss warrants a check-up.
• Limit alcohol use when possible. The resin used to bond the veneer to the tooth can collect stains. In addition, some alcohol both intensifies stains and can soften the surface of the resin.
• Avoid using toothpastes that are grainy or abrasive, as they can scratch the margins.
• Remember that veneers can chip just like natural teeth. Never try to pry open a container of any kind or bite any type of hard object, such as a pin or lid, with your precious veneers.
• As always, clean the teeth diligently, in particular after eating carbohydrates, as they can cause cavities in the uncovered side of any tooth sealed with a veneer.

Ask your dentist for additional tips on caring for your veneers. When your veneers still look brand new in a few years, you’ll be glad you did! Local dentists like Doctors Asfar and Charkiw know that local patients want a Toronto smile makeover that lasts decades, not just a few years.

As the economy goes into a freefall and incomes shrink or disappear all together, many people are focused on cutting costs wherever they can. From eliminating favorite indulgences to trying to save money on everyday necessities, creating a budget and sticking to it is more important than ever. And one of the simplest ways to save is to use drugstore coupons for the necessities you buy every day.

One thing that many people don’t realize is that you can find amazing deals on everyday products when you shop online. Bargain hunters have found that stocking up on low-priced goods available online such as toiletries, cleaning products, over-the-counter medication and more can help you save in the long run. Sometimes you can even find deals at online stores you might not usually associate with these type of products. Amazon coupons, for example, can be used for far more than books and movies; the popular retailer now carries a wide variety of household goods as well.