Celebrating 100 Years of Dentistry at SickKids: Top 10 Accomplishments

As the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) department of dentistry marks its 100^th anniversary and looks forward to the future, it also looks back on some of its many accomplishments as part of the centenary celebrations on May 3, 2013.  Listed below are 10 of the department’s accomplishments over the past century that have had a positive impact on patient care within the realms of dental and medical management, as well as community- and hospital-based care.

1. The SickKids craniofacial orthodontic program is the only one in Canada and one of the few in North America. The program has trained over 40 Craniofacial Fellows from around the worldin the treatment of children with clefts of the lip and palate and those affected by craniofacial anomalies.


2. Extensive research publications on treatment outcomes for patients with clefts of the lip and palate and those affected by craniofacial anomalies have influenced treatment protocols in Canada and around the world.


3. The development of alternative children’s root canal techniques, based on internationally recognized clinical research, has changed pulp therapy practice.


4. Development of the short-post anterior resin technique allows for the functional and esthetic restoration of children’s front teeth that would otherwise have to be extracted.


5. In partnership with the divisions of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition, the department of dentistry created the Feeding Disorders Clinic at SickKids for the assessment and management of children who are at risk of aspirating while swallowing food or liquids. The success of this clinic led to the establishment of a similar clinic at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto.


6. The development of a noninvasive aspirometer allows for the chairside identification of silent aspiration during swallowing. This device has world and U.S. patents.


7. The development of evidence-based protocols for the management of dental trauma has clarified predicted outcomes for dental traumatic injuries, in contrast to historically accepted guidelines. The protocols have since influenced protocols of the International Association of Dental Traumatology and will be incorporated in an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) textbook.


8. SickKids Dentistry assessed the clinical relevance of access targets for pediatric dental surgery that formed the foundation for the Ontario and national wait time strategies.  Development of a software program for managing operating room wait lists helped the SickKids department of dentistry define provincial best practices.


9. SickKids Dentistry was the first hospital-based dental department in North America to receive ISO 9002 certification.


10. In conjunction with the division of haematology/oncology, SickKids Dentistry developed a cost-effective extraction protocol for hemophilia patients. The protocol involves the use of a fibrin sealant that allows for effective management of severe bleeding disorders in outpatients, eliminating the need for replacement therapy and hospitalization.

For more information on the events planned for the SickKids centenary celebration, visit www.sickkidsfoundation.com/page/CenturyOfSmiles.