Dental term clarified Dear Editor: After reading the Oct. 4 North Shore News story (Appeal court denies NV dentist’s appeal), 1 was dis- curbed ‘by the use of the quote, “He practised what is known as ‘four handed dentistry’ ” attributed to Madam Justice Mary F. Southin. Although I don’t dis- agree that this dentist was found guilty as accused and that he had wandering hands, the term “four ‘handed dentistry” is com- monly used in dental prac- tices to indicate that -the dentist .is practising den- tistry with a chair-side assis- tant in attendance, I. don’t think Madam Justice. Mary ©. Southin was describing the dentist's “four handed dentistry” as two hands working and two hands wandering, as is implied by the use of the quote in the story. As a practising dentist I - would like the public’ tc > know ‘that if you, hear the térm -“four handed den- tistry” used in your den- : -tist’s office, that the second dental set of hands belongs to the assistant, not the . P West. Van Dental Group i West. Vancouver |: _ [COLONY | | APPLIANCES «| a * FEATURING : ¢ BOSCH © JENNAIR * INGLIS § * FRIGIDAIRE * PANASONIC ¢ KITCHENAID * DANBY « DACOR * WHIRLPOOL * GE. § * MAGIC CHEF ¢ HOT POINT _: © SUB ZERO » ADMIRAL ¢ VENMAR * AND MANY OTHER QUALITY BRANDS » © COMPACT & FULL SIZE * BUILT-IN & FREE STANDING © GAS & ELECTRIC ¢ MOST ITEMS IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY OR PICK UP | CHECK US OUT} v HUGE SELECTION ¥ LOW WAREHOUSE PRICES |(@) coLony HOME FURNISHINGS | 1075 Roosevelt Grascent | _, North Vancouver (2 bhocks behind Avaton Hotel) . groups such as Sikhs may have 8 -Wednesday, October 9, 1996 — North Shore News Dear Editor: [have just read Brian Plate’s letter on the helmet law and agree that there is a significant lack of com- parative information currently put forward on this debate in the North Shore News. Neither me, Dr. Boothroyd nor Mr, Lawton in his article on the subject has put forward any statis- tics on this subject. Further Mr. Plate is correct that we need to be concerned about laws that limit our personal free- dom. However he leaves the door open to me by say- ing that the evidence that seat belts save lives and reduce costly injuries is overwhelming. Does that mean that he agrees with the seat belt law and would agree with a bicycle helmet lavw if the evidence of the effectiveness of the helmet was strong? While I would like to have researched this topic at the UBC library, I must confess that searching the medical literature on this subject would be a bit of a learning curve and time consuming, so I decided to look for evidence on the internet. 1 found the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute Web Helmet exemption opposed Open letter to Minister of Transportation and Highways Lois Boone: Re: exemptions to bicycle helmet requirements. While I understand that — difficulty in complying, | am astounded, as are the rest of this safety council, that you would include children under 12, - provincial government. ™ FOOD BANK Helping ... needing help... especially . at Thanksgiving ¢ Food Donations ., ¢ Money i -¢ Volunteers | 876-3601. 311 East 6th Ave. | Vancouver, B &. V5T 139 { i Over the past 13 years, we | have, through our school safety * programs, repeatedly rein- forced to over 3,000 children the need to wear a helmet when they ride their bikes. The result is a high usage rate on the North Shore, and we can show accident improve- ment as well. Much of this effort was funded by the Site at: http://www. bhsiorg/TEXT /index.htm, This is particularly informative and allows links with other places. For example there is Michael Henderson’s excellent paper entitled = The Effectiveness of Bieyele Helmets: A Review. Henderson notes *... The most careful, conserva- tive. estimates from good studies show thar the reduction in risk of head injury to a bicyclist as a result of wearing a helmet is in the order of 45%, In other words, at the very minimum a helmet halves the risk of head injury. “Other estimates from controlled studies give even higher risk reduction figures. “Depending on the type of impact and the sever- ity of injury, the reduction in the risk of head injury as a result of wearing a helmet has been shown in several studies from all over the world to be in the range of 45% ta 85%. Those who do not wear hel- mets are several times more likely to sustain injury to the brain tissue than riders who do, “For children, an Australian study has shown that the risk of injury is reduced 63% for head injury and 86% for loss of consciousness, when a helmet is sighted. In one ill-considered action, the rug has been pulled from ; under us. To exempt one of the {most vulnerable groups, when iwe should be enforcing, and reinforcing attitudes to traffic | To Talk” Hl ‘ sin ‘a | Will Listen. & Listen So Kids Will Talk” Advertorial! semssmmusarrmnmnn anes 5ra | Weight | Gain Control ‘It’s not about dieting,” & says Dan Rutley, who has been f helping North Shore residents lose weight for over 13 years. , Many people snack or eat the B wrong food out! of habit or safety that will carry over when they eventually obtain driving licences, is extremely short- | So Kids - ‘Internet stats support bike helmets — worn. For loss of consciousness, the risk is over seven times higher among non-helmet wearers than among helmet wearers. “In the ovo years after the compulsory helmet legislation was introduced in Victoria, the number of bicyclists with head injuries decreased by 48% and 70% in each of the two years, relative to the last year before the law ... No studies have come to conclu- sions contrary to the above ... “ tn another study, Rivara and Thompson studied 3,390 injured cyclists and concluded that helmets reduced the risk of brain injury by 65%, and severe brain injury by 74 %. The finding that neck injuries were not affected by wearing a helmet, or by what type of helmet it - was, should lay that question to rest. They noted that there is some evidence that seniors may benefit from different helmets with lower density foam. So should society bring in helmet legislation? I believe the answer is yes, if society pays the health care costs. . Jim Cave North Vancouver FARILBOX POLICY: © (pr We strongly urge you. to . rescind the exemption that — refers to children. Stuart A. Lawson President -: ; North Shore Safety Council ' Join us for two. - events with |: internationally: - - acclaimed author. and parenting expert: . Adele Faber — Evening Lecture: | | Friday, October 18th - 7:30.to 9:30 - Tickets: $20 Centennial Theatre: 984-4484 Interactive Parenting Workshop: Saturday, October 19th - 9:30a.m. to12:30. ft. Tickets: $29 Centennial Theatre: 984-4484. ..§ B stress. Think about when you fj over eat: while cleaning up B after supper, while watching TV, when you're bored or feel- Al ing down, lonely, anxious. j Rutley. combines counselling # with hypnosis to produce fast 8 but long-term success, “I work 4 with people, not diets,” and tai- i lors his approach to meet the i individual's need, not the other # way around. “Because you'll @ lose weight within the lifestyle # you lead now, you tend not to M put it on again. i | Dan Rutley makes losing weight easy with hypnosis "You will get rid of hunger # pangs and become full by using § hypnosis. Joan Grant, a client of Rutley's, says, “It was easy... the best thing that ever hap- § pened to me.” Rutley offers a free consulta- tion, so find out more. about § what he has to offer you. Take § There will be book sales and signing following both events. FAMILY SERVICES of the NORTH SHORE Family Life Education program courses starting soon: Parenting the Six to Twelve Year Old Parenting the Difficult Child Co Assertiveness Training ‘north shore Couples Communication Te v Communicating Effectively For information on these and other courses "please call 988-5281.