Any company wishing to import, sell or use a new pesticide in Canada must apply to federal government for permission and undergo an assessment by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada and Health Canada. The company must provide scientific data about pesticide's usefulness and safety, including information about amounts left in food. Government experts review information, examine pesticide's efficacy and effects on plants and animals, to confirm that product will do job it promises, without harming humans or environment. Environment Canada evaluates impact of pesticide on environment, and Environmental Health Directorate of Health Canada reviews data to ensure safety of workers exposed to it. They also decide what labels pesticide must bear, stating who can use product (household or industrial use) and in what amounts.

The story doesn't end here. The regulatory process also demands follow-up on a pesticide once it's approved checking that it's properly applied and evaluating amount left in foods when it gets to table. Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) - amount of pesticide residues allowed in food - are set according to Food and Drugs Act of Canada. The amount of residue consumed from all foods must not exceed Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). (The ADI for a pesticide is amount considered safe for a human to consume each day for an entire lifetime.) Canada's ADIs approximate those set by Worm Health Organization. Imported foods are also analyzed to make sure that none entering Canada contains residues of a pesticide not approved for use in this country and that residue levels of those considered appropriate comply with Canadian regulations.

In February 1992, Canadian government agreed to implement recommendations developed by a Pesticide Registration Review Team designed to improve current regulatory system and make sure that human health and environment continued to be adequately protected. The Review Team's recommendations were to:

* increase resources for developing safer and more effective pesticides; * establish a Pest Management Alternatives Office which will look for alternate approaches to pest control; * improve access to information on pesticides for those working with them.

Want more information on pesticides in food?

Consult toll free information service established in 1985 by Agriculture Canada and Agri-Food Canada to provide information on use, safety and regulation of pesticides. (Call 1-800-267-6315). To find out how organic foods are grown, contact Canadian Organic Growers Association: (613) 256-1750. (See also Loring Windblad’s article series on “organic farming” [found in GoArticles.com under “food”] for additional insights into better foods and better growing practices.)

How about organically grown products ?

According to International Food Information Council, although there are no legal standards for term "pesticide-free," labeling foods this way implies that they are free of any pesticide residues. However, there is no concrete evidence that foods labeled "organically grown" are in reality safer or more nutritious than those produced using conventional agricultural practices. Many organic growers in fact use natural pesticides, such as suffur or copper, and there are no studies showing relative risks venus benefits of applying naturally occurring rather than man-made pest killers.

The Smartbleach system uses a small and portable dental laser that can be used for a wide range of other applications including, endodontics, periodontics, haemostatic soft-tissue surgery, gingival troughing and retraction, caries prevention, desensitizing, fistula pathology, enhanced fluoride treatments and more. In all of these cases treatments with Smartbleach laser are less invasive and can deliver superior results than those achieved with traditional methods.

Some other bleaching systems also claim to use laser technology or at least imply that they use a laser. In fact many use heat lamps or halogen lights, which are limited in their versatility, and as CRA data showed, their effectivenes; this is an issue that every dentist should consider, particularly because there are distinct clinical and marketing benefits to using laser technology. As Dr Jacques Meschemberg from Adelaide has discovered, marketing potential of a state-of-the-art laser system can change way patients perceive a dental practice. Dr Meschemberg has been using Smartbleach system and has treated over 400 patients. He states: “The Smartbleach laser has proved to be an excellent profit centre in its own right and also a great practice builder”. Dr Meschemberg’s experience shows that not only will existing patients try Smartbleach, but many new patients visit his practice because he offers Smartbleach. This has generated further business through these new patients returning for other dental work.

In conclusion, to avoid misleading patients and to ensure that they are choosing most approprite system for their practice, dentists should understand all of facts about teeth bleaching before making a decision about which system to introduce into their practice. As part of High Tech Laser Australia’s commitment to ongoing research and education, Smartbleach is part of short-term and long-term university studies that will help dentists to make informed desicions about in-office bleaching methods.