Ontario Government Pushed to Offer More Dental Care Access

A petition from the local health unit calling for the Ontario government to provide more dental care to adults and seniors in need has been presented to Queen’s Park by Northumberland-Quinte West MPP Lou Rinaldi. Delaying expansion of dental care to 2025 is impacting quality of life and costing the government more in hospital emergency … Read more

Canadians Looking at Dental Care Coverage for All Youth

The New Democrats are looking to address a little unfinished business. NDP Leader Gary Burrill announced Monday that if his party wins the provincial election at the end of the month, the NDP will expand dental care coverage for young people up to and including age 17. The program currently covers people up to age 14. … Read more

Does it Make Sense to Check Blood Pressure at Dental Check-Ups?

Integrating oral health and primary care has long been a goal for many health care organizations, including Federally Qualified Health Centers. The Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC) has recently built upon this principle through an initiative that makes blood pressure screening part of the intake process for oral health patients in member health … Read more

Dramatic Need for Change in Rural Communities’ Access to Dental Care

The DentaQuest Institute, a national nonprofit dedicated to promoting optimal oral health through efficient, effective and high-quality care, today issued its new white paper, “MORE Care: Narrowing the Rural Interprofessional Oral Health Care Gap.” Developed by five authors and reviewed by a panel of leading health experts, the guidance resource outlines key information and learnings … Read more

BRICS Oral Care Market Intelligence Report Offers Growth Prospects

Future Market Insights (FMI) in its latest offering, “BRICS Oral Care – Market Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2014–2020”, provides in-depth analysis and strategic recommendations on the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) oral care market. Personal care includes categories such as skin care, hair care, cosmetics, oral care and toiletries. The global oral … Read more

Nova Scotia Children Facing Poor Dental Care, Treatment

A new report says 36 per cent of Nova Scotia children have cavities by the age of six due in part to a lack of proper dental care and early checkups. The study on oral health by Nova Scotia’s dentists also says that there are currently 500 children waiting for consultation or treatment of a … Read more

April is National Facial Protection Month

April is National Facial Protection Month, and five dental organizations are teaming up to educate the public about how to protect against facial injuries while participating in sports. According to a study in the journal Sports Health, more than 5 million teeth are injured or knocked out every year, costing the American public $500 million. … Read more

Missing Teeth Should Be Treated as Chronic Medical Condition

Tooth loss can lead to poor nutrition and is linked to systemic diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease. Missing teeth also affects a person’s psychological well-being and ability to function in the workplace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, nearly 40 million Americans have … Read more

Oral Cancer Awareness Month Hopes to Educate Public on Risks

According to a recent survey released today from Vigilant Biosciences, in collaboration with the Oral Cancer Foundation, HNCA and SPOHNC, more than 60% of consumers know very little or nothing about oral cancer – a disease that nearly 50,000 people are diagnosed with in the US every year. What’s more – while 81% of people … Read more

Serious Infections May Have Been Spread in Unlicensed Dental Office

After shutting down an unlicensed dental office in a southwest residence last week, Alberta Health Services is asking anyone who received services there to be tested for several serious viruses, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. “Our investigation has shown there was not appropriate cleaning of instruments. Whoever accessed services here might have been exposed … Read more

Poor Dental Care Major Contributor to Malnutrition in Seniors

UNC School of Medicine researchers led a study to determine risk factors associated with malnutrition among older adults receiving care in the emergency department. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, suggests that food scarcity and poor oral health are major risk factors for malnutrition that leads an older adult — … Read more

Canadian Budget’s Health Care Funding Good News for Dentistry

The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) supports the federal government’s enhanced investments in the Territorial Health Investment Fund, as outlined in Budget 2017. This funding will improve access to health services in the territories—including children’s oral health services—and will reduce reliance on medical transport outside the region for treatment. A total of $108 million will … Read more

Data Shows Numbers on Tooth Extractions for Children Increasing

The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons has obtained and published data which show a shocking 24 per cent rise in the number of tooth extractions in hospital for children aged four and under in the past decade. The number of children affected has risen from 7,444 in 2006/7 to 9,206 … Read more

P.E.I. Dental Hygienists Offering Free Teeth-Cleaning

Some dental hygienists on P.E.I. will offer a free teeth-cleaning clinic on April 8. The one-day clinic is for those who can’t afford the approximately $120 needed to get their teeth cleaned. The Holland College Dental Assisting program in Charlottetown is offering its space free, while the dental hygienists are giving up their time to work that … Read more

Many Factors Found to Impact Oral Health Habits, Including Diet, Gender

Findings from the first comprehensive study on the oral health of a population in transition from a foraging, wild-food diet to an agriculture-based diet indicate that oral health is affected not just by diet, but also by gender and behavior differences between men and women. Peter Ungar, Distinguished Professor of anthropology at the University of … Read more

Global Survey Releases Truth About Public’s Oral Health Habits

Today on World Oral Health Day, FDI World Dental Federation is myth busting what people around the world believe to be good oral health practices, encouraging them to become better informed and take action. Oral health is integral to our general health and well-being; impacting every aspect of our lives. The results from a survey … Read more

Tooth Whitening Administered Dangerously by Dental Nurse

Vivien Hassett, who advertised her services on Facebook, was found to pose a “risk of harm to patients”. And she has now been removed from the General Dental Council’s register following a probe by their Professional Conduct Committee. It found that she offered treatments using hydrogen peroxide with a strength of up to 35 per … Read more

DNA in Dental Plaque Shows Neanderthals Used ‘Aspirin’

Published today in the journal Nature, an international team led by the University of Adelaide’s Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD) and Dental School, with the University of Liverpool in the UK, revealed the complexity of Neandertal behaviour, including dietary differences between Neandertal groups and knowledge of medication. “Dental plaque traps microorganisms that lived in … Read more

Tailored Dental Care is Improving Seniors’ Oral Health

A tailored preventive oral health intervention significantly improved the cleanliness of teeth and dentures among elderly home care clients. In addition, functional ability and cognitive function were strongly associated with better oral hygiene, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. The study is part of a larger intervention study, NutOrMed, and … Read more

Canadian Emergency Rooms Seeing Too Many Dental Cases

If dental care was publicly funded, fewer people would become addicted to opioids. That’s just one of the reasons Dr. Hasan Sheikh, an emergency room physician in Toronto, is calling on governments to expand medicare. Another reason? Doctors don’t know how to fix teeth. But because not all Canadians can afford to go to the … Read more