Nova Scotia is grappling with significant dental staff shortages — specifically hygienists and assistants — with more than 100 active job postings across the province. The shortage is contributing to longer wait times, with some patients waiting up to five months for appointments, particularly in rural areas. “I know people in rural Nova Scotia are … Read more
One morning in February, Dr. Salome Lomlomdjian and her team cleared their Mississauga clinic so an 11-year-old patient, Max, could receive treatment in a calm, controlled setting — reducing the risk of him becoming overwhelmed or dysregulated. For Max’s mother, Maria Garito, the level of preparation stood in sharp contrast to the barriers she had … Read more
The American Dental Association (ADA) said Tuesday it has thanked Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois for introducing legislation that would reauthorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Oral Health Program, which has gone a decade without congressional reauthorization. The bill would extend the program and related activities through 2031. Durbin introduced the Promoting Dental … Read more
A string of recent arrests across the United States is drawing attention to the risks of unlicensed dental care, with authorities in New Jersey, Florida and Illinois accusing individuals of performing dental procedures without proper credentials — in some cases leaving patients injured or hospitalized. New Jersey: unfinished root canal leads to arrest In South … Read more
The UK government announced on Tuesday a major expansion of licensing exams for overseas-trained dentists, increasing capacity from 180 to 1,800 places in an effort to address widespread shortages in the National Health Service (NHS) dental care. The move, announced by the Department of Health and Social Care, aims to help clear a backlog of … Read more
The American Dental Association (ADA) says it is updating its recommendations on early oral cancer detection, citing advances in diagnostic technologies and the need for clearer clinical guidance. The updated recommendations explore the use of four adjunctive tools used in screening for oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders. The guidance was developed in collaboration … Read more
Dentists in England have returned more than £900 million (about C$1.64 billion) to the government over the past two years after failing to deliver the amount of National Health Service (NHS) dental care they had contracted to provide, according to a BBC analysis of NHS financial accounts. Under the NHS dental contract system, practices agree … Read more
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new global guidelines promoting environmentally sustainable and less invasive approaches to preventing and managing dental caries, including a shift toward mercury-free restorative materials. The guideline, Environmentally Friendly and Less Invasive Oral Health Care for Preventing and Managing Dental Caries, provides evidence-based recommendations aimed at improving patient safety while … Read more
The University of Toronto says its dean of dentistry is on leave as the school investigates the use of images with “antisemitic and discriminatory meanings” in his course materials. The university’s vice-president and provost, Trevor Young, says dean Anil Kishen will participate “fully” in the investigation. Jewish advocacy organization B’nai Brith Canada shared on social media images … Read more
A Winnipeg man with autism spectrum disorder and learning disabilities has filed a lawsuit alleging four teeth were removed without his consent during a dental procedure in 2024. According to reporting by the Winnipeg Free Press and CBC News, the statement of claim was filed this month in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench. The man, … Read more
Columbia University has removed a former College of Dental Medicine professor and stripped administrative duties from another senior official after determining that Jeffrey Epstein’s then-girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, was admitted in 2012 through what the university described as an “irregular process.” The action follows the release of U.S. Department of Justice records on Jan. 30 that … Read more
An initiative representing independent dentists in Berlin is proposing a sweeping governance overhaul of the region’s pension fund, including converting it into a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft), according to IPE. The proposal from the Initiative of Independent Dentists Berlin (IUZB) would transform the first-pillar pension fund structure and align it with German stock corporation law. Under … Read more
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The federal agency that provides health care to Native Americans and Alaska Natives has announced it will phase out the use of dental fillings containing mercury. The Indian Health Service has used fillings, known as dental amalgams, that contain elemental mercury to treat decayed and otherwise damaged teeth for decades. Native American rights and industry … Read more
More than 3.8 million Canadians have received dental care under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) as of Jan. 31 — an increase of about 100,000 people from the previous month — according to updated figures from the federal government. As of Jan. 31, 6.27 million people have been approved for coverage under the federal … Read more
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a $1.2-trillion bipartisan federal spending bill that increases funding for dental research, oral-health programs and workforce development, even as the administration signals cutbacks in other areas of public-health spending. The fiscal 2026 funding package, approved by both chambers of Congress and signed Feb. 3, ends a partial government shutdown. … Read more
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says it has applied a $4 million penalty on Bank of Montreal for overcharging customers after it failed to properly disclose fee details. The watchdog which is tasked with protecting users of financial products says the violations relate to charging clients monthly plan fees that should have been waived … Read more
A new Georgia law that came into effect Jan. 1 allows residents across the state to access dental care through teledentistry, with a particular focus on improving access in remote and underserved areas. House Bill 567 authorizes licensed dentists in Georgia to provide consultations, evaluations and referrals through teledentistry, and allows dental insurance coverage for … Read more
“While this is not the first insurance-related victory in New York, it represents one of the first successful reforms in a long time addressing modern insurance practices that were not ultimately vetoed by a governor,” said Maurice Edwards, president of the New York State Dental Association.
Rural Manitoba communities could see a boost in doctors, nurses, teachers and other essential workers under an expanded federal student loan forgiveness program aimed at smaller towns and rural areas. The Government of Canada is widening access to Canada Student Loan Forgiveness, allowing eligible professionals to reduce their federal student loan debt by working in … Read more
One of the interesting side effects of the CDCP, a plan that is designed to increase our patients’ access to a dentist, is the fact that many dental schools are having challenges accessing dental patients for our future practitioners