“I’m just looking,” I repeated as I scrolled through the images of adoptable cats. I was lying to myself; I knew I was not just looking. I wanted to adopt a cat. I started dental school at Case Western Reserve University in 2012, understanding that the academic and clinical road ahead would be strenuous. I … Read more
Next Gen of the Month is a monthly Q&A with a dental student or new dentist where we ask them about their experiences and accomplishments thus far in their dentistry journey. This month we are featuring Rachel Wengle, a dental student at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry who has gained a large following on social media … Read more
Join Atlantis Dental Society and find out! We all wish there were a shortcut or at least an easier path. The harsh truth is that becoming a dentist in Canada is not easy, and the competitive nature of the field doesn’t make it any simpler. So, how can you increase your chances? I’m glad you … Read more
Summer in Canada is synonymous with warmth, outdoor adventures, and a palpable sense of joy. It’s a time for barbecues, beach trips, and family vacations—all moments captured and remembered through our smiles. However, this season also brings unique challenges and opportunities for dental students, blending the demands of academic life with the allure of warm … Read more
Embarking from the classroom to a dental clinic is a transformation filled with excitement, challenges, and an immense learning curve. This transition is not just about acquiring technical skills; it’s about embodying the essence of dental care, understanding patient needs, and integrating into the fabric of a community’s health. Understanding the Basics of Dental Care … Read more
On February 3rd, 2024, TranscenDent 2024 brought together eight teams consisting of Dentistry, Engineering, and Business students from University of Toronto and Western University to showcase the results of their collaborations, addressing some of the hot topics in today’s dentistry. A selected group of applicants were invited to learn about the themes of this year’s … Read more
The Indigenous Medical and Dental Students’ Association (IMDSA) is a group of Indigenous students in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at University of Alberta. The IMDSA is grateful to live and learn on Treaty 6 Territory, a traditional gathering place for diverse Indigenous peoples, including the Cree, Blackfoot, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe, Inuit, … Read more
Across Canada, dental practices continue to contend with a scarcity of skilled clinicians and support staff resulting in a labour shortage that has evolved from a growing concern to a crisis. While the demand for dental services has surged, due to factors such as population growth, an aging demographic, and heightened awareness of oral health’s … Read more
Embarking on a dental career after graduating from two dental schools, I was puzzled by persistent questions that seemed to be missed during my education. Why do so many children and adults need braces now? Was the answer simply genetics? Why did individuals with impeccable oral hygiene habits still suffer from bleeding gums in the … Read more
Noma is a rapidly progressing, severe gangrenous condition that targets oral and facial tissues. Originating as a gingival lesion, it can quickly evolve into an ulcerative, necrotizing gingivitis, causing extensive destruction of both soft and hard tissues in the oral-maxillofacial region. Most commonly affecting children aged 2-6 who experience malnutrition, immunocompromise, and poverty, noma is … Read more
Life can be unexpected, and that’s not always a bad thing. I have always wondered: Am I in the right career? Did I make the right choice? What do I want for the future, and what’s best for me? I still think about these an awful lot. I always wanted to be in the medical/ … Read more
Many successful dentists begin their journey at an international accredited program. What’s often misunderstood is the cost and time associated with pursuing an out-of-country education overseas. It should come as no surprise that the cost is great but the outcome is equally so. Many students who attend these universities do so without much financial assistance … Read more
My journey into dentistry was far from conventional. Compared to other undergraduate students who remained dedicated to their pursuit of well-defined career goals, I found myself unsure of the path I wanted to take. As I entered the final year of my HBSc Chemistry degree, I decided to pursue a master’s in Speech-Language Pathology, a … Read more
After graduating, I couldn’t wait to start doing dentistry without my instructors looking over my shoulder. I wanted to get better and faster, pay off my debt, get married, buy a house, get a dog and start a family. Within three years, I did all of that, but it wasn’t a dream come true. I hated … Read more
Over the last few decades, clinic ownership within dentistry has changed drastically. The dental clinic of yesteryear, offering a model of solo practitioner along with an associate or two, has taken a back seat within the industry. Driving this change are younger dentists that wish to have more mentorship with colleagues and want to avoid … Read more
Networking within the dental industry while in your program and/or early in associateship dramatically affects your career trajectory. A common misnomer perspective of young dentists is to complete your program, accept a job, and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, for most of you it won’t be that easy. Problems at the start of your career … Read more
Once upon a time, in a bustling dental school at Western University (London, ON), a group of ambitious and forward-thinking dental students found themselves eager to start exploring life after dental school. This coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and reminded them how integral proficiency in the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, business, and innovation is for people … Read more
Established in 2017, the Federation of Canadian Dentistry Student Associations (FCDSA) plays a pivotal role in uniting the voices of over 2000 dental students across Canada. The FCDSA is the organization that brings together the student associations of each of the ten accredited Canadian DDS/DMD programs. Embodying a commitment to advocacy, education, and community, FCDSA … Read more
Next Gen of the Month is a monthly Q&A with a dental student or new dentist where we ask them about their experiences and accomplishments thus far in their dentistry journey. Why did you decide to pursue dentistry? I found my way into dentistry from a place of need – I was a four-year-old child … Read more
As longtime readers of Oral Health know, it has always been our mission to serve dental professionals and their team members across Canada with the very best editorial content. Starting out in 1911, under the leadership of Dr. Wallace Secombe, Oral Health was digest-sized, printed in black and white on newsprint type paper and consisted … Read more