The why: Background story Dr. Arleen Schmidt always felt a natural connection with children. Born and raised in Calgary, her education took her to Denver, Colorado, where she completed her residency in pediatric dentistry in 2023. It was there that she truly discovered her calling for helping children feel calm, confident, and even excited about their … Read more
To most of the world an inch is a small amount of space. To a dentist that’s at least three teeth. Dentists spend their whole professional lives working inside of a tooth, with literally only millimeters of room to work in. A molar is maybe 7-8 millimeters wide. So, spending a lifetime worrying about drilling … Read more
On Friday, July 18, Just Dentistry in London, Ontario, opened its doors—and hearts—for its first-ever First Responder Appreciation Day, a community event dedicated to celebrating the everyday heroes who keep our city safe: paramedics, firefighters, police officers, and their families. From 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, our clinic became a hub of warmth and connection. … Read more
Mentorship is not just for the young and the “green.” As the late Dr. Jack Hughston said, “As long as you’re green, you’re still growing. Once you’re ripe, you’re next to rotten.” All of us should continuously challenge ourselves. Dental science, technologies, and the industry as a whole never stand still, and neither should we. … Read more
Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. This month, we are showcasing Lisa Hardill, RDH, BHADM, Clinical Development Manager. With 20+ years in the dental industry, Lisa has worked in public health, private and independent practice. In her current role with one of Canada’s largest DSOs, she coaches other professionals on clinical development. Do you … Read more
Menopause is a silent epidemic, an often-overlooked transition that impacts every cell in the body, including the mouth. As a dental hygienist, educator, and woman who has experienced a hysterectomy and early menopause myself, I know firsthand the power of connection, education, and advocacy when it comes to navigating this challenging season of life. Sleepless … Read more
Preventive services are at the forefront of medical, fitness, and nutritional research. Everyone talks about prevention, but very few people adhere to it long-term, and that is what really counts in all preventive programs. It is easy to fall off the wagon and get discouraged. There are many causes why prevention eventually fails, but the … Read more
In early July 2025, a class-action lawsuit1 was filed against Heartland Dental, the largest dental support organization (DSO) in the United States. The lawsuit alleges that Heartland used AI-powered call tracking and transcription tools from RingCentral without obtaining informed consent from patients. It’s an eye-opener for the entire dental profession especially for those of us … Read more
When Uxbridge Dental Care set out to build a new home for their practice, they weren’t just thinking about dental chairs and waiting rooms; they were envisioning a warm, welcoming, and modern space where patient care could thrive. To bring that vision to life, they partnered with Studio 6 Inc., a design-build firm known for … Read more
Who moved my cheese—in my dental practice? Inspired by Spencer Johnson’s business classic —reimagined for today’s dental practice owners Your clinical skills didn’t shrink your schedule.Your patients didn’t disappear because of the economy.They followed someone willing to adapt while you clung to what used to work. Let me rip the Band-Aid off. This isn’t going … Read more
Technological advancement impacts every single aspect of our lives, and has greatly benefited the dental industry, including significant evolutions in the orthodontic field. These developments incorporate treatments with removable and fixed devices that are used in a variety of cases from different age groups, following concepts from both the European and American trends in orthodontic … Read more
Advances in digital technology have recently propelled healthcare forward, yet dentistry has historically lagged in adopting fully integrated digital tools when compared to other medical fields. The Halo Digital Mirror (Figs. 1, 2 & 3) seeks to bridge this gap, providing a multifunctional vocally operated tool that combines in flow patient education, documentation creation while enhancing visibility … Read more
We’re entering a bold new era of healthcare—one shaped by personalized medicine, preventative care, and a more integrative understanding of the body and mind. And at the heart of this evolution is something long overlooked: oral health. Once seen as separate from the rest of the body, it’s now recognized as a cornerstone of lifelong … Read more
The real reason your practice isn’t growing? Fear masquerading as caution. Businesses don’t collapse in a single moment—they erode by clinging to what once worked. Blockbuster didn’t die because of competition. It died because it stayed the same while the world changed. Blockbuster is a case study in denial. And here’s the hard truth: some … Read more
As obesity rates continue to rise across Canada, so does the demand for weight-loss medications. More than 63% of Canadian adults were classified as overweight or obese in 2018,1 a number that has likely increased in the intervening years, fueling a significant increase in prescriptions for these drugs. Originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, semaglutide—marketed … Read more
Abstract The Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is now approaching its first anniversary of patient care. This paper is a brief analysis of some current design and operational flaws diminishing the success of the plan. The paper evolves from a more comprehensive document submitted to Health Canada in fall of 2024.1 The CDCP provides access … Read more
In recent decades, dental implants have emerged as a valuable tooth replacement option, offering favorable esthetic outcomes and long-term stability. Despite their high success rates, implants are subject to biological complications that compromise peri-implant tissues,1 peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis being two of the most common inflammatory conditions.2 Current epidemiological studies highlight the high prevalence of peri-implant mucositis, … Read more
Tetracycline (TC) stained teeth are considered a side effect of high doses of TC antibiotics during permanent tooth formation.1 The problem is more common among people in their late 50s to early 70s who were born and raised in decades when TC antibiotics were most frequently used.2 Tetracycline-stained teeth have been classified by Feinman and by Jordan … Read more
A good light curing unit (LCU) is required to activate the photoinitiator(s) in the resin-bonded composite (RBC) and transform it into a durable, functional restoration.1-3 The international standard ISO 40494 stresses that the RBC should be properly photocured according to the instructions of the manufacturer of the RBC (not the LCU) and no resin manufacturer recommends undercuring … Read more
Finnish scientists have introduced an innovative oral hygiene solution, Lumoral (Koite Health Ltd., Espoo, Finland), the first antibacterial photodynamic device designed for home use. Lumoral harnesses light energy to combat oral diseases and complements existing cleaning methods to enhance home oral care. By selectively eliminating harmful bacteria in dental plaque, Lumoral represents a revolutionary advancement … Read more