Love them or hate them, Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) are here to stay—and they’re only going to get bigger. Who benefits from the rise of DSOs? While many private practitioners are skeptical about DSOs, the reality is that lots of patients and retiring/selling dentists tend to favor them. However, selling to a DSO isn’t always a … Read more
Abstract Closing a midline diastema without addressing key smile components—such as tooth colour, shape, size, gingival positions, and alignment—can result in restorations that look out of place and disproportionate to the surrounding teeth. A more holistic, interdisciplinary approach using digital planning is essential for achieving optimal results. This method not only visualizes both orthodontic and … Read more
As anyone who has made any earnest foray into the delivery of cosmetic dental treatment has likely learned, there are some practitioners who are extremely talented and who are willing to share their expertise with those of us who wish to bring the best quality of care to our patients and communities. Those of us … Read more
Some environments are more comfortable than others. What does that really mean? Especially in a dental or medical office. Are we really trying to make our patients comfortable…or is there more to it than that? Patients want competent and caring doctors; they can readily discern whether you are caring, but competence is different. They didn’t … Read more
Abstract: Dental education is undergoing a pivotal transformation, driven by the need to overcome systemic challenges in teaching and assessment. Traditional methods, while foundational, often suffer from inconsistencies in grading, variability in teaching standards, and limited opportunities for hands-on practice. These issues not only hinder student development but also place undue strain on faculty resources. … Read more
It has long been a goal of dental clinical and material science to find a less technique sensitive approach to the posterior direct resin restorative process. Unlike amalgam, the technique “insensitive” patrician of direct restoratives, successful placement of composite resins requires many more steps and exacting technique to achieve clinically acceptable results. So…what does an … Read more
Will Guidara, renowned restaurateur and author of Unreasonable Hospitality, emphasizes the importance of “Let your energy impact the people you’re talking to, as opposed to the other way around.” This wisdom isn’t limited to the hospitality industry; it holds relevance in any field where you interact with people, including dentistry. As a dental student, 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 Athena Zhong, a fourth year DDS student at the University of Toronto. Athena has displayed leadership and professionalism by participating in … Read more
It’s exam season, but when isn’t it? We’ve spent months cramming endless material, running on caffeine and deadlines, while balancing clinic, classes, and whatever is left of our personal lives. The weight of it all is heavy. The pressure to perform, the financial strain, the unspoken fear of falling short. In dental school, there’s no … Read more
When a tooth is out of place, it can affect both the aesthetics of a smile and the overall function of the bite. However, not all cases of misalignment require complex orthodontic treatment. In many instances, creating an illusion of a properly aligned smile can be just as effective in achieving the desired results. Through … Read more
Patients seek out cosmetic dentists with an expectation of improving their smile. Sometimes patients have well thought out and easily articulated expectations related to their treatment goals. More often, they have a vague, idealized vision of “perfection” that they cannot define. Communication becomes a major factor in the success or failure of a case. It … Read more
Anterior aesthetic prosthetics play a vital role in restoring a patient’s appearance and confidence. Achieving a seamless blend between prosthetic restorations and natural dentition requires precise shade matching, a process that remains a significant challenge in clinical dentistry. Various visual and instrumental methods have been employed to assist clinicians in matching the color of synthetic … Read more
Full coverage crowns and ceramic veneers are used to treat patients with structural damage to anterior teeth caused by caries, previous restorations or trauma. Additionally, ceramic veneers can be used as an esthetic treatment to correct the shape and color of anterior teeth. Currently, ceramic materials have become the material of choice for anterior crowns, … Read more
Now that the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has been in place for about a year, both patients and dentists have had time to form opinions on how the program is working. Among CDCP patients surveyed, 95% expressed an overall positive view of the plan. Despite ongoing discussions between the dental profession and the federal … Read more
Welcome to 2025. Wow how did that happen? Five years has lapsed since the legendary PDC COVID convention closed down all trade shows and continuing education in-person courses. Slowly but surely, we are once again enjoying our annual conventions, gatherings, tradeshows, and continuing education courses IN PERSON. Sure, we all took online CE courses like … Read more
As a dental lawyer/practice seller, I’ve written extensively over the years about the legality and enforceability of non-compete and non-solicit clauses in associate agreements and purchase and sale agreements. Non-competition clauses generally try to prohibit associates from setting up shop (directly or indirectly with anyone else) within a certain geographic distance of the principal’s practice … Read more
On April 2, 2025, the White House unveiled what it referred to as “Liberation Day,” announcing the most aggressive protectionist policy shift since the 1930s. In a sweeping press conference, President Donald Trump introduced a 10% universal tariff on all U.S. imports, effective April 5, alongside a system of “reciprocal tariffs” targeting approximately 60 countries. Some of … Read more
The why: Background story In the heart of downtown Vancouver, Transcend Specialized Dentistry is more than just a practice. It’s a multidisciplinary prosthodontic, periodontic, and orthodontic specialty centre that reflects Dr. Faraj Edher’s dedication to precision, aesthetics, and uncompromising quality in dental care. As a student, he initially had a deep interest in surgical medicine … Read more
In the good old days, it was hard to access accurate information. You had to go to the library to pick up a journal and know how to use the index system to retrieve the information that would provide the data you were looking for. The journal might not be available because the library did … Read more
With Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption in dentistry growing, a new study in Nature warns that clinical oversight remains crucial when integrating AI-driven diagnostics and treatment planning into practice. Aga Khan University researchers reviewed 44 studies on AI in dentistry, identifying key risks, including misdiagnoses, transparency issues, and inconsistent adoption across specialties. Case study: AI misidentification … Read more