Filling the Gap is a Toronto-based dental charity created in response to persistent inequities in Canada’s dental care system. FTG offers dental students the opportunity to work alongside providers and engage directly with community oral health needs.
Why stop listening to those who discourage you from starting out as a young dentist entrepreneur? Despite what many will tell you, being a young dentist who owns a clinic is not a disadvantage—it is a powerful asset.
A prototype aimed at supporting gum healing using electromagnetic stimulation earned first place at the University of Toronto’s bioengineering competition, SmileHacks, on Saturday. Ten teams — primarily undergraduate students — presented ideas ranging from xerostomia solutions and gamified pediatric oral health tools to robotic automation designed to address staffing shortages in dental offices. The $800 first-place prize … Read more
Why is pediatric dentistry even a specialty, and why does it take two to three years to train? What could take so long to learn? Isn’t prevention the same for children as adults—just brush your teeth?
One of the trickiest transitions following graduation is managing the relationship with the clinic owner as a fresh-faced associate. Here are three key considerations to support relationships that get off on the right footing.
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 Liz Worndl, a U of T dentistry graduate, practicing dentist, and recent finalist on MasterChef Canada. Liz brings the same … Read more
For those of us in dentistry, it can seem that feedback comes from all directions: from mentors, from patients, from office staff. While feedback can seem overwhelming, like a continuous stream of micro-corrections that affect our well-being, feedback can be a gift and an exciting opportunity. To shift our perspective, it’s important to pause and … Read more
Community-based initiatives like the Community Smiles Project complement the dental care programs such as CDCP by addressing the non-financial barriers to dental care.
In dentistry, one of the most valuable forms of preparation happens outside the classroom. What makes networking so impactful is the diversity of people it brings together.
This month we are featuring Ahmed Fattal, a Dalhousie University graduate, Dental Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, and co-founder of Spar Wear.
I was unsure of where my career would go and how to direct my life. I wish someone told me that what I was feeling was normal—that I was feeling the new grad blues.
Traditionally, most dentists don’t consider themselves to be sports dentists, but are they ever wrong? Every dentist is a sports dentist. Why do I say that? During the course of your dental career, you will see a wide variety of dental issues, including oral facial trauma. Some of the causes of dental trauma that you … Read more
We know that you want to leave the industry better than when you started. One way that you can do that is by supporting a new approach to feedback that promotes better colleague relationships, lifelong learning, continuous improvement, and effective professional and personal development. As you progress through your career, you will likely become skilled … 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 Dr. Sep Pouresa, who graduated from McGill University where he was also awarded with the prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for … Read more
A new U.S. study of death records from 1979 through 2018 found that both male and female dentists had higher suicide mortality than the general population, and that the risk has trended upward since the mid-1990s. The study, published online ahead of print in the Journal of the American Dental Association in October 2025, set … Read more
Starting a dental practice in a space that resembles a haunted house rather than a healthcare setting isn’t unusual, especially for new dentists on a limited budget. Worn paint, outdated fixtures, flickering fluorescent lights, and that persistent “vacant building” smell can make any new owner wonder if patients will ever walk through the door, let … 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 Dr. Laura Hildebrandt, instructor at the University of Alberta. Dr. Hildebrandt took part in the University of Alberta’s general practice residency … Read more
Building a legacy with purpose When I think about dentistry, I don’t think about teeth first. I think about people. I think about stories. Every patient who walks through the door carries a life in progress, shaped by resilience, uncertainty, and hope. Some smiles arrive easily. Others are hard-won. Each one holds meaning. I entered … Read more
There’s a quiet truth in dentistry that doesn’t get talked about enough: rural dentistry isn’t a sacrifice, it’s a life hack. It’s often assumed that serving lower-income or vulnerable communities—where patients may lack private insurance or the ability to afford higher-value treatments—means trading income for impact. But that assumption overlooks a powerful reality: Yes, you … Read more
In today’s world, the boundary between personal and professional life has never been thinner. Social media, once a casual way to stay connected with friends and colleagues, now holds the power to shape—and sometimes shake—a professional career overnight. In dentistry, where precision, decorum, and trust are paramount, the pressure to maintain a flawless image feels … Read more