News

Trade fair organizer says Southeast Asia turning to U.S. exports, Canadian innovation

by Oral Health
U.S. and Canada alternate text for this image

Southeast Asian countries — Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines — are experiencing increased demand for high-quality dental products and technologies from the United States and Canada, says a Chicago-based trade fair organizer. “U.S. dental manufacturers are uniquely positioned to thrive in Southeast Asia,” said Mette Petersen, president of Koelnmesse Inc., in a press … Read more

Digital dentistry market expected to surpass $17 billion globally by 2032

by Oral Health
Digital dentistry is on the rise, fuelled by an aging population and growing interest in cosmetic dental care.

The global digital dentistry market is projected to reach US$17.2 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.6 per cent, according to a new report by SNS Insider. In 2023, the market was valued at US$6.96 billion. The growth is being driven by technological advancements such as 3D printing and … Read more

Removing fluoride could cost billions in dental care, U.S. study says, citing Calgary as example

by Oral Health
Tooth decay is expected to rise if fluoride is removed from water, potentially affecting one in three American children. (iStock)

A new U.S. study published Friday in JAMA Health Forum warns that eliminating fluoride from community water systems could lead to increased tooth decay in children and drive up dental costs by an estimated $9.8 billion over five years. “Fluoride replaces weaker ions within tooth enamel, making it stronger and less susceptible to tooth decay … Read more

U.S. autopsy links rare nitrous oxide reaction to 9-year-old’s death after dental procedure

by Oral Health
methemoglobinemia, a rare blood disorder that can prevent oxygen from reaching body tissues.

A rare complication tied to nitrous oxide caused the death of a nine-year-old California girl following a dental procedure, according to an autopsy report. Silvanna Moreno, a third-grader from Vista, Calif., died March 18 after undergoing surgery at Dreamtime Dentistry. An autopsy obtained by PEOPLE from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office listed her … Read more

Online dental misinformation induces fear in Gen Z and millennials, U.S. endodontics survey finds

by Oral Health
A new U.S. survey finds younger adults fear root canals due to online misinformation, raising concerns among endodontic specialists.

Gen Z and millennials are especially vulnerable to dental misinformation online, according to a new U.S. survey commissioned by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE). The results suggest younger adults are increasingly fearful of dental treatment, especially root canals, due in part to social media myths and confusion about credible sources. The survey, conducted by … Read more

Canadian dental care plan opens to people 35 to 54 in final rollout

by Oral Health
Clinical assessments collected in the 2022–24 Canadian Health Measures Survey reveal stable rates of tooth decay and rising gum inflammation. (iStock)

More than two million Canadians have received dental care through the Canadian Dental Care Plan, and that number is expected to grow as the federal program opens Thursday to people aged 35 to 54. Described by the federal government as one of the country’s largest social programs, the CDCP is expected to make dental care … Read more

Tufts team creates cortisol-detecting dental floss to help people monitor stress

by Oral Health
An Ipsos survey conducted last year found that approximately 62% of people across 31 countries reported feeling stressed to the point that it impacted their daily lives at least once. (iStock)

A team led by an interdisciplinary engineer at Tufts University has developed a novel cortisol-detecting dental floss, offering a more affordable, accurate, and practical way to monitor stress, the Massachusetts-based university recently announced. Research has long shown that chronic stress negatively impacts overall health, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, … Read more

U.S.-based company becomes first to receive FDA approval for 2D and 3D dental AI imaging

by Oral Health
second opinion-Pearl alternate text for this image

A U.S.-based dental technology company has made history by becoming the first to receive FDA clearance for artificial intelligence (AI) software capable of analyzing both 2D and 3D dental images. Pearl, headquartered in California, announced Tuesday that its Second Opinion® 3D platform has received FDA 510(k) clearance, expanding its AI capabilities to cone beam computed … Read more

U.S. breakfast cereals are getting less healthy. What does that mean for Canadians?

by Dina Al-Shibeeb, Oral Health Group
cereal-children alternate text for this image

U.S. breakfast cereals — many of which are also marketed to children — have become less healthy, with increases in sugar, fat and sodium, and declines in protein and fibre, according to a new study published May 21 in JAMA Network Open. The study, conducted by the agricultural economics departments at the University of Kentucky and … Read more

‘If you’re not using digital technology in some way, you’re falling behind,’ says UB professor

by Oral Health
UB dental students are embracing digital dentistry with tools like 3D printing, CBCT scans, AR and VR.

As digital dentistry becomes the norm, it’s making its mark on dental education. “If you’re not using digital technology in some way, you’re falling behind,” said Dr. Joseph DeLuca, clinical associate professor of restorative dentistry at the University at Buffalo. “We’re making sure our students graduate ready to lead with the tools and knowledge modern … Read more

Human tooth sensitivity may have roots in ancient fish armor from over 485 million years ago

by Oral Health
sensitive-teeth-new-study alternate text for this image

Yara Haridy, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago, was originally searching for the oldest fossil of an animal with a backbone—paleontology is, after all, her field. But her research led to a surprising finding: insights into the origin of teeth. In a study recently published in Nature, Haridy—who led the research in Neil … Read more

27% of Americans don’t have dental insurance; ADA urges coverage for preventive services

by Oral Health
About 27% of U.S. adults—an estimated 72 million—lack dental insurance, according to a 2024 CareQuest survey. The ADA is urging insurance groups to expand preventive dental coverage, highlighting the link between oral and overall health.

A new survey published in early May shows that 27 per cent of Americans do not have dental insurance. According to the CareQuest Institute’s latest State of Oral Health Equity in America report, about 72 million adults in the United States lack dental insurance — nearly three times the percentage of adults without health insurance. … Read more

SNL’s dental school sketch with Scarlett Johansson puts a wild spin on the Hippocratic Oath

by Oral Health
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The latest Saturday Night Live cut-for-time sketch, “Graduation Day,” features Scarlett Johansson leading a hilarious reinterpretation of the Hippocratic Oath—this time, for dentists. SNL dubbed its version the “dentocratic” oath, which is delivered by valedictorian Penny Shannon (Johansson), who announces she will be working at Oceanside Tooth and Breath in Cleveland, Ohio. “The office right … Read more

Six of 30 new Manitoba dental grads were internationally trained

by Oral Health
Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry graduates. (Photo courtesy: UM)

Six of the 30 graduates from the University of Manitoba’s Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry were internationally trained dentists. The foreign-trained dentists—originally educated in Nigeria, Hungary and India—earned their Canadian credentials through UM’s International Dentist Degree Program (IDDP), said the university. The IDDP is a two-year program for dentists who hold a minimum four-year … Read more

KKR completes $250M Henry Schein investment, cements major shareholder status

by Oral Health
The deal also marks the appointment of two KKR-affiliated executives to Henry Schein’s board of directors as independent directors

Henry Schein Inc. has completed a US$250-million strategic investment from KKR, first announced in January. The investment makes KKR the largest non-index fund shareholder in Henry Schein, with a 12 per cent ownership stake. New York-based Henry Schein, the world’s largest provider of health care solutions to office-based dental and medical practitioners, said Friday that … Read more

DeSantis signs a bill making Florida the 2nd state to ban fluoride from its water system

by Stephany Matat And Kate Payne, The Associated Press
fluoride and children’s IQ alternate text for this image

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure Thursday prohibiting local governments from adding fluoride to their water systems, making it the second state in the country after Utah to implement a statewide ban on the mineral. DeSantis signed the bill at a public event in Dade City, Florida, over the concerns of … Read more

Canada is top 3 globally in tooth decay management, but more can be done to improve health: study

by Oral Health
Preventing tooth decay through basic care could reduce decay by 30% and save $4.41 billion in Canada.

Canada ranks third out of 40 countries in managing tooth decay, following the United States and Switzerland, according to a global report published Thursday as part of the Health Inclusivity Index (HII), a research initiative by Economist Impact supported by consumer health company Haleon. The United Kingdom placed fourth and Australia fifth in the study, … Read more

Tooth loss without dentures linked to higher hypertension risk in older adults: Japanese study

by Oral Health
"Researchers call for further studies on how dentures might improve dietary habits — like increasing vegetable intake — to help maintain a favourable Na/K ratio. (iStock)"

Older adults who have lost teeth but do not wear dentures may be at an increased risk for hypertension, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Dental Medicine. Researchers found that among adults with fewer than 20 teeth, those who did not wear dentures had a significantly higher sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio — a … Read more

FDA to remove ingestible fluoride prescription drugs for children from U.S. market

by Oral Health
Unlike toothpaste with fluoride or fluoride rinses, these products are swallowed and ingested by infants and toddlers, says the FDA. (iStock)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it will begin removing concentrated, ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for children from the U.S. market. In a statement Tuesday, the agency said these products, offered for children aged six months to 16 years, have never been approved by the FDA. The agency has set Oct. 31 as … Read more

123Dentist names former Shoppers Drug Mart president Jeff Leger as CEO

by Oral Health
Jeff Leger, left, will become CEO of 123Dentist on July 2. He will report to founder Dr. Amin Shivji, who is transitioning to the role of executive chair. (Photos upplied)

123Dentist, one of Canada’s largest and fastest-growing dental support organizations, has appointed Jeff Leger as chief executive officer, the company said Wednesday. Leger will assume the role effective July 2. He will report to founder and current CEO Dr. Amin Shivji, who is transitioning to the position of executive chair. In this new role, Shivji … Read more