With Canada being the world’s largest legal cannabis exporter, is it time to study its long-term effects on oral health? University of Toronto researchers believe so. “Emerging evidence suggests a link between cannabis smoking and oral health issues, including oral cancers,” said Dr. Frank Mauro, a member of the research team at the Confederation College … Read more
Authorities in Suffolk County, N.Y., have arrested a woman accused of running an illegal dental practice out of her home, allegedly performing complex procedures without a license and leaving multiple patients injured, including one who suffered severe nerve damage and partial facial paralysis. Yolany Y. Mejia Carranza, 55, was taken into custody on March 14 … Read more
A review citing data from 10 observational studies involving 6,083 dental professionals across seven European countries and Brazil estimates COVID-19 antibody rates higher than previously reported. The review shows that COVID-19 rates among oral health care workers (OHCWs) stand at 13.49 per cent, compared to the general population. “The data indicate a somewhat increased occupation-specific … Read more
Utah will become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, despite widespread opposition from dentists and national health organizations. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox said he would sign legislation that bars cities and communities from deciding whether to add the mineral to their water systems. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost … Read more
U.S. researchers want the healthcare community to learn from past mistakes in case of future pandemics. One key finding from a new study is that dental office closures during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a 62 per cent increase in emergency visits for children’s dental conditions. “Emergency departments are not well equipped to treat dental … Read more
With enzyme replacement therapy now available to treat hypophosphatasia, a rare skeletal disease but with a relatively higher prevalence among rare bone disorders, Japanese researchers say their findings will help dentists identify suspected cases earlier. Published in Scientific Reports, researchers from Osaka University analyzed the dental issues faced by Japanese patients in their largest survey … Read more
As Canada prepares for new Liberal leader Mark Carney to take over following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation in early January, a New Brunswick MP says dental care is among the “greatest hits” that history will judge the outgoing leader positively on. “The list of greatest hits with the Canada Child Benefit, dental care, the ($10 a … Read more
Australia and Canada are hemispheres apart, but the two countries have much in common. Both are Commonwealth nations with publicly funded universal health care systems that largely exclude dental care. As a result, many citizens rely on private insurance, often through employers. Similar shares of the populations don’t have any coverage at all. About 24 … Read more
Two faculty members from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine have each received $5,000 seed grants from Academic Affairs to explore ways to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the classroom. These grants will fund the development of virtual reality (VR) goggles and interactive lectures. “It’s everybody’s dream to use these fancy goggles, and … Read more
Patients who received treatment at a dental clinic in Hamilton, Ontario, may have been exposed to improperly sterilized instruments for nearly six years, CTV News reported Wednesday. Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS) is advising patients who received care at the office operated by Dr. Merenisa Gonzales-Diaz between July 25, 2019, and Feb. 20, 2025, to … Read more
The Dental Industry Association of Canada (DIAC) said Tuesday it is “closely monitoring developments” after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico — a 25 per cent across-the-board levy. Trump, however, imposed a lower 10 per cent charge on Canadian energy and 10 to 20 per cent tariffs on Chinese-origin … Read more
More than 20,000 dental professionals gathered at the Chicago Dental Society (CDS) Midwinter Meeting, held Feb. 20-22 at McCormick Place West, to celebrate its 160th anniversary. “It is a huge milestone to celebrate 160 years of the Midwinter Meeting, and I believe its success lies in our unique blend of tradition and innovation,” said Heather … Read more
Nearly 40 years after receiving single dental implants, a follow-up study has found that a small group of patients still have their implants intact. Published in Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research, the study reports a cumulative survival rate of 95.6 per cent for the implants and 60.9 per cent for the implant-supported crowns after … Read more
If you’re middle-aged and recognize the need to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, you might want to thank Health Canada’s Nutrition Canada Survey. Conducted from 1970-1972, it gathered data that contributed to an updated Canada’s Food Guide. But the research did more than that. It also offered insights into the molars, canines, and incisors … Read more
New research from Cornell University suggests that brushing after eating starchy foods may be more important for some people than others. A study published Feb. 19 in Microorganisms found that the number of copies of a specific gene, AMY1, influences how bacteria in the mouth respond to starch. The findings help explain why some people … Read more
Researchers are increasingly studying the specifics of oral bacteria and their impact on overall health—both positive and negative. But when it comes to harmful bacteria, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found a new approach to suppress it. “Current periodontal treatments focus on reducing bacterial load mechanically, but understanding how these bacteria evade … Read more
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is calling on the federal government to continue investing in affordable, preventive oral health care, the organization said Thursday in a statement. Citing an “ongoing cost-of-living crisis” and tariff threats from the Trump administration, the CDHA said federal investments in oral health care in Canada have “positive impacts” on … Read more
PerioMonitor™, a testing kit designed to detect oral inflammation, received Health Canada approval on Feb. 5, 2025. It was developed under the supervision of Dr. Michael Glogauer, Professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, Dentist-in-Chief at University Health Network, and Head of Dental Oncology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. The cost-effective and user-friendly … Read more
Three patients are set to undergo Canada’s first “tooth-in-eye” surgeries at Vancouver’s Mount Saint Joseph Hospital this week, aiming to restore their vision. This rare procedure, medically known as osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP), involves implanting a tooth with an optical lens into the eye to replace damaged corneal tissue. The hospital stated Monday on its official news … Read more
Jagmeet Singh says he’s “absolutely” the right person to lead the New Democrats into the next election despite the party’s drop in the polls. A recent Leger poll puts the NDP at just 14 per cent support — and suggests that support would drop to 12 per cent with Mark Carney as Liberal leader. At … Read more