News

Student-led clinic at Georgian College offers affordable dental care in Barrie

by Oral Health
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The Georgian College Oral Health Dental Clinic in Barrie, Ontario, is the latest to offer affordable dental care, particularly for those ineligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. The clinic has students from the Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene and Denturism programs offering preventative and therapeutic oral health care to members of the community. Lisa Buchanan, the college’s director of clinics … Read more

Align Technology opens 2025 research awards with $300,000 in grants

by Oral Health
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Align Technology Inc. has launched its 2025 Annual Research Award Program, offering up to $300,000 to support clinical and scientific dental research at universities globally. Now in its 15th year, the program provides one-year grants to faculty working on research to advance patient care and knowledge in orthodontics and dentistry. “Each year, we see a … Read more

Federal dental plan expands services Nov. 1 after ‘milestone’ of helping more than one million Canadians

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)

Starting Nov. 1, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will expand to include additional services after helping more than one million Canadians access dental care, the Government of Canada announced on Thursday. “Today marks an important milestone as we continue to expand the claims process. This next step will help ensure more people with complex … Read more

‘Staffing shortage’: Toothio raises $5M to meet demand for dental staff across the U.S.

by Oral Health
the dental sector is grappling with a workforce shortage

Toothio, a Phoenix-based digital staffing marketplace for the dental industry, has raised an additional $5 million in funding to hire dental hygienists, assistants, and office staff for dental offices across the United States. The funding round was led by NVP Capital and Craft Ventures. Rho Capital, Marketplace Capital, Roosh Ventures, Burst Capital, Revere Partners, Karman … Read more

Spooky sugar: Oakville dental office offers kids cash for candy; U.S. company lists sweetest Halloween treats

by Oral Health
U.S. company QR Code Generator found that Pixy Stix is the most sugary treat on its list of 100 candies.

Kids with excess Halloween candy can participate in the SmileGrove Dental cash-for-candy exchange in Oakville, located in the Greater Toronto Area, from Nov. 1 to Nov. 8, Inside Halton reported. “It’s an opportunity for children to bring their excess candy to our dental office,” said Dr. Karen Man, a dentist at SmileGrove. For some experts, … Read more

Study: Direct composites outshine zirconia resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses for single missing anterior teeth

by Oral Health
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A recent study reveals that direct composite restorations are more effective than zirconia resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs) for addressing single missing anterior teeth. The study highlights that direct composites are less invasive and can often be completed in a single visit. The research followed 45 eligible patients over a mean observation period of 21.9 … Read more

Dentsply Sirona suspends sales of its Byte Aligners, Impression Kits voluntarily

by Oral Health
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On Thursday, Dentsply Sirona said it has suspended sales and marketing of its teeth aligners — Byte Aligners and Impression Kits — following a voluntary decision made in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure compliance with U.S. regulations. “The company holds itself to the highest standards of quality, with patient … Read more

McGill’s dental department measures CO2 to become one of the first fully sustainable dental faculties

by Oral Health
One billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away each year in the U.S., creating 50 million pounds of waste, according to the American Dental Association.

McGill’s Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences is calculating the carbon footprint of its entire operation, including several clinics that serve the public, the faculty announced Wednesday. From dentists’ latex gloves to patients’ commutes, the faculty aims to be sustainable in every aspect of its dental care. Its goal is to become one … Read more

Align Technology restructures as ‘sluggish’ dental U.S. market slows growth for main product, but demand remains strong in China

by Oral Health
Align posted total revenues of $977.9 million for Q3. However, looking ahead, it expects Q4 2024 revenues to range from $995 million to $1.015 billion. (iStock)

San Jose-based Align Technology, known for its orthodontic solutions, including the Invisalign clear aligner system, reported mixed third-quarter results, according to a press release published on Wednesday.  Famous for its Invisalign clear aligners, iTero scanners, and exocad CAD/CAM software, Align posted total revenues of $977.9 million, marking a 1.8 per cent increase year-over-year despite a … Read more

Digital composite veneers are minimally invasive for young patients who want ‘immediate’ change, says dentist

by Oral Health
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For young patients in their late teens and early 20s, seeking aesthetic changes in line with their TikTok-scrolling generation, pearly white smiles are in rising demand. “I see a lot of young patients. It’s just my patient demographic,” said Dr. Sunny Verdi. While dentists like Dr. Verdi may suggest orthodontics or interdisciplinary treatment, young patients … Read more

Grey-Bruce county seniors visited emergency for dental issues at more than twice Ontario’s rate

by Oral Health
older adults made up 23.6% of Bruce County’s population and 24.1% of Grey County’s

The rate of seniors in Grey-Bruce, located almost three hours’ driving distance west of Toronto, who visited the emergency department for dental concerns in 2022 was more than double the provincial average, according to a press release from Grey Bruce Public Health on Monday. While older adults made up 23.6% of Bruce County’s population and … Read more

‘Never thought I would win’: Manitoba dentist receives $500 after participating in Oral Health Group survey

by Oral Health
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Marty Greenfeld, a dentist based in Manitoba at River East Dental, is pleasantly surprised after winning a $500 prize following his participation in the Oral Health Group’s 2024 ad survey. The Signet Ad Study is conducted annually to gauge readers’ preferences regarding the advertisements featured in Oral Health magazine. To show appreciation, one participating dentist … Read more

Holland: Fee parity between independent and office hygienists to be ‘fixed’ next year

by Oral Health
Health Minister Mark Holland announces fee parity for independent dental hygienists starting next year, addressing reimbursement disparities under the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

The necessary approvals have been received to implement fee schedule parity for independent dental hygienists early in the new year, Minister of Health Mark Holland said on Oct. 18, according to the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA). “It’s fundamentally unfair that the fee schedule isn’t the same for independent dental hygiene practices as it is … Read more

NYU dentistry to host disability and health policy symposium—Nov. 13

by NYU College of Dentistry
Third AHEAD symposium invites policymakers, health professionals, and the disability community to the table to discuss improving oral health care for people with disabilities

NYU College of Dentistry will host its third AHEAD symposium—Achieving Health Equity through Access for All with Disabilities—on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. The virtual event will gather policymakers, experts, and advocates to discuss improving oral health care for people with disabilities. Dental care is the most unmet health care need for people with disabilities. Patients and their families … Read more

Dental factors included in the ‘first attempt’ to predict likelihood of preterm birth

by Oral Health
The study underscores the importance of early screening and the integration of medical and dental care during pregnancy.

Researchers from South Korean universities described their model for predicting the risk of preterm birth (PTB) as “significant,” marking the “first attempt” to include dental factors as independent variables in PTB prediction. Their findings were published in Nature on Oct. 21. “What differentiates our study from previous ones is that we added dental factors in … Read more

Remote learning institute addressing ‘overwhelming’ dental assistant shortage aims to expand access in rural areas

by Dina Al-Shibeeb
Casey Sharp (L) and Carey-Ann Thurlow are the co-founders of the Rissio Institute. (Photo supplied)

Serena Klatt, a 2022 high school graduate from Killam, a small town in east-central Alberta, was initially unsure about her career. Working as an office attendant at Ball Family Dental in 2021, however, sparked her interest in becoming a dental assistant. Klatt learned about Risio Institute through her employer. Founded in Alberta in 2020, Risio … Read more

B.C. company offers free CE-credit webinars to dentists after extending marketing deal

by Oral Health
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B.C.-based ClearDent announced Wednesday the extension of its exclusive Canadian partnership with Social Ordeals to provide digital marketing services to dentists across the country. ClearDent, an all-in-one, cloud-based dental practice management software solution, reports that users are already benefiting from Social Ordeals’ advanced digital marketing services, which now include AI-based tools and enhanced reporting for … Read more

Paid

Aesthetics and Efficiency in Chairside Dentistry:

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The Complete Workflow using GC Initial LiSi Block and G-CEM ONE In the evolving world of restorative dentistry, the demand for quick, reliable, and esthetic solutions is ever-increasing. Chairside CAD/CAM dentistry offers a powerful way to meet these demands, but only when paired with materials that can keep up with the pace of modern practice. … Read more

U.S. company says it completes study of ‘world’s first’ 3D intraoral dental technology

by Oral Health
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A Boston-based company that conducted the world’s first fully automated dental procedure using a robotic system has announced another breakthrough. Perceptive said Tuesday it has completed an early feasibility study of the world’s first in-vivo 3D intraoral Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) dental imaging system, in collaboration with PDS Health, a medical support organization with more … Read more

Oral biology, biochemistry professors receive $2.2 million grant to find ways to repair salivary glands

by University at Buffalo
Salivary gland disorders affect an estimated 20 per cent of people worldwide, according to the researchers. (iStock)

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Radiation therapy, a common treatment for some oral cancers, can leave a patient’s salivary glands so damaged that even talking is difficult. Meanwhile, diseases such as Sjogren’s, which eradicates moisture from many of the body’s glands, can compromise the amount of saliva created in the mouth and also hamper speech and swallowing. … Read more