A new report says Canada’s health-care system has fallen behind international peers in access to care, equity and wait times, outperforming only the United States. The not-for-profit think tank C.D. Howe Institute says Canada ranks ninth out of 10 countries evaluated, including the Netherlands and United Kingdom, who were top performers. The report also says … Read more
Since the mid-1900s, researchers have studied Finland’s uniquely high frequency and geographic distribution of cleft palate birth defects. The cause was long presumed to be genetic. Now, researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) and their collaborators have identified a likely culprit: a change in a DNA variant near the IRF6 gene. This DNA change, which … Read more
An Australian team from Metro South Oral Health is working to combine advanced 3D printing with AI and new materials described as “light” and “durable,” the Queensland government said Thursday. The goal is to improve both the precision and speed of creating dental prosthetics, including dentures and crowns. “In the future, we aim to reduce … Read more
ClearDent Dental Software, based in B.C., has announced a strategic partnership with a Calgary institution dedicated to advancing dental education and research. Through this partnership, ClearDent’s innovative dental practice management solutions will help The Aurum Group, which includes FACE4D Diagnostic Imaging Centre and Hyo Maier Centre for Dental Excellence, offer hands-on education to students and … Read more
U.S. dentists, on average, are retiring at 69 as of 2023, returning to their pre-pandemic retirement age, according to data released by the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute. Over the last 20 years, the average age of retirement for U.S. dentists has steadily increased, from 64.7 in 2001 to over 65 in 2003. This … Read more
The debate over fluoride in drinking water continues with the release of a new study. A systematic review and meta-analysis published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics found significant inverse associations between high fluoride exposure and children’s IQ scores. The analysis included 74 cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies spanning multiple countries, including Canada, China, Denmark, India, Iran, … Read more
Wearing dentures may help protect older adults from cognitive decline, according to a new study published in Aging Medicine on Dec. 23. Researchers from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing analyzed nearly 10 years of data from 27,708 older adults in China, including those with partial or complete tooth loss. The study found that adults … Read more
As the link between oral and overall health becomes more established and well-known to doctors and patients alike, saliva kits are increasingly showing promise as preventive tools. To fine-tune these kits, scientists are researching saliva itself. Recently, Penn Dental Medicine announced that its researchers have identified nine inflammation proteins indicative of gum disease progression after … Read more
Survey of over 400,000 patients worldwide Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) is a systematic, evidence-based and modular concept for professional prevention, periodontal and peri-implant treatment for lifelong maintenance. A unique global survey of over 400,000 patients provided a clear result: more than 94% prefer GBT as a positive overall experience. Oral health is based on … Read more
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a game-changer for some communities. Thousands of people in Thunder Bay-Superior North “are getting dental care for the first time” in decades thanks to the federal program that started earlier this year, Patty Hajdu, Member of Parliament and federal cabinet minister of Indigenous services since 2021, said in hindsight … Read more
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on Jan. 3 over the direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. The advisory identifies alcohol as the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, behind tobacco and obesity. “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases … Read more
Some federal retirees have contacted CBC, saying they’re considering dropping their private plan under the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) in favour of the national plan rolled out last year. Frustration is brewing among approximately 325,000 federal retirees since the PDSP’s annual maximum coverage of $1,500 has remained unchanged since 2005. In contrast, the Public … Read more
Injecting an anaesthetic to prepare a sobbing five-year-old patient for a tooth extraction in a pediatric clinic is an anxiety-inducing scenario for many dental students. A French study sought to determine whether dental students’ emotions during training simulations with high-tech mannequins were comparable to those experienced in real-life clinical practice. The study, conducted at the … Read more
The year 2024 has been an important one for dentistry in Canada, marked by groundbreaking studies, technological advancements, and evolving healthcare policies. With oral health increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of overall well-being, developments in the sector drew widespread attention and set the stage for future innovation. Here is a look at the top 10 … Read more
Before exploring the top two trends anticipated for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in dentistry, it’s worth reviewing AI’s significant advancements this year—revolutionizing diagnosis, predictive analysis, and personalized treatment Key advancements include AI-powered tools for implant planning and streamlining Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans, says Dr. Thomas Nguyen, DMD, MSc, Diplomate of ABP, FRCD(C). CBCT technology … Read more
University of Florida has launched a cutting-edge AI-powered simulation program, combining avatars and virtual reality, to train future dentists and nurse practitioners, Main Street Daily News reported. Dr. Michael Bumbach, clinical assistant professor at UF’s College of Nursing, spearheaded the initiative after recalling the challenges of entering the professional world without adequate practice in specialist … Read more
A new study published in The Anatomical Record suggests dolphins may use their teeth as sonar antennae, helping to explain how they hear and echolocate underwater. “Our findings support the hypothesis that dolphins utilize their teeth as part of an advanced sound reception system,” Ryo Kodera at Tsurumi University in Japan told New Scientist. “This … Read more
The year 2024 will be remembered for its transformative milestones in dentistry, from groundbreaking technologies to significant policy shifts and innovations in dental medicine. Here is a concise recap of the top eight events that shaped the dental world this year: 1- First robotic dental procedure In July, U.S.-based company Perceptive announced the first fully … Read more
A finding shows that about 1.7 million people in the U.S. did not have access to dental clinics within a 30-minute drive, and 24.7 million lived in dental care shortage areas. The analysis published on the JAMA Network on Dec. 23 made the finding after a cross-sectional study of 205,762 U.S. dentists. Access to dental … Read more
Researchers from the University of Washington and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have examined the atomic composition of enamel samples from two human teeth—one from a 22-year-old and one from a 56-year-old. Their study, published in Communications Materials on− Dec. 19, found that the sample from the older individual contained higher levels of fluoride, particularly … Read more