Patterson Companies is moving closer to becoming a private company after its shareholders approved its acquisition by investment firm Patient Square Capital at a special meeting on Tuesday. “The Patterson team is excited about this partnership with Patient Square Capital and beginning our next chapter as a private company,” said Don Zurbay, Patterson’s president and … Read more
The president of the American Dental Association (ADA) expressed alarm Tuesday after scores of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees received layoff notices Monday night and Tuesday morning. “I am disappointed with the Department of Government Efficiency’s targeting of oral health workforce reductions,” said Brett Kessler, D.D.S., ADA president. The U.S. administration … Read more
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has put oral health in the spotlight, but Dr. Hans Herchen, president of the Alberta Dental Association (ADA), says both federal and provincial dental programs have major shortcomings that need to be addressed. “We want to draw attention to the fact that both federal and provincial dental programs have … Read more
A research team from the Philippines and Taiwan has developed an artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostic system capable of identifying tooth and sinus structures in dental X-rays with 98.2% accuracy. The study, published by the Ateneo Laboratory for Intelligent Visual Environments (ALIVE) in collaboration with Taiwan’s Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Chung Yuan Christian … Read more
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, over opposition from dentists and national health organizations who warn the move will lead to medical problems and disproportionately affect low-income communities. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed legislation Thursday that bars cities and communities from deciding whether to add the … Read more
Most oral health care providers report they can continue providing care within one month, despite the anticipated increase in patients under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which is expected to add 4.5 million more patients, a recent survey published by the government on Wednesday shows. “Despite the anticipated increase in demand, most practices still … Read more
The Alberta Dental Association says on Tuesday it is ready to work with the provincial government to develop a dental care program tailored for Alberta, just days after Canada’s health minister provided an update on the final phase of the federal dental plan rollout. “Alberta dental patients and providers are in a complicated position,” said … Read more
VAUGHAN, Ont. — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Tuesday that his party will not scrap the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) if elected. “We will protect these programs, and nobody who has them will lose them,” Poilievre said when asked about the CDCP and pharmacare — social programs introduced by the Liberal government with … Read more
An Australian study has linked bottle feeding babies to sleep beyond 12 months to dental cavities and overweight in early childhood, citing prolonged exposure of teeth to sugar as one of the contributing factors. Lead author Heilok Cheng told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that similar international studies have shown similar links, but this research, … Read more
The American Dental Association (ADA), along with 66 other organizations, is urging Congress to pass legislation focused on reducing occupational burnout, mental stress, and suicide among healthcare professionals. Named after Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician who died by suicide in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the bipartisan bill was initially authorized in 2022. … Read more
Following Health Minister Kamal Khera’s announcement Saturday to expand the final phase of the federal dental care plan—originally expected to launch earlier this year—the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) welcomed the move. Speaking in Newmarket, Ont., Khera announced the expansion of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64. She … Read more
Canada’s Health Minister Kamal Khera announced Saturday that the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will begin accepting applications from its “largest cohort” of eligible dental patients aged 18 to 64 in May. The program, which launched for seniors in December 2023, has expanded in phases to cover children and people with disabilities. Its final rollout … Read more
Women who do not seek preventive dental care during pregnancy may have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders, according to a new study analyzing U.S. health data. The research, published in The Journal of the American Dental Association, examined responses from 206,080 pregnant women surveyed between 2016 and 2020 through the … Read more
A study has found that high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) significantly increases the risk of oral cavity cancer (OCC) in women, particularly in nonsmokers and light smokers. The study, published online March 13 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, was based on data from 162,602 women who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study and Nurses’ … Read more
Dentalcorp acquired 30 new dental practices last year, continuing its expansion as Canada’s largest corporate dental network, the company announced Friday in its 2024 financial and operating results. As of its third-quarter investor report in 2024, Dentalcorp owned 550 practices and was in the process of acquiring another 160 clinics. This adds to the total … Read more
A London-based Hungarian florist could face dental restoration costs of up to $46,000 after letting his teeth deteriorate due to severe dentophobia. Lajos Csendes, 31, avoided dental visits for years, leading to significant oral health issues, including facial bone deterioration. His teeth had been weak since his teens, sometimes breaking from biting into bread, the … Read more
Like other Canadians, dentists are grappling with uncertainty as the Trump administration plans to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports, effective April 2, following the previously enacted 10 per cent tariffs on Chinese-origin goods. Clifford Sosnow, chair of Fasken’s International Trade and Investment Group, said during a webinar hosted Tuesday by the … Read more
Newfoundland and Labrador Auditor General Denise Hanrahan said Wednesday that issues with the province’s Medical Care Plan (MCP) and Dental Health Plan remain unresolved more than a decade after they were first identified. Hanrahan delivered a performance audit report to the House of Assembly, highlighting ongoing concerns with compliance, information technology, and oversight. Hanrahan noted … Read more
For its latest March issue, Benjamin W. Chaffee, associate editor of the Journal of the California Dental Association and professor, wrote in appreciation of NBA star Stephen Curry’s use of mouthguards to protect his teeth during games. Citing sports history, Chaffee noted that sports have been “resistant to change” when it comes to prioritizing player … Read more
