News

U.S. trade commission warns of ‘unreasonable’ noncompete clauses by health-care and staffing companies

by Oral Health
The warning comes after the FTC freed 1,800 workers from noncompetes at a major pet cremation company and launched a public inquiry on future enforcement.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is warning employers — particularly large health-care organizations and staffing firms — to review their noncompete and restrictive covenant agreements to ensure they are not overbroad or unjustifiably restrictive. FTC Chair Andrew N. Ferguson sent letters to several health-care employers and staffing companies on Sept. 10, urging them to examine … Read more

Investment company buys Florida distribution centre for $21.1M and leases it to Henry Schein

by Oral Health
The distribution centre was last sold in 2022 for $15.83 million. (Photo courtesy: JLL Capital Markets)

JLL Capital Markets announced on Sept. 12 that it sold a 98,408-square-foot distribution centre in Jacksonville, Florida, for $21.1 million. The property, located at 4925 Bulls Bay Highway in Jacksonville’s Westside submarket, is fully leased to Henry Schein, Inc., a Fortune 500 global leader in healthcare product distribution. The side-load facility, built in 2006, sits … Read more

Researchers develop antibacterial dental resin that could extend the life of fillings and crowns

by Oral Health
Restoration of teeth with filling-polymerization lamp alternate text for this image

A new resin technology developed with U.S. Department of Energy support promises to cut down on costly, repeat dental procedures. Dental restorations such as fillings and crowns often fail within five to seven years because of secondary tooth decay. But a Brazilian dentist-turned-researcher, now based in Oklahoma, has developed a groundbreaking adhesive resin that could … Read more

Carney pledges continued support for Canadian Dental Care Plan, pharmacare amid ‘tough decisions’

by Oral Health
Prime Minister Mark Carney says on Thursday, Sep. 11, 2025, that "we have to be in control of federal spending” to continue supporting programs such as CDCP. (Photo by Lars Hagberg/Office of the Prime Minister of Canada)

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the federal government will continue to back national social programs such as dental care, child care and pharmacare, even as tough spending decisions loom in the fall budget. Speaking at a press conference in Edmonton on Thursday, Carney acknowledged the upcoming budget will require difficult trade-offs but stressed that affordability … Read more

Global dental events spotlight: Implant Summit set for Sweden in 2026, IADR returns to Japan in 2029

by Oral Health
Sweden, the birthplace of osseointegration, will host the Implant Solutions World Summit in 2026, while Yokohama will stage the world’s largest dental research meeting in 2029. (iStock)

Two of the dental profession’s most influential gatherings are on the horizon, promising to shape the future of implant dentistry and oral research worldwide. Dentsply Sirona Implant Solutions World Summit 2026 Dentsply Sirona’s flagship education event will return June 25–27, 2026, in Gothenburg, Sweden — the birthplace of osseointegration. The three-day summit will bring together … Read more

Dental startups raise nearly $24M as investors back AI insurance platform and custom-fit toothbrush

by Oral Health
More than $24M flows into dental AI and oral health technology.

Dental startups this week secured more than $24 million in funding, with investors betting on innovation that could transform both patient care and industry administration. California-based ZERObrush raised $10.8 million to advance what it calls the world’s first fully automated, custom-fit oral cleaning device designed to replace the traditional toothbrush. The health technology company, founded … Read more

Researchers identify gene cluster that helps good oral bacteria outcompete cavity-causing strains

by Oral Health
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A UC Berkeley professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering has long aimed to distinguish good oral bacteria from the bad. But Wenjun Zhang’s quest is not straightforward. Researchers have found that bacterial species are not entirely good or bad. This is because individual species can have hundreds of strains that vary in their cavity-promoting qualities. … Read more

Ontario dentist seeks kidney donor for son facing end-stage renal disease

by Oral Health
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When Julian Martino was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease in December 2023, he didn’t put his life on hold—he doubled down on helping others. While undergoing dialysis, the now 25-year-old completed a nursing degree and works as a hemodialysis nurse, caring for patients living with the same illness. “While many people in this position struggle … Read more

U.S. health department pulls back study tying alcohol to oral, esophageal and other cancers

by Oral Health
In January, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy urged cancer warning labels on alcohol, citing risks for at least seven types, including oral cancer.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has pulled back a government report warning of links between cancer and even low levels of alcohol consumption, The New York Time reported. The sidelined report, titled the Alcohol Intake and Health Study, warned that even one drink a day increases the risk of liver cirrhosis, … Read more

Three stats every dentist needs to know about Google reviews

by Adrian Clocusneanu, Marketing Manager at RevUp Dental
Google reviews shape the flow of new patients in your practice. (iStock)

Most dentists know that they need more Google reviews to get more new patients. It makes sense, right? Humans are influenced by what other people think about products and services. If you’re shopping on Amazon, you’re going to check the reviews before deciding if something is worth buying. The same goes for booking a hotel, … Read more

U.S. dentistry gets younger as women reach nearly 40% of dental workforce

by Oral Health
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The U.S. dental workforce is undergoing a generational and gender shift, with younger and more female dentists taking the lead, according to new data from the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Health Policy Institute (HPI). In 2024, women accounted for almost 40 per cent of practicing dentists in the United States (nearly 2 in 5 dentists) … Read more

Teens who lose teeth nearly twice as likely to be bullied, study finds

by Oral Health
Australian researchers say tooth loss in adolescence can have serious social and psychological impacts, not just dental ones.

Teenagers who lose teeth due to decay or injury are almost twice as likely to be bullied, according to new Australian research. The collaborative study by the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, published in JDR Clinical & Translational Research, analyzed data from more than 4,400 children in the Longitudinal Study of Australian … Read more

Sugar substitutes may protect teeth, but major study links most to faster cognitive decline

by Oral Health
Sweet but risky? Study reveals sugar substitutes and cognitive decline are strongly linked.

Sugar substitutes have long been promoted as a healthier alternative to sugar. They don’t cause cavities the way sugar does, and some — like xylitol — may even reduce Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria behind tooth decay. Research has also shown they have little to no impact on blood glucose levels, making them popular for people … Read more

Maple compound and chamomile extract show promise in fighting cavities

by Oral Health
New studies show compounds from maple and chamomile may help prevent cavities, offering a natural boost for oral health.

Natural ingredients commonly found in consumer products are increasingly being recognized for their ability to fight tooth decay. Two recent studies highlight the potential of chamomile extract and a compound derived from maple to help prevent cavities. Maple compounds Researchers at the University of Wyoming reported in Microbiology Spectrum in early August that a non-toxic … Read more

Six doctors receive dental training before deployment to Australia’s Antarctic stations

by Oral Health
australian expedition in the antarctic-edited alternate text for this image

Six Australian doctors have completed dental training before their deployment to four Antarctic stations later this year. The two-week course, held in August in Tasmania, was delivered by Oral Health Services Tasmania (OHST) at the Southern Dental Centre in Hobart. It marked a shift from the past seven decades, when Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) doctors … Read more

Dental fear rising in the U.S., study shows — yet most patients want treatment

by Oral Health
When asked if they would be interested in a free, at-home treatment for dental fear, 71.2 per cent of those with moderate or severe fear said yes.

Nearly three out of four American adults fear going to the dentist, according to new research from the NYU College of Dentistry. Earlier studies, conducted decades ago, estimated that just over a quarter of the U.S. population experienced dental anxiety. The new study, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) on Tuesday, … Read more

Well-controlled diabetes protects teeth as much as not having the disease, large study finds

by Oral Health
The researchers noted that regular maintenance preserved more teeth than treatment-only care, regardless of age or diabetes status.

A major cross-sectional study reports that people with well-managed diabetes keep about as many natural teeth as those without diabetes — but poor glycemic control is tied to faster tooth loss. The research team from Shiga University of Medical Science, in collaboration with Sunstar, analyzed an employment-based Japanese health claims and check-up database covering 705,542 … Read more

Could tea tree oil help high-risk caries patients? Study finds strong anti-plaque effect

by Oral Health
Tea tree oil significantly reduced caries lesions in rats, though its effect on the broader oral microbiome remains under study.

A new study suggests tea tree oil (TTO) could help patients at high risk of dental caries by inhibiting the growth of key oral bacteria and preventing biofilm formation. Published in Scientific Reports on Aug. 29, the research highlights TTO as a “potent antimicrobial agent against cariogenic bacteria,” potentially offering a natural alternative or complement … Read more

U.S. dental association launches AI service to speed up credentialing

by Oral Health
Delays in dental credentialing can slow a dentist’s ability to see patients and bill insurers, impacting both practices and patients.

The American Dental Association has launched an artificial intelligence-powered service aimed at reducing administrative burdens by speeding up the credentialing process for dentists. The ADA Delegated Credentialing Service, developed with Boston-based LightSpun, builds on the existing ADA-CAQH Provider Data Portal, which has supported more than 150,000 dentists over the past seven years. The portal, operated … Read more

Study: Dental pulp stones suggest underlying systemic conditions such as diabetes

by Oral Health
Dental pulp stones—calcified deposits in the tooth pulp—are typically asymptomatic and often go unnoticed. A recent study suggests these findings, along with carotid artery calcifications, may be more common in people with diabetes. Published on Aug. 4, 2025, in BMC Endocrine Disorders, researchers examined panoramic radiographs of 107 diabetic patients (67 women, 40 men; age range 25–64, mean 49.7) and compared them with radiographs from 300 healthy individuals (196 women, 104 men).

Dental pulp stones—calcified deposits in the tooth pulp—are typically asymptomatic and often go unnoticed. A recent study suggests these findings, along with carotid artery calcifications, may be more common in people with diabetes. Published on Aug. 4, 2025, in BMC Endocrine Disorders, researchers examined panoramic radiographs of 107 diabetic patients (67 women, 40 men; age … Read more