The declining oral health recently detected in local children is even worse among adults, said Nicole Dupuis, director of health promotion for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. Dupuis said that’s the conclusion from the analysis of data collected in a survey of 1,600 adults between January and March of this year. The complete report will … Read more
As a dental hygienist, Heather Cooper’s job is to make peoples smiles shine. She normally works in Nanaimo but each year, as part of the charity she founded, she also goes to remote parts of Vancouver Island to help people who don’t have access to or can’t afford dental care. “And I take volunteers with … Read more
Many Texans would agree that healthy teeth and gums are important, however a Guardian survey shows Texans aren’t backing it up with regular visits to the dentist. In fact, 1 out of 5 Texans admit they haven’t seen a dentist in 5 years or more. 57% have seen a dentist in the last year, with only 39% … Read more
An Ottawa dentist says more needs to be done to help Ontarians access necessary dental care. Around 32 per cent of Canadians don’t have dental insurance, according to numbers from 2017, and approximately one in six Canadians aren’t able to access regular dental care. “Dentistry’s gotten quite expensive,” said Dr. Mark McCullough, owner and dentist of … Read more
In the treatment of severe liver disorders such as cirrhosis the standard of care traditionally has not focused on the patient’s teeth. Yet now, investigators at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) have just released new study findings that show routine oral care to treat gum disease (periodontitis) may play a role in reducing inflammation and … Read more
When Márta Demoth worked as a dentist in Nunavut, she says she felt more like a firefighter than a dentist. The teeth of many of the roughly 3,000 Nunavut patients she saw between 2014 and 2016 were so bad that often she had no choice but to extract their teeth instead of repair them. Children … Read more
Undergoing oral care with a dentist prior to major cancer surgery significantly decreased postoperative complications, according to the results of a Japanese retrospective study. Patients who received oral care had lower rates of postoperative pneumonia and all-cause 30-day mortality. “The question of whether preoperative oral care by a dentist can decrease postoperative complications remains controversial, … Read more
A trip to the dentist is one of the best ways to help children have a successful school year. This is unfortunately because the high cost of dental care has been linked to frequent school absences and learning problems. Even when they are in school, kids with painful dental health issues find it hard to concentrate on … Read more
Dental health experts worry that more people are using toothpaste that skips the most important ingredient — fluoride — and leaves them at a greater risk of cavities. Most toothpastes already contain fluoride. While health authorities recognize fluoride as a cavity blocker, the internet is dotted with claims, often from “natural” toothpaste marketers and alternative … Read more
People who have their tongues split deliberately are putting their health at serious risk, surgeons have warned. The procedure involves cutting the tongue in half to create a lizard-like forked effect. But experts said it came with the risk of significant blood loss, infection, nerve damage and problems with breathing and swallowing. They also warned … Read more
A Special Olympics athlete receives personal oral hygiene instruction at Special Smiles during Canada National Games in August 2018. Henry Schein, Inc. recently announced a multi-year partnership with Special Olympics to donate essential health care products in support of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes®, an initiative that offers health screenings—such as Special Smiles—and education to participating … Read more
In a move that could leave thousands of Quebecers without access to dental care, dentists are threatening to pull out of the public health system amid tense and longstanding contract negotiations with the province. Serge Langlois, the president of Association des chirurgiens dentistes du Québec (ACDQ), is asking for Premier Philippe Couillard to step in and … Read more
The Heroic Dentistry series celebrates oral health care providers who, like PULPDENT founder Dr. Harold Berk, have made it their mission to save teeth and help patients live in comfort and smile with confidence. Rachel has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and was referred to me for comprehensive dental care. She has acute anxiety around … Read more
Angered over what they call a lack of enthusiasm from Quebec Health Minister Gaetan Barrette over a new collective agreement, Quebec’s dentists are threatening to withdraw from a public dental plan. The agreement between the provincial government and the Association of Dental Surgeons of Quebec expired on April 1, 2015. Association President Serge Langlois said … Read more
On June 26th, 2018, a Doctors Without Borders team launched its fifth tour in Brazil, offering dental aid for indigenous people in the Amazon region who ordinarily have no access to dentists. Dentsply Sirona supports the team of dentists, doctors and medical students by providing material, manpower and equipment, including CEREC, which enables dental professionals … Read more
The British Columbia Dental Hygienists Association’s Caring Campaign will provide dental hygiene care for underserved or disadvantaged British Columbians who might not otherwise be able to access these important services. This project is a collaborative initiative between the British Columbia Dental Hygienists’ Association (BCDHA), corporate sponsors Sunstar and Maxident, and independent dental hygiene practitioners across … Read more
Dental professor Othman Shibly travels twice a year to the borders of his native Syria to help deliver dental care to more than 2,000 refugee children. The challenge: The number amounts to one percent of the 200,000 children displaced by the ongoing Syrian civil war. To reach more people and increase the sustainability of care, … Read more
With the Ontario election just a couple weeks away and endless information about the parties’ platforms circulating, it’s a good time to refresh yourself on what healthcare promises are being made. Dental care has been a massive topic for each party this year, with everything from lower costs to universal dental care being promised. While … Read more
A Progressive Conservative government would invest $98 million per year to help low-income access dental care, party Leader Doug Ford said Saturday. “Many Ontarians have dental insurance, but two thirds of low-income seniors cannot afford it,” Ford told reporters in Toronto. “They end up in the ER due to unbearable dental pain. More suffering for … Read more
P.E.I. dental professionals will once again be opening their hearts by providing free oral health care to those in the community who need it most. On Saturday April 7, the Prince Edward Island Dental Hygienists’ Association is hosting a one-day event, Gift from the Heart, for people who can’t afford dental hygiene treatment at the … Read more