Nearly half of the 5.2 million Canadians approved under the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) have yet to see a dentist, Health Minister Marjorie Michel acknowledged Thursday. “It’s still a new program,” Michel told reporters when pressed on the uptake rate. “It’s like, you can go to your doctor, and you don’t feel the … Read more
A substance recently banned from gel nail polishes across the European Union is reportedly still in use in certain dental procedures in Portugal — raising concerns that regulatory action could expand to medical-device materials, Euro News reported Friday. The chemical, Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO), acts as a photoinitiator, triggering polymerization (hardening) of gels and resins … Read more
Shanghai-based clear-aligner manufacturer Angelalign Technology Inc. (6699.HK) has categorically denied claims of patent infringement brought by California-based Align Technology Inc., pledging defence in a statement on Wednesday. “Angel has a rich heritage of clinically driven innovation during its 20-plus-year history. Accusations by our competitor of patent violations are frivolous and entirely without merit,” said Angelalign’s … Read more
More Canadian employees are receiving medical and dental benefits through their jobs, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The agency said 66.8 per cent of employees reported having workplace medical or dental coverage in 2024, marking the third straight year of increases. The share stood at 63.3 per cent in 2021, rose to 64.2 … Read more
Associations representing oral health professionals continue their push for detailed workforce data, despite earlier attempts to secure the information needed for long-term planning. “At this point, the only data we have is the total number of dental hygienists registered in each province and territory,” said Sylvie Martel, director of dental hygiene practice at the Canadian … Read more
Unless you’ve been living under a fluoride rock, you’ve probably heard about the now-infamous Tea app. Touted as a women-only platform for anonymously reviewing men they’ve dated, Tea surged to No. 1 in the App Store earlier this year. It promised to promote dating safety and empower women to warn others about red-flag behaviour. It … Read more
On the surface, the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) seems simple: uninsured Canadians earning under $90,000 gain access to dental care and dentists gain new patients.However, it’s not that simple, as the CDCP creates scenarios with nuances. Bernard Dolansky, senior national partner, transition consultant and salesperson, and Bill Henderson, broker and senior transition sales … Read more
As the number of practising dentists has grown, solo practice ownership in Canada has steadily declined. Recent surveys show only about one-third of dentists now operate solo practices, according to the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). More than half report working alongside two or more other dentists, the CDA added. The CDA also outlined the historical … Read more
Drawing data from 7,633 children in Bristol, England, a recently published study shows that childhood abuse can increase the risk of developing caries in children ages 7 to 10. “This knowledge can help dentists identify vulnerable children or families during routine dental visits,” the researchers wrote in their paper, published in the Journal of Dentistry. … Read more
A recent YouGov survey reveals a generational shift in how Americans approach wisdom tooth removal, with younger adults increasingly challenging the long-standing norm of routine extraction. “In the past few decades, there has been growing evidence that removing undiseased wisdom teeth may have more costs than benefits,” said Alexander Rossell Hayes, senior data scientist at YouGov, who analyzed … Read more
The American Dental Association has raised concerns about a dental insurer acquiring a chain of dental practices, warning the move could compromise patient care and dentist autonomy. In a statement published Wednesday, the ADA said Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s recent acquisition of Cherry Tree Dental — a leading general dentistry provider and dental service organization … Read more
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Thursday that banning fluoride in drinking water will likely result in more cavities. “It’s a balance,” Kennedy told Fox News. “You’re going to see probably slightly more cavities. Although in Europe, where they ban fluoride, they did not see an uptick in cavities. The issue … Read more
The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) is pushing back against claims of a widespread shortage of dental hygienists, urging governments and employers to invest in improved work environments, retention strategies and evidence-based workforce planning. “Dental hygienists are not leaving the profession — they’re leaving unhealthy workplaces,” said Ondina Love, chief executive officer of the CDHA. … Read more
Canadian media on Monday spotlighted a Calgary dentist who defrauded two insurance companies — Sun Life and Blue Cross — of more than $126,000 in false claims, primarily for root canals. Dr. Alena Smadych, former owner of All About Family Dental on Elbow Drive S.W., pleaded guilty to fraud on what was scheduled to be … Read more