Dental Industry

SNL’s dental school sketch with Scarlett Johansson puts a wild spin on the Hippocratic Oath

by Oral Health
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The latest Saturday Night Live cut-for-time sketch, “Graduation Day,” features Scarlett Johansson leading a hilarious reinterpretation of the Hippocratic Oath—this time, for dentists. SNL dubbed its version the “dentocratic” oath, which is delivered by valedictorian Penny Shannon (Johansson), who announces she will be working at Oceanside Tooth and Breath in Cleveland, Ohio. “The office right … Read more

Six of 30 new Manitoba dental grads were internationally trained

by Oral Health
Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry graduates. (Photo courtesy: UM)

Six of the 30 graduates from the University of Manitoba’s Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry were internationally trained dentists. The foreign-trained dentists—originally educated in Nigeria, Hungary and India—earned their Canadian credentials through UM’s International Dentist Degree Program (IDDP), said the university. The IDDP is a two-year program for dentists who hold a minimum four-year … Read more

DeSantis signs a bill making Florida the 2nd state to ban fluoride from its water system

by Stephany Matat And Kate Payne, The Associated Press
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure Thursday prohibiting local governments from adding fluoride to their water systems, making it the second state in the country after Utah to implement a statewide ban on the mineral. DeSantis signed the bill at a public event in Dade City, Florida, over the concerns of … Read more

FDA to remove ingestible fluoride prescription drugs for children from U.S. market

by Oral Health
Unlike toothpaste with fluoride or fluoride rinses, these products are swallowed and ingested by infants and toddlers, says the FDA. (iStock)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it will begin removing concentrated, ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for children from the U.S. market. In a statement Tuesday, the agency said these products, offered for children aged six months to 16 years, have never been approved by the FDA. The agency has set Oct. 31 as … Read more

As CDCP opens to people aged 18 to 34, women in this group report highest rates of mouth pain

by Oral Health
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Starting May 15, applications for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will open to Canadians aged 18 to 34. So, what makes this demographic stand out? All data in the following graphs is from Statistics Canada and offers insight into the oral health of this age group — and why they may benefit from the … Read more

Review says eggshell-derived hydroxyapatite shows promise as dental biomaterial

by Oral Health
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Hydroxyapatite (HAp) derived from chicken eggshells is emerging as a “promising biomaterial in dentistry,” according to a recent review published in Evidence-Based Dentistry. The review, which analyzed 17 studies on eggshell-derived hydroxyapatite (E-HAp), found the material offers “a wide range of applications” in tissue engineering and regenerative dentistry. The authors conducted a comprehensive literature search … Read more

Applying the concept of retargeting to attract and retain your highest-value patients

by Naren Arulrajah, President and CEO of Ekwa Marketing
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You may recall that conversion rates are among the most important indicators related to the health of your digital marketing strategy. You track the total number of visitors to your site. Now, this indicator measures the percentage of those visitors who “convert” or take the next desirable action step – whether that be requesting more … Read more

The story behind a dentist-turned-scientist who created a device to detect early cavities without X-rays

by Oral Health
Gili Naveh in her lab with her cavity-detecting toothpick tool. (Photo courtesy of Alonso Nichols/Tufts Now)

When parents of her young patients expressed frustration over the number of cavities their children needed filled, Gili Naveh, an orthodontist-turned-scientist, had a light-bulb moment. “They tried everything their pediatric dentist told them, but every time they would go for an exam, the dentist would find so many new cavities,” said Naveh, associate professor of … Read more

Kanye West accuses dentist of nitrous oxide addiction amid global rise in laughing gas use

by Oral Health
holding a small vial of nitrous oxide, used as a drug and laughing gas in young people

U.S. media have reported that world-famous rapper Kanye West has sent a legal notice to his dentist, accusing him of malpractice that allegedly led to West’s addiction to nitrous oxide. With West’s wife, Bianca Censori, acting as a witness, the letter — signed by lawyer Andrew Cherkasky — claims that Dr. Thomas Connelly, dubbed the … Read more

Florida is poised to become 2nd state to ban fluoride from public water systems

by Kate Payne, The Associated Press
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Florida is poised to become the second state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, over the concerns of dentists and public health advocates who say the mineral is a safe, effective way to protect people of all ages from developing cavities. Florida lawmakers gave final approval to the bill Tuesday after Utah … Read more

VR in dental education: 5 key insights from a global survey of 156 schools

by Oral Health
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A Finnish study led by the University of Eastern Finland surveyed 156 institutions across 53 countries to gauge how dental educators use virtual reality (VR) in training and what’s holding it back. Published in Frontiers in Dental Medicine, the study collected 378 responses, with 57% of respondents holding dental doctorates and 59% holding PhDs. So far, incorporating VR in dental education is … Read more

From 250+ publications to digital innovation: 5 things to know about U of T’s new dentistry dean, Anil Kishen

by Oral Health
Anil Kishen, a world-renowned innovator in the field of endodontics, has been appointed dean of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry. (Photo by University of Toronto/ Jeff Comber)

The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry will welcome a new dean on July 1. Here’s what the dental community needs to know about Dr. Anil Kishen — a world-renowned endodontics researcher, advocate and educator with a passion for innovation and accessibility in oral health. 1. He’s a leader in endodontics and oral health nanomedicine … Read more

National Dental Hygienists Week: A reminder that oral health is linked to overall well-being

by Oral Health
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As links between oral and systemic health grow stronger, dental hygienists take centre stage in promoting a prevention-first model of care. April is Oral Health Month in Canada—a reminder that oral health is deeply connected to overall health. This year, dental hygienists are using the spotlight to highlight their expanding role in preventive care and … Read more

Dental stem cells offer promising new path to treat neurodegenerative diseases, Basque researchers say

by Oral Health
Researchers at the University of the Basque Country have developed neuron-like cells from dental stem cells, a discovery that could pave the way for new treatments for epilepsy and Huntington’s disease.

Stem cells from human dental pulp have been used to create neuron-like cells capable of generating electrical impulses—opening up new possibilities for treating conditions such as Huntington’s disease and epilepsy, according to researchers at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). The peer-reviewed study, published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, shows that these excitable … Read more

Police: Unlicensed ‘dentist’ arrested in New York after patients suffer injuries

by Oral Health
A photo by N.Y. Suffolk County Police Department shared by local media (Law and Crime, and People) of Yolany Mejia Carranza's alleged illegal at-home dental practice in Long Island.

Authorities in Suffolk County, N.Y., have arrested a woman accused of running an illegal dental practice out of her home, allegedly performing complex procedures without a license and leaving multiple patients injured, including one who suffered severe nerve damage and partial facial paralysis. Yolany Y. Mejia Carranza, 55, was taken into custody on March 14 … Read more

Do more female dentists rely on their partners for financial advice?

by Oral Health
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A British survey reveals that an increasing number of female dentists are relying on their partners for financial advice rather than seeking guidance from professionals. A biennial study from Wesleyan Financial Services found that in 2024, 37 per cent of female dentists primarily sought financial advice from their partners. This marks an increase from 2022, … Read more

Review: COVID-19 antibody rates among dental workers higher than previously thought

by Oral Health
COVID-19 antibody

A review citing data from 10 observational studies involving 6,083 dental professionals across seven European countries and Brazil estimates COVID-19 antibody rates higher than previously reported. The review shows that COVID-19 rates among oral health care workers (OHCWs) stand at 13.49 per cent, compared to the general population. “The data indicate a somewhat increased occupation-specific … Read more

Digital innovation in dental instrument sterilization: Meeting RCDSO’s latest guidelines

by Joel Eisenstat, DDS, P.Eng
The RCDSO guidelines stipulate parameters for instrument reprocessing that requiring monitoring and documentation. (iStock)

The cornerstone of patient safety in dental practice lies in proper instrument sterilization and meticulous documentation. As the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) continues to emphasize stringent sterilization protocols, dental practices face increasing challenges in maintaining comprehensive records while managing busy clinical schedules. Critical parameters in instrument sterilization The RCDSO guidelines mandate … Read more

Utah will be the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water

by Matthew Brown And Hannah Schoenbaum, The Associated Press
Utah appears to be the first state ready to put a full ban on fluoride in public water systems under a bill that doesn't allow cities or communities to decide whether to add the cavity-preventing mineral.

Utah will become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, despite widespread opposition from dentists and national health organizations. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox said he would sign legislation that bars cities and communities from deciding whether to add the mineral to their water systems. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost … Read more

During the pandemic, U.S. hospitals saw a 62% surge in emergency visits for kids’ dental conditions

by Oral Health
An NYU study shows that during the pandemic, about 62 per cent of children using Medicaid had to visit the ER for dental conditions, a significant increase compared to 3.7 per cent in 2019.

U.S. researchers want the healthcare community to learn from past mistakes in case of future pandemics. One key finding from a new study is that dental office closures during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a 62 per cent increase in emergency visits for children’s dental conditions. “Emergency departments are not well equipped to treat dental … Read more