Nova Scotia reels from dental staff shortages, more than 100 positions open

Dental staff shortage in Nova Scotia is contributing to longer wait times. (iStock)

Nova Scotia is grappling with significant dental staff shortages — specifically hygienists and assistants — with more than 100 active job postings across the province. The shortage is contributing to longer wait times, with some patients waiting up to five months for appointments, particularly in rural areas. “I know people in rural Nova Scotia are … Read more

Oral bacterium tied to accelerated breast cancer growth and spread in preclinical study

One in 8 females in Canada are expected to develop breast cancer in their lifetime. (iStock)

A common oral bacterium associated with periodontal disease may drive the development and spread of breast cancer, particularly in genetically susceptible patients, according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. The study, published Jan. 15 in Cell Communication and Signaling, found that Fusobacterium nucleatum, a bacterium commonly found in the oral cavity, … Read more

Empathy-driven dental clinic sees uptick in patients with accessibility needs

sensory-friendly dental clinic child autism special care dentistry Ontario toy car dental visit

One morning in February, Dr. Salome Lomlomdjian and her team cleared their Mississauga clinic so an 11-year-old patient, Max, could receive treatment in a calm, controlled setting — reducing the risk of him becoming overwhelmed or dysregulated. For Max’s mother, Maria Garito, the level of preparation stood in sharp contrast to the barriers she had … Read more

Scholar-athlete Rueben Chinyelu eyes dentistry career as March Madness looms

The Florida centre, Rueben Chinyelu, a scholar-athlete, is pursuing dentistry — offering a glimpse into non-traditional pathways into the profession. (Photos: Chinyelu's IG account)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida center Rueben Chinyelu is as much a force in the classroom as he is in the paint — a double major and a walking double-double. The 6-foot-10 junior from Nigeria is the second in Southeastern Conference history to be named scholar-athlete of the year and defensive player of the year in the … Read more

Hygiene Spotlight: Professor Mary Bertone’s community-first approach earns national recognition

Following a peer nomination, Prof. Mary Bertone received the Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association in 2025. (Photo supplied)

Hygiene Spotlight features an exceptional dental hygienist every month. For March, meet Mary Bertone, a professor with a long record of leadership and community service in dental hygiene be it on ground, leadership or education. Last fall, Bertone, RDH, BSc(DH), MPH, an associate professor and director of the School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Manitoba’s … Read more

Dutch dentists and students see AI as support tool, pilot study finds

The survey found the highest perceived value for AI in diagnostic and planning tasks. (iStock)

Dental professionals and students in the Netherlands broadly support the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in dentistry, viewing it as a tool that could improve efficiency and patient care rather than replace clinicians, according to a pilot study published in the International Dental Journal. Researchers surveyed 166 participants — including dentists, dental students and maxillofacial … Read more

Haleon invests C$118M in Shanghai oral-care plant as China’s gum-health market grows

Aerial view of the Lingang New Area industrial park in Shanghai, where Haleon plans to build a new oral-health manufacturing facility. The company aims to expand its gum-health brand parodontax to 30 Chinese cities by the end of 2027. (iStock)

UK-based consumer health company Haleon has announced plans to invest about C$118 million (£65 million) in a new oral-health manufacturing facility in Shanghai to support growth in what it says is the world’s largest gum-health market. China’s gum-health market is valued at approximately C$1.56 billion (£860 million). In its press release, Haleon says more than … Read more

Series of U.S. arrests highlight dangers of unlicensed dentistry

It's estimated that at least 11 unlicensed‑dentist cases were documented in the U.S. in 2025. (iStock)

A string of recent arrests across the United States is drawing attention to the risks of unlicensed dental care, with authorities in New Jersey, Florida and Illinois accusing individuals of performing dental procedures without proper credentials — in some cases leaving patients injured or hospitalized. New Jersey: unfinished root canal leads to arrest In South … Read more

TED-Talk style event on menopause and oral health set for April 21 in Ottawa

The upcoming Menopause Unveiled: The Silent Epidemic & Oral Health session in Ottawa will adopt a TED Talk-style format. (iStock photo)

After the success of Menopause Unveiled: The Silent Epidemic & Oral Health, held in September in Etobicoke to raise awareness about menopause and its oral-health implications, organizers are bringing the event to Ottawa on April 21. The upcoming session will take on a TED Talk-style format, allowing more speakers to share insights and giving attendees … Read more

UB professors receive US$440,275 NIH grant to study salivary gland regeneration

Salivary gland disorders affect an estimated 20 per cent of people worldwide, according to the researchers. (iStock)

Two researchers from the University at Buffalo have received a two-year US$440,275 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to study how salivary glands repair and regenerate after injury. Rose-Anne Romano, PhD, associate professor of oral biology in the University at Buffalo University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, is leading the … Read more

New York City opens first new dental school in more than a century

Located in a reimagined historic building at Herald Square, the new school aims to expand the pipeline of highly trained clinicians and broaden access to care in one of the nation’s largest urban centers. (iStock)

A new dental school in Manhattan is set to welcome its first class this summer—marking the first new dental school to open in New York City in more than a century. Yeshiva University announced March 11 that its College of Dental Medicine will enroll 150 students annually starting in July 2026, offering an accelerated three-year … Read more

UK to boost dentist licensing exam seats tenfold, from 180 to 1,800 by 2028

“No one in the 21st century should be left in a situation where they cannot access a dentist,” says Health minister Stephen Kinnock. (iStock)

The UK government announced on Tuesday a major expansion of licensing exams for overseas-trained dentists, increasing capacity from 180 to 1,800 places in an effort to address widespread shortages in the National Health Service (NHS) dental care. The move, announced by the Department of Health and Social Care, aims to help clear a backlog of … Read more

Companies partner to advance chairside workflows amid dental 3D printing boom

The growth is being driven by increasing adoption of digital workflows in dental practices, including intraoral scanners, CAD/CAM software and 3D printing technologies. (iStock)

GC America, the North American subsidiary of Japan-founded GC Corporation, whose global headquarters are now in Switzerland, and Los Angeles-based SprintRay have announced a partnership aimed at helping dentists adopt chairside 3D-printed restorative workflows. The collaboration reflects a broader shift in dentistry toward same-day restorative treatment, where crowns and other restorations can increasingly be designed … Read more

Dental supplier sales surge in Q4 — but is it restocking or real demand?

According to the ADA’s Health Policy Institute, about one-third of U.S. dentists reported insufficient patient volume in the fourth quarter. (iStock)

Wrapping up the final quarter of 2025, several large health-care companies reported strong sales growth. In late February, medical and dental supplier Henry Schein reported fourth-quarter global sales of US$3.4 billion, up 7.7 per cent year over year — the company’s strongest quarterly sales growth in 15 quarters. Several other health-care suppliers also reported notable … Read more

ADA updates recommendations for early oral cancer detection, citing advances in technology

Burgundy ivory ribbon awareness on doctor's hand, symbolic bow color for head and neck cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, throat, laryngeal and pharyngeal cancer. (iStock)

The American Dental Association (ADA) says it is updating its recommendations on early oral cancer detection, citing advances in diagnostic technologies and the need for clearer clinical guidance. The updated recommendations explore the use of four adjunctive tools used in screening for oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders. The guidance was developed in collaboration … Read more

UK dentists returned $1.64 billion to government as they shift toward private care

“No one in the 21st century should be left in a situation where they cannot access a dentist,” says Health minister Stephen Kinnock. (iStock)

Dentists in England have returned more than £900 million (about C$1.64 billion) to the government over the past two years after failing to deliver the amount of National Health Service (NHS) dental care they had contracted to provide, according to a BBC analysis of NHS financial accounts. Under the NHS dental contract system, practices agree … Read more

Dental researchers considering silencing gum disease bacterium after discovering it has a ‘genetic brake’

Porphyromonas gingivalis oral bacterium, 360 degree panorama view computer illustration. (iStock)

Dental researchers have discovered that the primary bacterium driving gum disease carries an internal “genetic brake” that controls its own aggression — a finding that could open the door to targeted genetic therapies. Researchers at the University of Florida College of Dentistry say that by locking this brake in place, future treatments could silence Porphyromonas … Read more

The dental photography mistake most dentists are making

The version that won, by a clear margin, was the one with full-face before and after photos. And watching people react to them in our study was pretty telling. (iStock)

As a dentist, adding before and after photos to your dental website makes complete sense. You want patients to see what’s possible. You want them to look at your work and think “That’s amazing, I want that.” And naturally, you take the kind of photos that show off the actual work. Detailed close-ups of the … Read more

WHO releases mercury-free oral health guidelines to curb dental amalgam use

Late last year, a United Nations environmental body has decided to phase out the use of mercury — including dental amalgam — by 2034. (iStock)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new global guidelines promoting environmentally sustainable and less invasive approaches to preventing and managing dental caries, including a shift toward mercury-free restorative materials. The guideline, Environmentally Friendly and Less Invasive Oral Health Care for Preventing and Managing Dental Caries, provides evidence-based recommendations aimed at improving patient safety while … Read more