Dentistry

Regrowing teeth? Two Manitoba scientists draw inspiration from tropical fish’s regenerative abilities

by Oral Health
The neural stem cells in zebrafish (pictured) are great when it comes to regenerating tissue after trauma. (iStock)

Tropical fish have remarkable biological features: they grow and shed multiple sets of teeth over their lifetimes and regenerate tissue following injury. This is why the University of Manitoba (UM) officially opened its $2.5-million Rady Biomedical Fish Facility on Monday, located in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, to advance research into these capabilities. “About … Read more

U.S. report: Some dentists ‘unnecessarily’ removing ‘perfectly fine’ teeth amid $5B boom in implant industry

by Oral Health
The investigation noted that the U.S. dental implant market, worth more than $5 billion, has grown by 6% annually.

Amid a boom in the implant industry, some dentists in the United States are removing teeth that do not need to be extracted, according to a one-month investigation by CBS News and KFF Health News. KFF, a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues, found several instances where dentists extracted healthy teeth unnecessarily. … Read more

Board promises ‘smooth continuity’ to 325,000 federal retirees as dental plan switches on Nov. 1

by Oral Health
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325,000 federal retirees saw their dental plan switch to Canada Life. (iStock) Some federal pensioners faced issues, including denied medications, 16 months after their health insurance switched from Sun Life to Canada Life. Now, as Canada Life takes over the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) for 325,000 federal retirees on Nov. 1, the Treasury Board … Read more

‘Fewer patients’: More appointments available at Manitoba dental college since launch of Canadian dental plan

by The Canadian Press
The newly named University of Manitoba Dr. Gerald  Niznick College of Dentistry operates seven teaching clinics at their 790 Bannatyne location. (Photo from university's website)

The last time Martin Samoiloff finished his appointment at the Manitoba Dental College, he was pleasantly surprised to be told that the whole treatment was free.  Samoiloff had recently turned 65, and was now covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan, recently offered to seniors without dental insurance and a family income under 90,000 a year. The newly named University of … Read more

Ongoing debate over fluoride in tap water reportedly enters U.S. presidential race

by Oral Health
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.

As Americans prepare to vote, an unexpected public health issue—fluoride in tap water—has surfaced in the U.S. presidential race. Recently, the long-standing debate over fluoride in tap water may have gained traction as a possible policy stance for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. On Saturday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed Trump’s administration would advise removing … Read more

Align Technology opens 2025 research awards with $300,000 in grants

by Oral Health
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Align Technology Inc. has launched its 2025 Annual Research Award Program, offering up to $300,000 to support clinical and scientific dental research at universities globally. Now in its 15th year, the program provides one-year grants to faculty working on research to advance patient care and knowledge in orthodontics and dentistry. “Each year, we see a … Read more

Federal dental plan expands services Nov. 1 after ‘milestone’ of helping more than one million Canadians

by Oral Health
Clinical assessments collected in the 2022–24 Canadian Health Measures Survey reveal stable rates of tooth decay and rising gum inflammation. (iStock)

Starting Nov. 1, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will expand to include additional services after helping more than one million Canadians access dental care, the Government of Canada announced on Thursday. “Today marks an important milestone as we continue to expand the claims process. This next step will help ensure more people with complex … Read more

Oral biology, biochemistry professors receive $2.2 million grant to find ways to repair salivary glands

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Radiation therapy, a common treatment for some oral cancers, can leave a patient’s salivary glands so damaged that even talking is difficult. Meanwhile, diseases such as Sjogren’s, which eradicates moisture from many of the body’s glands, can compromise the amount of saliva created in the mouth and also hamper speech and swallowing. … Read more

Women dentists earn 21% less? Study finds ‘considerable’ gender, geographical imbalances in Canadian dental workforce

by Oral Health
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A Canadian population-based study published Monday reveals that the dental workforce is experiencing “considerable” imbalances, both in the geographic distribution of professionals between rural and urban settings and between men and women in terms of earnings. The study, published in BMC Health Services Research, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal, tallied an active oral health workforce of … Read more

Stats Canada: Dental sector surpasses pre-pandemic productivity levels by $851 million as job growth rebounds

by Oral Health
Despite continued growth in the Canadian dental sector, not all provinces are experiencing the same benefits. (iStock)

Statistics Canada reported Thursday that the dental sector has surpassed its pre-pandemic productivity levels, achieving an increase of $851 million compared to 2019, a year when the global economy faced significant challenges. Citing the easing of restrictions in 2021, Samir Djidel, an analyst at the Centre for Direct Health Measures at Statistics Canada, noted in … Read more

New network aims to cut nitrous oxide emissions, a gas that lingers in the air for 114 years

by Rachel Fioret, The Canadian Press
Little boy getting Inhalation Sedation while teeth treatment at dental clinic. Teeth treatment child

Nitrous oxide (N2O), also known as laughing gas for its use in dental procedures, is accumulating within the atmosphere and stays there for an average of 114 years, finds new research. Once in the atmosphere, it can convert into nitrogen oxides that harm the ozone  layer, therefore exposing the Earth to more harmful solar radiation. This odourless, … Read more

CDHA’s new president to continue public recognition of hygienists as ‘primary experts in preventive oral care’

by Oral Health
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The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) announced in a press release on Wednesday the installation of its new president, Alexandra Sheppard. The decision was made following its annual general meeting on Saturday, Sep. 28. Sheppard, who has built a 31-year career in dental hygiene, has worked in private practice and post-secondary education. She currently holds … Read more

‘It is unfortunate’: Nunavik dentist laments ‘frustrating’ state of dental care in region

by Cedric Gallant, The Canadian Press
Rami Joudi is one of two dentists in Kuujjuaq. He wants it to be easier for people in Nunavik to get access to dental care. (Photo courtesy of Rami Joudi)

Anita Gordon has been living with a cracked tooth for more than five months with no relief in sight. “I never got a call, it is just getting worse and it is a lot of pain,” she said. “But they can’t do anything about it, they don’t have the equipment, they can’t fix it.” The … Read more

To ‘revolutionize dental care’: U.S. institute gets $6.2M to develop AI-based dental filling to replace amalgam

by Oral Health
“This grant is the first step in leveraging AI and deep learning to facilitate and accelerate research,”

A Massachusetts-based institute announced on Monday it has been awarded $6.2 million in federal funding to advance artificial intelligence (AI) applications in dental fillings. The grant, provided by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), will support the development of next-generation smart materials for dental restorations over the next five years. The ADA … Read more

New study validates groundbreaking AI model detecting molar incisor hypomineralization

by Oral Health
AI algorithm analyzed 18,179 images, identifying 34,710 pathological findings in an earlier study.

A study published by ScienceDirect in September validated an earlier AI model to detect molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH), a global oral health issue.Last year, a groundbreaking study introduced an open-access AI model for detecting MIH, which affects about 14 per cent of the global population, using digital photographs. Researchers at the Department of Conservative Dentistry … Read more

Trudeau defends dental plan on U.S. late show: ‘We’ve delivered to 700,000 people’

by Oral Health
Justin Trudeau's interview on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" began with the expected jokes about bacon and Canadians saying sorry a lot.

Justin Trudeau defended the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” during the CBS program Monday in New York, where he’s meeting with world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly. “There’s a big argument right now about whether dental care really exists. We’ve delivered it to 700,000 people across … Read more

Henry Schein becomes exclusive U.S. distributor for non-Invasive cavity treatment Curodont

by Oral Health
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Henry Schein has announced that it is now the exclusive distributor in the U.S. for Curodont Repair Fluoride Plus, a non-invasive preventive treatment for early-stage cavities, according to a press release issued on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. The news follows Henry Schein’s agreement with Swiss company vVARDIS to serve as the exclusive U.S. distributor of … Read more

Country star Jelly Roll replaces 20-year-old veneers with a fresh set

by Oral Health
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Country star Jelly Roll recently made headlines after replacing his 20-year-old veneers with a fresh set of pearly whites. The 39-year-old singer debuted his new smile at the Emmy Awards, alongside a noticeably slimmer physique and a confident energy. “I feel great, baby. I’m in the best shape of my life,” he shared with People, … Read more

Could dentists be the first line of defence against sleep apnea? A review says yes

by Oral Health
Obstructive sleep apnea, in particular, has been linked to higher rates of high blood pressure, stroke, and coronary artery disease. (iStock)

Dentists may be the first line of defence against sleep apnea, according to a new study by Rutgers Health, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. “Dentists can be the first line of defence in identifying sleep disorders. They often see symptoms long before physicians,” said Davis Thomas, DDS, a clinical associate professor … Read more

Bacteria behind gum disease worsens arthritis, study shows

by Oral Health
Previous studies showed that a gum disease bacteria triggers inflammation and may worsen arthritis. (iStock)

Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University have discovered that Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a bacterium known to cause gum disease, can exacerbate rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Published on August 15, the study used mice to examine this link and found that infection with this bacterium triggers an immune response that aggravates arthritis symptoms. Previous clinical studies have … Read more