News

Timeline: YouGov polls show generational differences in wisdom teeth removal

by Oral Health
generational-divide alternate text for this image

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

ADA raises concerns over dental insurer’s acquisition of Wisconsin practice chain

by Oral Health
dentist-ADA alternate text for this image

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

Top 5 things to watch at DS World Las Vegas, Sept. 25–27

by Oral Health
DS World will offer three days of immersive learning and innovation to help dental professionals grow their careers. (Photo courtesy of Dentsply Sirona)

If there’s one dental event that blends cutting-edge innovation with hands-on learning and Vegas-level entertainment, it’s DS World Las Vegas. Hosted by Dentsply Sirona, this three-day event—running Sept. 25 to 27, 2025—returns to the MGM Grand with more than 65 clinical and practice-focused courses, eight new conference tracks, and exciting product launches. “DS World 2025 … Read more

UB research deepens understanding of oral disorders by targeting gene linked to tooth enamel

by Oral Health
UB oral biology professor publishes pioneering tooth enamel study Research reveals how targeting gene could help correct oral disorders, prevent craniofacial birth defects

A University at Buffalo research team led by oral biologist Dr. Hyuk-Jae (Edward) Kwon has advanced the understanding of genetic disorders that weaken tooth enamel by turning off a gene known as KMT2D in mice. The study, published in the Journal of Dental Research, marks the first in-depth investigation identifying KMT2D as a key regulator in enamel formation … Read more

Kennedy acknowledges fluoride ban may lead to ‘slightly more cavities’

by Oral Health
During a meeting with President Donald Trump, Keendy reiterated that kids get "stupider" the more fluoride they take in. (Photo: White House)

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

From scaler to spatula: Why dental hygienists aren’t quitting the profession—but the workplace

by Dina Al-Shibeeb, Oral Health Group
Alina Fintineanu at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, proudly displaying one of her bakes. (Supplied photo)

Before diving into the post-pandemic world of dental hygienists, meet Alina Fintineanu, an orthodontic hygienist who turned her side hobby, baking, into a full-time pursuit during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Oct. 17, 2021, the then-30-year-old appeared on Season 5 of The Great Canadian Baking Show, which premiered on CBC Television. She was one of 10 contestants. … Read more

Local hygienist helps those without dental care

by Jesse Boily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Town & Country News
hygienist helping-dental care alternate text for this image

A local dental hygienist is giving back to the community by offering her services free of charge to those who need them on June 28. Meg Kreutziger, a dental hygienist and owner of To The Root Dental Hygiene, has been offering an annual free service day for about the past six years since she opened … Read more

Meditation boosts dental students’ clinical accuracy, peer-reviewed study finds

by Oral Health
Meditation and dedntal students

A new peer-reviewed study has found that dental students who practised Neurosculpting Meditation before clinical tasks demonstrated significantly greater precision in cavity preparation procedures. Published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science, the study was conducted by the Neurosculpting Institute, a Denver-based organization focused on meditation and neuroplasticity education. The study involved all 40 second-year students … Read more

In just one week, 2,000 complex procedures completed in remote Amazon with ‘powerful’ digital dentistry

by Oral Health
Dental equipment was transported with a tractor to the remote Amazonian community. (Photo: Dentsply Sirona)

A total of 2,000 endodontic and restorative procedures were completed from June 1 to 7 in remote Amazonian communities in Brazil, thanks to advanced digital dentistry, including intraoral scanning and same-day prosthetic fabrication. The expedition was organized by North Carolina-based Dentsply Sirona in partnership with Brazilian non-governmental organization Project 32, and brought advanced oral health … Read more

Data shows recent U.S. dentists will eventually own practices at similar rates as previous generations

by Oral Health
dentist-ADA alternate text for this image

The American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute (HPI) has published new data showing that while younger U.S. dentists are becoming practice owners at lower rates early in their careers, most eventually do take that step. “Our analysis suggests that the trend of declining practice ownership among younger dentists is primarily an early-career phenomenon,” said Dr. … Read more

Ancient teeth and dental plaque reveal new clues about Denisovans, early human evolution

by Oral Health
researchers-dental alternate text for this image

Thanks to their durable structure — from enamel to plaque — teeth have once again shed light on the history of human evolution. In one study recently published in the Journal of Human Evolution, researchers suggest that uniform pitting on tooth enamel dating back two million years — seen in specimens from Paranthropus, Australopithecus, and … Read more

Dentalcorp continues dividend strategy, Q2 earnings set for August 8

by Oral Health
Dentalcorp continues dividend strategy, Q2 earnings set for August 8

Dentalcorp Holdings Ltd. announced on Friday its second consecutive quarterly dividend of 2.5 cents per share. The payment will be made July 22 to shareholders of record as of July 3. Canada’s largest dental network declared its first-ever dividend earlier this year, signalling a strategic shift to include shareholder returns alongside its ongoing acquisition and … Read more

DentaQuest donates $10K to help cancer patients, kids access dental care in South Carolina

by Oral Health
Adults with cancer often face serious oral health complications during treatment. A recent $10,000 donation to Greenville Free Medical Clinic aims to close care gaps for patients like these.

DentaQuest, part of Sun Life U.S., has donated $10,000 to support a South Carolina clinic that provides dental care for low-income adults with cancer and uninsured school-aged children who lack regular access to a dentist. The funding went to the Greenville Free Medical Clinic, a non-profit that offers diagnostic and treatment services for most acute … Read more

Czech police detain ‘fake dentist’ family who learned procedures online

by Oral Health
All three pleaded guilty to multiple charges and face up to eight years in prison.

Czech police have detained a family of three accused of running a fake dental clinic without licences or training, a case that’s made international headlines amid a reported rise in bogus clinics in the country. According to a police statement released Wednesday, dozens of people were treated at the unlicensed clinic, which operated out of … Read more

Study shows, for the first time, that smoking leaves a permanent mark in teeth

by Oral Health
Cementum analysis of archaeological samples revealed the same ring disruptions in the teeth of smokers who died in the 18th and 19th centuries.

UK researchers initially set out to investigate whether cementum rings—similar to tree rings—could be used in forensic settings to estimate a person’s age when DNA is not available. But what they discovered was something entirely different. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, found that smokers and ex-smokers exhibited signs of disruption in the … Read more

U.K. dental group: Foreign-trained dentists should work in clinics, not McDonald’s

by Oral Health
“It is a shameful waste to have them flipping burgers in our fast food restaurants when they could be caring for patients,” says Neil Carmichael, ADG’s executive chair.

With a shortfall in the dental workforce continuing to leave millions without care, the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) is calling for urgent reforms to speed up registration for foreign-trained dentists in the United Kingdom. “We need to unlock the barriers preventing the 6,000 fully trained overseas dentists in the registration queue from practising in … Read more

CDHA rejects claims of widespread hygienist shortage, calls for better work environments

by Oral Health
The CDHA is calling for improved workplace conditions for dental hygienists.

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

ADA’s ‘ultimate goal’ in research collaboration: Quickly regenerate lost tissue to save teeth

by Oral Health
The ADA and Brigham and Women’s Hospital are developing 3D-printed bone grafts that use inflammation-resolving molecules to regenerate tissue lost to periodontal disease.

The dental research community continues to explore innovative bioengineering techniques. In a new effort, the American Dental Association (ADA) is collaborating with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts to improve the regeneration of bone and tissue lost to periodontal disease. According to the WHO, about 19 per cent of the global adult population — more … Read more

Saving teeth can be better than replacing them, 20-year study shows

by Oral Health
“Replacing a tooth is not necessarily better than saving it,” says Dr. Cortellini, one of the lead investigators. (iStock)

Saving teeth with severe bone loss through periodontal regeneration (PR) offers benefits equal to — or greater than — replacing them with dental implants or bridges, according to a study that tracked patients for two decades, the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) reported. “The idea that a tooth with severe loss of bone must always … Read more

Some dentists doubt long-term sustainability of federal dental plan as demand surges

by Oral Health
About four-fifths of dental-care providers in Canada are participating in the CDCP. (iStock)

Some dentists are questioning the long-term sustainability of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) as more than two million people have received care under the program, out of at least four million approved. The Prince Edward Island Dental Association remains concerned about the program’s viability, its president Matt Gilchrist told SaltWire this week. “Providers are … Read more