Oral Health

Tylenol and ibuprofen better at controlling pain than opioids, ‘landmark’ study shows

by Oral Health
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A clinical trial involving more than 1,800 patients found that those given a combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) experienced less pain, better sleep, and higher satisfaction compared with those receiving the opioid hydrocodone with acetaminophen, according to a Rutgers Health study. Researchers at Rutgers University conducted a randomized trial on patients undergoing … Read more

MP reflects on 2024 as federal dental plan helps thousands in Bay–Superior North access care for first time

by Oral Health
Medical and dental data integration efforts are not new. (iStock)

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a game-changer for some communities. Thousands of people in Thunder Bay-Superior North “are getting dental care for the first time” in decades thanks to the federal program that started earlier this year, Patty Hajdu, Member of Parliament and federal cabinet minister of Indigenous services since 2021, said in hindsight … Read more

U.S. surgeon general warns of alcohol-cancer link; study finds coffee, tea may lower risks

by Oral Health
Decaffeinated coffee also showed promise, lowering oral cancer risk by 25%.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on Jan. 3 over the direct link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. The advisory identifies alcohol as the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, behind tobacco and obesity. “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases … Read more

Some federal retirees consider dropping private dental plan in favour of national CDCP

by Oral Health
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Some federal retirees have contacted CBC, saying they’re considering dropping their private plan under the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) in favour of the national plan rolled out last year. Frustration is brewing among approximately 325,000 federal retirees since the PDSP’s annual maximum coverage of $1,500 has remained unchanged since 2005. In contrast, the Public … Read more

Top 10 oral health news stories of 2024: A year of transformations in dentistry

by Oral Health
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The year 2024 has been an important one for dentistry in Canada, marked by groundbreaking studies, technological advancements, and evolving healthcare policies. With oral health increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of overall well-being, developments in the sector drew widespread attention and set the stage for future innovation. Here is a look at the top 10 … Read more

Top two AI trends in dentistry to watch in 2025 after this year’s breakthroughs

by Dina Al-Shibeeb
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Before exploring the top two trends anticipated for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in dentistry, it’s worth reviewing AI’s significant advancements this year—revolutionizing diagnosis, predictive analysis, and personalized treatment Key advancements include AI-powered tools for implant planning and streamlining Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans, says Dr. Thomas Nguyen, DMD, MSc, Diplomate of ABP, FRCD(C). CBCT technology … Read more

From robotics to tooth regrowth: Top 8 game-changing events in dentistry for 2024

by Oral Health
Perceptive's AI-driven robotic arm performing the world's first fully automated dental procedure.

The year 2024 will be remembered for its transformative milestones in dentistry, from groundbreaking technologies to significant policy shifts and innovations in dental medicine. Here is a concise recap of the top eight events that shaped the dental world this year: 1- First robotic dental procedure In July, U.S.-based company Perceptive announced the first fully … Read more

Finding shows 1.7 million Americans don’t have access to dental clinics within 30-minute drive

by Oral Health
There was a significant difference in spatial accessibility scores between rural and urban areas, with 1 dentist for every 3850 people in rural areas and 1 dentist for every 1470 people in urban areas.

A finding shows that about 1.7 million people in the U.S. did not have access to dental clinics within a 30-minute drive, and 24.7 million lived in dental care shortage areas. The analysis published on the JAMA Network on Dec. 23 made the finding after a cross-sectional study of 205,762 U.S. dentists. Access to dental … Read more

Ex-minister: More than 13,000 British soldiers can’t be deployed partly for not seeing dentists in six months

by Oral Health
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More than 13,000 members of the British armed forces cannot be deployed because they’re “not medically deployable,” a UK defence minister said Monday. Defence minister Al Carns said in response to a written parliamentary question that 13,522 are not able to be deployed due to medical conditions across the army, navy, and air force, while … Read more

U.S. researchers study tooth enamel at atomic level to understand why teeth get brittle as we age

by Oral Health
Tooth enamel study

Researchers from the University of Washington and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have examined the atomic composition of enamel samples from two human teeth—one from a 22-year-old and one from a 56-year-old. Their study, published in Communications Materials on− Dec. 19, found that the sample from the older individual contained higher levels of fluoride, particularly … Read more

Holland on AI in healthcare, Australia’s social media ban, and navigating RFK Jr.’s U.S. health policies

by The Canadian Press
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Health Minister Mark Holland says he’s optimistic about the role artificial intelligence can play in Canada’s health system, but says much of its promise will take time to realize. Holland says he expects AI tools can help ease doctor workload and integrate health records from disparate providers, but that means greater digitization when many doctors … Read more

Dental scanner produces first high-resolution 3D images of internal structure of large hailstones

by Oral Health
large hailstones

Farnell Barqué, a researcher at the Meteorological Service of Catalonia in Spain, took an orthodontist friend’s advice: Why not use a CT scanner to reveal the complete internal structure of hailstones? “The first result was impressive,” said Barqué in an interview with New Scientist. “Wow! We can see the interior of the stone without breaking … Read more

U.S. updates antibiotic guidelines for dental patients with joint replacements

by Oral Health
Each year in the U.S., more than one million TKA and THA procedures are performed, a number expected to rise by 659% and 469%, respectively, by 2060.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has issued new clinical practice guidelines on the use and timing of antibiotics for dental patients who have undergone or are scheduled for total joint replacement surgeries, such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). The updated guidelines aim to help prevent periprosthetic joint infections … Read more

Study reveals antibiotics before dental extractions may increase complications in non-diabetic patients

by Oral Health
WHO’s 2025 report shows rising antibiotic resistance—South-East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean have the highest rates, with about one in three lab-confirmed infections resistant in 2023. (iStock)

A study published in Nature on Dec. 17, which examined 269,003 Veteran Affairs Dental patients between January 2015 and December 2019, suggests that prescribing antibiotics before dental extractions may increase complications in non-diabetic patients. Antibiotics were more commonly prescribed for patients undergoing surgical extractions. During 122,810 visits—representing 31.8 per cent of the total 385,880 dental … Read more

Ontario dentist’s license revoked for not disclosing criminal charges in evading Iran sanctions

by Oral Health
The dentists brother is scheduled a hearing on Feb. 25 to find out if he is going to be deported from Canada. (iStock)

Ontario has revoked the license of a dentist for not disclosing previous charges related to evading U.S. sanctions on Iran, a spokesperson from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) told Global News. Ontario resident Arash Yousefijam pleaded guilty in the United States in 2021 to running a scheme to dodge Iran sanctions … Read more

Five undergraduate dentistry students from British university publish research in peer-reviewed journal

by Oral Health
Undergraduate student research paper published in peer-reviewed journal

Five undergraduate dentistry students from King’s College London have reached a milestone in their careers even before receiving their degrees, with their qualitative research published in a peer-reviewed journal. Their paper, Evaluating the Constructive Alignment of Learning Objectives Within Haptics Simulation in the Dental Undergraduate Curriculum, was published in the International Dental Journal. The study … Read more

Join the Oral Health Prevention Summit in Boston on Jan. 29, a day before the Yankee Dental Congress

by Oral Health
Mark your calendars for Jan. 29, 2025, as we gather at THE STUDIO in Boston's Seaport Place, just steps from the Boston Convention Center.

Held a day before the Yankee Dental Congress, the inaugural Oral Health Prevention Summit (OHPS) will open its doors on Jan. 29 to shift the paradigm from a traditionally disease-based industry to a proactive one focused on prevention. The theme, Managing Dental Disease with a Medical Mindset, offers education on preventive-based clinical models, policy and … Read more

Japanese dentists test drug to help people with missing teeth regrow new ones

by Oral Health
The timing of a baby’s first teeth may be shaped by hormone changes in late pregnancy, (iStock)

Japanese dentists are testing a groundbreaking drug that could enable people with missing teeth to grow new ones, reducing the need for dentures and implants, AFP recently reported. Katsu Takahashi, head of oral surgery at the Medical Research Institute Kitano Hospital in Osaka, explained that dormant buds of a third set of teeth exist beneath … Read more

Light-activated Lumoral device achieves promising results to treat advanced gum disease: study

by Oral Health
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Lumoral, a light-activated antibacterial treatment developed by Finnish researchers, is demonstrating significant potential in treating advanced gum disease, according to a study published by Nature on Friday. The LumoKaunas2023 study, which began in August 2023 and is ongoing in Lithuania, has shared preliminary findings. To date, approximately two-thirds (67%) of participants using the device have … Read more

World’s first fully automated toothbrush for kids tracks brushing history, says U.S. company

by Oral Health
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The U.S.-based Willo has recently announced that it launched the world’s first-ever fully automated toothbrush—AutoFlo+—for children aged five to 13. “Getting kids to brush effectively can be a daily challenge, as they often lack the patience and technique needed for proper oral care, leading to a high prevalence of cavities in kids,” said Dr. Joel … Read more