NDP questions why dentist with ties to Ford government received $2M in training funds

The Ford government is facing questions from the NDP over a clinic that received $2 million in Skills Development Fund financing. (iStock)

NDP Leader Marit Stiles pressed the Ontario government Monday over why a dentist with alleged personal ties to Premier Doug Ford received $2 million through the province’s Skills Development Fund (SDF). During Question Period, Stiles asked the premier to explain “why his close personal friend and dentist… got $2 million from this government,” saying images … Read more

Employee surveys: Your clinic’s best ideas are all around you — waiting to be heard

Gallup finds that stronger employee connection to mission increases profitability by 4.4% and lowers turnover by 8.1%. (iStock)

Your employees can be a gold mine for ideas that can bring your clinic to new heights of operational efficiency, productivity, and performance – including ideas on outreach to patients and on how to better market and communicate the merits of your practice to others in your community. And there may be no better time … Read more

How a Kitchener–Waterloo hygienist turned compassion and excellence into a nationally recognized career

Luminita Dica is showcasing her awards. (Photo supplied)

Luminita Dica, RDH, has been named a 2024 Sunstar RDH Award of Distinction winner. She operates Lumi’s Dental Hygiene Care, an independent dental hygiene clinic serving the Kitchener–Waterloo area. Dica graduated from a dental hygiene program in 2008 after returning to school from a previous career as a dental assistant. Since then, patients have come … Read more

Dentalcorp reports $43.7M in Q3 cash flow, up 21 per cent from last year

Dentalcorp Q3 2025 results: $43.7M in cash flow, up 21%. (iStock)

Dentalcorp Holdings Ltd., Canada’s largest network of dental practices, says it generated $43.7 million in adjusted free cash flow in the third quarter of 2025, up 21 per cent from the same period last year. “This led to continued deleveraging, with our net debt-to-PF adjusted EBITDA after-rent ratio decreasing to 3.58 times, a reduction of … Read more

Beyond the drill: How strategic planning built a tax-free future

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After decades of running thriving dental clinics, this couple had built what most would consider a financial success story. They had an eight-figure net worth, owned two successful clinics, and held several investment properties. To anyone looking in, they were the definition of success. Yet beneath the surface, they felt uneasy. Despite years of hard … Read more

New study of data up to 2018 shows U.S. dentists had higher suicide mortality than general population

New U.S. research shows suicide mortality among both male and female dentists was higher than in the general population from 1979 to 2018. (iStock)

A new U.S. study of death records from 1979 through 2018 found that both male and female dentists had higher suicide mortality than the general population, and that the risk has trended upward since the mid-1990s. The study, published online ahead of print in the Journal of the American Dental Association in October 2025, set … Read more

How to use your dental clinic’s digital presence to lift causes, strengthen community connections

Technology can connect—or isolate. Learn how to use your dental clinic’s digital presence to lift causes and build genuine community ties. (iStock)

While technology continues to reshape our society in both positive and negative ways, it is also changing how we connect with our neighbours and communities. For instance, emerging innovations such as robotic companions and digital platforms are showing promise in helping seniors overcome traditional barriers to human interaction — a group that has long faced … Read more

123Dentist to acquire MCA Dental Group, expanding network across Ontario and Québec

123Dentist says it has achieved “industry-leading revenue growth” driven by same-store performance and 35 new acquisitions in the past 12 months. (iStock)

123Dentist, one of Canada’s largest and fastest-growing dental support organizations (DSOs), has announced on Wednesday a definitive agreement to acquire MCA Dental Group Limited, an Ottawa-based network of 27 clinics operating in Ontario and Québec. “As we continue to grow, we are committed to elevating dental care for patients across Canada,” said Jeff Leger, Chief … Read more

Dental shame a barrier to seeking treatment, study finds

University of Exeter professor Luna Dolezal says shame can stop people from seeking dental treatment, worsening oral-health inequities. (iStock)

A new study published in the National Library of Medicine in late September finds that “dental shame” can deter people, especially older adults from seeking oral-health treatment. The research was conducted by Louise Folker, Esben Boeskov Øzhayat and Astrid Pernille Jespersen of the University of Copenhagen; Luna Dolezal of the University of Exeter; community volunteer … Read more

Survey links administrative shortages to billions in lost revenue in U.S. dental practices

The ADA’s Health Policy Institute said in 2022 that patient cancellations, low demand and staffing shortages — particularly in administrative roles — remain the top barriers to full schedules. (iStock)

The U.S. dental industry may be losing as much as US$3.1 billion annually in potential revenue due to missed chair-time linked to administrative staffing shortages, according to a new survey by California-based Edge, a company that provides remote support staff for dental and medical practices. Edge’s report claims that up to 15 per cent of … Read more

When the fairway gets unfair: What golf teaches us about workplace culture

Workplace gossip isn’t just idle chatter anymore. In the social media age, one complaint can follow you — or your practice — permanently. (iStock)

If you are a golf fan, you likely spent time recently watching the chaos at the Ryder Cup! Drinks thrown at players and their spouses. Heckling during backswings. A sport famous for its hushed reverence turned into something resembling a rowdy bar on game night. Here’s what struck me: Golf didn’t change. We did. And if … Read more

Dentalcorp agrees to $2.2B takeover by U.S. private equity firm GTCR

“This collaboration represents a pivotal moment for dentistry,” said Ryan Hungate, chief clinical and strategy officer at Henry Schein One (iStock)

Dentalcorp Holdings Ltd., Canada’s largest dental services provider, said Friday it has agreed to be acquired by U.S. private equity firm GTCR LLC in a deal valued at C$2.2 billion. The announcement comes as Dentalcorp carries an estimated $1.1 billion in total debt and a debt-to-equity ratio of about 60 per cent, according to financial … Read more

Canadian, U.S. lenders boost Corus Orthodontists’ access to $250M in credit

Founded in 2019, Corus has more than 75 locations across 13 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces. (iStock)

Corus Orthodontists, a North American orthodontic partnership network, said Wednesday it has increased its secured syndicated credit facility to C$250 million from C$175 million. The facility, provided through a syndicate of Canadian and U.S. lenders, also includes an uncommitted accordion feature that allows for expansion up to C$325 million. The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce … Read more

Dentalcorp declares third consecutive dividend

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Dentalcorp Holdings Ltd. has declared a dividend of $0.025 per share, payable Oct. 21, 2025, to shareholders of record as of Oct. 2. The company will release its third-quarter 2025 results on Nov. 6, before markets open. This marks Dentalcorp’s third consecutive quarterly dividend since its board authorized an inaugural payout in March 2025. At … Read more

65 British dental practices report zero missed calls after AI receptionist rollout

Before the rollout, missed calls were estimated at about 35 per cent. (iStock)

Sixty-five dental practices across the United Kingdom say they have not missed a single patient call since introducing AI receptionists in May, according to results released Sept. 17 by Wildix and RoboReception. The companies say their joint 24/7 “Wilma AI” system has answered more than 50,000 calls to date, capturing nearly $1.2 million (about £700,000) … Read more

Multi-sensory environments in dental spaces: Beyond the visual 

An inviting dental office goes beyond a stylish waiting room with warm lighting and modern décor. (iStock)

For many patients, the thought of visiting a dental office triggers anxiety well before they step through the door. Traditional dental spaces, even when visually pleasing, often overlook the other powerful senses that shape a patient’s experience. Sound, touch, scent, and even subtle environmental cues all play significant roles in how patients perceive their visit … Read more

Dental startups raise nearly $24M as investors back AI insurance platform and custom-fit toothbrush

More than $24M flows into dental AI and oral health technology.

Dental startups this week secured more than $24 million in funding, with investors betting on innovation that could transform both patient care and industry administration. California-based ZERObrush raised $10.8 million to advance what it calls the world’s first fully automated, custom-fit oral cleaning device designed to replace the traditional toothbrush. The health technology company, founded … Read more

U.S. dentistry gets younger as women reach nearly 40% of dental workforce

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The U.S. dental workforce is undergoing a generational and gender shift, with younger and more female dentists taking the lead, according to new data from the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Health Policy Institute (HPI). In 2024, women accounted for almost 40 per cent of practicing dentists in the United States (nearly 2 in 5 dentists) … Read more

Musings of an accidental dental fella

He never planned on a career in dentistry — but what kept him here were the people, the humour, and the connections that mattered most.

At 42, I stumbled into the world of dentistry—a realm far removed from my past life selling prescription drugs (legally!) and everything from cheese to chips to pantyhose. My brother, “Freddy the Great,” was destined for dentistry and became a real-life dentist. Me? Not so much. What began as an accidental detour turned into a … Read more