New findings from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) reveal a surprising trend: Canadians are losing fewer teeth but gum disease is getting worse. Dr. Paul Allison, Professor at McGill University, unpacks what the data really means, why oral health may signal broader inflammatory disease, and how dentists could help screen for chronic conditions. He … Read more
We must address whether pregnant women in Canada can actually access the dental care they need and whether our systems are designed to support them when they do.
It is important for all clinicians to be aware of the symptoms of hypothyroidism so that patients can be treated appropriately and dangerous situations can be prevented from arising. This paper will go into depth on what causes hypothyroidism, various manifestations of the disease, and the medical and dental management of it.
The purpose of this article is to bring into focus the many risk factors underlying dental caries and periodontal disease and to suggest means of mitigating these factors through “medical dentistry.”
Dr. Janice Goodman interviews Dr. Jeffrey F. Williams, microbiologist and infectious disease expert, on the benefits of Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) for oral health.
This article proposes a novel multi-axis signaling model of oral health involving at least: Oxidative signaling (hypochlorous acid; HOCl), Nitrogen signaling (nitrate ➞ nitrite ➞ nitric oxide), Sulfur signaling (hydrogen sulfide and volatile sulfur compounds).
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), though relatively new to modern oral care, is in fact one of the oldest tools in human biology—an exogenous molecule that is an exact replica of its endogenous counterpart, produced naturally by neutrophils as part of the innate immune response.
Diabetes screening in dental clinics could be a new frontline for early detection, study suggests. HbA1c values — the standard diagnostic marker for diabetes — rose progressively with worsening gum disease, from periodontal health to gingivitis to periodontitis, according to a cross-sectional study published Feb. 13 in the Journal of Dentistry. Researchers at King’s College … Read more
This month we are showcasing Krystal Afzalzada, B.Ed, RDH, CDAII Educator, advocate for aging populations, and public speaker. With two decades in the dental industry, Krystal empowers professionals with evidence-based tools to improve patient outcomes and elevate standards of care.
Researchers have generated a detailed multi-omics atlas of the human oral mucosa, revealing that the gingiva is organized into distinct immune zones that remain structurally intact even during inflammatory disease. The study, published Feb. 9 in Nature Immunology, describes a “remarkable immune zonation” at the tooth–gum interface, where a dynamic epithelium is underlined by a … Read more
Regular dental care may significantly reduce the risk of a second ischemic stroke among patients with cardiovascular disease, according to research presented at the International Stroke Conference (ISC) 2026. One abstract showed that patients who visited a dentist at least once a year had a 39 per cent lower risk of secondary ischemic stroke compared … Read more
Canada’s population is rapidly aging, accompanied by a shifting landscape in oral healthcare needs. In 2021, individuals aged 65 and older accounted for 18.5% of the national population, and this figure is projected to increase sharply by 2068.1 This demographic trend presents both challenges and opportunities for the Canadian healthcare system, particularly in the field of … Read more
Is there a link between pollutant exposure and dental caries risk? Using artificial intelligence to analyze large U.S. health datasets, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say they have uncovered previously unrecognized patterns that broaden how dental caries risk may be understood. Researchers at Penn Dental Medicine analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition … Read more
Growing evidence suggests systemic inflammation may influence oral disease risk, with new findings from University at Buffalo researchers identifying a protein that helps regulate inflammatory pathways associated with aging, immune function and bone loss. The UB study, led by Keith Kirkwood, professor of oral biology and senior associate dean for research at the University at … Read more
A natural antioxidant called lycopene, found in red and pink fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, watermelon and grapefruit, has been associated with a reduced risk of severe periodontitis in older adults, according to a new observational study published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory gum disease that … Read more
By using structured checklists, flowcharts, and communication scripts, your dental team can be adequately prepared to integrate menopause-aware protocols into recall visits that can improve quality of life, reduce oral disease burden, and contribute to better systemic health outcomes for millions of patients.
This case report describes a rare instance of a five-year-old pediatric patient who exhibited extreme refusal to eat or drink for approximately 1 week following anesthesia for full-mouth dental restorations.
Oral health professionals, dentists and hygienists, are in a unique position to recognize and report signs of abuse and neglect during their dental exams and procedures as it is estimated over 50% of injuries from child abuse occur on the head and neck.
The year 2025 may be remembered as the moment oral health moved beyond the mouth — and into the centre of systemic disease prevention. As Dr. Thomas Van Dyke noted at SmileCon in October, dentistry and medicine have historically evolved on parallel tracks. But in 2025, a growing body of research brought those worlds closer … Read more
The next wave of digital health will not thrive inside institution-tethered portals. These tools need comprehensive, longitudinal data assembled under a single, durable identity and governed by transparent, revocable consent. A patient-controlled personal health record (PHR) provides exactly that substrate.