News Bites from CDA Knowledge Networks – 2017/11/08
Top News
Total health spending in Canada reaches $242 billion
Opioid Epidemic Alters Prescriber, Pharmacist Habits
Screening tests for oral human papillomavirus infection
How caries-causing bacteria can survive in dental plaque
Baking soda toothpaste examined in November JADA supplement
Canadian dentistry news
Grind your teeth at night? What it could mean and how to stop it. globalnews.ca: Dr. Larry Levin was interviewed by Global News online journalist Dani-Elle Dubé about teeth grinding. Read more
How bad teeth are at the root of income inequality in Canada. macleans.ca: Anne Kingston: The glaring omission of dental care from Canadian health-care plans is both illogical and a public-health concern. Read more
Dental college offers patients reduced rates for full service; University of Saskatchewan clinic struggles to find enough patients to meet its teaching needs. Thestarphoenix.com: Dental college seeks patients willing to pay a small price for big care. Read more
New Statement on Infection Prevention and Control. rcdso.org: The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario recommends that all members carefully consider the new checklists and how they may be applied in their practices. Read more
Kidde recalls Fire Extinguishers with Plastic Handles: Expanded Recall. healthycanadians.gc.ca: This recall involves two styles of Kidde-branded and Garrison-branded fire extinguishers: Plastic Handle Fire Extinguishers and Push-Button Pindicator Fire Extinguishers. Read more
Zimmer Dental GemLock 2.5mm Hex Driver (2017-10-18). healthycanadians.gc.ca: Zimmer Biomet Dental is conducting a medical device recall for the GemLock 2.5mm Hex Driver because it may contain a manufacturing condition affecting the geometry of the driver’s hex feature, which prevents it from properly mating components. Read more
Oral Cancer Awareness Project. publications.mcgill.ca: Drs. Nick Makhoul and Michel El-Hakim participated in an Oral Cancer film project documentary, designed to drive awareness of oral cancer and increasing education to the public. Read more and watch
A new PhD in Oral Health Sciences. publications.mcgill.ca: We are developing a new PhD in Oral Health Sciences. Broadly conceived to represent the Biomedical and Oral Health and Society divisions of our Faculty, the program will build upon our stellar research reputation and Ad hoc PhD program, which was closed to new enrolment at the end of 2016. Read more
University of Alberta School of Dentistry launches Dentistry for Life fundraising campaign. ualberta.ca: To help celebrate the School of Dentistry’s centennial anniversary, an $8 million Dentistry for Life fundraising campaign to mark the school’s presence in the community for over a 100 years was launched. Read more
Excellent teacher, mentor and role model. ualberta.ca: Congratulations to Dr. Ivano Ongaro for winning the W.W. Wood Award. Read more
Admission au D.M.D. : nouveau test d’évaluation des compétences transversales. fmd.ulaval.ca: La prochaine cohorte d’étudiants au D.M.D. sera sélectionnée, non seulement en fonction de ses résultats scolaires et d’une entrevue, mais aussi à partir des résultats au test CASPer, qui évalue les caractéristiques personnelles comme le professionnalisme, la communication, l’empathie et l’éthique. Read more
All in a day’s work: Grade 9 students explore health careers on campus. news.umanitoba.ca: Like a lot of people her age, 14-year-old Naomi Epp has braces on her teeth. But she had never pictured the working life of an orthodontist until she tried using pliers to precisely bend and cut wire in a College of Dentistry lab on Take Our Kids to Work Day. Read more
Total health spending in Canada reaches $242 billion. cihi.ca: New figures released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) show that the country’s health spending is forecast to grow by almost 4% in 2017, to $242 billion. This is a slight increase in the rate of health spending growth — since 2010, the average annual increase has been 3.2%. Read more, full report National Health Expenditure Trends, 1975 to 2017
Widow of long-time Sears worker frustrated by loss of medical benefits. cbc.ca, Nov. 3: Chatelain was a little surprised during a visit to the dentist three weeks ago to learn her benefits had been cut off and that she needed to pay up. Read more
International dentistry news
House of Delegates approves new commission to recognize dental specialties. ada.org: In an effort to reduce potential or perceived bias and conflict of interest in the decision-making process for recognizing dental specialties, the ADA 2017 House of Delegates voted Oct. 23 to establish a new commission to oversee the process. Read more
Report highlights ‘shocking’ divide between dental health of rich and poor. theguardian.com: People from more deprived backgrounds in England twice as likely to be admitted to hospital in need of dental work as those who are better off. Read more
A focus on dental health can protect children from developing overweight. medicalxpress.com: Talking about dental health with children and parents – about what is healthy and unhealthy for your teeth – can be one way to prevent children from developing overweight. Read more
With Cigarettes Out of Favor, Many U.S. Teens Also Shun Pot. medlineplus.gov: That’s the finding of a new study that tracked more than 1 million teens from 1991 to 2016. But the news wasn’t all good, the researchers said. Kids who think marijuana is “safe” are more likely than their peers to use the drug. Read more
Oropharyngeal cancer in spotlight at symposium. ada.org: More than 80 dentists, physicians and others gathered Oct. 18 for a first-of-its-kind event discussing how to prevent and manage oropharyngeal cancer. Read more
Dentists can help spot early signs of eating disorders. ada.org: This was part of the conversation during the Nov. 1 briefing, Waiting on Cures: The role of Health Professionals in Early Detection of Eating Disorders. […] The goal of briefing was to explain to legislators the value of health care providers identifying eating disorders early as well as the need for implementing the 21st Century Cures Act by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read more
New HPV vaccination program sets a wildly ambitious goal for Missouri. columbiamissourian.com: One hundred percent. Total success. That’s the goal of a new program aimed at increasing the number of children, teens and young adults who receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Read more
Child tooth decay soars as kids have to share toothbrushes. nzherald.co.uk: New Zealand hospital admissions for dental disease have jumped, especially in poor families. Toddlers as young as 2 years old are suffering tooth decay so severe all their teeth have to be removed, as child hospitalisations for dental disease soar. Read more
Inverclyde nurseries battle tooth decay stats. greenocktelegraph.co.uk: Nurseries in Inverclyde are helping to reduce the number of young children with tooth decay — but the district still lags behind the rest of the country. Read more
ADA outlines efforts to address opioid crisis. ada.org: The ADA outlined its efforts to curb the widespread misuse and abuse of prescription opioid pain relievers in a letter sent Nov. 6 to Chicago, Cook County and DuPage County officials. Read more
Dentist calls for Coca-Cola Christmas truck to be banned from town over child tooth decay fears. mirror.co.uk: The truck has been used in a nationwide tour for the past five years, and last month stopped at 44 locations across the country where children posed in front of the lorry and cans of fizzy cola were handed out. Read more
Watchdog bites into wobbly dental plan. sbs.com.au: Australian Unity has agreed to pay compensation after the consumer watchdog found potential holes in the insurer’s dental benefits scheme. Read more
America’s Dental Gap Has Left People Relying on Pliers, Chisels, and Whiskey. thenation.com: Of the countless ways in which poverty eats at the body, one of the most visible, and painful, is in our mouths. Teeth betray age, but also wealth, if they’re pearly and straight, or the emptiness of our pockets, if they’re missing, broken, rotted out. Read more
Senators call for crackdown on pharmaceutical industry’s ‘revolving door’. Washingtonpost.com: Seven Democratic U.S. senators on Thursday introduced legislation designed to slow the “revolving door” between federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the pharmaceutical companies they regulate. Read more
F.D.A. Warns Companies Against Claims That Marijuana Cures Diseases. nytimes.com: Everyday Advanced Hemp Oil, Bosom Lotion and CBD Edibles Gummie Men may have their fans, but the Food and Drug Administration is not among them. Four companies selling those and dozens of other marijuana-derived dietary supplements have been warned by the F.D.A. to stop pitching their products as cures for cancer. Read more
The first dental clinic in India to accept cryptocurrency. enterpriseinnovation.net: Dentacoin is the first blockchain currency, designed specifically for the global dental industry. The initial token sale on 2 November saw 17.9 billion Dentacoin tokens being distributed. Read more
Opioid Epidemic Alters Prescriber, Pharmacist Habits. medscape.com: Seventy-three percent of physicians and 82% of pharmacists responding to a recent Medscape survey say that the opioid epidemic has changed their habits around prescribing or filling prescriptions for opioids. Read more
Clinical & scientific news
Screening tests for oral human papillomavirus infection. jada.ada.org: More testing, more options [Guest Editorial]. Read more
How caries-causing bacteria can survive in dental plaque. sciencedaily.com: Extracellular polysaccharides play a central role in the survival capabilities of caries-causing bacteria in dental plaque, researchers report. Read more
New resource available: ‘Accelerating Action on Oral Health and Noncommunicable Diseases. fdiworlddental.org: This policy brief highlights associations between oral diseases and NCDs, and provides recommendations for their prevention and control. Read more
Baking soda toothpaste examined in November JADA supplement. ada.org: Dental professionals with questions about the safety or efficacy of baking soda toothpastes can turn to a supplement to the November issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association for answers. Read more
Research shows disparities in HPV-associated cancer survivorship. ada.org: HPV vaccination and improved access to cancer screenings and treatment may reduce disparities by sex, race and age when it comes to surviving HPV-associated cancers, according to an article published in a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Read more
Study discounts fluoride as a danger for tea drinkers. medicalxpress.com: A University of Florida research team has found that most teas contain safe amounts of fluoride. Read more
Patient information
5 Ways Diabetes Can Affect Your Mouth. mouthhealthy.org: Diabetes takes a toll on your entire body, but it can also increase your risk of dental disease and other symptoms that show up in your mouth. In fact, one in five cases of total tooth loss is linked to diabetes. Read more
Your health & medical news
‘Unbelievable’: Heart Stents Fail to Ease Chest Pain. nytimes.com: A new study has found that while stents can be lifesaving in opening arteries in patients having a heart attack, the devices are ineffective in relieving chest pain. Read more
Are Artery-Opening Stents for Chest Pain a Waste of Time? webmd.com: With findings that some experts believe could change cardiovascular care, a new study suggests that the placebo effect of stents in heart patients with chest pain may be far more pronounced than thought. Read more
EpiPen Problems Cited in 7 Deaths This Year. webmd.com: As of mid-September, there had been a total of 228 reports of EpiPen or EpiPen Jr. failures. Along with the deaths, 35 people were hospitalized, according to FDA documents made available under a Freedom of Information request by Bloomberg News. Read more
Opioids Not the Only Answer for Pain Relief in the ER. medlineplus.gov: As the opioid epidemic continues to sweep across the United States, a new study suggests that a combination of Motrin and Tylenol may work as well as narcotic painkillers for ER patients who suffer sprains or fractures. Read more
Opioids haven’t solved chronic pain. Maybe virtual reality can. wired.com: Cedars-Sinai is one of an increasing number of hospitals testing how virtual reality could improve patient outcomes. Read more
Sugary Drinks Could Break Your Heart. medlineplus.gov: A new review suggests that regularly quenching your thirst with sugar-sweetened beverages not only contributes to your risk of gaining weight, it also ups your chances of developing type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that raises your risk of heart disease. Read more
Plant-based drinks shouldn’t be main beverage for young kids: experts. ctvnews.ca: Canada’s dietitians and pediatricians are discouraging parents from relying on plant-based drinks — such as rice, coconut and almond milks — as the main beverage for babies and young kids because some plant-based beverages are not fortified with any minerals or vitamins and often contain sugar as the second ingredient. Read more
Imported Skin Creams Can Pose Unexpected Risks. npr.org: A dermatologist in Washington, D.C., was surprised to discover that one of her patients was using a powerful steroid cream bought without a prescription to treat a rash. Read more
Continuing education matters
Dalhousie University – Current course offerings
McGill University – Winter 2017 continuing education – upcoming courses
Université Laval – Formation continue
University of Manitoba – Continuing professional development
Université de Montréal – Formation dentaire continue
University of Alberta – Program and courses
University of British Columbia – Calendar of courses
University of Saskatchewan – Continuing professional dental education
University of Toronto – Continuing dental education
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry University – Continuing professional development
November 24-29 – Greater New York Dental Meeting 2017, in New York, NY. Read more
January 18-19: Hawaii Dental Association Convention, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Read more
January 24-28: Yankee Dental Congress, in Boston, Massachusetts. Read more
January 26-27 – Manitoba Dental Association’s 134th Annual Meeting and Convention in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Read more
February 22-24: Chicago Dental Society’s 153th Midwinter Meeting – A Dental Triade: Pride • Passion • Professionalism, in Chicago, Illinois. Read more
March 8-20– Pacific Dental Conference, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Read more
March 21-24 – 47th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association of Dental Research, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Save the date
April 18-21 – American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Read more
April 26-28 – ASM18 Annual Spring Meeting, in Toronto, Ontario. Read more
May 24-27 – Jasper Dental Congress, in Jasper, Alberta. Read more
May 25-29 – Journées dentaires internationals du Québec, in Montreal, Quebec. Read more
May 31-June 2 – Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association Oral Health Convention, in Gander, NL. Read more
June 20-23 – Annual Meeting of the American Dental Society of Europe, in Biarritz, France. Read more
August 22-25 – CDA Convention, hosted by the Dental Association of PEI. Save the date
August 31-September 2 – 24th International Association for Disability and Oral Health Congress, in Dubai, UAE. Read more
September 6-8 – 2018 Saskatchewan Oral Health Conference, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Save the dates
September 27-29: 26th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Canadian Academy of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics, in Montreal, Quebec. Save the date
October 18-22 – ADA 2018 America’s Dental Meeting, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Save the date
Please let us know about upcoming continuing education meetings that could be of interest to Canadian dentists by emailing us at oasisdiscussions@cda-adc.ca
Dental industry news
Using an electronic device to detect cavities early. medicalxpress.com: Imagine if dentists could find clear signs of tooth decay long before dental lesions turn into cavities and without using X-rays. A new device cleared for commercialization this month by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a potential tool for dentists to do just that. Read more
New app MagnusCards helps those with autism: Interview. digitaljournal.com: An app called MagnusCards aims to help people with autism do everyday activities like food shopping, brushing your teeth, and socializing. An interview with the inventor, Nadia Hamilton. Read more
Toothpaste first to carry 7 attributes of ADA Seal. ada.org: Crest Pro-Health Advanced, Deep Clean Mint became the first ADA Seal product in the enamel erosion category after the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs accepted it based on its finding that the product is safe and has shown efficacy in helping to prevent or reduce enamel erosion from dietary acids, when used as directed. Read more
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