News Bites from CDA Knowledge Networks – 2018/01/31
Top News
Canadian Dental Regulatory Authorities Federation – New Executive Director
Pharmacists call on governments to invest in community healthcare
FDA explores single-dose packaging to reduce opioids abuse
February JADA examines dental role in facial transplants
Canadian dentistry news
BC’s highest recognition to Dr. Rosamund Harrison, professor emerita. dentistry.ubc.ca: Dr. Rosamund Harrison, professor emerita, was appointed to the Order of British Columbia, the Province’s highest form of recognition. Read more. See also an interview with Dr. Harrison on OasisDiscussions.ca.
Dental clinics in HRM schools provide smiles all around. thechronicleherald.ca: Pediatric dentistry clinics in Harbour View Elementary and Nelson Whynder Elementary schools are being hailed as win-win arrangements for both the communities they serve and the Dalhousie University School of Dentistry, which provides students to staff them under the guidance of dentists and hygienists. Read more
Canadian Dental Regulatory Authorities Federation – New Executive Director. cdraf: The CDRAF Board is pleased to announce the engagement of Dr. Jack Gerrow as its new Executive Director, effective January 15, 2018. Read more
McGill’s Oral Health Research Day 2018. publications.mcgill.ca: The day provided DMD IV students an opportunity to present the findings from their Oral Health Research Projects; the culmination of their research work throughout their third and fourth years of study. Read more
Pharmacists call on governments to invest in community healthcare. pharmacists.ca: Pharmacists understand the needs of patients and desire of government to get fair value for drug prices to ensure that Canadians can afford their medications. Today, the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) and governments across Canada announced a new generic drug price framework that will reduce the price of generic drugs. Read more
From the mouth to the heart. countryweeklynews.ca: The McFarland Drive clinic provided dental care for close to 100 adult patients during the sixth Annual Dentistry From the Heart event, providing free fillings, extractions and cleanings for people who might not otherwise see a dentist. Read more
Fluoride is not only pointless, it’s a health risk. troymedia.com: The fluoridation debate is still very much alive in Calgary, where pro-fluoridation advocates have had a field day, citing claims that seemingly support their position. Many of those claims are either misleading or completely incorrect. Read more
Addictions treatment raises alarm. winnipegfreepress.com: When asked about the practice of removing amalgam fillings based on the belief they can potentially release dangerous amounts of mercury into the body, Dr. Katherine Dale, president of the Manitoba Dental Association said, “I’m not aware of any scientific material that would support that position.” Read more
Dental Hygienists Promote Early Detection of Oral Cancer. files.cdha.ca: In hopes of improving the long-term outcomes for people diagnosed with oral cancer, the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) has partnered with the Oral Cancer Foundation and the American Dental Hygienists Association on a “Check Your Mouth™” initiative to help individuals identify the early signs and symptoms of oral cavity cancers. Read more
CDAA Weekly E-Newsbrief January 31, 2018. cdaa.ca: Read more
International dentistry news
Cochrane Oral Health’s 2016-17 Global Alliance Report. oralhealth.cochrane.org: Cochrane Oral Health has published its latest Global Alliance Report, which details its activities and successes during the previous 18-month period (2016-17). Read more
Apple, in Sign of Health Ambitions, Adds Medical Records Feature for iPhone. nytimes.com: In the latest indication of Apple’s growing ambitions in the digital health market, the tech giant on Wednesday unveiled a new feature that would allow users to automatically download and see parts of their medical records on their iPhones. Read more
Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Team Up to Disrupt Health Care. nytimes.com: The three companies provided few details about the new entity, other than saying it would initially focus on technology to provide simplified, high-quality health care for their employees and their families, and at a reasonable cost. Read more
FDA explores single-dose packaging to reduce opioids abuse. ada.org: In an effort to curb the prescription opioids abuse epidemic, the Food and Drug Administration on Jan. 30 announced it is looking to change how manufacturers package their products so that health care providers can have better options for prescribing opioids. Read more
U.S. court to reconsider ruling on San Francisco soda health warnings. reuters.com: A U.S. appeals court on Monday agreed to reconsider an earlier ruling which had blocked a San Francisco law that mandated health warnings for soda and other sugary drinks. A three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the San Francisco ordinance last year. In an order on Monday, the appeals court said it would rehear the case before a larger, 11-judge panel. Read more
Drawing more women to OMFS requires mentors, networking, advocacy – U-M symposium examines longstanding gender gap. dent.umich.edu: The symposium is the first step in what organizers hope will be a wider national discussion of the issues. Read more
This app will change the way you think about dentistry. nypost.com: A former hedge fund analyst is looking to shake up the dental industry — and empower hygienists. Eva Sadej, who worked for Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater Associates for four years, left last year to start Floss Bar, an app aimed at bringing affordable preventive dental care to more people. Read more
Calls for mandatory health information on alcohol labels. bbc.com: The Royal Society for Public Health is calling for change in alcoholic drinks labelling, citing a public “awareness vacuum” on how alcohol affects health. Read more
Regular text messages could help beat oral cancer. dentistry.co.uk: Regular reminders, such as text messages, are an effective way of combating oral cancer, a new study has shown. Read more
Lords debate importance of children’s oral health education and action on sugar. bda.org: The debate was secured by Baroness Gardner of Parkes, a retired dentist and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dentistry and Oral Health. Read more
Call for ban on chocolate price cuts to fight obesity crisis. theguardian.com: Charity also recommends 20% sugar tax on all confectionery after finding up to 29 teaspoons of sugar in one ‘sharing’ bag. Read more
Scotland launches new dental plan for the elderly. thenational.scot: Having dentists treat elderly people in their own homes forms part of the new Scottish Government strategy on dental health. Read more
Guardian Study Finds Employers Save Money When Employees Use Preventive Dental Benefits. prnewswire.com: A new study by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian) shows that companies who encourage their employees to do so can save money on their group policies. Read more
Mobile services in Australia fill oral health gap in aged care by bringing oral health services to residents’ rooms. Australianageingagenda.com.au: In addition to a fully kitted-out dental van Mobile Dental Clinics ensure dentists will set up inside the facility, including residents’ rooms and bedsides if necessary. Read more
Minister to allow dental hygienists to put in simple fillings, drill teeth. dutchnews.nl: Government suggestions that dental hygienists be allowed to carry out simple fillings and other procedures have been condemned by dentists’ organizations as incomprehensible. Read more
Bill could allow dental hygienist to perform silver diamine fluoride. koaa.com: While mostly pediatric dentists use it now, there’s been some confusion on whether or not Dental Hygienists are allowed to administer it. A bill going through the Colorado legislature would give permission to hygienists to perform the procedure, as long as they take a class. Read more
Sugar tax on soft drinks may increase alcohol consumption, study reveals. dailymail.co.uk: Raising the price of sugary drinks causes people to purchase more lager. Read more
A thousand patients of Sydney dental clinic urged to undergo HIV and hepatitis testing. 9news.com.au: The clinic was found to be using instruments that were not cleaned, sterilised or stored properly, a two-month probe by NSW Health and the Dental Council has found. Read more
‘Extremely concerning’: NHS dentist’s move to go private will hit 17,000 patients. gazetetelive.co.uk: The move has been criticised by patients and an MP. As of April 1, the practice, which has around 17,000 NHS patients, will no longer accept NHS patients due a squeeze on its finances. Read more
Clinical & scientific news
The search for the perfect painkiller. theguardian.com: Millions of Americans are hooked on painkillers – thousands die as a result. Scientists are striving to design a new, safer generation of opioids. Read more
Reduced dental anxiety among children with internet-based CBT. medicalxpress.com: The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, shows that guided internet-based CBT is highly effective in reducing anxiety and increasing the ability to deal with dental treatment. Read more
February JADA examines dental role in facial transplants. ada.org: Dental professionals can play a critical role in facial transplants, especially in cases that involve the maxilla, mandible and associated teeth, according to research in the February issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association. Read more
Report: E-cigarette use among teens may raise risk of smoking. ada.org: Young people who use e-cigarettes are at an increased risk of using conventional cigarettes, and nicotine intake from e-cigarettes is comparable to conventional cigarettes, according to a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Read more
CDC app helps dental teams monitor infection prevention efforts. cda.org: The app can be used to ensure adequate supplies and appropriate infection prevention policies are in place, such as proper training and education of staff. The app also systematically assesses compliance with infection practices and offers feedback on performance. Read more
Researchers report impact of fluoride overdose on children’s teeth. news-medical.net: Children are fluoride overdosed, from all sources, at levels once thought to protect against dental fluorosis (discolored teeth), researchers report in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry. Read more
Mind your business
Mental health affects us all – Bell Let’s Talk is January 31. letstalk.bell.ca: Join the conversation. Read more
How to Handle Negative Reviews from Former Employees. dentistrytoday.com: What happens when a disgruntled ex-employee blasts your practice online? Read more
The real question you should be asking about intraoral scanners. dentistryiq.com: Dentistry has reached an inflection point at which the majority of intraoral scanners are now on a level playing field. So, how do you choose which one is best? Read more
Patient information
Groupon selling ‘dental hygiene kits’; dentists warn of dangers. globalnew.ca: Groupon has come under fire for selling so-called dental hygiene kits for people to use at home. As Global’s Phil Carpenter reports, dental workers in Montreal say using the instruments incorrectly can be a safety hazard. Read more
Your health & medical news
One cigarette a day ‘increases heart disease and stroke risk’. bmj.com: Smokers need to quit cigarettes rather than cut back on them to significantly lower their risk of heart disease and stroke, a large BMJ study suggests. Read more
More birth defects seen in parts of U.S. with local Zika spread. cdc.gov: Birth defects most strongly linked to Zika virus infection during pregnancy have increased in parts of the United States that have had local Zika virus transmission, according to a report in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Read more
UVic professor pens illustrated history of Canadian drug policies. cbc.ca: With the ongoing opioid crisis and the imminent legalization of cannabis, a timely new book looks at the history of Canadian drug prohibition and traces how policies made decades ago relate to today’s issues. 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
February 22-24: Chicago Dental Society’s 153th Midwinter Meeting – A Dental Triade: Pride • Passion • Professionalism, in Chicago, Illinois. Read more
March 8-10– 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 internationales du Québec, in Montréal, Québec. Registration now open
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. Registration now open
September 6-8 – 2017 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
Artistry, Innovation and Passion – Honoring Hu-Friedy Master Instrument Maker Neville Hammond. hu-friedy.com: Last week, the Hu-Friedy family suffered a tremendous loss when 52-year teammate, and Master Instrument Maker, Neville Hammond, passed away. Read more
Young Innovations Announces Acquisition of Mydent International. prnewswire.com: Young Innovations, a leading global manufacturer and distributor of dental supplies and equipment, announced the acquisition of Mydent International Enterprises Corp. (“Mydent”). Read more
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