News Bites from CDA Knowledge Networks – 2020/01/15

Caledon East dentist loses wife and daughter in Ukraine plane crash near Tehran, Iran. caledonenterprise.com, Jan 8: Dr. Hamed Esmaeilion of Log Home Dental in Caledon East is mourning the loss of his wife, Dr. Parisa Eghbalian, and daughter Reera Esmaeilion. Read more

Halifax dentist, university students among victims of Iran plane crash. cbc.ca, Jan 8: Dr. Sharieh Faghihi worked as a dentist in Halifax for several years. Read more

Tehran crash: Ottawa dental technician Mansour Pourjam remembered as bright, funny. ottawacitizen.com, Jan 9: Mansour Pourjam was a popular colleague at the Ottawa dental clinic where he worked for the past 12 years. Pourjam, 53, died in the crash of Ukraine International Airline Flight 752 shortly after takeoff from Tehran. Read more

Winnipeg's Iranian community reeling from nine deaths in crash. winnipegsun.com, Jan 9: Dr. Farhad Niknam was a Iranian-trained dentist had just completed the training and qualification process in Toronto and was in the process of getting his licencing so he could set up a practise in Winnipeg, according to the Iranian Ontario Dentist Association. Read more

Fewer Nova Scotians using children’s dental coverage as new oral health strategy work begins. globalnews.ca, Jan 14: As the province develops its first oral health strategy, new numbers show that fewer and fewer Nova Scotians are taking advantage of existing oral health services for children. Read more

PUBLIC WARNING: Person pretending to be a dental hygienist. cdho.org, Jan 10: Efforts to keep her out of practice have been unsuccessful. Given her history, the College suspects that she will seek employment in another dental office. We would like to warn the public and all dental office personnel to be alert to this. Read more

New National Report Card on Child and Family Poverty Sets the Stage for a Poverty-Free Canada. newswire.ca, Jan 14: New analysis captures the uneven reductions in poverty across geographic jurisdictions and highlights the uneven rate of poverty across marginalized groups. Read more

Hamilton could be operating two dental buses to provide oral care to low income senior across city. thespec.com, Jan 13: The city’s board of health approved spending Jan. 13 upwards of $687,700 in one-time provincial funding to purchase a new dental bus to provide oral health to adults and seniors in low-income areas. Read more

U of T oral and maxillofacial surgeons save lives while training future doctors in Ethiopia. utoronto.ca, Jan 8: The U of T group took part in the first shared initiative between the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC) and the surgical non-profit, Face the Future, which was founded by Canadian surgeon Dr. Peter Adamson. TAAAC is a partnership between U of T and Addis Ababa University that aims to promote academic training, teaching support and research collaboration in many different fields, including dentistry. Read more

New course module preps future dentists to navigate mental health issues in practice. dentistry.utoronto.ca, Jan 10: Beginning in the spring of 2020, students in DDS3 will attend a new course module that will prepare them to better serve patients with mental illnesses, "Psychiatry in Dentistry." Read more

Researcher says only 25% of Canadian drinkers know alcohol causes cancer. A B.C. campaign wants to change that. cbc.ca, Jan 8: Many people don't know that alcohol can cause cancer. Now you know. This sobering message from Fraser Health Authority appeared Monday on ads in Lower Mainland transit stations and vehicles, restaurants and bars and on the agency's social media platforms. Read more

Le veuf de la mairesse Boucher est décédé. tvanouvelles.ca, 23 décembre : Chirurgien-dentiste et président de l’Ordre des dentistes du Québec de 1982 à 1994, M. Marc Boucher est décédé à l’âge de 85 ans. Lire plus

Toronto neurosurgeon marks 1,000th operation treating 'excruciating' facial pain syndrome. cbc.ca, Jan 15: About 5 out of 100,000 people may suffer from trigeminal neuralgia, though it's often misdiagnosed. Read more

Anniversary of community water fluoridation arrives. ada.org, Jan 14: The ADA National Fluoridation Advisory Committee is inviting dentists and others who promote the adoption and continuation of adding an optimal amount of fluoride to water to celebrate this year. The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of community water fluoridation in the United States. Read more

ADA asks Congress to pass Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act. ada.org, Jan 9: The American Dental Association is asking Congress to pass the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act — legislation that would require all private group and individual health plans to cover medically necessary services that repair or restore congenital anomalies. Read more

ADA CERP collaboration focuses on dentistry’s role in interprofessional education. ada.org, Jan 9: The ADA’s Continuing Education Recognition Program, or ADA CERP, announced in December that it is collaborating with Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education, in an effort to offer dentists more opportunities to participate in interprofessional education. Read more

SmileDirect Will Start Selling Its Aligners to Orthodontists. bnnbloomberg.ca, Jan 14: SmileDirectClub Inc. will start selling its teeth-straightening products to dentists and orthodontists, putting it in direct competition with one-time partner Align Technology Inc.’s Invisalign. Read more

New Jersey court rules in favor of SmileDirectClub. beckersdental.com, Jan 13: The Superior Court of New Jersey ruled Jan. 10 that the allegations against SmileDirectClub that it illegally practiced dentistry brought on by the New Jersey Dental Association were without merit. Read more

SmileDirectClub to expand into Germany in 2020. dental-tribune.com, Jan 13: The teleorthodontics company SmileDirectClub has announced that it is poised to enter the German orthodontics market. Read more

FDI supports educators and students through interactive curriculum on optimal oral health habits. fdiworlddental.org, Jan 7: To mark International Day of Education on 24 January, FDI reminds readers of Mouth Heroes for Schools, an FDI-developed teaching resource for children aged 5–9 years. Mouth Heroes gives teachers everything they need to deliver engaging lessons to make sure children take good care of their teeth and mouth. Read more

FDI World Dental Development Fund backs projects to improve oral health worldwide: apply by 15 June. fdiworlddental.org, Jan 7: FDI is now accepting applications for the World Dental Development Fund (WDDF), which supports innovative oral health initiatives in communities all around the world. The fund backs projects with clear objectives to promote and improve oral health and prevent oral diseases in limited-income areas with oral health needs. Read more

Lawmakers, education and dental health advocates push for child dental screening bill. thecentersquare.com, Jan 14: A bipartisan group of lawmakers, dental hygienists, and education leaders met in the Capitol Tuesday to push for House Bill 4223, which would enact dental screenings for all new children starting kindergarten and first grade in Michigan by the 2020-2021 school year. Read more

Free dental care for all? San Francisco Supervisor wants city to explore the possibility. sfchronicle.com, Jan 14: Over the past year, San Francisco lawmakers have called for universal mental health care and free Muni for all. The newest push? Free dental care for every San Franciscan. Read more

DentalPlans Highlights the Year’s Biggest Dental Trends. digitaljournal.com, Jan 15: While some of our predictions may not happen in the first year of the new decade, all are based on technologies that are available now and are (probably) coming soon to a dental office near you. Read more

College of Dentistry helps bridge the gap between Nebraska students and dentists. 1011now.com, Jan 13: With a camera and a tablet, a school nurse's office transforms into a dental clinic. For the last five years, it's been operating within Omaha schools, helping around 125 kids get dental treatments. "Oral health is the number one unmet need within school systems in Omaha, the entire state," Dr. Jillian Wallen with the College of Dentistry said. Read more

Point of View: Help expand Florida’s workforce by allowing dental therapists to practice in Florida. palmbeachpost.com, Jan 13: If dental hygienists were able to receive the additional education and training to become a licensed dental therapist, we could reach many more Floridians who need our services, especially the underserved in vulnerable populations. Read more

Opinion: Numbers don’t lie: Virginians need oral health care. virginiamercury.com, Jan 14: As the 2020 legislative session begins, a recent study from Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services on emergency department use for dental issues among Medicaid recipients shows an unavoidable truth: Virginians are in desperate need of oral health care.  Under Virginia’s current Medicaid program, adults in Virginia do not have a comprehensive dental benefit. And the governor’s biennial budget did not address this gap in care. Read more

It’s like Netflix for your teeth: Massachusetts dentist office offers subscription-based dentist coverage. gazette.net.com, Jan 12: Instead, patients pay a monthly fee of either $30 or $60 to receive treatment, depending on the level of coverage they prefer. Read more

Plymouth's NHS dentists crisis - experts demand action. plymouthherald.co.uk, Jan 14: A report has revealed the “shocking” state of dental health in Plymouth. It says the waiting list for an NHS dentist in the city has been growing and there is a wide inequality gap between people in the most and least deprived areas. Read more

Soft drink sugar drops by 29% in the UK. beveragedaily.com, Jan 13: An Oxford University study has found the total amount of sugar sold in soft drinks in the UK dropped by 29% between 2015-2018. Read more

Oral cancer survivor shares her story after backlash caused by tobacco age increase. A new law raising the age to buy tobacco products has faced some backlash. fox47news.com, Jan 8: That backlash has led to a West Michigan woman sharing her tobacco-related cancer journey to show it is an important step in protecting young adults. Read more

Alcohol-related deaths have doubled in the US and women are at an increased risk, study says. cnn.com, Jan 8: The number of Americans who have died from alcohol-related problems annually more than doubled between 1999 and 2017, a new study found, and that's likely an undercount, the researchers said. About half of these deaths are from liver disease or an overdose from alcohol or alcohol mixed with other drugs. Men died at a higher rate than women, but the largest annual increase in deaths was among non-Hispanic white women. Read more

Take advantage of FDI’s resources on partially dentate patient treatment and care. fdiworlddental.org, Jan 7: FDI has launched a series of tools that propose a tailored, comprehensive approach to treatment and care. These include the Collaborative Care Continuum: The 3Cs pathway for partially dentate patients white paper, as well as the Collaborative Care Continuum: Professional guidelines and the Collaborative Care Continuum: My oral health checklist. These resources support patient-practitioner communication and offer advice on managing this particular patient group. Read more

Losing tongue fat improves sleep apnea. penntoday.upenn.edu, Jan 13: Losing weight is an effective treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), but why exactly this is the case has remained unclear. Now, researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine have discovered that improvements in sleep apnea symptoms appear to be linked to the reduction of fat in one unexpected body part: the tongue. Read more

People with Lupus Exhibit Increased Need for Dental Management. lupus.org, Jan 8: In a recent literature review, researchers discovered that people with lupus are more at risk of compromised oral and dental health, with an increased risk of periodontal (gum) diseases and temporo-mandibular (jaw) joint (TMJ) disorders. Additionally, immunosuppressive and anticoagulant drugs used to treat lupus may also influence oral management for those with the disease. Read more

BPA Replacement Hinders Heart Function, U of G Study Reveals. news.uoguelph.ca, Jan 8: BPA's counterpart replacement BPS can hinder heart function within minutes of a single exposure, according to a new University of Guelph study. The study is the first to show the instant effects bisphenol S (BPS) can have on the heart. Read more

CMAJ removes paywall, expands public access to evidence-based health information. cma.ca, Jan 14: In a bid to democratize access to credible health information, the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) is removing its paywall.... Starting in January, all new CMAJ content will be publicly available, at no cost. Past issues will be available starting March 1. Read more

Radical treatment of chronic oral infection before stem cell transplantation not necessary. medicalxpress.com, Jan 3: A recently published study indicates that oral infections seem to have no association with the risk of stem cell transplantation patients dying of or getting a serious infection within six months of the procedure. Read more

Anti-aging drug holds promise for age-related oral diseases. dental.washington.edu, Jan 13: A team led by two UW researchers has found that a transplant drug with anti-aging properties can regenerate bone and decrease gum inflammation, pointing the way toward new treatments for common dental problems in aging patients. Read more

'Normal' Human Body Temperature Has Changed in the Last Century. time.com, Jan 14: ... since 1871, “normal” has meant 98.6°F (37°C). ...researchers at Stanford University reported that the normal human body temperature has dropped since that time. And that means the standards that doctors have been using to define normal temperature and fever might need to be reworked. Read more

Telehealth for a new reality. hospitalnews.com, Jan 14 [By Dr. Sandy Buchman, President of the Canadian Medial Association]: A whirlwind of innovation surrounds us and a revolution is knocking at the door of our health system. However, an important question arises: What added value do these technological innovations bring to patients? Read more

It’s time to make Canadian health care sustainable. thepeterboroughexaminer.com, Jan 13 [OPINION]: The federal government needs to increase health transfer payments to provinces, writes Charles Shaver. Read more

10 health stories that mattered this week. cmajnews.com, Jan 10: Health News Recap: Physician pushback on billing changes, barriers to accessing homecare, and unproven autism treatments in this week’s top Canadian health news. Read more

A blood test that predicts the risk of dying. cbc.ca, Jan 13: A simple blood test may help doctors predict who is at risk of imminent death, according to a study published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Read more

Pharmaceutical policy excludes the most vulnerable. policyoptions.irpp.org, Jan 14: Canada’s drug policy on “rare” diseases like tuberculosis fails those outside the middle class who lack basic determinants of health such as decent housing. Read more

Opioid deaths, drug shortages and rising costs: What's wrong with the drug industry? ctvnews.ca, Jan 10: The year’s headlines pointed to shocking rates of opioid addiction and death, looming drug shortages, class-action lawsuits, fears over climbing drug prices, and concerns about the cozy relationship between drug makers and health-care providers. Read more

California could be 1st state to sell own prescription drugs. thestar.com, Jan 9: The Democratic governor wants the nation’s most populous state to contract with generic drug companies to make medications on its behalf so it could sell them to its nearly 40 million residents. The goal is to lower prices by increasing competition in the generic drug market, Newsom said. Read more

China's mystery 'coronavirus' isn't currently spreading, WHO says. cbc.ca, Jan 12: An outbreak of respiratory illness that has killed one person in China and infected 40 others appears to be linked to a single seafood market in the central city of Wuhan and has not so far spread beyond there. Read more

3D printing of body parts is coming fast – but regulations are not ready. theconversation.com, Jan 10: The technology of producing biological parts is advancing, raising new legal and regulatory questions. Read more

Canada faces shortage of heartburn drug Pepcid after Zantac recall. cbc.ca, Jan 15: Shortage is expected to last until March, Canadian Pharmacists Association says. Read more

Manitoba government, pharmacy chain team up to help people quit smoking. globalnews.ca, Jan 8: Thousands of Manitobans who want to quit smoking will soon have access to free counselling and items such as nicotine patches and gum. The Progressive Conservative government, in what it calls the first program of its kind in Canada, is launching a social impact bond that will see Shoppers Drug Mart spend $2 million over five years to help smokers kick the habit. Read more

Juul to stop selling most flavoured vaping pods in Canada. cbc.ca, Jan 14: Vaping company to halt production of mango, vanilla, fruit and cucumber varieties. The company will not pull existing supplies of the mango, vanilla, fruit and cucumber varieties from store shelves, but it will stop re-supplying outlets with those products once the existing stock has sold out. Read more

New campaign highlights dangers of flavoured vaping products. toronto.ctvnews.ca, Jan 8: Two Canadian health advocacy groups are launching a public awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of flavoured vape products. The Canadian Lung Association and Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada have partnered to create the campaign. Read more

Canadian Vaping Association bolsters lobbying efforts. ipolitics.ca, Jan 13: The Canadian Vaping Association has been named in 12 communication reports filed last week amid rising international concern over the safety of vaping. Read more

A New Generation of Vaping Devices Wants to Fix What Went Wrong at Juul. bnnbloomberg.ca, Jan 10:  … Several companies believe they have come up with technological and regulatory approaches that will avoid Juul’s troubles and potentially disrupt both the tobacco and cannabis industries. Read more

How scientists could help people quit smoking by targeting 'disgust' receptors. New research has pinpointed brain cells responsible for nicotine aversion, which scientists hope will develop ways to help people quit smoking. Scientists have long known nicotine stimulates both pleasure and disgust responses in different parts of the brain. But University of Toronto scientists said their newest research strengthens the idea that nicotine is actually hitting the same part of the brain. (CTV, Jan 9)

Does smoking cause depression? Most of us are familiar with the physical health effects of smoking, but can the habit also affect our mental and emotional well-being? A new study suggests that it can, after finding a link between smoking cigarettes and depression. (Medical News Now, Jan 9)

Senate Democrats blast exemptions in Trump vaping ban. thehill.com, Jan 13: In a letter to newly appointed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn, the 31 Democrats, led by Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), said the omissions in the policy will place millions of children at risk of addiction. Read more

New Jersey lawmakers pass bill banning flavored vaping products. cbsnews.com, Jan 13: The bill prohibits the sale and distribution of electronic smoking devices with a "distinguishable flavor, taste or aroma." The legislation would also impose a minimum fine of $250 for a first offence, $500 for a second offense and $1,000 for each subsequent offense. Read more

FDA’s Juul Inquiry Found Consumers Had 2,600 Health Complaints. bnnbloomberg.ca, Jan 13: Juul Labs Inc. received roughly 2,600 complaints about adverse health effects related to its e-cigarette during its first three years in operation, with customers citing issues such as burning sensations in the lungs, blistered lips and vomiting, according to an internal report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read more

Dalhousie University – Current course offerings

McGill University – Continuing dental education

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry University – Continuing professional development

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

January 30-February 1: Yankee Dental Congress – Advancing the Vision 2020, in Boston, Massachusetts. Read more

February 20-22: Chicago Dental Society 155th Midwinter Meeting – Kaleidoscope View 2020, in Chicago, Illinois. Read more

March 5-7: Pacific Dental Conference in Vancouver, BC. Read more

March 19-20: Academy of Osseointegration 2020 Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA. Read more

March 18-21: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session – Washington, D.C. Read more

March 19-21: The Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Read more

April 2-4: The 2020 Manitoba Dental Association & Canadian Dental Association Convention –Seeing Dentistry Clearly, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Read more

May 7-9: Ontario Dental Association ASM20 Annual Spring Meeting, in Toronto, Ontario. Read more

May 14-16: California Dental Association (CDA) – Presents the Art & Science of Dentistry, Anaheim, California. Read more

May 21-23: Alberta Dental Association & College, Alberta Wellness Summit, in Edmonton, Alberta. Read more

May 29-June 2: Journées dentaires internationales du Québec, in Montreal, Quebec. Read more

September 1-4: FDI World Dental Congress in Shanghai, China. Read more

September 10-12: California Dental Association (CDA) – Presents the Art & Science of Dentistry, in San Francisco, CA. Save the date

October 1-3: Canadian Academy of Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics 28th Annual Scientific Meeting in Toronto, Ontario. Read more

October 4: North West Dental Exposition in Edmonton, Alberta. Read more

October 15-18: American Dental Association ADA FDC 2020 in Orlando, Florida. Read more

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

Dr. Barry Dolman joins Altima Dental as Director, Regulatory and Clinical Affairs. newswire.ca, Jan 8: Altima Dental is proud to welcome Dr. Barry Dolman to the position of Director, Regulatory and Clinical Affairs, QC. Read more

CEREC software wins Red Dot Design Award for outstanding user experience. news.dentsplysirona.com, Jan 13: The redesigned user interface of the CEREC software from Dentsply Sirona won a coveted Red Dot Award for Brands and Communication Design in November. Read more

KaVo Kerr Releases a Universal Cement that Significantly Simplifies Cementation Processes. kavokerr.com, Jan 14: KaVo Kerr unveils Nexus™ Universal, a universal adhesive resin cement that allows the clinician to cut their procedure steps by up to half while delivering up to 2x higher bond strength on any substrate. Read more

Colgate Launches ‘First Ever’ Vegan-Certified Toothpaste but It Costs £5 Per Tube. independent.co.uk, Jan 14: Colgate has launched a new toothpaste which it claims is the first of its kind because it is vegan-certified and comes in a recyclable tube. Read more