COVID-19: Can we still go to the dentist? iheartradio.ca, Apr 21: What if we have a teeth emergency? We go right to the top. Tim talks to President of the Ontario Dental Association Dr. Kim Hansen. Listen 5:04
What does ‘back to normal’ look like for B.C. health services like massage and dental? globalnews.ca, Apr 21: Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry had suggestions on how British Columbians will be able to access health services like physiotherapy, massage and dental appointments in the coming months. Watch 3:29
Une clinique dentaire d’urgence ouvrira mercredi. ici.radio-canada.ca, 21 avril : Les patients qui seront vus à la clinique devront détenir une référence fournie par un dentiste ou un médecin urgentologue spécifiant que leur état nécessite des soins dentaires d'urgence parce qu'ils sont aux prises avec une infection non contrôlée, de la douleur extrême ou qu'ils sont en proie à une hémorragie. Lire plus
À l'heure du confinement, des aînés peuvent maintenant faire leurs prothèses dentaires de chez eux. newswire.ca, 22 avril : Depuis 10 mois, un prothésiste dentaire français vivant au Québec, expérimente avec succès une innovation permettant aux personnes édentées de contribuer elles-mêmes à la fabrication de leurs prothèses à distance, sans se déplacer. Lire plus
Dentists balancing emergency care, patient health during COVID-19. everythinggp.com, Apr 20: [...] President of the Alberta Dental Association and College (ADA&C) Dr. Troy Basarab says dentists are trying to strike a balance between helping patients receive emergency care, while keeping them and their staff safe from the novel coronavirus. Read more
Des dentistes lancent une pétition pour une meilleure couverture de leurs assureurs. ici.radio-canada.ca, 20 avril : …les dentistes de la province essuient des pertes financières. Le président de l’Association des chirurgiens dentistes du Québec souhaite lancer un message aux principaux assureurs des cabinets de dentistes. On s’est fait dire pour l’instant, par nos principaux assureurs, que ce n’était pas couvert la pandémie via les assurances commerciales pour perte d’exploitation. Là-dessus, nous ne sommes pas d’accord avec nos principaux assureurs, soutient le Dr Carl Tremblay. Lire plus
La Capitale cuts group benefit dental care premiums. insurancebusinessmag.com, Apr 21: La Capitale Insurance and Financial Services has announced that it will reduce group insurance dental care premiums by 60%, to help relieve some of the financial burden SMEs and employees are experiencing due to the COVID-19 crisis. Read more
Equitable Life offering premium relief on health, dental benefits. benefitscanada.ca, Apr 21: Since many health practitioners have closed their offices due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions, plan member use of dental benefits and some health benefits has declined. As a result, Equitable Life is applying a 50 per cent reduction on dental premiums… Read more
Sun Life, Manulife offer group health premium relief options. insurancebusinessmag.com, Apr 20: Sun Life will offer a 50% credit per month against paid dental premiums; the insurer came to this decision after observing that most routine dental visits have stopped during the pandemic. Read more
Open Door Society making 10,000 masks for Saskatoon community. saskatoon.ctvnews.ca, Apr 20: The society is looking for donors and has already amassed local sponsors and partners including Willows Dental Clinic and the University of Saskatchewan College of Dentistry. Read more
Medicom Announces Montreal as Location of New Canadian Mask Production Facility. canadianlifesciences.com, Apr 20: With new long-term supply agreements being finalized with both the Canadian and Quebec governments, Medicom has confirmed that their first Canadian mask manufacturing facility will open near their Montreal head office by July 2020. Read more
Senate votes to expand small business aid. ada.org, Apr 21: The Senate passed new coronavirus relief legislation April 21 calling for much-needed funding for depleted federal loan programs that could help businesses nationwide, including dentists and dental practices, recover from the economic fallout of the pandemic. Read more
Dentists want coronavirus testing kits before reopening. thehill.com, Apr 22: Dentists are calling on the Trump administration to provide them with coronavirus tests before reopening. Read more
Concerns about coronavirus loom as dental offices prepare to reopen. cbs4indy.com, Apr 21: The state could allow dentists with proper personal protective equipment to start as early as Monday. Read more
'Definitely afraid of coming back': Dental professionals concerned about reopening too soon. ketv.com, Apr 21: Dental professionals concerned about reopening too soon. Read more
ADA FDC Annual Meeting postpones registration. ada.org, Apr 21: The American Dental Association and Florida Dental Association have postponed registration for the ADA FDC Annual Meeting from April 22 to early summer, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
AAID Produces COVID-19 Dental Care Guide. mdjonline.com, Apr 21: The American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) has released a new free online handbook, The Ultimate Guide to Dental Health During COVID-19. […] The guide illustrates best practices for healthy teeth and gums with special advice for extra care during a pandemic. Read more
Dental Association Issues Dire Warning To Epidemic Response Committee On Dental Care. scoop.co.nz, Apr 22: The New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) today told the Epidemic Response Committee that an estimated 20,000 New Zealanders every day are missing out on dental care. Read more
More than 100 MPs call for chancellor to assist private dentistry. dentistry.co.uk, Apr 22: In a letter addressed to the chancellor, 101 MPs have called on the government to extend their coronavirus financial measures to include the dental sector. Read more
New Study Reveals Patients Uncertain About Dental Care During COVID-19. businesswire.com, Apr 21: A study commissioned by the North American Dental Group (“NADG”) […] has shown an overwhelming number of Americans have significant concerns about seeking dental treatment during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Dental organizations urge HHS, CMS to release CARES Act relief funds. ada.org, Apr 20: …the dental organizations thanked the agencies for supporting dentists nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic but requested “immediate financial assistance for dentists who are only providing care for patients with urgent needs” as they are “taking on significant financial risk” in postponing non-urgent procedures and visits. Read more
Dental clinics in Minnesota at risk of closing permanently. businessnorth.com, Apr 20: The dental industry in Minnesota has major concerns about what will happen if offices are not able to return to practice in the near future... Read more
Dentist Frustrated At Being Denied Paycheck Protection Program Loan When Big Chain Restaurants Got Millions. chicago.cbslocal.com, Apr 20: Many small business owners made numerous calls and sent numerous emails and waited for their Paycheck Protection Program loans from the federal government – only to get nothing. Read more
The Prime Minister has announced a move back to Level 2 restrictions effective 27th April. ada.org.au, Apr 21: This is a positive move for the profession and is a proportionate response based on the evolving community context, which will allow for the treatment of patients beyond emergencies as outlined in the ADA's framework for dental restrictions during COVID-19.Read more
Coronavirus: Dentists facing 'critical shortage of kit'. bbc.com, Apr 21: Dentists in England are facing "critical shortages" in personal protective equipment (PPE), forcing patients with urgent problems to "take matters into their own hands." Read more
Nobel Biocare Global Symposium Virtual Edition Breaks Registration Record with Over 10,000 Participants. oralhealthgroup.com, Apr 21 [by Nobel Biocare]: With more than 10,000 unique registrations, the online edition of Nobel Biocare Global Symposium brought by Envista was not only an extraordinary educational event but also an example of how remote teams can quickly adapt to unprecedented circumstances. Read more
A huge hole in dentists' business sees many seek financial help. brisbanetimes.com.au, Apr 20: ... With dentists receiving little business but still facing high overheads, many dental practices across Australia have asked their banks for assistance, including deferrals on loan payments. Read more
Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world Wednesday. cbc.ca, Apr 22: Testing, testing: The key to controlling coronavirus spread. Inside Canada's frayed pandemic early warning system and its COVID-19 response. Trudeau to announce financial aid for students, youth who can't work due to COVID-19. Prisons watchdog in the dark on inmate early release plan to limit spread of COVID-19. INTERACTIVE | See the latest data on coronavirus cases in Canada. Read more
How one P.E.I. company is using chickens to try to detect COVID-19 in humans. cbc.ca, Apr 21: A Charlottetown biotech company has joined the fight against COVID-19 by creating antibodies that could help detect the presence of the virus in humans. Read more
Looking to produce a COVID-19 vaccine in the greenhouse. reporter.mcgill.ca, Apr 21: McGill researcher Dr. Brian Ward is also Medical Officer at Medicago…which is currently engaged in finding a solution to provide immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19. Read more
Toronto's top doctor releases charts showing COVID-19 data, suggests second wave is likely. toronto.ctvnews.ca, Apr 22: Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa told reporters the city has started to successfully flatten the curve and is at its peak period for COVID-19 cases. Read more
Trudeau confirms some cargo planes sent to China for pandemic supplies returned empty. cbc.ca, Apr 21: 'On-the-ground congestion' blamed for preventing delivery of PPE during plane’s landing window. Read more
Des milliers d’écouvillons importés de Chine par Québec sont inutilisables. ici.radio-canada.ca, 22 avril : D’autres provinces signalent des tests de dépistage contaminés. Lire plus
3M files lawsuit in Canada against firm accused of price-gouging on N95 masks. nationalpost.com, Apr 21: Minnesota-based 3M has filed a lawsuit against an Ontario company that allegedly claimed a phoney affiliation with the U.S. medical-gear maker to sell hard-to-find N95 face masks at exorbitant prices. Read more
Ottawa watching food supply chain 'very, very carefully' after Alberta outbreak. cbc.ca, Apr 21: Meat prices could go up now that a massive processing plant in Alberta has temporarily shut itself down following a COVID-19 outbreak. Read more
Coronavirus: Air Canada suspending flights to U.S. for 4 weeks after April 26. globalnews.ca, Apr 21: Air Canada says it’s suspending all scheduled flights to the United States for about four weeks after April 26 following a decision by the Canadian and U.S. governments to continue banning non-essential travel for another 30 days amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more
Canada shifts tone, talks about ‘critical need’ for WHO review of response to COVID-19. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 20: The federal government says it’s crucial that the World Health Organization carry out a post-pandemic investigation of its response to COVID-19, as questions mount over the global health body’s handling of this crisis. Read more
'Disrespectful': Urban Indigenous population feels short-changed by federal COVID-19 response. cbc.ca, Apr 21: …Indigenous leaders say it's not enough. They're calling for off-reserve funding to be increased to take into account the fact that more than half of the Indigenous population lives in urban centres. Read more
35% of Canadians expect to lose their jobs in the next four weeks: StatsCan. benefitscanada.com, Apr 22: More than a third (35 per cent) of Canadians said they expect to lose their job or the main source of self-employment income in the next four weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey by Statistics Canada. Read more
Federal government has limited ability to ramp up COVID-19 testing nationwide, say officials. cbc.ca, Apr 21: Testing criteria are set by the provinces — and the country isn't testing nearly enough people. Read more
'Your whole life is spent caring': Clinicians over 60 stay on the job during pandemic despite the greater risk. cbc.ca, Apr 21: Pandemic is great time to embrace technology including virtual care, expert says. More than one-third of Canada's COVID-19 cases are people 60 and over. Many doctors and nurses are in that age group, which has experts considering about how best to protect them during the coronavirus outbreak, including the use of virtual care and other innovative tools. Read more
Coronavirus: Dozens of companies on wait-list to distribute test kits in Canada amid shortage. globalnews.ca, Apr 20: Every province and territory across Canada is asking for more COVID-19 test kits, but Health Canada has only approved 13 companies so far to import and distribute them. Read more
Drug plan considerations during the coronavirus pandemic. benefitscanada.ca, Apr 20: With providers of dental and paramedical services closed, many aspects of the benefits plans are seeing reduced use. But drug plan spending is continuing unabated — and experts say new concerns are coming up during the crisis. Read more
Ottawa urged to fund medical coverage for millions of laid-off Canadians. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 21: …labour leaders are urging the federal government to pay for their medication as a step toward setting up the long-promised national pharmacare program. Read more
1,900 city staff set to be re-deployed to covid-19 response, or put on leave. iheartradio.ca, Apr 20: Through the survey, staff members will have the option to opt-in to redeployment or to opt-out of redeployment. Read more
The doomed 30-year battle to stop a pandemic. macleans.ca, Apr 21: Paul Wells: For decades, researchers and officials obsessed with planning to stop an outbreak. Then along came COVID-19 and we were sitting ducks. What went wrong? Read more
Trudeau vows Canada’s PPE stockpile policies will be overhauled to prevent waste. globalnews.ca, Apr 20: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ottawa will avoid destroying valuable medical equipment from the national stockpile from now on by making sure it gets used before it expires. Read more
'We need all hands on deck': Canadian farmers struggle with labour shortfall due to COVID-19. cbc.ca, Apr 20: Delayed arrival of temporary foreign workers due to COVID-19 could mean lower production, higher prices. Read more
Hospitals mull restart of paused services. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 19: Hospitals and health professionals across Canada are confronting the complex, urgent question of how to safely start treating more non-COVID-19 patients without jeopardizing the ability of the health care system to function. Read more
Finally, good news for renters as prices are expected to lead property decline. cbc.ca, Apr 20: There is nothing so bad that it does not end up helping someone is the old saying, and while the COVID-19 outbreak is bad for pretty well everyone, long-suffering renters may finally get a break. Read more
U of A faculty and staff partner with AHS to 'shield' front-line health workers from COVID-19 using 3-D printing. educationnewscanada.com, Apr 20: A group of University of Alberta clinicians, engineers and designers are working with Alberta Health Services (AHS) to create up to 2,000 3-D printed face shields for use in Alberta's hospitals as stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) continue to dwindle worldwide. Read more
Social media firms catching more misinformation, but critics say 'they could be doing more'. cbc.ca, Apr 20: Facebook, Twitter and Google/YouTube have ramped up their efforts to police content that contains incorrect or harmful information, taking down the worst offenders, attaching warnings to content that has been fact-checked and linking to official sources, such as the Public Health Agency of Canada. Read more
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). who.int, Apr 22: Situation report - 92. Read more
Live updates: Deaths suggest coronavirus was spreading in U.S. earlier than previously thought; CDC director warns of devastating second wave. washingtonpost.com, Apr 22: Several states, including Georgia and South Carolina, are slowly beginning to ease restrictions and closures, although some health experts and local lawmakers have cautioned that it may be too early to do so safely. […] A new study shows that hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug aggressively touted by Trump, offered no benefit for treating covid-19 and was linked to higher death rates among Veterans Affairs patients. Read more
WHO says coronavirus came from an animal and was not made in a lab. usatoday.com, Apr 21: The available evidence indicates coronavirus originated in animals in China late last year and was not manipulated or produced in a laboratory. Read more
Trials of a SECOND coronavirus vaccine set to begin in June as Imperial College London scientists move towards human testing after Oxford experiments begin tomorrow. dailymail.co.uk, Apr 21: Scientists developing a second coronavirus vaccine will soon start recruiting volunteers for clinical trials to begin in June. Read more
Ohio State clinical trial uses nitric oxide to help coronavirus patients. cantonrep.com, Apr 21: Researchers are administering continuously pulsed nitric oxide via a hand-held device, to help prevent the progression of the virus in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19-related pneumonia. Read more
India suspends coronavirus antibody tests after questions over reliability. reuters.com, Apr 22: India has ordered a pause in testing for antibodies to the coronavirus because of concern over the accuracy. Read more
FDA Says Smokers May Have Higher Risk of Catching Covid-19. bloomberg.com, Apr 21: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration made a second revision on its stance about the risks of Covid-19 and nicotine, saying that cigarettes also increase the chances of catching the disease. Read more
Tracking the virus may require 300,000 workers. We're nowhere close. politico.com, Apr 21: Contact tracing is essential to reopening the economy and containing outbreaks, but the workforce doesn’t exist to do it. Read more
Isolated indigenous tribes risk extinction from coronavirus, experts say. nbcnews.com, Apr 22: With scant contact with the outside world and little immunity to disease, isolated indigenous tribes could be devastated by the coronavirus, experts say. Read more
United States should allow volunteers to be infected with coronavirus to test vaccines, lawmakers argue. sciencemag.org, Apr 21: Political support is building for regulators in the United States to embrace the controversial strategy of intentionally infecting volunteers with the virus that causes COVID-19 in order to test experimental vaccines. Read more
WHO warns that few have developed antibodies to Covid-19. theguardian.com, Apr 20: Only a tiny proportion of the global population – maybe as few as 2% or 3% – appear to have antibodies in the blood showing they have been infected with Covid-19, according to the World Health Organization, a finding that bodes ill for hopes that herd immunity will ease the exit from lockdown. Read more
FDA clears Novartis to open hydroxychloroquine trial for COVID-19. healio.com, Apr 20: Novartis has reached an agreement with the FDA clearing the way for the company to sponsor a large clinical trial studying the use of hydroxychloroquine among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Read more
FDA Approves First Test for Patient At-Home Sample Collection for COVID-19. pharmacytimes.com, Apr 21: The FDA has approved the first diagnostic test with a home collection option for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Read more
What if the vaccine or drugs don’t save us? Plan B for coronavirus means research on alternatives is urgently needed. theconversation.com, Apr 21 [OPINION]: We are being saved by non-drug interventions such as quarantine, social distancing, handwashing, and – for health-care workers – masks and other protective equipment. Read more
How South Korea managed to flatten the COVID-19 curve. cbc.ca, Apr 20: Testing, contact tracing, attention to detail and leadership have helped get pandemic under control. Read more
WHO head warns worst of COVID-19 is still ahead. ctvnews.ca, Apr 20: The World Health Organization chief warned "the worst is yet ahead of us" in the coronavirus outbreak, reviving the alarm just as many countries ease restrictive measures aimed at reducing its spread. Read more
Mark Zuckerberg: How data can aid the fight against covid-19. washingtonpost.com, Apr 20 [OPINION]: […] Facebook can uniquely help researchers and health authorities get the information they need to respond to the outbreak and start planning for the recovery. Read more
The government must prevent Big Pharma profiteering from covid. politics.co.uk, Apr 21 [OPINION]: One of the major disparities that we are likely to see is who will be able to access a vaccine and who will not. Read more
Pressure builds on White House to increase tests. thehill.com, Apr 20: Pressure is building on the Trump administration to further increase the nation’s production of coronavirus tests, as experts say the country is still nowhere near the level it needs to be to safely reopen the country. Read more
Reports suggest many have had coronavirus with no symptoms. ctvnews.ca, Apr 20: A flood of new research suggests that far more people have had the coronavirus without any symptoms, fuelling hope that it will turn out to be much less lethal than originally feared. Read more
Doctors brace for shortages of sedation drugs needed for surgeries, intubation. theglobeandmail.com, Apr 21: The federal government has flagged serious concerns over shortages of drugs used to sedate patients and help them breathe – drugs that are critical in the treatment of COVID-19. Health Canada has placed 19 drugs on its “Tier 3” list, which is reserved for shortages that “have the greatest potential impact on Canada’s drug supply and health-care system.” Read more
Privacy commissioner investigating telehealth app. 660citynews.com, Apr 21: …the investigation was opened after concerns were identified in separate assessments submitted by a Calgary-based physician and Babylon Health Canada Limited.. Read more
COVID-19 crisis lays bare the importance of universal medicare. focusonvictoria.ca, Apr 21 [OPINION]: Would Canada—as some claim—really have been better prepared for a pandemic in a health system where care would be delivered to those who can afford to pay for it, rather than based on need? Let’s look at the evidence. Read more
UM researcher develops tool to assess children’s tooth decay. news.umanitoba.ca, Apr 20: A Rady Faculty of Health Sciences professor has developed Canada’s first screening tool designed for non-oral health professionals to assess the risk of tooth decay in children under six. Read more
Remote First Nations get access to virtual health care. timescolonist.com, Apr 20: Residents of 31 First Nations communities on Vancouver Island will be able to connect with a wide range of health-care providers from home via video calls or secure text messaging in the coming months. Read more
Getting rid of most e-cigarette flavours didn't hurt Juul sales: study. cbc.ca, Apr 20: Young people appear to have 'simply switched' to menthol and tobacco flavoured e-cigarettes, says scientist. Read more
Drug-resistant superbugs: A global threat intensified by the fight against coronavirus. theconversation.com, Apr 20: With the world’s attention on COVID-19, I believe that now is the time to talk about another pandemic that’s been happening right under our noses: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Read more
HPV Drives Increase in Oral Cancers. dentistrytoday.com, Apr 21: Incidences of cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx increased from 2007 to 2016 due to increases in cancers of the tonsil, the base of the tongue, the oropharynx, other oral cavity and pharynx, and the gum and anterior tongue associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more
AI makes dentists' work easier. eurekalert.com, Apr 21: New model helps localize the mandibular canals. Read more
Video Trial on Fluoridation Chemicals Set for June 8 in Federal Court. insidetracking.com, Apr 20: Twice-delayed, a lawsuit seeking to prohibit the addition of fluoridation chemicals to public water systems in the U.S. because of the threat fluoride poses to the developing brain will begin June 8, reports the Fluoride Action Network (FAN). 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
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
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