Services returning in Phase Two of B.C. Restart Plan waiting for PPE requirement specifics. cfjctoday.com, May 12: … Dr. Perry Vitoratos owns the Riverside Dental Clinic in Kamloops and says they still need to hear from their college about what sort of PPE they’ll need to open safely. Read more
New Brunswick to provide coronavirus update as dentist offices begin reopening Wednesday. globalnews.ca, May 13: ... The New Brunswick Dental Society has said that its members will be permitted to reopen on Wednesday. It will be the first time in more than two months that anything other than emergency dental procedures will be permitted to be carried out. Read more
Dental offices prepare for patients. airdrietoday.com, May 13: ...as of May 14…dentists of Alberta will be able to provide further services. It is anticipated this will expand to include non-urgent dental services. Read more
There's a whole new drill, when you visit the dentist. winnipegsun.com, May 12: Manitoba dentists, who’ve been given a green light from the province for limited practice, are struggling to operate due to risks and regulations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
New Brunswick dentists prepare to reopen to patients. globalnews.com, May 12: Dr. Joy Carmichael examined the waiting room at her clinic, the “new normal” for her dentistry practice. Read more
Costs of reopening adding up for dentists, could lead to fee increases. cbc.ca, May 12: Manitoba's dentists are trying to reopen their practices after being closed for several weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic, but increased safety measures come with added costs, supply chain issues, and less capacity to treat patients. Read more
As Provinces and Economies Re-Open, Canadians Wary of Hands-On Healthcare, But Bullish On New Virtual Options. cbj.ca, May 12: ... In a survey of over 500 Green Shield Canada (GSC) health benefits plan members, a majority of respondents indicated a likelihood of them attending a normal visit to the dentist (62%) in the pre-vaccine period, but a full 25% indicated they would not. Read more
Dentists gearing up for new normal of wearing full protective gear amid COVID-19. cbc.ca, May 12: 'There's no opportunity for social distancing in dentistry,' says Dr. Peter Nkansah. Dr. Peter Nkansah, a Toronto dentist and anesthesiologist, isn't sure when his clinic will reopen for non-urgent dentistry. When it does, he expects to be wearing protective gear from head-to-toe. Read more
Dentists in New Brunswick prepare to reopen clinics under new COVID protocols. cbc.ca, May 11: After getting the green light from the provincial government, dentists will reopen their offices Wednesday to patients waiting for much-needed dental work. Read more
Metro Vancouver dentist creates virtual dental care platform. dailyhive.com, May 11: A Metro Vancouver dentist has created a new TeleDentistry platform during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow patients to see their dentists virtually. Read more
Dentists look forward to offering more services. mountainviewtoday.ca, May 12: Dentists are gradually being allowed to offer more services under Alberta’s plans for reopening the economy. The scope of what they have been allowed to do was expanded on May 4 and if all goes well, they’ll even be able to do non-urgent dental care by May 14. Read more
Analysis: Quebec's promised ramp-up in COVID-19 testing falling short. montrealgazette.com, May 12: ...During Monday’s news conference, the premier made a telling remark about the government adopting a decree — over the weekend, no less — to enable dentists and dental hygienists to take samples. “We’re going to have more people to be able to do tests,” Legault said. Read more
McGill, UBC among universities to offer majority of fall semester online. theglobeandmail.com, May 11: McGill University, the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria said Monday that they expect a significant portion of fall courses will be mainly online. The universities all expressed hope that smaller classes or labs may be held in person, depending on local conditions and advice from public-health officials. The University of Montreal informed staff on Friday that the fall semester will be largely held online. Read more
Is Teledentistry the Key to Surviving and Thriving in Uncertain Times? oralhealthgroup.com, May 11: Simply stated, teledentistry may be the key to keeping your practice afloat during unprecedented economic challenges. If it is new to you, here is what you need to know. Read more
‘It’s really the Wild West out there.’ Your trip to the dentist is about to get more painful — but not for the reason you might think. marketwatch.com, May 12: One dentist has spent nearly $35,000 on disinfectant equipment, including oral high-speed aerosol evacuation units, ozone generators and ultraviolet lights. Read more
California dental offices will reopen this week. Is it safe to go during coronavirus? sacbee.com, May 13: After nearly two months of shuttered offices or emergency-only work, California and Sacramento dentists are reopening this week to more patients. Read more
ADA members have governors’ ears as states consider reopening. ada.org, May 11: From coast to coast, dentists stepping up to make their voices heard in halls of power. Read more
Fourth wave of HPI polling shows dental practices in early stages of recovery. ada.org, May 11: More than 30% of dental practices were back open the week of May 4, compared to 3.4% of dental practices the week of April 20. Read more
Dentists urgently need State assistance - Second meeting with Harris to take place. irishhealth.com, May 11: A survey of 329 private dentists…revealed that almost 80% feel that the current pandemic has resulted in a high or very high risk to the sustainability of their practice, while 86% of practices have already laid off staff. Read more
Coronavirus: Dentists volunteer to work in NI [Northern Ireland] care homes. bbc.com, May 6: The 76 volunteers agreed to provide support and training to staff about infection prevention after a health and social care workforce appeal. Read more
Dentist warns patients in Kent could be waiting months for routine appointments once lockdown is lifted. kentonline.co.uk, May 7: Dentists across the UK have urged the government to allow practices to be among the first facilities to be brought back into action due to the huge backlog of appointments. Read more
Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world May 13. cbc.ca, May 13: The latest: Quebec summer projections vary widely depending on circumstances. Ontario says 'Stage 1' for reopening some businesses imminent. What Canada can learn from other countries about lifting lockdown measures too soon. Your COVID-19 questions answered. INTERACTIVE | See the latest data on coronavirus cases in Canada, and more. Read more
Health Canada authorizes serological test for COVID-19 antibodies. cbc.ca, May 12: Health Canada says it has authorized the first COVID-19 serological test for use in the country to detect antibodies specific to the virus. Read more
Interferon emerges as potential treatment for COVID-19. theglobeandmail.com, May 12: In the race to find an effective therapy for COVID-19, a class of drugs called interferons may be stepping into the spotlight thanks to encouraging results from two clinical trials. Read more
COVID-19 crisis prompts federal government to look at boosting vaccine production capacity. nationalpost.com, May 13: Canada's current plants wouldn't be able to produce enough COVID-19 vaccine to supply doses to the millions of Canadians who will want it. Read more
Wider testing, surveillance needed to catch asymptomatic COVID-19 cases: experts. globalnews.ca, May 13: ... Currently in Canada, anyone with symptoms can be tested for COVID-19. But that means many are falling through the cracks and could be spreading the virus. Read more
Ontario's top doctor not confident about reopening, after Ford says details of Stage 1 coming Thursday. cbc.ca, May 12: Province extends state of emergency to June 2; cases rise for 2nd straight day after 6-week low. Read more
Businesses get set to reopen while facing employees' fears and anxieties. cbc.ca, May 13: …but what's not mentioned is how employers can help their employees who may be anxious or fearful about returning to what is usually a close-contact environment. Read more
Canada-U.S. border expected to stay closed to non-essential travel to June 21. theglobeandmail.com, May 13: The Canada-U.S. border is expected to stay closed to non-essential travel until June 21 to safeguard citizens in both countries from the spread of COVID-19. Read more
Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world Tuesday. cbc.ca, May 12: Federal government announces up to $500 in aid for seniors struggling because of COVID-19. A major airline will 'most likely' go bust this year because of COVID-19, Boeing CEO says. Stress, anxiety a heavy burden for people who can't work from home or properly isolate. Read more
Chinese coronavirus vaccine could be tested, manufactured in Canada. ca.reuters.com, May 12: China’s CanSino Biologics Inc, the company behind one of the few coronavirus vaccine candidates already in clinical trials, is collaborating with Canada’s National Research Council to “pave the way” for future trials in Canada. Read more
University of Windsor prof, top world expert, says COVID-19 shows medical supply chains are inadequate. windsorstar.com, May 11: The University of Windsor professor…has warned for years medical networks must be updated and digitally enabled. Read more
How B.C. aggressively 'flattened' its curve. macleans.ca, May 11: The growing evidence that B.C. has weathered the coronavirus pandemic more comfortably than its Canadian neighbours has left many wondering why. Read more
B.C. moves to 'safe supply' as overdose deaths spike during COVID-19 pandemic. cbc.ca, May 12: ...But it took a second public health emergency — the COVID-19 pandemic — for the guidance on safe supply to be announced. Read more
Majority of Canadians do not approve of a mandatory contact tracing app: Mainstreet poll. ipolitics.ca, May 12: Most Canadians wouldn’t support governments requiring them to download a tracking app to try to reduce the spread of COVID-19, a new Mainstreet Research poll suggests. Read more
Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world. cbc.ca, May 11: Rent relief key to restarting economy, not just covering costs of pandemic closures, say business advocates. Do I have the right to refuse work? Your COVID-19 questions answered. Read more
Coronavirus: Ontario residents bracing for mental health crisis triggered by COVID-19, polls suggests. globalnews.ca, May 11: A new poll from one of Canada’s leading mental health organizations says Ontario residents are bracing for a mental health crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
USask announces tuition plans for the 2020/21 academic year. news.usask.ca, May 7: The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is implementing a tuition freeze for 2020/21 for a majority of its programs due to the impacts of COVID-19 on students. Read more
Canada's jobless rate soars to 13 per cent in April. ctvnews.ca, May 8: The Canadian economy lost almost two million jobs in April, a record high, as the closure of non-essential services to slow the spread of COVID-19 forced businesses to shutter temporarily. Read more
Doctors warn against claims that Beijing-touted health supplement distributed in Canada treats COVID-19. cbc.ca, May 7: Chinese embassy distributes traditional medicine to students in Canada as part of 'health-care package'. Read more
Privacy experts support call for national plan for COVID-19 contact tracing app. business.financialpost.com, May 6: When the prime minister, premiers and territorial leaders hold an online meeting later this week the agenda will include pressure by Ontario Premier Doug Ford for a national plan for contact tracing apps. Read more
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). who.int, May 12: Situation Report – 113. Read more
Live updates: Countries that reopened are closing down again as coronavirus infections spike. washingtonpost.com, May 13: House Democrats proposed a sprawling $3 trillion coronavirus rescue bill that would include funding for state governments and another round of stimulus checks. Republicans rejected it before even seeing it. California State University, the largest four-year public university system in the country, will go without in-person instruction for most classes in the fall. More than 100,000 small businesses across the country have closed for good since March, according to economists. Read more
Moderna coronavirus vaccine receives FDA fast-track designation. thehill.com, May 12: The biotechnology company Moderna announced Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration has given them fast-track designation, which is designed to expedite the development of treatments for life-threatening diseases such as COVID-19. Read more
CDC guidance more restrictive than White House: AP Exclusive. ctvnews.ca, May 13: Advice from the top U.S. disease control experts on how to safely reopen businesses and institutions during the coronavirus pandemic was more detailed and restrictive than the plan released by the White House last month. Read more
WHO sees 'potentially positive data' in treating coronavirus. ca.reuters.com, May 12: The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that some treatments appear to be limiting the severity or length of the COVID-19 disease and that it was focusing on learning more about four or five of the most promising ones. Read more
As nations reopen, warning emerges about virus tracing voids. ctvnews.ca, May 11: A top world health official Monday warned that countries are essentially driving blind in reopening their economies without setting up strong contact tracing to beat back flare-ups of the coronavirus. Read more
FDA authorizes use of Abbott's COVID-19 antibody test on second system. reuters.com, May 11: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday authorized the emergency use of Abbott Laboratories’ coronavirus test for detecting antibodies using another of its diagnostic platforms. Read more
New coronavirus test is imperfect step toward mass screening. apnews.com, May 11: A new type of coronavirus test offers a cheaper, quicker way to screen for infections, moving the U.S. toward the kind of mass screening that experts say is essential to returning millions of Americans to school and work. Read more
Algeria starts coronavirus test kits production. reuters.com, May 11: Algeria has started producing rapid test kits for the novel coronavirus, with a detection time of 15 minutes and a production capacity of 200,000 units per week. Read more
WHO warns that coronavirus cases have jumped in countries that eased lockdowns. cnbc.com, May 11: Several countries that have lifted coronavirus restrictions and reopened businesses have seen jumps in coronavirus cases, underscoring the “challenges that may lie ahead”. Read more
Colby Cosh: Smoking out the paradox — two contending theories on cigarettes and COVID-19. nationalpost.com, May 12: If nicotine turns out to be useful in treating or preventing COVID-19, we already have access to smoking-cessation products that offer controlled doses of it. Read more
Where there's smoke — the cigarettes-and-COVID story is growing harder to ignore. nationalpost.com, May 11: For smokers to do better in ANY health measure taken from ANY sample in ANY situation is astonishing. But now we have two studies showing that smokers do better with COVID. Read more
Smokers more likely to develop severe COVID-19 complications: study. ctvnews.ca, May 11: A new study investigating correlations between smoking, COVID-19, and a type of lung disease called COPD has found that current smokers are at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 than non-smokers. Read more
Coordinated strategy to accelerate multiple COVID-19 vaccine candidates is key, NIH experts say. nih.gov, May 11: A harmonized and collaborative approach to the clinical testing, scale-up and distribution of candidate vaccines to prevent COVID-19 is essential, scientific leaders write in a perspective published today in Science. Read more
Artificial Intelligence transforms search for COVID-19 vaccines, cure. healio.com, May 11: Developers are using artificial intelligence to help researchers comb through thousands of studies and find relevant COVID-19 information for the development of potential treatments and vaccines. Read more
Nova Scotia signs off on stiffest vaping regulations in Canada. cbc.ca, May 11: An order in council signed last week amending the Tobacco Access Act regulations will restrict the sale of e-liquids to a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 milligrams per millilitre. Read more
Pediatricians seeing a growing demand for medical cannabis for kids. theconversation.com, May 10: Most Canadian pediatricians are shying away from medical cannabis for patients, knowing that it can hurt the developing brain and that there isn’t much research to guide them. Read more
Water fluoridation not linked to increased risk of osteosarcoma, study shows. medicalxpress.com, May 12: The Journal of Dental Research published today the results of a study that demonstrated that community water fluoridation is not associated with increased risk of osteosarcoma. Read more
Oakland Bans Sale of Flavored, Menthol Tobacco Products In Tobacco Stores, Pharmacies. sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com, May 12: The Oakland City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to ban the sale of flavored and menthol tobacco products at all tobacco stores and pharmacies. Read more
New review finds fluoride is not a developmental neurotoxicant at exposure levels relevant to fluoridation. openparachute.wordpress.com, May 11: A new extensive review of the scientific literature has concluded that fluoride is not a human developmental neurotoxicant at the current exposure levels in Europe. Read more
E-Cigarettes More Harmful Than Thought: Study. nltimes.nl, May 12: While it will still take decades to come to a definitive answer regarding how harmful e-cigarettes are, "it is now clear that the product is more harmful than initially assumed. 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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