News Bites from CDA Knowledge Networks – 2020/11/11

Keep dental practitioners safe. Re: Dentists are forgotten front line (Nov. 5). winnipegfreepress.com, Nov 11: Letter to the editor by Dr. Marc Mollot. Read more

Technical requirements for UV decontamination devices: Notice to manufacturers. Government of Canada, canada.ca, Nov 6: This notice outlines the safety and effectiveness requirements for closed system devices that decontaminate medical devices using ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Read more

Redcliff Family Dental Centre employees test positive for COVID-19. bowislandcommentator.com, Nov 6: The Alberta Dental Association and College confirmed to the Cypress Courier there were positive COVID-19 cases among Redcliff Family Dental Centre employees. Read more

Dental Clinic Offering Free Cleanings For Veterans. iheartradio.ca, Nov 9: A dental clinic with offices in St. Catharines, Burlington and Brantford is offering a complimentary teeth cleaning for past and present veterans. The free teeth cleaning services will be available November 10th and 11th. Read more

In a county with few options for low-income adults, pandemic curtails charity dental care. northcarolinanews.org, Nov 10: The coronavirus pandemic sharply reduced charity dental care for adults in Moore County, placing additional barriers to care for the most vulnerable. Read more

Dentist members of Congress urge CDC to assist providers in disinfectant shortage. ada.org, Nov 9: Five members of Congress who are all dentists wrote to the Centers for Disease Control and Infection in October expressing concern over a disinfectant shortage and urging the agency to develop guidance to help clinicians. ... They also noted that manufacturers and retailers are struggling to meet demand and said the National Supply Chain Task Force “anticipates surface disinfectants will remain in short supply until at least Jan. 1, 2021.” Read more

Study Finds COVID-19 Risk at Dentist Lower Than Thought. altondailynews.com, Nov 9: Do you feel safe going to the dentist in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic? According to infection rates in their industry, the risk of catching the virus in the dentist’s chair is low. Read more

Perth dentist jailed for treating patients while she should have been in quarantine. watoday.com.au, Nov 9: A Joondalup dentist who admitted working when she was meant to be self-isolating will spend two months behind bars. Nataliia Nairn, 31, was sentenced to seven months jail, with five months of the term to be suspended after she breached WA's COVID-19 quarantine directions eight times. Read more

Apollo Beach Dentist Offers Free Care For Vets Despite COVID-19 Financial Strains. baynews9.com, Nov 7: … “As an employer, my primary concern is the safety of my patients and my team. But also financially, a little shout out to all the businesses, overhead has gone up because now our gloves are on a national shortage, our masks are on a shortage. So it’s tough,” said Dr. Jason Watts DMD, owner of Watts Dental. … But Dr. Jason Watts says you can’t put a price on giving back to those who deserve it most, which is why he’s doing his part to keep every veteran smiling. Read more

Dentistry in Ohio: Dr. Sharon Parsons on Prevention, Pain, and Advocacy. soundcloud.com, Nov 8: Dan Skinner talks with Dr. Sharon Parson, DDS, Immediate Past President of the Ohio Dental Association about her year as president, and her efforts to advocate for more diversity in dentistry, rethinking pain management and opioid prescription, prevention in oral health, and how the Ohio Dental Association responded to COVID-19. Listen 31:49

Dentists leaders in infection control, but it doesn't come cheap. beaconjournal.com, Nov 7 [Opinion]: Dr. Myriam Raber's commentary a USA Today article, “Dentists expected to raise fees, exit family practices.” Read more

Why rollout of COVID-19 vaccine could be 'the most difficult part' in Canada. cbc.ca, Nov 11: Logistical challenges, delivery delays and lack of distribution strategy could slow efforts. Read more

Government of Canada signs another agreement for COVID-19 antigen rapid test. canada.ca, Nov 10: ...the Government of Canada has signed an agreement with BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) to purchase7.6 million rapid, point-of-care, SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests for use on the BD Veritor™ Plus System and up to 2,172 analyzers. Read more

Ottawa-based mask manufacturer will soon be able to make one million masks per day. ottawa.ctvnews.ca, Nov 10: An Ottawa mask manufacturer is ramping up production to offer a Canadian choice, benefitting the local economy and helping charities along the way. It's a made-in-Canada solution, bound together by necessity. Ottawa-based Viral Clean, which fabricates medical and non-medical masks, is currently producing nearly 40,000 units per day. Read more

Province recalls expired masks given to Manitoba correctional officers, teachers and daycares. winnipeg.ctvnews.ca, Nov 10: The Province of Manitoba is recalling expired masks it sent to schools, daycares, and correctional officers after an outcry from staff and unions over the decade-old masks. Read more

Trudeau calls on premiers and mayors to 'do the right thing' as COVID caseloads rise. cbc.ca, Nov 10: PM urges provinces to bring back restrictions, targeted shutdowns. Read more

$61M coming to help Manitoba First Nations fight COVID-19: Indigenous services minister. cbc.ca, Nov 10: Indigenous communities in Manitoba will get an immediate boost in funding to help battle COVID-19 both on- and off-reserve after an "alarming rise" in COVID-19 cases in the province. Read more

CFIB statement: Many small businesses far too fragile to survive another round of lockdowns. cfib-fcei.ca, Nov 10:  As cities, provinces and the federal government move toward new business closures in many parts of the country, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) urges them to provide immediate and full financial support to affected businesses. Today’s lockdown in Manitoba is nearly as comprehensive as the March shut-down, but small businesses are far more fragile today. Read more

Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday. cbc.ca, Nov 11: Ontario reports record high of 1,426 new COVID-19 cases. Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan set new records for COVID-19 hospitalizations. Manitoba moving to red alert level, with social gatherings banned, non-critical businesses closed. Stricter measures coming to Toronto as province, city see new COVID-19 records. Belgium, among worst-hit European countries, sees some relief with fewer cases, hospitalizations. Texas becomes 1st U.S. state to surpass 1 million virus cases. Pacific nation of Vanuatu records its 1st case of coronavirus. Read more

Canadian company says its COVID-19 vaccine spurred 'promising antibody response' in Phase 1 of trials. ctvnews.ca, Nov 10: The Canadian company behind a new plant-derived COVID-19 vaccine candidate has released the results of their Phase 1 clinical trials, saying two doses of their adjuvanted vaccine spurred a significant antibody response in 100 per cent of the trial subjects. Read more

How close are we to a COVID-19 vaccine? What Pfizer's early results mean for Canadians. cbc.ca, Nov 10: Promising preliminary results released on mRNA vaccine, among those ordered by Canadian government. Read more

Despite Pfizer success, a lot has to happen before vaccine rollout in Canada: experts. ctvnews.ca, Nov 9: Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer says early results from its coronavirus vaccine trial suggest a 90 per cent efficacy rate at preventing COVID-19, a number that has Canadian infectious disease experts cautiously optimistic that a viable shot can be rolled out by spring of 2021. Read more

Statistics Canada launching Canada-wide COVID-19 study. montrealgazette.com, Nov 9: Statistics Canada will be sending out finger-prick blood test kits and surveys to 48,000 Canadians, including young children, living in Canada's 10 provinces and three territories. A countrywide study launching Monday will seek to better understand how many Canadians have had COVID-19 and whether they experienced any symptoms. Read more

Ontario pushing to drop 14-day quarantine for travellers. Here's what would replace it. toronto.ctvnews.ca, Nov 9: Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on the federal government to support the replacement of its 14-day quarantine measure for international travellers with rapid COVID-19 testing.  The premier made the comments at a news conference on Monday, saying that the province would move forward with its own plans to implement the replacement if the federal government chooses not to. Read more

Opioid-related deaths spike in Ontario during pandemic, new report finds. ctvnews.ca, Nov 10: A new report suggests Ontario is facing a 40-per-cent spike in opioid-related deaths that can be largely attributed to collateral damage from the COVID-19 pandemic.  The report, released Tuesday and funded by the Ontario government and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, examined data obtained during investigations of confirmed and suspected opioid-related deaths in Ontario that shows the province is on pace for its worst year for opioid-related deaths in history. Read more

1 in 3 Canadians would take a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as its available. abacusdata.com, Nov 9: As Canada grapples with rising infection rates, the news of a potential breakthrough in the race for a vaccine today has undoubtedly stirred hopes of a quicker return to normal than may have seemed possible even a week ago. If we assume that the results of the trials continue to be positive, and the Pfizer vaccine is approved for use, then the questions that will determine the pace of a return to normal revolve around the availability of the vaccine and take-up rates. Read more

Canada adds record 4,060 new coronavirus cases, 32 deaths Sunday. globalnews.ca, Nov 9: Sunday marked the first time the daily total of new COVID-19 cases in Canada exceeded 4,000. Read more

Surge at emergency departments in Brampton, Etobicoke leads to transfers of in-patients to other hospitals, for the first time in the pandemic. The Toronto Star, Nov 7: ...The surge of emergency patients — a mix of those with COVID-19 symptoms and those with other urgent health concerns — pushed Osler beyond capacity late Thursday, prompting its president and CEO to warn this could be the “leading edge of more difficult times for our communities.” See attached

From first to worst: How Manitoba squandered its pandemic advantage — and what it takes to get it back. cbc.ca, Nov 7 [Analysis]: Once the envy of the nation, cities such as Winnipeg and Steinbach now own the worst infection rates in Canada. Read more

'Next to impossible' to live on Manitoba income assistance during pandemic: community advocate. cbc.ca, Nov 8: 'Pre-COVID, it was still tough': already flawed system impacted by COVID-19, says Winnipegger on EIA. Read more

CDC: Masks protect wearers as well as others from coronavirus. axios.com, Nov 10: If you wear a mask, you're protecting yourself as well as others from COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an update on Tuesday. Read more

Asymptomatic COVID-19 nurses allowed to stay on job in North Dakota amid staff shortage. thehill.com, Nov 10: North Dakota is allowing health care workers with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic to keep working in coronavirus units to make up for a staff shortage. The extraordinary move comes as hospitals hit their capacity amid a rise in coronavirus cases. Hospitals are also short on beds for COVID-19 patients. Read more

Fewer Americans open to another COVID-19 lockdown: survey. Almost half of the respondents in a poll released Wednesday said they would be very likely to stay at home for a month if officials order a lockdown due to COVID-19, with support for the measure falling since the spring.  …The percentage has fallen from similar polls taken throughout the spring, when majorities of people asked said they’d comply with a lockdown. Read more

Live updates: CDC offers stronger endorsement of mask-wearing as U.S. sets another record for infections. washsingtonpost.com, Nov 11: Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, told CNN on Tuesday that the average American could have access to a coronavirus vaccine by April. The United States reported 135,428 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, shattering records for the third time in the past week. Read more

Coronavirus live news: US registers more than 1m new cases in 10 days; visitors to Spain need negative Covid test. theguardian.com, Nov 11: European commission seals deal for 300m Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine doses. Russia reports record daily deaths. European commission seeks greater public health powers. Japan warns of third wave amid rising Covid cases. Read more

US records seventh consecutive day of more than 100,000 new Covid cases. theguardian.com, Nov 10: Hospitalizations rising as country surpassed 10m total cases Monday, reaching reach an overall death toll of 238,256. Read more

Pandemic on course to overwhelm U.S. health system before Biden takes office. politico.com, Nov 9: The country’s health care system is already buckling under the load of the resurgent outbreak that’s approaching 10 million cases nationwide. Read more

Biden implores Americans to set aside differences and wear masks. thehill.com, Nov 9: President-elect Joe Biden on Monday implored every American to put aside political differences and wear masks. "A mask is not a political statement, but it is a good way to start pulling the country together,"  Biden said during a somber address that acknowledged the COVID-19 crisis is likely to get worse before it gets better. Read more

FDA grants emergency-use authorization to Eli Lilly's COVID-19 antibody treatment. ctvnews.ca, Nov 10: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday it had issued an emergency use authorization for Eli Lilly and Co's monoclonal antibody therapy to treat mild to moderate coronavirus infections in adults and children. The single antibody treatment, called bamlanivimab, must be infused in a hospital or other health care setting. It is the first monoclonal antibody to be authorized for use in treating coronavirus. The idea is to kick-start an immune response against infection. Read more

One-fifth of COVID-19 patients get a psychiatric diagnosis within 90 days, study suggests. ctvnews.ca, Nov 10: People who have had COVID-19 may have an increased risk of being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder such as anxiety or depression, according to a new study. Read more

Halted Brazil trials of Chinese-made vaccine cause surprise. ctvnews.ca, Nov 10: Brazil's health regulator has halted clinical trials of the potential coronavirus vaccine CoronaVac, citing an "adverse, serious event." The decision posted on Anvisa's website Monday night elicited immediate surprise from parties involved in producing the vaccine. Read more

Medical tourism craters during coronavirus pandemic, hospitals lose billions. cnbc.com, Nov 9: Millions of Americans have traveled overseas for health-care service in recent years. Domestic medical tourism also has boomed and received support from major companies including Walmart on behalf of its employees. Covid-19 upended travel, and hit this critical source of profits for hospitals and clinics. Read more

Pfizer says early data signals COVID-19 vaccine is effective. thestar.com, Nov 9: Pfizer says an early peek at its vaccine data suggests the shots may be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19, indicating the company is on track later this month to file an emergency use application with U.S. regulators. Read more

'Very worst of the pandemic' ahead in US with no apparent strategy, experts say. theguardian.com, Nov 8: After Trump’s election loss, no plan visible for next two months as cold weather and holidays approach. A lame-duck presidency and political gridlock after a bitterly fought election are set to worsen the US’s coronavirus crisis just as the pandemic enters its deadliest phase, according to health experts. Read more

OPINION: Comparing Canadian health care to other countries. torontosun.com, Nov 10: As we make our peace with the “new normal” and face a second wave of COVID-19, another albeit familiar challenge looms large — call it the “old normal” of Canadian health care. ... The Fraser Institute’s latest comparison of international health-care systems reminds Canadians what we’ll return to when the pandemic ends. Read more

Flu rates in Canada 'exceptionally' low despite more testing, says report indicating possible COVID dividend. nationalpost.com, Nov 11: But that does not mean that Canadians should avoid getting the flu vaccine, especially since this country is seeing a spike in COVID-19 cases. Read more

New study highlights differences in vaccination policies worldwide. mcgilltribune.com, Nov 10: A recent McGill study published in the aptly named scientific journal Vaccine detailed the wide variation in vaccination policy across 193 different countries. Notably, only 52 per cent of countries have a mandatory vaccination policy. Of the countries that do have vaccine mandates, only 59 per cent penalize those who do not comply. Nicole Basta, associate professor in McGill’s Department of Epidemiology and senior author of the paper, says that vaccination policies must be re-examined in the context of COVID-19. Read more

Despite big spending, Canada's health care near bottom for wait times, doctor and hospital bed availability: report. nationalpost.com, Nov 10: Canada spends more than 11% of its GDP on health care, the highest of all countries in the study except for Switzerland, but this doesn't necessarily translate into the top-tier medical care. Read more

Trudeau promises to connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed internet by 2026. cbc.ca, Nov 9: After some pandemic-related delays, the Liberal government says it's now on track to connect 98 per cent of Canadians to high-speed internet by 2026. The announcement comes as more Canadians find themselves living online while stuck at home due to COVID-19 restrictions. Read more

Dr. Rosana Salvaterra: Vaping continues to pose a threat to Peterborough’s young people. thepeterboroughexaminer.com, Nov 10 [OPINION]: …Our enforcement staff are indeed seeing younger students vaping — students as young as 11 and 13 years of age have been found carrying vaping products at school. … Peterborough’s retailers are requiring second visits by our inspectors to ensure that the flavoured and high nicotine products are removed from their shelves. Read more

Medical flight subsidies for Inuit get boost from federal government. cbc.ca, Nov 9: The funding will be worth $20 million in air travel this year, said then-Health Minister George Hickes last Thursday before a cabinet shuffle was announced in which Lorne Kusugak was named the new minister of health, beginning Monday. Hicks said the new funding also includes $58 million to cover "program shortfalls" in health care. Read more

Small businesses’ insurance costs are on the rise, and one in ten can’t even find a provider. cfib-fcei.ca, Nov 9: More than half of small businesses have seen their insurance premiums increase over the past 12 months, with one in six reporting an increase of 25 per cent or more, according to the latest survey results by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). CFIB is calling on the insurance industry and provincial governments to ensure small businesses have access to affordable coverage. Read more

Delta Dental funding provides access to $2.25M in oral health care for U.S. Veterans in 2020. prnewswire.com, Nov 11: ...a number of Delta Dental companies across the country have partnered with Dental Lifeline Network's (DLN) Lifeline Heroes Challenge for Veterans campaign. For many veterans, dental care is not covered by their insurance or their VA benefits. Funding provided through the Lifeline Heroes Challenge enables DLN to link hundreds of veterans with volunteer dentists who donate comprehensive care to those who need it most. Read more

Budget plan seeks expanded dental coverage. gloucestertimes.com, Nov 11: Budget cuts in the midst of a recession forced Beacon Hill leaders in 2010 to roll back adult coverage for most reconstructive dental procedures through MassHealth. Since then, its dental coverage has been mostly limited to routine cleanings and tooth extractions. But lawmakers are proposing to reinstate coverage for root canals, crowns and other services as part of the latest version of the state budget. Read more

TSU, Meharry launch accelerated program to graduate Black doctors, dentists. tennessean.com, Nov 10: Meharry Medical College and Tennessee State University are joining forces to increase the number of Black physicians and dentists working in underserved communities. The two historically Black colleges are launching the new Dr. Levi Watkins Jr. Medical, Dental Accelerated Pathway Program to prepare qualified TSU students for early acceptance to Meharry for medical or dental school. Read more

Group Studies Role of AI in Dentistry. arkansasbusiness.com, Nov 9: Merritt Dake wants a role for artificial intelligence in dentistry’s future, but he doesn’t expect robots to be pulling teeth. Dake, the CEO of Rock Dental Brands of Little Rock, is one of the 15 founding members of the Dental AI Council of Los Angeles. The group officially formed at the end of September and is working on artificial intelligence in dentistry through research and education, according to a news release from the group. Read more

E-cigarettes can be 'gateway' to cigarettes for teens with no prior intention to smoke. eurekalert.com, Nov 9: Cigarette smoking remains a leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. And while adolescent cigarette smoking has declined over the past several decades, e-cigarette use presents a new risk for nicotine use disorder. a new study, published Nov. 9 in the journal Pediatrics, finds that e-cigarette use is associated with a higher risk of cigarette smoking among adolescents who had no prior intention of taking up conventional smoking. These findings have strong implications for practice and policy, researches say. Read more

Smoking Initiation Shifting from Teens to Young Adults. cancer.gov, Nov 6: The past few decades have seen a steep drop in the number of adolescents in the United States who smoke cigarettes. But according to a new study, the average age at which people first try cigarettes or start to smoke regularly has risen. Read more

Lung symptoms common among users of e-cigarettes and related products. medicalxpress.com, Nov 9: One-third of people using e-cigarettes or related products reported symptoms associated with lung or respiratory tract impact or injury, according to an analysis of a 2016 national survey, to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2020. 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

2020

November 20–21: Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association Virtual Convention. Read more

2021

January 25–28: 2021 OSAP Dental Infection Control Boot Camp. Read more

March 13–16: “WE” 2021 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition (Virtual). Read more

March 4–6: Pacific Dental Conference – Virtual Experience. Save the date

May 6–8: Ontario Dental Association ASM21 Annual Spring Meeting. 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