News Bites from CDA Knowledge Networks – 2020/12/16

Quebec schools, offices, non-essential businesses to close until Jan. 11 to help curb spread of 2nd wave. cbc.ca, Dec 15: Dentists, optometrists and other health services will be allowed to stay open. Read more

TempStars Founder Advocates for Canada’s Dental Professionals Being Among First to Get COVID Vaccine, Then Administer it. wfmj.com, Dec 14 [Press release]: The founder of TempStars suggested today that Canada’s dental professionals, both the dentists and qualified hygienists in some provinces, should be considered part of the health care team leading the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program. Read more

Take care of your teeth this holiday season. miltonnow.ca, Dec 15: As we head into the holidays, it’s important to keep your teeth in mind. The Ontario Dental Association has offered some tips to keep your ‘pearly whites’ pearly white. Read more

Les cliniques privées épaulent la population québécoise à travers cette deuxième vague. journaldemontreal.com, 14 décembre : Dans ce contexte de pandémie, le rôle des services de santé œuvrant à l’extérieur du réseau de la santé et des services sociaux (RSSS), comme les chiropraticiens, les dentistes, les optométristes, les podiatres et les dentistes spécialistes, qui sont tous régis par un ordre professionnel, devient encore plus crucial. Lire plus

ADA unveils COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet. ada.org, Dec 15: Resource addresses dentists’ questions. The ADA has created a new fact sheet for dentists with questions following the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization (EUA) for the new COVID-19 vaccine. Read more

State dental directors share how pandemic has changed their worlds. ada.org, Dec 15: Public health leaders in five states say collaboration, focus on oral care essential during trying times. Read more

Dentists could join state’s effort to vaccinate Mainers for COVID-19. pressherald.com, Dec 15: The Maine Dental Association sent a letter to state health agencies offering the services of 765 dentists. Read more

Dentists want to administer COVID-19 vaccine. wnem.com, Dec 15: Many dentists are upset by a rule made by the state of Michigan that is hindering them to help fight against COVID-19. “In Michigan, dentists are not allowed, at this point, to be administers of the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Steven Meraw, president of the Michigan Dental Association. “Dentists certainly are essential healthcare workers that want to be part of the solution throughout this pandemic.” Read more and watch 1:20

Your Vaccine Appointment Could Be Set at Your Dentist Or Optometrist's Office. nbcsandiego.com, Dec 15: Some of them say it could take some of the pressure off hospitals and also bring some extra money into their practices. The California Dental Association and a professional organization representing optometrists have been lobbying lawmakers to pass a law to allow dentists and optometrists to administer the vaccine. Read more and watch 2:44

Increase in Dental Injuries Attributed to Pandemic Stress, Habits. nbcwashington.com, Dec 15: The stress of the pandemic is a grind. A data analysis from the American Dental Association shows a surge in cases of teeth grinding, clenching and cracking during the COVID-19 crisis. The increases are striking and potentially costly and painful for sufferers. Data reviewed by the News4 I-Team shows a nearly 55 percent increase in cases of cracked and chipped teeth since March. Read more and watch 3:42

New COVID-19 symptom may include your teeth falling out. deseret.com, Dec 15: People with dental problems might see aggregated issues with the novel coronavirus. COVID-19 survivors have reported seeing tooth loss as a result of the virus, similar to how some reported swollen “COVID toes” or hair loss, according to The New York Times. The virus’ effects on the circulatory system may be to blame. Read more

HPI poll: Dentists see ‘substantial’ increase in PPE prices. ada.org, Dec 14: Prices for personal protective equipment have increased substantially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the ADA Health Policy Institute’s latest data from its COVID-19 economic impact tracking poll conducted the week of Nov. 30. Read more and listen 15:32

Dentist says good oral health could help save lives of COVID-19 patients on ventilators. wtnh.com, Dec 14: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, dentists studying models and patient outcomes are starting to notice a trend when it comes to a patient’s oral health before they were put onto a ventilator. Sean Boynes, DMD with DentaQuest says “As that tube goes back into your throat it can get some of that bad bacteria and actually force it down into the lungs.” Read more

Allowing dentists to give COVID-19 vaccines could help in distribution. kztv.com, Dec 14: All sorts of medical providers are willing to play a role in vaccine distribution once it becomes widely available. “I think what's going to happen is the vaccination process goes down the pathway, and in the next year, you'll see more and more states get on board with that,” said Dr. Robert Zena, President of the American Association of Dental Boards. Read more

COVID-19 restrictions lead to poorer oral health in children. bitemagazine.com.au, Dec 15: A new study published by the University of Melbourne and the eviDent Foundation highlights the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the provision of dental care to vulnerable children in Australia who already experience higher levels of dental disease and disadvantage in accessing dental care. Read more

Can your dentist or eye doctor give COVID vaccines? Not yet, but they’d like to. miamiherald.com, Dec 11. With federal health officials expected to authorize the first COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. within days, health care providers are wondering if there are enough of them to legally administer the shot to millions of Americans. Of the professionals worried about vaccination capacity are eye doctors and dentists, both who say they are qualified to inject their patients when coming in for routine checkups and cleanings. Read more

Seattle dentist says COVID-19 stress likely related to surge in teeth grinding. kwg.com, Dec 11. A September American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute poll found that 59% of dentists reported seeing an increase in teeth grinding and clenching, also known as bruxism. Drangsholt said dental clinics at the University of Washington are busy. Dentists are treating teeth grinding patients daily, many of them suffering from migraines, soreness of the jaw and sometimes even a cracked tooth. Read more

Dentistry during the pandemic: Is oral health still a priority? openaccessgovernment.org, Dec 11. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have devastating health, social and economic consequences and is profoundly affecting the delivery of health services, including dentistry. During the early stages of the public health crisis, the provision of oral care in Europe was significantly curtailed. European governments recommended that dentists postpone elective dental procedures and provide emergency-only dental treatments, both to prevent the spread of infections and to keep dental patients from burdening hospital emergency departments. Read more

Coronavirus: What’s happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday. cbc.ca, Dec 16: Ontario tells hospitals to activate emergency plans as number of COVID-19 patients spikes. Vaccines given in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan as Pfizer-BioNTech rollout continues. 60 COVID-19 cases linked to Big White resort near Kelowna, B.C., health officials say. Tougher lockdown begins in Germany as COVID-19 deaths rise. U.K. has given nearly 140,000 people COVID shots, minister says. Two parts of a pandemic: See how the coronavirus spread in Canada. Read more

COVID-19 vaccine clinics to start Wednesday in three of four Atlantic provinces. globalnews.ca, Dec 16: Clinics are to be held in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, while New Brunswick has targeted this weekend. Each province has received 1,950 doses to start. Read more

Unease amid the joy: Most Canadians willing to get COVID-19 vaccine, but some worry about side effects. Nationalpost.com, Dec 16: While most Canadians say they will get one of the vaccines at some point, the record speed at which they were developed and approved has created discomfort for some. Read more

Majority of people surveyed by B.C. researchers say they are willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine. cbc.ca, Dec 15: With doses of a COVID-19 vaccine already on B.C. soil, a new study shows many residents are ready to roll up their sleeves and get the shot when it is available to them.  Read more

Who will be next in line to get the COVID-19 vaccine? And how will you know when it’s your turn? stcatharinestandard.ca, Dec 15: Many jurisdictions around the world, Canada and its provinces included, have rushed to make sure that those most at risk are being protected first. Health care in Canada is the job of the provinces and territories. So while the federal government was in charge of locking down a vaccine supply and distributing doses based on population, the final decision about who rolls up their sleeve and when now rests with the provinces, and most aren’t talking in specifics just yet. Read more

Tight controls on COVID-19 vaccine may limit queue-jumping for the well connected. cbc.ca, Dec 16: NHL came under fire following report it was looking to buy doses of the vaccine. With a limited supply of doses, government officials around the world have prioritized who gets the vaccine first. That means front-line health-care workers, people living and working in long-term care facilities and the elderly are generally first in line. Read more

How long will the COVID-19 vaccine protect you? Here’s what we know so far. globalnews.ca, Dec 16: A vaccine can prevent illness from the novel coronavirus, but as real-world vaccinations take place out of clinical trial settings, there are still some unanswered questions. Both Pfizer and Moderna’s candidates have been manufactured using mRNA-based technology, a relatively new way to make vaccines. Read more

Federal support urgently needed to address health system capacity shortfalls. ipolitics.ca, Dec 16: As Canada battles the second wave of COVID-19, the Canadian healthcare system’s capacity to cope is nearing its breaking point. Capacity, both in terms of our physical infrastructure and the number of health workers on the frontline is significantly stretched in many parts of Canada. Read more

Arrival of COVID-19 vaccine brings new warnings about pandemic scams. toronto.ctvnews.ca, Dec 15: The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine has brought with it new hope, but also new scams from criminals looking for ways to profit off the pandemic. Officials are warning to be aware of fake vaccination offers, COVID-19 tests for sale and UV lighting products that claim they can kill the virus. Read more

Eating disorders among teens and adults surge during pandemic. cbc.ca, Dec 14: Experts say isolation and stress are thought to facilitate this mental health disorder. Read more

Feds secure agreement to receive Moderna doses within 48 hours of approval. ctvnews.ca, Dec 15: The federal government has updated its contract with Moderna to secure initial doses of its vaccine candidate within 48 hours of Health Canada approval, meaning a second vaccine could be available for use in this country before the end of the year. Read more

Canada still reviewing Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine, but data ‘looks promising’: official. globalnews.ca, Dec 15: The chief medical adviser at Health Canada says things are on track for her department to approve a second vaccine for COVID-19 very soon. Dr. Supriya Sharma says things “look positive” for the vaccine from U.S. biotech firm Moderna but there are still some outstanding manufacturing documents needed before the decision can be made. Read more

Canada's mass COVID-19 vaccination rollout expands. ctvnews.ca, Dec 15: More front-line health care workers received the COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday morning as the mass immunization effort to end the coronavirus pandemic in Canada continued. Read more

Majority of Canadians support holiday lockdown to fight COVID-19: poll. ctvnews.ca, Dec 15: Sixty-five per cent of respondents in the poll conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies said they supported a general lockdown in their province during Christmas and New Year's to tackle the pandemic versus 29 per cent who opposed the idea. Read more

Coronavirus vaccines: What you should know about the side effects. globalnews.ca, Dec 14: To address any concerns, the federal government is developing a new support program for Canadians experiencing a vaccine injury. It is common for a vaccine or drug to have side effects. So, what do we know about the risks? Read more

Ontario’s new COVID-19 infections are ‘not coming down,’ chief medical officer warns. thestar.com, Dec 14: Ontario is poised to set new records with more than 2,000 cases of COVID-19 daily, a “concerning” sign heading into the holiday break, says chief medical officer Dr. David Williams. There were 23 new deaths, including nine in nursing homes, pushing Ontario’s fatality count from the pandemic to 3,972. Read more

Can a pharma company change? Profit, not altruism, motivates COVID-19 vaccine development. theconversation.com, Dec 14: Health Canada announced its approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 9. Earlier, the news that the same vaccine was on the way in the United Kingdom — and that others are not far behind — was a relief to people all over the world, or at least those in developed countries that can afford the vaccine. The arrival of the vaccine also seems to have boosted public approval for the pharmaceutical industry. Read more

In Ottawa's rush to buy PPE, companies with little or no experience got some of the biggest contracts. cbc.ca, Dec 14. The federal government awarded a $371-million contract to secure personal protective equipment — one of the largest medical supply deals in its history — to a small company headquartered in a house in suburban Ottawa that had no apparent prior experience in PPE procurement. Read more

Nunavut government gives update on COVID-19. cbc.ca, Dec 14. Nunavut government officials are giving an update on the territory's COVID-19 response at the Legislative Assembly this morning at 11 a.m. ET. As of Monday, there are 49 active cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut, all in Arviat, where nine new cases are identified the territory said in a release Monday morning. There are 207 people recovered. Read more

COVID-19 vaccine details for Indigenous communities 'being worked out': Sask. chief medical health officer. cbc.ca, Dec 14. The Saskatchewan government unveiled its COVID-19 vaccine delivery plan, but details like how doses will be shipped to remote and northern communities and where Indigenous people rank on the list of priorities, are still unknown. Health Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine earlier this week, and the Moderna vaccine is in the approval process. The federal government expects 249,000 doses of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to arrive before the end of the month. Read more

2nd stage of COVID-19 vaccination should target those most likely to spread the virus, say some experts. cbc.ca, Dec 14. When it comes to the first stage of administering the vaccine for COVID-19, particularly when it's in short supply, there appears to be consensus that policy makers should attempt to limit deaths and target the most vulnerable. But some researchers suggest that by the second stage, once more vaccine is available, that strategy should change to trying to prevent the spread. Read more

Once someone is vaccinated, do they still have to wear a mask? Your COVID-19 vaccine questions answered. cbc.ca, Dec 14. Now that a COVID-19 vaccine has been approved in Canada and the first shots are set to be given, lots of you have questions about vaccines: If I've previously tested positive for COVID-19, should I still get vaccinated? Is the vaccine safe for pregnant women, children and people who are immunocompromised? Where can I find the ingredients list? Can I choose which vaccine to get? We talked to the experts to get you some answers. Read more

Coronavirus live updates: California orders thousands of body bags as Moderna vaccine nears approval. washingtonpost.com, Dec 16: Nearly 16.7 million coronavirus cases and 303,000 fatalities have been reported in the United States since February. More than 70 percent of Americans say they will “definitely or probably” get a coronavirus vaccine that has been determined to be safe by scientists and is available free — up from about 63 percent in September. Read more

FDA authorizes first fully at-home, over the counter COVID-19 test. thehill.com, Dec 15: The move is a significant step forward in expanding the reach of rapid, at-home coronavirus tests, something experts have been advocating for months. Still, there will be limitations on supply and cost could be a barrier to widespread, repeated use. Read more

British American Tobacco wins approval to test Covid vaccine on humans. uk.finance.yahoo.com, Dec 16: The company behind cigarette brands including Lucky Strike, Rothmans and Benson & Hedges said the US Food & Drug Administration had given it clearance to begin a clinical study with adult volunteers. While large pharmaceutical companies are already producing vaccines, BAT believes its own can be produced in six weeks, compared with the several months it takes using conventional methods. BAT also says its vaccine is stable at room temperature. This, the company claims, is because of proprietary technology that allows elements of the vaccine to gather quickly on tobacco plants. Read more

Snow Teeth Whitening Products Are Toothless, Buyers Say. law360.com, Dec 15: A proposed class of consumers sued Snow Teeth Whitening LLC, accusing the business and its celebrity promoters Rob Gronkowski and Floyd Mayweather of exaggerating the effectiveness of its teeth whitening products and falsely claiming the items can protect against the coronavirus. Read more

Coronavirus live news: EU likely to approve vaccine within days; Italian PM says new restrictions needed. theguardian.com, Dec 15: EU to bring forward decision on Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to 21 December; Italy PM says country needs new restrictions to avoid third wave; How Covid changed science forever. Read more

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine clears first U.S. FDA hurdle. ctvnews.ca, Dec 15: Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccine appeared to be set for regulatory authorization this week after U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff members did not raise any major new concerns about it in documents released on Tuesday. The FDA reviewers said a two-dose regimen of Moderna’s vaccine was highly effective in preventing confirmed cases of COVID-19 and did not raise any specific safety issues with using the vaccine in adults over the age of 18. Read more

New coronavirus strain spreading in U.K. has key mutations, scientists say. ctvnews.ca Dec 15: The mutations include changes to the important "spike" protein that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus uses to infect human cells, a group of scientists tracking the genetics of the virus said, but it is not yet clear whether these are making it more infectious. Read more

Pharma companies are capitalizing on Covid-19 restrictions to promote unbranded campaigns. pharmaceutical-technology.com, Dec 14: The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed pharma engagement further into the digital space. Social distancing and lockdown measures means that patients are relying more on the internet, and pharma companies can capitalize on this. Within the digital space, unbranded campaigns respond to the demands of an increasingly tech-savvy consumer seeking personalized information for their individual health needs. Read more

Infection Preventionists to Play Crucial Role in COVID Vaccinations. infectioncontroltoday.com, Dec 14. Creating vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and getting them approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proved to be an arduous task fraught with scientific and logistical hurdles. Now comes the hard part: Getting those vaccines widely distributed to the right people. Where do infection preventionists (IPs) fit into this part of the pandemic response? Read more

Bringing Dental Care to our Most Vulnerable: Henry Schein Supports UBC Geriatric Dentistry Program. oralhealthgroup.com, Dec 16: ...UBC Faculty of Dentistry is pleased to announce its multi-year agreement with Henry Schein Canada, Henry Schein Cares and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation, in support of the UBC Geriatric Dentistry Program. This will enable the program to provide much needed dental care for older adults residing in long-term care hospitals, with our dental and dental hygiene students. Read more

Government of Canada releases the latest results of the Canadian Health Measures Survey. canada.ca, Dec 15: This week, Health Canada and Statistics Canada released new results from the biomonitoring component of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). The biomonitoring component of the CHMS collects meaningful data that informs evidence-based decisions to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Read more

Opioid overdose antidote to move to easier access on pharmacy shelves in Manitoba. cbc.ca, Dec 15: Changes to the way the opioid overdose antidote naloxone is classified in Manitoba will allow stores to sell it off the shelf without the supervision of a health-care professional, the provincial government announced on Wednesday. Read more

Kamloops councillors want federal government to declare a national health emergency over opioid crisis. radionl.com, Dec 15: Kamloops councillors are hoping a pitch for the federal government to respond to better to the opioid crisis can gain traction. Council will be asking the feds to declare a national public health emergency, so that the opioid crisis is taken seriously and funded better. Read more

Thunder Bay looks to decriminalization, safer supply to fight opioid crisis. tbnewswatch.com, Dec 15: City councillors unanimously support advocacy for more harm reduction supports, expressing frustration at lack of action from province, feds. Read more

Dentists hail outcome of fluoride vote. odt.co.nz, Dec 16: South Otago dentists have reacted with delight to the news drinking water fluoridation will resume next year in four of the area’s towns. Fluoridation in Balclutha, Milton, Kaitangata and Tapanui lapsed in October last year, after Clutha District Council contractor Citycare Water identified health and safety concerns with their fluoride dosing systems. Read more

Between challenges and medical advice, dentists take over TikTok. tellerreport.com, Dec 15: Blue coats and binocular loupes are more trending than ever on TikTok TikTok star dentist and all his teeth - @ the_tiktokdoc / Instagram An unexpected phenomenon, more and more dentists are taking over TikTok and have their subscribers in the hundreds of thousands. In addition to the various challenges that punctuate the life of the social network, health professionals also provide advice to Internet users. Read more

Health Groups Ask for Increased Tobacco Tax. fightcancer.org, Dec 15 [Press Release]: Public health groups seek first cigarette tax increase in New York in 10 years Organizations warn New York cannot afford to cut public health programs during a pandemic. Read more

How do non-smokers develop lung cancer? Mouth bacteria may play role, study suggests. ctvnews.ca, Dec 14: Even those who have never smoked a cigarette in their lives can develop lung cancer -- and new research suggests that one mechanism behind this could be specific types of mouth bacteria. A paper published Monday in the scientific journal Thorax which looked at non-smokers found that the chances of developing lung cancer might be linked to the type and amount of mouth bacteria a person has. Read more

Outraged dentists want Coca-Cola 18-can pack with 'mum' and 'bub' removed from shelves. stuff.co.nz, Dec 15: Coca-Cola is under fire from dentists who say the company is encouraging mothers to give the sugary drink to their babies. The 18-can packs sold in supermarkets say “share a Coke” and show pictures of cans with “Bub” and “Mum” on them. Read more

Vape Flavorings Could Damage The Heart. iflscience.com, Dec 15: Often suggested as a method to help quit smoking, vaping is popular among US adults, with an estimated 14.9% having used e-cigarettes. However, the variety of vape flavors that have been accused of enticing young people could have even more dangerous effects. A preclinical study by USF health shows that e-liquid flavorings could damage the heart, suggesting that the candy-flavored clouds may not be as sweet as they seem. Read more

Study: Surge of teen vaping levels off, but remains high as of early 2020. medicalxpress.com, Dec 15: Findings released today from the most recent Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey of substance use behaviors and related attitudes among teens in the United States indicate that levels of nicotine and marijuana vaping did not increase from 2019 to early 2020, although they remain high. Read more

2 years after legalization, cannabis producers are making too much marijuana. cbc.ca, Dec 14. Subramaniam explained that the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission was relatively quick to hand out cannabis store licenses, and private business owners have done well as a result. Alberta began accepting applications for licences in March of 2018. Ontario has been slower to award retail licenses, she said — and that's set Ontario cannabis retailers back as well. Read more

Betel nut use in Taiwan drops after vigorous campaign against oral cancer. taiwannews.com, Dec 14. Taiwan has seen a significant reduction in betel nut use thanks to a government-led promotion campaign to prevent oral cancer, according to the country’s health authorities. The number of male betel nut chewers in Taiwan has dropped from 17.2 percent in 2007 to under 7 percent in 2018, according to a report by the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) and National Health Research Institutes in the journal Oral Oncology. The decrease is largest among the 30 to 39 age group. 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

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. Read more

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