News Bites from CDA Knowledge Networks – 2021/02/03

Saskatchewan dentists eagerly await vaccinations despite delivery delays. cbc.ca, Feb 2: Recent delays in vaccine shipments to Canada from European suppliers means dentists, hygienists and office staff will likely be waiting until at least May to get their shots, according to Doug Brothwell, dean of dentistry at the University of Saskatchewan. Read more

Dental costs increasing in B.C., NDP calls for national dental plan. cheknews.ca, Feb 3: BC Dental Association has recommended dentists charge 4 percent more as the NDP calls for national dental coverage for lower-income families. … “The pandemic has most definitely impacted dental practices’ expenses … and increased staffing costs,” the association said in an e-mailed statement to CHEK News. Read more and Listen 2:03

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh discusses dental care and vaccine production – February 2, 2021. youtube.com/cpac, Feb 2: In a virtual news conference, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh discusses his party’s calls for a national dental care plan. He is joined by NDP MP Jack Harris, who will introduce a bill in the House of Commons to make dental care available to all households making $90,000 or less and that are not covered by a plan. Singh is also asked about Canada's domestic vaccine production capability. Watch 36:25 (starts at 6:20)

Nova Scotia dentists seek role in COVID-19 vaccine rollout. saltwire.com, Feb 1: In a survey sent out by the Nova Scotia Dental Association, more than half of its roughly 500 members responded within a few days and 88 per cent of them said they'd be willing to participate. "The obvious thing is we give injections to people every day for our day-to-day work and it’s not really a whole lot different giving a vaccine than the freezing that we give every day," said president Dr. Chad Avery in an interview Monday. Read more and listen 3:45

Des dentistes veulent participer à l'effort de vaccination en Nouvelle-Écosse. ici.radio-canada.ca, 1^er février : Un sondage récent de l’Association dentaire de la Nouvelle-Écosse (NSDA) auprès de ses membres montre que 88 % d'entre eux sont favorables à cette idée. La NSDA affirme qu'elle a déjà pris contact avec la province pour lui offrir son aide. Lire plus

Opinion: Dental health workers should on priority list for COVID vaccines. edmontonjournal.com, Feb 2: In addition to emergency medical services personnel, the other group of frontline health-care professionals that were not mentioned in the Alberta vaccinations roll-out priority plan are clinical oral health-care providers (dentists, registered dental assistants, and registered dental hygienists). Read more

Cross Country Checkup with Ian Hanomansing: As provinces and territories roll out their vaccination plans, some workers including teachers, paramedic and dentists want to move up the waiting list. cbc.ca, Jan 31: Short audio interview with Dr. Rob Wolanski, Listen (Start at 3:00. Clip is 6 minutes)

Ont. brother and sister create high-tech helmet for COVID-19 protection. ctvnews.ca, Feb 1: Yezin and Dina Al-Qaysi, the founders of Vyzr Technologies, have invented a 360-degree shielded helmet with a built-in air purification system for those looking for more protection against the novel coronavirus than a face mask. ... Yezin said dentists and health-care staff are just some of the professionals who have ordered the BioVYZER. Read more

Unique peer-to-peer support program at med and dentistry school aims to curb burnout. cbc.ca, Feb 1: The peer support program launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A unique peer-to-peer program at Western's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry has colleagues checking in on each other's mental health and well-being. Read more

Dentists donate oral health kits to those in need. brandonsun.com, Feb 1: In recognition of the financial hardships many Manitobans currently face, dentists have banded together to create oral health kits. ... Organized by the Manitoba Dental Foundation, approximately 150 kits have been distributed in Brandon through Big Brothers Big Sisters, Brandon Access Exchange Service and the Brandon Friendship Centre. Read more

Regain d’intérêt pour les soins dentaires et l’orthodontie. protegez-vous.ca, 29 janvier : Les visites chez le dentiste et les professionnels des soins dentaires ont repris graduellement depuis l’été dernier avec l’implantation de mesures sanitaires additionnelles. Et pas que pour le détartrage et le plombage des dents : les coquilles, implants et autres traitements d’orthodontie gagnent en popularité. Pourquoi? Lire plus

Iowa dentists push for role in COVID-19 vaccine distribution. siouxlandproud.com, Feb 3: Across the country, dentists are beginning to take on a new role during the pandemic. Currently, dentists in over 20 states are administering the COVID-19 vaccine and the Iowa Dental Board has introduced a bill this legislative session for dentists in Iowa to do the same. The Iowa Medical Society has publicly opposed this bill. In a statement to WHO13, the state’s problem is with the amount of vaccines Iowa is being given, not with distribution. Read more

Dentists concerned fewer people are seeking dental care during pandemic. fox7austin.com, Feb 3: Dentists in Texas and around the country said there has been a significant drop in dental patients during the pandemic. … One survey, by denture publication Nextsmile Dental, shows as many as 70 percent of Texans have delayed routine checkups because of coronavirus concerns. Read more

State dental associations see wins, challenges as they advocate for dental teams to receive COVID-19 vaccine. ada.org, Feb 1: With demand for the COVID-19 vaccine high and much of the U.S. experiencing a confusing rollout, state dental associations are advocating for dental teams in their states to be prioritized to receive the vaccine. Read more

Virginia dentists prepare to join vaccination effort. nbc29.com, Feb 2: Virginia will need thousands of health professionals to vaccinate millions of people, and Vinton dentist Dr. Sarah Wilson says she’s ready to lend a hand. … Emergency legislation advancing in the General Assembly will expand the pool of trained professionals who are available to deliver the COVID-19 vaccines. Read more

Dentists can’t get COVID-19 vaccine. wsvn.com, Feb 1: No medical provider takes as big a risk as dentists. The only profession that says, “Take your mask off,” so they can treat you, and guess who can’t get the vaccine in South Florida? That’s right: dentists. Is that legal? Read more

BDA Claims Dentistry in Scotland at Risk. dentalreview.news, Feb 2: BDA says Scottish dental schools face uncertain future putting dentistry in Scotland at risk. The British Dental Association has urged the Scottish Government to provide a clear safety net to protect students, universities and the future of patient care, as questions emerge as to whether Scotland’s dental schools will graduate classes in 2021. Read more

Illinois expands options for dentists to administer COVID-19 shots as vaccination effort lags behind other states. chicagotribune.com, Jan 29: The emergency proclamation issued Friday follows a similar one in December that allowed dentists to administer vaccines at their own offices. But requirements such as redundant training and cold storage regulations were “problematic” for dentists. The new proclamation streamlines the process through a “Just In Time” model, with only one hour of online training required. Read more

Western Pa. dentists: Delaying dental care during pandemic can lead to problems. triblive.com, Jan 30: …A recent study showed a majority of adults said they’re OK with skipping dental check-ups if it means reducing the risk of catching coronavirus. … Dr. Jim Tauberg, president of the Pennsylvania Dental Association, said dental medicine is essential health care and patients who put it off are asking for trouble. Read more

Missouri dentist sees changes in patients' dental care due to the pandemic. kmbc.com, Jan 29: A new study reveals Missouri dentists could see 'a tidal wave' of post-pandemic dental patients. "People’s lifestyles are changing," said Dr. Hollie Flack at The Brookside Dentist. Months into the pandemic, dentists are seeing changes from patients. … The study from nextsmiledental.com, says 66% of Missourians have delayed routine check-ups due to coronavirus fears. Read more

COVID Cavities: Maryland dentists fear a ‘tidal wave’ of post-pandemic dental problems, reveals study. southernmarylandchronmicle.com, Jan 29: Dentists in Maryland fear a ‘tidal wave’ of dental problems among Marylanders when the Coronavirus pandemic begins to flatten as more people are vaccinated against the virus, according to research by NextSmileDental.com. The website, which provides resources on dentures, conducted a survey of 4,500 patients, revealing that 57% of Marylanders have delayed routine check-ups due to Coronavirus fears. Read more

Dentists are gearing up for “post pandemic dental problems”. waow.com, Jan 27: According to a new study 62% of Wisconsinites say COVID 19 was their excuse to skip a visit to the dentist. Dr. Fred Prehn said he is already seeing damage from missed appointments. Read more

Helmet design protects dentists, doctors from COVID-19. news.cornell.edu, Jan 26: Visiting the dentist or an ear, nose and throat doctor can already make patients feel uneasy, and for those who can’t wear a mask due to the nature of their procedures, the transmission of COVID-19 has become an additional concern. Researchers from Cornell have proposed a solution in the form of a transparent helmet that prevents 99.6% of virus-containing droplets exhaled by patients from reaching the environment. Read more

The pandemic may give you a reason to smile, but better teeth aren’t guaranteed. holrmagazine.com:  If you’ve seen social media ads for these services, you certainly aren’t alone. But as tempting as it may be to think you can solve all of your tooth problems with one of these at-home kits, it might be worth taking a closer look at what you’re willing to risk. You might pay only $1,500 or so for aligners, which is certainly less than what you’d expect to spend by attaining Invisalign through your orthodontist. However, the lack of oversight and potential damage might make you think twice about whether it’s really worth messing with your teeth in quarantine. Read more

DIY dentistry boom as coronavirus drives patients to self-treatment kits. msn.com (The Telegraph), Jan 30: The sale of DIY dentistry first-aid kits nearly doubled last year, it has been disclosed, as experts warn people against taking matters into their own hands during the coronavirus pandemic. Dentists believe that the rise in DIY treatment is either because of backlogs caused by surgery closures or patients' fears of catching the virus. Read more

Europe approves vaccine delivery to Canada. ctvnews.ca, Feb 3: The European Commission says it has authorized a COVID-19 vaccine delivery to Canada and does not plan to block the exportation of most doses produced on the continent. In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for the European Commission said that Canada is one of multiple nations that have applied for a delivery and been authorized to receive one. Read more

How the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine differs from those already approved in Canada. cbc.ca, Feb 2: …Early findings from U.K. research show the Novavax vaccine appears to be 86 per cent effective against a new variant of the virus first reported in Britain and 60 per cent effective against the variant circulating in South Africa. The efficacy against the original strain of virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be around 89 per cent. Read more

Delaying second dose of Pfizer vaccine could boost infections and deaths, study warns. nationalpost.com, Feb 3: The vaccines have excellent protective power against symptomatic COVID after two doses. The issue is what happens if they are not given close enough together. Read more

Health experts warn of dangers of B.1.1.7 variant as it emerges in more provinces. ctvnews.ca, Feb 2: The variant that first emerged in Britain, B.1.1.7, is spreading its fingers across Canada, reaching two new provinces today — and emerging evidence suggests that this variant not only spreads faster, but could be transmitted during relatively brief encounters. Saskatchewan confirmed Tuesday that two infections involve the B117 variant, while New Brunswick reported three cases of it. Read more

Canada to get up to 1.1M more doses by March through global vaccine alliance. ctvnews.ca, Feb 3: Canada could get more than one million additional doses of COVID‑19 vaccine by the end of March through a global vaccine sharing initiative known as COVAX. But as with most things COVID-19, vaccine-related deliveries are mired in the uncertainty of regulatory reviews and potential production delays. Read more

Coronavirus: What’s happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday. cbc.ca, Feb 3: As COVID-19 exposes long-term care crisis, efforts grow to keep more seniors at home. With just 141 tickets issued, PHAC says most travellers are following quarantine laws. Government’s new pandemic business loan program gets mixed reviews. ANALYSIS | Justin Trudeau contends with the uncertainty of Canada’s vaccine supply. Read more

Quarantine extended up to 24 days for contacts of COVID-19 variant cases, top doc says. cbc.ca, Feb 2: Alberta has changed self-isolation rules for those infected with variants of COVID-19, and in some cases people may end up in quarantine for up to 24 days, says the province’s top public health doctor. The province has now found 50 cases of the virus variant first identified in the United Kingdom, and seven of the variant first identified in South Africa. Read more

Northern doctor dispelling vaccine hesitancy one patient at a time. cbc.ca, Feb 3: A family doctor from the North is speaking out about the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, saying many of his patients are hesitant to get the Moderna inoculation. Dr. James Van Camp, who was born and raised in Fort Smith, N.W.T., and now practices in Whitehorse, says he has a unique perspective as a Tłı̨chǫ Dene doctor. He encounters many patients who are on the fence about getting the vaccine. Read more

Nurses hardest hit by mental health impact of pandemic, survey of 18,000 health-care workers reveals. thestar.com, Feb 2: The mental health of health-care workers has suffered considerably under the pandemic with nurses bearing the brunt of it, according to newly released Statistics Canada data. A survey of 18,000 health-care workers across Canada between Nov. 24 and Dec. 13 reveals the majority of physicians, nurses and personal support workers — about 70 per cent — reported worsening mental health as a result of working amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

Pauingassi First Nation in Manitoba goes into lockdown after a quarter of members test positive for COVID-19. cbc.ca, Feb 1: The small remote community northeast of Winnipeg has just under 500 people on-reserve. Almost a quarter of them, 118, have tested positive for the coronavirus since Jan. 20.. Read more

PM unveils deal with Novavax to produce its COVID-19 vaccine in Canada. ctvnews.ca, Feb 2: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that a deal has been struck with pharmaceutical company Novavax to produce its COVID-19 vaccine in Canada. The federal government has signed a “memorandum of understanding” with the company to make their COVID-19 vaccine at a new Montreal facility that is still being constructed. While the prime minister is calling this a “major step forward,” it could be months before this potential made-in-Canada vaccine candidate is approved, let alone shipped to delivery sites nationwide. This is because the new National Research Council biomanufacturing facility where the production will happen isn’t set to be completed until July. Read more

Criminal rings are selling fake COVID-19 test certificates at international airports, police warn. nationalpost.com, Feb 2: Neither Canada Border Services Agency nor Health Canada would say whether false COVID-19 test certificates have been found in Canada. Read more

Report finds COVID-19 accelerated declining mental health of Canadian youth. vicnews.com, Feb 2: Canadians aged 15 to 30 drink more heavily and smoke more cannabis than older counterparts. ... “While the mental health of Canadian youth has declined over the last few years, the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of youth was the largest of any age group,” reads a new report titled Portrait of Youth in Canada: Data Report. Read more

New data shows pandemic disproportionately affecting Manitoba's Indigenous communities. montreal.citynews.ca, Feb 1: Manitoba’s First Nations communities have been the hardest hit by COVID-19. Indigenous communities, which make up half of Manitoba’s population, account for 73 per cent of active cases within the province and 52 per cent of ICU admissions. That data is being looked at to help create an equitable vaccination rollout. Read more

First Nations are exerting more control over their borders. Health care could be next. cbc.ca, Feb 2: COVID-19 has turned a spotlight on the substandard state of health care in remote communities. In recent weeks, remote Indigenous communities have borne the brunt of the pandemic in Manitoba. … What is now a largely Indigenous and remote pandemic in this province is once again exposing the dangerous state of health care and housing on remote and isolated First Nations. Read more

Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Monday. cbc.ca, Feb 1: COVID-19 death toll in Canada surpassed 20,000 over the weekend. The next generation of PPE: How Canadian researchers are making masks, gowns better. Threat of vaccine nationalism reinforces global need for better pandemic planning. Travellers should prepare for post-flight testing, hotel quarantine as soon as Thursday, transport minister says. Read more

Novavax submits vaccine for approval as Ottawa seeks EU reassurances on exports rules. cbc.ca, Jan 31: Novavax is the fifth vaccine maker to submit an application for rolling review. ... Pharmaceutical company Novavax quietly submitted its COVID-19 vaccine to Health Canada for regulatory approval on Friday, less than two weeks after Ottawa finalized a deal with the Maryland-based company for 52 million doses of the shot. Read more

Questions remain over Canada's vaccination drive amid delays and fresh applications. ctvnews.ca, Feb 1: The federal government, which is overseeing the nationwide effort, has been facing strong criticism as it struggles to ensure there are enough immunization doses to go around. … At least three other companies, Novavax, AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson, have all launched the process of having Health Canada approve their vaccines. Read more

Air Canada, Rogers and Suncor part of group piloting rapid COVID-19 testing. globalnews.ca, Feb 1: Some of Canada’s top airlines, banks and sports teams have united to pilot rapid tests identifying COVID-19 in hopes that they can find a way to reopen workplaces. The pilot is being run by the University of Toronto’s Creative Destruction Lab, which has partnered with 12 companies…to experiment with antigen tests that take about 15 minutes to deliver results. Those behind the project believe it could give Canada’s corporate world a road map to quelling the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces that have had to close or have struggled to contain outbreaks. Read more

Rapid COVID-19 testing in care homes could have cut deaths by half: SFU modelling. globalnews.ca, Jan 30: New modelling from Simon Fraser University suggests that deployment of rapid testing into long-term care homes could cut the COVID-19 death toll by 25 to 55 per cent. The research commissioned by Safe Care BC…found that daily screening of all visitors and staff could cut exposures in care homes by 90 per cent, and testing every three days could cut exposures by about half. Read more

Coronavirus: Rapid tests key to reopening remaining southern Ontario schools, top doctor says. globalnews.ca, Jan 29: ... Dr. David Williams says the tests will allow for greater surveillance of the virus and will help students return to in-person learning across the province. … Meanwhile, the province said it will make all international travellers take a COVID-19 test on arrival starting Monday. The testing order will come into effect Monday at Toronto’s Pearson International airport, and will also apply to the province’s land border crossings to the United States. Read more

Record 34 people died in December 2020 of suspected opioid overdose in Toronto. toronto.ctvnews.ca, Jan 29: In a news release issued Friday, officials said that the new statistic “represents the worst loss of lives to the opioid crisis recorded in a single month since TPH began monitoring this data in 2017.” "This tragic record further proves what we already know: that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already deadly overdose crisis in Toronto.” Read more

Pandemic spurs scientists to look closer at an experimental treatment for severe depression. ctvnews.ca, Jan 31: COVID-19 hasn’t just worsened mental health across the country — it’s also cut access to specific medical treatments for those who struggle from severe depression, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). But the pressure of a pandemic has also spurred scientists to focus on some new therapies in order to keep helping patients, turning necessity into opportunity. Read more

'No issues': Drinking alcohol won’t affect COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, doctors say. ctvnews.ca, Jan 30: As the first COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out across Canada, questions have been raised as to whether drinking alcohol will affect people’s immune response to the shot. Experts around the world have offered differing opinions on the matter. Some say you should avoid drinking alcohol before receiving the vaccine, and others say alcohol consumption is not an issue and will not affect the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. Read more

Dutch to roll out rapid breath tests for COVID-19. nationalpost.com, Feb 3: Testing facilities in Amsterdam were this week the first to start using the SpiroNose, a machine which requires a person to breathe into it to indicate a possible coronavirus infection within a minute. After months of trials, Dutch health authorities found the SpiroNose to be reliable in the case of negative test results… A positive test needed to be followed by a regular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to establish whether the detected infection was caused by a coronavirus. Read more

Oxford finds COVID-19 shot 76 per cent effective for 3 months after single dose. ctvnews.ca, Feb 3: Oxford University and AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine showed in a study it had 76 per cent efficacy against symptomatic infection for three months after a single dose, which increased if the second shot is delayed, backing Britain’s vaccine rollout policy. The findings of the pre-print paper, which had not been peer-reviewed, supported Britain’s decision to extend the interval between initial and booster doses of the shot to 12 weeks, Oxford said on Tuesday. Read more

GSK, CureVac to make COVID-19 vaccines aimed at new variants. ctvnews.ca, Feb 3: Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline said Wednesday it will work with a German biopharmaceutical company to develop new vaccines targeting emerging variants of COVID-19 amid concerns that some mutations are making the virus harder to combat. Read more

Live updates: AstraZeneca vaccine shows strong effect against coronavirus with just one dose. washingtonpost.com, Feb 3: Some U.S. pharmacies will be getting shipments of vaccines directly in a new White House strategy to simplify getting shots into people’s arms. The majority of infected people develop antibodies that last for at least six months, likely offering temporary protection against reinfection, a new study says. The U.S. death toll is nearing 450,000, with more than 26 million cases reported.  D.C.’s most populous suburbs are struggling to equitably distribute vaccine doses that remain in short supply. Read more

Line cooks, agriculture workers at highest risk of COVID-19 death: study. thehill.com, Feb 2: Essential workers in kitchens and in agricultural settings are most at risk of death from the coronavirus, according to a study that adds a new urgency to the race to vaccinate those on the front lines of the pandemic. Read more

Live updates: Russian vaccine over 91% effective against coronavirus, peer-reviewed test results show. washsingtonpost.com, Feb 2: The rate of new infections is declining in the United States after rapid increases over the holiday season. Data on race and ethnicity was not collected for nearly half of the people receiving vaccines for the first month they were available, threatening efforts to ensure an equitable response to the pandemic. Read more

At-home and over-the-counter: U.S. strikes deal for COVID-19 rapid test kit. globalnews.ca, Feb 1: The test kit from Australian manufacturer Ellume allows users to swab themselves at home and check their status in about 20 minutes. It’s one of only three tests that consumers can use themselves, and the only one available without a doctor’s prescription. Ellume said Monday it would use the contract to construct a U.S. manufacturing plant and deliver 8.5 million tests for federal use. Read more

Diabetes–COVID link still a mystery as researchers race for answer. nationalpost.com, Feb 2: Hits up to 14 per cent of people worldwide who have a severe COVID case. Although COVID-19 often attacks the lungs, it is increasingly associated with a range of problems including blood clots, neurological disorders and kidney and heart damage. Researchers say new-onset diabetes may soon be added to those complications — both Type 1 and Type 2. But scientists do not know whether COVID-19 might hasten already developing problems or actually cause them — or both. Read more

Chilling trend: A longer, deadlier pandemic. axios.com, Feb 1: Mutated versions of the coronavirus threaten to prolong the pandemic, perhaps for years — killing more people and deepening the global economic crisis in the process. The U.S. and the world are in a race to control the virus before these variants can gain a bigger foothold. But many experts say they already expect things to get worse before they get better. And that also means an end to the pandemic may be getting further away. Read more

Rich countries' pandemic preparedness failures. axios.com, Jan 31: Some of the richest countries in the world — the ones that had been considered the best prepared to handle a pandemic — turned out to be the ones that suffered the highest death rates. Why it matters: The SARS-CoV-2 virus has proven that preparedness needs to be global, and coordinated. Read more

Study: Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine appears safe, effective. thestar.com, Feb 2: Study: Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine appears safe, effective. thestar.com, Feb 2: Russian scientists say the country’s Sputnik V vaccine appears safe and effective against COVID‑19, according to early results of an advanced study published in a British medical journal. Read more

If your loved one is hesitant to get the Covid-19 vaccine, share this. cnn.com, Feb 2: Your loved ones are right to have questions about the Covid-19 vaccine… But vaccine hesitancy could put a dangerous damper on the country's Covid-19 response. Pockets of some populations most at risk of severe sickness from Covid-19, including young nurses and Black Americans, are still dubious of the vaccine -- because of the speed at which it was developed, its contents and potential side effects. Read more

Americans smoking more cigarettes during COVID-19 pandemic. nypost.com, Jan 29: Smoking has made a comeback as the stress of the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll — with cigarette sales rebounding in 2020. Sales rose by 0.4 percent last year — reversing a decades-long steady decline — as people in lockdown lit up more often and vapers switched back to tobacco over health concerns, according to data released by Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc. Read more

Issue of the day: Lockdown smoking concerns. heraldscotland.com, Feb 1: It is acknowledged that the ripple effects of coronavirus and lockdown on mental health and wellbeing will be felt for generations. Now new data reveals that for the first time in a decade, cigarette sales did not fall, intensifying concerns over the health impacts of lockdown smoking. Read more

Anti-vaccine protesters temporarily shut down California vaccine site. ctvnews.ca, Jan 31: One of the largest vaccination sites in the U.S. temporarily shut down Saturday because dozen of protesters blocked the entrance, stalling hundreds of Los Angeles motorists who had been waiting in line for hours. … The protesters had members of anti-vaccine and far-right groups. Some of them carried signs decrying the COVID-19 vaccine and shouting for people not to get the shots. Read more

Coronavirus updates: E.U. boosts vaccine supply through two new deals with drugmakers; U.S. chides China on covid transparency. washingtonpost.com, Feb 1: As Biden looks to move forward with his coronavirus relief plan, 10 Republican senators offered a counterproposal less than a third its size and will meet with the president to discuss it Monday. As states prioritize the elderly for vaccination, essential workers who often face the greatest risk of exposure are being pushed to the back of the queue. The spread of the new, more contagious variants of the coronavirus is offsetting gains from vaccines, scientists say, indicating that the pandemic is far from over. Read more

Surging in remote and poor areas, Brazil's COVID-19 death toll is 2nd highest in the world. cbc.ca, Jan 29: ICUs are full, oxygen is running low, and a newly contagious variant is spreading in the most vulnerable areas. Read more

Jagmeet Singh Wants Millions Of Canadians To Have Access To Free Dental Care ASAP. narcity.com, Feb 2: Many Canadians have lost dental benefits due to COVID-19. Jagmeet Singh is calling on the prime minister to implement free dental care in Canada for the “millions” of Canadians who have no coverage. In a tweet shared on February 2, the NDP leader urged the Liberal government to “introduce comprehensive dental care as part of our healthcare system.” Read more

St. John’s East MP Jack Harris proposes federal dental care for uninsured Canadians. thetelegram.com, Feb 2 (Also in Saltwire, The Chronicle Herald, The Guardian, Cape Breton Post): Program cost would average $1.5 billion over a five-year period. A private member’s motion tabled in the House of Commons by St. John’s East MP Jack Harris calls for a federal dental care plan for uninsured Canadian families making less than $90,000 a year. Read more

A brief history of Calgary’s long relationship with fluoride votes. calgaryherald.com, Feb 3: With a grand total of six fluoride plebiscites behind us, the question will be on municipal ballots for a seventh time in 2021. A time-honoured tradition of Calgary municipal politics is back again: the fluoride plebiscite. Read more

Calgary health professionals concerned with misinformation around fluoride. globalnews.ca, Feb 2 (also published on sootoday.com): Calgarians are heading to the polls for the seventh time in the city’s history to let policy-makers know whether or not fluoride should be added to the water supply. … Dr. Juliet Guichon, Calgarians for Kids’ Health president and associate professor of law and ethics at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, has reservations about the campaign and the possibility of misinformation. Read more

Calgary city council votes in favour of fluoride plebiscite. globalnews.ca, Feb 1: On Monday, Calgary city council voted 10-4 in favour of a plebiscite on fluoride. The question Calgarians will be answering in the October municipal election: are you in favour of reintroducing fluoridation of the municipal water supply? Read more

Ready to vote again on water fluoridation? Calgary to hold 6th plebiscite on issue. cbc.ca, Feb 1: Calgary will hold yet another plebiscite on whether to restore fluoride to the city's drinking water this fall. Council voted 10-4 in favour of allowing the electors to decide the issue on Monday. It will be put to the public during the 2021 municipal election in October. Read more

AI research in health care could lead to being diagnosed by a vending machine — with some caveats. cbc.ca, Feb 2: Robots still can’t perform every aspect when it comes to our health. … David Gerhard, head of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Regina, said robotics and healthcare artificial intelligence can already do some basic medical tasks like assessing and diagnosing some patient’s symptoms or using AI to develop medical devices. The pandemic is pushing advancements in healthcare technology in areas like developing robots to deliver care in the home instead of having to go to the hospital, or AI that interacts with people who are in isolation. Read more

12 Zero Waste Toothpaste Brands Taking A Bite Out Of Plastic. theecohub.ca, Jan 29: ...Ordering zero waste tooth tabs, toothpowder and paste online is an option but shipping charges may be a deterrent for some. There is also the question of Fluoride. It’s certainly a contentious issue amongst dentists and toothpaste makers. The Canadian Dental Association says we need to brush with Fluoride. University of Toronto’s head of preventative dentistry, Hardy Limeback wrote a report about the negative effects of fluoridated water, we know that it can cause serious health concerns when ingested, that’s why parents are cautioned not to let their kids be alone when brushing, in case they swallow. Read more

Opioid overdose deaths occur less often in areas with more cannabis retail storefronts, study shows. natoinalpost.com, Jan 30: This follows a Canadian study that found legalizing cannabis led to a 'marked decline' in the volume of opioids prescribed across Canada. The results — based on U.S. data — suggest marijuana use as an alternative to opioids in pain management could improve health prospects. Read more

Texas A&M College of Dentistry filling the gap for special-needs patients. kxxv.com, Feb 2: Texas A&M University College of Dentistry is expanding its footprint in special-needs dentistry, filling in the gap, that patients with intellectual disabilities unfortunately endure, when it comes to their dental care. ... With the five-year $3.3 million Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant, the special needs program is aiming to train dentists to be able to serve those with special needs, so parents, such as Godinez, no longer have to worry about finding a dentist to care for their child. Read more

Bleeding gums may be a sign you need more vitamin C in your diet. sciencedaily.com, Feb 1: Bleeding of the gums on gentle probing, or gingival bleeding tendency, and also bleeding in the eye, or retinal hemorrhaging, were associated with low vitamin C levels in the bloodstream. Read more

Chicago files yet another lawsuit against e-cigarette industry. chicago.suntimes.com, Feb 1: Last fall, the Chicago City Council banned the sale of flavored vaping products but exempted flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes. Monday, that law triggered its first lawsuit, accusing two firms of “marketing and selling flavored vaping products” to Chicago kids. Read more

Ritter Sport is told its new no-sugar bar is not chocolate. theguardian.com, Feb 2: The German chocolate manufacturer Ritter Sport is embroiled in a row with food law regulators after being told it cannot call its latest creation a chocolate bar because it contains no sugar. The company, which has been producing chocolate at its factory near Stuttgart for more than 100 years, and has attracted something of a cult following over its frequent new ranges, has been told the new bar contravenes Germany’s strict cocoa regulations. Read more

Australian Dental Association NSW calls on council to scrap water fluoridation poll. portnews.com.au, Feb 1:  "We would feel very distressed if the council wanted to remove fluoride as a result of a community poll," she said. Dr Matthews said new research, using data from the National Child Oral Health Study, reported a lack of water fluoridation was among the major factors causing tooth decay among young children. Read more

Penn Dental, Penn Engineering unite to form Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry. penntoday.upenn.edu, Jan 29: The new Center will bring the two schools together to accelerate the development of new solutions and devices to address unmet needs in oral health, particularly in the areas of dental caries, periodontal disease, and head and neck cancer. The CiPD will also place a high priority on programs to train the next generation of leaders in oral health care innovation. Read more

NYU Dentistry Launches Center for Oral Health Policy and Management. nyu.edu, Jan 26: Center to Cultivate New Leaders, Foster Dialogue, and Use Research to Develop Oral Health Policy Agenda. New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) has announced the creation of the NYU Dentistry Center for Oral Health Policy and Management, an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary think tank that focuses on oral health policy and management in the 21st century. 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

March 4-6: Pacific Dental Conference – 2021 Virtual Experience. Read more and register

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

May 6-8: 2021 Ontario Dental Association Annual Spring Meeting (ASM21). Read more

April 12-17: The New World of Dentistry 2021. Manitoba Dental Association co-hosts the new national 2021 Virtual Dental Convention with the Canadian Dental Association. 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