Safe, portable imaging system one of five new health technologies funded by Alberta Innovates
Dentists may soon add portable ultrasound to the standard equipment in their offices, allowing them to accurately and affordably diagnose aspects of their patients’ periodontal disease without any risk of radiation. That’s the goal of a University of Alberta research team that will continue to develop and commercialize its patented dental ultrasound system thanks to…
A government-run monopoly could lead to the same problems we see elsewhere in our health care systems
One of the big-ticket items in the most recent federal budget was the new NDP-approved dental care program. Since oral health falls under provincial jurisdiction, the announcement raises several questions as to the application of this program across the country. Expanding access to dental care is a goal we can all get behind, especially when…
One per cent of annual emergency room visits are for dental emergencies
Here’s something to smile about: Canadians’ oral health has improved significantly over the past 40 years, and we rank fifth in the world in terms of access to dental care, according to the Canadian Dental Association. Still, the same report estimates that more than four million adult working days are lost each year due to dental sick days…
Dental offices are safe, says U of A periodontist who urges people not to put off appointments that would prevent problems
Dental issues such as broken and fractured teeth are on the rise as COVID-19 pandemic stress continues to affect our lives. Dentists at the University of Alberta’s School of Dentistry Oral Health Clinic are warning patients that postponing treatment will only escalate the problem. “It’s a very stressful time, and we are grinding and clenching our teeth…
Social assistance programs in Canada are falling behind. It's time we expanded basic coverage to include drug and dental care
By Arjumand Siddiqi and Odmaa Sod-Erdene University of Toronto Public health researchers have long known that poverty and poor health are linked, but new evidence suggests that social assistance – the government system designed to provide those in poverty with income support – is not succeeding at protecting health. Using data from national government surveys, we…
Poor dental health in childhood becomes a lifelong burden, with consequences for those who can least afford dental care
If I could convince Calgarians to vote on one issue in the upcoming municipal elections, it wouldn’t be the one that’s in the headlines – whether to subsidize the Flames’ billionaire owners in their quest for a new arena. Instead, it would be to punish those idiotic councillors who voted in 2011 to remove fluoride…
Lack of dental care affects more than oral health – it has been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory problems and diabetes
Last year, a provincial government report found that dental procedures cost up to 44 per cent more in Alberta than in neighbouring provinces. Does this inflated cost have an impact on dental health? You bet. A staggering 62 per cent of Albertans reported limiting dental visits due to cost concerns. A majority of Albertans skipping…
The tragic consequences will continue until health ministries' introduce meaningful policy to eliminate gaps in this essential element of personal care
Some years ago, a retired university professor visited my dentistry practice. He was fit and had a pleasant smile. He hadn’t seen a dentist in more than five years, partly because he had lost his private health benefits when he retired, so it wasn’t surprising that he needed dental care. He had most of his…
Every three minutes someone visits an Ontario doctor for oral health issues. But physicians aren’t trained or equipped to provide appropriate treatment
By Jacquie Maund Alliance for Healthier Communities and Hazel Stewart Toronto Public Health April is oral health month in Canada. Ads remind us to book an appointment with our dentist for a regular dental exam and to get our teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist. But in Canada’s private dental-care system, you have to pay for…
Government urged to require its 14 Local Health Integration Networks be responsible for oral health services for vulnerable populations
By Jacquie Maund and Hazel Stewart Troy Media contributors The Ontario government’s proposed reform of the provincial health care system is going forward with a glaring omission: primary oral health. To make this reform truly "Patients First," Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long Term Care, must include primary care for the mouth. Dentists…
Dentists may soon add portable ultrasound to the standard equipment in their offices, allowing them to accurately and affordably diagnose aspects of their patients’ periodontal disease without any risk of radiation. That’s the goal of a University of Alberta research team that will continue to develop and commercialize its patented dental ultrasound system thanks to…
