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Canada has one of the highest standards of dentistry in the world. Ten excellent dental schools, internationally recognized teachers and authors, extensive clinical continuing education, and a highly trained and motivated dentist population offer some of the best care imaginable. Canadian practitioners are more aware of the latest proactive and restorative technologies and materials because national publications are effective in bringing this information into the practice on a monthly basis. High quality CE is practical and accessible because the vast majority of practitioners are urban or suburban, concentrated around the major population centers.
There is another area of expertise, however, that is all too often overlooked. We tend to forget the proficient leadership that Canadian dental designers and manufacturers exhibit in the international dental sphere. True, the Canadian market represents about one tenth of the neighboring American market, and less than 2% of the international dentist population. In addition, many innovative dental start-ups find it expedient to move south. Nevertheless, significant (and very important) segments of Canuck inventors and producers have elected to remain in Canada, and to bolster our national economy. It is these individuals and companies that we salute with Oral Health’s “Made in Canada” issue as we celebrate the country’s 147th birthday.
Tissue fluorescence visualization cancer screening is one of the most innovative soft tissue diagnostics. Non-surgical and non-invasive, it is actually very comfortable for the patient. Cellular, structural, and metabolic activity changes in oral mucosal tissues are identified by the oral tissue fluorescence response to light excitation. It helps to save lives around the world and it’s “Made in Canada.”
Diode lasers have changed the nature and practice of soft tissue management. Extremely affordable and highly intuitive, the “soft tissue handpiece” is a must for every practice, every operatory, and it’s “Made in Canada.”
Dental handpieces are the practitioner’s workhorse, used all day, every day. Improved technologies and more efficient manufacturing have improved quality and lowered prices. The new generation of handpieces increases patient and dentist comfort, and it’s “Developed in Canada”.
Waiting room patient education has been largely ignored by the profession. Cost, quality, and availability have been the main contributors to this trend. The new standard of patient communication is a custom-developed, personalized, dedicated educational TV channel in the practice’s waiting room to engage, educate, and inform. Best of all, the cost to the dentist is ridiculously low, and it’s “Made in Canada.”
Caries detection is the foundation of the restorative practice. Canadians have been at the forefront of developing and marketing this technology. Now, the diagnostic focus is at the restorative margin, and it’s “Made in Canada.”
Clinical visibility and chairside digital integration are critical to modern practice. World leading technology for keeping the operative area illuminated is now “Made in Canada”.
As practitioners, we treat many compromised patients. The products and the protocols are now widely available, and they are “Made in Canada”.
Reversing dental anesthesia is a totally new clinical direction, with great clinical benefits, and it’s “Manufactured in Canada”.
Canada and Canadians are leaders in dentistry! OH
Dr. George Freedman is a founder and past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a co-founder of the Canadian Academy for Esthetic Dentistry and a Diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry.
