2024 • Volume 11 • Issue 3 The Canadian Dental Association Magazine PM40064661 Dr. Joel Antel of Manitoba New CDA President Page 22
CDAMissionStatement The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) is the national voice for dentistry dedicated to the promotion of optimal oral health, an essential component of general health, and to the advancement and leadership of a unified profession. is the official print publication of CDA, providing dialogue between the national association and the dental community. It is dedicated to keeping dentists informed about news, issues and clinically relevant information. 2024 • Volume 11 • Issue 3 Head of Communications Zelda Burt Managing Editor Sean McNamara Writer/Editor Sierra Bellows Gabriel Fulcher Pauline Mérindol Publications & Electronic Media Associate Rachel Galipeau Graphic Designer Carlos Castro Advertising: All matters pertaining to advertising should be directed to: Peter Greenhough Media Partners Inc. 15 Wade Road Ancaster, ON L9G 4G1 Display or web advertising: Peter Greenhough pgreenhough@pgmpi.ca 647-955-0060, ext. 101 Classified advertising: John Reid jreid@pgmpi.ca 647-955-0060, ext. 102 Contact: Rachel Galipeau rgalipeau@cda-adc.ca Call CDA for information and assistance toll-free (Canada) at: 1-800-267-6354 Outside Canada: 613-523-1770 CDA email: publications@cda-adc.ca @CdnDentalAssoc canadian-dentalassociation CanadianDental Association cdndentalassoc cdaoasis cda-adc.ca CDA Essentials is published by the Canadian Dental Association in both official languages. Publications Mail Agreement no. 40064661. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Canadian Dental Association at 1815 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON K1G 3Y6. Postage paid at Ottawa, ON. Notice of change of address should be sent to CDA: reception@cda-adc.ca ISSN 2292-7360 (Print) ISSN 2292-7379 (Online) © Canadian Dental Association 2024 Editorial Disclaimer All statements of opinion and supposed fact are published on the authority of the author who submits them and do not necessarily express the views of the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). Publication of an advertisement does not necessarily imply that CDA agrees with or supports the claims therein. The editorial department reserves the right to edit all copy submitted to CDA Essentials. Furthermore, CDA is not responsible for typographical errors, grammatical errors, misspelled words or syntax that is unclear, or for errors in translations. Sponsored content is produced by Peter Greenhough Media Partners Inc., in consultation with its clients. The CDA Essentials editorial department is not involved in its creation. CDABoardofDirectors President Dr. Joel Antel Dr. Lesli Hapak Ontario Dr. Brian Baker Saskatchewan President-Elect Dr. Bruce Ward Vice-President Dr. Kirk Preston Dr. Jerrold Diamond Alberta Dr. Mélissa Gagnon-Grenier NWT/Nunavut/Yukon Dr. Raymon Grewal British Columbia Dr. Stuart MacDonald Nova Scotia Dr. Marc Mollot Manitoba Dr. Matthew Moore New Brunswick Dr. Jason Noel Newfoundland/Labrador Dr. Janice Stewart Prince Edward Island 3 Issue 3 | 2024 |
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Contents The Canadian Dental Association Magazine 2024 • Volume 11 • Issue 3 13 17 CDA atWork 7 Seeing Change as an Opportunity 9 Update on the Canadian Dental Care Plan 13 CDA/Dentsply Sirona Student Clinician Research Program at the Pacific Dental Conference News and Events 17 Advocating for Children’s Health 20 Dental Digest Issues and People 22 Dr. Joel Antel: SayingYes and Embracing Change 28 Stories of Leadership: Women in Dentistry 35 Big Picture: How the Canadian Labour Force is Changing Classifieds 42 Offices and Practices, Positions Available, Miscellaneous, Advertisers’ Index Supporting Your Practice 38 Dealing with Difficult Behaviours 40 Letter to the Editor and Author Response Obituaries 45 Dr. Derek Jones 46 Dr. Deborah Stymiest 22 35 5 Issue 3 | 2024 |
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Dr. Joel Antel president@cda-adc.ca SeeingChange as anOpportunity Since my installation as CDA president in April, I’ve reflected on both the profession I’ve loved for more than 40 years and the organization that I have the honour of serving for the upcoming year. I care deeply about dentistry and my fellow dentists; you are my colleagues, my friends, and the people who understand me best. We share challenges, frustrations and successes. In my time in organized dentistry, I’m always thinking about the important work that we, the dentists of Canada, are doing every day. The last few years have brought big changes to dentistry, which have in turn helped CDA evolve. During my tenure on the CDA Board of Directors, I’ve also seen a new way of doing things. We’ve been considering our values and how to integrate these values into our work, including environmental responsibility and diversity, equity and inclusion. We’ve had discussions about how to encourage and support dentists who are early in their careers so that the profession, and its leaders, can become as diverse as the population we serve. Of course, the change and disruption experienced in the last few years have been challenging but have also resulted in new opportunities. In the coming year, I’d like to take time to align and coordinate our core values. We can apply such values to something as simple as a travel policy: How can we build strong relationships within the oral health community but keep our environmental footprint small? We can also use our values to build toward something as complex as a future for dentistry in Canada that supports the interrelation of the environment and human health. The response of organized dentistry to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has transformed the relationships between the provincial and territorial dental associations (PTDAs) and CDA. Instead of operating in relative isolation, we’ve come together in a truly coordinated effort. Now more than ever, we can envision our shared goals, figure out what needs to be done, and then support those among us suited to get the best results. I want this new paradigm to continue. Dr. Aaron Burry, CDA’s CEO, used a metaphor to describe the CDA-PTDA relationship that resonated with me. There are two parallel runways at an airport; they point in the same direction, are linked to the main terminal, but they don’t overlap. CDA, as a national organization, serves our shared goals best at a policy level and provides feedback to the federal government directly on the bigger picture issues. The PTDAs, who represent their members more directly, serve our shared goals best by working out the details of how the CDCP needs to function on the ground and the finer points of how it will be implemented. Sometimes people ask me why dental associations are still important. My answers have always included both tangible and intangible benefits. Our coordinated work to improve the CDCP has made a lot of those seemingly intangible benefits more concrete: being the national voice for dentistry and representing the expertise of the profession with the federal government have never been more important. The CDCP, as it was first conceived, had some flaws. We’ve been able to flag this right from the beginning to help the government solve some of the program’s issues. This was only possible because CDA and the PTDAs worked together and brought our unique strengths to the collective effort. Recently, I made a presentation at a provincial dental association meeting. I called in advance and asked, “What do dentists in your province want to know about? What are their concerns? What do they care about right now?” I want to connect CDA’s work to the specific needs and experiences of dentists across the country. Building robust relationships between organizations, ones that are more than the sum of our individual relationships, is our goal. From the President 7 Issue 3 | 2024 | CDA atWork
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Update on the Canadian Dental Care Plan May 1, 2024, was the first day that more than 1 million seniors with dental insurance coverage from the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) could start receiving oral health care through the federal plan. On the same day, potentially eligible people age 65 and over could apply to the CDCP online using a newly launched tool. By mid-May, over 90,000 CDCP claims had been processed by SunLife and close to 10,000 oral health providers had signed up to participate in the plan. To date, almost 2 million seniors have been approved for the CDCP. Health Canada estimates that the plan could eventually include about 9 million eligible people as members. Eligible children under age 18 and adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate will be able to apply to the CDCP in June 2024. “Dentists across the country believe in the intent of this federal program, and we acknowledge the progress that has beenmade by the government in improving the CDCP thus far, but significant gaps remain to adequately address the needs of patients and dentists,” said Dr. Joel Antel, CDA president, in a May 1 press release. Over the past several months, CDA and provincial and territorial dental associations (PTDAs) have expressed the concerns of dentists to the federal government. The support of oral health care providers is crucial to the success of the CDCP to ensure that patients signing up for the program will be able to find an eligible dentist. In mid-April, Health Canada released a statement saying that if oral health providers did not choose to participate fully in the CDCP by formally signing up with the plan, they could still provide care to CDCP patients on a claim-by-claim basis starting July 8, 2024. This “alternative path” to participation will allow oral health providers to direct bill SunLife for oral health services provided to CDCP members. In the same statement, Health Canada tried to address the issue of preauthorization and emergency services. “There are no limitations on emergency examinations under the plan, and almost all services that could be done on an emergency basis do not need preauthorization,” according to its press release. Health Canada said it would continue to work with the dental associations to determine where additional refinements to Dentists across the country believe in the intent of this federal program, but significant gaps remain to adequately address the needs of patients and dentists. 9 Issue 3 | 2024 |
In its current form, the CDCP requires dentists to receive approvals or send pre-authorizations for many types of treatments, which CDA believes should never be a part of providingmedically necessary care. preauthorization requirements might be helpful for CDCP clients who have long-standing special health care needs. “We want this program to work like other dental plans, and we are addressing areas of concern with the federal government,” says Dr. Aaron Burry, CEO of CDA. “We are worried about the public’s expectation about the program. The CDCP in its current state does not provide free dental care, but many Canadians may be under the impression that it does. Further, the initial service schedule launching today gives people some level of access for the care they need, but not all. Some patients may still need to wait until later in the fall for services requiring preauthorization.” In its current form, the CDCP requires dentists to receive approvals or send pre-authorizations for many types of treatments, which CDA believes should never be a part of providing medically necessary care. CDA commends the federal government for increasing access to care through the CDCP, but more information is needed about the terms and conditions that dentists need to agree to and what level of services will be preauthorized to meet patient needs. While CDA recognizes the federal government’s efforts to improve access to care, CDA and the PTDAs seek a CDCP that includes comprehensive oral health care services and barrier-free treatments. With dentists from coast to coast to coast, CDA will continue to advance this objective for the benefit of Canadians. 10 | 2024 | Issue 3
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CDA/Dentsply Sirona Student Clinician Research Program at the Pacific Dental Conference The CDA/Dentsply Sirona Student Clinician Research Program, a national student research competition that has been running since 1971, gives undergraduate dental students from the 10 Canadian dental schools the opportunity to present and discuss their research with a panel of qualified judges and other attendees. This year’s event took place during the Pacific Dental Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, in March. One highlight for the student clinicians is being invited to the annual Pierre Fauchard Academy (PFA) luncheon where each participant receives a $1,000 scholarship. For many years now, the PFA has played a crucial role in the success of the event, showing its support for student research through the generous contributions of the PFA Oral Health Foundation. Dentsply Sirona sponsored andhosted the award ceremonywhere thewinning student researchers were presented with prize winnings of $2,000 for 1st place and $1,000 for 2nd place. Angélique Thibault of theUniversity ofMontreal was this year’s winner and Keng-Shuo (Alex) Pi of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario was the runner-up. This year’s winners had quite distinct research projects. “It’s always difficult for the judges of the competition to decide between competitors because the subject of their work varies in so many ways that it can be hard to compare them,”explains Dr. Benoit Soucy, CDA’s chief knowledge officer and one of the judges of this year’s competition. “The candidates who were awarded the top prizes illustrate the challenge perfectly: how can you compare a systematic literature review on the use of hypnosis for pain control with research into the development of innovative implant materials?” 13 Issue 3 | 2024 |
CDA and Dentsply Sirona have been partners since the program’s beginning, working hand in hand to encourage and honour ambitious young individuals who are dedicated to researching fresh solutions to a diverse range of oral health challenges. The program’s aim is to “stimulate ideas, to improve communication and most of all, to increase student involvement in the advancement of the dental profession.” First Prize: Angélique Thibault, University of Montreal faculties, and to meet dentists with innovative careers. She is grateful that she had the opportunity to attend PDC, the largest dental conference in Canada, and she thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “Through this competition, I was able to share the fruit of my research and gain recognition for the importance of my results. This award will help this project move forward, as my supervisors and I hope to publish our findings soon,” she says. (L. to r.) Dr. Benoit Soucy, CDA chief knowledge officer; AngéliqueThibault, UofM; Dr.MitchTaillon, CDApast-president and a judge of this year’s competition, alongwithDr. Soucy. Dr. Heather Carr, CDA immediate past-president, presented AngéliqueThibault of theUniversity ofMontreal with her 1st Prize award. Angélique Thibault (DDS 2026) earned top prize for her research about integrating the evidence-based practice of hypnosis in dentistry. She conducted her research to provide a concise summary of the literature published on PubMed, highlighting areas where clinical hypnosis was supported by evidence. When Angélique decided to pursue dentistry, she never imagined that she would embark on a research journey, as her initial focus was on the practical, clinical, and medical elements of the profession. When she had her initial encounter with research, it sparked her curiosity and opened up new doors for her to explore. “By taking part in this program, I was able to improve my communication and synthesizing skills, in order to present my research project on the integration of hypnosis in dentistry,” she explains. “I really would like to thank my supervisors, Dr. Nathalie Rei and Dr. Pierre Rainville, who supported me throughout the project,” she says. “I’m pleased that my participation in the competition has broadened the scope of my research, to promote a comprehensive approach to patient care.” The student clinician research program gave her a strong desire to contribute to the improvement of patients’ health and well-being by utilizing complementary and caring approaches in dentistry. The competition also gave her the opportunity to exchange ideas with students from other Canadian dental 14 | 2024 | Issue 3
Dr. Carr withAlex Pi of the Schulich School ofMedicine and Dentistry at theUniversity ofWesternOntario (WesternUniversity), this year’s 2nd place winner. Second Prize: Keng-Shuo (Alex) Pi, Western University Alex Pi (DDS 2026) received second prize for his research in a pilot study of the effect of planetary mixing time on 3Y-TZP/ TiO2 ceramics’ microstructure for dental implant application. “Prior to entering dental school, I studied chemistry, earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at the University of British Columbia,” explains Alex Pi. “This is where I fell in love with science and research.” After his first year of dental school, Alex missed doing research while being in a laboratory setting. After attending a summer research program, he presented at Schulich Dentistry Research Day where he won 1st prize for Outstanding Undergraduate Student Presentation Award. This opportunity eventually led to his participation in the student clinician research program at PDC. “I was really excited because the idea of representing my school and to connect with other people from all Canadian dental schools was a very special opportunity. Talking to people also interested in research across Canada was a unique and fascinating occasion for me,” explains Pi. “Prior to the competition, I didn’t have high expectations. For me, being able to present my research at a national level and with other talented researchers was already fulfilling enough.” Pi found inspiration and new opportunities to pursue from participating in the competition. “The feedback from the judges also inspired me to think about other directions that I didn’t think about for my current project,” he explains. “Learning about people’s background and their own journeys through dental school was so interesting. Schools can have differences and their curricula are not identical, so learning how they are taught procedures in different classes was rewarding,” he says. “I would like to thank everyone who made the project possible,” says Pi. This includes Dr. Sheila Butler, Dr. Anelyse Found and other professors, such as Dr. Gregory Jensen. Dr. Lisa Bentley (centre), CanadianTrustee of the Pierre FauchardAcademy (PFA), presented each student clinicianwith a $1,000 scholarship, provided through the the PFAOral Health Foundation. 15 Issue 3 | 2024 |
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Advocating for Children’s Health CDA is a steering committee member of the Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition and is committed to the coalition’s mission to support the development of restrictions on the marketing of foods and beverages high in salt, sugar or saturated fats to children in Canada. “The link between dietary sugar and tooth decay makes this effort a natural fit with the goals of dentistry to improve oral health in Canada,” says Riti Bhandari, policy advisor at CDA. “We also know that good oral health in childhood leads to better oral health later in life. Oral health and general health are inextricably connected; working with a coalition of health care professions and stakeholders toward better nutrition through decreased marketing of unhealthy food and drinks to children, could make a big difference, not only for kids’ teeth in the short term, but their health and well-being throughout their lives.” In 2014, Heart and Stroke and Childhood Healthy Living Foundation coordinated consultations across Canada to develop evidence-based consensus policy recommendations to improve children’s health through better nutrition. These recommendations, which were the foundation of the coalition, were informed by the World Health Organization’s 2010 recommendation that called on countries to take action to reduce the uncontrolled volume and excessive power of food and beverage marketing to children. This mission is driven by some alarming statistics: z Ultra-processed food consumption in Canada is highest in children between 9 and 13, making up nearly 60% of calories in their diets. z Diets high in ultra-processed foods or sugary drinks are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, cancers, tooth decay and mortality later in life. z In 2019 alone, dietary risk factors contributed to 36,000 deaths in Canada. z Children in Canada are bombarded with marketing for food high in salt, sugar and/or saturated fat on a regular basis across a variety of media and settings. z Children are uniquely vulnerable to marketing due to their still-developing brains. z Canada is falling behind other countries that are introducing similar restrictions for children. 17 Issue 3 | 2024 |
In 2016, the federal government published its Healthy Eating Strategy aimed at making the healthier choice the easier choice for people in Canada. This strategy includes four key pillars. Although three of the pillars have been completed, the commitment to adopt restrictions on the marketing of food to children is outstanding. Industry self-regulation is not effective at protecting children from exposure to unhealthy food and beverage advertising. Companies participating in Canada’s previous self-regulatory code were found, in some instances, to advertise more heavily in media intended for or preferred by children than non-participating companies and most of their advertising (>70%) promoted unhealthy foods. The Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition is a strong supporter of Bill C-252, a Private Member’s Bill co-sponsored by Senator Donna Dasko. This bill would amend the Food and Drugs Act by introducing statutory restrictions for unhealthy food and beverage marketing directed at children under 13. Quebec has had legislation since the early 1980s to protect children from advertising. In that province, companies are not allowed to advertise to children under age 13. The impact has been significant. Children in Quebec see fewer food ads on television and in their schools than children in the rest of Canada. Quebec’s restrictions on advertising to children have been shown to have a positive impact on nutrition by reducing fast food consumption in Quebec by 13%. This translates to 16.8 million fewer fastfood meals sold in the province. Quebec also has the lowest rates of obesity among 5- to 7-year-olds as well as the highest rates of vegetable and fruit consumption in Canada. For more information on the Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition, see: stopmarketingtokids.ca Companies participating in Canada’s previous self-regulatory code were found, in some instances, to advertise more heavily in media intended for or preferred by children than nonparticipating companies and most of their advertising (>70%) promoted unhealthy foods. 18 | 2024 | Issue 3 News and Events
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Dr. Robert Schroth, a professor in the departments of preventive dental science and pediatrics and child health, Rady faculty of health sciences at the University of Manitoba, was named as one of the 2024 cohort of Applied Public Health Chairs (APHC). Dr. Schroth’s research project, titled Improving equitable access to oral health care for young children in Canada, aims to improve the oral health of young children by focusing on ways to improve access to early risk assessment, prevention, and oral health care, particularly for children facing social and economic inequalities and poor access to oral health care. Dr. Schroth is a dental clinician-scientist, practising out of two inner-city community-based clinics in Winnipeg. His research has four sub-themes: 1) the relationship between early childhood oral health and well-being; 2) the epidemiology of early childhood caries (ECC); 3) the promotion of early childhood oral health, and prevention and management of ECC; and 4) access to care. Dr. Robert Schroth Named Applied Public Health Chair Federal Budget 2024 and Capital Gains Tax Reforms On April 16, the federal government tabled Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation. Mr. Lucas Veiga, CDA’s head of government relations and policy, was interviewed on the CDA Oasis website to discuss some specific measures in the budget that could affect dentistry, including the expansion of the loan forgiveness program and an increase in the exclusion rate in capital gains tax. CDA also partnered with MNP to conduct a technical assessment on the overall impact of capital gains tax reforms on dentists. Key highlights from the MNP assessment included: • For a dentist, the change in the capital gains inclusion rate is significant as it may result in more income tax being paid when capital gains are realized on the sale of assets. • The amount of the lifetime capital gains exemption (LCGE) will be increased from $1.016 million to $1.25 million of eligible capital gains. If a dentist can sell his/her shares of a professional corporation and utilize the LCGE, the Budget 2024 proposals create situations where the dentist and his/her family may save income tax. In May, CDSPI and MNP hosted a webinar that included a deeper dive into the capital gains rule changes and what they mean for dentists. Over 500 dentists fromacross Canada attended, and a recording of this webinar is available at: bit.ly/44JxIQg See: bit.ly/3WyYHMy To read the complete MNP assessment, which includes scenariobased examples, see: bit.ly/4bt6UWJ For more on Budget 2024, see: bit.ly/3UOhnGM DENTAL DIGEST With funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Public Health Agency of Canada, the APHC programwas established in 2008 to support creating public health solutions informed by the best available scientific evidence. 20 | 2024 | Issue 3
An updated systematic review explored the science related to toothbrush contamination, and its findings are an icky reminder for your patients. The review, published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, focused on 15 studies including 8 randomized controlled trials, 6 cross-sectional studies, and 1 in vitro experimental study. The findings? Toothbrushes are contaminated with oral bacteria after first use and levels rise with continued use. Using a plastic cover over the brush increases contamination because bristles are less likely to dry. Keeping toothbrushes near a toilet increases bacterial contamination. Charcoal bristles show less bacterial contamination, but more randomized controlled trials are needed. Rinsing toothbrushes after use in chlorhexidine mouthwash helps keep bacteria to a minimum. What’s onYour Toothbrush? See: bit.ly/3JOx9eu Service Canada said it was aware of scams related to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) that may be targeting older Canadians. There were reports of fraudulent communications attempting to extract people’s personal information such as bank details or social insurance numbers. Service Canada reminds people that they will never ask individuals to complete a financial transaction by clicking on a link in an email or text. If your patients are concerned about the legitimacy of any communications they may have received regarding CDCP, they can contact Service Canada at 1-800-622-6232 or visit: bit.ly/3UyOvAV CDCP Scams Dr. Hugo Ciaburro was appointed dean of the University of Montreal (U of M) faculty of dentistry, for a 5-year term beginning June 1, 2024. Associate vice-dean of Clinical Affairs since 2018, Dr. Ciaburro is a professor in the department of restorative dentistry at the U of M faculty of dentistry. He has previously held the positions of faculty secretary, associate dean for student affairs and head of the clinical department of operative dentistry at the faculty. “Dr. Ciaburro’s recognized clinical expertise, his international leadership in the field, his deep attachment to the faculty and his in-depth knowledge of the dental community will contribute to the development of our faculty of dentistry as a world leader in oral health education and research,” said Daniel Jutras, rector of U of M, in a press release. Dr. Ciaburro is a specialist in fixed and removable prosthetics and implant-supported restoration. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, a member and mentor of the Dr. Hugo Ciaburro is New Dean at the University of Montreal Academy of Richard V. Tucker Study Clubs, and a member of the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators. 21 Issue 3 | 2024 |
Dr. Joel Antel of Winnipeg, Manitoba (centre, seated) with the extended Antel family. 22 | 2024 | Issue 3
Dr. Joel Antel: SayingYes and Embracing Change CDA President 2024–25 “My parents showed me how to be deeply involved with the world,” says Dr. Joel Antel, the new president of CDA for 2024–25. His mother was a kindergarten teacher then a stay‑at‑home mom. She was deeply committed to community building and fundraising efforts. His father, a WWII veteran, began a career as an accountant inWinnipeg, Manitoba, during the late 1940s. “He started out in a three-person office and eventually built a national firm with international ties. He was very involved in his chosen profession,” says Dr. Antel. His father served on local and national professional boards of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He held leadership roles in a number of community organizations as well. “I pretty much learned through osmosis that it was important to be of service and engaged with the community around you,” Dr. Antel says. Dr. Antel has advice for his dentistry colleagues who want to have fulfilling professional lives. “Just keep saying yes,” he says. “If you want to be involved in interesting and meaningful work, just say yes and take the leap.” In his over 40-year career, Dr. Antel has experimented with new ideas and embraced change. He had a wonderful mentor and, in turn, supported the success of other dentists. Whenever new opportunities arose, he said yes. Career After earning his dental degree in 1979, Dr. Antel joined the Winnipeg practice of Dr. Alan Diner, who had taught part-time at the University of Manitoba. “I joke that when I first went into practice, I took the Manitoba dental school faculty with me,” he says. “Dr. Diner had graduated from dental school in 1943, so surgery was a given, and he also taught preclinical and clinical endodontics, restorative dentistry and fixed and removable prosthodontics.” Dr. Antel rented a room in Dr. Diner’s office and practised with him for the first five years of his career. “But during those years, I probably spent half my time doing dentistry and the other half standing beside him and learning from him,” says Dr. Antel. “He was a mentor for dentistry itself, but he also taught me how to treat people and explain the value of dentistry. I’m very grateful to Alan. My wife and I are still friends with his kids.” In 1984, Dr. Antel noticed a new medical walk-in clinic close to his dental office. Walk-in clinics were a relatively new addition to the Canadian health care system, and this clinic had a sign in the window that said “dentist” along with a list of other health care practitioners. 23 Issue 3 | 2024 |
“One day, I walked in and asked to meet their dentist,” says Dr. Antel. “But they said they didn’t have one yet. By coincidence, I had 300 business cards in my pocket, so I left those there and told the front desk staff if they had patients with dental emergencies, I was available and could accommodate them.” Soon, Dr. Antel was seeing more patients from the walkin clinic than from his own practice! “I ended up moving my practice into the walk-in clinic’s office and for almost a decade I did walk-in dentistry,” says Dr. Antel. Most of his patients needed emergency treatment. He had no appointment book. He did everything from extractions to bridges on a walk-in basis. The clinic was open from 8 am to 11 pm, seven days a week. Dr. Antel lived five minutes away, so if a patient with a dental emergency arrived at the clinic outside of his regular hours, he was ready, on call and could arrive quickly. “I never thought I’d be happy working seven days a week, but I was,” he says. “I loved it.” At the University of Manitoba, Dr. Antel served as a clinical instructor in endodontics from 2007 to 2014. He also was involved with the school’s student mentorship program and served as a guest lecturer in communications, among other roles. After almost 10 years as a walk-in dentist, the next step in Dr. Antel’s career was growing his practice doing mostly esthetic treatments. “It was the other end of the spectrum, but I like variety,” he says. He began to bring in associates to work alongside him and eventually a partner, at which point, the practice focused primarily on apprehensive patients who often required sedation for dental treatment. Later, Dr. Antel turned his energy toward a patient population who hadn’t seen a dentist in a long time. “Collaborating with the patient, I’d get them caught up, get them healthy and then make a plan to maintain their oral health,” he says. “That’s what I was doing until the pandemic hit.” As it was for many in dentistry, the COVID-19 pandemic was very disruptive. “We figured out how to practice when we came back from being locked down, but the stress was very intense for everyone,” says Dr. Antel. The practice, which had been a partnership, reverted to a solo practice. “It was a difficult transition,” he says. “But the staff are wonderful. One of our dental assistants has been with me for 35 years, and the other for 25. One dental hygienist, who just retired, had been with the practice for 35 years, another is at 14 years and counting. The receptionist that continues with the practice is the glue holding it all together. I know everyone says they have the best staff in the world, but mine really are.” CDA President 2024–25 Dr. Antel graduated from the University of Manitoba dental school in 1979. Dr. Antel (l.) and friend Michael Marr at the Winnipeg Science Fair in 1973, with their project on the feline anatomy. I would sometimes ask myself, ‘Why are things set up like this?’As part of organized dentistry, I get some insight into this question, and feel like I can contribute to try to make things better. 24 | 2024 | Issue 3
Organized Dentistry Dr. Antel has changed his style of practice several times. “I reengineered, then reverse engineered my entire practice, then I did it again,” says Dr. Antel. “At the time, I wrote it all down to make sure I could wrap my head around it.” This helped to generate two things: a manual on how to run a dental practice plus a kit of all the materials needed to run a dental practice, including patient handouts, letters, forms for calculating insurance coverage, among other items. “An acquaintance who was involved with the communications committee of the Manitoba Dental Association (MDA) called me to ask what materials I would want from my association to help run a dental office,” says Dr. Antel. “I told him what I’d already created and that led to me being invited to join the MDA communications committee.” Dr. Antel joined the committee in the early 1990s, and he went on to become committee chair, a role he continued to serve until 2017. The practice resources that Dr. Antel had amassed formed the foundation of his book A Guide to Dental Practice Management and Marketing for New and Established Practitioners published in 1994, with a revised version in 2005. Dr. Antel continued his involvement with the MDA by joining its Board of Directors in 2006. “I enjoy being part of organized dentistry because I get to look at the big picture and examine the reasons why things are being done the way they are,” he says. “Before I became involved, I dealt with the frustrations of my practice and I would sometimes ask An invitation to Dr. Antel’s 50th birthday, which includes a photo of Joel at age 4. Dr. Antel and wife Bonnie at St. Andrews Airport near Winnipeg. myself, ‘Why are things set up like this?’ As part of organized dentistry, I get some insight into this question, and feel like I can contribute to try to make things better.” In 2011, Dr. Antel became president of the MDA. “At that time, the executive director was Ross McIntyre, who had been with the association for over 40 years. He retired that year, and Rafi Mohammed, the membership services director, became CEO,” says Dr. Antel. “They both were wonderful. They didn’t tell me what to do or try to mould me, but instead supported me as I figured out how to fit into the job. I really enjoyed that year.” 25 Issue 3 | 2024 |
“It’s one of the things I’m most proud of.” Dr. Antel was also involved in establishing the Manitoba Dental Foundation in 2016, which raises funds to support programs that provide dental care for people who wouldn’t otherwise have access. In 2017, Dr. Antel joined the CDA Board of Directors. “In the same way that I wanted to learn how things worked at the provincial level, I was interested in learning more about how issues are addressed at the national level,” Dr. Antel says. “CDA approached some things differently than MDA, including in communications, which was where a lot of my expertise lies, so I was curious to learn about the differences and see if I could make things better.” Dr. Antel says that the pandemic had unexpected results for CDA. “When COVID hit, we had one overarching issue to deal with, an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ mentality,” he says. “We had to find ways to work together effectively to deal with a crisis. As an organization, we learned how to truly collaborate. Once we’d make a decision, the people who would turn that decision into action had everyone else’s full support.” When Dr. Antel was officially installed as CDA president in April 2024, he said he wanted to further bolster this spirit of collaboration. “In our approach to advocating for a functional and effective Canadian Dental Care Plan, CDA and the provincial and territorial associations have continued to work together really well, and always with the public and dentists in their offices across the country in mind.” Dr. Antel believes that the working relationships and collaborative model that was forged during the pandemic and the introduction of the national dental care plan will continue to serve dentists well in the future. Mandibular Black playing at aManitobaDental Foundation fundraising event. SonZack is on keyboards andDr. Antel is on guitar. Second album of the Chai Folk Ensemble, released in 1980. Dr. Antel is on guitar, back row, 3rd from left. Son Darryl, at his law office. During his time at the MDA, Dr. Antel helped start the General Practice Study Club, which serves fledgling dentists within the first five years of registering with the association, a combination of dentists that are new to the province and those who have just graduated. “It was based on the experiences that I had in my early years in practise with Dr. Diner and created an opportunity for dentists to receive practical hands-on, engaged mentoring,” he says. CDA President 2024–25 26 | 2024 | Issue 3
Outside of Dentistry Dr. Antel grew up in a musical family. “My mom was a very talented musician from a musical family,” he says. Through high school and university, Dr. Antel played guitar with the Chai Folk Ensemble Orchestra, which began in 1964 to involve Jewish teenagers and young adults in music, singing and dancing; chai is the Hebrew word for life. “I joined when I was 15 and it gave me the opportunity to play with some amazing musicians,” says Dr. Antel. He met his wife Bonnie, a singer, when she joined the ensemble. She became a music teacher who taught privately and in the public school system for many years before she retired. They have three children and six grandchildren. Their son Zack has been a professional musician for many years as well as working in the administrative area of a large architectural firm. Son Darryl is a lawyer specializing in tax law and one of Dr. Antel’s trusted advisors. Daughter Becky is a dentist. After graduation, she worked with Dr. Antel for two years before moving to Edmonton, Alberta. “Chai Folk has been a big part of our lives. Becky danced with the group, and Zack, who also met his wife in the group, eventually became the musical director,” he says. When Dr. Antel’s dental career was in full swing and his children were young, he didn’t have many chances to play music outside of the house. “But then in my late 30s, a local music shop brought together musicians who had played in their university days. They suggested a set list, and then booked a venue for a show, so that led me back into playing for an audience,” he says. For the 125th anniversary of dentistry in Manitoba, at the provincial convention’s Friday night festivities, the organizers were looking for a band that would play interstitial music between entertainment, similar to a late-night TV show. The band selected to play included Dr. Antel and other musicians who were dentists. “Since we’re dentists, we tend to have obsessive personality traits, so we ended up learning 30 songs just for the one evening,” says Dr. Antel. “But then we had a band and a repertoire, and we went looking for more shows to play.” This is how the band, Mandibular Black, was established. The group gathers regularly to practice and has now played many conventions and fundraisers. In 2019, at a fundraising event for the Manitoba Dental Foundation, Dr. Antel’s son Zack sat in on keyboards with Mandibular Black. “That turned out to be our last big show before COVID hit, and it was especially fun to have my son play with us because he is an extraordinary musician,” he says. “I couldn’t have been prouder.” Dr. Antel says the band will be on hiatus while he serves as CDA president. “I’m working full time at my practice this year as well,” he says. “But eventually, we’ll play shows again.” Dr. Antel is excited to share his decades of experience and hard-won wisdom with his colleagues from across Canada. “I’m excited to meet my fellow dentists from coast to coast to coast and bring our collective expertise together to benefit the profession we all love,” he says. Daughter Becky, also a dentist, participating in a dental screening program at the Winnipeg Children’s Festival, interacting with the teddy bear. Family photo at the 2024 CDA President Installation Dinner. (L. to r.) Shayla Solomon (Zack’s wife), Zack Antel (son), Dr. Daniel Shafran (Becky’s husband), Dr. Becky Antel (daughter), Dr. Joel Antel (CDA president), Bonnie Antel (wife), Darryl Antel (son), Avis Bay ( Jack’s wife), Dr. Jack Antel (brother). Lara Draper (Darryl’s wife) was unable to attend. 27 Issue 3 | 2024 |
Stories of Leadership Women in Dentistry At the 2023 Alberta Wellness Summit in Calgary, four dentists participated in a keynote panel discussion to share their experiences as women in organized dentistry. The stories shared on stage were engaging and moving, according to those in attendance, and prompted a conversation during the Q&A portion where women newer to dentistry shared their personal struggles, asked for advice, and offered mutual support. CDA Essentials reached out to the four panelists and asked them to share their stories, in conversation. Below are stories about the careers of four inspiring dentists and their hard‑won wisdom in their own words. 28 | 2024 | Issue 3
My mother graduated in 1955 from dental school in Havana, Cuba, where I was born, at a time when women were rare in the dental profession. I literally had a dental office in my home growing up. We immigrated to the U.S. when I was 7, and I watched my mother complete her board exams in NewYork state and set up her first practice in Manhattan. I would go in on Saturday mornings and help out with sterilization, reception, and simple assisting duties with an amazing role model. the prosthodontic specialization residency, and, shortly after graduation, we were married. He brought me to Canada. As a foreign-trained dentist, I took the National Dental Examining Board of Canada exam in Montreal on removable dentures, dental castings, amalgam and composite restorations on live patients before starting my dental career. Thankfully, I was working as a full-time dentist within a few months of arriving in Edmonton. I’ve been in the same group practice now for over 37 years. For more than 25 years, I was also a part-time clinical instructor and sessional lecturer in periodontics, pediatric dentistry, and implant dentistry at the University of Alberta. I’ve also been involved with organized dentistry, continuing education, and study clubs with hands-on mentorship as well as leadership positions in charities focused on helping women succeed. In the US, there’s a long-standing Association of Women in Dentistry, and I’ve felt like we should also have one in Canada. Despite many efforts, it has been a slow progression on a national level, but some local groups have had success. Working with wonderful colleagues, we established the Canadian Association of Women in Dentistry. With a national stage, we can foster discussions about the specific challenges encountered by female practitioners, students, specialists, and our technology partners. There is a real opportunity to share solutions and create mentorship opportunities for young women pursuing dentistry and a forum for colleagues to exchange ideas and get much needed support. In dentistry, there is a lack of women involved in CE lecturing opportunities, academia, and in publications. How can we fix this? There’s talent on all sides of the profession, and we want to make sure women have equal opportunities. As a mother of four, I can tell you that navigating the time in life when your children are young while also working full time and running a practice is very challenging. But things are changing for the better; dentists can bring babies to CE courses now, which would have been unheard of when I had mine! We know practices can be run with schedules to allow us to still be parents and be active in our community. Dr. Elena Hernandez-Kucey In the U.S., there’s a long-standing Association of Women in Dentistry, and I’ve felt like we should also have one in Canada. Working with wonderful colleagues, weestablished the Canadian Association of Women in Dentistry. Later, my mother decided to take the Florida board exams, because we wanted to move our family to Miami. During that exam, I was called in to assist because the hired dental assistant couldn’t make it, so I was the best substitute. I was already interested in dentistry but was discouraged by rumours that it was too hard to get into dental school. I initially entered a dental hygiene program, and soon realized I was ready to pursue my dental education. In my early 20s, I began my dentistry education at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. While there, I met a Canadian dentist who was enrolled in 29 Issue 3 | 2024 |
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