Canadian Oral Health Summit opens with national focus on collaboration

More than 400 oral health leaders, educators, researchers and students from across Canada have gathered at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) as the 2026 Canadian Oral Health Summit officially gets underway today.

Hosted by the USask College of Dentistry from June 18-20, the national conference brings together a broad cross-section of the oral health community to explore new ideas, share research and strengthen partnerships that will shape the future of oral health care in Canada.

Delegates represent every corner of the profession, including academics, dentists, industry leaders, government representatives, dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental therapists, denturists, dental laboratory technicians and students.

"This week is about bringing people together to learn from one another and build stronger connections across the oral health community," said Dr. Walter Siqueira (DDS), dean of the USask College of Dentistry. "Having so many disciplines represented in one place creates opportunities for collaboration that ultimately benefit patients, learners and communities across Canada."

Presented by the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD), the biennial summit is hosted by one of Canada's 10 dental schools and serves as the country's premier gathering for academic oral health.

The 2026 theme, Advancing Interprofessional Oral Health Education, Research, and Care, reflects both national priorities and the unique strengths of the USask College of Dentistry.

USask is the only Canadian dental school to house four oral health programs under one roof and the only university in the country with all health sciences programs located on a single campus. The integrated model encourages collaboration among dentistry, dental hygiene, dental therapy, dental assisting and other health disciplines, providing an ideal setting for discussions on the future of interprofessional education and patient care.

Over the next three days, participants will attend presentations, workshops, student research poster presentations, and networking sessions highlighting innovations in teaching, research, clinical practice and community engagement.

One of the conference highlights will take place on Friday when award-winning national health journalist and author André Picard delivers the keynote address.

Widely recognized as one of Canada's leading commentators on health and public policy, Picard has been a member of The Globe and Mail team since 1987, serving as both a health reporter and columnist. His keynote will explore the evolving landscape of dental care in Canada and the role oral health plays within the broader health-care system.

For the College of Dentistry, hosting the summit represents an opportunity to showcase USask's leadership in oral health education while welcoming colleagues from across the country to Saskatchewan.

As delegates exchange ideas and explore new approaches to education, research and care, organizers hope the conversations started in Saskatoon will continue to strengthen collaboration and advance oral health outcomes for Canadians long after the conference concludes.