February 26, 2015 (St. Paul, MN) – Patterson Dental introduced a new e-service called AutoSDS^SM to help dental practices manage safety data, as required by OSHA. This innovative service debuted February 26, 2015, at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting.

AutoSDS was created to help dental offices prepare for OSHA’s upcoming Globally Harmonized System (GHS) deadlines, as well as provide a long-term solution to managing Material Safety Data Sheets, or MSDSs. AutoSDS is a subscription-based service that allows users to easily maintain virtual binders made up of the MSDSs that OSHA requires to be readily available and easily accessible.  

“We are excited to offer AutoSDS well in advance of the upcoming OSHA deadline,” said Patterson Dental Vice President of Marketing, Merchandise Tim Rogan. “With such a user-friendly interface, dental professionals will finally have an easy solution to turn to when it comes to handling their MSDSs, giving them more time to focus on their patients and their practice.”

AutoSDS was created by Patterson Dental and Global Safety Management^® (GSM). The online system leverages GSM’s huge database of MSDSs in order to allow users to easily create their own personalized virtual binders. Once a binder has been populated with the customer’s relevant MSDSs, the MSDSs will then be automatically updated to reflect any changes made by the manufacturer.

At sign-up, AutoSDS binders come pre-populated with any MSDSs for hazardous products that the customer has purchased from Patterson Dental. To add MSDSs for hazardous products purchased from other distributors, the customer will be able to select MSDSs from GSM’s complete database.

Interested customers can learn more and sign up for AutoSDS at www.autosds.com or by contacting their Patterson representative.

February 26, 2015 (St. Paul, MN) – Patterson Dental and the American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) have launched a yearlong initiative to raise funds for Oral Health America’s Smiles Across America^® (SAA) program. SAA coordinates dental care and prevention services for underserved children and promotes oral health in communities.

On behalf of Patterson Dental and AADOM, OHA President and CEO Beth Truettannounced the joint fundraising campaign, called “A Future to Smile About,” at the 25th OHA Gala & Benefit in Chicago on February 25. Gala attendees also celebrated OHA’s 60 years of improving oral health.

Through “A Future to Smile About,” Patterson Dental and AADOM will each donate $50 to OHA for every AADOM annual membership purchased by dental practices February 25, 2015, through January 31, 2016. Patterson Dental Vice President of Marketing, Merchandise Tim Rogan commented,“At Patterson Dental we are excited to work with AADOM and dental practices to expand support for Oral Health America’s important work for our youth who face barriers to receiving dental care and prevention services.At this special time we also congratulate and thank Oral Health America for their work to increase access to oral health care and education for 60 years.”

Rogan noted that through “A Future to Smile About,” dental practices have a unique opportunity to give back to their industry while also benefiting their dental teams. “As practitioners give the gift of continuing education, practice management resources and networking opportunities to their office manager or business teamsthrough AADOM memberships, they’re also giving the gift of oral health and teaching prevention skills that our youth will have for life.”

Patterson Companies Chairman and CEO Scott Anderson, and Patterson Companies Vice President and CFO Ann Gugino, who serves on the OHA board of directors, also attended the gala.At last year’s event Patterson Companies was recognized for providing over $1 million in cash contributions to OHA, along with in-kind donations such as products, printing services and delivery of OHA campaign materials to Patterson Dental customers.

Dental teams interested in purchasing AADOM memberships may easily do so through www.afuturetosmileabout.com, which features complete campaign information.Using the promotion code “OHA15” will ensure the membership is counted as part of the fundraising campaign. Patterson Dental will be driving support for “A Future to Smile About” through multiple media channels all year.

Through the financial support of Patterson, AADOM and many others, Smiles Across America reaches over 460,000 children each year in schools and school-based settings. 

(Charlotte, NC, February 24, 2015) – For National Children’s Dental Health Month, America’s ToothFairy: National Children's Oral Health Foundation® continues its role as a premier provider of engaging oral health activities and programming—this time, for school nurses.

In celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, and through the National Association of School Nurses network, school nurses can now access a customized website with parent/teacher handouts on oral health, information on the America’s ToothFairy Girl Scout/Boy Scout patch program, and tips for dental care referrals. It also contains links to information on school sealant programs, one of the most effective strategies for preventing childhood tooth decay.

Additionally, 250 school nurses will receive the ToothFairy 101™ Community Education Kit. Developed with guidance from the America's ToothFairy Scientific Advisory Board, the ToothFairy 101™ Community Education Kit is a comprehensive tool for improving oral health literacy through community outreach activities. The kit content covers nutrition, germ transmission and prevention, mouth safety, tobacco, and infant care, as well as basic preventive strategies. Nurses will use the kits directly with students or train teachers or other staff to use them in their classrooms. Together with brightly colored magnets, a giant toothbrush, and visually engaging materials, lessons resonate with younger and older students alike. With data gathered from this initial pilot project with 250 school nurses, the hope is to extend the availability of the kit to school nurses nationwide.

"As the leader in advocacy for student health and professional development of school nurses, National Association of School Nurses shares a common goal with America's ToothFairy - to promote oral and systemic health for all children," said NASN President Carolyn Duff, MS, RN, NCSN. "This collaboration with America’s ToothFairy is further expanding the ability of school nurses to protect and maintain children's health."

“Realizing the critical role of school nurses on school campuses across the country, we are pleased to provide nurses compelling, science-based educational resources and activities to help engage and instruct the students they care for every day," said Fern Ingber, America's ToothFairy President and CEO. "With their support, will we be able to keep the importance of children’s oral health at the forefront of school and government officials, while ensuring students can access the care and education they need for health, learning and success.”

HAUPPAUGE, NY:  February 16, 2015 — Mydent International has added Topical Anesthetic Gels to its growing line of DEFEND products.  Made in the USA, the 20% Benzocaine Anesthetic Gel is fast acting with no systemic absorption.  The gel provides temporary relief of pain during dental procedures and comforts patients with minor mouth irritations.

With no bitter after taste, DEFEND Anesthetic Gel is available as 1 oz (30G) in flavors including strawberry, cherry, pina colada, mint, bubble gum, grape, mango, raspberry and banana.  This product is available through most major dental distributors.

Mydent International is dedicated to fully maintaining its brand promise: "To provide the healthcare professional with the highest quality infection controlproducts, disposables, preventativesand impression material systems at affordable prices, supported by superior service and 100% Customer Satisfaction." DEFEND: Works Better.  Lasts Longer.  Costs Less.  For more information on Mydent Internationaland the DEFENDbrand of products, call 800-275-0020, or visit www.defend.com.

(Charlotte, NC, February 17, 2015) – Across the country, youth and their adult mentors are taking to preschools, elementary schools, shelters, farmer’s markets, health fairs, and community organizations to help improve the oral health of at-risk children. With 51 million school hours lost to dental issues each year and more than 25 million children suffering from oral health problems, working directly with and through youth to save children from pain has never been more pressing.

Youth realize that prevention of tooth decay is difficult without the right tools. That’s why a Girl Scout Troop in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, decided to participate in the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive - a National Children's Dental Health Month campaign to raise oral health awareness and collect oral care products for at-risk children. The Scouts transformed their usual ice-skating event into a collection project for toothbrushes and toothpaste. On February 7, the Troop collected more than 110 oral care products to donate to a local homeless youth shelter. “Our Drive went very well—it was very fun for the girls. Thanks for the opportunity!” said Troop Leader Kim Carpenter.

In Muskogee, Oklahoma, the Youth Volunteer Corps provided toothbrushes, dental floss, and oral health activities once a week for six weeks at a local farmer's market. To provide the brushes, toothpaste and floss, they partnered with local dental offices. Because nutrition and oral health go hand-in-hand, the youth used local produce from the market to demonstrate how delicious fresh fruits and vegetables could be. Recipes were distributed so children and parents could make healthy snacks later at home.

Girl Scout Troop 80123 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, partnered with a local dentist to learn more about oral health and discuss ways to pursue dental careers. Troop leader Shannan Small commented, “Even when they are just hanging around at slumber parties, they are talking about what they learned. We turned them into avid oral health advocates!”

In Indiana, the Boys and Girls Club of Zionsville is taking a multi-pronged approach. In addition to making “buddy bags” with toothbrushes and toothpaste for homeless children in Indianapolis, they set up a booth on oral health at their Annual 5K Family Fun Run and educated all their Club members on proper habits. “America’s ToothFairy inspired us to create a partnership with a dentist’s office in our community," said Sarah Webler, Unit Director. "They now help us educate our members and their families on the importance of oral health!”

Last year, America’s ToothFairy reached 1.9 million children—more than 522,000 of which came from its outreach to youth programs and high schools. A recent survey showed that 65% of these children come from low-income homes, and 47% have trouble finding affordable dental care. Through youth programs, 85% of responding groups now engage in oral health education, and 60% are incorporating oral health into overall wellness programs. Coupled with support in finding care for children, America’s ToothFairy has developed a unique blend of community engagement programming that 99% of responding participants agree has made a positive impact on them, their youth, or their students.

These stories represent a new movement in oral health to reach non-traditional partners and empower a younger demographic to take ownership of their communities’ overall wellness. For more information on how America’s ToothFairy is tackling pediatric dental disease by supporting youth leaders like these, visit www.AmericasToothFairy.org. 

Earth City, Mo., Feb. 16, 2015 – Young Dental has been named the 2014 Manufacturer of the Year, the highest honor awarded during the 2015 National Distribution & Contracting (NDC) Dental Forum held last month.

The Manufacturer of the Year is selected annually by members of NDC, the largest organization of independent dental, surgical and medical distributors in North America. The dental group of NDC represents 53 independent dealers who collectively represent more than 11% of the North American dental retail market.

The Manufacturer of the Year is selected based on the following criteria: overall sales results, consistent product quality, technical services support, local representation, customer services (order processing), corporate management, local promotions, distribution philosophy, effective national advertising campaigns and new product introductions.

As part of its landmark year, Young Dental launched more new products in 2014 than any year prior with the introduction of the new Young™ Hygiene Handpiece, D-Lish® 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish, D-Lish Summer Drink Mix™ prophy paste and the Vera® Contra prophy angle. Young Dental also entered a partnership agreement with Oral-B®, which will add to the Company’s strength in the dental hygiene market.

“We are very excited to be recognized by NDC for our efforts in 2014 as Manufacturer of the Year,” said Andreas Wolf, Vice President and General Manager for Young Dental. “It was a great year for Young Dental, and our success would not be possible without the continued support of NDC and their membership base. NDC has a rich history and strong reputation in the dental industry, and we feel privileged to have such a great working relationship with their members as we look forward to another great year ahead.” 

Merz Pharma has entered an agreement to sell Merz Dental to Japanese dental materials and equipment manufacturer Shofu. This divestiture will enable Merz Pharma to focus on its core business, while giving Shofu the opportunity to strengthen its position as a leading dental manufacturer.

Merz Pharma and Shofu entered a sale and purchase agreement for Merz Dental, an entity based in Lütjenburg, near Kiel in Northern Germany. With a workforce of slightly under 200, the Merz subsidiary is a supplier to dentists and dental technicians that has earned a reputation for innovative dental prosthetics.

“We are convinced that the sale to Shofu is the right move from the standpoint of Merz Dental’s long-term development and expansion. This deal also reflects our clear focusing of our activities in the areas of Aesthetics, Neurotoxins, and regional products,” says Philip Burchard, the CEO of Merz Pharma.

In German-speaking countries, Merz Dental is one of the market leaders in its business. By partnering with a strong dental manufacturer, Merz Dental now can expand its presence abroad and tap into additional opportunities.

Shofu aims to leverage this acquisition to strengthen its German market presence. To achieve that, the company considers it important to maintain and heighten the autonomy of Merz Dental. The head office will be kept in Lütjenburg, and Friedhelm Klingenburg will stay on as CEO.

BEGO, the family company founded in 1890 and based in Bremen, Germany, has been producing dental products from a single source for 125 years. Today the company is run by the fifth generation of owners.

"2015 is set to be a very special year, and we want to celebrate this with our customers, partners and staff," says Christoph Weiss, Managing Partner of BEGO.

The company is celebrating not only the 125^th anniversary of BEGO Bremer Goldschlägerei Wilh. Herbst GmbH & Co. KG, but also the 25^th anniversary of BEGO Implant Systems GmbH & Co. KG and the 15^th anniversary of BEGO Medical GmbH. In total, the company can boast 165 years of experience which, first and foremost, is based on the know-how and achievements of the company's founder Dr. Wilhelm Herbst. With the invention of the rotation method, he laid the foundation for this successful international group of companies that, today, has a workforce of approximately 450.

At the IDS in Cologne, BEGO will be presenting its self-developed 3D printer, Varseo. It is optimized for dental applications and allows the production of a wide range of items made of plastic in the laboratory. In addition to the printer, the associated materials, software tools, and services for the rapid, simple, and cost-effective production of items such as splints, surgical guides, CAD/Cast^® partial denture frames, and customised impression trays will be on display.

"At the IDS, we want to demonstrate once again that we are rightly regarded as pioneers in the dental world. Visitors can look forward to the presentation of our 3D printing system which will revolutionise day-to-day work in laboratories and 3D printing," Weiss says. 

The specially developed campaign "Building the future for 125 years – Happy Birthday BEGO!" to mark this anniversary will accompany all online and print material activities throughout the year.

The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) has approved three new corporate members as part of its ongoing expansion efforts. The companies are SolmeteX, Stoma Dental, and Whip Mix. OSAP’s corporate membership program acknowledges and differentiates healthcare companies that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to OSAP and safe dental care. In addition, it helps to sustain critical services delivered by OSAP such as advocacy, education, communications, and training.

“We are delighted to welcome these three great dental manufacturers as OSAP corporate members,” says Therese Long, executive director of OSAP. “Corporate partners are part of OSAP’s unique membership mix that also includes clinicians, policy-makers, public health workers, educators, consultants, and federal dental service personnel. The different types of expertise brought forward by OSAP’s diverse membership help contribute to our ability to translate science into practical patient safety and infection control measures.”

Whip Mix (whipmix.com) products are distributed worldwide to dental laboratories, schools, government, institutions and increasingly, dental offices. From the original “egg beater” spatulator for investment, their product range now includes vacuum mixing equipment, model trimmers, ceramic pressing and firing ovens, waxes, die stones, casting investments, fixed and semi-adjustable articulators and face-bows, and digital CAD-CAM products.

SolmeteX Dental (solmetex.com) is focused on implementing green products into the dental industry to assist the dentist with best management practices as well as complying with regulatory directives. It is the leading amalgam separator manufacturer in North America and has extensive experience in water chemistry, chemical separation science, process engineering, high performance manufacturing as well as federal, state and local regulations governing water and hazardous wastes.

Stoma Dental (stomadental.com) is dedicated to developing and bringing to the market cost-effective disposables for patient safety. Stoma Dental DOVE (Disposable Oral Valve Evacuation) Dental HVE and SE Valve devices were designed to be simple and intuitive to install. DOVE products are manufactured in an ISO 13485 facility in Phoenix, AZ.

Zahn Dental will hold 7 CE courses in March and April.

The "DENTSPLY-Complete Denture Workshop" will be held twice: March 6 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Grand Rapids, Iowa; and April 24 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Birmingham, Ala. Both sessions will be hosted by Terrance Hill, CDT, and they will be worth 8 CE credits each. Attendees will learn theory and techniques to create complete dentures.

"3Shape-Advanced" will be a 2-day advanced training session March 9-10 in Arvada, Colorado, providing attendees with the ability to use the 3Shape Dental System in an advanced mode. The sessions, hosted by Grant Day, CDT, TE, will be from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. They will be worth 16 CE credits.

Day also will host "3Shape-Basic" from March 11-13 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Arvada, Colorado. Those sessions will be worth 20 credits.

"The Digital Crown From A to Z-Zirlux Hands-on" with Robert Michaels, CDT, and Nannette Boyd, CDT, will be held in two locations: March 27 in Sacramento, California, and April 24 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Both sessions will run from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Finally, "Making Great Removables With State-of-the-Art Thermoplastics" will be held April 24 in Kent, Washington. The 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. session, hosted by Kris Schermerhorn, CDT, AAS, will be worth 8 credits. Attendees will learn how to make clasps in less than 30 minutes and get a chance to process a DuraFlex repair with the HotShotElite gun and more.

For more information, including registration details, go to zahndental.com/education or call beth Collington at 609-672-0872.