SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 29, 2016 -- Sikka Software announced today four new partners in the Sikka Ecosystem. These partners provide new and groundbreaking apps that help dentists manage and grow their practices. Apps are built on the Sikka Software Platform Cloud, are HIPAA and HITECH Compliant, and connect with 96% of dental practice management systems. This connection facilitates use of business analytics so that dentists are armed with all the information they need to make the most of their time and earn more money.

Sikka Software is proud to announce the following partners:

American Dental Association brings the Benefit Plan Analyzer, a tool that compares dental benefit plans side-by-side, using metrics for the dentists' own practices. Data displayed includes projected revenue and capacity constraints, allowing for growth planning.

Birdeye joins the platform with an app that helps dentists manage their online reputation. The product generates reviews from happy patients and automatically promotes them online to keep dentists on the forefront of the web.

"The BirdEye platform accesses the mobile micro-moments that determine online patient experience today. As the Sikka Platform Cloud transforms healthcare efficiency, we reimagine the way providers connect with their patients and how patient feedback is used to acquire and retain connected patients," says Naveen Gupta, CEO of Birdeye.

Dent2Med enables dentists to bill medical insurance dental procedures. Medical insurance often pays more than dental benefits for the same interventions, increasing practice revenue and allowing for better patient care.

"I am excited to work with Sikka Software on reshaping the dental billing landscape. We share the same vision of the need for dental practices to use medical benefits to help improve patient dental care. The partnership with Sikka allows Dent2Med to streamline integration with dental practice management systems, making it simpler for billing managers to use. Our partnership will drive growth for both companies, unique value for our customers, and incredible innovation for the industry," says Dewey Blaise the President of Surecord MD.

Tyson Steele Associates increases new patient visits by building marketing services customized to dental practices nationwide. The company helps dentists grow their practices through research-driven marketing tactics.

"In January, we partnered with Sikka to create a tool called ProfitFinder which uses Sikka's data modeling to help us find more 'low hanging' profit for our dentist members. In less than two months, by combining Sikka's cloud-based technology with human intelligence and actionable tactics, ProfitFinder has uncovered an astounding average increase of $119,041 in annualized net profit for each dentist member of Tyson Steele. I strongly believe new data-driven tools like ProfitFinder will completely revolutionize dental marketing and consulting methods for the 21st century. Sikka's cloud-based technology is a big part of that revolution," says Tyson Steele, president of Tyson Steele Associates.

Geoff Martin, VP of Marketing at Sikka Software, says: "We are excited to bring four new partners into our Sikka Ecosystem. Each partner delivers a unique product that provides unprecedented insight for a dentist into his or her practice. Dentists have never had more access to the data they need to make decisions about how to grow and manage their practice."

About Sikka Software

Sikka Software Corporation is revolutionizing the retail healthcare industry via its platform cloud, analytical tools, apps and big data leadership. The retail industry includes over 2.1 million providers worldwide and over 600,000 in the United States. The Sikka Platform Cloud allows seamless compatibility with over 96% of the dental, veterinary, vision care and hearing care markets in the United States. Sikka Software Corporation has over 17,000 installations and is experiencing strong growth and market presence in the retail healthcare big data space. For more information, please visit www.sikkasoftware.com. 

Shofu is excited to announce that we have extended our BurButler product line, the unique silicone bur block that grips all burs securely in place, eliminating the risk of spilling. In order to meet the varied clinicians’ and laboratory technicians’ preferences BurButler now includes a 5, 10, and 25-hole base configuration. The 25-hole base features the option of a standard or a tall clear lid. Mix and match FG, CA, HP (tall lid only), and short shank burs to suit your clinical or laboratory needs.

The fully autoclavable, high temperature resistant silicone base is extremely durable and retains integrity, even after repeated sterilization. There are no replacement plugs or moving parts and the burs will not magnetize or rust. The unique patented starburst hole design with reverse fluting allows for easy insertion and removal of the burs. Designed with a secure clear lid that allows for easy viewing and safety, and yet can be simply removed with one hand.

The 5, 10, and 25-hole configurations are available in 5 colors, which allows you to organize, store, and care for your dental burs by dentist, procedure, or lab technique to make your business more efficient. BurButler includes a silicone base with a clear lid and is available through your local dealer.

For more information visit www.shofu.com or contact Shofu Dental Corporation at 800-827-4638.

CHICAGO (Feb. 25, 2016) – Hu-Friedy, a global leader in the manufacturing of dental instruments and products, today introduced EverEdge 2.0, its latest innovation in hand scaling instrumentation, designed to help clinicians achieve the best clinical outcomes.

Leveraging decades of instrument making experience, Hu-Friedy developed EverEdge 2.0 using a proprietary heat treatment process and enhanced finishing techniques. The optimized steel of EverEdge 2.0 has superior edge retention and wear characteristics that will last the entire life of the instrument. Since it’s not a superficial coating, these characteristics cannot be removed through use or sharpening. EverEdge 2.0 Scalers can be resharpened at any point to extend their life and value.

“Hu-Friedy introduced our original EverEdge scalers ten years ago to satisfy practitioners’ desire for a sharper instrument that lasts longer,” shares Ron Saslow, Hu-Friedy CEO and Chairman of the Board. “While EverEdge scalers quickly became, and remain, the top selling scaler brand in the world, we challenged ourselves to develop an even more advanced instrument to help practitioners perform at their best. We are very proud of the result, EverEdge 2.0, which allows clinicians to deliver the best possible outcomes for their patients.”

Understanding the critical importance of scientific evidence in supporting product performance, Hu-Friedy engaged an independent third-party laboratory specializing in blade technology, CATRA, to conduct a detailed scientific sharpness test. The independent test evaluated EverEdge 2.0 and several competitive scalers on two items: sharpness of the scalers when brand new and sharpness after repeated use.

The test results show that Hu-Friedy EverEdge 2.0 is 72% sharper out of the box than the next closest competitor. After repeated use (500 strokes), EverEdge 2.0 remains 50% sharper than the next closest competitor.

“The goal of this scientific study was to provide objective information about which scaler starts sharper and stays sharper longer, because that is what clinicians need in order to provide the best patient experience,” shares Ken Serota, president of Hu-Friedy. “The research on EverEdge 2.0 both validates and supports that goal.”

Dental hygiene textbooks and educators acknowledge that sharper scalers are critical for effective removal of deposits during oral prophylaxis procedures.

A sharper scaler is better because it is more: 

• Clinically effective since calculus is easily removed, not burnished;

• Comfortable for clinicians, causing less hand and wrist fatigue;

• Comfortable for patients due to less pressure needed for calculus removal;

• Efficient as less time is needed to scale

EverEdge 2.0 instruments are available in the popular original EverEdge diamond-knurled, large-diameter handle, as well as the Resin 8 Colors handle, a lightweight resin handle featuring a color-coded system to easily identify scalers and curettes that correspond to areas of the mouth. The new purple grips allow for easy identification of the EverEdge 2.0 scalers in each set-up.

For more information about Hu-Friedy’s EverEdge 2.0 instruments, please call 1-800-HU-FRIEDY or visit www.hu-friedy.com/EE2. 

CHICAGO -- February 26th, 2016 -- IDM (International Dental Manufacturers) announces that Dr. Kathryn Kell of Iowa has been awarded the first annual IDM Global Oral Health Progress Award. The 2016 award recognizes Dr. Kell’s valuable contributions to advancing oral health, particularly her leadership in the FDI World Dental Federation Congress Task Force to secure the success of future FDI Annual World Dental Congresses. The newly established annual IDM Global Oral Health Progress Award provides a donation made in the recipient’s honor to the charity of their choice.

“Dr. Kell has generously contributed her leadership experience in the task force and helped bringing the cooperation between FDI and IDM to a new level shaping the future of the FDI Congress at all levels,” said IDM president Christian Brutzer. “In particular, she has helped to increase the value of participation in the Congress and support of FDI by the Industry membership by enhancing the FDI AWDC exhibition programming and maximizing its efficiency, viability, and representation of member industry perspectives.”

Founded in October 1988 in Washington, DC, the IDM is the source of information for a global level playing field. The organization serves as a communication forum, and has developed into an autonomous, independent umbrella organization that globally represents the common interests of member associations. Through them, the IDM supports the interests of the global dental industry as a whole.

Dr. Kell, who is currently serving as president-elect of the FDI, has been a practicing dentist for more than 40 years and has served in leadership positions with the FDI for 17 years, most recently as treasurer. The FDI World Dental Federation represents the voice of more than 1 million dentists worldwide and is comprised of 200 national dental associations from more than 139 countries. Dr. Kell is also the past president of the Iowa Dental Association and served as a trustee for the American Dental Association from 2004 to 2008.

CHICAGO, February 29, 2016 – Hundreds of clinicians, researchers, residents and their faculty presented original research at the Academy of Osseointegration (AO) Annual Meeting. Six researchers were recognized by a committee of their peers to receive top honors for their outstanding contributions to the field of implant dentistry.  

“I am extremely impressed by the thought-provoking research and advanced clinical procedures presented at this year’s meeting,” said Dr. Andrew Halbert, Chair of AO’s E-Poster Committee. “The E-Posters and presentations were clinically relevant and presented inspiring ideas for dentists to consider for immediate use. I am quite proud of those from around the world who work so diligently to continue to advance the science of implant dentistry.” 

Pictured (from left to right): Hiroyuki Matsuda, Nicholas Montanaro, Junro Yamashita, Amirali Zandinejad, Christian Mertens

Below is a complete list of awards and honorees.

·      Best Oral Clinical Presentation: Efficacy of Socket Grafting for Alveolar Ridge Preservation: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Gustavo Avila-Ortiz, DDS, MS, PhD

“I am still in a cloud since I found out about the award for the Best Oral Clinical Presentation. This is such a great honor for me,” said Dr. Avila-Ortiz, an Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontics at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. “This recognition is the culmination of a very intense team effort conducted at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Our findings are very relevant for the understanding of the fate of the alveolar ridge following tooth loss or extraction. Our investigative team hopes that this core knowledge contributes to refine existing clinical protocols for the management of the extraction site, including alveolar ridge preservation via socket grafting, as well as immediate implant placement.”

·      Best Oral Scientific Presentation: Dramatic Improvement in Bone Quality at Osteotomy Sites by Short-Term Administration of Osteoporosis Medication, Junro Yamashita, DDS, PhD

"I am very glad to receive this prestigious award,” said Dr. Yamashita, a Professor at Fukuoka Dental College, Japan. “I believe our finding brings us one step closer to developing a predictable treatment method to grow bone."

·      1^st Place E-Poster: Three-dimensional Alveolar Anatomy of the Maxillary First Molar and Proposed Classification for Implant Placement: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study, Hiroyuki Matsuda, DDS

“Winning first-place for my E-Poster at AO’s Annual Meeting, one of the most prestigious implant meetings, definitely means a lot to me and gives me great confidence and motivation to pursue my career goals,” said Dr. Matsuda, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kameda Medical Center, Japan. “AO always gives me great inspiration and opportunities. The valuable time spent in the meeting brings me to the next level.”

·      2^nd Place E-Poster: Various Tip Applications and Temperature Changes of Er, Cr: YSGG-Laser Irradiated Implants, Nicholas Montanaro, BS

"The AO Meeting not only allowed us to present our innovative and original research among distinguished peers, but also gave us the ability to express our trust and faith in Er,Cr:YSGG-laser systems across a wide range of dental applications,” said Montanaro, a student at Stony Brook University, School of Dental Medicine. “We cannot express enough how fortunate we feel for being recognized by the Academy, and this honor has given us tremendous confidence in our work as we look to expand the horizons of dental research in laser technology.”

·      Best E-Poster Case Presentation: Treatment of the Edentulous Maxilla with Fixed Implant-retained Prosthesis: 15-year Prospective Results, Christian Mertens, DDS, PhD

“Receiving this important AO Award is a real pleasure and great honor for me,” said Dr. Mertens, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery
of the University of Heidelberg. “This recognition definitely gives me, as a proud member, confidence and motivation for future contributions to the efforts of the Academy of Osseointegration. I am thoroughly convinced that our work on long-term implant data is an important basis for future treatment decisions.”

·      Best Clinical Innovations: Reducing Biomechanical Failures in Implant Dentistry with Innovative Design and Fabrication Technique, Amirali Zandinejad, DDS

“As a member of AO, I believe the Academy is dedicated to the highest standards in patient care, research and education,” said Dr. Zandinejad, Director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry. “Having the opportunity to present to this prestigious organization and then having my presentation selected as the best is delightful. I think this is a great reward for my hard work and I am very grateful for that.”

Awards and plaques were presented to the winners during the Academy’s Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, February 20. Stay tuned for the Call for Abstracts for AO’s 2017 Annual Meeting, scheduled for March 16-18 in Orlando, Fla.

To digitally view more than 200 studies presented in E-Poster format, visit https://ao2016.sessionupload.com/eposters/. Search for each poster by its number, title, author or keyword.  

Dentsply Sirona Inc. today announced that it has successfully completed the merger of equals between DENTSPLY International Inc. and Sirona Dental Systems, Inc. The merger of DENTSPLY creates the world's largest and most diversified manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies. With the largest R&D platform in the industry, Dentsply Sirona will develop and support innovative end-to-end clinical solutions that advance patient care.

By combining DENTSPLY's consumables platform with Sirona's technology and equipment, the new company offers more products and integrated solutions than any other dental organization. Dentsply Sirona's products for dental professionals and laboratories enable the treatment of general and specialty procedures including implantology, endodontics, and orthodontics. With the broadest clinical education platform in the industry, the company is driving the adoption of new and approved technology and integrated solutions for more efficient workflows. Customer service and satisfaction will remain a key value to the new company and will be supported by the industry's largest sales and service infrastructure comprised of direct sales and leading distributors.

The merger unites the two leading innovators in dental, each with over 100 years of experience. Combined, Dentsply Sirona will have largest and strongest R&D platform with over 600 experienced scientists and engineers to foster the development of better, safer and faster dental care.

YORK, PA (USA)/SALZBURG (AUSTRIA), February 29, 2016 – Dentsply Sirona Inc. (NASDAQ: XRAY) today announced that it has successfully completed the merger of equals between DENTSPLY International Inc. (“Dentsply”) and Sirona Dental Systems, Inc. (“Sirona”). The merger of DENTSPLY, the market leader in dental consumables and Sirona, the market leader in dental technology and equipment, creates the world’s largest and most diversified manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies. Dentsply Sirona will have leading positions and some of the most well-established brands across consumables, equipment, technology, and specialty products to address the needs of dental professionals, specialists and dental labs. Each day, approximately 600,000 dental professionals will use a Dentsply Sirona product. With the largest R&D platform in the industry, Dentsply Sirona will develop and support innovative end-to-end clinical solutions that advance patient care.

Total Solution Provider

By combining DENTSPLY’s consumables platform with Sirona’s technology and equipment, the new company offers more products and integrated solutions than any other dental organization. Dentsply Sirona’s wide array of products for dental professionals and labs enable the treatment of general and specialty procedures including implantology, endodontics, and orthodontics. With the broadest clinical education platform in the industry, the company is driving the adoption of new and approved technology and integrated solutions for more efficient workflows. Customer service and satisfaction will remain a key value to the new company and will be supported by the industry largest sales and service infrastructure comprised of direct sales and leading distributors.

Two Innovation Drivers Coming Together

The merger unites the two leading innovators in dental, each with over 100 years of experience. Combined, Dentsply Sirona will have largest and strongest R&D platform with over 600 experienced scientists and engineers to foster the development of better, safer and faster dental care. With its enhanced commitment to innovation, the company will advance patient care, improve the patient experience and reduce chair time for procedures.

Jeffrey T. Slovin, Chief Executive Officer of Dentsply Sirona comments: “With our merger complete, Dentsply Sirona can now focus its efforts on empowering dental professionals to provide better, safer and faster dental care. As The Dental Solutions Company^TM, we will drive long-term growth by being uniquely positioned to deliver innovative solutions and support our customers with the broadest product portfolio and the largest sales and service infrastructure in the industry. Dentsply Sirona will continue to be at the forefront of the digitization of dentistry, single visit dentistry and improving clinical outcomes for patients around the world.”

Great results are a combination of the right tools and the right skills. Dentsply Sirona offers the largest clinical education platform in the industry – the goal is to equip dental professionals with everything they need: from the best available products to expert-led clinical education to support the use of these products and services to improve patient care and treatment outcomes. Bret W. Wise, Executive Chairman of Dentsply Sirona, adds: “This is a transformational day for Dentsply Sirona and the entire dental market. Our unparalleled offering of some of the most trusted brands in consumables, equipment and technology makes Dentsply Sirona the partner of choice to dental professionals and labs today. With an unmatched commitment to investing in research, product development and clinical education, Dentsply Sirona will advance patient care and improve oral health on a global scale for years to come.”

Merger Close

DENTSPLY and Sirona completed their merger on February 29, 2016. Shares of Sirona will be halted from trading prior to the open of the NASDAQ stock market and will cease trading effective at the close of business today. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Sirona shareholders are entitled to receive 1.8142 shares of Dentsply Sirona for each existing Sirona share.

Newport Beach, CA - ​​​Glidewell Laboratories, the parent company of Prismatik Dentalcraft, Inc., and Henry Schein, Inc., announced today that they have partnered to offer milling blanks for Glidewell’s brand of monolithic restorative zirconia, BruxZir® Solid Zirconia, to dental laboratories in Europe. The increased availability of the popular and clinically successful material will help interested laboratories to meet the growing demand for natural-looking, durable dental prostheses by adding a customized line of BruxZir restorations to their own product portfolios.

Henry Schein will begin offering all BruxZir style milling blanks including BruxZir Shaded Milling Blanks, BruxZir Shaded 16, and BruxZir Anterior. With complete and consistent shade penetration, these evolutions on the original white BruxZir formula ensure repeatability, improved turnaround times, and lower labor costs.

"Henry Schein's Zahn Dental laboratory division has done an outstanding job expanding BruxZir market share in North America and we look forward to working with Henry Schein on the European rollout," says David Casper, President OF Prismatik Ddentalcraft, Inc. “We are extremely happy to expand BruxZir distribution in Europe with Henry Schein. Henry Schein’s Zahn Dental laboratory division has done an outstanding job expanding BruxZir market share in North America and we look forward to working with Henry Schein on the European rollout.”

Henry Schein is set to debut the BruxZir line of milling blanks in Europe in March 2016.

University of Louisville School of Dentistry researchers have found a bacterial species responsible for gingival disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, is present in 61% of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The findings, published recently in Infectious Agents and Cancer, only detected P gingivalis in 12% of tissues adjacent to the cancerous cells, while this organism was undetected in normal esophageal tissue.

“These findings provide the first direct evidence that P gingivalis infection could be a novel risk factor for ESCC, and may also serve as a prognostic biomarker for this type of cancer,” said Huizhi Wang, MD, PhD,  assistant professor of oral immunology and infectious diseases at the UofL School of Dentistry. “These data, if confirmed, indicate that eradication of a common oral pathogen may contribute to a reduction in the significant number of people suffering with ESCC.”

The esophagus, a muscular tube critical to the movement of food from the mouth to the stomach, is lined with two main kinds of cells, thus there are two main types of esophageal cancer: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The latter is more common in developing countries.

In collaboration with the College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology in Luoyang, China, Wang and his UofL colleagues Richard J. Lamont, PhD, Jan Potempa, PhD, DSc, and David A. Scott, PhD.tested tissue samples from 100 patients with ESCC and 30 normal controls.

The research team measured the expression of lysine-gingipain, an enzyme unique to P gingivalis, as well as the presence of the bacterial cell DNA within the esophageal tissues. Both the bacteria-distinguishing enzyme and its DNA were significantly higher in the cancerous tissue of ESCC patients than in surrounding tissue or normal control sites. The researchers also found the presence of P gingivalis correlated with other factors, including cancer cell differentiation, metastasis and overall survival rate.

According to Wang, there are two likely explanations: either ESCC cells are a preferred niche for P gingivalis to thrive or the infection of P gingivalis facilitates the development of esophageal cancer.

If the former is true, Wang says simple antibiotics may prove useful or researchers can develop other therapeutic approaches for esophageal cancer utilizing genetic technology to target the P gingivalis and ultimately destroy the cancer cells.

“Should P gingivalis prove to cause ESCC, the implications are enormous,” Wang said. “It would suggest that improving oral hygiene may reduce ESCC risk; screening for P gingivalis in dental plaque may identify susceptible subjects; and using antibiotics or other anti-bacterial strategies may prevent ESCC progression.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 15,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with esophageal cancer each year. As with most cancers, there are a number of risk factors including chemical exposure, diet, heredity and age. It is somewhat difficult to diagnosis this cancer early, and it is characterized by rapid progression and high mortality.

MELVILLE, NY, February 25, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​​​​​Henry Schein, Inc., the world’s largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, announced today that it will offer BruxZir^® NOW milling blocks, which enable practitioners to offer patients high-strength, authentic BruxZir Solid Zirconia restorations in one visit.

BruxZir NOW milling blocks produce restorations that can be designed and fabricated in-office, and are available in 14 shades that correspond to the VITA^® Classical shade system. According to Prismatik Dentalcraft, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Glidewell Laboratories, finished BruxZir NOW crowns feature flexural strengths of greater than 800 MPa.

“BruxZir NOW is the first and only fully sintered chairside zirconia, and an excellent material choice for dentists who want to offer one-visit BruxZir crowns to their patients. Henry Schein continues to be an excellent partner, and we are thrilled to have them represent our CAD/CAM portfolio of products,” said David Casper, President of Prismatik Dentalcraft, Inc., the device and materials division of Glidewell Laboratories.

BruxZir NOW, combined with the TS150™ Chairside Milling Solution from IOS Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Glidewell Laboratories, also offered through Henry Schein, provides practitioners with the ability to deliver in-office one-visit crown services to their patients. Henry Schein also offers the BruxZir NOW blocks to dental laboratories to provide technicians with a Zirconia restoration that requires less processing time.

"Henry Schein ConnectDental^® digital dentistry solutions are all about customer choice and enhanced patient care,” said Dr. Robert Gottlander, Chief Marketing Officer, Henry Schein Global Dental Group. “BruxZir NOW provides practitioners with an opportunity to treat a patient population increasingly pressed for time with quality zirconia restorations in one visit.”

Henry Schein will showcase the BruxZir NOW milling blocks at the Henry Schein ConnectDental Pavilion during the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting taking place February 25-27. The ConnectDental Pavilion will be located outside the trade show hall across from the registration area.

Practitioners interested in BruxZir NOW can also call Henry Schein Dental at 1-800-645-6594 or visit www.henryschein.com.