DAYTON, Ohio, May 25, 2016— Midmark Dentaltoday introduced the Midmark ClearVision^® CR Dental Reader, an easy-to-use and cost-effective dental imaging solution that is designed to rapidly deliver high-quality digital images for busy dental practices.

The ClearVision CR Dental Reader features a small footprint that enables it to seamlessly fit into any size dental office and exam room without causing any disruption to office workflow. The automated, magnetized feeding tray offers push and go functionality, making it effortless to operate. The reader is low maintenance with no brushes for ease of cleaning and reduction of image artifacts.

“We are excited to add the ClearVision CR Dental Reader to the Midmark imaging product line,” said Bill Zulauf, senior product manager. “Many dental practices prefer the advantages of a phosphor plate system, and this new product provides a compact, cost-effective solution for those customers.”  

The reader follows the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard, making it compatible with existing systems. The product uses a full range of bitewing and intraoral imaging plates that can be easier and faster to position than intraoral sensors. A true size 4c imaging plate is available, which enables clinicians to capture more dental anatomy on a single image without software stitching.

The Midmark proprietary Progeny^® Imaging Software comes standard on the reader, optimizing image acquisition, processing and management. Clinicians can use the software to view images immediately, as well as export, email or print them for insurers, patients or referrals.

For product inquiries, please call the Midmark Dental Customer Experience Department at 1-800-MIDMARK or visit midmark.com/reader.

Late May in Miami, Florida was taken over by the Keystone Industries Dental Group and participants from around Latin America for the second annual Keystone LATAM Seminar.

Hosted by Keystone at the Sheraton Miami Airport Hotel, the second annual seminar paved the way for many Latin American dentists, dental dealers, dental technicians, and dental hygienists to learn about and use great products in their businesses. It was not your standard lecturing and reading – attendees were wowed with hands-on demonstrations showcasing how well Keystone products work along with one-on-one questions and interactions with all presenters.

Key Opinion Leader, Dennis Urban, CDT, highlighted the LATAM Seminar’s presentations, as he’s done in the past at many worldwide dental conferences and seminars. Mr. Urban touched on the correct protocol and procedures in removal technology, displayed cases done with various Keystone dental lab products, and then gave a start-to-finish demonstration on creating a denture with Diamond D denture acrylic and the Tecnoflask microwaveable flask.

Throughout day two of the seminar were presentations from Mike Prozzillo, VP of Domestic & International Sales and Sales Manager, Wayne Allen. Mr. Prozzillo enlightened the crowd on the technology behind custom-fit mouth guards, which Keystone has lead in the marketplace for decades.  Keystone also introduced its newest addition to the Pro-Form line, the PF2 Mouthguard.

With the swarm of MMA-like sports taking over Latin America, mouthguards are taking off south of the US border faster than ever before.

“We are extremely excited to begin working thoroughly with our Latin American customers on education with mouthguard protection,” said Prozzillo. “The more and more athletes and dentists learn about the importance and advantages of oral protection, the more the market has to grow in those countries.”

Mr. Allen, who came joined Keystone when it acquired the Harry J. Bosworth Company, shared his knowledge and expertise with attendees on the state of the dental hygiene marketplace and how Keystone can benefit their business practices. Among many products and Q&A sessions, live demonstrations with the ProphyBrite Air Polisher and Consistency Impression Material engaged attendees throughout.

“The Latin American markets have presented significant growth opportunities for Keystone over the past several years,” said Ira Rosenau, President of the Keystone Industries Dental Division. “Our focus and dedication to growing Keystone’s presence in these territories has been rewarded by having fantastic, energetic business partners in Latin America.  It is a real treat for us to be able to spend time with our loyal customers in such an interactive setting like our Miami seminar.”

Contact

For more information on Keystone Industries or the annual LATAM Seminar, please contact Alejandra Molina or Michael Prozzillo below, or visit Keystone Industries online at www.keystoneindustries.com.

Alejandra Molina

Regional Manager for Latin America

Keystone Industries

Phone: 800-333-3131 or 856-663-4700

Fax: 856-224-9444

AMolina@keystoneind.com

Michael Prozzillo

VP of Sales, Domestic & International

                             Keystone Industries

Phone: 800-333-3131 or 856-663-4700

MProzzillo@keystoneind.com

Chicago, IL (May 25, 2016)  - The American Academy of Implant Dentistry announced the release of the first benchmarking study for the implant dentistry practice in the United States.  This comprehensive resource provides dental professionals with critical information and statistics about the implant dentistry field. The AAID Benchmarking Study helps dentists better understand trends related to:

•    Staffing models, compensation and benefits

•    Overall practice performance in terms of revenue and expenses

•    Procedures and fees

•    Effective marketing techniques used to drive business

•    The various technologies leveraged in implant practice

The AAID retained McKinley Advisors, a highly regarded research and consulting firm, to develop the questions, collect and compile the data, and provide insights based on years of experience in analyzing research data. Nearly 600 dentists completed the online survey during late summer and early fall, 2015.  Respondents included a significant percentage of non-members of the AAID as well as members.

Some of the key findings were published in the Spring 2016 issue of the AAID News. Just a few of the key findings include:

•    57% of Implant dentists reported that implant dentistry represents less than 25% of the gross receipts of the practice. Another 25% said it represented between 26% and 50%.

•    75% practice both surgical and restorative phases of implant dentistry

•    42% reported total receipts in the practice of less than $1 million

•    Non-owner dentist and non-dentist employees represent 38% of all expenses in the practice

The AAID Field Study is an essential tool for all implant dentistry professionals. For practicing implant dental professionals, benchmark your practice performance against peer practices of similar size and focus, and against the broader field as a whole.

Participants in the study received a free copy of the full report.  The full 68-page report can be purchased from AAID for only $245 to $295 for members of the AAID members and $345 for non-members.

Established in 1951, the AAID is the only dental implant organization that offers credentials recognized by state and federal courts as being bona fide. Its membership, which exceeds 5,500, includes general dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, and prosthodontists from across the United States and in more than 60 other countries.

PARTICIPANTS LEARN CUSTOM TECHNIQUES TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS IN THE REMOVABLE IMPLANT MARKET

In the competitive world of aesthetic restorations, details matter. In VITA’s Premium Denture course, participants learned the technical and business side of implant retained dentures from well-known instructor, trainer and author, Dennis Urban, CDT. Urban shared exclusive techniques on waxing, processing and finishing. “One technique I shared is a characteristic wax-up process which makes a wax try-in look exactly like a finished denture,” he says. “Because this procedure creates so much value for the patient and dentist, lab owners can charge a higher price for the final case.”

Students learned the most profitable techniques for a variety of restorations, including all-on-4^®, all-on-6, implant hybrid cases, implant overdentures and case planning methods. “My goal was to learn more about the all-on-4 denture implant technique,” says Danny Leeseman, MDT, owner of Valley Dental in Chico, CA. “The instructor did an excellent job of explaining the process and showed us how to use his custom microwaving technique to reduce curing time from hours to minutes. I was able to apply it in my own lab the next week.”

Taking place in VITA North America’s new state-of-the-art Training Center, attendees focused on proper case planning and learned to correct common setup mistakes. “A common mistake that technicians make is underestimating the importance and strategy of a proper setup technique for denture teeth,” says Urban. “By the end of this course, participants were able to identify the different types of occlusions much better and perfect their setup technique.” Efficient waxing and finishing techniques were also reviewed, while protocol and procedures on implant overdentures, hybrid cases and all-on-4 and all-on-6 conversions were also covered. Urban encouraged participants to implement the techniques they learned to impact their bottom line. “To build a more profitable business, I tell technicians they can’t skimp on materials,” he says. “If they use top quality materials and the best processing techniques, then they can approach the doctors they work with for higher fees.”

For more information on how to customize your technique to maximize your profits, register for a VITA course at https://vitanorthamerica.com/courses-ce.

Participants (L to R):

Skyler LaFreniere (VITA), Oscar Macedo (San Diego Dental, San Diego CA), Lisa Graye (VITA), Matt O’Connell (President VITA NA), Cirenia Garcia (Nash Dental Lab, Temecula CA), Javier San Martin, CDT (Custom Craft Dental Lab, Sylmar CA), Pamela Place (Nash Dental Lab, Temecula CA),Chris Horny, CDT (CAD Dental Lab, Glendale CA), Dennis Urban, CDT (Instructor), Manuk Kuyumjyan (Master Lab Inc, Burbank CA), Dr. Cyrus Bandary (Cyrus Bandary, DMD, Woodland Hills CA), Artak Badalyan (Dental Art Group, Burbank CA), Danny Leeseman, CDT (Valley Dental Lab, Chico CA), Havsep Hovakimyan (Master Lab Inc, Burbank CA), Richard Vicente (Vicente Dental Lab, Newark CA), Darin Wise (VITA), Miguel Monterroza (Valley Dental Lab, Bakersfield CA)

Peter Pizzi, CDT, MDT, will host a two-day hands-on course, "Ceramic Options for Our Future Restorative Dental Team," on June 11-12 at Pizzi Dental Studio in Staten Island, New York.

Tuition for the course, which is part of Pizzi's Esthetic Realitie is $1050.

A press release for the course says: "Our educated patients and the advancement of materials have created a need for us to didactically move through the diagnostic process. This two-day course will focus on a rational methodology to help eliminate the frustrations often encountered during this endeavor. Communication, material options, the importance of photography as an aid for ceramic builds, and color communication can be incorporated into a routine regiment that will enable the dentist and technician to achieve a high level of predictability. The ability to understand each material’s optical and functional parameters will be a key to future success."

The course will cover case management; diagnostic communication; preparation guided ceramic layering and contours; the use of new technologies; the importance of photographic communication and perception; and material choices for proper case management.

A tissue cast for a 3-unit combination case will be provided. 

To register, contact Jennifer at 718-477-3771 or jcrane33@aol.com or pizzi7@aol.com. Pizzi Dental Studio is located at 4038 Victory Blvd. in Staten Island, New York.

On Friday, the US Food and Drug Administration took a major step in making sure consumers have updated nutritional information for most packaged foods sold in the United States, that will help people make informed decisions about the foods they eat and feed their families.

“I am thrilled that the FDA has finalized a new and improved Nutrition Facts label that will be on food products nationwide,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “This is going to make a real difference in providing families across the country the information they need to make healthy choices.”

“For more than 20 years, Americans have relied on the Nutrition Facts label as a leading source of information regarding calories, fat and other nutrients to help them understand more about the foods they eat in a day,” said FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D. “The updated label makes improvements to this valuable resource so consumers can make more informed food choices – one of the most important steps a person can take to reduce the risk of heart disease and obesity.”

Key Updates

The new Nutrition Facts label will include the following.

• An updated design to highlight “calories” and “servings,” two important elements in making informed food choices.

• Requirements for serving sizes that more closely reflect the amounts of food that people currently eat. What and how much people eat and drink has changed since the last serving size requirements were published in 1993. By law, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, requires that serving sizes be based on what people actually eat.

• Declaration of grams and a percent daily value (%DV) for “added sugars” to help consumers know how much sugar has been added to the product. It is difficult to meet nutrient needs while staying within calorie limits if you consume more than 10 percent of your total daily calories from added sugars, and this is consistent with the scientific evidence supporting the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

• “Dual column” labels to indicate both “per serving” and “per package” calorie and nutrition information for certain multi-serving food products that could be consumed in one sitting or multiple sittings. Examples include a pint of ice cream and a 3-ounce bag of chips. With dual-column labels available, people will be able to easily understand how many calories and nutrients they are getting if they eat or drink the entire package/unit at one time.

• For packages that are between one and two servings, such as a 20 ounce soda, the calories and other nutrients will be required to be labeled as one serving because people typically consume it in one sitting.

• Updated daily values for nutrients like sodium, dietary fiber and vitamin D, consistent with Institute of Medicine recommendations and the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Daily values are reference amounts of nutrients to consume or not to exceed and are used to calculate the %DV that manufacturers include on the label.

• Declaration of Vitamin D and potassium that will include the actual gram amount, in addition to the %DV. These are nutrients that some people are not getting enough of, which puts them at higher risk for chronic disease. The %DV for calcium and iron will continue to be required, along with the actual gram amount. Vitamins A and C will no longer be required because deficiencies of these vitamins are rare, but these nutrients can be included on a voluntary basis.

• “Calories from Fat” will be removed because research shows the type of fat is more important than the amount. “Total Fat,” “Saturated Fat,” and “Trans Fat” will continue to be required.

• An abbreviated footnote to better explain the %DV.

The FDA is also making minor changes to the Supplement Facts label found on dietary supplements to make it consistent with the Nutrition Facts label.

Most food manufacturers will be required to use the new label by July 26, 2018. Manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales will have an additional year to comply with the new rules. The FDA plans to conduct outreach and education efforts on the new requirements.

The iconic Nutrition Facts label was introduced more than 20 years ago to help consumers make informed food choices and maintain healthy dietary practices. In March 2014, the FDA proposed two rules to update the label, and in July 2015, issued a supplemental proposed rule. The Nutrition Facts label regulations apply to packaged foods except certain meat, poultry and processed egg products, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

FDA, an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency is also responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

While dental drills, or burs, are used extensively in dentistry to mechanically prepare tooth structures for fillings, little is known about the bur debris left behind in the teeth and whether it poses potential health risks to patients.

Imaging analyses have revealed dental bur fragments of different sizes in different locations on the floor of the prepared surface of the teeth and under the filling, which places them in direct contact with the tubules and fluid within dentin. The fragments are made of tungsten carbide-cobalt, which is bio-incompatible.

“Further studies need to investigate if or to what extent the small amount of bio-incompatible debris constitutes a biohazard to patients,” said Dr. Assem Hedayat, lead author of the Journal of Synchrotron Radiation article.

May 19, 2016 (St. Paul, MN) – At its March 4 board meeting, the Patterson Foundation awarded grants to six nonprofit organizations from across the U.S. Grants totaling more than $43,000 were awarded to the nonprofits in support of their missions to provide care to underserved populations.

Longtime grantee Union Gospel Mission received $10,000 in support of its dental professional volunteers providing care to more than 2,450 patients annually at its clinic. “Our most recent meals and dental assistant grant from the Foundation helps us to keep our evening dental clinic hours staffed, at which many patients access our free dental services,” said clinic director Jessica Flotterud. “Students, faculty and other volunteers assisting in the evening clinic often come directly from classes or treating their own patients in their private dental offices. The light meals we serve onsite help them concentrate on the treatments they’re providing.” The food budget also feeds hundreds of dental volunteers during four days of pediatric dental treatment and oral health education events by appointment in February and August, as well as two walk-ˇin Saint Paul Dental Connect days in March and September each year.

Union Gospel Mission provides free dental care to needy men, women and children each year, “to help fill an increasingly worrisome gap in access to quality dental care, despite national healthcare legislation,” Flotterud continued. “We’re also committed to educating children as well as adults about best oral health practices. When patients adopt basic brushing and flossing techniques, and consider new pathways to nutrition, dental office visits and oral infections can be reduced – the goals of a free community clinic.”

Since 2005, the Foundation has awarded Union Gospel Mission $131,500, which has enabled the organization to broaden its ability to serve more people in need in the community. “Patterson has been a long-ˇterm partner, advocating for us and our efforts to expand oral health not only among our own homeless residents, but to members of the community at large,” Flotterud said. “Foundation funding has helped us with niche funding that has been difficult to find elsewhere, including dollars that have helped us retain dental volunteers to staff our evening clinic hours.”

The Patterson Foundation will award additional grants to nonprofit organizations at its June board meeting. Q1 grant recipients and the communities where each is located:

• Friends of Creston Children’s Dental Clinic – Portland, Ore.

• Good Samaritan Care Clinic – Mountain View, Mo.

• KidSMILES Pediatric Dental Clinic – Columbus, Ohio

• Sacramento District Dental Foundation – Sacramento, Calif.

• Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities – St. Paul, Minn.

• Walton Foundation for Independence – Augusta, Ga.

CHICAGO (May 19, 2016)– Hu-Friedy, a global leader in the manufacture of high quality dental instruments and products, announced today the launch of their Colorvue® Goldstein Probe, developed in partnership with world renowned clinician Dr. Ronald Goldstein. Adding to Hu-Friedy’s extensive line of instruments, this new probe offers improved visibility for greater measurement accuracy in both diagnostic and restorative procedures.

During diagnostic procedures, precise probing can be a challenge for practitioners due to lack of contrast and visibility, and probe measurements are typically marked in 3 mm increments. The new Goldstein Colorvue probe features 1/2 mm increments and extends up to 3 mm for increased accuracy, especially in measuring sulcular depth for margin placement. The use of bright colors to differentiate these measurements makes the probing process much more efficient and accurate. In restorative procedures, when probing potential infrabony areas or for other defects, a standard metal probe can cause the patient noticeable discomfort. The Colorvue Goldstein probe features a narrow, flexible tip which alleviates this feeling of irritation allowing for a more positive patient experience.

The Colorvue Goldstein probe is the latest of more than 50 instruments created through the collaboration between Hu-Friedy and Dr. Goldstein. Hu-Friedy President, Ken Serota, shares, “For more than 100 years, Hu-Friedy has proudly partnered with leading educators to develop cutting-edge product designs that meet the evolving needs of dental professionals. Hu-Friedy values Dr. Goldstein’s insight and expertise, and we are proud to deliver this latest innovation to the market.”

Dr. Ronald Goldstein is the Clinical Professor of Oral Rehabilitation at Georgia Regents University School of Dentistry, Augusta, Georgia, Adjunct Clinical Professor of Prosthodontics at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, and an Adjunct Professor of Restorative Dentistry at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Goldstein has presented continuing education courses at more than twenty universities and lectured at over 700 dental meetings worldwide. He is a contributor to ten published texts and author of the text Esthetics inDentistry, 3rd edition to be published by Wiley in 2016. His best-selling consumer book for the public entitled Change Your Smile, now in its fourth edition, is published by Quintessence, and has been read by over 2,000,000 people.

The Goldstein ColorVue® Probe is offered as a Starter Kit (consisting of 1 handle and 7 tips) as well as a Replacement Set (consisting of 12 replacement tips). For more information on these and our full line of products, please visit www.hu-friedy.com.

SafeLink Consulting to Present Live Webinar June 16, 2016

SafeLink Consulting, a premier provider of OSHA and FDA regulatory compliance services for dental practices and dental laboratories, will present a live webinar on June 16, 2016, 10am PT / 1pm ET.  SafeLink Consulting vice president and senior consultant Gary Morgan, CDT, will present The Written Elements of Defined Manufacturing Processes.  Morgan is an Authorized Trainer under OSHA’s Outreach Program, an ASQ-Certified Quality Auditor, an authorized DAMAS consultant and DAMAS certification auditor.

This presentation will address the importance of documented standards in the form of Standard Operating Procedures and Work Instructions.  FDA requires that a manufacturer of medical devices develop, conduct, control, and monitor production processes to ensure that the device conforms to its specifications.  What is your quality standard for your products and services and are those standards documented?  If you don’t have written standards how can you expect from your workers a consistent product and how can you provide to your customers a consistent product or service every time?  Course provides one hour CE credit for: NBC Regulatory Standards and FL Office of Dental Laboratories Prevention of Medical Errors. 

Registration for this webinar is available at: https://www.safelinkconsulting.com/live-webinars.html .  Fee: $75 per attendee.

Since 1991, SafeLink Consulting has been educating the dental industry by preparing them with the day-to-day safety requirements needed to meet OSHA standards, quality assurance consulting and quality systems required by the FDA. SafeLink Consulting is nationally recognized for providing workshops, seminars, onsite visits and webinars to diverse audiences with a commitment to helping businesses succeed. SafeLink Consulting has successfully trained thousands of clients’ employees on safety and quality management. Choosing to partner with SafeLink Consulting means a customized, industry-specific, continuous solution for all stages of safety and/or quality assurance programs, focused on client needs, backed by excellent service and support.

For more information on this event or to learn how SafeLink can help your business meet compliance standards, contact SafeLink Consulting.

Contact:

Sandy Blastick

SafeLink Consulting, Inc.

327 Dahlonega St, Ste 601A | Cumming, Georgia 30040

770.205.6745 | 800.330.6003 | 770.205.6741 fax

www.safelinkconsulting.com | sandy@safelinkconsulting.com