Ascension Dental, a company that designs, develops and administers custom In-House Dental Plans for dental service organizations (DSOs) and dentists nationwide, today announced it has launched the My Loyal Dental Plan platform.

Developed specifically for dental providers with 1-10 offices, the My Loyal Dental Plan platform allows dental providers to easily create their own proprietary, regulatory compliant and professionally administered In-House Dental Plan for their uninsured, self-pay patients. My Loyal Dental Plan’s intuitive technology offers dentists step-by-step guidance on how to customize their plan’s enrollment rates, member discounts, plan website, and in-office marketing materials.

Today, approximately 74 million Americans don’t have dental insurance and elect to self-pay for their dental care. Additionally, many dental providers are seeking to reduce their dependence on third-party insured plans.

“Dental insurance companies continue to frustrate both dentists and patients with red tape, low reimbursement rates, coverage limitations, and inefficient claims processes,” says Eric Johnson, founder and chief executive officer of Ascension Dental. “As a result, professionally administered In-House Dental Plans have become a popular method for DSOs to effectively service and retain self-pay patients. My Loyal Dental Plan gives independent and small group dental providers their own custom In-House Dental Plan that includes the same vital administration features previously only available to large DSOs.”

My Loyal Dental Plan’s dedicated Support Specialists are available to consult with dental providers on their plan’s enrollment rates, member discounts, marketing materials, and other customized plan attributes. The company also provides hands-on training for dental offices’ staffs, custom marketing campaigns, materials and websites, real-time plan analytics reports, state Discount Medical Plan Organization (DMPO) regulatory compliance, membership billing and renewals, member welcome and renewal kits, member ID cards, and a dedicated patient helpline.

“The My Loyal Dental Plan platform gives dentists the flexibility to design a plan that best meets their patient population’s unique needs,” says Johnson. “We know first hand the type of marketing and administration support successful In-House Dental Plans must have and are excited to bring these services on a turnkey basis to independent and small group dentists.”

My Loyal Dental Plan is available in 46 states across the U.S. It is not currently available in California, Washington, Montana, and Vermont. 

Komet USA, a leading provider of specialized dental instruments and accessories, has undertaken innovative web development efforts on their main website (www.kometusa.com) to provide customers with a better user experience. The overhauled website will launch on September 22, 2017.

Changes to the website will be in direct alignment with Komet customers’ desire to be able to “do more online.”

“We asked our customers what they liked about our old website and what they would like to see different in our new one,” said Komet USA CEO Todd Blanton.

“Customers want an easy shopping experience, first and foremost, they want to be able to quickly find what it is they need and spend no more than a few minutes going through that process.”

A few key improvements to the website include the following:

• Improved search

• Instant registration

• Info Center with product information and other materials

• Extended catalog availability

• Komet Influencers & blog

Given the tendency of most internet users to search specifically for what they want, the new website features a more in-depth search capability. The site has also been modified with appropriate keywords to make search queries more accurate, meaning users can find what they are looking for quicker and easier.

The instant registration capability will enable new users to spend more time discovering the products they need and less time filling out forms. This is particularly useful given nearly the entire Komet catalog of products will be available for purchase on the website, which users gain access to as soon as they are registered.

One especially important innovation on the website will be the new Komet Influencers section, which will profile dental practitioners throughout the United States. Combined with the new blog, which will discuss new products and company news, this new section will provide customers with different perspectives and insightful info to foster learning and growth within the dental industry.

Customers are invited to visit Komet’s website at www.kometusa.com to experience the new features for themselves.

Sure Business Logic has announced that it will host two full-day esthetic programs at this year’s Greater New York Dental Meeting.

The first program is entitled Esthetics for the General Practice: Clinical and Practice Development (Course #1010). The program will be conducted by Dr. Ross Nash and Debra Engelhardt-Nash and will be held on Friday, November 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Those interested in attending can register at: www.gnydm.com/2017-courses-and-events.

The second program is called An Aesthetic Dentistry Retrospective “The Wow Factor” and will be conducted by Dr. Larry Rosenthal and Dr. Ross Nash. It will be held on Wednesday, November 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Those interested in attending can register at: www.gnydm.com/2017-courses-and-events.

“We are a sales service company specializing in the dental industry,” says Ed Matthews, Sure Business Logic CEO. “The company’s services include the development of world-class dental education programs and training materials. We believe that providing good educational content with value helps clinicians find the tools needed for best results for their practices and, most important, for their patients. These programs create brand loyalty and goodwill for the companies providing this content.”

Sure Business Logic was founded in 2010 by Matthews, a seasoned dental industry marketing executive. The sales services company specializes in developing sales programs and procedures and creating brand awareness programs. Sure Business Logic works exclusively in the dental industry and specializes in helping dental manufacturers with their branding and rebranding efforts.

To learn more about Sure Business Logic, visit the new website, www.surebusinesslogic.com 

Young Dental, a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of consumables, instruments and other items used in preventive dental procedures, today announced an expansion of its licensing partnership with Oral-B to several attractive international markets. The products subject to this license include the Oral-B Practitioner Series of fluorides, prophylaxis angles and paste, disclosing tablets and select other professional oral care products. Oral-B will still continue to market over-the-counter retail products to the dental hygiene community.

“This expanded partnership will allow us to expand the premium product offering available to dental professionals under the Oral-B brand name to markets across the globe,” said Dave Sproat, CEO of Young. “We view this as an exciting example of our ability to grow through strategic partnerships and acquisitions in core categories.”

The original partnership between Young and Oral-B started in October 2014 when Young acquired the professional oral care assets of Oral-B and licensed the Oral-B name for select professional products in North America. The partnership has now been expanded to several markets in Western Europe, Asia and South America.

Young Dental is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Young Innovations, Inc.

Almost one year ago, on December 6, 2016, the experienced implantologist and long-time CEREC user, Dr. Gerhard Werling, placed two implants in a patient's mouth using a SICAT OPTIGUIDE surgical guide in his practice in Bellheim, Germany. The viewers of the live stream provided by Dentsply Sirona were able to experience the process directly and also enjoy the live commentary given by dentist Dr. Frank Zastrow from Wiesloch, Germany. Many visitors tuned in to watch the live stream. Today, well over 30,000 additional viewers on Facebook have been registered, as well as more than 2,500 views on YouTube (the video can be found on the Dentsply Sirona YouTube channel via https://youtu.be/ovzTEAq8dmo).

The live surgery clearly showed the logical correlations of the integrated implantology workflow as a whole. Now a compilation of the complete patient case, from the initial situation to the final restoration, can be downloaded free of charge. The special feature was that Dr. Werling and his team used all integrated products from Dentsply Sirona during the treatment process – from imaging to the diagnosis, from treatment planning and implant surgery to selecting the abutment, prosthetic solutions and the recall.

Three sessions for a successful restoration

The implant was planned in the first session based on a CBCT scan from the Orthophos SL 3D x-ray unit. The digital impression of the intraoral situation was taken with the CEREC Omnicam and the CEREC AC imaging unit, which was used to create the prosthetic design proposal. This CAD/CAM data was then superimposed in the Galileos Implant planning software with the 3D x-ray data in order to virtually align the surgical and prosthetic plan. This data was used as the basis for creating the SICAT OPTIGUIDE surgical guide.

In the second session, Dr. Werling placed the XiVE implants based on the OPTIGUIDE surgical guide. After placing the implants, he immediately used the SiroLaser Blue as a biostimulant, as the blue laser light guarantees fast coagulation, reduces the number of germs and bacteria and ensures better healing of wounds and less postoperative pain. The next working steps, such as checking the implant position using intraoral x-rays or cleaning and sterilizing the instruments were also carried out in the integrated workflow. The third session involved placing the final prosthetic restoration after a suitable healing time and rechecking the implant position and healing with an digital intraoral image through Xios XG Supreme sensors. The final prosthesis was created in the same session with two screw-retained crowns.

The dentist, who has been in implantology for more than 25 years, cannot imaging working without this process today: "This method represents the state of the art and I personally would only undergo treatment in this way. The benefit, the time saved and the absolute process reliability of the individual components ensure a relaxed workflow. The feelings of apprehension that we often felt when performing surgery and that every implantologist must know are a thing of the past for us. For me, the digital workflow with its individual components that work as smoothly as the cogs in a Swiss watch offers, in its entirety, innovation, precision and a new ease and reliability of work on a daily basis: This enables me to enjoy work each day and also ensures satisfied patients. Patients are guaranteed to be impressed, not least because of the modern technology and therefore have more trust in us as dentists."

The patient could walk out the practice after just three sessions with a secure and esthetic restoration. "I would never have thought that implantation could be so easy," summarized Nadine Schaefer. "No gagging while the impression was being taken and almost no pain after. I felt like I was in good hands the whole time. And I knew what to expect thanks to the planning images from Dr. Werling. I wouldn't think twice about choosing this procedure again."

The video of the whole treatment can be found on the Dentsply Sirona YouTube channel via https://youtu.be/brWyqw-Cqmo.

Fred Peck, DDS has been named an Accredited Fellow in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). The purpose of Fellowship is to provide the highest level of achievement for members in accordance with the AACD's mission of education and excellence.

Dr. Peck has been a member of the AACD since 1996 and achieved Accredited Member status in 2005. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry and completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He has published numerous articles and presented topics at several major dental meetings on cosmetic dentistry, dental lab communication and direct resin bonding including hands-on seminars. Dr. Peck also teaches dental residents at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, serves on the Board of Directors of Dental Care Plus, a Cincinnati based dental insurance company, and serves as the Corporate Member on the AACD Board of Directors.

Dr. Peck is married to Lauren and they have two sons, Brandon 21, and Josh 19. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and landscape photography.

"Dr. Peck's commitment to responsible esthetics and cosmetic dentistry is undeniable with his most recent achievement as an AACD Accredited Fellow," said AACD Fellowship Chair Bradley J. Olson, DDS, FAACD. "Our Accredited Fellow members must complete one of the most rigorous, yet life-changing journeys of their career-and of their lives."

Dr. Peck will be honored for this achievement at the 34th Annual AACD Scientific Session in Chicago on April 21, 2018.

Botox therapy can provide significant relief with only a mild risk for negative effects to patients with stubborn pain in the muscles involved in chewing, according to a new retrospective study.

Chemically known as botulinum toxin A, Botox is a protein made from bacteria that, when injected, stops nerve signals that command muscles to contract – resulting in a months-long decrease in muscle activity. It has been used to treat conditions such as muscle spasms, facial wrinkles, migraines and excessive sweating.

According to the study published in the November issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – the official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) – botulinum toxin A injections also may have pain-relieving properties.

To determine the therapy’s safety and effectiveness in treating stubborn jaw muscle pain, researchers conducted a retrospective review of 116 patients. The patients underwent at least two Botox injection cycles for refractory masticatory myalgia – pain in the muscles used for chewing – that had not responded to other therapies. The patients at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital also had coexisting chronic pain disorders and were receiving other therapies and/or taking medications.

Nearly one-third of participants (30.6 percent) reported significant pain relief – defined as 75 percent or greater – for an average of 10.1 weeks.

“This is an important outcome for this particular cohort of participants, considering that 72.9 percent of the participants had been in pain for at least five years, with 60 percent or more receiving two or more concurrent therapies,” researchers wrote.

In addition, 39.8 percent of participants had moderate relief for 8.7 weeks on average, and 29.6 percent had no or minimal relief for 1.3 weeks on average.

Among the participants, 16.4 percent reported at least one negative effect during the two injection cycles. Those who had significant pain relief had the largest number of adverse effects at 30.3 percent.

The most common side effect was a decrease in the size of the masticatory muscle, possibly due to blocked release of a chemical that activates muscles, the study states. However, all of the negative effects were minor and brief, and full recovery occurred within 16 weeks.

Simultaneous use of opioid pain relievers was a predictor of no or minimal relief. Of the participants, 36 percent were using a long-term opioid therapy. Long-term opioid use can result in opioid-induced hyperalgesia – a painful response to the medications – and having chronic pain disorders can lead to diminished effect of pain relievers, researchers wrote. “Together, these factors may result in poor outcome and response to therapy,” they said.

The authors of “Effectiveness, Safety, and Predictors of Response to Botulinum Toxin Type A in Refractory Masticatory Myalgia: A Retrospective Study” are all from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital: David A. Keith, DMD, BDS, Professor at Harvard School of Dental Medicine; Steven J. Scrivani, DDS, DMedSc, Chief, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Pain; Nicole Holland, DDS, MS; and Shehryar N. Khawaja, BDS, MS, Post-Graduate Fellow at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

The full article can be accessed at www.joms.org/article/S0278-2391(17)30116-7/fulltext.

The Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting–the nation’s leading dental meeting and comprehensive source of continuing education in dentistry–will host “Hinman’s Night Out” at the Georgia Aquarium, a private party for attendees on March 23, 2018. Held in the Georgia Aquarium, this year’s event has a masquerade theme that encourages costumes and will feature live music, contests/giveaways, food, dancing and more. Last year’s event, also open to all dental professionals, drew nearly 3,000 participants.

“We are excited about this year’s lineup of special events, the most we’ve ever offered at Hinman. My wife Julie was instrumental in organizing many of them and I’m proud of what we’ll offer attendees in March,” said Dr. Patrick Yancey III, General Chairman for Hinman 2018. “We’ve found throughout the years at Hinman that if you combine learning with fun and networking, it’s the best possible three days you could spend outside of the practice.”

Hinman 2018 kicks off on Thursday morning, March 22nd and features world-renowned forensic pathologist, Dr. Bennet Omalu, at the Keynote Session held that night at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Omalu’s story, which is chronicled in the hit film Concussion (starring Will Smith), is one of incredible triumph in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. In addition to the Keynote Session, there are special events designed for attendees and their guests throughout the three-day conference. They include:

Thursday, March 22nd

•AmericasMart Shopping – Typically only open to trade professionals, Hinman attendees can shop the wholesale showrooms between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. It’s also open on March 23rd during the same hours. Fee: $20.

•James Farmer Book Signing & Coffee – Best-selling author, Southern Living editor-at-large and professional garden, floral and interior designer, James Farmer, will speak 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and sign his newest book, A Place to Call Home. Fee: $25.

•Keynote Session – World-renowned forensic pathologist, Dr. Bennet Omalu, will speak at the Keynote Session held Thursday 5:30 – 7 p.m. Fee: Free to registered attendees.

Friday, March 23rd

•Pilates Fitness Class – On Friday, start the day with Pilates from 7 to 7:30 a.m. Fee: $10.

•Hinman Luncheon with Roland Mesnier – Hosted at the Capital City Club, Roland Mesnier will share stories from his time in the White House. He was hired in 1979 by first lady Rosalyn Carter and served as Executive Pastry Chef under five Presidents over 26 years. The luncheon is held at 11:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. Fee: $70.

•Atlanta Brews Cruise – Spend the afternoon visiting Atlanta’s most popular breweries and brewpubs, including SweetWater Brewing Company, Red Brick Brewing and 5 Seasons Brewing. The event is held 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. Fee: $68.

•Wine Tasting & Seminar – This popular wine educational event, with a new theme of “California v. Europe,” returns from 3 - 4:30 p.m. Fee: $55.

•Dental Student Happy Hour – Dental students are invited to a Happy Hour in the Hinman Hoops area of the exhibit hall to kick-off Friday evening from 4 - 5 p.m. Attendees can enter-to-win fabulous prizes as well as receive two free drinks. Fee: Free to registered dental students that pre-register for the event.

•Hinman’s Night Out at the Georgia Aquarium – Hinman takes over the Georgia Aquarium and invites all registered dental professionals to the event held from 7 - 10:30 p.m. Fee: $40 for registered attendees with a reduced price of $20 for students and residents.

Saturday, March 24th

•Yoga Fitness Class -- On Saturday, start the day with yoga from 7 to 7:30 a.m. Fee: $10.

•Junior League of Atlanta Tour of Kitchens – The 21st Annual Tour of Kitchens will showcase many of Atlanta’s finest residential kitchens created by the city’s most celebrated designers. The tour is held 9:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Fee: $48.

•Atlanta History Center and Swan House Tour – Between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., tour 33 acres of award-winning exhibitions, historic houses, enchanting gardens, interactive activities and more. This includes a docent-led tour of the historic Swan House. Transportation provided. Fee: $40.

Hinman 2018 will take place March 22-24 at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) and Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Registration for Hinman 2018 will open on Tuesday, December 5, 2017. Please visit www.hinman.org for more information.

Expands Capabilities of Versamill 5XS to Create Most Capable Dental Machining Center in Its Class

Further expanding its portfolio of products, Axsys Dental Solutions, a leading supplier of digital dental manufacturing solutions, has introduced the small-format, industrial-quality Versamill 5X400. The machine expands upon the capabilities of the tried-and-true Versamill 5XS to provide a compact 5-axis machining center that ensures maximum flexibility and versatility. The 5X400 features an expanded 10-station ATC, enhanced rigidity and vibration dampening with increased weight and drive motor encoders for a closed-loop axes drive system that provides increased accuracy and repeatability - without continuous time-consuming, machine calibrations. High-quality features not found in competitive products assures a significantly longer lifespan than its competitors and the trouble-free production of metal and soft material restorations of superior quality for now and in the years to come.

The open-source Versamill 5X400 can accept input from any popular dental design program and process virtually any dental milling materials including wax, zirconia, acrylic, composites, glass-ceramics and others. Features like its heavy-duty aluminum frame, .5kW spindle, large diameter pre-loaded ballscrews, closed-loop drive system, linear guideways, and zero stack tolerance rotary axes with heavy-duty gear reducers enable owners to quickly manufacture restorations of unmatched quality– without heavy margin reinforcement and a lot of profit-robbing, error-prone post machining hand work.

“Pound for pound the 5X400 provides more capability and reliability than any other machine in its class,” stated President Steve Braykovich of Axsys Incorporated. “There are many internal changes that go to increased rigidity, performance, simplified operation and higher-quality restorations. Weighing in at 100 kg, the increased weight, 10 station ATC, increased B-axis rotational limit to ± 35 degrees, closed-loop drive system and the ability to run on 110VAC are what I consider to be huge and important differentiators between not just the 5X400 and the 5XS but also any other machine of its size or in its price point on the market. The 5X400 is a real machine and an impressive one at that.”

Axsys Dental Solutions is launching the new machine with special starter packages that includes all of the necessary elements to get up and running as quickly as possible. Packages start at only $35,950 and include: Versamill 5X400, CAM software, training and starter packages for tooling and materials.

Versamill 5X400 overview:

•5-Axis dental milling center capable of 5-Axis simultaneous machining including undercuts.

•Closed-loop position control assures accuracy and eliminates frequent machine calibrations.

•Ability to machine a wide variety of materials including: zirconia, glass-ceramics, wax, Ultimate, titanium & more.

•Ideal for the production of bridges, copings, inlays, onlays, crowns, models and more -- even titanium abutments*.

•Long tool life and superior restorative margins and finishes due to rigid, vibration absorbing machine construction, smooth high-speed motion control system and highly efficient high-speed machining templates.

•Flexible universal fixturing for quick adaption to different materials and restoration types.

•Integrated HSM machine control.

•Open architecture design compatible with industry standard software for easy integration into a complete manufacturing solution.

* Not recommended for continuous-duty machining of titanium abutments

Visit axsysdental.com for more information on the Versamill 5X400 or its special introductory pricing promotion.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) will host its 25th Dental Implant Conference – the premier dental implant educational event featuring an internationally renowned faculty of experts – from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 in Chicago, Ill.

More than 1,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons, their staff and restorative dentists will gather to enhance their knowledge of dental implants, which offer patients a long-term solution to missing teeth. The event caters to the entire dental implant team.

By attending the three days of innovative research and procedural courses, participants can elevate their implant practice. Session topics – taught by more than 30 speakers – range from replacing congenital missing teeth to effectively applying digital technology in a practice.

• Highlights of the preconference sessions and the intensive educational programs include: 

• Didactic sessions and hands-on workshops on topics such as implant restorations and case-based dental implant techniques.

• Point/counterpoint discussions exploring clinically common topics, such as implant options when treating the lower jaw.

• Question-and-answer sessions with the session speakers.

• Faculty reflecting on the history of AAOMS and the specialty while assessing the future of oral and maxillofacial surgery, as the Association gets ready to celebrate its centennial in 2018.

• New this year, a live simulcast option for participants to watch general sessions from wherever they are.

“As AAOMS offers its 25th Dental Implant Conference, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, their staff and referring dentists can participate in a range of preconference sessions and educational programs geared toward the dental implant practice,” said AAOMS President Brett L. Ferguson, DDS, FACS. “After three days of focused courses and exhibits, doctors and their staff can enhance their practices with renewed knowledge. We look forward to collectively learning the innovations and groundbreaking research in the field of dental implants.”

More than 100 companies will showcase the most technologically advanced products and services in the specialty in the Exhibit Hall at the Sheraton Grand Chicago. The Exhibit Hall also will feature the AAOMS Product Resource Center, where attendees can receive educational, regulatory compliance, practice management and marketing materials for their practice.

Dental anesthesia and surgical assistants also can renew their anesthesia knowledge and skills through assistant-focused courses, including a hands-on, four-hour workshop and a two-day review course on such topics as methods of anesthesia administration, monitoring and emergency preparedness.

Registration is open to AAOMS members, students, non-members and the media. View AAOMS.org/DIC for additional information.

The experts in face, mouth and jaw surgery® — The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) is the professional organization representing more than 11,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons, OMS residents and OMS professional staff in the United States. AAOMS supports its fellows’ and members’ ability to practice their specialty through education, research and advocacy. AAOMS fellows and members comply with rigorous continuing education requirements and submit to periodic office anesthesia evaluations. For additional information about oral and maxillofacial surgery, visit the AAOMS websites at AAOMS.org and myOMS.org.