This year, Dentsply Sirona again received the "Top Employer" certification from the Top Employers Institute. The Netherlands-based certification company has been recognizing Top Employers all over the world since 1991, honoring enterprises for their exceptional personnel programs. All the companies taking part undergo a uniform investigation procedure. The companies must meet high requirements and comply with excellent standards to achieve certification. This year, Dentsply Sirona was again named Top Employer for Germany and China and for the first time, for Switzerland as well.

On February 13, the Rheinterrasse in the center of Düsseldorf, Germany, was the unique setting for the traditional certification dinner where the awards for Germany and Switzerland were presented. The award ceremony for China had already taken place in Shanghai at the end of 2017.

To reinforce the value and significance of the entire certification process, all results also underwent an additional independent external audit. This external audit also confirmed that Dentsply Sirona has demonstrated outstanding achievements in employee orientation, thus earning a place in the exclusive group of certified Top Employers.

Steffen Neefe, Country Manager Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at the Top Employers Institute states, "Ideal working conditions allow individuals to develop their professional and personal lives. Our detailed investigation has revealed that Dentsply Sirona has created an outstanding employee environment and works continuously to optimize this environment. This includes its program of innovative secondary benefits, the creation of modern, flexible working conditions, and effective performance management that is in harmony with the corporate culture."

Maureen MacInnis, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Dentsply Sirona summarizes, "We are very proud to be again in the elite circle of Top Employers. People are, and always will be, our greatest asset."

Roland DGA Corporation has announced the three finalists that will represent the Americas in the third Roland DG Global SE Awards competition – an event that showcases the knowledge and skills of service engineers (SEs) from around the world engaged in the repair and maintenance of Roland products. The Roland DGA finalists who have earned the right to participate in the global competition, April 23-25 in Hamamatsu, Japan, include: Joe House with Denver, Colorado-based Denco Sales (representing the inkjet product line), Jason Bergeron with Stoneham, Massachusetts-based Custom Automated Prosthetics (representing the dental product line), and Kevin Rosen with Irvine, California-based Roland DGA (representing the 3D product line).

House, Bergeron, and Rosen will compete against 25 other SEs – regional winners from Roland business units in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia – in the global finals, which will include a series of written exams and hands-on activities designed to test their product knowledge and technical abilities. The finalists will be tested in two categories: inkjet printers and 3D devices, which includes the company’s  DGSHAPE digital dental milling machines.

In all, 778 Roland DG Care Certified Service Engineers participated in this year’s regional competitions worldwide, marking the highest participation rate of any Global SE Awards. SEs were selected to represent each region based on their performance in these local contests which, in addition to testing their knowledge and skill level, also measured the quality of their daily activities and how proactive they were in sharing their know-how with peers.

“We’ve found that that this friendly competition not only encourages these talented professionals to raise their product knowledge and technical skills to an even higher level, but also to share their best practices and individual know-how with fellow Roland SEs from around the world,” said Roland DGA President Andrew Oransky. “We pride ourselves on exceeding all customer expectations when it comes to service and support, which can be a key differentiator, especially in today’s increasingly competitive business environment.” 

Global SE Awards 2018 Competition Overview

-       Event dates: April 23 to 25, 2018

-       Venue: Roland DG Corporation headquarters

-       Schedule:

        Day 1: April 23

        Opening ceremony

        Mission 1 (written exam)

        Day 2: April 24

        Mission 2 (hands-on exam)

        Day 3: April 25

        Award ceremony

On February 2nd, 2018, Creodent Prosthetics announced that its facility located in Manhattan, New York, successfully passed an inspection by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The inspection was carried out by a Senior FDA Inspector and lasted 1 day. The inspection confirmed the site to be compliant with the principles and guidelines of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and no Form 483 observations were issued. The Quality Management Systems and 510(k) products passed all requirements.

A public report of the inspection will appear in the FDA database within 30 days.

Parkell’s NEW LC Base Restorative composite acts as a perfect flowable resin for use under anterior or posterior composite restorations. Featuring a high flow, self- leveling consistency, LC Base will conform to irregular, deep preparations prior to topping off with Parkell’s HyperFIL® dual cure, bulk fill resin or any conventional composite. Parkell® LC Base contains a proprietary low-shrinkage resin allowing the clinician to bulk fill up to 4mm increments and to ensure reliable marginal seals. LC Base is available in two shades: Universal (A1/A2) and Enamel. For more information or to order, call Parkell 800-243-7446 or visit www.parkell.com 

Jesse & Frichtel Dental Labs hired Laura Watkins in December 2017 as Director of Lab Operations, Marketing, Sales, and Surgical. In this position, she will play a role in the labs’ sales strategy and implementation and will oversee, train, and build the marketing, sales, and surgical teams.

“We are all very excited to welcome Laura to the team,” said Mark Frichtel, President of Jesse & Frichtel. “I believe that with her track record of exceptional work and accomplishments, she will be a vital asset to the growth of the business.”

Laura has thirty-six years of experience in the dental industry. She is a two-time Outstanding Regional Manager Award Winner, has also won the Regional Manager of the Year award, and has a history of turning around underperforming territories, building highly successful sales teams, and developing top-performing individual sales representatives. She served as sales manager for Zila INC., ASTRA TECH INC., and Benco Dental, as well as being an implant surgical assistant for Misch Implant Institute, before starting her current position at Jesse & Frichtel.

For the fourth time in a row, Ivoclar Vivadent will be hosting an International Expert Symposium (IES) for dentists and laboratory technicians. Following the one-day symposiums held in Berlin (2012), London (2014) and Madrid (2016), the 4th IES event will spread over two days for the first time.

Under the theme of "Advanced Digital and Esthetic Dentistry," 19 renowned international speakers will share and discuss their experiences with digital and esthetic dentistry solutions on June 15th and 16th. The experts will offer insights into their work at academic institutions and universities as well as into their practical work. At the event, participants will also be able to exchange ideas and connect with experts and colleagues from all over the world. Professor Antonella Polimeni from the Sapienza University of Rome will chair the 4th International Expert Symposium.

These are the speakers of the 4th IES and the topics they will discuss:

·       Associate Professor Dr. Stefen Koubi (France) and Hilal Kuday (Turkey): "Challenging Nature in the Esthetic Zone – Reproduction and Prediction in Everyday Practice Situations"

·       Dominique Vinci (Switzerland): "Digital Esthetic Dentistry: Reality or Fantasy?"

·       Dr. Andreas Kurbad (Germany): "From Virtual Restorations to Real Esthetics"

·       Dr. Pietro Venezia, Pasquale Lacasella, Dr. Alessio Casucci, and Alessandro Ielasi (Italy): "Function and Esthetics in Removable Prosthodontics: Analogue Protocols and Digital Perspectives"

·       Oliver Brix (Germany): "Quo Vadis, Dentistry?"

·       Priv. Doz. Dr. Arndt Happe (Germany) and Vincent Fehmer (Switzerland): "Implant Reconstructions in the Esthetic Zone – The Art and the Science"

·       Stefan Strigl (Italy): State-of-the-Art Technologies as an Instrument for Achieving Reliable Prosthetic Solutions in Daily Practice"

·       Dr. Francesco Mintrone (Italy): "Innovative Approaches to Functional and Esthetic Rehabilitation"

·       Prof. Dr. Nitzan Bichacho and Dr. Mirela Feraru (Israel): "Managing the Perio-Restorative Interface of Different Abutment Types in the Smile Zone – Concepts and Strategies"

·       Dr. Gianfranco Politano, DDM, MSc (Italy): "The Bottom Line in Direct Posterior Restoration: Merging Esthetics and Function; Maximizing Efficiency and Economics"

·       Dr. Florin Cofar (Romania): "Managing Colour in a Monolithic World"

·       Dr. Victor Clavijo, DDS, MSc, PhD, and Murilo Calgaro (Brazil): "Decision Making Regarding Colour and Materials Around Natural Teeth and Implants"

In addition to the plenary lectures, various breakout sessions will be simultaneously offered for the first time. They can either be booked online or directly at the event. Participants who register for the Symposium before March 19th, 2018, will receive an early-bird discount. The languages of the Symposium will be Italian and English. All lectures will be simultaneously translated into German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. The 4th International Expert Symposium will be held at the Auditorium Parco della Musica, which is located in the very heart of Rome.

Online registration for the Symposium is possible at https://www.ivoclarvivadent.com/ies2018.

Elementary School Principal Melissa Myers introduced 280 second and third graders to a few visitors in the Heights Murray Elementary School cafeteria Thursday, February 1.

Cheers of excitement quieted to a dull roar as a petite woman, clad in a white dental coat embroidered with an oversized carrot pocket led the discussion at the second of five Wilkes-Barre Area School District elementary schools visited that day in partnership with the nation’s largest privately-owned distribution company, Benco Dental.

Dr. Winifred J. Booker, CEO of the Children’s Oral Health Institute, traveled to Northeast Pennsylvania from Owings Mills, Maryland with Program Director Chiquita Veney, to share a message and a bright orange lunchbox concept that she had created more than 20 years ago.

“Lessons in a Lunchbox teaches the child independence; therefore, it provides her or him the ability to brush and floss using the dental kit, the carrot case, and the lunchbox,” Dr. Booker said, referencing the program she developed which features around an ingeniously crafted carrying case, designed to teach elementary school children the importance of dental hygiene.

Before each child received the bright lunchbox of treasures -- a plastic carrot filled with a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and a rinse cup -- the group viewed two “Peanuts” films about proper brushing and flossing techniques.

During Lessons in a Lunchbox, the children learn the following: flossing, brushing and fluoride, healthy dietary choices, good eating habits, and about careers in dentistry.

All hands on deck to demonstrate and distribute included students from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, members of the Wilkes University Pre-Dental program, volunteers from Benco Dental, and Judy Hislop, an 11-year dental hygienist for the Wilkes-Barre School District.

The 1,100 lunchboxes included information in English, Spanish, and braille, and were donated to children in five Wilkes-Barre Area School District elementary schools by the Benco Family Foundation, the family-owned dental distribution company’s charitable arm.

Rebecca Binder, executive director of the Benco Family Foundation, “Our foundation helps support access to dental care and dental health projects and programs across the country. It’s important because everybody deserves to have access to good, high-quality dental care.”

 “I believe the most valuable aspect of Lessons in a Lunchbox is that it puts the most essential parts of oral health all in one spot,” said 24-year-old dental student Jasmine Faldu of Barnegat, New Jersey.

Fourth year University of Pennsylvania dental student, Najm Alanbari, shares high points of his experience.

“My favorite moment of the day was sitting down among the students and watching how they were paying such close attention to the screen. I feel like it will make changes.”

“Lessons in a Lunchbox is a creative and innovative way of teaching children how to take care of their teeth, while being hands-on,” said Victoria Bilski, of Wilkes-Barre, a sophomore student in the Pre-Dental program at Wilkes University, who volunteered at the event.

In regard to volunteerism, Connie Dombroski, Director of Health Science and Student Success at Wilkes University, said, “I tell dental students to access local dental offices and use their family and social networks to see what volunteer opportunities are out there.”

For more information, visit benco.com or call 1.800.GO.BENCO.

February 22nd, 2018 Kuraray Noritake Dental will introduce KATANA Zirconia Block at the Chicago Mid-Winter meeting. The new multi-layered, KATANA Zirconia Block provides more translucency while maintaining high flexural strength (763 MPa). The blocks are indicated for use with the Dentsply Sirona CEREC® CAD/CAM system and SpeedFire™ ovens. With 15-minute milling and 30-minute sintering (for cases involving a crown using dry milling), the KATANA Zirconia Block provides an excellent alternative to lithium disilicated-based glass ceramics. Customers will be able to place initial orders through Henry Schein, Inc. and Patterson Dental Supply for shipment at the end of March.

Clinical Indications:

All single-unit anterior and posterior restorations

Features & Benefits:

• Achieves a well-balanced combination of translucency and mechanical properties in 30- minutes of sintering

• A highly translucent result and a smooth color gradient

• Better physical properties than lithium disilicate glass ceramics

• Reliability for zirconia adhesion when combined with the PANAVIA series of cements

www.katanablock.us

ebruary marks the 6th annual Gum Disease Awareness Month, a grassroots-turned-global movement to educate the public about the overwhelming prevalence and consequences of gum disease, as well as treatment and prevention methods. Launched by The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD) in 2012, its goal is to make sure patients and doctors are fully aware of the severity untreated gum disease can have on the body.

Recognized in all 50 U.S. states as well as the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands, Gum Disease Awareness Month is an opportunity for all dental professionals to discuss the signs and symptoms of the disease, medically known as periodontitis.

The consequences of untreated gum disease go far beyond tooth loss. Gum disease has been linked to systemic illnesses including:

• Heart disease

• Stroke

• Alzheimer's

• Diabetes

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Cancer including prostate cancer and breast cancer

• Still birth, pre-term birth, low birth weight

• Erectile dysfunction

• Infertility

FightGumDisease.com is the premier patient educational resource on gum disease including treatment options. Select treatments are more successful at eliminating the disease-causing bacteria and endotoxins; and successful treatment is the key to sustaining oral health. Successful periodontal treatment has also shown to decrease total health care cost.

Dental fear remains a crucial factor in treatment acceptance; patients increasingly seek minimally-invasive treatment options. Only the LANAP protocol, FDA-cleared to regenerate the alveolar bone and supporting tissues, has scientific evidence to support claims of regeneration.

"We could not be more proud that the entire United States and several territories officially recognize Gum Disease Awareness Month," said Dawn M. Gregg, DDS, Training Director for the IALD. "This movement continues to grow, as it should, to educate patients about the importance of oral health respective to total health. Together, we can expose this silent killer."

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED LASER DENTISTRY:

The IALD is a non-profit educational and research center dedicated to providing evidence-based clinical training in advanced laser dentistry therapies. Formed in 1999, the IALD is ADA-CERP and AGD-PACE accredited and nationally recognized for its continuing education programs. The IALD's ultimate goal is for the percentage of patients seeking periodontal treatment to reach the percentage of patients seeking general dental care.

Two industry leading dentists and an established entrepreneur – each with track records of building multiple businesses and dental practices – have partnered to form Dental Whale, the nation’s first comprehensive resource designed to help dentists get out of their chairs and grow their dental legacy.

Dental Whale, the collective vision of Drs. Ken Tralongo and Scott Leune, DDS, and business leader David Lopez, provides dentists with a wide range of practice management solutions to help them grow profitability, acquire practices, create an exit strategy and more.

Dr. Tralongo has spent the majority of his 27-year career in dentistry alleviating burdens that hold dentists back from profitability. After successfully growing 10 of his own dental practices in the metro Atlanta area through efficient operations, he turned his attention to helping others acquire the right practices, assisting in the transition process and executing proven strategies for owning multiple practices.

With a proven record in successful startup practices, Dr. Leune found a way to build three startup practices in San Antonio with a combined average of over 700 new patients per month – all while working a mere 48 days a year. After starting an additional seven practices in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, opening them within a two-month timespan, he shared his proven systems, marketing and practice design in sold-out seminars, helping other dentists build approximately 90 startup practices nationwide.

David Lopez, who has launched and grown numerous successful franchise brands in a variety of industries including restaurants, health and wellness and dental equipment repair, brings hands-on entrepreneurial street knowledge to Dental Whale’s management team mix.

Dental Whale offers the following customizable outsourcing options for dentists to choose from:

· Front and Back-End Office Functions - call centers, administrative work and front desk tasks, accounting, billing and insurance claims, IT support

· Marketing & Lead Generation - website design, digital marketing strategies, social media and reputation management, direct mail, email drip campaigns

· Seminars & Workshops - practice management education for dentists, growing successful startups, and clinical continuing education

· Dental Practice Acquisition - financing, merger & acquisition consulting, assistance with the transition process and ongoing support for operation of multiple practices

· De Novo Specific Support – demographic analysis, negotiations, design and construction management services

· On-Demand Repairs and Services - for all dental office equipment including hand-piece repairs, ability to loan or purchase new equipment

“Dental Whale is filling a gaping hole in the marketplace for the entrepreneurial dentist who has the vision, but lacks the support, knowledge and access to proven tools,” said Dr. Leune. “The growth potential for dentists is endless. Dental Whale was created to help all dentists achieve their business dreams, while allowing them to focus on patient care, choose their level of involvement and find desired work-life balance.”

Lopez says Dental Whale provides the resources for dentists to grow, while allowing them to maintain their independence. “There is no one in the space focusing support and services on the dental entrepreneur’s profitability. Dental Whale is laser focused on creating business opportunities and a path from startup to retirement,” he said.

Dr. Ken Tralongo added, “We’re confident that Dental Whale gives dentists everything they need under one umbrella to run and grow multiple practices and rise above mediocrity in the dental profession.”