Dental Recycling North American (DRNA) is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) as its endorsed vendor for amalgam separators and amalgam recycling. With this arrangement, HDA members will be able to comply with the new EPA regulation which requires the installation of amalgam separators and annual recycling, at a very low cost.

DRNA CEO Marc Sussman stated “We are so pleased to have been selected as an HDA endorsed vendor. We see this as a very active partnership where we will have the opportunity to work with an outstanding organization to give its members the best value for amalgam separators and amalgam recycling services. With our joint program, HDA members will be in full compliance with the EPA regulation, and also save significant dollars which will allow members to reduce their overhead and use the money for other important purposes. We are looking forward to a great and productive relationship with the HDA.”

About The HDA

The Hispanic Dental Association is a national non-profit 501©3 organization comprised of oral health professionals and students dedicated to promoting and improving the oral health of the Hispanic community and providing advocacy for Hispanic oral health professionals across the U.S.

About DRNA

Dental Recycling North America (DRNA) is a leader in the dental amalgam recycling market, helping to Keep tons of harmful mercury from entering the environment each year. DRNA sells amalgam separators, waste disposal products and recycling services directly to dental offices in the U.S. It has a broad presence in the public and education sectors of the market and is the preferred choice of many private practices. The company, founded in 1998 is headquartered in New York City. To learn more visit www.drna.com.

SOLMETEX, LLC is pleased to announce the Northern Nevada Dental Society's recent exclusive endorsement of the Solmetex Hg5™ series of amalgam separators, accompanied by the Solmetex Practice Waste Solutions (PWS) line of products. This is the 19th state dental society endorsement of the NXT Hg5 Amalgam Separator nationwide, making the NXT Hg5 the most endorsed and awarded amalgam separator in the United States.

"Solmetex is excited to be chosen as the exclusive partner for the Northern Nevada Dental Society. Our company is committed to ensuring that NNDS members are in compliance with the best products and services available on the market today. The award winning Hg5 series of amalgam separators and the Practice Waste Solutions (PWS) line of products offer a simple and easy recycling solution, our 'Fill-it, Ship-it, Recycle-it' approach covers all waste handling needs for the dental practice." ~ Michael Toole, Vice President of Sales & Marketing

As a value-added benefit, NNDS members are eligible to purchase the new Solmetex NXT Hg5 or NXT Hg5 mini Amalgam Separator for only $298. Suggested retail is $860, for a savings of $562. This member benefit offer runs through Sept 30, 2018.

“This offer provides a great opportunity for our members to become compliant with the upcoming Nevada Law regarding amalgam separators. We hope you'll take advantage of this benefit running through the end of September and save over $500.” ~ Erin Anderson, DMD, NNDS Board Member

The Solmetex product line provides the "Total Solution" for waste handling and recycling, along with Certificates of Compliance available online 24/7 at www.solmetex.com. For questions regarding the regulation and/or this press release, please visit: www.solmetex.com/regulation, or contact Solmetex #508-393-5515.

DC Dental, the independent dental supplier dedicated to helping doctors run their small businesses more efficiently and profitably, announced today the launch of its one-of-a-kind, technologically-advanced warehouse distribution system for the company’s inventory of more than 30,000 dental products.

The new system is the culmination of a five-year development effort that required an investment of more than $2 million and over 3,000 labor hours.“There isn’t another warehouse exactly like ours anywhere in the world,” said DC Dental CEO David Charnowitz. “That’s because we started with our customer in mind and walked things back from there. Our aim is to instill in our customers the belief that when they order something from us, it’s going to be easy and help them run their practices more smoothly.”

“Dental practitioners are demanding price, value and transparency more than ever before,” said Charnowitz. “We’ve taken the lead in reshaping our offerings and delivery systems to focus on this growing trend.”

The streamlined, centralized ordering/distribution system unveiled today integrates elements from four advanced software platforms, each of which incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) through robotic automation. These AI software tools have been customized to deliver four key outcomes related to the customer experience: materials handling efficiency, auditability, processing speed and order accuracy.

-Efficiency in materials handling is crucial, according to Charnowitz, because “fewer touches mean fewer chances for degradation or damage and a better customer experience. Our system is expressly designed to minimize movement of items.”

-Auditability is at the heart of the system, noted Charnowitz. He said, “You can’t strive for distribution perfection if you can’t audit shipments. That’s why all of our processes are fully auditable.”

-Not only is the system built for speed – an order received by 4:00 p.m. can ship the same day – but order accuracy is maximized by cameras that monitor every step in the process.

The new system flows a customer order through three integrated material handling “zones:”

-Zone One – After each order receives its own uniquely identified packing box, which is assigned to a custom-designed picking cart, frequently used items are pulled from high-velocity flow racks using scan verification and pick-to-light technology.

-Zone Two – Next, custom-configured automated systems for storage and retrieval of smaller dental consumables, such as instruments, burs and diamonds, pick these tiny items into the shipment box. In what is the most challenging stage of the distribution process, this system element has doubled handling efficiency and accuracy.

-Zone Three – To make sure what comes in first goes out first, products are organized by expiration date on carousel systems that use complicated algorithms to track lot numbers. These carousels, operating on two levels, whisk product around in seconds.

AI prompts are built into each zone to ensure that customers are getting the highest quality supplies with zero errors. After a final verification check, the system completes the customer experience by generating a shipping label based on the customer’s preference.

During today’s system reveal at the suburban Baltimore warehouse, Charnowitz said, “Because we are a nimble company, we can keep our ear to the ground and will continue looking at the best and newest technology to make sure we are consistently delivering an excellent experience for our customers.”

About DC Dental

Since its founding in 2002, DC Dental has set a new high standard for service to independent dental practitioners, thanks to its unwavering commitment to value, large selection, faster delivery and top-notch customer service. DC Dental serves dentists throughout the country with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic region. For more information, call (877) 653-7500 or email sales@dcdental.com. 

Further expanding its portfolio of products, Axsys Dental Solutions, a leading supplier of digital dental manufacturing solutions, has entered into an agreement with Medit to distribute their new i5OO intraoral scanner.

Costing $18,000 with no license fees, the i500 uses a high-speed dual camera system for fast, precise photogrammetry, is powderless, and is lightweight, with a fine tip for ease of use and patient comfort. It uses an open CAD/CAM system, meaning operators can export STL files out of the MeditLINK management software and instantly share them with the dental lab. They can also transfer files and track progress throughout the digital workflow.

Thanks to its intelligent scan detecting algorithm, the i500 also easily picks up where it left off if the scanning process is interrupted, making for a smoother scanning experience. The i500 takes rapid, video-based scans, and its smart technology means its colored scans can distinguish between soft tissue, plaque, and tooth enamel with razor-sharp precision across the full arch.

The Z4 is vhf’s second wet-processing machine validated in 3Shape’s Trusted Connection program with 3Shape TRIOS Design Studio. For the user, this means an integrated workflow with only one interface, and excellent same-day restorations for the patient in ultra HD.

The Z4 was thoroughly tested by 3Shape and clinical beta testers during the validation process. Hundreds of restorations were produced to ensure a smooth workflow and high precision results. “The Z4 from vhf perfectly complements our TRIOS Design Studio software for addressing the market of same-day dentistry,” says Rune Fisker, Vice President Product Strategy at 3Shape.

The Z4 creates high-quality restorations in minutes and has a high frequency spindle for up to 100,000 RPM. Restorations can be made from blocks of glass ceramics, PMMA, zirconium oxide, and composites, and the Z4 finishes prefabricated titanium abutments. Combined with TRIOS Design Studio, the Z4 enables customers to create high precision crowns, inlays and onlays, veneers, and 3-unit bridges. The milling process is controlled via touch screen for quick and easy operation.

Following the release of A State of Decay, Vol. IV, a state by state analysis of the oral health of older adults 65+, Oral Health America (OHA) is introducing a State Spotlight series to ‘go beyond the score’ to share the actions and strategies of invested state oral health stakeholders working to improve the oral health of older adults in their state.

A State of Decay, Vol. IV gives a rating of “Poor,” “Fair,” “Good” or “Excellent” based on state-level data analyzing six variables impacting older adult oral health: Severe Tooth Loss (loss of 6+ teeth), Dental Visits, Adult Medicaid Dental Benefits, Community Water Fluoridation, State Oral Health Plans and Basic Screening Surveys. For the first time, A State of Decay, Vol. IV adds a national analysis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) individual data on severe tooth loss and recent dental visits by considering associations with sociodemographic factors.

With an expected 72.1 million seniors living in the United States by 2030, OHA’s A State of Decay, Vol. IV illustrates progress in some areas and the need for continued action to ensure America’s rapidly growing population of seniors age healthily and independently.

Included in the initial publication of the report, OHA interviewed stakeholders in California, Alabama, Mississippi and Iowa to report on the efforts that couldn’t be captured by the six variables. From the spotlights, OHA learned how states are taking creative approaches to improve oral health outcomes of older adults. For example, Mississippi ranked last in the latest report, but is working across various public health departments to promote a ‘culture of health’ and raise awareness of oral health’s systemic link to chronic diseases.

The latest spotlight features Arkansas and, despite falling in the rankings in the latest report, recent improvements won’t keep them there for long. Read how Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation took the state's rate of community water fluoridation from average to stellar in just a short amount of time and how interprofessional collaboration and education to providers, families and caregivers are reducing barriers to care for aging Arkansans.

Through A State of Decay State Spotlight series, OHA continues to lead the way toward healthier mouths for older adults. States, advocates and public health coalitions that share OHA’s commitment can use the State Spotlights to connect with one another, share strategies and inspire action to help adults age successfully.

Links to the latest volume of A State of Decay and State Spotlights can be viewed on astateofdecay.org.

ABOUT ORAL HEALTH AMERICA (OHA)

Oral Health America’s mission is to change lives by connecting communities with resources to drive access to care, increase health literacy and advocate for policies that improve overall health through better oral health for all Americans, especially those most vulnerable. Through Smiles Across America®, which serves 501,000 children annually, the Wisdom Tooth Project®, which reaches tens of thousands of older adults, and the Campaign for Oral Health Equity, which prioritize oral health alongside other chronic diseases, OHA helps Americans of all ages to have a healthy mouth and to understand the importance of oral health for overall health. For more information about Oral Health America, please visit oralhealthamerica.org.

The Argen Corporation has announced the acquisition of Dale Dental Lab, a Texas-based dental lab, effective June 1, 2018. This acquisition provides Dale Dental Lab customers with a host of benefits including access to a team of dedicated customer and technical support specialists, Argen’s leading digital technologies, and an extensive portfolio of digital products and services.

“Dale Dental Lab’s business model shifted from lab-to-lab to lab-to-dentist under a new name, YDL Concert Dental Lab. Since Argen works exclusively with dental labs, it was an excellent match and opportunity for Argen to acquire the lab business,” said Michael Clark, Argen Senior Vice President, Domestic Sales.

“Argen has a strong reputation in the industry of service to dental labs and is a leader in digital technologies,” said Felix Silva, VP, YDL Concert Dental Lab. “We are working with Argen every step of the way to ensure a smooth transition for our customers.”

The multi-phased transition will take place over a 30-day period. Dale Dental Lab customers can send models to Argen for case design and restoration manufacturing. Questions about the acquisition or transition can be directed to Michael Clark, Argen Senior VP, Domestic Sales (mclark@argen.com).

ACTEON North America is proud to introduce the PIEZOTOME™ CUBE a brand new ultrasonic bone surgery device that will change the way dentists think about atraumatic extractions. One of the most common procedures dentists perform are tooth extractions. Although they are a common procedure, they can present some unique challenges for general dentists and specialists alike.

Piezotome CUBE can help dentists make their extractions more atraumatic and predictable. The high frequency, ultrasonic vibrations of the CUBE only disrupt the PDL and bone and will not damage soft tissue so it is very effective even with ankylosed teeth. This eliminates having to cut a surgical flap in the gingiva preserving the periosteum. The extremely thin extraction tips, preserve more bone, even the thinnest of bone in the buccal area, to facilitate immediate implant placement. Lastly, patients experience reduced pain, swelling and trauma post operatively.

With the Dynamic Power System Inside (DPSI), PIEZOTOME™ CUBE boasts the highest cutting power of any ultrasonic bone surgery device on the market with 30% more power than previous devices making procedures very fast. The touch screen makes power selection simple with the CUBE as well. Lastly the CUBE is a versatile device that can also perform sinus elevations, ridge splitting, bone block grafting, and crown lengthening.

In February, ATSU-ASDOH decided to take steps toward creating a cleaner environment by having DRNA install amalgam separators in its facilities. Not only does this decision help prevent metals found in dental waste—including mercury—from ending up in sewage treatment plants, but it also places ATSU-ASDOH at the forefront of compliance with new regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA ruling requires most dental offices, as well as dental schools and clinics, to properly recycle dental waste by installing amalgam separators, devices that collect amalgam waste when a cavity is filled or removed. The mercury collected by these devices can then be recycled. Practices have until 2020 to comply, but becoming an early adopter, as ATSU-ASDOH is, can reduce costs and also keep even more harmful mercury out of the environment. “Environmental issues have always been important to us, and when given the opportunity to both comply with the new EPA regulations and prevent mercury from getting into the water supply, we were happy to start recycling,” says Herb Kaufman, DDS, the associate dean of clinic operations at ATSU-ASDOH. “After a thorough analysis of vendors, we determined that Dental Recycling North America had the best end-to-end compliance solution.” Marc Sussman, CEO of DRNA, stated, “We’d like to commend ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health for its foresight in becoming an early adopter of the new EPA amalgam ruling. By complying early with the federal regulation, they are setting a great example for students and alumni as well as the rest of the dental community.”

About Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health

Arizona’s first dental school, ATSU-ASDOH began addressing the nation’s oral healthcare needs in 2003. ATSU-ASDOH students are encouraged to become caring, community-minded healthcare leaders, serving those in need. Students learn through a strong foundation of critical inquiry, evidence-based practice, research, cultural competency, an orientation to prevention, and interdisciplinary healthcare experiences.

About DRNA

Dental Recycling North America (DRNA) is a leader in the dental amalgam recycling market, helping to Keep tons of harmful mercury from entering the environment each year. DRNA sells amalgam separators, waste disposal products and recycling services directly to dental offices in the U.S. It has a broad presence in the public and education sectors of the market and is the preferred choice of many private practices. The company, founded in 1998 is headquartered in New York City. To learn more visit www.drna.com.

Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), celebrated Asia’s increasing prominence in the global dental community in his keynote address at the International College of Dentists’ (ICD) International Scientific Congress & Induction Ceremony in Macau.

Mr. Bergman delivered his remarks on June 19 to ICD’s Section XIII (China) and its newly established Section XV (which includes Macau and a number of nations throughout Asia). In his remarks, Mr. Bergman shared that Macau is an ideal location for the Congress, underscoring Asia’s increasingly important role in the global dental community.

“We recognize that Asia represents an important region of future growth, and we are committed to supporting dental practitioners in this region as well as expanding our presence in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, and Southeast Asia,” said Mr. Bergman. “We share ICD’s global perspective and values, and we applaud their effort to expand their important work throughout Asia.”

Mr. Bergman also praised the work of ICD members, who offer their time and talent to serve those who do not have access to oral health care.

“Through ICD’s Global Visionary Fund, we have successfully partnered with ICD around our common commitment to humanitarian service by advancing oral health care for underserved communities around the world. We are so appreciative of the tremendous volunteer work performed by ICD Fellows and are excited by the new opportunities for collaboration between Sections XIII and Section XV,” he added.

Mr. Bergman concluded his remarks by stating, “We all know that addressing the complex issues of enhancing global oral health can be challenging, maybe even impossible at times. Of the many wonderful leadership lessons to be learned from Nelson Mandela’s life, I believe that this is the most important – ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done.’ As you return to your respective countries and your individual practices and encounter new challenges, please remember that nothing is impossible.”

Presented in collaboration with the Macau Dental Association, the ICD Congress featured an educational program presented by a world-class line-up of international dental experts and a trade show focused on the latest advances in dental technology.

The International College of Dentists, which has been Honoring the World’s Leading Dentists Since 1920™, has over 12,000 members who have earned the title of FICD (Fellow International College of Dentists) in 122 countries throughout the world. Fellowship in the College is by invitation only and is granted in recognition of an individual dentist’s “outstanding professional achievement, meritorious service, and dedication to the continued progress of dentistry for the benefit of humankind.”

Additional information on ICD governance and global humanitarian and other service projects may be viewed at www.icd.org.

About Henry Schein, Inc.

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a solutions company for health care professionals powered by a network of people and technology. With more than 22,000 Team Schein Members serving more than 1 million customers globally, the Company is the world's largest provider of Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chainsolutions to enhance the efficiency of office-based dental, animal health, and medical practitioners. The Company also serves dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care sites.

A Fortune 500® Company and a member of the S&P 500® and the Nasdaq 100® indexes, Henry Schein's network of trusted advisors provides health care professionals with the valued solutions they need to improve operational success and clinical outcomes. The Company offers customers exclusive, innovative products and solutions, including practice management software, e-commerce solutions, specialty and surgical products, as well as a broad range of financial services. Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 120,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 180,000 additional products available as special-order items.

Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 34 countries. The Company's sales reached a record $12.5 billion in 2017, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 15 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995. For more information, visit Henry Schein at www.henryschein.com, Facebook.com/HenrySchein, and @HenrySchein on Twitter.