Roland DGA will be exhibiting for the first time ever at the 106^th edition of the FDI World Dental Congress, September 5-8, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, giving attendees a chance to see the company’s latest DGSHAPE DWX Series dental milling machines in action. 

Held annually by the FDI World Dental Federation–an organization comprised of approximately 200 member associations in more than 130 countries that serves more than one million dentists–the World Dental Congress attracts leading oral health professionals from around globe. In addition to presentations, panel events, meetings, and networking, the event features a comprehensive exhibition showcasing the new and innovative products related to the field.

At this year’s show, visitors to the Roland DGA booth (1K31-1L04) can get a firsthand look at DGSHAPE devices such as the DWX-52DCi dry mill and DWX-4W wet mill. Roland’s newest dry mill, the DWX-52DCi incorporates a 6-slot Automatic Disc Changer, 15-station Automatic Tool Changer, and other cutting-edge features to provide ease-of-use, material flexibility, and unattended production. The DGSHAPE DWX-4W precision mills glass ceramic and composite resins in one operation, saving time, labor, and money by allowing prosthetics for up to three different patients to be produced in a single production run.

“We’re excited about demonstrating our advanced DGSHAPE mills for the first time at the Dental World Congress,” said Fernando Catania, Roland DGA’s business development manager for Latin America. “At Roland DGA, we’re always looking for ways to help improve digital production workflows, so this is the perfect event for showcasing our latest CAD/CAM technologies, such as our recently launched MillBox CAM software that supports milling of the most popular materials.”

The World Dental Congress will be held at the La Rural Congress Centre in Buenos Aires. To register, visit https://register.eventigizer.com/fdi2018/en/index.html. To learn more about the World Dental Congress, visit https://www.worlddentalcongress.org/mainpage/index.html. For more information on Roland DGA or the complete Roland product line, visit www.rolanddga.com.

exocad is holding a global event for dental technicians and dentists in Darmstadt on November 19 and 20, 2018. At exocad Insights, the globally renowned software company will address users of digital technologies in laboratories and practices and, together with 24 partner companies, will present the latest developments and countless possibilities afforded by digital processes. Globally recognized experts and specialists in digital workflows will present solutions relating to exocad software – from scanning to digital design to manufacturing.

During the course of this event, which is limited to 500 participants, exocad will offer dental technicians and dentists from all over the world a unique platform through which they can exchange knowledge with software experts, numerous manufacturers and specialists. Participants will discover the advantages of an open system and delve even deeper into the unsurpassed flexibility and design freedom offered by exocad software solutions. Only with the open architecture from exocad can digital technologies such as DVT, milling machines, 3D printers, intraoral scanners and model scanners be connected on a single software platform, allowing dental technicians and dentists to implement innovative treatment concepts more easily and predictably. Over two days, exocad Insights will showcase a variety of possible solutions for the CAD/CAM-supported manufacturing of prosthetics.

The first day of the event will begin with specialist lectures held by internationally renowned experts: Uli Hauschild (Italy) will demonstrate innovative solutions for virtual implant planning on the basis of complex cases. Dr. Jan Hajtó (Germany) will provide insight into the new ChairsideCAD software, which is optimized for the clinical environment and simplifies the exchange between practitioners and laboratories. Furthermore, Waldo Zarco Nosti (Spain), founder of the “exocad Experts” Facebook group with more than 26,000 members, will be speaking at the event and will give dental technicians an in-depth look at DentalCAD. Nosti will also provide guests with an overview of the upcoming Smile Design software module. The limitless possibilities offered by exocad in the field of digital partial dentures will be illustrated by Michael Anger (Germany) on the basis of the new PartialCAD. “3D Printing – Myths and Reality” will be the topic covered by Vanik Kaufmann (Switzerland), while Larry Bodony (USA) will provide an overview of exocad solutions. In addition, brain researcher and neuroscience personality Dr. Henning Beck (Germany) will explain how “human software” works in a scientifically founded and enjoyable manner. The first evening will then be rounded off by a joint evening event with dinner and captivating live music.

The second day will focus predominantly on the practical application of the software. In the morning, exocad partners Amann Girrbach, Align, Medit, Shining 3D, CIM System, Elos Medtech, imes-icore, Nobil-Metal and smart optics will provide participants with specific insights into their respective technologies in combination with exocad software applications during 30-minute presentations. The afternoon holds a very special highlight in store: the company will bring together exocad software experts, who have traveled from all over the world to Darmstadt, and users at a congress for the first time. In the “Special Case Software Sessions” they will be introduced to the possibilities offered by solutions such as DentalCAD, ChairsideCAD and exoplan in an entirely new level of detail. And, in a parallel event, dentists will be shown state-of-the-art treatment options in the field of implant planning and so-called “single-visit dentistry”. Presentations held in English will be simultaneously translated into German, Italian and Spanish.

exocad Insights 2018 will take place in Darmstadt, where exocad’s headquarters is situated. The city is close to Frankfurt am Main and is seen as a shining example of digital progress. With the ultra-modern darmstadtium congress center, the company has chosen an ideal location for digital presentations, which received the INCON Digital Infrastructure Award 2014. This makes darmstadtium the perfect place to showcase digital dental technologies.

For further information and to register, visit https://exocad.com/insights

The partners of exocad Insights 2018 include: Amann Girrbach, Align, Medit, Shining 3D, CIM System, Elos Medtech, imes-icore, Nobil-Metal, smart optics, BEGO, CADstar, Carestream, Dental Direkt, DGSHAPE, DOF, envisionTEC, Formlabs, Imetric, Infinident, NextDent, Open Technologies, Schütz Dental, vhf and Wacom.

About exocad GmbH

exocad GmbH is a dynamic and innovative software company committed to expanding the possibilities of digital dentistry and providing OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) with flexible, reliable, and easy-to-use CAD/CAM software for dental labs and dental practices. exocad software has been chosen by leading OEMs worldwide for integration into their dental CAD/CAM offerings, and thousands of exocad DentalCAD licenses are sold each year. For more information and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit exocad.com.

Benco Dental today announced a settlement in principle with the plaintiffs in the Dental Supplies Antitrust Litigation brought against Benco Dental, Henry Schein, Inc., Patterson Companies and Burkhart in February 2016.

While there has been no finding of any violation of law, Benco has reached a settlement in principle with the plaintiffs. In agreeing to settle the matter, Benco did not make any admission of liability.

According to a company spokesperson: “While we continue to believe that the lawsuit’s claims are without merit, settlement allows us to avoid the time, expense, and inherent uncertainty of litigation. In agreeing to the settlement, Benco made no admission of liability. We can now refocus our efforts on what we do best: driving dentistry forward.’

About Benco Dental

Benco Dental, headquartered in Northeastern Pennsylvania, is the largest privately-owned dental distributor in the United States, offering a full array of supplies, equipment and services to dentists across the nation. Founded in 1930 by Benjamin Cohen, the company has remained family-owned and focused on its unique mission to “deliver success, smile after smile.”

Within the past 87 years, the company has grown from a single downtown location to a national network that includes five distribution centers, and three design showrooms. Those design showrooms, one at the company’s Pa. headquarters, one in Southern California, and one in Texas, feature North America’s largest selection of dental equipment and technology, as well as a hands-on dental design experience, to assist dentists in the planning and construction of a new office.

Juniors and seniors attending high schools in northeast Pennsylvania are receiving a new entry point to future careers.

The United Way of Wyoming Valley recently announced a partnership with the Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council (NEPA MAEC), to provide the YES (Your Employability Skills) program to eligible students in four new schools/districts in northern Luzerne County. The goal: better preparing teenagers for the workforce and connecting them with award-winning businesses offering employment in their backyard.

The nation’s largest privately -owned dental distributor, Benco Dental, is part of the solution.

YES is a 120-hour, 1-credit, year-round elective course that addresses the shortfall of basic skills that employers say are lacking in many job applicants. United Way of Wyoming Valley is supporting the workforce development program expansion through a $20,000 grant. Emphasized within the YES program:

-business tours

-guest-speaking opportunities

-mock interview events

As part of the YES program, students tour regional businesses to get an inside look at how industry functions and the careers available to them when they are ready to enter the workforce.

One such business is Benco Dental. With its home office in Pittston, Pennsylvania, the largest privately-owned dental distributor in the United States offers a full array of supplies, equipment and services to dentists across the nation.

“Adding company visits to the YES curriculum allows students to see all the work options in their own backyard. And at Benco, for example, those careers can take them across the U.S.” says Danielle Dominick, a Talent Coordinator at the family-owned company.

Dominick explains a bit about past YES student visits to Benco Dental. “Benco Ambassadors welcomed the students from the YES program and offered tours of our home office in Pittston – which is about the size of five football fields. Tours were followed by conversations with a warehouse supervisor, director of our Contact Center and me, a Talent Coordinator in our Culture and People department to offer a few perspectives of a day in the life of an associate at Benco,” she says.

“We shared info about entry-level positions, career ladders and specific requirements for employment at our company. The students asked questions – they were invested and surprised to learn all that we do here at Benco. During the tour and in the discussions, they were impressed with the award-winning culture that our associates experience every day.”

Benco, which has been named one of Fortune Best Workplaces in Health Care and Biopharma for the past three years, one of the NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women for the second consecutive year, and Pennsylvania’s Best Places to Work® for 12 of the past 14 years, is proud to feature a highly skilled team of more than 400 professionally trained sales representatives and over 300 factory-trained service technicians.

“At Benco, we’re strong supporters of all of the United Way’s efforts in the community, including this new initiative with the YES program that will make educational opportunities accessible to even more of the young people in the Wyoming Valley. When more students in the region gain awareness of the employment options, a greater talent pool will be in place when positions become available at Benco and in the area overall. We always suggest that students visit the career section of our company website to read job descriptions and learn what is required. Then, when they see positions they want to pursue, knowing the expectations will help them set their goals,” adds Dominick.

For details about the YES program, visit: https://nepamaec.com/yes-program/

Benco Dental is part of a Pennsylvania workforce readiness solution introduced by the United Way of Wyoming Valley and the Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council (NEPA MAEC), to provide the YES (Your Employability Skills) program to eligible students in four new schools/districts in northern Luzerne County. Shown at an August 16 announcement to the media hosted by the United Way of Wyoming Valley in Wilkes-Barre: Matt Shuey, Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employers Council, Inc., Darlene J. Robbins, Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employers Association, Trina Moss, Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties Workforce Investment Board, Danielle Dominick, Benco Dental, Courtney Fasnacht, Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employers Council, Inc.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) will present a surge of education to elevate your practice of comprehensive cosmetic dentistry on April 24 - 27, 2019 at the San Diego Convention Center, featuring headlining educators Stephen Chu, DMD, CDT and Pascal Magne, DMD, PhD.

Dr. Chu will be speaking on "Immediate Tooth Replacement Therapy in the Esthetic Zone" on Thursday, April 25 from 9:15 am to 2:15 pm. During his course, Dr. Chu will present a method for the immediate provisional restoration of immediate implants placed into healed [delayed] or augmented sites. Additionally, his lecture will address the clinical diagnosis and management of type 1-3 extraction sockets as well as present current techniques, clinical research, histologic evidence, and innovations in immediate implant placement and provisional restoration treatment and how they can enhance time and clinical outcomes for greater patient comfort, care, and satisfaction.

Dr. Magne will be speaking on "Crescendo of Techniques for Anterior Bonded Restorations" on Saturday, April 27 from 9:15 am to 12:15 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The course will be an intense lecture program for all practitioners wishing to update their skills in anterior bonded restorations using direct composite resins and indirect porcelain veneers. During this course, attendees will learn how to evaluate treatment options beginning with the simplest procedures such as chemical treatments and freehand composites and then more sophisticated approaches such as laminate veneers.

These headlining educators will be joined by a cadre of world class clinicians and educators speaking on the latest topics in cosmetic dentistry including: Pablio Caetano, MDT; Scott Finlay, DDS, FAACD; Leon P. Hermanides, CDT; Keiichi Hosaka, DDS, PhD; Dong-Hwan Lee, DDS, PhD; Frank Milnar, DDS, AAACD; Adamo Notarantonio, DDS, FAACD; Bradley Olson, DDS, FAACD; Peter Pizzi, CDT, MDT; Amanda Seay, DDS, AAACD; Todd Snyder, DDS, FAACD; Kyle Stanley, DDS; Javier Vasquez, DMD, MDT; Dennis Wells, DDS, AAACD and more.

"It can be overwhelming and costly to get started with high-end CE. But at AACD 2019, you can get a taste of what's out there by attending courses from the hottest educators in the field, brought together in one place for an affordable price," explained Nathaniel Hill, DDS and Chair of the AACD Professional Education Committee. "AACD 2019 is your chance to learn from the best on your way to becoming your best, no matter where you are on that journey."

Attendees can save $250 on tuition by registering for AACD 2019 before December 7, 2018. For more information or to register for the 35th Annual AACD Scientific Session, visit www.aacdconference.com

Aspen Dental Management, Inc., (ADMI) the largest branded dental support organization (DSO) in the U.S., today announced the addition of Dr. David Galler, DMD to its clinical support team. Dr. Galler will serve as Senior Vice President, Orthodontic Services rolling out Invisalign®, the world’s leading invisible orthodontic product, to the 700 Aspen Dental offices across the country.

Dr. Galler is an Invisalign faculty member and in the top one percent of Invisalign providers in North America, having personally treated more than 2,000 cases in the last 10 years. He has trained more than 3,000 doctors — affectionately known as “Gallerites” — on the unique technique he invented called “GST” (Galler Spacing Technique). It is used by dentists worldwide for Invisalign.

“This is a great opportunity to bring together the largest branded network of dental providers in the country with the number one dental product globally,” said Galler. “These two powerhouses together will increase the level of care that Aspen Dental practices can offer their patients.”

ADMI announced last month an agreement with Align Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGN), makers of the Invisalign clear aligner system, to equip all Aspen Dental locations with an iTero Element® intraoral scanner. It was officially launched at Aspen Dental’s Annual Leadership Retreat in Chicago at the end of August. Dr. Galler will lead trainings for Aspen Dental doctors across the country with the goal of enabling an end-to-end digital workflow in all Aspen Dental locations by August 2019.

After a quick digital scan with the iTero Element scanner, patients can see a simulation of how their new smile may look even before they commit to Invisalign treatment. Unlike traditional dental impressions, which can take weeks to process, Align’s end-to-end digital workflow leveraging the iTero scanner develops the patient’s 3D dental model immediately, making it possible for patients to begin their treatment sooner. The iTero scanner is also integral to tooth restorative procedures such as crowns, bridges, veneers, inlays and onlays.

Prior to joining Aspen Dental Management, Inc., Dr. Galler practiced dentistry and administered Clear Aligner Therapy at Premier Dental Associates of Lower Manhattan. He graduated with high honors from the University of Pennsylvania College of Dentistry, and completed his general practice residency and cosmetic practice residency at the Brooklyn Veteran’s Administration Hospital. He currently serves as President of the American Academy of Clear Aligners. 

About Aspen Dental Offices

Aspen Dental-branded practices are committed to breaking down the barriers to better dental care, better smiles and better lives by making dentistry easier for patients. With nearly 700 offices in 38 states, Aspen Dental practices provide a wide range of general dentistry and denture-related services and offer patient-friendly programs and services, including convenient locations, onsite labs and extended hours. Together, Aspen Dental practices cared for more than 1.7 million patients in 2017. For additional information about Aspen Dental or to find an Aspen Dental office, please visit www.aspendental.com.

About Aspen Dental Management, Inc.

With an innovative model that takes care of non-clinical business and administrative services so that providers are free to focus on patient care, the team at ADMI is driven by one overarching purpose: To care for the people who care for the patients. ADMI makes it easier for clinicians to have the careers they’ve always dreamed of, delivering care to their patients with the support of a team of experienced business professionals who are committed to making their practices a success. Support provided by ADMI includes services and recommendations related to finding the right locations, leasing, acquiring equipment, accounting and marketing. 

Portland, Ore. — In 1992, there were 56 CODA-accredited dental laboratory technology programs in the U.S., according to Bennett Napier, chief staff executive of the National Association of Dental Laboratories.

Five years ago, there were 19.

Now there are only 13.

The Oregon Association of Dental Laboratories, with support from the National Association of Dental Laboratories, has asked Portland Community College to reconsider its decision to close the dental laboratory technology program at its Sylvania campus.

"The ADA Council on Dental Practice is very invested in issues relating to all dental personnel, including dental lab technicians," said Dr. Craig Ratner, chair of the council. "The education and training of all dental health care workers is a major concern for the council, as is access to qualified personnel in all job positions. The closure of this program in Oregon is especially newsworthy and dentists need to be aware that there are significantly fewer programs to train dental lab technicians and this can impact both our patients and our practices."

On July 27, Katy Ho, Ph.D., vice president of academic affairs at Portland Community College, announced the closure in a letter to the dental laboratory technology advisory committee.  According to the letter, the decision was based on the budget constraints of the college; high cost of the program per student; the ability of the college to maintain and invest in high-cost equipment and facilities; and "historically low" enrollment and completion.

The Oregon Association of Dental Laboratories objected to the conclusion. "The continuation of the dental laboratory program is not an easy decision, but we strongly believe it is the right one for its students, the doctors, the patients and the community," said the Oregon Association of Dental Laboratories' board in an Aug. 7 letter to Mark Mitsui, Ph.D., college president. "It is ever so critical for Portland Community College, as the largest in-state public college, to be the vanguard of the maintaining and nurturing the future dental technologist for our community. Access to dental care is extremely important to Oregon's citizens. Dental laboratories generally provide dentists with support on over 65 percent of an average dental practice's prescriptions for restorative and cosmetic oral health care."   

The letter continued: "We believe that the career path for Portland Community College's dental laboratory program graduates is bright to become leaders in the industry. According to the Department of Labor, year-end 2017 figures indicate 3 percent growth in demand for dental technicians and average wages have gone up over 11 percent since 2014."

Dr. Ho said the college will continue to teach the curriculum for the next two years to help students who are currently enrolled or who have signed up to start in the fall. 

Portland Community College's dental laboratory technology program is the only one of its kind in Oregon.

Homayoun Louie, one of the program instructors at Portland Community College, said the fall of 2018 enrollment is full, with 18 students accepted, with some students coming from out of state. He estimated that 90 percent of graduated students become employed either by Oregon Association of Dental Laboratories-member labs or other labs in the area.

Mr. Napier said he was frustrated with the "snowball" of dental laboratory closures, and worried that "we haven't seen the worst yet," predicting that the nation could soon be down to 10.

But with wages trending upward, Mr. Napier hopes that demand for qualified laboratory technicians will precipitate the opening of new programs across the U.S. "Some of the schools are growing and turning students away," he said. "Some schools have had to double faculty to meet the demand."

The Council on Dental Practice has had an official representative on the National Association of Dental Laboratories' National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology for many years and the council was initially created to respond to concerns in the dental laboratory arena. Dental laboratory technology programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

For more information on the National Association of Dental Laboratories, visit NADL.org.

Researchers have found that flossing before brushing may be the ideal sequence for the most thorough removal of dental plaque. The report is featured in the Journal of Periodontology (JOP), which is published by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).

Titled “The Effect of Toothbrushing and Flossing Sequence on Interdental Plaque Reduction and Fluoride Retention: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial,” the study assessed 25 participants who were asked to brush their teeth first, then use dental floss to clean the spaces between their teeth (brush-floss). In a second phase, the same group was asked to use floss, then brush their teeth (floss-brush). Researchers found that the amount of plaque between the teeth and in the mouth overall was significantly reduced when participants used the floss-brush approach.

The researchers contend that as flossing loosens bacteria and debris from between the teeth, brushing afterwards (when the mouth is rinsed with water) further clears the mouth of these particles. Plaque bacteria are the primary culprit behind the development of periodontal disease, an inflammatory condition that occurs when bacteria accumulate below the gum line. Periodontal disease can lead to swelling, irritation, gum recession, and tooth loss if left untreated.

“Patients often ask which step should come first in their daily oral hygiene routine,” says Steven R. Daniel, DDS, president of the AAP. “While this study finds that flossing before brushing may result in the reduction of plaque, it’s important for everyone to remember to do both every day to maintain the health of their smiles.”

The study also found that fluoride, a mineral that aids in the prevention of cavities and tooth decay, remained in the mouth at higher levels when participants flossed before brushing. Study subjects used a fluoride toothpaste during both phases of the investigation.

“As with choosing the right type of toothbrush and interdental cleaner, patients should also consult with their dentists on whether a fluoride toothpaste is best for them,” Dr. Daniel says.

The AAP recommends flossing regularly, brushing twice a day, and undergoing yearly comprehensive periodontal evaluations for the prevention of periodontal disease, which is treatable and often reversible with proper and timely care from a periodontist.

The complete study can be found on the JOP portal of the Wiley Online Library. To learn more about periodontal disease or to find a periodontist in your area, visit perio.org.

About the American Academy of Periodontology 

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) represents over 8,000 periodontists—specialists in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of inflammatory diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontics is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation released today a new online resource center on dental therapy to serve as an educational hub for consumer health advocates, philanthropy, journalists, policymakers, health professionals, parents, students, colleges and universities, and libraries to learn about dental therapy and how it is changing the lives of children, their families and their communities.

"We are excited to share this important wealth of knowledge on dental therapy, curated from the expertise of many grantees and partners who are dedicated to promoting oral health equity for children and families," said Patrick Simpson, director of food, health and well-being with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

This new website offers an extensive library of articles, documents, infographics, interactive tools, interviews, podcasts, social media assets and videos from organizations and experts across the country that showcase the opportunities and benefits of dental therapists to improving oral health.

Oral health is critical to overall health, yet many of America's children cannot get access to dental care where they live and when they need it. Dental therapists are part of a dentist-led team, who provide education, routine preventative and restorative care – including cleanings, fillings and simple extractions under the general supervision of a dentist – freeing the dentist to do the more advanced procedures. As a profession recognized in more than 50 countries, today in the U.S., dental therapists are practicing in Alaska, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington, while more tribes and states are considering how dental therapists can provide greater access to dental care in more communities.

Learn more at https://dentaltherapyresourceguide.wkkf.org/. 

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation 

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. Visit www.wkkf.org.

3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry, a digital lab on the forefront of innovative technology, opened its doors at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry on the Health Sciences Center campus in early August.

The lab provides enhanced workflows and technology services to the HSC campus including virtual designs and planning, scanning 3D printing and computer-controlled milling. Examples include dental crowns, splints and dentures for needs within the dental school, and various educational and surgical projects for campus departments.

With the most advanced technology, 3D prints can take as little as 45-60 minutes, depending on size. Another added benefit of 3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry is that costs are significantly cheaper than using outside companies because the lab is housed right on campus. Clients also have the luxury of being able to meet face-to-face with the team of prosthodontists who supervise the lab.

Currently, residents and graduate students in the postdoctoral programs have access to the lab and are using it on a daily basis, reducing chair time for their patients. Faculty members also have access to the lab and are using the 3D materials for courses, giving students a unique hands-on experience they wouldn’t get at other dental schools.

“The digital lab not only gives us the opportunity to provide our faculty with modern teaching materials for our students, but provides our students with the knowledge and resources to treat their patients more efficiently,” said OU College of Dentistry Dean, Dr. Raymond A. Cohlmia.

Eventually, the college would like to incorporate the use of the machines permanently into the curriculum, creating Digital Dental Technology courses where students would be trained extensively to use all types of dental technology. The combination of the digital lab and Digital Dental Technology courses will mark the OU College of Dentistry as one of the first dental schools in the U.S. to teach technology at this level.

Although it may seem the lab popped up over night, it took several months of extensive research, meetings and brainstorming sessions for 3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry to become a reality. Months before the digital lab opened, Dean Cohlmia formulated the Digital Dentistry Task Force to start the conversation of integrating technology into the curriculum. The purpose of the task force is to evaluate, design and aid in the implementation of the digital technologies throughout the college for the benefit of the profession, the college’s curriculum, academia, research and other business opportunities. Dr. Yacoub Al Sakka, assistant professor in the Division of Prosthodontics,  was appointed Chair of the task force and Director of Digital Dental Technologies. Part of his role includes overseeing 3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry. From there, subcommittee members created a plan to open a new digital lab within the College of Dentistry.

“Across the HSC campus, several departments have shown interest in our lab and several others have started using 3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry for collaborative research projects and patient treatments,” said Dr. Al Sakka. “Our vision is to become a leader both on campus and across Oklahoma. We want the lab to be utilized by all dental and medical professionals across the state.”

To contact 3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry, please email Dentistry-3DSolutions@ouhsc.edu or call (405) 271-4887.

The OU College of Dentistry is home to the state’s only doctor of dental surgery program and baccalaureate degree program in dental hygiene. More than 60 percent of the state of Oklahoma’s dentists are graduates of the OU College of Dentistry. The college provides general dental care and specialty care to Oklahomans through student, resident and faculty practice clinics. The OU College of Dentistry has established a reputation of training its students to provide the highest quality of clinical care available.