PlanmecaUSA today announced it is offering significant product and technology upgrades for dentists looking to invest in dental technology in the fourth quarter of 2018.

“We believe these upgrades will help dentists maximize the potential of our technology to benefit their patients and enter 2019 with a competitive edge in their market,” said Ed McDonough, President of PlanmecaUSA.

The Roselle, Ill.,-based company has a long history of constant technology upgrades and these improvements track with the company’s commitment to providing long-term value to its customers. PlanmecaUSA will be introducing these upgrades throughout the fall tradeshow season.

Planmeca PlanMill®30 S - The Planmeca PlanMill 30 S is an entry-level milling unit, making this 4-axis high-speed single spindle milling unit ideal for single visit restorations and milling of inlays, onlays, crowns, and bridges. The Planmeca PlanMill 30 S provides the same SMART software and a broad range of milling materials, including Zirconia.

Planmeca Romexis® 5.2 - This release adds a new module to the Planmeca Romexis software, Model Analyzer, and streamlines specialty workflows. Model Analyzer allows direct capture of intraoral scans for dental model measurement, visualization, and analysis for treatment planning or future use. Improvements to the imaging and imaging workflows create a streamlined process for clinicians. An enhanced implant library now features fixation pins for fully edentulous patients and new and updated implants and sleeves.

Planmeca PlanCAD® 6.0.5 - New features include Contralateral Copy for replicating contralateral dentition or design. HD Snapshot enables the user to take a high definition picture with the Planmeca Emerald scanner and the PlanScan® DASH increases the scanning rate of your Planmeca PlanScan for faster image capture.

Planmeca Emerald™ Slim Line Scanning Tip – The Planmeca Emerald Slim Line Tip is 27% thinner than our standard tip. The Planmeca Emerald Slim Line Tip features the same hygienic, autoclavable tip and SMART functionality with usage tracking and anti-fog system. The slimmer scanning tip is ideal for patients with smaller mouths or compromised dentition, enhances posterior reach and elevates your patient’s experience through easy capture of interproximal areas.

To learn more about Planmeca’s digital technology, visit www.planmecausa.com. 

Washington State-based dentist Dr. Greg Grillo recently filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting to regulate the manufacturing of dangerously acidic oral moisturizers currently sold over the counter in the US. Grillo, along with hundreds of dental professionals and consumers, want the agency to address this public health concern by requiring these products be safely formulated prior to distribution.

Dr. Grillo’s concern stemmed from an August 2017 study that reported, to be safe, oral moisturizers for dry mouth should contain a pH level of 6.7 or higher, and that any oral moisturizer with a pH level below 5.5 is dangerous. Those findings were corroborated by a March 2018 University of Florida study that measured dentin tooth erosion when exposed to acidic dry mouth lozenges and concluded that a correlation exists between high acidity and dentin tooth loss. The objective of the study was to measure the pH levels, titratable acidity, and erosive effect of commercially distributed dry mouth lozenges on dentin.

The research identified seven oral moisturizers for dry mouth sold in the US that have a pH level below 5.5 and caused significant amounts of tooth erosion:

- OraMoist®, by DenTek™ (2.9 pH)

- Mouth Kote®, by Parnell Pharmaceuticals (3.0 pH)

- Cotton Mouth Lozenges®, by Cotton Mouth Candy Company (3.1 pH)

- MedActive® Oral Relief Lozenges (3.2 pH)

- Hager Pharma Dry Mouth Drops (4.4 pH)

- Rite Aid® Dry Mouth Discs (5.1 pH)

- CVS Pharmacy™ Dry Mouth Discs (5.3 pH)

The recent studies prompted Dr. Grillo to initiate the petition aimed at increasing awareness of the troubling issue. In addition to the FDA filing, Dr. Grillo sent a certified letter to the CEOs of each of the seven companies urging them to remove said products from their shelves until they are reformulated to meet safety standards.

“It’s critical that these products be removed for the long-term oral health of the thousands of people who use these products on a daily basis,” remarked Dr. Grillo. “With the strong backing of hundreds of fellow concerned dental professionals, we’re confident that the FDA will do the right thing and call for the safe manufacturing of all oral moisturizers sold in America. I’m also personally confident that the Chief Executives of each of these companies will put public safety first and remove their dangerously acidic products at once.”

The FDA filing, the letters sent to the seven manufacturer’s CEOs, and the original petition can all be viewed at https://oralacidityawareness.wordpress.com.

About Dr. Greg Grillo

Dr. Greg Grillo is a 1995 University of Washington School of Dentistry graduate practicing in North Central Washington. He balances clinical practice with his role as Content Director for Legwork, a rapidly growing dental software company. Dr. Grillo purchased his current practice in 2001, after serving four years as a US Navy Dental Officer. He’s now the senior partner of Grillo Robeck Dental, an innovative practice blending technology with exceptional staffing to provide relationship-based healthcare. For more information, visit https://www.grillorobeckdds.com.

Newswise — The dread many feel about going to the dentist can result in serious health consequences.

"As long as anxiety is greater than pain, you see avoidance," said Marisol Tellez Merchán, associate professor at Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry and residency director of Dental Public Health. "Avoiding dental care leads to delayed treatments, which are typically more invasive. Our aim is to reduce anxiety so patients can get the care they need."

A collaboration between Temple University's dentistry and psychology researchers is showing promising results in the battle against dental anxiety, as evidenced by a $2.59 million award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

This is the largest NIH grant ever received by the Kornberg School of Dentistry and the latest in a series of multimillion-dollar grants awarded to the Psychology Department of Temple’s College of Liberal Arts. It will fund a five-year clinical trial for 450 patients at Temple’s Faculty Dental Practice in North Philadelphia.

Tellez Merchán’s dentistry expertise is coupled with the clinical psychology expertise of research collaborator, Richard G. Heimberg, the Thaddeus L. Bolton Professor of Psychology in Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts. He runs the Adult Anxiety Clinic of Temple, which most frequently focuses on the treatment of social anxiety and general anxiety.

Dental anxiety, however, seemed like a subject better managed in the dental environment than a psychologist's office.

"Prior to our work, psychology and dentistry didn't have much of a history together," said Heimberg, who credits Amid I. Ismail—dean and Laura H. Carnell Professor in the Kornberg School of Dentistry—with introducing him and Tellez Merchán and supporting their work together. 

"We wanted to pursue whether it's possible to put a psychologist's tool in the hands of dental assistants," Heimberg said.

The tool he and Tellez Merchán have developed is an online intervention to help dental patients become more comfortable with treatment.

Avoiding dental care leads to delayed treatments, which are typically more invasive. Our aim is to reduce anxiety so patients can get the care they need."

-- Marisol Tellez Merchán, associate professor, Kornberg School of Dentistry

First, the patient learns about dental anxiety and chooses the three subjects most relevant to them, such as cleanings, X-rays, cavity fillings, root canals, injections or extractions. Then, the patient is shown three videos per topic easing them into the procedure.

In each case, the first video is shown at a distance with animations of the inside of the mouth and voiceover detailing the experience. The second video shows a closer view of the patient's face and the dentist at work as the two talk about coping with anxiety. The third video is the closest, featuring the patient's point of view of the procedure and the patient’s voice describing coping thoughts.

"The goal isn't to make people love going to the dentist," Heimberg said. "But we do want to change anxious thoughts into coping thoughts."

Ismail began seriously thinking about dental anxiety 12 years ago when he observed that some patients refused to seek care even when it was provided for free. That led him to assemble the researchers necessary to plan studies and advance potential solutions. Multiple pilots later, he’s thrilled to see this clinical trial come to life.

"It is exciting to see that after 12 years of working on an idea, we are successfully moving forward with a major clinical trial to test the hypothesis that we can reduce dental anxiety and improve access to dental care," Ismail said. 

With their funding secured for the next five years, Heimberg and Tellez Merchán are currently building up their staff and will soon enter the recruiting phase of their clinical trial.

Ultimately, Tellez Merchán says, the impact of their approach could be significant because of its potential to be used by dental practitioners and patients anywhere. 

Future iterations, she said, might include translations into additional languages for even greater reach.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute Of Dental & Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U01DE027328. The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Children who live in poverty are twice as likely to suffer from untreated tooth decay than their more affluent peers. Thanks to a generous product contribution to America’s ToothFairy from Benco Dental, thousands of children will receive pain-free treatment.

Over $167,000 in Graham Chemical Articaine and Epinephrine anesthetic was donated by Benco Dental to America’s ToothFairy. The product donation was distributed to ten nonprofit clinics to support treatment services for underserved youth, including Dr. Earl R. Crane Children’s Dental Health Center and the Orange Grove Dental Clinic.

“Having a pain-free experience at the dentist is an important factor in encouraging return visits for preventive and restorative care,” said Richard Cohen, Managing Director of Benco Dental. “Benco Dental is proud to donate our anesthetic to America’s ToothFairy to support critical dental care for underserved children and their families.”

“This generous donation from Benco will enable us to provide comprehensive dental care for children in need and save them from needless pain,” said Terry Davis, DDS, Dental Advisor of Dr. Earl R. Crane Children’s Dental Health Center, a program of the Assistance League of San Bernadino, CA.

“The children and young adults who visit our clinic have extraordinary treatment needs,” commented Misha Garey, DDS, Dental Director of the Orange Grove Dental Clinic, a program in Chattanooga, TN, serving patients with special needs. “This donation of anesthetic is especially helpful for children with sensory issues that would otherwise make treatment impossible.”

“Far too many children have been living with dental pain for a very long time. Benco Dental’s generosity helps our Dental Resource Program partners make their treatment comfortable, which is essential for all children, and especially those with physical and cognitive disabilities,” said Jill Malmgren, Executive Director for America’s ToothFairy. “We are very grateful for Benco Dental’s continued support that enables our clinical partners to treat more children in need.”

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.

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

About America’s ToothFairy

As a resource provider, America’s ToothFairy increases access to oral health care by supporting non-profit clinics and community partners delivering education, prevention, and treatment services for underserved children. Since its inception in 2006, America’s ToothFairy has distributed more than $19 million in donated products, educational materials, and financial grants to improve oral health outcomes for children and youth in need. For more information, visit www.AmericasToothFairy.org. 

The vhf camfacture AG, manufacturer of milling machines, tools and CAM software for the industrial, sign-making, and dental technology sectors, celebrated its 30th anniversary this September. High-quality products made in Germany and comprehensive service are the focus of the company, which currently employs 220 people.

What began in 1988 as a start-up of young computer enthusiasts is now an internationally successful company. Back then, the software required for printed circuit board design was not available on the market, so it was developed in-house. What sounds like Silicon Valley has remained part of vhf’s DNA to this day: “Inventiveness and the willingness to always go the proverbial extra mile for our customers have made vhf a leading company in the industry,” says CEO Frank Benzinger, explaining the success of the company.

“I am very proud of what we have achieved in these 30 years. This was only possible thanks to our outstanding employees. Because of our good cooperation among each other, we have a very good reputation as an attractive employer in the region and we are always in search of highly motivated and passionate talents to work with us on new projects,” explains Ria Brandenberger, board member at vhf. “Moreover,” adds Frank Benzinger, “we owe this milestone to our customers, who know and appreciate us as reliable and quality-conscious business partners. They benefit from an extremely high vertical range of manufacture as all of our products are developed and manufactured here at the site – this is truly high technology made in Germany.”

The high quality standards are reflected in the machines and tools of the manufacturer based in Ammerbuch near Stuttgart. vhf launched two new products in connection with its anniversary: the K5+ dental milling machine and the vhf X – a large-format CNC milling machine that was recently presented with a sensational show at the leading metalworking trade fair AMB in Stuttgart. But vhf has made a name for itself well beyond the Stuttgart region. In 2016, the company opened a branch close to New York, enabling even better service for partners and customers in the USA.

This service concept plays a major role at vhf, as Frank Benzinger explains: “Our customers should be confident that they are not only purchasing high-quality products, but also getting the best possible service and support. Their feedback clearly shows us that we are well positioned for the future with this approach.”

vhf also sets high standards in its day-to-day business: As a sustainable producer, the manufacturer relies on solar and hydro energy while being committed to resource-conserving management practices. Social commitment in the region and beyond is also a core principle at the company.

Recently, vhf celebrated its anniversary in style together with its employees.

The clinical performance of hardly any other dental material has been as thoroughly documented as that of IPS e.max. A scientific report has now been published containing the study results of the past 16 years. The all-ceramic system has been scientifically documented since its development stages. The study results of notable experts have contributed to the compilation of an excellent database. This information and the fulfilment of the high expectations of customers in terms of reliability and esthetics are the foundation for the success of the products. The Scientific Report about this all-ceramic system clearly illustrates the exceptional reliability of the materials.

All the materials satisfy users

The Report provides a summary of the most important in-vivo and in-vitro study results from 2001 to 2017. The results speak for themselves: The average survival rate for both lithium disilicate and zirconium oxide is 96 percent.

Viable alternative to metal-ceramic restorations

Due to their high survival rates, all-ceramic restorations made of IPS e.max, in many cases, present an excellent alternative to metal-ceramic restorations, which are still considered to be the standard in dentistry.

Scientifically presented

The Report succinctly and accessibly summarizes the most important in-vivo results from 16 IPS e.max CAD, 12 IPS e.max Press, and 11 IPS e.max ZirCAD studies. In addition, readers are provided with detailed information about the different studies.

Convergent Dental Inc., developers of Solea®, the industry-leading CO2 all-tissue dental laser, is pleased to announce The Next Generation of Solea. The latest advancements provide unprecedented performance, significant software upgrades, improved ergonomics, increased accessibility and a smaller footprint.

“This new generation of Solea provides a quantum leap in performance at every level. Most importantly it enables dentists to do virtually 100% of cavity preps anesthesia-free,” remarked Convergent Dental CEO Michael Cataldo. “In addition, Solea now cuts faster and smoother so dentists get more done in less time with an even better patient experience.”

Solea earned its reputation for enabling dramatic practice growth and reduced stress for dentists and patients by taking anesthesia, bleeding, sutures, and discomfort out of the dental experience. Before the launch of this new platform, Solea dentists reported doing 4 – 6 more procedures per day while feeling like they were doing less work. With this new generation, Solea dentists will benefit from even more growth while enjoying an even more relaxing work day. Better still, it all comes in a smaller package that is even easier to use.

Unprecedented Clinical Performance - Statistics collected from over 1,000 procedures in early use of the new Solea platform include:

• Improved anesthesia-free performance - nearly 100% of cavity preps were completed without anesthesia and without discomfort.

• Faster hard tissue cutting by 31% compared to the previous platform.

• 10% smoother surface finishes providing better margins and reduced prep time.

• Faster soft tissue cutting with minimal to no bleeding.

Smaller Footprint - Solea is 15% slimmer, making it easier to move around the office and operatory.

Enhanced Software – User-customizable options, user-specific profiles and faster start-up.

Enhanced Ergonomics - A lighter, more maneuverable handpiece with improved rotation and a wider range of motion.

Improved Remote Access – A 4G LTE mobile data connection has been added along with the existing Wi-Fi capability, improving Solea’s accessibility for software updates and remote service and support.

Actual results: 99.2% of 833 cavities and 132 soft tissue procedures treated successfully without local anesthesia in early use.

For further information about Solea, please visit www.convergentdental.com or call 844.GOSOLEA.

About Convergent Dental, Inc.

Convergent Dental, Inc. is a privately owned dental equipment and technology company. The Company’s flagship product, Solea®, is the only CO2 laser to be cleared by the FDA for all-tissue indications and delivers an anesthesia-free, blood-free, suture-free experience that you can count on. Solea is a true breakthrough in dental laser technology that delivers a completely different experience for both dentists and patients versus traditional instruments or any laser before. Solea enables better clinical outcomes, dramatic practice growth, and a superior patient experience.

For more information, please visit www.convergentdental.com. Follow the company on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

quip, the oral health service that makes oral care more simple, accessible and enjoyable, today announced it will sell its American Dental Association accepted electric toothbrush starter sets at Target. Electric toothbrushes start at just $25.

With a focus on maximizing the health benefits of quip’s ongoing oral care services, quip electric toothbrush starter sets will be sold at Target, with refill packs and subscription plans available exclusively on getquip.com, offering consumers a true omni-channel experience. After purchasing a starter set at Target, customers will be directed to quip’s website, where they can learn the health, cost and convenience benefits of a quip subscription. Subscription plans include automatic delivery of a fresh brush head refill on a dentist-recommended 3-month schedule to ensure your brush stays hygienic and effective at cleaning, optional anticavity toothpaste, a warranty that covers quip for the life of the plan, and ongoing oral health education, reminders, rewards and support.

“We have always been eager to increase access to high quality yet affordable oral care products through retail, but we were only willing to do so with a partner that understood how important it is to continue to help consumers maintain good oral care habits every day after purchase, and for life,” says Simon Enever, CEO and co-founder of quip. “Habits like brushing for two minutes twice a day, changing your brush head every three months and visiting the dentist every six months are critical for oral health, and we’re building our products and services to improve every part of this routine. We’re delighted that Target understands the health benefit that a quip subscription brings to their guests, and are excited to work together to create a unique experience that guides guests through the habits that make up a perfect oral care routine.”

As the largest oral care subscription service, quip has built a digital platform with a direct relationship with hundreds of thousands of active members and tens of thousands of dental professionals. This gives quip unparalleled insights to the needs of consumers, and the ability to improve the connection between patients and professional care.

quip’s entry into Target marks their latest move to expand their healthcare offerings. This week, quip passed the one million user milestone. Recently, quip announced the acquisition of Afora, the New York-based dental insurance alternative. Afora became the first company to join the newly launched quip Labs, a venture studio created to foster innovation and development of emerging oral health products, platforms and services.

For more information on where to find quip and Target together, visit target.com/quip

About quip

quip is an oral health company that provides thoughtfully designed products and professional dental services to make oral care more simple, accessible, and enjoyable. The current offerings include a wide selection of one of the first American Dental Association accepted (ADA seal) electric toothbrushes, a subscription service on a dentist recommended schedule for brush heads and optional toothpaste, ongoing oral health advice and support, and incentives for timely dental check ups. quip’s toothbrush enables better brushing habits by guiding people through a thorough two minute clean using sensitive vibrating bristles that pulse every 30-seconds to cover the entirety of the mouth. Co-founded by Simon Enever and Bill May, quip's investors include Sherpa Capital and Blue Scorpion VC.

Why should dentists only benefit from the trusted polyether properties only when taking impressions for large complex cases and implants? In the past, the longer setting time of polyether has been one of the reasons to choose VPS materials for smaller cases. With the new 3M™ Impregum™ Super Quick Polyether Impression Material – the first true superfast polyether - dentists are now able to capture every detail in just two minutes.

This next generation polyether is specifically formulated for capturing single-unit restorations such as crowns, implants, inlays/onlays and smaller bridges up to three units. The new tray and wash materials result in a setting reaction of only two minutes; and, combined with a significantly improved material taste, it leads to increased patient comfort.

“With the new Impregum Super Quick Polyether, dental practitioners will benefit from the well-known and trusted characteristics of a polyether impression material: hydrophilicity, a unique flow behavior and a consistent flow throughout the whole working time,” said Bryant Ricker, Vice President, US Business for 3M Oral Care Division. “Additionally, this material contains properties that will lead to increased efficiency in the dental office and laboratory, as the number of remakes and adjustments are reduced.”

The material’s inherent hydrophilicity promotes excellent wettability with remaining oral fluids and supports precise capturing of details which is essential in the area of the preparation margin. This benefit of exact detail reproduction is supported by the material’s ability to flow into every spot. There is also no need to hurry as the flow behavior remains unchanged throughout the entire working time, which is followed by an immediate “snap set” reaction. This is different from VPS materials and helps the user avoid inaccuracies that may result from premature setting.

The new super-quick polyether materials are added to the existing portfolio of regular and quick setting Impregum polyether impression materials. A perfectly suited polyether is available for every indication and the monophase and 1-step impression technique. For simplification of the impression taking procedure, different materials and accessories are provided by 3M – from retraction capsules to mixing and syringing devices and trays.

To learn more about 3M™ Impregum™ Super Quick Polyether Impression Material, please visit www.3m.com/ImpregumSQ

About 3M Oral Care

3M Oral Care promotes lifelong oral wellness through inventive solutions that help oral care professionals achieve greater clinical, professional and personal success. Learn more at 3M.com/Dental.

3M is a trademark of 3M or 3M Deutschland GmbH. Used under license in Canada. © 3M 2018. All rights reserved. 

About 3M

At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $32 billion in sales, our 91,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.