Sterngold is pleased to announce the appointment of Patrick Hayden, M.Ed., to the position of Director of Sales. With 25 years of experience, Patrick comes to Sterngold with an extensive background in sales, customer relations, coaching, and leadership. Patrick has been a top-performer in sales positions within BioHorizons, Straumann, and Sybron. He also founded Hayden Education, a sales process and skills development organization, focusing on sales training for increased performance and efficiencies.

Patrick earned his Masters of Education in Curriculum Design and Adult Learning Theory from the University of Massachusetts and had created and delivered hundreds of education programs on the planning, placement, and restoration of dental implants using 3D digital technologies.

“The addition of Patrick will provide valuable leadership and further sales development for Sterngold. His experience within the industry and sales as a whole will not only increase our product and service outreach, but provide valuable tools and guidance necessary for growth and consistent customer service. We are pleased to welcome Patrick into the Sterngold family,” says Gordon Craig, President and CEO.

Panel of Industry Leaders Discuss the Intersection Between Culture and Business Performance

Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), discussed the intersection between organizational culture and business performance during a panel discussion at Dykema’s 6th Annual Definitive Conference for Dental Service Organizations (DSOs). The event was held on July 11th at the Omni Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

An event designed for practice owners, executives, and investors, Dykema’s Conference for DSOs assembled well-renowned thought leaders in the dental industry to share their experiences and best practices with attendees. Along with Steve Bilt, the Chief Executive Officer of Smile Brands Inc., Mr. Bergman participated in the “Titans of the Dental Industry” panel discussion, where he addressed a wide range of topics such as attracting and retaining talent, maintaining a positive organizational culture, giving back to underserved populations, using the DSO model to enhance clinical care, and reinventing and re-energizing business strategy.

“Dentistry is a people business, and success in business is always about people,” said Mr. Bergman. “Whether a DSO or a multinational company like Henry Schein, attracting and retaining talent is essential. In our experience, a values-based workplace culture that is embraced by all team members enhances productivity, morale, collegiality, and respect throughout the organization. It’s the foundation of our success.”

During the panel, Mr. Bergman also stressed the importance of giving back to the community, referencing Henry Schein’s global corporate social responsibility program, Henry Schein Cares, and its commitment to “doing well by doing good.” This commitment is exemplified through Company programs that are designed to enhance access to care, improve environmental sustainability, and foster a positive organizational culture.

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 19,000 Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company's network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively.

These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, as well as other alternate care sites.

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.

A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® and the Nasdaq 100® indexes, Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has operations or affiliates in 31 countries. The Company's sales from continuing operations reached $9.4 billion in 2018, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 13 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.

The fastest growing global dental bur manufacturer, Prima Dental Group, has added a new digital division to its offering which is already disrupting the world’s digital dentistry market. 

Prima Digital was launched in 2018, on the back of a partnership with the UK’s leading dental university, and under the guidance of the Group’s Head of Research and Innovation, Dr. Marilyn Goh.

The £1 million investment enabled the design of a select range of patent-pending milling tools, each CVD diamond coated – a thickness ten times that of any competitor product.  The range includes coated and uncoated variants with product extensions due to be released imminently.

The tools have been rigorously tested and independently verified to ensure optimum quality, with results revealing a more accurate restoration, delivering 29% better performance and up to 40% cost savings over the market leaders.

“As a business, we are always striving to innovate, and with the rise of the digital dentistry market, we quickly appreciated that there was an opportunity for us within this field,” comments Dr Goh.

“However, in line with our mission around the pursuit of better, we wanted to ensure that our entry into this market would be at the forefront, designing proven, best-in-quality products. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. Our tools are so precise that the pin-point accuracy ensures a perfect fit for the patient, and that means no chairside adjustments, saving time and cost for the dentist and improving the patient experience.”

With a busy first half of the year – including exhibiting at IDS 2019 where there was great interest and uptake – the team from Prima Digital will be visiting shows in Europe, Asia, and South Africa, as well as exhibiting in the US over the next six months.

StartUS Insights, an Austria-based data science company focusing on emerging technologies and companies, has identified Arfona, LLC, as one of the top 5 additive manufacturing startups in the healthcare industry. Arfona was selected as one of the most relevant additive manufacturing solutions globally out of 572 startups and was the only firm selected from the United States. Startups were analyzed using a data-driven scouting approach. 

The report makes note of the fact that “dental products are uniquely suited for the 3D printing process due to their small size, a high degree of customization to each patient, and complex traditional manufacturing methods.” 

Arfona Founder and CEO Justin Marks, CDT, goes on to describe the current state of restorative dentistry:

“What the industry has been doing to address the needs of the partially edentulous population up until now has been less than effective. Fewer than 14% of the more than 178 million Americans missing one or more teeth are being treated annually for tooth loss. The industry is in need of disruption and our 3D printing technology for the replacement of missing teeth provides solutions for the underserved dental population.”

Arfona specializes in thermoplastic 3D printing for the dental industry and is the inventor of the 3D printed Valplast flexible partial denture.

The original report by StartUS Insights can be viewed here.

Study by UAlbany research center found that shift in demographics might improve services for underserved populations

The dental profession is undergoing demographic changes, especially changes in gender distribution. A recent research study conducted by the Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) at the University at Albany’s Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS), in collaboration with the American Dental Association, evaluated differences in dental practice characteristics and service delivery by gender to anticipate changes that might affect the availability of dental services for underserved populations in the future.

Key findings include:

• In 2016, nearly 30 percent of all dentists in the US were female, versus 24 percent in 2010, which suggests that more women are entering the field.

• Overall, female dentists were younger and more diverse than their male colleagues. Higher proportions of female dentists were Hispanic, Black/African American, or were foreign trained, which contributes to increasing cultural and language diversity among dentists.

• Female dentists were more likely to complete residency training in general dentistry or in pediatric dentistry than their male counterparts.

• While the majority of female and male dentists owned their practices, worked full-time, and practiced in suburban or urban areas, proportionally more female dentists were employees, worked part-time, and practiced in urban areas than male dentists.

• Female dentists were also more likely to serve younger patients and patients covered by public dental insurance, such as Medicaid, than male dentists.

“Gender diversification of the dental workforce is only one aspect of our changing oral health care delivery systems,” said CHWS Project Director Simona Surdu. “Many factors, including generational differences, will continue to affect practice patterns in dentistry. It is important that we continue to study the oral health workforce in order to ensure an adequate supply and appropriate distribution of dental professionals to meet the needs of the growing and aging US population.”

To view the report, visit the CHWS website at https://www.chwsny.org.

For more information about the Oral Health Workforce Research Center, visit www.oralhealthworkforce.org.

Established in 1996, CHWS is an academic research organization, based at the School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY). The mission of CHWS is to provide timely, accurate data and conduct policy relevant research about the health workforce. The research conducted by CHWS supports and promotes health workforce planning and policymaking at local, regional, state, and national levels. Today, CHWS is a national leader in the field of health workforce studies, and the only HRSA-sponsored center with a unique focus on the oral health workforce.  

This work was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $449,821. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the US Government.

- Hinman 2020 to Be Held March 19-21 in Atlanta, Georgia -

The Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting -- the nation’s leading dental meeting and comprehensive source of continuing education in dentistry – has announced its 2020 dates. The 108^th annual meeting will take place March 19-21, 2020 at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, Air Force Colonel (Ret.) Nicole Malachowski, one of the first women to fly modern fighters in combat, will be the featured Keynote Speaker on Thursday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m.

“We have an outstanding program lined up for Hinman 2020 with the theme, Come Home to Hinman - Where Teamwork Meets Success. It promises to be one big homecoming event dedicated to improving skills, expanding capabilities and collaborating with colleagues and your dental team to achieve success,” said Dr. Bob O’Donnell, General Chair for Hinman 2020. “We are also excited to feature Col. Nicole Malachowski as our Keynote Speaker this year. She was not only a jet fighter pilot, but also became the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, and defied odds to forge a successful path through many cultural changes in the military.”

Col. Malachowski served more than 21 years as an officer, leader and fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. She was a mission-ready fighter pilot in three operational F-15E squadrons and accumulated over 2,300 flight hours, including 188 hours in combat. In addition, she has had the honor of commanding a fighter squadron, being the first woman USAF Thunderbird pilot, serving as a White House Fellow and being inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. Her career ended when she contracted a devastating tick-borne illness that left her unable to speak or walk for 10 months. She fought back against overwhelming odds and now draws on stories from her career and personal life to inspire others to rethink the challenges they face every day.

“In addition to the Keynote Session, Hinman 2020 has a full slate of educational lectures and workshops presented by the best and brightest in the dental profession. Many new speakers, as well as dentistry’s favorites, will be at Hinman 2020,” added Dr. O’Donnell.

Some confirmed speakers include: Dr. Gordon Christensen, Ms. Susan Gunn, Dr. Henry Gremillion, Dr. Mel Hawkins, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, Dr. Samson Ng, Dr. Uche Odiatu, Ms. Laci Phillips, Drs. Robert and Bobbi Stanley, Dr. “Sully” Sullivan and Ms. Rachel Wall. Visit the Hinman website for an updated roster of speakers.

Complementing the educational program, Hinman 2020 will feature nearly 400 companies -- located in the GWCC, Building A, Exhibit Hall. Exhibitors will showcase new technology, equipment, products and services for the entire dental staff. The exhibit hall will be open on Thursday, March 19, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday, March 20, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Saturday, March 21, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Registration for Hinman 2020 will open on December 10, 2019. Please visit Hinman.org for more information.

The Hinman Tradition

The Hinman Dental Meeting is designed with a commitment to quality and professionalism and a high regard for the value of continuing education. The Meeting is sponsored by the Hinman Dental Society, a non-profit organization, and excess revenue is invested and gifted in the form of individual scholarshipsto dental, hygiene and assisting students and in contributions to institutions that foster dental education. For additional information about the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting, visit Hinman.org or contact Ms. Sylvia Ratchford, Executive Director, at (404) 231-1663.

Number of U.S. pediatric dentists projected to increase by over 60 percent within the next decade

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the leading authority on children's oral health, announced that a new study will appear in the July issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), "Pediatric Dental Workforce in 2016 and Beyond" by Surdu and colleagues.  According to the new report, the number of U.S. pediatric dentists is projected to increase by over 60 percent within the next decade.

Commissioned by the AAPD, the study conducted by the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany, SUNY, gathered exhaustive data on the current supply and distribution of pediatric dentists relative to their patient populations. The Center applied a workforce simulation model to the data to anticipate future supply and demand for pediatric dentists and help ensure children receive recommended dental services.

"Pediatric dentists provide crucial oral health services to our nation's most vulnerable populations – the very young, children from low-income families, and those with special healthcare needs," stated Dr. Kevin Donly, president of the AAPD. "More pediatric dentists mean more access to high-quality oral health care for children and more opportunities to prevent dental disease."

Based on nearly two decades of successful advocacy for federal support of more pediatric dental residency programs, the number of practicing pediatric dentists in the U.S. has nearly doubled, from 4,213 in 2001 to 8,033 in 2018. Per the study, if retirement and graduation rates continue at the current levels, the number of pediatric dentists is projected to increase by 62 percent. Translated into patient access to care, the supply of full-time pediatric dentists will grow from 9 to 14 per 100,000 children.

The supply of pediatric dentists is predicted to continue growing. If children in underserved populations face fewer access barriers, then the higher number of pediatric dentists will be poised to care for the large amount of unmet oral health needs.

"More than half of children with public insurance are visiting a dentist for the first time ever, meaning half still lack care," said Donly. "Underserved children struggle with higher rates of dental disease. They are more likely to suffer from dental pain and require restorative treatment. That's why we continually advocate for changes in health policy to reduce barriers to oral health care."

The study offers solid strategies to increase utilization of oral health services for children. Recommended actions include changes in Medicaid policy affecting the quality or quantity of dental benefits for children, support for pediatric dentists' participation with Medicaid programs, increased rates of referrals of children by pediatricians and primary care physicians, improvements in oral health literacy of adults parenting or caring for young children, and narrowing of oral health disparities among certain populations of children.

The study also found that the supply of pediatric dentists varies substantially by geographic location. The ratio of pediatric dentists to children is lowest in states with a larger percentage of rural populations. These research results suggest opportunities for providing care in areas not traditionally served by pediatric dentistry, particularly in smaller population centers where the need is great for oral health services for children.

"Now that we have more pediatric dentists, we can devote our efforts to encouraging them to practice in locations previously out of reach of specialist services," stated Donly. "The expansion of loan repayment assistance programs has helped place more dentists in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas. Children deserve access to the same high-quality oral health services no matter where they live."

About the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is the recognized authority on children's oral health. As advocates for children's oral health, the AAPD promotes evidence-based policies and clinical recommendations; educates and informs policymakers, parents and guardians, and other health care professionals; fosters research; and provides continuing professional education for pediatric dentists and general dentists who treat children. Founded in 1947, the AAPD is a not for-profit professional membership association representing the specialty of pediatric dentistry. Its 10,500 members provide primary care and comprehensive dental specialty treatments for infants, children, adolescents and individuals with special health care needs. For further information, visit the AAPD website at https://www.aapd.org or the AAPD's consumer website at https://www.mychildrensteeth.org.

Whip Mix welcomes Bryce Hiller, CDT, as one of Whip Mix’s Technical Support Specialists. He comes to Whip Mix from Central Ohio, where he developed his love for digital dentistry. Originally a technician at Ford’s Dental Lab in Nelsonville, Ohio, he now specializes in 3Shape design, 3D printing, and milling. With a passion for helping labs and practices transition from analog to digital workflows, Bryce’s goal is to foster innovation and empower professionals in the dental industry with various CAD/CAM and digital manufacturing technologies.