Effective January 1, 2020, current VP of Sales & Marketing Anne Steinbock will succeed Allen Steinbock as CEO of Whip Mix Corporation. Allen will continue as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board recognizes that much of the company’s success over its 100th year in business is due to Allen’s 45 years of strong leadership.

“I’m honored and excited to be chosen as the next CEO of Whip Mix,” says Anne. “I look forward to working with the board and our leadership team as we continue to focus on the future needs of the dental profession.” Anne joined Whip Mix in 1986 as one of the third generation of the Steinbock family. “Anne has proven herself as she has steadily advanced through our organization and she is now well prepared to assume the reins at Whip Mix. She brings a passion for taking care of our customers,” stated Allen Steinbock.

Additional new leadership changes in the Whip Mix organization include: Larry Edlin, International Sales Manager, promoted to Vice President of Sales, and Pat Higgins, Vice President of New Business Development, adding the responsibility for Marketing. Both will report to Jim Myers, President. “I am very confident that Anne, Larry, and Pat bring the skills and experience to their new responsibilities that will help continue to make us the vibrant and successful company that we are building,” said Myers.

Aurora Digital Technology Center, LLC, a New-York based dental laboratory outsourcing and technology center, announced today the acquisition of certain assets of Custom Milling Center (CMC) from Zahn Dental, the US dental laboratory business of Henry Schein, Inc. As a result, Zahn will exit the laboratory milling category to further its focus on emerging technologies designed to help dental laboratories navigate through the digital transition that is occurring in the dental laboratory industry today.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Golden, Colorado, CMC offers esthetic solutions for laboratories of all sizes and business models using leading CAD/CAM equipment and a team of CDTs, CNC operators, and customer support personnel. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

As a result of the acquisition, Aurora Digital Technology Center plans to continue to operate as an outsourcing and technology center, using the latest digital technology to produce restorations and dental appliances for its dental laboratory customers, eliminating the customers’ need to invest in additional CAD/CAM equipment. The Company will also provide a more diverse selection of new products and services that laboratories can use to fulfill their doctors’ individual needs.

“By acquiring CMC, we can further advance our mission to serve as a one-stop digital solution, enabling dental laboratories to provide outstanding service to their clients,” said Enrico Romano, Co-Founder and CEO, Aurora Digital Technology Center. “Serving as an extension of dental laboratory teams and using the industry-leading digital technology, we can provide on-time delivery, high-quality restorations, excellent value and reliable service.”

“Exiting the CMC business will help us increase our focus on, and investment in, emerging technologies – such as digital dentures – and enhance our commitment to serving as a key resource for customers looking to transition from analog to digital,” said Rich Miranda, President, Global Prosthetic Solutions and Laboratory Group, Henry Schein. “We will continue to deliver more resources that educate, train, and help laboratories operate a more efficient, profitable, and ultimately more successful dental laboratory business.”

Barrier Free Bioactivity…

Many restorative materials are presented as Bioactive, however, they rarely provide the ionic release required for improved outcomes.

Each of these materials require an adhesive to be placed between the tooth and the material itself. This adhesive layer prevents the Bioactive ions released by the restorative material from engaging the tooth structure, thus limiting Bioactive benefits.

Vista Regennex Bioactive Universal Bond, incorporates Bioactive materials directly into the adhesive layer, depositing biologically charged ions where it counts. This allows you to obtain bioactivity while using any of your trusted composites, or other restorative materials!

Regennex is proprietary chemistry, using Bioglass as the active ingredient. Bioglass is an osteogenic catalyst, proven through decades of medical research and countless clinical studies to stimulate bone cells toward self-repair.

Bioglass is a biocompatible, antimicrobial material that has been verified to release the necessary ions to stimulate hydroxyapatite formation. There are many clinical benefits with results including the closure of any gaps at the resin-dentin interface and potential for improved bond longevity.

Find out more by visiting www.vistadental.com, call 877-418-4782 or email info@vista-dental.com.

The Ratava Group welcomes Libby Whitt, Business Coordinator. Whitt is a graduate of USF and is responsible for coordinating sales and marketing services, international vendor relations, and overall business operations for RG. Whitt is based in Tampa Bay.

Amann Girrbach AG  has announced that Wolfgang Reim, currently Chairman of the Company, will be replacing Peter Nicklin as CEO on an interim basis until a new CEO has been appointed. Peter Nicklin has lead the company through its ownership change from TA Associates to Capvis/Partners Group in 2018 and has now decided to step down for personal reasons. However, he will be available to further support the company in strategic matters. 

Wolfgang Reim holds a PhD in Physics from ETH Zürich and has extensive experience in the med-tech sector, having held several senior executive positions in the industry during his career, including CEO of Dräger Medical and, prior to that, CEO of the Special Products and the Ultrasound divisions at Siemens Healthcare, as well as recent interim-CEO roles at privately held DORC International B.V. and Ondal Medical Systems GmbH. He also currently serves as a member of the Boards of the listed firms Elekta AB and GN Store Nord A/S. He has been Chairman of Amann Girrbach since June 2018.

He comments: “I have been working with Amann Girrbach for the last 18 months and have been impressed with the progress the business has made in the last few years. It is a truly innovative company, at the vanguard of digital dental workflows, and I look forward to taking more executive responsibilities in the months to come. I wish Peter Nicklin all the best for his future business interests and thank him for his contribution to Amann Girrbach’s development.”

Ivoclar Vivadent as announced the following courses for their 2020 schedule:

Digital Dentures Workshop 

Course Description:

The predictable fabrication of removable prostheses through digital processes provides today's digital laboratory with unique opportunities to enhance the quality of the services they provide and increase profitability in their business. As a leader in this technology, Ivoclar Vivadent in partnership with 3Shape has introduced a digital design module (Digital Denture Professional) containing exclusive "oversized milling" workflows as well as Ivoclar Vivadent denture tooth libraries. This design module coupled with state of the art Ivoclar Vivadent mills and mill-able materials round out a total system approach for delivery of predictable, high quality denture prosthetics. 

Course Information:

Location: ICDE – Sarasota, FL 

Dates for 2020: February 13 & 14, April 16 & 17, June 11 & 12, August 13 & 14, October 8 & 9, December 17 & 18 

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Lecture & Hands-On (Lunch Included) 

Instructor: IV Faculty 

Cost: $599.00 

CE: 16 Hours 

Prerequisites:

- Ivoclar Digital Denture

- 3 Shape Dental System Premium 17.2 or higher

- 3 Shape Full Denture Module (Or CAD Points)

- 3 Shape d750 Scanner or higher 3 Shape Scan IT Impression Module 

Beauty with IPS e.max® Prime with Yuki Momma, RDT 

Course Description: 

One of the greatest challenges in modern restorative dentistry is how to balance the seemingly conflicting needs of high durability in our restorative materials with the ever-increasing esthetic demands of our patients. In this course, Yuki Momma will demonstrate his masterful approach in designing dental restorations that not only beautifully integrate into the oral environment, but also exhibit the robustness needed for long-term stability in function. 

Starting with a demonstration of the functional design concepts, IPS e.max® ZirCAD frameworks will be developed as a canvas for the ceramic artistry. A combination of IPS e.max® Ceram and Ivocolor will be used to give life to the restoration. 

Course Information: 

Dates: March 19 & 20, 2020 – Santa Fe Springs, CA, July 16 & 17, 2020 – Amherst, NY, October 15 & 16, 2020 – Sarasota, FL 

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Lecture & Hands-On (Lunch Included) 

Instructor: Yuki Momma, RDT 

Cost: $749.00 

CE: 16 Hours

Let's Get "Primed"

Course Description:

One of the most exciting advances in the category of oxide ceramics is IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime. Utilizing a manufacturing concept known as "Gradient Technology" this unique material is so much more than just another zirconia. It is the first ever to offer the high strength of traditional framework zirconia, along with the impressive translucency and esthetics of the latest generation high translucent materials. No longer do we need to compromise strength and durability required for long span restorations in order to achieve the natural beauty our patients demand. 

In this 1½ day course, participants will fabricate a long span bridge utilizing micro-layering with IPS e.max Ceram in the esthetic zone and a monolithic approach to maximize strength in the posterior segment. The Ivocolor universal shading system will be used to characterize and glaze both the layered and non-layered bridge segments.

Course Information:

Dates: April 9 & 10, 2020 – Amherst, NY, August 6 & 7, 2020 – Santa Fe Springs, CA, November 12 & 13, 2020 – Sarasota, FL

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Lecture & Hands-On (Lunch Included) 

Instructor: IV Faculty 

Cost: $549.00 

CE: 12 Hours 

Maximizing Anterior & Posterior Restorations with IPS e.max® CAD Advanced Characterization 

Course Description:

Participants will create esthetic restorations along with an examination of color theory and its practical application in shading and characterization of IPS e.max® CAD restorations that are produced in a chairside CAD/CAM System. This course will cover finishing techniques in the “blue state” and the proper burs and tools to achieve natural looking restorations. There will be a demonstration of fast and efficient techniques for single firing restorations as well as the possibility to create same-day lab quality esthetics. This will allow the doctor and their staff to fully utilize the potential of IPS e.max® CAD ceramic system in creating maximum esthetics for a variety of clinical situations. 

Course Information:

Dates: March 13, 2020 – Sarasota, FL, August 7, 2020 – Amherst, NY, October 30, 2020 – Santa Fe Springs, CA 

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Lecture & Hands-On (Lunch Included) 

Instructor: IV Faculty 

Cost: $249.00 

CE: 8 Hours 

Smile Design to the Max! 

Course Description:

For many technicians there are few things more daunting and at the same time more rewarding than the fabrication of a cosmetic smile makeover. In addition to the heightened esthetic demand and high patient expectations, the myriad of material choices available to the Dental Technician today has made this task increasingly more complex. This two day IPS e.max® workshop focuses on the principles and procedures for creating natural esthetics for the smile design case using the press or CAD/CAM system. Special emphasis will be placed on the shade concepts required for blending the esthetics of layered and monolithic restorations using lithium disilicate, zirconia and translucent zirconia. Following well-established principles of smile design, attendees will learn the techniques for creating beautiful tooth contours and proportions as well as detailed anatomy and surface texture. Additionally, this course provides advanced anatomy, staining, cutback and layering concepts for those ready to take their artistry to the next level. 

Participants will apply learned techniques and work with the instructor to fabricate an 8-unit smile design case. Both crowns and veneers will be restored using a combination of lithium disilicate and zirconia. Beautiful esthetic restorations will be achieved using esthetic layering techniques and a variety of IPS e.max® Ceram materials. 

Course Information: 

Dates: June 4 & 5, 2020 – Santa Fe Springs, CA, October 26 & 27, 2020 – Sarasota, FL 

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Lecture & Hands-On (Lunch Included) 

Instructor: IV Faculty 

Cost: $549.00 

CE: 16 Hours 

More information is available at https://www.ivoclarvivadent.us/icdelearn.

This Milestone Signals the Arrival of Surgical Robotics Technology in the Dental Space

Since 2000 more than 4 million robotic-assisted surgeries have taken place across multiple medical specialties including Cardiovascular, Neurology, and Orthopedics. Until the launch of Yomi, the first and only FDA cleared robot-assisted dental surgery system, dentistry has not been able to benefit from this revolutionary technology. Successfully placing dental implants requires careful pre-operative planning and a high degree of accuracy and precision. Surgical robotic technology helps doctors to achieve these objectives. Neocis, the leader and pioneer in dental robotics, announced today that over 1000 implants were placed in 2019 using the Yomi robotics system, signaling the arrival of surgical robotics technology in the dental space.

Yomi provides computerized navigation to assist in both the planning (pre-operative) and the surgical (intra-operative) phases of dental implantation surgery. The system offers physical guidance through haptic robotic technology, which constrains the drill in position, orientation, and depth. The assistive technology provides the surgeon with complete control and, unlike plastic surgical guides, allows for clear visualization of the surgical site.

"This is an exciting milestone for Neocis,” said Alon Mozes, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Neocis. “This has been the direct result of streamlining our workflow and increasing the system functionality. We’re excited to see our increased sales and utilization further underscore the appetite for robotics in the dental industry.”

Dr. Joe Griffin, a dentist with Cornerstone Dental Arts and new Yomi user, says, “We’ve been able to use Yomi for many cases thanks to a quick learning curve. The system has been easy to incorporate into our practice. We see this clearly establishing a new standard of care for implant patients."

About Yomi

Yomi® is indicated for use to provide assistance in both the planning (pre-operative) and the surgical (intra-operative) phases of dental implantation surgery. The system provides software to preoperatively plan dental implantation procedures and provides navigational guidance of the surgical instruments. Yomi® provides surgical guidance through the use of haptic robotic technology, software, and multisensory feedback to help achieve the right position, angulation, and depth to place the implant exactly according to plan. Yomi® enables a minimally invasive flapless approach, which has been proven to lead to faster surgery, faster recovery, and less pain for the patient. Learn more at www.neocis.com.

About Neocis, Inc.

Neocis Inc. is a private company located in Miami, Florida that is transforming dental surgery with advanced robotics, with a vision of advancing healthcare through the latest technology. Neocis manufactures and markets Yomi®, the first and only robot-assisted surgical platform for the dental industry. Neocis is venture-backed, including funding from Mithril Capital Management, Norwest Venture Partners and robotic surgery industry pioneer Fred Moll. For more information visit www.Neocis.com.

Dental professionals of all levels who are interested in becoming more effective leaders may be interested to know that “It Starts With You: 8 Steps to Leading with Stronger Awareness and Influence,” taught by international speaker and Executive Leadership Coach Justin Patton, is available now for CE credit in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) Virtual Campus.

Justin Patton is an international speaker and leadership coach who has worked with some of the top Fortune 500 organizations in the world, as well as coaching NCAA athletes and contestants in the Miss America and Miss USA organizations. Some of the key skills Patton discusses in this course are:

   ·      Taking ownership of your emotions

   ·      Managing your leadership credibility

   ·      Leading with both your head and heart

   ·      Keeping the ego in check

   ·      Becoming fully present

As the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® continues to expand its digital CE offerings by growing the AACD Virtual Campus throughout 2020 and beyond, new content is continually being added to this repository of on-demand courses, whitepapers, and recorded lectures. This course comprises 13 short lessons that aim to enhance leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence in the dental office. Focused on self-assessment and effective decision-making, Patton offers strategies for developing skills and principles that ensure successful relationships with both colleagues and patients.

The AACD Virtual Campus online learning and CE eligible courses are exclusive to AACD members. To become a member visit www.aacd.com/join. Already a member? Access the AACD Virtual Campus here: https://www.pathlms.com/aacd-virtual-campus

Want to learn more about this course? Read the course overview: https://bit.ly/35xIicN

About the AACD

The AACD is the world’s largest non-profit member organization dedicated to advancing excellence in comprehensive oral care that combines art and science to optimally improve dental health, esthetics, and function. Comprised of more than 5,000 cosmetic dental professionals in 70 countries worldwide, the AACD fulfills its mission by offering superior educational opportunities, promoting and supporting a respected Accreditation credential, serving as a user-friendly and inviting forum for the creative exchange of knowledge and ideas, and providing accurate and useful information to the public and the profession.

Dentsply Sirona’s SureSmile education team received this year’s prestigious AXIS Award in the category Learning Technology. With this award, the Association for Talent Development (ATD) Dallas recognizes organizations for outstanding engagement in workplace learning and talent development. The SureSmile education team received the award for the innovative learning application SureSmileU. This app supports SureSmile users around the world by providing on-demand learning content in multiple languages tailored to their individual learning needs.

Dentsply Sirona’s SureSmile education team, led by Program Manager Amanda Ballard, was honored with the 1st place AXIS Award in the Learning Technology category at the 5th annual ATD Dallas AXIS Gala.

“Our aim is to train our orthodontic clients and our employees to perform their best in very complex work environments with sophisticated, ever-changing products,” said Amanda Ballard. “To support this critical need, we’ve conceptualized SureSmileU, an app that provides on-demand learning for our digital orthodontic solution and that helps our employees to provide efficient customer support at the highest standard.”

To improve the learning experience for users and employees alike, SureSmileU features artificial intelligence allowing the content to adapt flexibly to individual learners’ needs. In addition, the app is mobile optimized, and desktop enabled, allowing the user to choose and switch between learning devices.

“As the global leader in the dental industry, Dentsply Sirona has a strong focus on clinical education and client support,” said Terri Dolan, Chief Clinical Officer at Dentsply Sirona. “We are very proud of the outstanding and creative work our SureSmile education team put into conceptualizing the SureSmileU app. Congratulations to all of you for making the app a great success.”

Since the launch of the app, Dentsply Sirona has seen accelerated growth in the number of users and adoption among both internal and external customers and a 500% increase in course completions for online training.

SureSmile - the full-service clear aligner solution for orthodontic treatments

SureSmile is Dentsply Sirona’s digital solution for orthodontic treatment with clear aligners. It features a robust case planning tool that enables orthodontists and technicians to simulate treatments and find the ideal aligner designs for each case. Once the design is complete, the aligners are then produced in Dallas, Texas, using a combination of 3D printed models and robotic laser trimming – resulting in aligners with exceptional fit and function.

About Dentsply Sirona

Dentsply Sirona is the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, with over a century of innovation and service to the dental industry and patients worldwide. Dentsply Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets comprehensive solutions offering including dental and oral health products as well as other consumable medical devices under a strong portfolio of world class brands. Dentsply Sirona’s products provide innovative, high-quality and effective solutions to advance patient care and deliver better and safer dental care. Dentsply Sirona’s headquarter is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company’s shares are listed in the United States on NASDAQ under the symbol XRAY. Visit www.dentsplysirona.com for more information about Dentsply Sirona and its products. 

CareCredit, a leading provider of promotional financing, and the American Association of Dental Office Management (AADOM) are pleased to announce the winners of the Office Manager Appreciation Month (OMAM) celebration.

September 2019 was recognized as the first annual Office Manager Appreciation Month, organized by CareCredit and AADOM. The month was a celebration of the contributions of Dental Office Managers and Practice Administrators nationwide, culminating in the AADOM Annual Conference and an online Instagram promotion #AwesomeOM, where office managers and practice administrators could submit their “best practices” for a chance to win a 3-day, 2-night trip to AADOM’s 2020 conference in Boca Raton, including conference fees, air transportation and hotel accommodations at the Boca Raton Resort – a prize worth $2,749. (For complete rules visit AwesomeOM.dja.com.)

The first of three randomly selected winners is Misty W., from Neosho, Missouri, who shared “Our best practices tip is to ‘look ahead’ for potential scheduling or insurance issues to always ensure the best experience for the patient by catching problems before they happen!” Jane W. from Sharpsburg, Maryland, was the second winner who submitted at #AwesomeOM, “With CareCredit you can get your dental treatment with convenient monthly payments. I always add that they can use it at participating veterinary offices for Rover!” And the final winner, Christine W., from Salisbury, Maryland, said, “We try and make it easy using the CareCredit Direct Tool in our office! Patients can apply for CareCredit on their own using an iPad in our office. They can also apply directly on our practice website by clicking the apply now tab!”

“We are so inspired by the participation in the first-ever Office Manager Appreciation Month,” said Heather Colicchio, founder of AADOM. “We know all team members are critical to practice and patient health but wanted to recognize the special contributions of office managers and practice administrators. During the month of September, we helped greatly increase membership to further educate and advocate for the influential dental office manager communities.” Angela Martinez, VP of Strategic Associations and Dental Health Policy, CareCredit, added, “The best practices submitted in the OMAM Sweepstakes were terrific. Next year, we are looking forward to expanding the awareness of September as Office Manager Appreciation Month and encouraging even more practices to participate.”

About CareCredit

CareCredit, a Synchrony solution, is a leading provider of promotional financing to consumers for health, veterinary and personal care procedures, services and products. For more than 30 years, CareCredit has helped millions of people by offering special financing options with convenient monthly payments. CareCredit is accepted at more than 230,000 locations for a wide variety of health and wellness procedures, treatments, products and services.

About Synchrony

Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) is a premier consumer financial services company delivering customized financing programs across key industries including retail, health, auto, travel and home, along with award-winning consumer banking products. With more than $140 billion in sales financed and 80.3 million active accounts, Synchrony brings deep industry expertise, actionable data insights, innovative solutions and differentiated digital experiences to improve the success of every business we serve and the quality of each life we touch. More information can be found at www.synchrony.com and through Twitter: @Synchrony.

About AADOM

The mission of the American Association of Dental Office Management (AADOM) is to educate, connect and empower dental office managers and practice leaders across North America. AADOM provides both virtual and live training for dental business team members. To learn more about AADOM, visit www.dentalmanagers.com.