What: This week, ClearCorrect, a Straumann Group brand and a leading manufacturer of clear aligners announced its newest program, Mentor Treatment Planning Service (Mentor TPS) to help providers run their practices with confidence. With Mentor TPS, orthodontic experts evaluate cases and review 3D treatment setups to help develop comprehensive treatment plans, identify challenging movements, maximize efficiency and avoid treatment pitfalls. Using their own proven protocols, ClearCorrect’s top-notch partners at orthobrain® will provide direct feedback to clinicians and ClearCorrect technicians to help ensure predictable patient outcomes.

This service is for providers who may have never treated a ClearCorrect case before and are not sure how to start or for providers who are possibly dealing with more complicated cases than what they have previously seen. Additionally, this service helps the busy clinician who wants to spend more time with their patients and staff, and less time reviewing treatment setups.

Providers simply sign up for an account, enter patient case information, and add orthobrain® as a collaborator in their doctor portal. This will allow for an expert to review the case and modify treatment prescription if needed.

When: This new service is now available to all ClearCorrect providers as of June 1.

Where: Available in the U.S. and Canada

For more information, visit tps.clearcorrect.com

A new collaborative study from researchers at the University of Michigan medical and dental schools examines the link between poor oral health and inflammatory bowel disease.

Nobuhiko Kamada, assistant professor of internal medicine in the division of gastroenterology, studies the collection of bacteria that are normally present in the gut, known as the gut microbiome. He noticed in research literature that bacteria normally found in the mouth are often found in the guts of people with inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Kamada joined with Dr. William Giannobile of the dental school and Dr. Shrinivas Bishu, assistant professor of gastroenterology, to co-author a study that was published in the journal Cell.

The study shows two pathways by which oral bacteria seem to worsen gut inflammation. Both involve patients with periodontitis, or gum disease. Periodontitis leads to changes in the healthy microbiome normally found in the mouth, with an increase of bacteria that cause inflammation. That bacteria, along with T-cells in the mouth, also activated by periodontitis, then travels to the gut and contributes to IBD.

“This exacerbation of gut inflammation driven by oral organisms that migrate to the gut has important ramifications in emphasizing to patients the critical need to promote oral health as a part of total body health and well-being,” said Giannobile, the William K and Mary Anne Najjar professor of dentistry and chair of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine.

The study is yet another link between oral health and overall health. Previous studies have documented that conditions such as heart disease and diabetes are tied to poor oral health.

For more about the latest study, see the Michigan Medicine Health Lab report here.

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the school to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit us on the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu. Contact: Lynn Monson, associate director of communications, at dentistry.communications@umich.edu, or (734) 615-1971.

Scientists Use Nanoparticles to Target Drug to Receptors, Offering Sustained Relief for Chronic Pain in Cellular Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Delta opioid receptors have a built-in mechanism for pain relief and can be precisely targeted with drug-delivering nanoparticles—making them a promising target for treating chronic inflammatory pain with fewer side effects, according to a new study from an international team of researchers. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was conducted using cells from humans and mice with inflammatory bowel disease, which can cause chronic pain.

Opioid receptors—which are primarily located throughout the central nervous system and gut—relieve pain when they are activated by opioids, both those naturally produced by the body and those taken as medications. While there are several types of opioid receptors, the majority of opioid medications like oxycodone and morphine act on the mu opioid receptor. Opioid medications have significant side effects mediated by the mu opioid receptor, including constipation and difficulty breathing. These drugs are addictive and their effectiveness diminishes over time, so people require higher doses to manage their pain, leading to increased side effects and risk of overdose.

In this study, the researchers focused on a different opioid receptor: the delta opioid receptor, which also inhibits pain when activated but offers a promising target for treating pain with fewer side effects. Using biopsies from the colons of people and mice with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, the researchers discovered that the delta opioid receptor provides a built-in mechanism to relieve inflammatory pain. The inflammatory cells from the colon release their own opioids, which activate the delta opioid receptor and block the activity of neurons in the gut that transmit painful signals.

Importantly, the researchers also learned that the delta opioid receptor signals from a compartment within the cell called an endosome—not just at the surface of cells, as previously thought. In the endosome, receptors signal for prolonged periods, which means delta opioid receptors can inhibit pain for longer stretches. This sustained decrease in excitability (a measurement of pain) was found when the delta opioid receptors were activated in the inflammatory cells studied.

“We’ve shown that the delta opioid receptor has a built-in mechanism of pain control and inhibits pain by signaling within an endosome. With this new knowledge, we thought the receptor would be a promising target for the treatment of chronic inflammatory pain,” said senior author Nigel Bunnett, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Molecular Pathobiology at New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry.

To target the delta opioid receptor, the researchers encapsulated a painkiller called DADLE, which binds to the delta opioid receptor, inside nanoparticles—microscopic vehicles used to deliver drugs to cells. They then coated the nanoparticles with the same painkiller, which steered the nanoparticles specifically to nerve cells that control pain and away from other cell types, avoiding side effects.

“Incorporating drugs into nanoparticles can enhance the stability and delivery of drugs, improving their effectiveness and often requiring smaller doses—and smaller, more targeted doses lower the risk of drugs causing unwanted side effects,” said Bunnett.

After binding to the receptors of nerve cells, the nanoparticles entered the cells to reach the endosome and then slowly released the painkiller to activate the delta opioid receptor. This resulted in a long-lasting activation of the delta opioid receptor, suggesting a sustained ability to inhibit inflammatory pain.

“Our findings demonstrate that not only are delta opioid receptors in endosomes a built-in mechanism for pain control, but also a viable therapeutic target for relief from chronic inflammatory pain,” said Bunnett.

A previous study by Bunnett and colleagues used nanoparticles to deliver a drug that blocked a different type of receptor to relieve pain, while the PNAS study focuses on delivering a drug to activate the delta opioid receptor. The researchers hypothesize that effective pain control will involve blocking and activating multiple pain-transmitting pathways at the same time, which may lead to encapsulating a combination of drugs inside nanoparticles.

In addition to Bunnett, the study’s corresponding authors are Michelle Halls and Daniel P. Poole of Monash University in Australia. Other study authors include Brian L. Schmidt, Matthew Wisdom, Dane D. Jensen, Rocco Latorre, Alan Hegron, and Shavonne Teng of NYU College of Dentistry, along with collaborators at Queen’s University, Columbia University, Monash University, and the University of Nottingham.

The research was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NS102722, DE026806, DK118971, NWB, BLS), Department of Defense (W81XWH181043), Crohn’s Colitis Canada, National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia), the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and Takeda Pharmaceutics International.

About NYU College of Dentistry

Founded in 1865, New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) is the third oldest and the largest dental school in the US, educating nearly 10 percent of the nation’s dentists. NYU Dentistry has a significant global reach with a highly diverse student body. Visit https://dental.nyu.edu for more.

Eight clinicians, led by four calibrated clinical instructors from the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, completed Laser BootCamp™ training and achieved standard proficiency certification on the PerioLase® MVP-7™ for the LANAP® and LAPIP™ protocols, all with appropriate PPE and social distancing.

The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD) is the first dental education CE provider to successfully resume live-patient clinical training. Eight clinicians, led by four of the IALD's calibrated clinical instructors, completed Laser BootCamp™ training and achieved standard proficiency certification on the PerioLase® MVP-7™ for the LANAP® and LAPIP™ protocols.

Eight clinicians, led by four calibrated clinical instructors from the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, completed Laser BootCamp™ training and achieved standard proficiency certification on the PerioLase® MVP-7™ for the LANAP® and LAPIP™ protocols, all with appropriate PPE and social distancing.

The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry is the first dental education CE provider to successfully resume live-patient clinical training post COVID-19.

Enhanced safety guidelines Outlined by the CDC, FDA, OSHA, and the ADA for live-patient clinical training included a new patient screening processes to avoid treating patients with active signs of COVID-19. Enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE), including surgical gloves, surgical gowns, level 3 masks, protective eyewear, and/or face shields, were provided for all students and faculty. Augmented clinical safety measures for aerosol reduction included use of new high-volume evacuation (HVE) units and PECO, UV air filtration systems in each operatory.

Didactic training incorporated new physical distance guidelines with personal learning stations and custom personalized learning materials. Elevated measures included daily contactless temperature readings, health questionnaires, continuous PECO and UV air filtration, and an open concierge station with additional gloves, masks, anti-viral cleaner and disinfectant wipes, and hand sanitizer.

Attendees rated their travel and lodging experience as positive, factoring in the strict safety protocols and private airport transportations, which support the IALD's commitment to an exceptional training experience on all levels.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED LASER DENTISTRY: The IALD is a non-profit educational and research center dedicated to providing evidence-based clinical training in advanced laser dentistry therapies. Formed in 1999, the IALD is ADA-CERP and AGD-PACE accredited, and is nationally recognized for its continuing education programs. The IALD's ultimate goal is for the percentage of patients seeking treatment for periodontitis to reach the percentage of patients seeking general dental care.

Medit announces the nomination of its new Chief Executive Officer, GB (Gyu Bum) Ko, amidst the company’s 20^th year as a global provider of 3D scanning solutions. Ko joins Medit to accelerate its growth strategy as a leader in the dental clinics and labs market. Founder Minho Chang focuses on his role as a board member following the appointment.

“I am truly excited to join Medit on its path of rapid growth and to shift the paradigm of dentistry. I had a chance to witness the company’s immense potential, its strive for excellence, and the passion of the entire team towards our mission. Medit’s products are enhancing the experience of dental professionals and patients worldwide, and this is what makes working for the company incredibly rewarding. I look forward to supporting Medit’s success journey,” says Ko about his new role as CEO.

Ko is a seasoned professional with over two decades of management experience in multinational medtech companies, including Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and Stryker, where he has held several senior sales and marketing assignments in Australia, China, Korea, the UK, and the US. With a chemical engineering degree from Korea’s prestigious Seoul National University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Ko covered roles from process engineering to product management, strategic marketing and general management, with a keen sense for corporate and competitive strategy as well as international market development.

Following Ko’s appointment, Medit’s founder Minho Chang will focus on his role as an active board member. “Medit is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year and I would like to thank all our users, partners, other stakeholders, and staff as well as everyone who contributed to the remarkable growth of Medit over the past two decades. Driven by our focus on end-users, we are now rewarded with another opportunity to take the next leap forward as a leader in digital dentistry. Congratulations to everyone,” says Chang.

Ko officially takes over as CEO from June 2020 while Medit is preparing for a new software update scheduled later this year, to further improve the capabilities of its Medit i500 intraoral scanner and Medit T-Series dental lab scanners.

About Medit Corp

Medit is a global provider of 3D measurement and CAD/CAM solutions for dental clinics and labs, including intraoral scanners, based on its own patented state-of-the-art technology. The company also develops platform solutions for digital dentistry, supporting collaborative workflows. Additionally, the Solutionix line provides 3D scanners and software to the industrial market. The company’s goal is to provide innovative technology and the highest quality products to ensure mutual growth for all partners.

Medit is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea since its inception in 2000. The company also has representatives located in the Americas and Europe and boasts a global network of distributors in over 70 countries.

Graduate level program designed to improve overall patient outcomes

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) is proud to announce an innovative new program for nurses, physician assistants, and other non-dental healthcare providers seeking advanced training in oral health and dental medicine. The curriculum is designed to help clinicians recognize and manage oral health infections, diseases, and systemic conditions to more effectively and efficiently improve overall health for their patients.

“By equipping health care professionals to detect oral conditions, particularly common oral diseases, such as periodontal (gum) diseases, we are equipping them to improve patient outcomes,” says Mary Beth Aichelmann-Reidy, DDS, chief of UMSOD’s Periodontics Division in the Department of Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics. “The recognition of oral diseases and oral manifestations of systemic diseases is integral to health promotion and disease prevention.”

“It’s an exciting time,” adds Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, dean and professor, UMSOD. “There is a growing recognition that chronic oral infections can contribute to poorer systemic health and to inferior patient health care outcomes.  This training will help bridge the gap in management of oral diseases and general medical healthcare, providing an important opportunity to advance overall health and well-being”

UMSOD’s new Certificate in Oral Health Science Program is designed as a post-baccalaureate program for non-dental healthcare professionals. The five course, 13-credit curriculum blends online instruction with face-to-face clinical experiences at the Universities of Shady Grove, in Rockville, MD. Designed for the working professional, the course can be completed part-time in less than two years.

Because professionals with expertise in oral and dental medicine will play an increasingly greater role on healthcare teams in advancing improved patient care outcomes, health practitioners will be trained in competencies central to the management of prevalent infections, diseases, and systemic conditions affecting the oral cavity. The training prepares practitioners to become leaders in emerging healthcare delivery models building on multi-disciplinary treatment paradigms; promotes knowledge and expertise, and provides participants with the communication and management tools needed within the integrative scope of interprofessional health care management.

Highlights of UMSOD’s innovative Certificate in Oral Health Science Program include:

     • Designed for the working health care professional, the program can be completed part-time and within 18 months.

     • The student will learn how to incorporate oral health services into care management.

     • Participants will learn how to evaluate and recognize acute and chronic oral conditions and diseases.

     • Enrollees will gain an understanding of the impact of oral disease on health care delivery and the overall well-being and health of patients.

     • Students will be trained in oral dental radiology and will be prepared for dental radiology certification.

     • This graduate certificate program will provide trained healthcare professionals with the tools necessary for better communication and collaboration within healthcare teams and improve patient care outcomes through oral health care management.

The program includes five courses:

     • Oral Infection and Disease: Foundations for Recognition

     • Contemporary Oral Therapeutics in Oral Medicine and Dentistry

     • Complex Interplay: The Relationship between Oral Health and Systemic Disease

     • Prevention and Oral Health Promotion

     • Clinical Practicum in Oral Health Care Delivery and Oral Dental Radiology

Prospective students should contact the Office of Admissions for additional admissions information:

Office of Admissions

Dean's Suite 6th Floor South

650 West Baltimore Street - Suite 6410

Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Phone: 410-706-7472

Fax: 410-706-0945

Email: postgradmissions@umaryland.edu

Medit announces the nomination of its new Chief Executive Officer, GB (Gyu Bum) Ko, amidst the company’s 20^th year as a global provider of 3D scanning solutions. Ko joins Medit to accelerate its growth strategy as a leader in the dental clinics and labs market. Founder Minho Chang focuses on his role as a board member following the appointment.

“I am truly excited to join Medit on its path of rapid growth and to shift the paradigm of dentistry. I had a chance to witness the company’s immense potential, its drive for excellence, and the passion of the entire team towards our mission. Medit’s products are enhancing the experience of dental professionals and patients worldwide, and this is what makes working for the company incredibly rewarding. I look forward to supporting Medit’s success journey,” says Ko about his new role as CEO.

Ko is a seasoned professional with over two decades of management experience in multinational medtech companies, including Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and Stryker, where he has held several senior sales and marketing assignments in Australia, China, Korea, the UK, and the US. With a chemical engineering degree from Korea’s prestigious Seoul National University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Ko covered roles from process engineering to product management, strategic marketing and general management, with a keen sense for corporate and competitive strategy as well as international market development.

Following Ko’s appointment, Medit’s founder Minho Chang will focus on his role as an active board member. “Medit is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year, and I would like to thank all our users, partners, other stakeholders, and staff, as well as everyone who contributed to the remarkable growth of Medit over the past two decades. Driven by our focus on end-users, we are now rewarded with another opportunity to take the next leap forward as a leader in digital dentistry. Congratulations to everyone,” says Chang.

Ko officially takes over as CEO from June 2020 while Medit is preparing for a new software update scheduled later this year, to further improve the capabilities of its Medit i500 intraoral scanner and Medit T-Series dental lab scanners.

TeleDent will enable more effective and convenient dental care for patients

DentaQuest, the nation’s leading oral health organization, is working with MouthWatch, a leader in innovative patient-friendly, clinician-focused teledentistry solutions, to provide the TeleDent teledentistry platform to more than 70 DentaQuest managed or affiliated dental practices in Alabama, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington.

The TeleDent platform will enable DentaQuest-affiliated dentists to conduct both synchronous (live) and asynchronous (store and forward) teledentistry encounters with patients, including video and messaging interactions and sharing of files and photos.

“Teledentistry has been essential for dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic. It enables them to connect with patients for emergency triage and consulting encounters, greatly reducing strain on hospital emergency rooms and dental practices,” said Todd Cruse, President, DentaQuest Care Group. “We also believe teledentistry will be an increasingly important part of oral health in the future, facilitating improved access for those in underserved communities and accelerating medical-dental integration.”

According to MouthWatch founder and CEO Brant Herman, “MouthWatch and DentaQuest are dedicated to providing dentists and patients with improved access to dental care by delivering user-friendly technology that will become an integral part of oral health both during and after the pandemic. Working together, we will deliver more effective and convenient dental care to a greater number of patients.”

About DentaQuest

DentaQuest is a purpose-driven oral health care company dedicated to improving the oral health of all. We do this through Preventistry® – our all-in approach to better care, expanded access, value-based financing, and innovative solutions. We manage dental and vision benefits for 27+ million Americans and provide direct patient care through our network of more than 80 oral health centers in 6 states. We provide outcomes-based, cost-effective dental solutions for Medicaid and CHIP, Medicare Advantage, small and large businesses, and individuals nationwide. And, we've invested more than $200 million in grants and programs to achieve measurably healthier communities across the country. By advancing prevention-focused oral health, we will achieve better overall health for everyone. Learn more at www.DentaQuest.com and follow us on Twitter @DentaQuest, Facebook www.facebook.com/DentaQuest, Instagram @Inside_DentaQuest, and LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/DentaQuest.

About MouthWatch

MouthWatch, LLC is a leader in innovative patient-friendly, clinician-focused teledentistry solutions, digital case presentation tools and intraoral imaging devices. The company is dedicated to finding new ways to constantly improve the dental health experience for both patient and provider. For more information, visit www.MouthWatch.com. Follow MouthWatch on Facebook www.facebook.com/MouthWatch, Twitter @MouthWatchPro, Instagram @MouthWatch and Linkedin www.linkedin.com/company/mouthwatch-llc

The new AERO HVE/SE combo reduces airborne aerosol movement by up to 95 percent

DOVE® Dental Products announces the release of the new DOVE® AERO, a single-use hybrid device designed to significantly reduce the risk of airborne aerosol movement caused by instrument use in a dental setting.

The threat from COVID-19 has prompted oral health professionals to rethink their infectious disease protocol to mitigate the spread of contagions in three areas: evacuation, backflow, and aerosol management. With the introduction of the new AERO product, DOVE Dental Products is leading the charge. To date, no device on the market addresses all three concerns without sacrificing patient comfort or altering dental practices. According to the Guidance for Dental Settings published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "…if aerosol-generating procedures are necessary for dental care, use four-handed dentistry, high evacuation suction and dental dams to minimize droplet spatter and aerosols."

DOVE® AERO's innovative design addresses these concerns by combining the power of high-volume ejector (HVE) suction with the safety of a one-way backflow protection, using a secured saliva ejector (SE) for patient comfort and easier access. The AERO features a patented 360 ° external aerosol chamber to effectively manage airborne particles of up to 95 percent when combined with internal fluid evacuation.

"We are extremely excited to introduce the new DOVE® AERO HVE Backflow Prevention Valve," said Jim Langeloh, Vice President of Sales. "It's the first valve of its kind to offer external aerosol collection, backflow protection, and HVE power while providing patients with the comfort of using a saliva ejector."

DOVE® AERO is a simple, cost-effective solution for oral health professionals to manage the spread of COVID-19 using instruments with which they are already familiar. "It's the valve that does not compromise comfort, performance, or dental office space," Langeloh added.

About DOVE® Dental Products:

DOVE® Dental Products is dedicated to developing and distributing innovative, cost-effective disposable oral evacuation devices that prevent backflow and eliminate cross-contamination between patients. DOVE® products are simple to install and intuitive with performance with no need for sterilization or autoclaving. All DOVE® products are Made in the USA and manufactured in ISO 13485 facilities.

For more information visit: www.dovedentalproducts.com

Dental Innovations CEO, Michael Boerner, announced AutoLobby™; a new innovative "text to the car" service to help Dentists and Oral Surgeons re-launch their practices as they open with COVID-19 patient workflow protocols.

AutoLobby™ is an SMS texting system that, for $59.00 per month, gives a practice the ability to manage patient staging in the parking lot, convey relevant information including brief videos to the patient, and send a text message when it's time to enter the building.

Dental Innovations, based in Boise, Idaho provides innovative mobile-video engagement technologies without the use of Apps, passwords, and email addresses. Its services include VideoText™, Simple 5 Star™ Google Reviews, and new AutoLobby™ platform.

"At Dental Innovations, we recognize that COVID-19 and statewide stay at home orders have materially impacted practices and staff teams. As doors reopen to treat patients, we are doing everything possible to help practices manage the new workflows that now include the 'blacktop waiting room' required by State social distancing guidelines.  We are excited to help practices return to financial health and delivering great patient experiences," said Michael Boerner, Founder and CEO.

About Dental Innovations, Inc.

To learn more, visit: www.Dentalinnovationsinc.com