The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the need for consensus on the definition of essential oral healthcare. The article "Pandemic considerations on essential oral healthcare" provides a layered model of essential oral healthcare, integrating urgent and basic oral healthcare, as well as advanced and specialist oral healthcare.

Essential oral healthcare covers the most prevalent oral health problems but, by default, does not include the full spectrum of possible interventions that contemporary dentistry can provide. A layered approach to the definition of essential oral healthcare allows for categorization and prioritization with available resources and needs in mind. This model also includes a definition of basic oral healthcare and calls for oral healthcare to be recognized as an integral component of a healthcare system's essential services.

"There is a significant need for evidence-based criteria to define which dental interventions are to be included in each category of essential oral healthcare. A lack of clearly defined essential oral healthcare services leaves people at risk for physical, mental and social harm," said JDR Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Jakubovics. "All stakeholders, including the research, academic and clinical communities, need to work together to respond to this call for a consensus."

About the Journal of Dental Research

The IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research (JDR) is a multidisciplinary journal dedicated to the dissemination of new knowledge in all sciences relevant to dentistry and the oral cavity and associated structures in health and disease. The JDR ranks #3 in Impact Factor of 91 journals, #2 without self-citations, as well as #2 of 91 in Article Influence with a score of 1.627. The JDR's 5-year Impact Factor remained above 5 for the fifth year at 5.844 -- ranking #2 of 91 journals. With over 20,000 citations, the JDR also boasts the most citations in the "Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine" category, over 3,500 citations above the 2nd ranked journal in the field.

International Association for Dental Research

The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with over 10,000 individual members worldwide, with a Mission to drive dental, oral and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being worldwide. To learn more, visit https://www.iadr.org. The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is the largest Division of IADR with 3,100 members in the United States. To learn more, visit https://www.iadr.org/aadr.

The 2021 International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany, has been postponed from March 10-13 to September 22-25. Organizers announced the postponement in a press release:

"With a view to the unchanged challenges the Corona pandemic is raising in Germany and the anticipated continuation of the extensive restriction of personal contacts by the Government, States and municipalities at the beginning of the new year, the VDDI board, the Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Dental-Industrie mbH (GFDI) (the commercial enterprise of the VDDI) and Koelnmesse have decided to postpone IDS - the International Dental Show. The trade fair that was originally planned to take place from 10 to 13 March, will now be held from 22 to 25 September 2021. The organisers are taking this step in reaction to the currently ongoing Corona policy, which may be extended in Germany into the new year. By postponing the 39th edition of IDS to the September, the organisers are hoping that due to the then anticipated, improved health situation and relaxation of the travel restrictions more international partners and customers will travel to Cologne. 

"The presently essential political decisions taken by the Federal Government are also affecting trade fairs in Germany. And are also impacting IDS. It will thus be staged in September with the new trade fair concept that was planned for March, which unites hybrid, i.e. physical and digital elements. The #B-SAFE4business concept that is based on the applicable Corona Protection Ordinance will also accompany IDS in September in order to offer the exhibitors and visitors the highest possible level of safety."

Mark Stephen Pace, Chairman of the VDDI and Oliver Freser, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH, explained the decision in the release: "The Association of the German Dental Industry and Koelnmesse have kept a close eye on the developments of the pandemic at all times and have analysed the possible consequences on the trade fair activities of all personnel involved. The health of our exhibitors, partners and visitors takes top priority for us here. After assessing the current facts, we have had to refrain from staging IDS in March and are postponing the always successful dental show to the autumn of next year."

GlaxoSmithKline (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced a donation of $1 million to Direct Relief on behalf of consumers who have purchased its consumer healthcare products since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the COVID Tracking Project, hospitalizations have more than doubled in less than two months. GSK recognizes that with cases rising so rapidly, there is a critical need to continuously support health care workers. The monetary donation will be used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential medical items for U.S. health workers on the front line dealing with this unrelenting crisis.

Since the outbreak, GSK has been providing its scientific expertise to support the global response to COVID-19 and ensuring its global supply chain continues to deliver vital medicines and consumer healthcare products to the people who depend on them. GSK Consumer Healthcare's portfolio includes leading brands such as Sensodyne, Advil, Voltaren, Excedrin, Theraflu, Flonase, Centrum, and Emergen-C.

"We are so proud to partner with Direct Relief to support the amazing work they are doing to ensure health professionals have the essential items that they need as the COVID-19 pandemic continues," said Lisa Paley General Manager, U.S. and Puerto Rico for GSK Consumer Healthcare. "We know how important maintaining health is, especially as newly diagnosed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. As one of the leading consumer healthcare companies, we have an obligation to pay it forward and give back to frontline workers who have been working tirelessly to keep us safe over the past nine months. Our continued focus remains, ensuring healthcare worker's needs are being met, staying vigilant as the pandemic continues and keeping a steadfast focus on how critical these needs really are."

Direct Relief is coordinating with public health authorities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to provide personal protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers responding to COVID-19. Since January, Direct Relief has delivered more than 46 million N95 and surgical masks, more than 8 million gloves, and tens of thousands of protective suits and other items to help safeguard health workers

"Direct Relief is so deeply grateful for the leadership and commitment reflected by GSK's action today, which is both keenly needed and will be put to immediate use," said Thomas Tighe, CEO and President of Direct Relief. "This is a perfect example of what's needed as we all face this historic threat to the health of people everywhere."

Since the outbreak, GSK has been providing its scientific expertise to support the global response to COVID-19 and ensuring its global supply chain continues to deliver vital medicines and consumer healthcare products to the people who depend on them.

GSK Consumer Healthcare has been supporting U.S. communities and its employees nationwide in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis in many ways, including:

Participated in a major industry-wide movement to amplify one resonant message: #StayHome. Save lives. GSK Consumer Healthcare brands in the U.S. added a roof icon to their brand logo and shared assets on brand social channels with the hashtags #StayHome and #AloneTogether.

Coordinated a donation of ChapStick and Abreva to 12 high-impact areas, including New York, Michigan, California, Washington, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Ohio and Maryland.

Sponsored the Global Citizen special, One World: Together at Home.

Donated $10,000 to the NJ Community Food Bank, which serves several hard-hit New Jersey areas. In March, the organization supplied enough food for 4.8 million meals to those in need.

Shipped 3,000 care packages to every essential GSK Consumer Healthcare manufacturing and distribution center employee across the country.

GSK Consumer Healthcare is also encouraging customers to #BeWellStayWell by taking care of themselves and their families with health and wellness products, more information can be found at BeWellandStayWell.com

Globally, GSK is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting efforts to tackle the virus. The company is collaborating with companies and research groups across the world working on promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates through the use of its innovative vaccine adjuvant technology. It is also supporting screening and research into potential medicines for COVID-19, as well as providing expertise and financial support to relief organizations. For more information on GSK's global efforts, visit https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/resource-centre/our-contribution-to-the-fight-against-2019-ncov/.

About Direct Relief

A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the world to communities in need—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://www.DirectRelief.org.

About GSK Consumer Healthcare

GSK Consumer Healthcare combines science and consumer insights to create innovative world-class health care brands that consumers trust, and experts recommend for oral health, pain relief, respiratory and wellness.

About GSK

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. For further information please visit gsk.com.

Today, hum by Colgate announced its partnership with leading meditation and mindfulness app, Headspace, to help consumers stress less and smile more by creating healthier daily habits. The partnership encourages consumers to treat the existing routines in their day - whether it's going for a walk outside or brushing their teeth - as a chance to observe and reflect on their thoughts.

To bring that to life, Headspace will host "Mindful Moments" programming in the hum by Colgate app. The weekly content is designed to help facilitate these new routines, whether that's getting into the rhythm of brushing better or finding time to be kind to one's mind.

As part of the partnership, hum will also provide free trials to Headspace Plus for its users. Recently, people have turned to apps as a way to reduce stress and stay connected, and to help them keep on top of their health and wellness. With Headspace Plus, users will now have access to additional tools to build mindful routines and better manage their stress.

Launched in August, hum by Colgate was developed to democratize the connected brush offering and allow more people to achieve a clean and healthy smile. hum makes brushing a little more fun by rewarding consumers for staying on top of their brushing routine. Consumers can earn Smile Points every time they brush or complete an activity on the hum by Colgate app that can be used to purchase any product in the hum in-app store, or redeem offerings from wellness partners, like Headspace.

The product's Smile Points and rewards are meant to keep users engaged and motivated to brush with connected technology, so they continue to benefit from the app's personalized guidance to brush their best. Users can unlock a 60-day free Headspace trial once they earn 200 Smile Points in the hum by Colgate app, which they can redeem within 30 days on the website.

"Headspace is a perfect partner for hum by Colgate as both of our brands share the mission to reinforce healthy habits, while improving overall health and bringing more smiles to the world," says Bill Van de Graaf, Vice President of Marketing North America, Colgate-Palmolive. "Uniting our brands offers a powerful opportunity for hum to continue to create unique experiences that are relevant for our millennial consumers' lifestyle and to reinforce the tie between oral health and overall wellness."

"Headspace's mission is to improve the health and happiness of the world, and to reach the world it is incredibly important that we meet people where they are," said Lindsay Shaffer, Senior Director of Partnerships at Headspace. "That is why it's so exciting to partner with a brand like hum, which shares our commitment to supporting the daily routines, that in just a few minutes a day, help to improve health and happiness. By incorporating mindfulness into your daily brushing routine, you are able to care for your mind at the same time you care for your smile."

Stress less, smile more with hum and Headspace. Visit hum.colgate.com to get started today.

About Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition and reaching more than 200 countries and territories, Colgate teams are developing and selling health and hygiene products and pet nutrition offerings essential to society through brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, meridol, Tom's of Maine, hello, Sorriso, Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sanex, Filorga, eltaMD, PCA Skin, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet. Colgate seeks to deliver strong, consistent business results and superior shareholder returns and to provide Colgate people with an innovative and inclusive work environment. Colgate does this by developing and selling products globally that make people's lives healthier and more enjoyable and by embracing its sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion and social responsibility strategies across the organization. For more information about Colgate's global business, its efforts to improve the oral health of children through its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program and how the Company is building a future to smile about, visit www.colgatepalmolive.com. CL-C

About Headspace

Headspace was created with one mission in mind: to improve the health and happiness of the world. Reaching more than 65 million users in 190 countries, Headspace was one of the first meditation apps in the world and remains a leader in mindfulness and mental training. Headspace is committed to advancing the field of mindfulness through clinically validated research, with one of the largest research pipelines of any digital health and wellness company. Headspace operates a B2B business (Headspace for Work) to offer its mindfulness products and services to more than 1,300 companies, such as Starbucks, Adobe, GE, Hyatt and Unilever, to help them build healthier, more productive cultures and higher performing organizations. Headspace supports government entities like New York State and the UK's National Health Service (NHS) to offer digital mental health tools. Headspace partners with many of the world's most-recognizable brands, including Apple and Amazon, as well as with Nike, NBA and the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team to offer sport and movement content. Headspace Health is Headspace's digital health subsidiary pioneering new ways to incorporate the Headspace mindfulness experience into digital medicine. Headspace has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies, Apple's Best of 2018, Samsung's Best of 2019 and one of CB Insights' top digital health companies, along with being selected for five Webby Awards in health and fitness between 2018 and 2019. For more information please visit us at www.headspace.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SOURCE Colgate-Palmolive Company

Today, Delta Dental announced its COVID-19 relief efforts are expected to reach $1.1 billion by early 2021. This significant financial commitment builds on Delta Dental's 65-year history of supporting America's oral health and continues its leadership in the provision of support to the U.S. dental marketplace during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The commitments made by the Delta Dental companies to support our customers, providers and communities throughout the pandemic are part of a dedicated and unwavering effort to fulfill our mission of advancing the oral health of all Americans," said Wells Hutchison, President & CEO, Delta Dental Plans Association.

From the beginning of the pandemic, Delta Dental companies have been continuously working to support customers, dentists, not-for-profits, and health centers across the country to ensure patients can receive the care they need now and in the future. Additionally, Delta Dental was instrumental in ensuring access to federal funding for dentists as they navigated office closure mandates resulting from the pandemic. Through the success of Delta Dental's advocacy, dentists were included on a list of providers eligible for much-needed federal relief funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Delta Dental companies have also launched a wide range of other programs and funding initiatives to support America's oral and overall health. Examples of this work include providing critical funding to safety–net dental clinics, not-for-profits focused on health and wellness, and food banks, among many other efforts.

The latest information on what Delta Dental is doing in your community can be found here. For more information on oral health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit Delta Dental's COVID-19 webpage.

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Delta Dental Plans Association, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest dental insurance provider, covering more than 80 million Americans, and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 156,000 participating dentists. In 2019, Delta Dental companies provided $76 million in direct and in-kind community outreach support to improve the oral health of adults, children, and infants in local communities across the country. Visit deltadental.com for additional information on dental plans and more.

Follow us on Twitter @DeltaDental and Facebook: Delta Dental Plans Association

SOURCE Delta Dental Plans Association

Stratasys Ltd. has announced it signed an agreement to acquire 3D printing start-up Origin Inc. in a transaction for total consideration of up to $100 million, including cash and stock. The merger enables Stratasys to expand its leadership through innovation in the fast-growing mass production parts segment with a next-generation photopolymer platform. Subject to various approvals and other closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close in January 2021.

Stratasys expects Origin’s proprietary Programmable PhotoPolymerization (P³) technology to be an important growth engine for the company, adding up to $200 million incremental annual revenue within five years. The acquisition will help fortify Stratasys’ leadership position in polymers and production applications of 3D printing in industries such as dental, medical, tooling, and select industrial, defense, and consumer goods segments.

Under the terms of the agreement, the total consideration for the transaction is comprised of $60 million paid on closing ($6 million of which is subject to the founders' retention over 3 years) and $40 million that is subject to performance-based earnouts over 3 years. The acquisition will be paid using a combination of stock of approximately $45 million and cash of approximately $55 million at closing and throughout the earnout period. Approximately $32 million of the cash expenditure will be at closing. The acquisition is expected to accelerate Stratasys’ growth rate and be slightly dilutive to non-GAAP earnings per share in 2021, and accretive to Stratasys' non-GAAP earnings per share by 2023. The Origin team will join Stratasys and lead the development of its technology and product platform, with a full global launch via the Stratasys go-to-market organization towards mid-2021.

“Our customers are looking for additive manufacturing solutions that enable use of industrial-grade resins for mass production parts with process and quality control,” said Stratasys CEO Yoav Zeif. “We believe Origin’s software-driven Origin One system is the best in the industry by combining high throughput with incredible accuracy. When combined with Origin’s extensive materials ecosystem and our industry-leading go-to-market capabilities, we believe we will be able to capture a wide range of in-demand production applications on a global scale. Together with our intended entry into powder bed fusion technology, the acquisition of Origin reflects another step in fulfilling our objective to lead in polymer additive manufacturing by offering comprehensive, best-in-class technologies and solutions to create a fully digital additive value chain, designed for Industry 4.0 integration.”

According to an internal Stratasys market analysis, manufacturing applications show the most potential for significant growth in the 3D printing industry, reaching approximately $25 billion by 2025. Stratasys anticipates that production-oriented resin-based solutions can address a significant part of the total market for polymer additive manufacturing. In fact, it is estimated that resin polymer-based additive systems will grow at a 20% annual rate from 2020 to 2025.

Origin’s P³ technology, an advancement on Digital Light Processing (DLP) principles, cures liquid photopolymer resin with light. The company’s first manufacturing-grade 3D printer, Origin One, precisely controls light, heat, and force, among other parameters, via Origin's closed-loop feedback software. This new technology enables customers to build parts with industry-leading accuracy, consistency, size, and detail, while using a wide range of commercial-grade, durable resins.

Origin works with a network of material partners such as Henkel, BASF, and DSM to develop resins for its system. “We partnered and developed materials with Origin before Origin One was launched because we believed in their technology and vision for the future of photopolymers in additive manufacturing,” said François Minec, Managing Director at BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH. “Now, as part of Stratasys, we’re confident that together we can take on the broader manufacturing ecosystem.”

Origin One systems have been successfully deployed across a variety of industries, including shoe manufacturer ECCO. “We’re pleased to continue our cooperation with the Origin team as an exclusive partner within the area of the footwear industry categorized as Direct Injection Production, now also by leveraging Stratasys’ global infrastructure,” said Jakob Møller Hansen, Vice President Research & Development, ECCO.

The COVID-19 pandemic further illustrated Origin’s technology fit for production applications, including hundreds of thousands of clinically validated nasopharyngeal swabs, thousands of PPE face shields, and ventilator splitters for hospitals.

“We founded Origin to create a whole new additive manufacturing platform that enables mass production of end-use parts with incredible accuracy, consistency, and throughput along with a wide range of available materials,” said Origin CEO and co-founder Christopher Prucha. “Stratasys is the best company for us to join to achieve our vision, giving us an unparalleled opportunity to significantly expand market reach and enable us to bring our P³ technology to a larger audience.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic there have been questions about whether some "routine" health care, including dental care, should be delayed.

There is never a good time to delay oral health care, and certainly not now. The Pennsylvania Dental Association and American Dental Association (ADA) continue to emphasize that oral health is an integral part of your overall health, and dentistry is essential health care.

Dentistry has a unique role in your health care because your dentist has the ability to evaluate, diagnose, prevent and treat oral disease, which impacts your systemic health. Additionally, because certain diseases may appear in the mouth first, a dentist is often diagnosing more than just a cavity. Dental professionals are trained to look for many systemic diseases when conducting your regular oral exam. For example, dental X-rays show more than just cavities; they also can point to early signs of osteoporosis.

"When oral health is ignored or neglected, it causes any potential issue to compound and grow," said Dr. Tamara Brady, a general dentist in Exton. "Decay gets bigger and can lead to root canals and extractions. Gingivitis and periodontitis continue destruction of the gums and bones, compromising the entire mouth and potentially leading to losing teeth."

Both the ADA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued interim guidance related to COVID-19 for oral health professionals. The ADA's guidance calls for a high level of PPE — including a combination of masks and goggles, or masks and face shields. That focus on PPE, along with strengthened infection controls and social distancing safeguards, has ensured that millions of patients have safely visited their dentists in recent months for the full range of oral health care services. Patients should expect that will continue as dentists and dental team members throughout our state continue to effectively implement ADA and CDC recommendations. Your dental appointments remain important.

"Many of the minor problems in the mouth go unnoticed by the patient, but can be detected and easily fixed by the trained dentist. Letting a minor problem go for any period of time can result in a major problem, costing the patient time and money to repair," Dr. Brady said. "It is essential that regular dental visits be maintained to minimize the possibility of additional appointments and save patients valuable money."

The health and safety of patients is always the top priority of dental health care providers, and with robust infection control and social distancing protocols in effect, the full range of dental care will continue to be practiced safely during the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

About the Pennsylvania Dental Association

Founded in 1868, the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) is comprised of approximately 5,100 member dentists. It is a constituency of the American Dental Association (ADA), the largest and oldest national dental society in the world. PDA's mission is to improve the public health, promote the art and science of dentistry and represent the interests of its member dentists and their patients. PDA is the voice of dentistry in Pennsylvania. For more information on PDA, visit our website at www.padental.org.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Dental Association

Sonendo, Inc., a leading dental technology company and developer of the GentleWave® System, today announced that more than 500,000 patients have been treated with the GentleWave Procedure.

Sonendo's GentleWave System ushers in the next evolution in endodontic technology that is transforming a rapidly growing number of practices across North America. The GentleWave System uses patented, novel technology to deliver more thorough cleaning and disinfection to the entire root canal system —even in the microscopic places where bacteria can hide—and leaves more of the tooth structure intact^1,2.

Most GentleWave Procedures can be performed in one visit³ and in general, patients find the procedure to be comfortable and report minimal to no pain after the procedure⁴. Additionally, the System releases virtually no aerosolized material into the air during normal use⁵, which potentially reduces the threat of spread of airborne infection – such as COVID-19 – to patients, clinicians, and their staff. Procedure instruments for the GentleWave System also come pre-sterilized and are single use, hence minimize the risk of exposure from one patient to the next.

Bjarne Bergheim, Sonendo's President & CEO, reflected on the significance of this milestone. "We are grateful to the many clinicians and their staff who have supported us on this journey that has now positively impacted the lives of more than 500,000 patients.

Our innovation is always centered around the patient and it is very humbling to see the strong adoption. This landmark achievement underscores the market demand for GentleWave Procedures and further demonstrates our commitment to partner with endodontists to advance and elevate patient care.

We are also very thankful to all the employees and their families who remain steadfast in their commitment to making a difference in the lives of people and helped us reach this milestone."

Patients interested in learning more about the GentleWave Procedure, the alternative to traditional root canal treatment, or to find providers can visit www.GentleWave.com.

ABOUT SONENDO

Sonendo, Inc. is a privately held company developing innovative technologies to transform dentistry by Saving Teeth Through Sound Science®. The GentleWave System shows significant improvements in clinical efficacy and practice efficiency when compared to standard root canal treatment^6,7,8. Sonendo is the parent company of TDO® Software, the developer of the most widely used endodontic practice management software in the world, designed to simplify practice workflow. TDO software seamlessly integrates practice management, imaging, referral reporting, CBCT imaging, and offers built-in communication with the GentleWave System.

For more information about Sonendo visit www.sonendo.com. For information about TDO visit www.tdo4endo.com

REFERENCES

1. Vandrangi P et al. (2015) Oral Health 72-86

2. Molina B et al. (2015) J Endod. 41:1701-05

3. Sigurdsson et al. J Endod 2018; 44(3):510-517

4. Sigurdsson et al. J Endod 2016; 41(7):1040-10484

5. Data on file at Sonendo; internal testing report# TR20-002

6. Sigurdsson A et al. (2016) J Endod. 42:1040-48

7. Molina B et al. (2015) J Endod. 41:1701-05

8. Trope M et al. (1999) J Endod. 25:345–50

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This announcement contains forward-looking statements based on management's beliefs, assumptions and expectations and information currently available to management. All statements that address events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future are forward-looking statements, including without limitation our expectations on the timing and progress of research and development activities. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they speak only as of the date when made. Sonendo does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements publicly, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results, developments, or events could differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements.

Formlabs, a leading 3D printing company, today announced the expansion of its dental material offerings with the launch of Permanent Crown Resin and Soft Tissue Starter Pack. The introduction of these new materials empowers dental offices and labs to further digitize restorative dentistry and offer patients 3D printed long-term restorations such as fillings, crowns (“caps”), bridges, and implants. 3D printing permanent crowns is a completely new application to the dental industry, and with Formlabs’ new Permanent Crown Resin, the company is one of the first 3D printing manufacturers to offer a high quality solution with a low upfront equipment cost.

Historically, 3D printing permanent restorations was out of reach due to a lack of appropriate dental materials in the market that had the desired mechanical properties, accuracy, and fit compared to milled or conventional materials. An increase in adoption and accessibility for 3D printing in dental over the last five years have opened the door to testing and validating cutting-edge indications. Formlabs’ Permanent Crown Resin provides the material innovation needed to move restorative dentistry forward.

“3D printing improves the patient experience and enables dental labs and practices to provide patients with higher quality, more reliable and affordable solutions to traditional processes,” said Georgio Haddad, Formlabs’ Dental Strategic Partnerships Lead. “We’re committed to innovating our offerings to provide the dental industry with the tools needed to operate at the cutting edge of an increasingly digital workflow and provide patients with high quality care.”

Permanent Crown Resin, whose digital workflow is developed in partnership with BEGO, is a tooth-colored, ceramic-filled resin for 3D printing permanent single crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers. With an accessible price point and low per-part cost, this resin enables dental businesses of all sizes to achieve high-quality restorations through 3D printing. Permanent Crown Resin provides users with:

● High strength, long-term restorations with an accurate and precise fit;

● Low water absorption and a smooth finish to decrease the tendency to age, discolor, or accumulate plaque.

Formlabs’ unique Soft Tissue Starter Pack, which contains Formlabs Flexible 80A Resin and three color pigments, enables dental laboratories to create customizable Soft Tissue Resin to print gingiva masks for implant models. With its reliable printing and consistent digital workflow, Soft Tissue Starter Pack enables dental users to plan implant-based restorations more accurately, minimizing chairside adjustment time and expanding what’s possible with 3D printing in dentistry.

Permanent crown 3D printing is a groundbreaking innovation within the dental market. The cutting edge material will enable early-adopting dental labs and practices to offer a truly digital approach to restorative dentistry. This, coupled with Soft Tissue Starter Pack and Formlabs’ recent launch of the reformulated Draft Resin, which is capable of four times faster printing speeds, highlights Formlabs’ commitment to the dental industry. Since the launch of its dental unit, the Form 3B, the company has added 19 new formulations and four new indications of its dental materials. Every Formlabs dental material can be seamlessly interchanged and used on a single 3D printing platform, the Form 3B, enabling dental users to streamline and digitize their workflows.

Leading innovator of endodontics technology, Kerr Dental, announces the launch of the ZenFlexTMNiTi Rotary Shaping File, featuring high cutting efficiency, an ideal balance of strength and flexibility, and a minimally invasive design. Initial comparative studies against other leading files on the market indicate that ZenFlex delivers exceptional resistance to torsional stress and cyclic fatigue, while offering the flexibility and controlled memory to accommodate even the most complex canal anatomies.

"We've designed ZenFlex to balance strength with flexibility, as well as achieve high cutting efficiency, all while being minimally invasive," says Lea Pagaduan, Marketing Manager at Kerr Dental. "These are made possible due to the proprietary variable heat treatment technology used in ZenFlex."

Through this heat treat process, ZenFlex provides the strength and flexibility to accommodate up to 90-degree curves. ZenFlex additionally has exceptional controlled memory to maintain its pre-curved shape to better follow even than most challenging canal anatomies.

In recent comparative tests, ZenFlex delivered greater resistance to cyclic fatigue than other files, resulting in a longer time to failure. Additional tests showed that ZenFlex is as resistant or more resistant to torsional stresses despite having a smaller maximum flute diameter and smaller mass.

"In tests conducted by leading endodontist Dr. Stephen L. Buchanan, against other recognized files on the market, ZenFlex did a better job reaching the full working length of severely curved canals," explains Brian Ho, Kerr Dental Global Product Manager.

ZenFlex offers endodontists a minimally invasive shaping file option, with a 1 mm maximum flute diameter and its non-cutting tip. Combined, these features help increase control during the root canal procedure and preserve the tooth's structural integrity.

"With its high cutting efficiency, balance of strength and flexibility, and minimally invasive design features, ZenFlex is the shaping file endodontists have been waiting for," says Ho. "We are excited to launch this next-generation product and look forward to hearing feedback from doctors and practices around the country."

ZenFlex will be available to order starting on Dec. 7, 2020. To learn more about the ZenFlex NiTi Shaping File, visit Go.Kerrdental.com/ZenFlex.