Grin, a comprehensive digital orthodontic platform that provides orthodontic solutions in partnership with trusted local doctors, today announced a partnership with Henry Schein (Nasdaq: HSIC) and a new Remote Consultation feature. Fortune 500 company Henry Schein, North America’s largest dental supply company, will offer the Grin Remote Monitoring Platform and Grin Remote Consultation to their doctor network across the United States. The Grin experience consists of the Grin App and Grin Scope, which is an FDA listed medical device. Remote Consultation provides orthodontists with a cost effective alternative virtual solution to time consuming initial consults. Combined with Grin Remote Monitoring, this new feature delivers superior visibility resulting in unprecedented insights that assist doctors in cost effective lead generation along with safe and convenient care.

According to research conducted by the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics (JCO), on average, only 43% of consultations result in immediate patient acquisition, and costs practices approximately $900 - $1,350 per patient.¹ The Grin Remote Consultation journey leverages Grin virtual care technology—previously reserved for Grin partner doctors and patients already engaged in orthodontic care—and now allows for a pre-treatment touchpoint. Patients can request a consultation with local participating orthodontists through a variety of channels such as participating practices’ engagement platforms or direct doctor referrals.

The Grin Scope is an orthodontist created, proprietary device that serves as an intraoral adapter. It is designed to retract the cheeks to allow a full view of a patient’s mouth. The entire system is powered by the robust Grin App; patients are guided to self-scan their teeth for an orthodontist-ready video. Doctors receive the intraoral self-scan video of their potential patient and send back a short video analysis of the most appropriate treatment options and pathways.

“Consultations are a critical, yet costly step in the process of generating new business and establishing trustworthy doctor-patient relationships. They have the potential to eat up a patient’s valuable time and can be financially inefficient for orthodontists,” said Grin CEO Adam Schulhof, DMD. “We listened to Grin network members, including our new partner Henry Schein, that virtual consultations would address the desire to develop leads while adhering to today’s safety requirements. We’re committed to helping orthodontists generate new opportunities and are excited to work with Henry Schein to provide practitioners nationwide the innovative tools necessary to increase convenience and cost competitiveness.”

“We don’t just see a few poorly shot photos; Grin helps our patients take a detailed video scan in less than a minute so I can see every detail,” said Douglas Palaganis DDS, a Grin partner orthodontist.

"At Henry Schein Orthodontics, we are constantly on the lookout for innovative solutions for our customers,” said Brian Brady, Vice President of Sales at Henry Schein Orthodontics. “We are delighted to partner and distribute the Grin Remote Monitoring Platform that will aid our doctors and customers alike with minimal touch orthodontics."

Henry Schein orthodontists interested in utilizing Grin in their practice can sign up here: www.get-grin.com/HSO

1. Haeger , Robert S. “Establishing an Optimal Pricing Strategy for Your Practice.” JCO Online, 2014, www.jco-online.com/archive/2014/09/563/

About Henry Schein

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a solutions company for healthcare professionals powered by a network of people and technology. With approximately 19,000 Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company's network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively. These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional healthcare clinics, as well as other alternate care sites.

Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 120,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 180,000 additional products available as special-order items.

A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® index, Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has operations or affiliates in 31 countries. The Company's sales from continuing operations reached $10.0 billion in 2019, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 13 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995.

About Grin

Grin is a comprehensive digital platform that provides orthodontic solutions for all types of teeth straightening needs. The Grin App and Grin Scope connect patients to real orthodontists in their community. Patients can access quality professional care from the convenience of their smart device. Doctors can remotely monitor patients via virtual check-ins for complete visibility—reducing chair time, increasing patient volume, and ensuring safety. To learn more about Grin, you can visit us at: www.get-grin.com/contact

Despite having been designated as high risk for COVID-19 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a new study finds 3.1 percent of dental hygienists have had COVID-19 based on data collected in October 2020. This is in alignment with the cumulative infection prevalence rate among dentists and far below that of other health professionals in the U.S, although slightly higher than that of the general population. The research, published by The Journal of Dental Hygiene, is the first large-scale collection and publication of U.S. dental hygienists’ infection rates and infection control practices related to COVID-19. In partnership, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) have released initial findings from their ongoing, joint research designed to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 among U.S. dental hygienists, as well as examine infection prevention and control procedures and any associated trends, including employment data. “We were pleased to collaborate with the ADA on this research that takes a closer look at the impact of the pandemic on the dental team,” said ADHA CEO Ann Battrell, M.S.D.H. “The low infection rate shows us we can provide oral health care in a safe manner, which is critically important since the safety of dental hygienists and the patients they serve is of the utmost importance to ADHA and the dental hygiene profession.”

The data reflect results from the first month of a longitudinal study on the impact of COVID-19 on dental hygienists in the U.S. As of October 8, 2020, a total of 4,776 dental hygienists from all 50 states and Puerto Rico had participated in the survey. Of the survey participants, 149 respondents (3.1 percent) had ever been diagnosed with COVID-19, either through testing or by a medical professional, and they were not clustered in any particular geographic region.

“The dental team has been following strict infection control guidance since long before COVID-19,” said Marcelo Araujo, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., a senior author of the report, chief executive officer of the ADA Science and Research Institute and ADA chief science officer. “This study is another proof point that dental care is safe for patients and dental professionals.”

According to the study, more than 99 percent of respondents reported their primary dental practice had enhanced infection prevention or control efforts in response to the pandemic. The majority of respondents wore eye protection, masks, protective coverings and gloves during dental procedures.

A second study in the joint research examined employment rates of dental hygienists, finding that 8 percent of dental hygienists had left the workforce since the onset of the pandemic. Of this group, nearly 60 percent left the workforce voluntarily, citing reasons such as overall concerns around the pandemic, safety concerns and childcare issues.

“We know the pandemic has impacted healthcare workers in so many ways,” said JoAnn R. Gurenlian, R.D.H., M.S., Ph.D., A.F.A.A.O.M., a lead author of the research and the chair of ADHA’s Task Force on Return to Work. “While one-quarter of the 8 percent of dental hygienists who left the workforce were laid off due to early dental office closures, others were faced with tough decisions around whether or not they could continue to work in a setting that requires direct patient care. It’s a very personal decision. The good news is, the infection rate data shows that dental hygiene care can be delivered safely. And, with vaccine availability we may see more opportunities for dental hygienists to return to practice.”

According to the authors of the report, COVID-19 has led to a reduction in the dental hygienist workforce that is likely to persist until the pandemic passes.

“The pandemic is bringing unprecedented disruption to the U.S. health care sector, including in the dental workforce,” said Marko Vujicic, Ph.D., chief economist and vice president of the ADA’s Health Policy Institute. “We are continuing to examine employment patterns and the impact on the dental team, including how continued vaccine distribution will contribute to these patterns. Our research suggests once the pandemic is over, we could see employment patterns largely return to pre-pandemic levels.”

The ADHA and the ADA will continue to work together to track infection rate data and the impact of COVID-19 on dental professionals.

About the American Dental Hygienists' Association

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of the country’s over 215,000 dental hygienists. Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. To learn more about ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and general health, visit ADHA at www.adha.org.

About the American Dental Association The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing 163,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit ADA.org. For more information on oral health, including prevention, care and treatment of dental disease, visit the ADA's consumer website MouthHealthy.org 

SmileDirectClub, Inc., the next generation oral care company with the first medtech platform for teeth straightening has partnered with dental service organization National Dental and its affiliate offices in New York City and Long Island to offer customers in the Big Apple the opportunity to begin their SmileDirectClub journey in the dentist chair.

National Dental is the first New York-based DSO to join the Partner Network and give their patients the option to begin their SmileDirectClub treatment at National Dental offices while also creating opportunities for their affiliated dentists to provide dental care to SmileDirectClub customers.

“When SmileDirectClub created the first hybrid in-office and telehealth solution for clear aligner therapy, we knew we were fulfilling a need of both our customers and doctors alike,” said Chris Thompson, Vice President, Professional Channel for SmileDirectClub. “With consumer preference for clear aligners and telehealth on the rise, we’re pleased National Dental chose to join SmileDirectClub’s network and partner with us to ensure National Dental’s patients have access to a premium, affordable teeth straightening solution and our pioneering telehealth platform.”

“The highly trained team at National Dental is committed to providing exceptional dental care using cutting-edge technology while also making sure it is convenient and safe for our patients, and that’s exactly what our partnership with SmileDirectClub helps us deliver,” said Anish Berry, CEO of National Dental. “We share SmileDirectClub’s mission of helping more people change their lives and boost their self-esteem by providing affordable access to a healthy, beautiful, one-of-a-kind smile.”

The SmileDirectClub Partner Network, launched in January 2020, now includes more than 1,000 partner locations across the U.S., further expanding access to SmileDirectClub’s innovative clear aligner therapy and customized BPA-free aligners, made in the USA at the Company’s FDA-certified and registered facility in Tennessee.

Since launching in the U.S. in 2014, SmileDirectClub has become one of the fastest-growing health technology companies, serving well over one million customers around the world.

About SmileDirectClub

SmileDirectClub, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDC) (“SmileDirectClub”) is an oral care company and creator of the first medtech platform for teeth straightening, now also offered directly via dentist and orthodontists’ offices. Through its cutting-edge teledentistry technology and vertically integrated model, SmileDirectClub is revolutionizing the oral care industry, from clear aligner therapy to affordable, premium oral care products. SmileDirectClub’s mission is to democratize access to a smile each and every person loves by making it affordable and convenient for everyone. SmileDirectClub is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and operates in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Hong Kong, Singapore and Spain. For more information, please visit SmileDirectClub.com.

About National Dental

National Dental is a prominent dental service organization headquartered in Hicksville, New York. The privately held company owns and operates 16 dental practices across Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Nassau and Suffolk. Each office is equipped with the latest cutting edge dental technology and has a highly trained team of licensed dental specialists including orthodontists, prosthodontists, periodontists, oral surgeons and restorative dentists. National Dental’s services include dental implants, cosmetic, restorative and general dentistry. National Dental’s goal is to provide phenomenal dental care to patients as well as providing a safe and comfortable working environment for the team. National Dental takes pride in positively changing the self-image of its patients and boosting their self-esteem. For more information, please visit www.lovenationaldental.com or call (516) 535-0544. 

FDI World Dental Federation today (https://www.fdiworlddental.org/vaccines) called for more countries to enable dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccines after a survey of its members revealed the small number of countries currently permitted to do so. The survey was facilitated by FDI's COVID-19 Task Team.

Fifty-seven member national dental associations, from across the globe, revealed that nearly two-thirds of countries had not granted permission to dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccines as part of national rollouts. In Europe, countries where dentists are not permitted to administer the vaccine include Switzerland, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Slovakia, and Russia.

In France, the National Order of Dental Surgeons has called on the government to grant permission to the profession, but no authorization has been given to date. Discussions are also ongoing in Spain, Sweden, Ireland, Australia, Kenya, Hong Kong, and Germany.

"Oral health is a fundamental component of overall health and well-being and oral healthcare is an essential public service," said Dr Gerhard Konrad Seeberger, president of FDI World Dental Federation.

"Efforts should be made to enable dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccines when possible within national legislation and regulations, and with minimal disruption to oral healthcare services."

Countries permitting dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccines

Of the 57 survey responses, the countries who have granted authorization to the profession to administer vaccines include: Cambodia, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Nigeria, Serbia, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom (17 per cent) (see Table 2). Significantly, some of these countries include those where dentists have not previously been allowed to administer vaccines, or at least the influenza vaccine.

In the United States (https://success.ada.org/en/practice-management/ patients/covid-19-vaccine-regulations-for-dentists-map) around 20 states are currently permitting dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

Inclusion of dentists in priority vaccination groups

The survey also examined the prioritization of dentists in COVID-19 vaccine roll-out programmes. A total 53 per cent of responding countries said that dentists would be included in priority vaccination groups (see Table 2),12 per cent said that they would not be, and 18 per cent responded that the vaccination programme and priority groups were still being planned.

Those countries NOT including dentists as a priority group include Cambodia, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Thailand.

Ahead of World Oral Health Day on March 20, FDI will release a new set of data around the caseload of COVID-19 infection amongst dentists around the world.

About FDI World Dental Federation:

FDI is the main representative body for more than one million dentists worldwide, with a vision of leading the world to optimal oral health. Its membership comprises some 200 national member associations and specialist groups in over 130 countries. https://www.fdiworlddental.org

The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE), in partnership with Prometric, has announced the successful implementation of the Joint Commission’s new Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE).

The DLOSCE is a professionally developed, content-valid examination built specifically for clinical licensure purposes that assesses candidates’ clinical judgment and skills using sophisticated 3D models, without the need to involve patients. Teams of dental subject matter experts meticulously designed the lifelike computerized models, and constructed questions to mirror situations in clinical practice with high fidelity. Prometric, partner to many of the world's leading credentialing and licensure organizations in the design, development and delivery of reliable examination programs, worked with the JCNDE to deploy the DLOSCE, and serves as the primary administrator of this new examination across the United States.

The new technological aspects of the DLOSCE represent a significant leap forward in the standardized assessment of aspiring dentists. Unlike current clinical dental licensure examinations—and consistent with examination trends in medicine, nursing, and numerous other health professions—the DLOSCE does not require candidates to perform procedures on patients. By replacing actual patients with advanced 3D-models in a controlled virtual environment, the new DLOSCE avoids many of the weaknesses and disadvantages of traditional clinical examinations, increases validity, and also significantly decreases the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and other airborne pathogens for all involved.

“The DLOSCE provides a comprehensive evaluation of the clinical judgment that is necessary to safely practice dentistry, advancing assessment technology and helping to address ethical concerns with current clinical licensure examinations,” said Dr. Kanthasamy Ragunanthan, Chair of the JCNDE. “We are confident that the DLOSCE will prove to be an invaluable tool to support the work of state dental boards in their mission to protect the public health. This examination promotes clinical fidelity, fairness, objectivity, and validity, at a time of great need in our country.”

At its core, the DLOSCE is designed to help dental boards protect the public health, and to do so far more effectively than existing clinical licensure tools. “The DLOSCE is the first dental licensure examination to employ a laser focus on clinical judgment to help protect the public,” commented Dr. William F. Robinson, a former member of the Florida Board of Dentistry who also served on the DLOSCE Steering Committee. “That’s a key reason why it was quickly accepted in six states, all within six months of its release. This is an unmatched advancement in dental licensure and will ultimately have a positive impact on the oral and overall health of the public.”

The DLOSCE has benefited greatly from some important relationships. “From our initial development through the first examination administration last June, the partnership with Prometric was instrumental in making the launch of the new DLOSCE a great success,” said Dr. Ragunanthan.

“We are proud to partner with the JCNDE to make this groundbreaking advancement in dental credentialing a reality,” said Chief Client Officer, Sean Burke, at Prometric. “By collaborating closely with the JCNDE, we have been able to ensure that the infrastructure supporting DLOSCE administrations is sound and reliable, and that the new examination format can be seamlessly and securely deployed on Prometric’s testing platform—positioning the dental field to provide cutting-edge assessment capabilities for the 21st century dental candidate.”

About the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations

The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) is the agency responsible for the development and administration of the National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE). The JCNDE helps protect the public health through valid, reliable and fair assessments of knowledge, skills, and abilities, to inform state licensure and certification decisions that help ensure safe and effective patient care by qualified oral healthcare team members. This 16-member Commission includes experts from dental schools, dental practice, state dental boards, dental hygiene, dental students, and the public. For more information, visit ADA.org/JCNDE and ADA.org/DLOSCE.

About Prometric

As a global leader in test development, testing delivery, and candidate services, Prometric partners with the world's top credentialing and licensure organizations to design and deliver leading exam programs that help individuals advance their careers and serve their communities. Prometric’s integrated, end-to-end solutions provide exam development, management, and distribution that set the industry standard in quality, security, and service excellence. Prometric leverages its proprietary platform, advanced technologies, and vast operational experience to deliver an exceptional user experience on its world-class secure testing network. Today, Prometric paves the industry’s path forward with new solutions and innovation to ensure reliable access to secure assessments anytime, anywhere. For more information, visit www.prometric.com, or follow Prometric on Twitter and LinkedIn.  

After six decades in dentistry, Dr. John Stropko, D.D.S., Microendodontist and Inventor, has decided it is time to retire effective February 2021. After lengthy discussions, he has decided to hand the manufacturing and sale of the Stropko Irrigator to Vista Apex.

In his extensive career, after receiving his DDS from Indiana University in 1964, Dr. Stropko served as a Captain in the Air Force Dental Corp until 1966. For the next 24 years, he had a private practice limited to adult restorative dentistry. In 1987, Dr. Stropko was accepted into the post-graduate endodontic program to study under Dr. Herbert Schilder at Boston University and received his Endodontic Specialty Certificate in 1989.

Dr. Stropko had many achievements in his career, from contributing to textbooks and publishing an extensive clinical morphology study in the Journal of Endodontics in June of 1998. In 1995, as an Adjunct Assistant Professor, he was responsible for starting the micro-endodontic program at Boston University. He is a well-known lecturer with numerous presentations and live micro-surgical demonstrations given worldwide. Dr. Stropko is currently the Program Administrator for the Horizon Dental Institute in Scottsdale, AZ. He and his wife, Barbara, currently reside in Prescott, AZ

“Dr. Stropko has made enormous strides in the advancement of micro-endodontics. His knowledge, commitment, and engagement made a profound difference that will have a lasting impact. We’re honored to have the opportunity to carry on his legacy,” said Scott Lamerand, CEO of Vista Apex. “The Stropko irrigator is in capable hands at Vista Apex. Vista Apex manufactures and distributes many products designed to provide safe, efficient delivery of solutions. Stropko Irrigator helps us further that passion.”

Scott Lamerand added, “Dr. John Stropko exudes passion for dentistry. His career is evidence of that. I think that I can speak for most that we are thankful for Dr. Stropko’s contributions to the dental industry and wish him and his family the very best following his retirement. That said, I expect to speak with him regularly to be sure we continue doing things the right way.”

About Vista Apex

Vista Apex is a market leader in Endodontic and Restorative solutions. Having been a market leader in Endodontic Solutions, Vista Dental was looking to apply its chemical and biomedical expertise to its restorative line. With the acquisition of Apex Dental Materials, an innovation powerhouse was formed. Together, the Vista Apex team has a passion for being a trusted partner who provides quality solutions for our Clinicians.

Roland DGA’s DGSHAPE Americas dental business group has announced the availability of a new 6-Pin Adapter designed to increase the overall milling capacity of its advanced DWX-42W wet dental mill.

The new 6-Pin Adapter (part number ZV-42W) enables the DWX-42W to mill up to six 14-mm material blocks—twice the total allowed by the standard material adapter. In addition, the 6-Pin Adapter base can be used interchangeably with the DGSHAPE AK-1 Abutment Kit.

“This innovative 6-pin adapter is another great accessory developed to further expand the functionality and productivity of our state-of-the-art DWX series milling machines,” said Roland DGA Product Manager of Dental Solutions, Lisa Aguirre. “Simple to install and easy to use, it significantly increases the DWX-42W’s milling capacity, saving clinicians and dental lab technicians time and money.”

The 4-axis DWX-42W wet dental mill is uniquely engineered for on-demand milling of glass ceramics, nano-composites, inlays, onlays, veneers, and even custom titanium abutments with the DGSHAPE AK-1 Abutment Kit. It incorporates a host of cutting-edge features—including open architecture, a 6-station Automatic Tool Changer, Virtual Machine Panel (VPanel), ethernet connectivity, new grinding burs, and more—to provide quick, cost-effective, and highly esthetic CAD/CAM restorations.

Both the DWX-42W and the new 6-Pin Adapter (ZV-42W) are available through authorized Roland DGA dealers. The 6-Pin Adapter can also be purchased online at the Roland DGA Store. For more information on the complete line of DGSHAPE dental devices and accessories, visit https://www.rolanddga.com/dental.

While the measures taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have taken their toll on businesses across the board, nonprofit dental clinics have been much more extensively impacted. In addition to the steep costs of reopening, reductions to staff, and nearly impossible community outreach, many have seen an increase in emergency and costly urgent treatment for children who had to delay dental treatment until offices were allowed to reopen. But for members of the Dental Resource Program (DRP) of America’s ToothFairy, pandemic relief came in the form of product donations from 3M Oral Care.

Last year 27 DRP clinics serving children from low-income households and underserved communities received nearly $740,000 worth of donated product from 3M including Triple Layer Molded Face Masks to help replenish essential PPE supplies.

“Many of our program members stepped up to help at the beginning of the pandemic by donating the PPE they had on hand to their local hospitals,” America’s ToothFairy Executive Director, Jill Malmgren commented. “Months later they discovered that the extra PPE they needed to reopen safely was in short supply. We are so grateful for 3M who provided many essential supplies as soon as our members were allowed to reopen and continued to give through the end of the year.”

Costs to reopen as well as the time and resources needed to clean the clinic and operatories after every patient have been a staggering blow to nonprofit dental clinics. Traditional dental offices may simply pass those costs along to the patient, but this is not an option for clinics serving low-income patients who are either uninsured or count on state-funded programs to pay for care.

“We have been a proud supporter of America’s ToothFairy,” said Eric Wenzel, Director of 3M Oral Care in the United States and Canada. “In times of crisis, we believe it is our duty to step up and do all we can to ensure organizations that serve our nation’s most vulnerable populations—especially children—have what they need to fulfill their mission.”

Additional donated product included ParadigmTM DeepCure Curing Lights and EliparTM DeepCure-S Curing Lights, hygiene products, crowns, adhesives and cements. The items were distributed to DRP members in 12 states, including Cass Community Health Foundation in Kansas City, MO. “Our Cass County Dental Clinic dentists were super excited about this donation,” said Cynthia Randazzo, the foundation’s President. “It is so helpful as we have spent so much unbudgeted funds on PPE as we reopened full-time to the children we serve.”

About America’s ToothFairy: National Children’s Oral Health Foundation

As a resource provider, America’s ToothFairy increases access to oral health care by supporting nonprofit clinics and community partners delivering education, prevention and treatment services for underserved children. Since its inception in 2006, America’s ToothFairy has distributed more than $22 million in donated products, educational materials and financial grants to improve oral health outcomes for children and youth in need. For more information, visit AmericasToothFairy.org.  

SmileDirectClub, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDC), the next generation oral care company with the first medtech platform for teeth straightening, today announced the expansion of its award-winning whitening line with its new Pro Whitening System, designed to whiten teeth in just one week, up to twice as bright.

Joining the brand’s #1 selling whitening gel bright on®, SmileDirectClub’s new pro whitening system brings consumers an advanced, innovative system to help smiles shine even brighter. Now available on SmileDirectClub.com and at more than 3,600 Walmart stores across the U.S., this new system provides a convenient and long-lasting way to whiten smiles through a quick and easy whitening gel application that can be done anywhere.

SmileDirectClub’s new Pro Whitening System contains three easy steps to break up stains and prevent new ones from starting. Customers begin by using the ProActivate™ whitening accelerator toothpaste, which vigorously deep cleans the teeth to break up stains and remove plaque, allowing the whitening gel to increase brightness up to 65%. Then, customers apply the ProBrighten whitening gel, which is formulated with the same enamel-safe whitening agent used by dentists, paired with SmileDirectClub’s patented 20-LED accelerator light. The ProLong whitening extender gel is the last step in the system, which smooths the tooth’s surface to help prevent new food and beverage stains from forming, providing long lasting results. Each treatment takes about one week to complete, giving customers a smile that is up to 9 shades whiter and results that can last up to six months.

“As we continue to expand our innovative product line, we are constantly making improvements based on consumer feedback,” said Josh Chapman, SmileDirectClub’s Chief Global Brand Officer. “With our current bright on® kit, we knew that customers loved the results but were looking for even more speed, proven results, and longevity. This demand inspired the new Pro Whitening System. Customers will now be able to upgrade their smile in a quicker and more effective way. SmileDirectClub’s new Pro Whitening System is another product that furthers the Company’s mission to bring consumers a premium, affordable oral care system that can seamlessly be integrated into any lifestyle.”

SmileDirectClub is the only clear aligner brand that offers consumers an end-to-end solution to keep teeth brighter, straighter and healthier. Since launching in the U.S. in 2014, SmileDirectClub has become one of the fastest-growing health technology companies and continues to be the leading telehealth platform for orthodontia, serving well over one million customers around the world.

To learn more about SmileDirectClub’s product offerings and availability visit: https://shop.smiledirectclub.com/

About SmileDirectClub

SmileDirectClub, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDC) (“SmileDirectClub”) is an oral care company and creator of the first medtech platform for teeth straightening. Through its cutting-edge telehealth technology and vertically integrated model, SmileDirectClub is revolutionizing the oral care industry, from clear aligner therapy to its affordable, premium oral care products line. SmileDirectClub’s mission is to democratize access to a smile each and every person loves by making it affordable and convenient for everyone. SmileDirectClub is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and operates in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Hong Kong, Singapore and Spain. For more information, please visit SmileDirectClub.com.

Whip Mix is happy to announce that Tom Houle has joined Whip Mix as Territory Sales Manager – West Coast. Tom’s 20+ years of experience in technical sales, business development, and territory management will help to increase the company’s continued growth in digital products.

“We are very pleased to have hired someone who is so well known and respected in the dental lab industry,” said Chris Frye, DTS Manager. “Tom brings to Whip Mix first-hand experience in understanding what labs need to grow their business.”

Tom has been very successful as a Field Sales Rep, Regional Sales Manager and Director, and a CAD CAM Specialist for several well-known dental and dental laboratory products companies. His can-do attitude and his commitment to customers, recognized by countless laboratory owners and technicians across the country, will ensure his success in his new position.

“Tom will play a significant role in helping to place products as well as helping labs capitalize on the benefits of using Whip Mix materials,” said Frye.

To contact Tom, call his cell phone at 707-470-9849, or email him at thoule@whipmix.com.