Prodways Printers, a member of Prodways Group specializing in 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions, has established a partnership with Oqton, a publisher of AI-powered management software for 3D printing. As part of its continuous improvement drive, Prodways is now offering Oqton software on its machines. 

Automated additive manufacturing 

Oqton covers the entire additive manufacturing chain, from design to final post-print quality control, via a seamless and efficient process. 

This user-friendly solution is compatible with any type of machine and software (CAD, ERP, etc.). Data is hosted in the cloud and accessible from a single site via smartphone, PC, or tablet. Prodways customers can log in and control their machines from anywhere in the world, whenever they want, while customer service can log in directly to the platform at any time to resolve any glitch, no matter how minor. 

AI: Key performance driver 

Oqton’s software is powered by AI, making it unique in the market. AI algorithms allow the system to learn continuously, improving efficiency and quality throughout the manufacturing chain. It can also predict how machines will behave, anticipate, and identify malfunctions, as well as fine-tune future applications. AI also automatically recognizes 3D printing files without human intervention—particularly handy in the main fields where 3D printing is used, such as dental practices. The software automatically recognizes the type of part and automatically prepares what is needed to print. This leaves customers free to focus on the value-added stages of their operations. 

Tangible benefits 

Automating workflows in this way brings many benefits to Prodways customers: significant reductions in human error, greater machine productivity, and considerable time-savings. Time taken up by the nesting stage, where 3D models are intelligently grouped in order to streamline manufacturing and use of space, is cut six-fold, from an average of 1 hour to just 10 minutes. Oqton’s AI capabilities and predictive maintenance also cuts machine downtime, leaving more time for production. 

A win-win partnership 

Prodways CEO Alban d’Halluin explained: “Adding Oqton means our customers now have a comprehensive and intuitive one-stop platform that gives them a complete overview of the production chain and machinery. Our aim is for customers to manage their 3D production easily and with maximum flexibility. The Covid crisis has made this all the more essential, now that working from home is on the rise and people need to access data and assets from wherever they are. Oqton is hosted on the cloud, which makes it the ideal solution as customers can interact with Prodways machines from anywhere at any time.”

Oqton CEO Ben Schrauwen added: “We are delighted to be working with Prodways and offering them a new approach to managing 3D manufacturing processes. With our solution, Prodways customers should see immediate gains in production efficiency and quality. This deep and far-reaching integration of our software into the Prodways range is unique in the industry and an illustration of how this is a win-win relationship.”

Parkell, a recognized global leader in dental materials and equipment manufacturing for over 70 years, is proud to introduce the new Digitest® 3 Pulp Vitality Tester.

When percussion, ice, heat and radiographs are not enough, electric stimulation may be the diagnostic tool dentists need for determining the cause of the patient’s discomfort. The Digitest 3 electrically stimulates the tooth to test for vitality. Comparing the response to the stimulus of the suspected tooth with a known healthy tooth’s response can help dentists hone in on the source of the patient’s pain.

As quarantine restrictions ease and patients return to the operatory to have long overdue needs addressed, it has never been more important for clinicians to have every diagnostic tool at their disposal.

“When a patient presents with nonspecific discomfort, sometimes diagnosing the source of their pain is straightforward, but when it’s not, having the Digitest 3 in my diagnostic toolbox can be the gamechanger that takes an inconclusive diagnosis and turns it into a conclusive one,” says Michael Karter, DDS*.

With the ability to offer the additional diagnostic test of electric stimulation, dentists are discovering they can more easily diagnose and treat problematic teeth that otherwise might have to forgo treatment until a later date, when the problem escalates with more severe symptoms.

The ergonomically designed Digitest 3 has an intuitive single button control and can easily be programmed to accommodate every dentists’ personal settings preference. The four autoclavable probes promote easy access to all tooth surfaces.

For more information about Parkell, please visit www.parkell.com or call (800) 243-7446.

About Parkell Inc.

Parkell has been designing and manufacturing internationally recognized quality restorative materials and equipment on Long Island, NY for over 70 years. Known for advanced material technology like Blu-Mousse® Bite Registration Material and Dryz® Gingival Retraction Paste and generations of high-quality Ultrasonic Scalers and Scaler inserts like the TurboSENSOR® and Burnett Power-Tip™, Parkell is dedicated to assisting the dental profession with its material and small equipment needs through innovation and collaboration. Consistently looking to produce next-generation products, Parkell has created the Digitest® 3 Pulp Vitality Tester as well as the Predicta Bioactive line of materials that work to restore the tooth the natural way.

EnvisionTEC and Adaptive3D announced that they have executed a materials distribution agreement to pair ToughRubber™ photoresins with Xtreme 8K digital light processing (DLP) printers. Adaptive3D's tough photoelastomers printed on Xtreme 8K printers will expedite the adoption of additively manufactured solutions for functional end-use elastomeric parts and products.

"Today we are one step closer to ushering in Additive Manufacturing 2.0," says Adaptive3D CEO Dr. Walter Voit.

EnvisionTEC's Xtreme 8K is optimized for area-wide photopolymer printing and is the largest build area production-grade DLP 3D printer in the world. Long a technical and market pioneer in additive manufacturing, EnvisionTEC has designed and built these large format top-down 3D printers with the size, resolution and power density needed to rapidly photocure giant micro-architected elastomers. Coupled with Adaptive3D's photoelastomer resins, businesses can produce tough, durable parts quickly and in volume with premium surface quality, robust thermomechanical properties and high part accuracy.

"We are thrilled to deliver our customers a complete ecosystem solution for the production of tough functional end-use parts and products," says EnvisionTEC CEO Al Siblani. "Adaptive3D's photoresins have proven to create parts with consistent tough, rugged performance across a broad temperature window, providing the ideal materials platform for the production of parts across a range of markets including consumer, industrial & electrical, medical and transportation."

Adaptive3D sells photopolymer resins to enable additive manufacturing of tough, strain-tolerant, tear-resistant, biocompatible rubbers, such as its flagship resin product, Elastic ToughRubber 90™: a tough, printable elastomer for all seasons. Adaptive3D printable photoresins are optimized for high-throughput manufacturing of functional complex 3D plastic and rubber parts in consumer, healthcare, industrial, transportation and oil and gas markets.

"Today we are one step closer to ushering in Additive Manufacturing 2.0," Voit says. "Our vision has always been to enable volume additive manufacturing through optimized materials with engineered micro-architecture, and the EnvisionTEC Xtreme 8K is the ecosystem platform needed to fulfill that vision today."

CB Insights today named Overjet to the fifth annual AI 100 ranking, showcasing the 100 most promising private artificial intelligence companies in the world.

"This is the fifth year CB Insights has recognized the most promising private artificial intelligence companies with the AI 100, and this is one of the most global groups we've ever seen. This year's cohort spans 18 industries, and is working on everything from climate risk to accelerating drug R&D," said CB Insights CEO Anand Sanwal. "Last year's AI 100 companies had a remarkable run after being named to the list, with more than 50% going on to raise additional financing (totaling $5.2B), including 16 $100 million+ mega-rounds. Many also went on to exit via M&A, SPAC or IPO. As industry after industry adopts AI, we expect this year's class will see similar levels of interest from investors, acquirers and customers."

"Overjet's mission is to improve oral health for all," said Dr. Wardah Inam, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Overjet. "Our industry-leading dental artificial intelligence empowers dentists and insurance providers to deliver the best patient care. Overjet's AI software encodes dentist-level understanding of disease identification and progression into precise, bias-free, and repeatable tools for better decision making. We've been thrilled by the fast adoption of AI by the dental community to support consistency, deliver evidence-based care, and improve patient outcomes."

"It's an honor to be recognized in the CB Insights AI 100 alongside such venerable tech leaders and unicorns as insitro, Olive, Recursion and AI leaders that have developed breakthrough technologies that are transforming entire industries."

Through an evidence-based approach, the CB Insights research team selected the AI 100 from a pool of over 6,000 companies based on several factors including patent activity, investor quality, news sentiment analysis, proprietary Mosaic scores, market potential, partnerships, competitive landscape, team strength, and tech novelty. The Mosaic Score, based on CB Insights' algorithm, measures the overall health and growth potential of private companies to help predict a company's momentum.

Today's award follows a year of rapid growth for Overjet since the company came out of stealth in 2020 with the launch of powerful dental AI software and financing from VCs that included Crosslink Capital and the MIT-affiliated E14 Fund. Built upon multiple cutting-edge computational dentistry and AI techniques pioneered by Overjet over two years of extensive R&D, Overjet's clinical and claim intelligence platforms are already being used by some of the largest dental customers in the nation.

Founded by PhDs and leading experts from MIT and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Overjet has assembled the largest and most seasoned team of technologists and domain experts with deep AI, dental and insurance experience. Overjet's leadership team includes Dr. Wardah Inam, PhD, CEO and cofounder; Dr. Robert Faiella, DDS, chief dental officer and former president of the American Dental Association; Deepak Ramaswamy, PhD, CTO and former Amazon executive; Dr. Chris Balaban, DMD, clinical director; and Shaju Puthussery, COO and former chief analytics officer at DentaQuest, the largest Medicaid dental benefits provider.

Quick facts on the 2021 AI 100:

 - Equity funding and deals: Since 2010, the AI 100 2021 cohort has raised over $11.7B in equity funding across 370+ deals from more than 700 investors.

 - 12 unicorns: Companies with $1B+ valuations on the list span applications as varied as data annotation, cybersecurity, sales & CRM platforms, and enterprise search.

 - Geographic distribution: 64% of the selected companies are headquartered in the US. Eight of the winners are based in the UK, followed by six each in China and Israel, and five in Canada. Other countries represented in this year's list include Japan, Denmark, Czech Republic, France, Poland, Germany, and South Korea.

About CB Insights

CB Insights builds software that enables the world's best companies to discover, understand and make technology decisions with confidence. By marrying data, expert insights and work management tools, clients manage their end-to-end technology making process on CB Insights. To learn more, please visit www.cbinsights.com.

About Overjet

Overjet is the industry leader in dental artificial intelligence, helping both payers and providers improve patient care. The company was founded by experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Follow us at www.overjet.ai and @overjetdental

BISCO is excited to introduce FluoroCal^TM, a fluoride and calcium releasing¹ varnish that is indicated for application to enamel and dentin for the treatment of hypersensitive teeth. FluoroCal delivers targeted and sustained release of calcium and fluoride for over 24 hours,¹ and provides immediate relief of sensitivity by penetrating and sealing dentin tubules.

When tested, FluoroCal showed significantly higher fluoride uptake than other leading fluoride varnishes.² Additionally, FluoroCal contains Tri-Calcium Phosphate (TCP), which studies have shown may help strengthen enamel and build more acid-resistant mineral when combined with fluoride.³

FluoroCal is available in a refreshing Spearmint flavor and sweetened with Xylitol, further ensuring better patient compliance. It can be purchased in a 50 count unit-dose package, with each unit-dose container being simple and easy to open. It is applied with a brush, which allows for fast and easy application.

FluoroCal is the perfect solution for anybody looking for a protective shield and immediate relief of hypersensitivity. Try it today, and provide yourself, and your patients, with the critical protection that teeth need.

References

1. As tested in deionized water.

2. BISCO has, on file, the fluoride uptake data for FluoroCal.

3. Li X. The remineralisation of enamel: a review of the literature. J Dent. 2014;42:S12–S20. doi: 10.1016/S0300-5712(14)50003-6.

Maintenance of good oral health is more important than use of antibiotics in dental procedures for some heart patients to prevent a heart infection caused by bacteria around the teeth, according to a new American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement published today in the association’s flagship journal, Circulation.

Infective endocarditis (IE), also called bacterial endocarditis, is a heart infection caused by bacteria that enter the bloodstream and settle in the heart lining, a heart valve or a blood vessel. It is uncommon, but people with heart valve disease or previous valve surgery, congenital heart disease or recurrent infective endocarditis have a greater risk of complications if they develop IE. Intravenous drug use also increases risk for IE. Viridans group streptococcal infective endocarditis (VGS IE) is caused by bacteria that collect in plaque on the tooth surface and cause inflammation and swelling of the gums. There’s been concern that certain dental procedures may increase the risk of developing VGS IE in vulnerable patients.

The new guidance affirms previous recommendations that only four categories of heart patients should be prescribed antibiotics prior to certain dental procedures to prevent VGS IE due to their higher risk for complications from the infection:

-those with prosthetic heart valves or prosthetic material used for valve repair;

-those who have had a previous case of infective endocarditis;

-adults and children with congenital heart disease; or

-people who have undergone a heart transplant.

“Scientific data since the 2007 AHA guidelines support the view that limited use of preventive antibiotics for dental procedures hasn’t increased cases of endocarditis and is an important step at combating antibiotic overuse in the population,” said Walter R. Wilson, M.D., chair of the statement writing group and a consultant for the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

It has been over a decade since recommendations for preventing infective endocarditis were updated amid concerns of antibiotic resistance due to overprescribing. The American Heart Association’s 2007 guidelines, which presented the biggest shift in recommendations from the Association on the prevention of infective endocarditis in more than 50 years, more tightly defined which patients should receive preventive antibiotics before certain dental procedures to the four high-risk categories. This change resulted in about 90% fewer patients requiring antibiotics.

The scientific statement writing group reviewed data on VGS IE since the 2007 guidelines to determine if the guidelines had been accepted and followed, whether cases of and mortality due to VGS IE have increased or decreased, and if the guidance might need to be adjusted.

The writing committee reports their extensive review of related research found:

-There was good general awareness of the changes in the 2007 guidelines, however, adherence to the guidelines was variable. There was about a 20% overall reduction in prescribing preventive antibiotics among high-risk patients, a 64% decrease among moderate-risk patients, and a 52% decrease in those patients at low- or unknown-risk.

-In a survey of 5,500 dentists in the U.S., 70% reported prescribing preventive antibiotics to patients even though the guidelines no longer recommend it, and this was most often for patients with mitral valve prolapse and five other cardiac conditions. The dentists reported that about 60% of the time the antibiotic regimen was recommended by the patient’s physician, and 1/3 of the time was according to patient preference.

-Since the stricter 2007 antibiotic guidelines, there is no convincing evidence of an increase in cases of VGS IE or increased mortality due to VGS IE.

-The writing group supports the 2007 recommendation that only the highest risk groups of patients receive antibiotics prior to certain dental procedures to help prevent VGS IE.

-In the presence of poor oral hygiene and gingival disease, VGS IE is far more likely to develop from bacteria attributable to routine daily activities such as toothbrushing than from a dental procedure.

-Maintenance of good oral hygiene and regular access to dental care are considered as important in preventing VGS IE as taking antibiotics before certain dental procedures.

-It is important to connect patients with services to facilitate access to dental care and assistance with insurance for dental coverage, especially in those patients at high risk for VGS IE.

-It is still appropriate to follow the recommendation to use preventive antibiotics with high-risk patients undergoing dental procedures that involve manipulation of the gum tissue or infected areas of the teeth, or perforation of the membrane lining the mouth.

The scientific statement was prepared by the volunteer writing committee on behalf of the American Heart Association’s Young Hearts Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease Committee; the Council on Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Health in the Young; the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and the Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research.

Writing committee members are Walter R. Wilson, M.D. (chair); Michael Gewitz, M.D., FAHA (vice chair); Peter B. Lockhart, D.D.S.; Ann F. Bolger, M.D., FAHA; Daniel C. DeSimone, M.D.; Dhruv S. Kazi, M.D., M.Sc, M.S., FAHA; David S. Couper, Ph.D.; Andrea Beaton, M.D.; Catherine Kilmartin, B.D.S., D.D.S., M.Sc.; Jose M. Miro, M.D.; Craig Sable, M.D., FAHA; Mary Anne Jackson, M.D.; and Larry M. Baddour, M.D. Author disclosures are in the manuscript.

Additional Resources:

-Available multimedia is on right column of release link: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/good-dental-health-may-help-prevent-heart-infection-from-mouth-bacteria?preview=58574136e8dad002c7f6af2d98e88d8a

-After April 15, view the manuscript online.

-Bad toothbrushing habits tied to higher heart risk

-Heart valves and infective endocarditis

-Follow AHA/ASA news on Twitter @HeartNews

-Follow news from the AHA’s flagship journal Circulation @CircAHA

The Association receives funding primarily from individuals. Foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers are available here, and the Association’s overall financial information is available here.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

Heartland Dental has announced the hiring of Stacy DeWalt as the organization’s Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer. DeWalt joins the company’s senior leadership team under the direction of Patrick Bauer, President and CEO.

As Chief Marketing Officer, DeWalt is responsible for revenue growth by leveraging marketing and business strategy to optimize internal processes and help propel the dental support organization (DSO) into its next phase of growth.

“Stacy has a diverse functional and operational background including marketing, digital transformation, product development, and P&L. With her proven ability to ensure short-term revenue impact, combined with her team-centric management style, Stacy is an outstanding cultural fit for the Heartland Dental family,” said Bauer. “We look forward to her leadership in elevating our Patient Marketing and Enterprise Marketing & Communications teams as we fulfill our mission to support doctors and their teams.”

“I’m honored to join Heartland Dental during this exciting time of expansive growth,” said DeWalt. “The company’s rich culture was of particular value in choosing my next career path, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with such an amazing leadership team.”

DeWalt brings to her new role more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning public and private equity environments in financial services, gaming, education, and technology services for brands including One Main Financial, Quicken Loans, Isle of Capris Casinos, and Learning Care Group. She operates with a sense of urgency and passion for change combined with a highly analytic approach, which delivers impactful growth solutions with a commitment to culture and inclusion. DeWalt received her Master’s in Communications from the University of Hartford. She is married and has three children and plans to relocate from Detroit, MI to St. Louis, MO to be near the company’s St. Louis support office and its headquarters in Effingham, IL.

https://blog.heartland.com/heartland-dental-welcomes-stacy-dewalt-as-new-chief-marketing-officer

About Heartland Dental

Heartland Dental is the nation’s largest dental support organization providing non-clinical, administrative support services. What started from the entrepreneurial spirit of Rick Workman, DMD, with his single dental practice, has evolved into supporting over 1,800 dentists in more than 1,150 dental offices across 38 states. The company is majority owned by KKR, a leading global investment firm. For additional information, please visit heartland.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MEDIT announces the release of the new i700 intraoral scanner. The next generation intraoral scanner from MEDIT builds upon the success of the award winning i500.

Powering the new unit is a super-fast camera that captures up to 70 frames per second. This means more data with each pass resulting in a smooth and quick scanning experience with realistic colors and a crisp image. The new camera and other internal components have been reduced in size creating a new handpiece that is smaller and lighter, weighing just 245g (8.64oz). The tips have been redesigned and are now reversible and autoclavable 100 times, increasing comfort of use and ease of maintenance. The cable is also now detachable for easy maintenance and improved portability.

To further increase user comfort, a new remote-control mode has been developed for the i700, allowing the clinician to always keep his or her hands on the unit and easily show the patient the scan data. Additionally, COVID-19 has increased everyone’s concerns about hygiene and safety. MEDIT has included a UV-C LED in the i700, making it the only device on the market with self-disinfecting capabilities. The i700 continues MEDIT’s belief in offering fully open scanners. The i700 runs on MEDIT Link, MEDIT’s software featuring integration with various other CAD/CAM providers as well as MEDIT’s own apps for smile design, orthodontic simulation, crown fit, and other patient communication tools.

“I am pleased to announce the next generation intraoral scanner from MEDIT, the i700. We took the feedback we received after the release of the i500 and used that to guide development of the i700 and MEDIT Link software, while staying true to MEDIT’s innovative drive to create the next generation intraoral scanner. And we believe the new i700 will further the adoption of the digital dentistry,” says GB Ko, CEO of MEDIT. 

About MEDIT Corporation:

MEDIT is a global provider of 3D measurement 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. 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.

For detailed information about MEDIT products and software, please visit MEDIT official website (www.medit.com/), and for other various content, please refer to MEDIT official YouTube (youtube.com/user/meditcompany) and other social media channels (instagram.com/meditcompany/)

Solmetex, LLC. announced today that Richard Andrew Campos has joined the organization as its Director of International Business Development and Sales.

Richard is a Business Development, Sales and Marketing Executive with over 25 years’ experience in the domestic and international dental markets. Richard is high-energy and a results-oriented leader with an entrepreneurial mindset of achieving measurable results in critical markets for Solmetex. Richard will take Solmetex to the world stage and execute strategic global distribution initiatives in an ever-changing global business environment.

“We are very excited to have someone with Richards’ background and experience join the Solmetex Team. As we continue to grow our global footprint, Richard will be instrumental in leading our development plan in these opportunity markets.” – Kevin Danahy, President

For over 25 years, Solmetex has been an innovator in waste solutions, specifically amalgam separators, with a primary focus on ensuring dental practices remain compliant with the ever-changing regulatory environment.

“I am honored and excited to join Solmetex: an organization that dreams big, works hard, and stays focused on achieving success by surrounding themselves with great people, great products, and forward-thinking initiatives to make our customers successful in protecting the environment.” – Richard Campos

About Solmetex, LLC

Solmetex provides waste management services through a series of specialized processes and systems that cost-effectively remove mercury from the waste stream and offers additional dental waste solutions. The company’s NXT Hg5® Series of Amalgam Separators and recycling program, which treat dental wastewater, is highly regarded as the best solution for regulatory compliance. Solmetex is widely recognized as the single trusted source for comprehensive environmental solutions for dental waste needs.

For further information, visit www.solmetex.com

 DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SALES 

Scorpion has raised $100 million in funds from investment firm Bregal Sagemount to expand its technology and customer offerings, the internet marketing services provider said on Wednesday.

The company also said it had appointed former KKR & Co Inc and Bain and Company executive Daniel Street as its chief executive officer.

Scorpion recently acquired CanlRank, a software company that uses artificial intelligence to provide customers with locally relevant search engine optimization (SEO) insights, for an undisclosed sum.

SEO refers to the process of improving the visibility of one’s website on internet searches.

Salt Lake City, Utah-based Scorpion also appointed new executives to the roles of chief revenue officer, chief operating officer and EVP of operations and mergers and acquisitions.

Scorpion plans to move to new headquarters in the Salt Lake City area, it said.