The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), the premiere organization for cosmetic dental professionals in the world, has released the program for their flagship conference, the 38th Annual AACD Scientific Session. This year the AACD will convene at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida, after a two-year hiatus.

The AACD Scientific Session program highlights the top-tier educational opportunities offered by leaders in the field of cosmetic dentistry, giving attendees a chance to participate in hands-on workshops and grow from practice-boosting lectures. Esthetic-focused exhibitors will be showcasing their products and services throughout the exhibit area for easy browsing and shopping. Also featured are ample opportunities to attend community-building events and networking gatherings as well as enjoy the venue and all that Orlando has to offer.

Sessions and workshops begin on Wednesday, April 27 and extend through Saturday, April 30. Kicking things off, the Welcome Reception features a “Wonderland: We’re All Mad Here” theme and will be held Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. on the Rosen Shingle Creek Terrace. Additional opportunities to make new acquaintances and connect with old friends will be offered throughout what is sure to be a memorable event.

Attendees can begin their AACD Accreditation journey at the Session, surrounded by professionals who have achieved this level of training and those who are driven to be the cream of the esthetic dentistry crop.

And, new for 2022, Friday will feature “Expert Room: Masterclass”, introducing attendees to eight industry leaders offering critical information on non-clinical topics that will help you be more successful and build a more valuable practice.

Rounding out the event on Saturday evening, will be the AACD Celebration of Excellence. This gala ceremony will recognize and applaud the accomplishments of outstanding Accredited and Accredited Fellow Members. Following is an After Party, open to all attendees, which wraps up the conference for another year.

To flip through the digital edition of the AACD Orlando 2022 Preconference Guidebook, click here. Or for more information, view the full agenda, and to register for the 38th Annual AACD Scientific Session, visit www.aacdconference.com.

Pac-Dent, Inc., recently announced that it has acquired South East Instruments LLC (SEI), the manufacturer and servicer of the Autoscaler®. This acquisition, along with the launch of the 25K and 30K magnetic ultrasonic inserts in Q1 2022, will expand Pac-Dent’s preventive portfolio, further solidifying Pac-Dent’s strong presence within the preventive space. 

“We are really excited about our acquisition of SEI; there’s no doubt the addition of the Autoscaler will add breadth to our portfolio. SEI has been a trusted ultrasonic scaler manufacturer for more than 40 years with a very strong brand. We are looking forward to continuing their legacy in providing quality ultrasonic scalers, along with our new inserts, to our existing customers, as well as SEI’s legacy customers for many years to come,” said Leika Bishop, Senior Manager, Sales & Marketing 

About Pac-Dent, Inc.

Pac-Dent, Inc. is a fast-growing international design, manufacturing, and wholesale dental product and device company. Founded in 1992, Pac-Dent has earned the reputation as one of the best and most reliable in the dental industry. Pac-Dent focuses on delivering the highest quality, technologically advanced, and innovative products in the preventive, teeth whitening, endodontic, and infection control segments. To learn more information about Pac-Dent, Inc. visit www.pac-dent.com.

The Dental Trade Alliance (DTA) is proud to announce the 2021-2022 Board of Directors who were elected during DTA’s Annual Meeting on November 9, 2021.

DTA Board Chair Karen Neiner

Karen Neiner has been with Hu-Friedy Manufacturing Co. LLC for more than 30 years and is currently serving as President of Palmero Healthcare. Palmero is now a proud member of HuFriedyGroup, the dental division of STERIS. She had served as Vice President of Corporate Development and Professional Relations, where she provided global growth through acquisitions and new category introductions. She co-developed Hu-Friedy’s product stage gate process and created the Friends of Hu-Friedy social media program to provide the dental community with continuing education and professional development support. Neiner practiced clinically as a registered dental hygienist prior to joining Hu-Friedy and was awarded the American Dental Hygienists’ Association’s Award for Excellence in 2016. Neiner is a Graduate of Indiana University School of Dental Hygiene, Northwestern University, and the DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School MBA program. 

Neiner was elected to the DTA Board in 2017 and served on DTA’s Executive Committee and DTA Foundation Board. She was subsequently elected to the DTA leadership as Second Vice Chair in 2018.

In her comments to the membership during the 2021 DTA Annual Meeting, Neiner shared: “As we collectively, as an oral healthcare industry, continue to navigate the changing needs of our customers and employees and face emerging global challenges, we will need to charter a course that does not look for ’a new normal' but utilizes the lessons we’ve learned, business intelligence tools honed, and the additional services to be stronger and more resilient.” She encouraged the membership to “learn more about what your DTA can do for you and get the most of your DTA membership through full engagement.”

Second Vice Chair Sandra Hirsch

Sandra Hirsch, Chief Executive Officer at Zyris, Inc. was elected to the DTA leadership as Second Vice Chair. Hirsch was elected to the DTA Board in 2017 and served on the Audit Committee, becoming the committee Chair in 2019. In addition to her board service, Hirsch has been involved in the DTA Women in Business group.

Two New Directors Elected to the Board for a First Three-Year Term

Dave Brandsen, Partner, Anterior Quest

Mark Nicholls, VP & General Manager, Group Sales – US Dental, Henry Schein

2021-2022 DTA Board of Directors

Officers

Karen Neiner, Chair, President, Palmero 

Tim E. Rogan, Chair-Elect, President, Patterson Dental

Ted Kehagias, First Vice-Chair, Vice President Sales, Midmark Dental Division

Sandra Hirsch, Second Vice-Chair, Chief Executive Officer, Zyris, Inc.

Tom Richardson, Treasurer, President, Atlanta Dental Supply

Dave Sproat, Immediate Past Chair, Chief Executive Officer, Young Innovations, Inc.

Directors at Large

Scot Andersen, Director, Business Development, Ultradent Products, Inc. 1^st term to 2022

Karen Auiler, Chief Executive Office, AEGIS Communications 1^st term to 2023

Dave Brandsen, Partner, Anterior Quest 1^st term to 2024

Katy Cohen, Chief Revenue Officer, Benco Dental 1^st term to 2023

Steve Desautel, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Dental Health Products, Inc. 1^st term to 2023

Christopher Holden, Executive VP & Chief Administrative Officer, Ivoclar Vivadent 2^nd term to 2024

Chris Little, Vice President, Strategic Marketing Dentsply Sirona 1^st term to 2023

Ed McDonough, President, Planmeca 1^st term to 2023

Linda Miller, CEO and Founder PDT, Inc. 1^st term to 2022

Marv Nelson, Executive VP and COO A-dec, Inc. 1^st term to 2022

Mark Nicholls, VP & General Manager, Group Sales – US Dental, Henry Schein 1^st term to 2024

Ed Shellard, Chief Dental Officer Carestream Dental 2^nd term to 2023

About the Dental Trade Alliance

The Dental Trade Alliance (DTA) is a member supported trade association of suppliers and service providers of the oral health profession and industry with the common goal of improving the state of oral care. The organization provides resources, knowledge-sharing opportunities and advocacy supporting businesses throughout North America, with ties to the rest of the globe. With a dedication to oral health that reaches back to the 1800s, the modern day DTA is committed to the success of its members and the industry at large.

Through a combination of business intelligence, education initiatives and industry-leading events, the DTA drives a stronger bottom line for companies supporting the oral care marketplace. The organization’s policy and advocacy efforts focus on maintaining a safe oral care environment while minimizing regulations that make it difficult for suppliers and service providers to operate profitable businesses. The DTA Foundation (DTAF) supports the DTA mission closer to the patient level, by funding grants and scholarships to improve access and education. The Dental Trade Alliance is making a lasting impact on the oral care ecosystem.

Find out more about the Dental Trade Alliance at dentaltradealliance.org.

SprintRay Inc., an industry leader in digital dentistry and 3D printing solutions, today announced a partnership with Nobel Biocare, a world leader in the field of innovative implant-based patient solutions for tooth replacement. As part of the partnership, Nobel Biocare will become an authorized distributor of all of SprintRay's innovative 3D printing technology.

"SprintRay is excited to introduce our industry leading, end-to-end 3D printing solution to Nobel Biocare's extensive global network of dental professionals," said SprintRay's Chief Growth Officer, John Cox. "This partnership extends SprintRay's reach and penetration into implant dentistry – one of the industry's fastest growing segments."

Together, SprintRay and Nobel Biocare will deliver best-in-class implant workflow solutions to patients around the world. The combination of Nobel Biocare's innovative implant solutions, combined with SprintRay's frictionless 3D printing technology, will result in reduced implant delivery times, same-day placement of implants and highly accurate guided surgery templates. While historically, traditional dental implant procedures take months to complete, through Sprint Ray and Nobel Biocare's collaboration, patients can receive same-day, chairside care through 3D printed surgical guides and immediate implant restorations.

"Nobel Biocare has a philosophy of continuous innovation, driven by patient need," said Patrik Eriksson, Nobel Biocare's president. "We are proud to partner with SprintRay and to distribute their 3D printing technology, which can drastically reduce time to teeth."

"Practicing dentists have always had to manage the competing interests of speed versus accuracy and quality," said Dr. Kenneth Parrish, DMD, PhD. "As the only 3D printing manufacturer dedicated to dental applications, SprintRay understands the challenges faced in day-to-day practice. Time consuming emergency work-ins to your schedule can now be replaced by the touch of a button to easily and cost effectively create and deliver a replacement restoration, saving chair time and eliminating patient frustration."

SprintRay's recently launched ProCure 2, the most advance curing system available today that reduces curing times to five minutes, will be offered as part of the partnership. The ProCure 2 enables same-day placement of dental implants and allows for Nobel Biocare's All-on-4® restorations to take place in one appointment.

Research shows that harmful bacteria and inflammation in the mouth can indicate and even cause systemic conditions throughout the body.

Today, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) announced a new partnership with Pacific Dental Services® (PDS), a leading dental support organization, to increase awareness of the link between periodontal disease and diabetes, and how oral health providers can assist patients in preventing and managing this chronic health condition. The timing of this announcement coincides with American Diabetes Month™, a month-long campaign that recognizes all forms of the disease–including Type 1, Type 2, gestational diabetes and prediabetes–along with the millions of Americans living with diabetes today and those who remain undiagnosed.

Educating others on the link between their oral health and overall health–what PDS and its supported practices call The Mouth-Body Connection®–is a priority for PDS. Research shows that harmful bacteria and inflammation in the mouth can indicate and even cause systemic conditions throughout the body. Maladies of the mouth, including periodontal disease, may be linked with other medical conditions including diabetes, oral cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and more.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because people with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered a complication of diabetes.

"Oral health is the window to the entire body, and nearly 1 in 5 people with severe gum disease have type 2 diabetes and don't know it," said Charles D. Henderson, chief development officer for the American Diabetes Association. "Through our partnership and collaboration with Pacific Dental Services, we look forward to raising awareness about the connection between oral health and diabetes."

"Due to the bi-directional relationship of periodontal disease and diabetes, oral health care providers can truly make a difference in preventing and managing the disease," said Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO of Pacific Dental Services. "We recognize the importance of dental and medical providers working more collaboratively together to improve the overall health of their patients and are investing heavily in this area – through clinical education as well as proven technology."

"Through this partnership with the ADA, PDS and its supported practices will have the ability to extend education and awareness of the Mouth-Body Connection even further, and ultimately improve the health of an even greater audience," said Daniel Burke, Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer of Pacific Dental Services."

In recognition of American Diabetes Month, PDS-supported practices distributed the latest issue of Generations of Smiles, an educational magazine produced by the Smile Generation® that aims to educate the public on the link between oral health and whole-body health. The issue focuses on the link between oral health and diabetes, and contains nutritional information, as well as a 60-second diabetes risk test developed by the ADA. Click HERE to read the issue.

Myerson, LLC, an industry leader in manufacturing digital dental materials, announces the launch of Trusana™ Premium 3D Printing Resin. Created by an internationally-renowned team of scientists and clinicians, Trusana was a RadTech/IUVA 2020 Emerging Technology award winner for additive manufacturing.

Trusana’s patented chemistry delivers an aesthetic unfilled polymer with high strength and toughness. The flexural strength, modulus, fracture toughness, and wear resistance of this polymer are well beyond that of conventional filled 3D polymers. Trusana also mirrors the beauty and translucency of a natural smile.

Dr. Stephanie Benight, Ph.D., Myerson’s Director of 3D Printing Projects, says, “As a scientist, I’ve spent my career characterizing the properties of polymers, including photopolymers. Creating a 3D printing material that not only has toughness, but maintains that toughness in the presence of water, has been difficult to achieve, but Myerson’s Trusana does it. Materials that harness new and unique chemistries are the future of photopolymer 3D printing, and Trusana represents the cutting-edge. I’m enthusiastic to be leading the commercialization of Trusana for 3D printing applications in dentistry.”

Myerson worked with SprintRay, a technology company that builds end-to-end 3D printing ecosystems for dental professionals, to test and adjust 3D printers, helping to ensure resins could be successfully printed.

“When you have been making denture teeth for as long as we have, over 100 years, you naturally accumulate extensive knowledge and expertise,” explains Jim Swartout, Myerson’s President & CEO. “For the past 14 years, we have made significant investments in developing this breakthrough polymer technology. We are thrilled to now introduce Trusana to the dental industry. Premium denture teeth 3D printed with Trusana show excellent strength, aesthetics, wear resistance, and shade consistency. We feel very strongly that Trusana is an important evolution in dental material science.”

Zahn Dental, the U.S. dental laboratory business of Henry Schein, Inc., is the exclusive distributor of Trusana.

“Zahn’s dental laboratory customers rely on us to serve as their total solutions partner,” said Rita Acquafredda, President, Global Laboratory Business, Zahn Lab Group. “By offering Trusana – a game-changing material that can help advance the digitalization of dentures – we can continue to deliver on our commitment of helping dental laboratories stay on the forefront of digital dentistry.” 

Henry Schein ProRepair will host a webinar on the repair and maintenance of hygiene handpieces and scalers on December 6th at 5:00 pm EST. The webinar, titled "Lessons Learned from 5,000+ Hygiene Handpiece and Scaler Repairs Per Year," will be presented by Henry Schein ProRepair Sales Supervisor Zubair Rahman and Henry Schein ProRepair Technical Services Supervisor Cameron Longacre. It will discuss the positive implications of routinely and properly cleaning, maintaining, and repairing handpieces on both patient outcomes and clinician ergonomic health and comfort, while taking a deep dive into common handpiece repair issues and how to avoid them; when to attempt a simple DIY repair versus when to send a handpiece in for service; and signs that a handpiece has reached end of life and repair is no longer feasible. In addition, the webinar will feature demonstrations on how to maintain your handpiece and will present an overview of hygiene motors and how they work.

Learn more and register for this webinar here.

It was announced today that Fager Dental Lab in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania has been acquired by National Dentex Labs (NDX). The deal adds one of Pennsylvania's premier dental labs to the rapidly expanding NDX network of dental labs. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Led by Charles B. Fager, Fager Dental Lab is known for its custom complex digital products including crowns, bridges and implant restorations through CAD/CAM fabrication. Says Fager, "Choosing to partner with NDX was an easy decision for us. In them, we have found a business partner who shares our common values and goal of delivering exceptional quality to our dental customers using cutting-edge technology."

As NDX continues to expand nationally, the company is also investing heavily in the innovations and the talent necessary to better serve dentists, specialists and dental service organizations (DSOs). Says Tom Daulton, Chief Executive Officer of NDX, "It is important to NDX that we have strong local relationships in all of the markets we serve. This latest acquisition will allow us to better serve the dentists in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania market with the latest, most innovative restorative dental solutions available. We are thrilled to have the Fager Dental Lab team join our growing NDX family of dental labs."

Throughout the last six years, NDX has grown organically and through acquisitions to become the country's largest network of dental labs. The company has a reputation for providing best-in-class restorative solutions to dentists, specialists and DSOs throughout North America and employs more than 4,000 dental professionals. 

exocad to present latest software advances at one of the largest U.S. in-person dental trade shows with interactive demonstrations and guest speakers

exocad, an Align Technology, Inc. company and a leading dental CAD software provider, today announced its participation at the 97th annual Greater New York Dental Meeting (GNYDM) from November 28 to December 1, 2021, in New York, New York, USA. exocad will showcase its newest software releases for dentists and dental technicians at booth 2003 with live demo stations, smile makeover workflow showcases and guest speaker presentations.

“We want to give everyone the opportunity for an up-close look at exocad’s workflow-streamlining technology,” said Larry Bodony, president of exocad America. “Participants can experience exocad’s variety of software solutions, including DentalCAD, ChairsideCAD and exoplan while connecting with colleagues and learning from dental industry trailblazers.”

At this year’s GNYDM, exocad plans a varied educational program for on-site attendees. The Smile Creator Experience will showcase a fully digital workflow from start to finish and demonstrate how an individual mock-up can be designed and created in a single session.

Attendees can learn more about exocad’s newly launched CAD Configurator, an online portal designed to help customers, partners and resellers create individualized CAD software packages. exocad will also provide educational seminars, that offer CE credits, with the following guest presenters:

● Prosthodontist Dr. Michael Scherer, an assistant clinical professor at Loma Linda University and clinical instructor at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will discuss the ways exocad software can be used in daily clinical and lab practice.

● Cosmetic dentist Dr. Diana Tadros will teach practical approaches to designing cosmetic cases in the digital world.

● Dr. Richard L. Zimmermann, assistant professor of Comprehensive Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio, will demonstrate how to reach new levels of implant planning with open-architecture CAD software.

Additional information is available at exocad.com/gnydm 

Certol®, a Division of MicroCare, LLC, is excited to introduce ProEZ Gel™ Pre-Treatment Gel, a new, more effective tool for precleaning soiled instruments and devices at point of use. ProEZ Gel has a unique innovative bio-generated action for targeted soil breakdown, even on complex sticky orthopedic and neurosurgical soils. This active soil breakdown combines with humectants to sustain moisture during holding and transport to reduce the risk of dangerous biofilm formation.

ProEZ Gel is applied to soiled instruments and devices as soon as possible after treatment is concluded and before transport to the final cleaning area. In addition to surgical departments, other point-of-use locations that will benefit from ProEZ Gelinclude Labor and Delivery Rooms, Emergency Departments, dental clinics, free-standing Surgery Centers and other areas with reusable instruments and devices.

Gentle, neutral pH ProEZ Gel is tested for broad material compatibility and actively protects delicate instrumentation by dissolving corrosive blood soils during transport before damage can occur in vulnerable jointed areas. “Certol originated the concept of a pre-treatment spray 20 years ago with ProEZ foam™ Foaming Enzymatic Spray. As Joint Commission and other accrediting agencies push for compliance at point-of-use with device cleaning instructions, healthcare facilities are now coming on board with a better understanding of the need for policies and effective products,” says Peggy Spitzer, RDH, M.A.Ed., Certol Clinical Educator. “My experience in working with hospitals and surgery centers to achieve consistent compliance reinforces the value of ProEZ Gel as a powerful new tool for pre-treatment. This product is far more effective than traditional gel sprays or wet towels for maintaining instrument preservation.”

ProEZ Gel helps facilities with standards and device compliance since it is easy for surgical teams and other departments to apply. It has a green tint to help monitor coverage and compliance with pretreatment protocols. ProEZ Gel is the ideal solution for two difficult challenges facing many facilities: (1) Overnight holding of contaminated instrumentation such as Labor and Delivery or Emergency Departments and (2) Transport of soiled instruments from off-site clinics to a Central Sterile Processing area or facility. ProEZ Gel is tested and validated to sustain moisture, continue soil breakdown, and protect instrumentation up to 72 hours holding time. ProEZ Gel is free rinsing to improve productivity and workflow in Central Sterile Processing. The bio-generated active soil breakdown now makes final cleaning easier and more effective.ProEZ Gel may also be used as a spot treatment when case carts are backed up in Sterile Processing.

*Patent Pending

www.certol.com