Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) announced the passing of E. Dianne Rekow, DDS, Ph.D., a member of the Company’s Board of Directors since 2014 and a leader in the development of digital dentistry.

“Dianne was an extraordinary board member and an internationally known authority on aesthetic and restorative dentistry as well as one of the early pioneers in digital dentistry,” said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Henry Schein, Inc. “Dianne’s contributions to the Henry Schein board have been many and impactful, including serving as a member of our Strategic Advisory Committee. We will miss her probing spirit, expertise, and comradery.”

Dr. Rekow was also Professor Emeritus and Fellow at King's College London, where she served as Executive Dean of its Dental Institute and Professor of Orthodontics from 2012 through 2016. From 2002 to 2012, Dr. Rekow was a Professor of Orthodontics at New York University (NYU), during which time she was Senior Vice Provost of Engineering Technology at NYU and was Provost of Polytechnic Institute of NYU. She was also a Senior Scholar of the Sante Fe Group, a leading think-tank dedicated to improving life through oral health.

Dr. Rekow was an internationally known authority on the performance of new dental materials, capitalizing on her engineering education. Her teams carried out research into the use of bioengineered tissue to facilitate bone replacement in individuals disfigured by disease or developmental defects. She held a number of patents in the dental field and is the author of, or contributor to, more than one hundred publications. Dr. Rekow’s career also included serving as President of both the International Association for Dental Research and the American Association of Dental Research. In 2012, she was elected to the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons in the UK.

Titanium machining at highest restoration quality, high-speed processes and innovative denture planning without abutments

With its 4.2 Upgrade of the Ceramill Mind and Ceramill Match software, Amann Girrbach offers dentists and dental technicians entirely new opportunities for the in-house fabrication of restorations while significantly reducing cost. For example, the new software features allow titanium materials to be machined with the Ceramill Matik milling unit. The in-house fabrication of titanium-based implant-supported restorations is associated with external cost savings of up to 40 percent. The entire milling unit can therefore be financed in full by even a small number of cases. Another new feature is the innovative speedlining mode: with the aid of specifically developed tools, users of the Ceramill Matik, Ceramill Motion 3 and Ceramill Motion 2 can "cut-grind" hard block materials at full speed. Dentists and dental technicians thus benefit from almost 50 percent faster production while maintaining excellent restoration quality and reliability.

Dental implants without abutment

Another new feature is that the planning of dentures can now be performed directly on the implant and without abutments - regardless of whether single crowns, multi-part bars and bridges or full dental arches are involved. This innovative implant solution is the result of a cooperation between Amann Girrbach and Tri Dental Implants. With matrix, Tri Dental Implants has launched the first approved dental implant specifically designed for digital fabrication technologies such as CAD/CAM milling or 3D printers. With the matrix concept, Amann Girrbach now offers its customers a fully comprehensive CAD/CAM-compatible implant system in both a digital and validated workflow. Implant-based Zolid zirconia crowns can thus be produced in less than two hours in combination with the Therm DRS sintering furnace.

AI-supported Design & Nesting

In addition to the fully digital and validated Amann Girrbach workflow for printing implant models and laboratory analogs, the Upgrade also offers numerous other CAD/CAM functions. To give an example, these include the AI-assisted design of bridges using the "Instant Anatomic Morphing" feature or the implementation of the Smile Creator Report in PDF format. This allows patients to see the expected result in advance in a before-and-after comparison and to participate in the planning process if they so wish. In addition, the Upgrade also offers quick to perform quality checks with the aid of the new nesting visualization: this makes it possible to repeatedly check whether a restoration can be milled successfully. Additional process reliability can thus be created with just a single click. However, as the digitization of production increases, so does the output of milling units and 3D printers. To stay on top of things, the Ceramill System now enables milled and printed restorations to be marked with notes.

One step closer to Amann Girrbach's vision

"With the Upgrade of our Ceramill Mind and Ceramill Match software to Version 4.2, we are yet again focusing on the core principles of in-house fabrication and by doing so, also on the vision of Amann Girrbach. We are delighted to have come a great deal closer to this vision now with the new features, improvements and functions," explains Nikolaus Johannson, Head of the Global Business Unit Lab CAD/CAM at Amann Girrbach. The rollout of the Upgrade started at the end of June and will be implemented worldwide by the end of July. In parallel, Amann Girrbach will be offering users free online training.  

Dental insurance continues to support optimal health as highlighted in the recently released 2022 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report, a nationwide analysis of consumer opinions and behaviors relating to oral health. Findings from the Delta Dental-commissioned research of U.S. adults and parents of children ages 12 and younger also inform how adults who have dental insurance recognize the emotional and financial benefits that come with having dental coverage. A few highlights from this year's report include:

Advantages of dental insurance extend beyond encouraging better oral health

● Almost 9 in 10 (89%) adults agree that having dental coverage:

• Gives them peace of mind.

• Provides relief from worrying about what they would do in a dental emergency.

● Among those insured, nearly all adults recognize that their dental insurance saves them money (94%) and is well worth the cost (91%).

Inner calm during the uncertainty of the pandemic

● The survey finds that most adults (81%) and parents (88%) concur that having dental insurance during the pandemic has provided them peace of mind.

● In fact, adults (68%) and parents (72%) appreciated having dental insurance more than ever during the pandemic.

● The research also indicates that, due in part to the pandemic, nearly 7 in 10 (69%) parents with a child not currently covered by dental insurance will secure dental coverage in 2022.

"Our survey illuminates the vast emotional and financial benefits most adults and parents across the United States associate with having dental insurance," said James W. Hutchison, President & CEO, Delta Dental Plans Association. "Delta Dental continues to partner with oral health professionals and the public in our development of enhanced dental plans focused on person-centered care. The innovative plans are based on a person's health needs and provide the extra care to enrich overall health and quality of life."

To read the full 2022 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report and learn more about the report's methodology and findings, click here.

About the research

The 2022 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report is based upon Delta Dental-commissioned research conducted between January 19 and January 28, 2022, by Material Holdings, LLC, a global insights and strategy consultancy. The research used an email invitation and online surveys to two audiences recruited through an opt-in panel of 1,172 parents of children ages 12 and younger and 1,027 nationally representative Americans ages 18+.

Quotas were set to ensure a reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. population of adults and parents with children ages 12 and younger. The report has a margin of error of +/- 3%.

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

Planet DDS, the leading provider of cloud-based dental software, today announced the acquisition of QSIDental from NextGen Healthcare, Inc. QSIDental offers cloud-based dental practice management software and has been a trusted clinical software partner to dental organizations for 40 years.

This acquisition, including QSIDental Web®, reinforces the company’s commitment to cloud-based solutions as a way for dental practices to navigate and uncover new opportunities through unprecedented times in the industry. Planet DDS will actively support the needs of existing QSIDental customers, empowering their growth and success through industry-leading cloud solutions.

“With rising costs and a difficult hiring environment, these are challenging times for dental practices. Planet DDS is committed to helping our customers to be more efficient and reduce costs while delivering better patient care,” said Eric Giesecke, CEO of Planet DDS. “This acquisition enhances our ability to deliver top-rated cloud-based software to more dental practices across North America, and we are excited to welcome QSIDental team members and customers into the Planet DDS family.”

Planet DDS and QSIDental share similar philosophies on the use of technology to deliver more efficient workflows for dental practices, maximize quality of care, and enhance the patient experience.  

ChairsideCAD receives a Cellerant Technology Award for the fourth consecutive year

exocad, an Align Technology, Inc. company and a leading dental CAD/CAM software provider, announced today that ChairsideCAD, its easy-to-use CAD software for single-visit dentistry, received a 2022 Best of Class Technology Award from Cellerant Consulting Group. This is the fourth consecutive year that ChairsideCAD has been recognized for this award.

"To receive this prestigious industry award from dental industry leaders for a fourth consecutive year makes us truly proud,” said Larry Bodony, president of exocad America, Inc. “We designed ChairsideCAD with clinicians in mind, aiming to simplify the chairside design process, while making it faster and more accurate. We’re confident the intuitive design workflow of ChairsideCAD, plus the freedom to use any open hardware, makes this a fantastic tool to streamline even the most complex cases.”

exocad is the software of choice for leading manufacturers of dental CAD/CAM systems because of its flexibility, reliability and ease of use. Dental professionals use exocad software to streamline their workflows for a broad range of indications. Based on exocad’s lab software DentalCAD, ChairsideCAD is the first complete open-architecture CAD software platform for single-visit dentistry. The software includes a step-by-step guide through the design process, simple integrations with a broad spectrum of devices and the ability to seamlessly share information between clinicians and labs.

Since the inaugural presentation in 2009, the Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards announcement has grown to occupy a unique space in dentistry by creating awareness in the community of manufacturers who are driving the discussion on how practices operate now and in the future. The 2022 Cellerant Best of Class Technology Award was decided on by a panel of prominent technology leaders in dentistry.

Additional information is available at:

www.exocad.com/chairsidecad

www.cellerantconsulting.com 

Rafia Will Lead Strategic Initiatives to Advance Access to Integrated Oral Health Care for Ethnically and Socially Diverse Communities

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health® — a leading national nonprofit focused on creating a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system — today announced that Kaz Rafia, DDS, MBA, MPH, has been named as the organization's first Chief Health Equity Officer.

Rafia, a former state dental director, is a leader in the oral health field who has pursued equitable clinical outcomes through innovative health care approaches throughout his career. As a member of the CareQuest Institute executive team, Rafia will leverage his expertise to spearhead strategic initiatives and partnerships that advance access to integrated, person-centered, and value-based oral health care.

“As a mission-focused organization centered on improving the oral health for all, advancing health equity is central to everything that we do at CareQuest Institute,” said Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA, president and CEO of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. “Having a leader like Kaz join us as Chief Health Equity Officer sends a strong message: eliminating health disparities and breaking down systemic barriers to care, especially for marginalized and underserved communities, is nonnegotiable. Kaz’s experience and knowledge as a dental provider, state official, and educator is an incredible asset to our team and partners.”

Rafia will drive CareQuest Institute's strategic efforts to advance the integration of oral health and overall health through the oversight of CareQuest Institute’s health improvement and grantmaking work.

“I’m honored to join CareQuest Institute in pursuit of an accessible, equitable, and integrated health system for everyone,” said Rafia. “The inequities in oral health outcomes for people of color, those living in rural communities, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQ, and other marginalized communities in the US are unacceptable. The work that CareQuest Institute is advancing, in collaboration with an impressive group of partners at the community, state, and national levels, is critical to eliminating oral health disparities once and for all.”

Before joining CareQuest Institute, Rafia served as the state dental director for the Oregon Health Authority, where he set the equity-focused State Oral Health Strategic Plan. That Plan focused on population health measures, health care workforce development, optimization of value-based care coordination model, and telehealth.

Prior to that, Rafia was the director of operations for the Partnership for International Medical Access-Northwest, working to build sustainable long-term international partnerships with culturally diverse authorities and leaders to better understand and serve their needs.

Rafia was also a founding partner of Rafia Dental, a clinical associate professor at Oregon Health & Science University, and a clinic director at Kaiser Permanente.

Kaz earned his doctor of dental surgery degree from the Ohio State University, a master of business administration degree from University of Illinois, and a master of public health degree from Johns Hopkins University. 

Owandy Radiology Inc., a global leader in the manufacture of dental radiology hardware and imaging software, recently upgraded the capabilities of its comprehensive QuickVision 3D Implant Planning Software to include sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI) functions and the expansion of its substantial dental implant library.

QuickVision 3D: Now Powered by AI

According Owandy company spokesperson, Boris Loyez, “We’ve implemented new features into QuickVision 3D software with the help of our internally-developed AI platform, which enables the auto-matching of a *.dicom and a *.STL file to easily create customized surgical guides. Now more than ever, QuickVision 3D software is a perfect match with the Owandy I-Max 3D compact wall-mounted cone beam unit, and the combination of our hardware and software truly makes the I-Max 3D a game-changer within the cone beam industry.”

100 Dental Implant Libraries and Counting

In addition to adding advanced AI capabilities, Owandy has been aggressively expanding the number of implant manufacturer libraries in QuickVision 3D Implant Planning Software which now includes most of the leading brands such as Bicon, BioHorizons, Camlog,

Dentsply-Sirona, Nobel Biocare, Ritter, Straumann, Sweden & Martina, Zimmer Biomet, and more.

“Owandy’s new intuitive AI platform, extensive implant library, and open architecture enables QuickVision 3D to be used with any 3D intraoral scanner on the market to enhance the digital workflow capabilities and overall efficiency of virtually any modern dental implant practice, adds Loyez.”

For more information about the Owandy' QuickVision 3D and its full line of products, visit www.Owandy.com, call 516-858-5695, or send an e-mail to sales@owandyus.com.

Distributor and DSO inquiries are always welcome. 

Gift will provide dental care at no cost for veterans with blood cancer who are not eligible for dental care through the VA

NYU College of Dentistry has received a significant gift from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to create a pilot program to provide financial support for dental care for U.S. military veterans with blood cancer. Care will be provided at the NYU Dentistry Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities, where the staff are trained with special skillsets to ensure quality treatment and holistic care for people with disabilities and complex medical conditions.

Cancer patients have unique oral health needs and may require dental care before starting treatment or after to address treatment-related issues. Before beginning cancer treatment, and especially prior to undergoing a stem cell transplant, which suppresses the immune system, blood cancer patients may need to see a dentist to address existing dental issues such as infections. Unresolved dental issues can result in serious complications, including sepsis, and can compromise treatment. Moreover, many cancer patients are at high risk for oral complications—including mouth sores, bleeding gums, and tooth decay—that result from cancer treatment.

Only a small subset of veterans, including those with a service-connected dental disability or former prisoners of war, are eligible for dental care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As a result, most veterans who receive medical care through the VA—and, when faced with a blood cancer diagnosis, undergo cancer treatment at the VA—may not have access to dental care that they can afford.

The gift from LLS will establish a patient care access fund at NYU Dentistry to enable veterans with blood cancer to receive comprehensive dental care at no out-of-pocket cost. The financial assistance will cover the cost of dental procedures required to begin cancer treatment or needed because of treatment. With this pilot, NYU Dentistry expects to provide 250-300 patient visits for veterans within a 12-month period. Based on the success of the pilot, LLS, in consultation with NYU Dentistry, plans to expand the program to additional sites for care.

“Facilitating lifesaving dental care for veterans with blood cancer is critical for this especially vulnerable population,” said Charles N. Bertolami, DDS, DMedSc, the Herman Robert Fox Dean of NYU Dentistry. “NYU Dentistry is honored to be the recipient of financial support from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and to help advance its mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families,” he added.

“The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is pleased to partner with NYU College of Dentistry to help veterans with blood cancer get critical dental care so that they can safely receive lifesaving blood cancer treatment,” said Gwen Nichols, MD, Chief Medical Officer at LLS. “Together we can remove the affordability barriers facing veterans, so they can receive comprehensive dental care without incurring out-of-pocket costs.”

The new program builds on and expands NYU Dentistry’s successful pilot program for veterans that began in July 2021, when NYU Dentistry was selected by the VA to implement the Veterans Oral Care Access Resource (VOCARE) as part of the VA’s VETSmile pilot program. VETSmile/VOCARE provides comprehensive dental services to veterans in the New York City area that the VA is unable to provide. During the first year of VETSmile/VOCARE, NYU Dentistry provided dental care to 1,022 veterans over 5,643 visits, and completed 10,821 procedures.

The VA New York Harbor Healthcare System—which includes campuses in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island—refers eligible veterans to NYU to receive dental services through the VETSmile/VOCARE program. This referral arrangement will continue with the new LLS-supported program for veterans with blood cancer.

Michael O’Connor, EdD, executive vice dean of NYU Dentistry and director of the VETSmile/VOCARE project, said, “Our referral arrangement with the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System is at the heart of NYU Dentistry’s ability to expand access to necessary dental care for veterans with blood cancer and other veterans who are not eligible for dental care through the VA. We are extremely fortunate to have both the VA and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as our strategic partners on behalf of veterans in need who have nowhere else to turn for dental care.”

Clinically proven allograft material comes prepackaged in a syringe, giving dentists a convenient and reliable means of grafting sites for bone regeneration.

Glidewell's Newport Surgical™ line of bone grafting solutions was created to provide dentists with a simplified assortment of bone grafting materials and instruments for the full range of indications performed in the general practice, from socket regeneration to full periodontal reconstruction. Now, the company is introducing a new addition to the collection: RAPTOS® Cortico-Cancellous Blend in a Syringe specially designed to make the delivery of allograft for extraction sockets, bony defects, immediate implant sites and other clinical applications simpler and more convenient.

Traditionally, dentists in need of bone grafting material have had to order the allograft on its own, hydrate it, and then apply it manually with an instrument or load it into a syringe after hydration. With RAPTOS Cortico-Cancellous Blend in a Syringe, clinicians have an all-in-one tool for grafting sites with predictable and cost-effective results.

Each syringe contains prepackaged mineralized cortico-cancellous allograft and is ready to use after a quick and simple hydration procedure. Users will simply remove the outside cap and gently tap the device to loosen the particles sufficiently before aspirating a saline solution or the patient's blood into the syringe. The 0.25 cc and 0.5 cc (priced at $42 and $65, respectively) are packaged for single use. The largest size (1.0 cc priced at $92) comes packaged as two syringes.

"Bone grafting after tooth extraction or in preparation for implant placement has become everyday dentistry for most general practitioners," says Dr. Neil Park, vice president of clinical affairs at Glidewell. "RAPTOS Cortico-Cancellous Blend in a Syringe makes these procedures even more efficient at a remarkably good price."

The allograft blend combines the optimal features of cortical and cancellous bone. Cortical bone provides the space maintenance that allows the time for bone regeneration to occur, while cancellous bone allows for better cell migration and faster remodeling. The finely ground size of the mineralized allograft's particles fosters rapid site revascularization and increased structural integrity with a resorption rate of four to six months.

Glidewell ensures that RAPTOS Cortico-Cancellous Blend in a Syringe, like other products in the Newport Surgical line, originates from a single, convenient supplier and is FDA-cleared and naturally sourced. By doing so, the longstanding implant solutions provider aims to deliver a product with quality that dentists know they can trust. This product will play a key role in furthering Glidewell's philosophy to simplify and improve every aspect of treatment, from implant placement to delivery of the final restoration.

This product addition strengthens Newport Surgical's comprehensive line of bone grafting solutions, which includes essential tools like sutures, wound dressing, collagen membranes and the Newport Surgical Implant and Bone Grafting Instrument Kit. This simple yet comprehensive line of high-quality products gives clinicians everything they need to perform most implant-related procedures in their dental practices.

For the RAPTOS Cortico-Cancellous Blend in a Syringe, along with the full array of Newport Surgical materials and instruments, visit glidewell.com/newportsurgical or call 888-303-3975. To learn more about Glidewell's comprehensive implant and restorative solutions, visit glidewell.com/implant-solutions or call 800-839-9755.

RAPTOS is a registered trademark of Citagenix Inc. 

evowera, an up-and-coming technology firm in China that focuses on the consumer electronics industry, has received the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance for its planck O1 adaptive sonic electric toothbrush (planck O1).

The ADA is the largest dental association in the U.S., representing 161,000 dental professionals. As the premier source of oral health information, the ADA has promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859, advocating for the dental health of the public ever since. The ADA Seal of Acceptance has been the leading mark of dental product safety and efficacy for 90 years, providing a valuable and respected guide on consumer dental care products. Being certified by ADA represents evowera's strict standards and its unwavering pursuit in consummate dental product development, and casts a light on the high quality and strong competitiveness of planck O1 as an innovative and market-disrupting dental care product.

evowera was founded by four engineers - with backgrounds working in China's most reputable drone company - in 2017 with the goal of developing high-performance consumer electronics. The planck O1 is the brand's first product and it has received great attention from professionals and consumers since it first launched in the end of 2020. The planck O1 can deliver a powerful brushing performance with an output of 42,000 strokes per minute at only 42dB(A). Thanks to hypermag™, an industrial-level servo motor with noise-reduction technology that was fully developed by evowera Labs, it allows users to enjoy an ultimate teeth-cleaning activity with an unprecedented comfortable experience. This type of motor has been applied in medical services, robotics and aeronautics, but this marks the first time that a company has successfully applied an industrial motor to an electric toothbrush.

With evowera's advanced smart technology, the planck O1 is well known for its proprietary adaptive mode, which can create an exclusive personalized profile by analyzing users' cleaning targets based on their daily brushing behavior, habits and other related inputs, ultimately forming a setting that perfectly suits each individual user and ensuring great cleaning results. The built-in display provides a post-brush report that includes blind zones, pressure and duration as well as useful information such as brush head degradation and battery life.

As the second product in the planck series, the evowera planck mini smart manual toothbrush (planck mini) was recently launched in China and it covers the full spectrum of different ages including children, adults and the elderly. Featuring a smart sensor and iconic screen, planck mini enables manual toothbrush users to understand their brushing performance as well. In addition, it helps parents observe their children's teeth-cleaning results and offer effective guidance no matter at home or remotely. The planck mini will be available soon on Amazon.com.

"We want to help users improve their brushing efficiency and quality by providing more intuitive options. Our team has devoted itself to the oral hygiene industry for five years now, tirelessly concentrating on pushing the limits of technology in this field. Through increased technological breakthroughs, we believe we can offer more advanced oral products to consumers moving forward, allowing them to enjoy the ultimate dental experience in their own homes," said by Yihan liu, the CEO of evowera. "We believe small improvements enable people to live more intelligent lives."

Moving forward, evowera will continue to bring more high-quality dental products and other smart electric appliances to provide technology-driven solutions for customers.