Columbia Dentoform, by DENTALEZ®, is excited to announce the launch of Surgio, a new surgical manikin that will change the landscape of dental education.

As part of DENTALEZ’s renewed focus on applying innovation to solve everyday dentistry challenges, we created Surgio to offer dental and CE students hyper-accurate, true-to-life surgical practice before working on live patients, without the need for cumbersome and costly cadavers. The Surgio manikin offers unprecedented realism, for procedural accuracy on a number of sites, including accurately simulated bone densities for novice and advanced students.

What does this mean for our curriculum customers?

● They can offer their students incomparable experience working within the confines of a normal oral cavity with lifelike soft tissue that rebounds and protrudes, like true labial and lengual tissue.

● Students will get tactile and physical experience cutting bone, placing, tightening and loosening implants, even suturing and performing post-operative restorative work.

● Our manikins are priced to fit within traditional curriculum budgets, and may be the most cost-effective upgrade you can offer, to help your customers differentiate their dental school and CE programming.

“Our manikin will work in tandem with your customers’ curriculum milestones, while retaining the flexibility to adjust to specialized preferences.” Director of Sales, International and Special Markets, Carlos Martinez says. “And, the manikins are completely vendorneutral, compatible with all major manufacturers’ implant systems. So you can continue to seamlessly support the relationships you already have.” With unprecedented, individualized, hands-on access to procedural applications, there has simply never been an educational tool like this.

To learn more, visit dentalez.com/Surgio.

Sagemax is extending its CAD/CAM portfolio, adding an efficient all-ceramic polishing system: NexxZr Shine is a two-step diamond polishing system for the effective polishing of dental ceramics, e.g. zirconium oxide, aluminium oxide, lithium disilicate or glass ceramic. The dimensionally stable, diamond-infused rubber polishers convince users with their easy and efficient application. Additionally, they have a long service life and provide a true-to-nature lustre. NexxZr Shine creates a homogeneous surface with both monolithic and partially veneered restorations. There are three coordinated shapes for the optimum polishing of the different structures: Twist17, Turn18 and Tip5. The shapes are available in the grain sizes smooth (Step 1, pre-polishing) and gloss (Step 2, high-gloss polishing).

The universally usable diamond polishing paste NexxZr Shine Paste completes the assortment. It removes micro-scratches and leaves a smooth-as-glass surface with a high gloss.

With the introduction of these products, Sagemax offers every dental technician a suitable set for the final processing of dental ceramic materials, ensuring a precise coordination between material and polishing.

This fall, high-growth clear aligner challenger Candid is stacking its leadership team, with dental giants Dr. Lou Shuman coming on as Executive Consultant and Chief Development Officer and Dr. Brian Gray as Chief Dental Officer. They join Dr. Ben Miraglia DDS, VP of GP Clinical Education at Candid Academy as major leadership additions. Under the guidance of the new leadership team, Candid will be releasing a host of new features and enhancements vaulting the Orthodontics as a Service company ahead of many of its competitors.

After shuttering its direct-to-consumer clear aligner business in December 2021 and pivoting into a full provider-based model, Candid has grown its provider base over 500% in 2022.

New Executive Consultant and Chief Development Officer Lou Shuman DMD, CAGS is the CEO and founder of Cellerant Consulting and an expert in growing dental technology companies. He was immediately attracted to Candid’s tech-first Orthodontics as a Service model of partnership and support.

“Candid’s innovations, technology partnerships, and delivery of a total support model is exactly what general practitioners need right now and orthodontists will benefit by in the near future,” says Shuman. “Candid’s commitment to state-of-the-art technology as witnessed by their new massive fabrication facility, superb management team, and focus on aligner quality, already make Candid a great choice for dentists, and our planned clinical upgrades will soon make that choice even easier.”

Known for having trained nearly 30,000 dentists in clear aligner therapy over the last two decades, new Chief Dental Officer Dr. Brian Gray thinks Candid is uniquely positioned to meet the general practitioner where they are.

“I’m joining Candid because it feels like a new era in clear aligners,” says Gray. “As a clinical evaluator, I’ve tried nearly every clear aligner product out there. Candid has unlocked the convenience and predictability that clinicians have been after for years by empowering dentists with the deep clinical knowledge to protect their reputations while giving patients the safe, effective treatment they need.”

Candid rounds out its leadership upgrade with a host of new Candid Academy Faculty members, with Drs. Tom Shannon and Geoffrey Skinner joining visionaries like Drs. Ben Miraglia, Kalli Hale, and Craig Spodak. Dr. Miraglia has played a pivotal role in upgrading Candid’s Rx and through his teaching and advocacy continues to attract top clinicians to Candid Academy.

For CEO Nick Greenfield, Candid is on the road to becoming the practitioner’s choice for clear aligners.

“We’re on a similar trajectory to a company like Tesla,” says Greenfield. “Amazing product, top-flight tech, and outstanding design, but early Teslas could only go 100 miles on a charge. This massive tech enhancement means Candid can now take partner practices so much farther—with even more exciting developments on the horizon.”

Dr. Gray concurs that Candid’s expert-led Orthodontics as a Service model is poised to grab significant market share.

“I see so much in the works that I can’t wait to share with my patients and colleagues,” says Gray. “Candid has developed a number of game-changing product enhancements and techniques that lead the clear aligner segment into a new era. I see it as Ortho 3.0, and am excited to be part of this transformational change in dental health care.”

Dr. Shuman sees even more growth for Candid on the horizon.

“Sitting in a room with Candid leadership reminded me of my work with clear aligners 20 years ago,” he says, “young, brilliant visionaries coming together to create a technique poised to transform the market.”

ABOUT DR. LOU SHUMAN

Lou Shuman, DMD, CAGS, is an orthodontist and founder and CEO of Cellerant Consulting Group, dentistry’s leader in growing companies of all sizes currently serving over 40 companies. He is also co-founder of LightForce Orthodontics that created the world’s first fully customized ceramic 3D printed orthodontic bracket and a venturer-in-residence at the Harvard i-Lab. He also served as Vice President of Clinical Education and Strategic Relations at Align Technology for 7 years. He is the recipient of the 2021 Global Summits Institute’s Doctor- to-Doctor World’s Top 100 Doctors and the Denobi Pinnacle Achievement Award that recognizes an individual whose leadership and ongoing contributions have dramatically impacted the dental profession. Dr. Shuman currently also has three national columns devoted to technology in Dental Economics, Dental Products Report, and Oral Health Canada journals.

ABOUT DR. BRIAN GRAY

Dr. Brian Gray has been a leader in new dental technologies for nearly four decades. He is a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry and a fellow in five other academies. He is a member of The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and The American Academy of Restorative Dentistry. Dr. Gray was one of the first dentists to use clear aligners to change people’s smiles and has taught the technique to more than 30,000 doctors over the past 23 years. As an independent clinical evaluator, researcher and consultant, Dr. Gray has contributed to the development and delivery of hundreds of products used in the dental profession on a daily basis. Dr. Gray has given full-day presentations at over 30 dental schools, the Dawson Academy, the Kois Center and for over twenty years at the LD Pankey Institute, where he is currently a faculty member. Dr. Gray is a sought-after contributor to a number of dental journals, national periodicals, magazines, podcasts, and TV shows. He maintains a private, fee-for-service practice in Washington DC.

Dental practices can use the tools as a guide to make their work more environmentally sustainable and by tracking progress they can achieve recognition awards for their efforts.

FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) today launched a Toolkit for Sustainable Dentistry, to help dental practices understand what actions they can take to ensure their work is environmentally sustainable. By providing dentists and dental teams with the tools and strategies to implement greener practices, as well as track progress, FDI hopes to contribute to reducing the environmental impact of the profession in a tangible way.

The toolkit was developed further to the release of a Consensus Statement on Environmentally Sustainable Oral Healthcare, earlier this year, which outlines the challenges and solutions to improving sustainability in dentistry. It also recognizes that the oral healthcare sector has a responsibility to provide environmentally sustainable care without compromising patient welfare.

"Dentists and dental teams can play an active role in reducing the environmental impact of dentistry, while safeguarding optimal patient care. This online Toolkit for Sustainable Dentistry is a step towards helping dental practices adopt measures to reduce their carbon footprint." said Prof. Ihsane Ben Yahya, FDI President. She continued "I hope that our work today will have a positive impact on our future generations so that they can enjoy a healthy life and planet."

The toolkit was developed as part of FDI's Sustainability in Dentistry project, and consists of an interactive platform that guides users to drive their activities towards more sustainable practices by providing them with practical solutions. Dentists and their teams can undertake different sets of challenges and subsequently earn bronze, silver, or gold recognition awards for their practice. The interactive challenges will give dental teams the tools to raise awareness, implement changes and become more environmentally sustainable. Dental organizations and practices, all around the world, are encouraged to register and make eco-friendly choices as a team to showcase their commitment to our planet.

Midmark Corp., a leading dental solutions provider focused on the design of the clinical environment to improve delivery of care, has recently released the new Midmark Extraoral Imaging System (EOIS) product line, including 2D panoramic and 3D CBCT imaging X-ray devices with cephalometric add-on options.

Designed, assembled and supported by Midmark in the U.S., the EOIS product line is designed to simplify workflows of panoramic and CBCT imaging. With the launch of the EOIS 3D unit, Midmark invites general dentists to create their own 3D moment that will help take their practice into the future.

Dentists are leveraging 3D technology to diagnose with greater accuracy, develop treatment plans for successful outcomes and provide the highest level of patient care. However, for those who have not yet adopted 3D technology, the equipment choices can be overwhelming, and the options can be complex.

Midmark designed its EOIS units with general dentistry in mind, providing intuitive controls and software for improved staff adoption and keeping the footprint of the unit small to make it easy to fit into existing spaces. Whether taking a 2D panoramic or 3D CBCT image, doctors can expect outstanding image quality for improved clinical outcomes. To offer flexibility for the practice, doctors can start with the EOIS 2D panoramic unit and easily upgrade to 3D CBCT technology to support expanded services. An optional cephalometric extension is compatible with both 2D and 3D EOIS units.

"The EOIS product line provides clear, high-quality radiographic images in a variety of clinical situations,” said Mark Greenwood, vice president of imaging product development for Midmark. “When enhanced detail is necessary in endodontics, using a limited field of view provides images capable of identifying missed canals and features associated with root fractures. The field of view can also be adjusted to cover scans of a single jaw or both jaws at the high resolution necessary to: assess bone prior to precisely placing the implant, determine location and extension of pathologies, evaluate unerupted and impacted teeth, assess oral and maxillofacial injury, and identify airway obstructions."

Adding a Midmark EOIS Cephalometric Extension on either the left or right side of an EOIS 2D or 3D unit expands orthodontic care from diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring to include pre- and post-operative appraisal. This expansion empowers orthodontists to provide a better standard of care to patients.

Upgrading or adding 3D Imaging technology in a dental practice is an investment that is best supported through professional training. To help clinicians become proficient in capturing and enhancing diagnostic images in order to gain insight into better treatment plans, Midmark offers support through professional in-office or live, online training, downloadable training materials and additional custom training and support opportunities.

"Our professional training scales to the customer’s needs, ensuring they know how to use the EOIS 3D unit in ways that can help them take their practice further, while providing the best possible patient care,” says Lisa Thompson, manager of dental clinical services for Midmark. “Our clinical educators are here to make sure the dental team is ready and able to support the practice and ensure the lead clinicians can train others to use EOIS effectively in the future. We understand that some customers require more training than others, and we are ready to meet the needs of any size practice, no matter where they are in the digital dentistry journey."

For more information about Midmark EOIS, visit midmark.com/eois. 

Marking the first anniversary of its sustainability strategy ‘BEYOND: Taking Action for a Brighter World’, Dentsply Sirona launches its Sustainability Educational Curriculum to help dentists make their own practices more sustainable.

Sustainability in dentistry is now a key challenge for the oral healthcare sector, with a large majority of dentists – 7 out of 10 participants – expressing that the dental industry is lagging behind when it comes to sustainability, while 80% say that it is really important that our industry reduces its environmental impact. These are key findings of the Global Sustainability in Dentistry Study*, which was commissioned by Dentsply Sirona, the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies The study, in which more than 1,300 dentists from the United States, Brazil, Germany, UK, France, China and Japan participated, also revealed that 69% of dentists admitted that they did not know how to start implementing concrete sustainability actions but were eager to learn more.

“At Dentsply Sirona we are determined to contribute our knowledge, technologies and passion to this important cause,” says Cherée Johnson, Dentsply Sirona’s Chief Legal Officer and Chair of Sustainability Committee. “We commissioned this study to understand how dentists around the world view sustainability and where they look to us and the industry for support.” She continued: “Sustainability is one of the most prominent and important topics in society today and Dentsply Sirona, as a member of the dental industry, must play its part in protecting the planet and improving the quality of lives around the globe.”

Sustainability Educational Curriculum for Dental Professionals

To address the existing knowledge gap among dentists, Dentsply Sirona has now launched the first course of its comprehensive Sustainability Educational Curriculum. Delivered online and for free through the Dentsply Sirona Academy, each of the five interactive courses is led by experienced experts and will focus on a different aspect of sustainability.

The curriculum introduces dentists to the biggest challenges and opportunities for the dental industry, industry-wide initiatives and ideas and resources that dentists can use to help further sustainability in their practices and beyond. The first course is now LIVE and will be followed by additional modules in 2023. Participants will receive CE credits upon successful completion of each course, as per the Academy of General Dentistry in United States and Canada.

Sustainability Breakout Session at DS World

Dentsply Sirona makes the global dental professionals’ sustainability needs a priority. At DS World 2022, to be held on September 15-17 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, the Company will disclose several tools which will enable worldwide dental practitioners to advance sustainability in dentistry. Those attending the event are invited to join one of three Sustainability Breakout Sessions on Thursday, September 15, 2022. In the sessions, co-hosts Prof. Dr. Rainer Seemann, Interim Chief Clinical Officer at Dentsply Sirona, and Dr. Steven Mulligan, founding member of the FDI World Dental Federation (“FDI”)’s Sustainability in Dentistry Task Team, will dive into the challenges and opportunities of becoming more sustainable. The sessions will introduce a new FDI online toolkit that aims to give guidance and practical help to dental professionals around the world on how to take action. During the sessions, there will also be time for discussion and sharing experiences and ideas. Those interested in taking part can register via the DS World 2022 event application.

First anniversary of Dentsply Sirona’s sustainability program

The launch of the Sustainability Educational Curriculum also marks the first anniversary of Dentsply Sirona’s sustainability program ‘BEYOND: Taking action for a brighter world’. The program is focused on positively impacting:

● a Healthy Planet, reducing the environmental impact of the company’s operations as much as possible,

● a Healthy Smiles, by widening the access to high quality oral healthcare, and

● a Healthy Business, with transparent business practices that also foster diversity and inclusion equity.

Dentsply Sirona made significant progress in the first year of the BEYOND sustainability program: As a co-founding partner of the FDI World Dental Federation’s Sustainability in Dentistry Initiative, Dentsply Sirona has contributed to the Consensus Statement, a comprehensive analysis of the status quo in dentistry, providing a detailed framework of the most promising approaches to reduce the environmental impact of oral healthcare without compromising the quality of dental care. The Statement was created for the use of dental practitioners, patients as well as companies throughout the entire dental-industry supply chain.

About “BEYOND: Taking Action for a Brighter World”

As a global leader in oral health, Dentsply Sirona is committed to drive change towards sustainable dentistry. Demonstrating this commitment, Dentsply Sirona launched its comprehensive sustainability strategy “BEYOND: Taking Action for a Brighter World” last year, which builds on the company’s long-established Corporate Social Responsibility Platform. At the heart of BEYOND is the ambition to improve oral health around the world, protect the environment, being a trustworthy corporate citizen and foster a diverse and inclusive environment within the workplace and society. To achieve this, Dentsply Sirona has set itself ambitious sustainability goals, supports industry-wide co-operations and brings to the table the willingness to go above and beyond to achieve real changes for a more sustainable future in dentistry.

The Dentsply Sirona Sustainability Hub

can be accessed > here on the website.

The Global Sustainability in Dentistry Study

is available for > Download on the website.

The Sustainability in Dentistry Educational Curriculum

can be accessed > here on the website.

The Consensus Statement on Environmentally Sustainable Oral Healthcare

can be accessed > here on the website.

*Global Sustainability in Dentistry Study organized in 2022, Link to Study Report 

Waterlase Dental Laser Adoption Expected to Grow Among Dental Residency Programs

BIOLASE, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOL), the global leader in dental lasers, today announced a strategic plan to partner with postgraduate dental specialty programs throughout North America, to expose new dentists to the benefits of Waterlase technology.

In the U.S., there are approximately 700 postgraduate residency programs. The programs range from one to four years and are general dentistry and specialty programs.

"If you are familiar with the technology adoption life cycle, we are in the early adopter's phase," stated John Casciano, Sales Director of Special Markets for BIOLASE. "We believe investing in postgraduate programs will accelerate the adoption curve and be mutually beneficial. The residents will learn the benefits of all tissue laser technology in dentistry while providing the latest in patient care."

"During the second quarter of 2022, we integrated our Waterlase lasers into several postgraduate programs and plan to continue this growth and integration over the next few years. There is a large appetite among dental residents to utilize state-of-the-art technology in treating patients. This is the first generation of dentists raised with new technologies as a normal part of their everyday lives," said Casciano.

Dr. Sam Low, Professor Emeritus from the University of Florida, agrees. He added, "The introduction and reinforcement of technology during postgraduate training is key to adoption of laser dentistry with the new generation of dentists. Technology was a valued part of dentistry when I began practicing, but technology is mandatory for today's modern dental practitioner."

The Waterlase dental laser offers an array of benefits for dentists and their patients—from faster procedures to less invasive treatment options. Educating postgraduate residents about the benefits of dental lasers is part of BIOLASE's continued effort to help improve patient experiences and outcomes, and raise significant awareness as to the advantages of laser dentistry.     

Tackling a problem that significantly undermines access to quality health care, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) hosted a two-day summit in August to shed light on—and start to develop solutions to—the paucity of men of color in the health professions.

The 2022 ADEA Men of Color in the Health Professions Summit, held Aug. 10-11 at ADEA’s headquarters in Washington, DC, drew attendees representing more than two dozen health care organizations and dental schools. Made possible with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the summit featured a keynote presentation by David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., the 16th Surgeon General of the United States, who galvanized attendees to act.

“We need people who care enough to know enough and have the courage to do enough to persevere until the job is done,” he said.

A look at data helps to explain the problem. For example, between 2011 and 2019, the percentage of dental school applicants from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic (HURE) groups increased only 2.2% on a compounded annual basis. Other health care disciplines also report sluggish growth when it comes to attracting HURE applicants. And a growing body of research suggests that medical care improves when health care professionals and patients share the same race or ethnicity.

To attract more historically underrepresented students into the health professions, Dr. Satcher said the outreach must start as early as elementary school. “Right now, we need to invest in their excitement about learning, so students invest more in themselves,” he said. “We have to ask, how can I make sure our students care about learning?”

One such outreach program is the Determined to be a Doctor Someday (D.D.S.) initiative founded by Christina Rosenthal, D.D.S., who spoke at the summit. The pipeline program helps to expose students to the various health care disciplines.

The summit served as an initial step in what is expected to be a longer, sustained and collaborative effort to increase men of color within the health professions.

“We’re going to take the passion and commitment to change we saw at this summit and translate it into action,” vowed ADEA President and CEO Karen P. West, D.M.D., M.P.H. “This summit marks the start of what will be a comprehensive and practical initiative that will provide recommendations, suggested priorities and next steps to the presidents and CEOs of academic health professions organizations and other health care and educational leaders.”

Dr. West had presented the idea for a Men of Color in the Health Professions initiative to the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions last spring, and the effort began with a symposium at the 2022 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition this past March. That symposium was a collaboration with the Association of American Medical Colleges, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research.

Attendees of the August summit included representatives from dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, psychiatry, public health, osteopathic medicine, social work, physical therapy, occupational therapy, veterinary medicine and optometry, along with more than a dozen schools and academic centers.

“The multidisciplinary participation in the summit is a crucial part of what will be a success story,” said Sonya Smith, Ed.D., J.D., ADEA Chief Diversity Officer. “No single medical discipline is immune to this problem and no single discipline or entity can solve it. The solution rests in the innovative thinking of diverse stakeholders and an unbreakable resolve for positive change.”

The summit drew multiple leaders within dental education, including Todd V. Ester, D.D.S., M.S., and Ryan Quock, D.D.S., both of whom served as facilitators for the event.

Dr. Ester is the Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and Dr. Quock is a Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston.

Dr. West offered her thanks to all attendees and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for its support.

“Because of the generosity of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the time and expertise of the stakeholders who attended our summit, we are on a path to realizing greater diversity into the health professions—and improved health care as a result.”

On September 8th, 2022, the Straumann Group DSO North American team hosted an exclusive reception with its VIP DSO customers and the founder of the Neodent implant system, Dr. Geninho Thomé. The reception was held ahead of the Neodent Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Thomé shared some of the latest innovations in the pipeline at Neodent and spent time speaking with the invited guests and sharing his thoughts on the dental industry. Among the dental support organizations in attendance were ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, Affordable Care & Implants, Sage Dental, and many other prominent DSOs.

The Neodent Symposium is being held this weekend at the Bellagio Hotel & Resort in Las Vegas. Over 900 attendees are on hand to learn about full arch rehabilitation, single unit placement, practice growth and digital workflows. The event will continue through the weekend. For more information please visit the Neodent social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram.

The complete line of innovative Medit scanners is now available to test drive at Benco Dental's groundbreaking CenterPoint showrooms in Texas, California and Pennsylvania.

Benco Dental and Medit are the perfect partners to bring digital dentistry within reach for more practices and clinics across the country. With the launch of a new distribution agreement effective immediately, both companies will leverage their shared strengths and histories of innovation to expand customer access to hands-on trials and in-office demos across all 50 states.

• Benco Dental was the first dental distributor to launch an open in-office restoration production system in 2014. The company was also first to transform the way doctors try and buy the latest technologies with the launch of its groundbreaking CenterPoint design/equipment showrooms in 2010.

• Medit has been a leader in 3D scanning since the company's inception in 2000. Medit products have been the recipients of numerous awards including, most recently, the prestigious international Red Dot Design Award and CELLERANT Best of Class (for the i700) and the IF Design Award (for the T-Series).

Combining Medit's world-class products with Benco Dental's proven installation and tech support infrastructure will deliver remarkable value and peace of mind for purchasers.

In addition, Benco Dental's longstanding commitment to open solutions aligns with Medit's wide compatibility with an open ecosystem that includes dozens of dentistry's biggest and most advanced software and hardware manufacturers.

"At Benco Dental, we pride ourselves on bringing the widest range of innovative products to market from trailblazing companies," said Lisa Fleming, Benco's Digital Dentistry Manager. "Partnering with Medit is the best of all worlds for customers seeking the most flexible, compatible, advanced and high-value scanning products. Our CenterPoint showrooms are the ideal environments for thoroughly auditioning Medit scanners, and our factory-trained installation, software and support specialists deliver the comprehensive service and post-purchase care you'd expect from a company with over nine decades of experience serving doctors."

To arrange a visit to Benco Dental's nearest CenterPoint Showroom, or an in-person or virtual demonstration, see your Friendly Benco Rep or call 1-800-GO-BENCO.