Two decades ago, Tony Morefield helped make clear aligners a multi-billion dollar industry by spearheading the planning and execution behind a massive manufacturing facility that would help meet growing demand, developing innovative fabrication processes, and conducting clinical trials. Recently Tony has been chosen to serve as COO at Candid, helping chart our course as we transform the clear aligner industry.

"Creating that first clear aligner production facility was a massive undertaking," says Morefield. "Everything had to be developed from scratch and scaled. Setting up Candid's new facility is so exciting because we're using technology that's lightyears more advanced than it was two decades ago."

Prior to his tenure as COO, Tony spent several years championing Candid's manufacturing and treatment planning functions as our Senior Vice President of Manufacturing. In his role, Tony was a key player in creating our research and development facility in Silicon Valley.

"Our Milpitas, California, facility set the stage for scaling our business," says Morefield. "We developed scalable processes using the best technology available and internally developed processes and equipment. As a result, our aligners are more precise than ever."

When Candid announced that we'd be pivoting the business to exclusively offer our clear aligners through doctors, Tony steered production and fulfillment operations to suit our changing needs—collaborating with cross-functional teams to take our case capacity to the next level.

Few people can say that they've led the creation of an industry-altering manufacturing operation. And, perhaps only Tony Morefield can say that they've done so twice.

In Tijuana, Mexico, Tony has helped develop a high-tech manufacturing facility that will define the future of CandidPro—83,000 square feet of factory space outfitted with some of the highest manufacturing standards in the industry.

"Standing up our new facility was a huge, collaborative effort, but the results have been amazing," says Morefield. "We'll be set up to manufacture aligners for more than 1,000 cases every day—and that's just the beginning of what our pipeline of innovation has in store."

As we continue to ramp up production, Tony's knack for coordinating clinical excellence is now more broadly focused. With his recent promotion to COO, he is now leading end-to-end clinical and manufacturing operations. That means he'll be providing continuing support in Tijuana, coordinating the orthodontic minds behind our prescriptions, and helping cross-functional teams bring CandidPro's technology to dentists and orthodontists around the country.

"As COO, I'm taking in the systematic learnings from lean manufacturing processes and carrying them across the entire operational funnel," says Morefield. "From the day we receive records to the day we ship aligners and beyond."

The Pankey Institute announced the recipients of its 2022 Living Legacy and Excellence in Education awards at their annual Symposium meeting.

"The Living Legacy Award and the Excellence in Education Award recognize members of the dental community who have made a significant lifelong impact," explained Dr. Lee Ann Brady, Executive Director.

The Living Legacy Award is given each year to a member of the Pankey community who has shown exemplary support of the Pankey Philosophy while carrying out the mission and vision of the Pankey Foundation.

The 2022 Living Legacy Award was presented to Yvonne S. Hanley, DDS of Fergus Falls, MN. Dr. Hanley was one of the first female members of the Pankey faculty, and served as faculty for over 35 years before retiring from dentistry in 2019. Dr. Hanley has been a consistent donor to the Foundation and spearheaded the creation of the Dr. Bill Lockard Fund supporting faculty development.

The Excellence in Education Award is given each year to a member of the Pankey faculty who has changed the face of dentistry through their dedication to education and advancing the dental profession's body of knowledge.

The 2022 Excellence in Education Award was presented to Herbert E. Blumenthal, DDS. Recognized by many as one of the true masters in the realm of temporomandibular disease (TMD) and orofacial pain, Dr. Blumenthal has taught at Pankey for more than 40 years. He was the originator of the Institute's TMD course curriculum and formed a number of Pankey-affiliated study clubs across the country dedicated to TMD and facial pain education. He pioneered the introduction of physical therapy and other medical modalities to help dentists better serve facial pain patients.

About The Pankey Institute

The Pankey Institute delivers the most advanced dental continuing education curriculum in the world. The courses at Pankey are known for being the most practical, effective and easy-to-implement programs of their kind. The non-profit institute in Key Biscayne, Florida is dedicated to helping dental professionals master advanced clinical skills and practice management as well as nurture a positive philosophy towards life and practice. Over 30,000 dentists, dental laboratory technicians and specialists from 44 nations have attended its courses and have provided exceptional care to over 54 million patients worldwide. Their website is https://pankey.org.

Amann Girrbach presents innovations at the LMT LAB DAY Chicago 2023.

"Connect to the (Work-)Flow" – with this motto Amann Girrbach summarizes the essence of the company's strategy in its LMT LAB DAY Chicago campaign: to connect treatment pro-cesses in dental laboratories and dental practices intelligently, simply and end-to-end in a per-fect dental workflow. Visitors will be given the opportunity to experience this live at the LMT LAB DAY in Chicago. The complete digital workflow as well as individual product highlights and innovations will be made tangible on site. All the latest information on the contents and the exhibition itself can be found regularly on the campaign homepage labday.amanngirr-bach.com/en and in the LMT LAB DAY Newsletter created specifically for this purpose.

At the dental industry's leading laboratory event in the US, which will be held in Chicago from February 23 to 25, 2023, Amann Girrbach will be showcasing an optimized and integrated end-to-end process chain for dental restorations on its booth in the Grand Ballroom CD South, East Tower, Gold Level. "As 'THE open workflow company' in the dental industry, Amann Girrbach will introduce visitors to digi-tal workflows spanning the entire work process. Our objective is to holistically connect dental laborato-ries and dental practices for the benefit of patients: the reason being, that in a perfect dental (work) flow, everything is smart, simple and seamlessly interwoven to allow users to concentrate fully on their work. To combine analog and digital steps, products and services in a safe and open system, to ulti-mately make everyone's daily work easier through high reproducibility of work and to create better pa-tient care," explains Wolfgang Reim, CEO of Amann Girrbach, in terms of the company's specific goals. At the newly designed booth, new digital standards in dental technology will be showcased and demonstrated live on site. Room for an exchange with colleagues and product experts is also fore-seen.

Under the umbrella of the motto 'Connect to the (Work-)Flow', Amann Girrbach would like to offer an invitation to become part of a movement that connects and benefits collectively from digital achieve-ments. "We are familiar with dental practice and all its hurdles and see our task not only in providing excellent products, but also in optimizing the entire workflow right through to numerous service offer-ings," emphasizes Reim. With innovations such as the workflow management platform AG.Live and the interdisciplinary Ceramill DRS (Direct Restoration Solution) system, the company is consistent in pursuing this objective. "We enable users in dental practices and laboratories to do something that a single product alone cannot achieve: we deliver an open overall system with established analog and innovative digital products that ensures significant time and cost savings," says Wolfgang Reim. All with the aim of already making dentistry of tomorrow better today. For dental laboratories, dental prac-tices and the patients.

Up-to-date information and registration for the Newsletter All information and contents of the trade fair presentation at the LMT LAB DAY in Chicago are availa-ble to interested parties in the LMT LAB DAY Newsletter from Amann Girrbach, registrations under labday.amanngirrbach.com/en.

Amann Girrbach at the LMT LAB DAY Chicago:

Hyatt Regency Chicago

Grand Ballroom CD South, East Tower, Gold Level

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs) continue to be the provider of choice for wisdom teeth removal and dental implants, according to national consumer surveys conducted since 2017.

Across three different consumer segments – including mothers of teens, young adults and baby boomers – OMSs were identified as the preferred professional for these dental procedures for the fifth year. The findings come from 2022 to 2017 annual national consumer surveys (with no survey in 2020 due to the pandemic) commissioned by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), which represents more than 9,000 OMSs across the country.

In the 2022 survey, 76 percent of mothers of teens and 77 percent of young adults said they would be most likely to choose an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for removing wisdom teeth. For dental implants, 59 percent of baby boomers said an OMS is their preferred provider for the surgical procedure that offers a long-term solution to missing teeth.

Since 2017, oral and maxillofacial surgeons have been named the preferred provider over general dentists and other dental specialists by at least 6 of 10 survey respondents regarding wisdom teeth and more than half of baby boomers for dental implants.

"The national survey data make it clear that patients continue to trust oral and maxillofacial surgeons who have the specialized education and training for these procedures," said AAOMS President Paul J. Schwartz, DMD.

The survey also uncovered the most important of a dozen or more factors that influence the respondents' choice of their dental professionals:

● For mothers of teens, a referral from their child's general/pediatric dentist or orthodontist is important as well as a pre-existing relationship with the provider and in-network insurance coverage.

● Young adults identified the same factors but also ranked as important "the professional has the education and training to perform the procedure" and total out-of-pocket costs.

● Baby boomers regarding dental implants also listed "the professional has the education and training to perform the procedure" as one of the top factors in addition to referrals, pre-existing relationship, insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs.

"Patients seeking to have their wisdom teeth removed or replacing missing teeth with dental implants can search for an AAOMS member using the Find a Surgeon tool on MyOMS.org," said Schwartz. "Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are uniquely qualified to treat the conditions, defects, injuries and esthetics aspects of the mouth, teeth, jaws and face because of their extensive education and training, surgical expertise and their unparalleled understanding of esthetics and function."

In addition to tooth extractions and dental implants, oral and maxillofacial surgeons may perform surgical procedures to treat obstructive sleep apnea, TMJ disorders, jaw misalignments, cleft lip/palate and craniofacial deformities, cosmetic concerns, facial injuries and oral, head and neck cancer.

Denti.AI Auto-Chart, an AI-powered software developed by Denti.AI, has become the first and currently only dental auto-charting product cleared by the FDA.

The device can assist dental professionals in the interpretation of intraoral and extraoral 2D x-ray images by detecting and numbering teeth and missing teeth. It also aids in detecting dental structures added through past restorative treatment, including implants, crowns, pontics, endodontic treatment, and fillings, as well as their attributes, such as affected surfaces.

Denti.AI Auto-Chart's quick and reliable imaging-based odontogram charting complements Denti.AI Voice, which is used at hundreds of US and Canada clinics commercially to improve the speed and accuracy of perio charting. Combined, these products revolutionize charting tasks and drive better patient outcomes and bottom-line growth.

The product integrates directly into any Practice Management System (PMS) and Imaging software systems creating seamless workflows for dental professionals. By automating the entire data entry process, Denti.AI Auto-Chart produces highly accurate and complete patient charts. While studying its efficacy, the FDA determined that the results of Denti.AI Auto-Chart exceeded the predefined acceptance criteria and demonstrated a 70% reduction in time and effort required to create dental charts.

"This is a breakthrough for the field as one of the first users of Denti.AI Auto-Chart," Dr. Slazcka said, "I believe tooth numbering and existing charting is a huge hassle for staff. With Denti.AI Auto-Chart, even at 80% accuracy, it is much easier for them to take a template and work off corrections rather than inputting all variables."

"We are thrilled to offer this product that makes dentists' and hygienists' lives easier and improves their productivity and outcomes for the patients," said Denti.AI founder and CEO Dmitry Tuzoff. "With Denti.AI Voice, we changed the way perio charts are created, and everyone has asked us about odontogram charting, so now Auto-Chart will provide a significant and long-awaited addition to the dental professionals' automation toolkit."

Denti.AI founders' breakthrough research paper, "Tooth Detection and Numbering in Panoramic Radiographs Using Convolutional Neural Networks", Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, 2019, established the scientific foundation of the revolutionary Auto-Chart tool. The study remains a top ten most-cited academic paper for AI in dentistry worldwide.

A US patent protects the technology that has also been adopted in a commercial partnership with P&R Dental Strategies, making it an essential tool for any dental insurance claim review from a clinical standpoint.

Denti.AI recently closed a pre-Series A round of funding. The infusion of capital led by one of the largest investors in dental technology will allow Denti.AI to bring more intelligent solutions to dental practices and reach remarkable milestones.

For more information, please visit www.denti.ai.

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 39th Annual AACD Scientific Session. This year the AACD will convene at the Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel & Convention Center conveniently located near Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.

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 showcase 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 unique venue and all that the Grapevine, Texas, area has to offer.

Sessions and workshops begin on Wednesday, April 26 and extend through Saturday, April 29. AACD 2023 will kick things off with a focus on the esthetic zone of excellence in a series of workshops foundational to the Accreditation process and ideal for any cosmetic dental professional with the objective of improving clinical skills.

Featured headliners at this year’s event include Pascal Magne, DMD, PhD, on Intermediate Dentin Sealing: The 4th Dimension in Adhesive Dentistry; Sam Alawie, MDT, on Photography Driven Case Design - A Fully Digital Approach to Designing Anterior Porcelain Reconstructions; Frank Spear, DDS, MSD, on Integrating Minimally Invasive Concepts in Complex Treatment Plans; and Edward A. McLaren, DDS, MDC, on The Art of What I Do: “Creating the Illusion of a Tooth”.

On Thursday evening, the Welcome Reception features a “Rhinestone Roundup” theme at the Glass Cactus at Gaylord Texan–a waterfront event experience. We've gone BIG, and you won't want to miss this Texas-sized reception with the best barbecue around. 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.

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.

So let your star shine bright in Texas, and show your team, friends, and colleagues just how amazing you can be!

To flip through the digital edition of the AACD Texas 2023 Preconference Guidebook, click here. Or for more information, view the full agenda, and to register for the 39th Annual AACD Scientific Session, visit www.aacdconference.com. 

Strategic partnership formed from aligned commitment to exceptional patient care

Planmeca announced today a partnership to begin providing dental imaging equipment to locations supported by PepperPointe Partnerships. PepperPointe has committed to using Planmeca 3D and 2D imaging units for existing and future locations that offer general care, pediatric and orthodontic care, and other dental specialties.

After a clinical and business review, PepperPointe selected the Planmeca ProMax® 2D panoramic and Planmeca ProX™ intraoral units as the best option for many of its locations. The Planmeca ProMax includes a variety of programs as well as advanced safety protocols that are ideal for patient focus. In addition, PepperPointe selected the capabilities of the Planmeca ProMax® 3D units as the optimal choice in imaging for specific sites. With advanced features, including Planmeca Ultra Low Dose™ for an average of 77% reduction in radiation dose* and Planmeca CALM® for patient movement correction, the versatility of the Planmeca ProMax will allow offices supported by PepperPointe to offer superior dental care.

“At the heart of our mission is a commitment to view every decision through the lens of what’s in the best interest of our patients,” said Dr. Greg White, president and CEO of PepperPointe Partnerships. “We want to support our doctors in their pursuit of providing world-class personalized care, and partnerships like this ensure their success by confirming we have the equipment we need to serve our communities.”

PepperPointe Partnerships is a doctor-owned dental service organization (DSO) that facilitates the formation of completely doctor-controlled and doctor-led pediatric dental and orthodontic group practices, and in turn the group practices are supported by PepperPointe. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, PepperPointe manages 135 dental office locations, 152 doctors, and nearly 1,000 staff members – all who work tirelessly to provide quality care to more than 300,000 patients.

"Planmeca is well positioned to offer the highest levels of technology to the PepperPointe affiliate offices," stated Planmeca USA President Glen Kendrick. "This partnership is a stepping point to their investment in practice growth and a focus on the highest levels of patient care. Their confidence in our relationship stems from the experience Planmeca has in our supporting emerging groups that offer the best efficiencies of group organizations and the benefits of practice autonomy,” said Kendrick.

* According to “Dosimetry of Orthodontic Diagnostic FOVs Using Low Dose CBCT Protocol” by JB Ludlow and J Koivisto

Dentsply Sirona’s short film, “The Magic Inside – Primeprint 3D Printing Solution”, has earned the Silver Dolphin at this year's Corporate Media & TV Awards in Cannes – impressing the expert jury in the “Health, Medicine & Life Sciences” category. Released earlier this year to mark the launch of Primeprint Solution, the film offers an insight at the new 3D printing system’s innovative interiors.

“The Magic Inside – Primeprint 3D Printing Solution” sees fictional characters Daniel Prime and Dr. Isabelle Quinn present Dentsply Sirona’s latest Primeprint Solution as a "masterpiece of engineering art" through an exciting virtual journey. The short film features well-known international actors Seumas Sargent and Annabelle Mandeng and was created with Dentsply Sirona’s production partner and digital agency LINGNER.COM, which was in charge of the launch communication of Primeprint.

“We are thrilled to receive one of the most coveted international marketing awards – for the second time – with Primeprint as the star of the film,” said Swen Deussen, Vice President Marketing Digital Platforms & Solutions at Dentsply Sirona. “LINGNER.COM did a fantastic job of bringing the state-of-art Primeprint Solution to life, explaining all its great features in a clear and incredibly engaging way for the dental community.”

“We are proud to be recognized for such a special project, which blurs the real and virtual worlds to show the magic of dental technology,” added Christian Laurin of LINGNER.COM. “We enjoyed partnering with Dentsply Sirona on this project.”

The latest accolade is the second Corporate Media & TV Award for Dentsply Sirona, with the Primescan launch film “It’s Prime Time” also winning a Silver Dolphin from the Cannes jury in 2019. The international marketing festival takes place annually, honoring the best corporate films, online media productions, and documentaries. It is widely considered as one of the most important international events in the corporate film industry.

Primeprint Solution sets out to simplify 3D printing

Launched earlier this year, Primeprint Solution is a highly automated, end-to-end, medical grade 3D printing system for dentists and dental technicians who want to expand their treatment or service offerings. Its elevated level of automation helps reduce handling times, allows for delegation, and increase the productivity for the dental practice.

Primeprint Solution integrates seamlessly with DS Core, Dentsply Sirona’s first interconnected, cloud-based platform designed to support dental professionals in the entire treatment journey – from diagnosis to final care and treatment. With DS Core Create, practices can order ready-to-print designs created by expert lab technicians.

Dr. Mike Skramstad, dentist from Orono (Minnesota, USA), said: “3D printing has just taken the next leap forward with Primeprint. With the combination of complete integration, enclosed automated workflow, and industry defining efficiency, Primeprint gives me and most importantly my staff confidence that we are delivering very good and safe 3D printed parts to our patients.”

For more information, visit: dentsplysirona.com/primeprint

Watch our award-winning film “The Magic Inside - Primeprint 3D Printing Solution” on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luNlToiA4uI

To see the full list of winners of the 13th Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2022 including Dentsply Sirona’s award-winning film, go to www.cannescorporate.com/de/winners2022.php?view=A11 

Doctor Plotka's Mouthwatchers is offering a solution to your patients' oral hygiene travel dilemmas. Developed by renowned Boston-area dentist, Doctor Ronald Plotka, this oral care duo, which includes Doctor Plotka's Manual Toothbrushes and All-Natural Fluoride Free Whitening Toothpaste, solves travel problems your patients may not even be aware of. The pioneering manual toothbrushes are equipped with flossing bristles to reach deep between teeth and gums to sweep out leftover food and put an end to bad breath-causing bacteria. 100% of the ingredients are sourced from natural origins. Plus, every toothpaste tube is fully recyclable and made with 44% post-consumer recycled materials. 

Manual Travel Toothbrush (starting at $5.99):

● FOLDABLE DESIGN: Made for easy packing!

● STAYS CLEAN: Silver-infused bristles naturally eliminate 99% of bacteria, viruses, and fungi from your toothbrush within 6 hours after use.

● FLOSSES: Flossing bristles reach deep into grooves, under the gum line, and between teeth to break up plaque and brush away food residue before it gets a grip on your teeth.

● HIGH QUALITY: Bristles made of high-quality polyester are more resilient and can last longer than a typical nylon brush.

● BETTER RESULTS: Better results and no cross-contamination - A "fresh from the Dentist feeling" every time!

All-Natural Fluoride Free Whitening Toothpaste ($6.99):

● WHITENS: Silica and Hydroxyapatite re-mineralizes teeth which lowers the risk of erosion and restores your teeth to their natural whiteness.

● CLEANS: Organic Propolis, a natural honeybee product known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, reduces the risk of cavities, gum sensitivity, and plaque build-up.

● SOOTHES: Mineral-rich Thermal Spring Water, sourced from France, is known for its anti-inflammatory benefits which can soothe irritation.

● FRESHENS BREATH: Organic mint gives your mouth and breath long-lasting freshness.

● GOOD FOR YOU & THE EARTH: 100% of ingredients are sourced from natural origins. This tube is fully recyclable and made with 44% post-consumer recycled.

Doctor Plotka's toothbrushes are available at Sprouts Farmers Market, Wholefoods Market, and on Amazon. 

● At least 25 fully integrated primary health/dental locations to open over five years with coordinated care powered by Epic’s comprehensive health records system.

● This unique joint venture between a regional healthcare system and national dental support organization on the same electronic health records system is the first of its kind.

● Decades of clinical research has determined oral health is a critical component of overall health. Now physicians and dentists who historically have worked in silos, will be able to easily communicate potentially life-saving information about their shared patients. 

MemorialCare, a prominent nonprofit Southern California integrated health system, and Pacific Dental Services® (PDS), one of the nation’s leading dental support organizations, today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to bring dentists and doctors together under one roof to provide patients comprehensive whole-person health. The joint venture is propelled by the power of shared electronic health records on the Epic system – ensuring a seamless coordination of care and easy access to health records for patients and providers.

Through the unique partnership, several co-located practices will open each year over the next five years to reach a total of at least 25 locations, with PDS-supported dental offices located within select MemorialCare Medical Group health centers throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties.

“MemorialCare has a long history of partnering with innovative organizations that share our vision of delivering best practice medicine and improving community health,” says Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D., President and CEO of MemorialCare. “This unique, innovative venture provides our patients and community with seamless integration of primary care and oral health, an essential clinical service not previously offered.”

Decades of clinical research have determined oral health is a critical component to overall health. Bringing oral health care to the primary health care setting supports MemorialCare’s mission of providing easily accessible, high-quality care along with PDS’ unwavering dedication to medical-dental integration to improve health outcomes while reducing hospitalizations and annual healthcare expenses.

“This unprecedented partnership is a natural extension of Pacific Dental Services’ goal to bring to light the link between oral health and overall health – what we at PDS call The Mouth-Body Connection® – in an effort to improve the health of patients,” says Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO of Pacific Dental Services. “Because many systemic diseases, conditions and even medications can affect a patient’s oral health, we have long advocated for closer collaboration between medical and dental professionals. This partnership brings that to fruition.”

The fact that both organizations use Epic’s comprehensive electronic health record system paved a path for this collaboration, as primary health and oral health clinicians can use the system to seamlessly view patient data, including past dental and medical visits, lab results, and prescriptions, creating a comprehensive picture of a patient’s health for any provider they visit.

“Healthcare outcomes are vastly improved when providers have quick access to all relevant information on a patient,” says Judy Faulkner, Founder and CEO of Epic. “Our partnership with Pacific Dental Services that achieved final implementation to their 900+ dental practices earlier this year was a significant step forward in linking dental and medical professionals. We’re proud to be a part of extending that link to now include merging our software with dental and medical professionals under one roof.”

In the United States, 2 in 5 adults are affected by some form of gum disease, which is one of the earliest warning signs of systemic health conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and even certain cancers. Now physicians and dentists who historically have worked in silos, will be able to easily communicate potentially life-saving information about their shared patients.

The partnership also allows patients to take more ownership of their health, by enabling them to view their acute health, primary health, and dental health history all in one place. By accessing their own health information through Epic’s MyChart patient portal, patients can communicate with providers, schedule appointments, request prescription refills, and have a better chance of identifying diseases early, based on changes in gum and oral health.

This announcement comes at a time when integration between medical care and oral health care is top of mind. Among the many parallel efforts in this area, in 2021 the CDC announced a medical-dental integration partnership with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, and just last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced its final ruling on the expansion of coverage for medically necessary dental services as part of Medicare. These efforts highlight the importance of dental-medical integration to form a seamless, comprehensive healthcare system focused on the health of the whole person.