Streamlined integration and communication tools will be in focus

exocad, an Align Technology, Inc. company and a leading dental CAD/CAM software provider, today announced its participation at two upcoming U.S. dental events: LMT® LAB DAY® CHICAGO and the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, taking place in Chicago on February 23–25, 2023. exocad will showcase streamlined workflows, hardware integration options, and seamless communication tools with live hands-on demonstrations of its software solutions, including its most recent FDA 510(k)-cleared Rijeka releases.

“These Chicago events present an ideal opportunity for lab and clinic communities to see how our highly integrated DentalCAD, ChairsideCAD, and exoplan software can help improve patient care and support more predictable outcomes,” said Larry Bodony, president of exocad America. “We can’t wait to share our latest developments to improve workflows.”

exocad will demonstrate new releases and lead educational seminars that take a deep dive into the latest software features at LMT® LAB DAY® CHICAGO. Attendees can join the seminar series* on February 24, which will include educational presentations and an open question-and-answer session with exocad leadership.

At the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, exocad will showcase an equipment exhibition of integrated hardware at its new booth #2818. exocad specialists will demonstrate streamlined digital workflows to grow in-office lab capabilities and enhance communication with patients and labs.

* Link to registration: https://lmtmag.com/shows/lab-day-chicago-2023/seminars?uid=46516_10012_6

AI-powered image analysis tool expedites oral health analysis and measures radiographic signs of periodontal disease

VideaHealth, the trusted dental artificial intelligence (AI) platform, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued 510(k) clearance for Videa Perio Assist, its AI-powered interproximal bone level measurement tool for periodontal disease assessment. With Videa Perio Assist, dentists and hygienists can easily measure interproximal bone level changes over time for patients 12 and older, resulting in faster and more accurate treatment recommendations and improved patient outcomes.

“Videa Perio Assist has been a game-changer for our hygienists and dentists as it helps them more effectively identify signs of periodontal disease,” said Marlene Kacy, Director of Hygiene at 42 North Dental. “VideaHealth not only empowers our team to make better treatment recommendations, but also its intuitive visualizations make it very easy for us to educate patients and explain our findings to them.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50% of adults over age 30 have periodontal disease, which can contribute to other chronic conditions like diabetes, respiratory and heart disease. Interproximal radiographic bone level (RBL) is a valuable supplement in diagnosing periodontal disease alongside traditional periodontal probing. However, factors such as reader experience, or systemic conditions can often affect the accuracy of periodontal probing measurements. The use of RBL, powered by Videa Perio Assist AI algorithms, lets dental clinicians quickly and accurately supplement and support their periodontal probing findings, thereby aiding in the early identification of some systemic diseases.

Videa Perio Assist also helps dentists and hygienists clearly communicate findings with patients in a highly engaging and visual presentation format. This lets patients better understand what’s happening and why treatment is necessary to help reverse and stop deterioration.

“Since our inception, we’ve worked directly with dentists and DSOs to understand how AI can elevate care and move the dental industry forward. Periodontal disease has consistently been mentioned as a top concern, in part because of the challenges with interpreting its signs,” said Florian Hillen, founder and CEO, VideaHealth. “Videa Perio Assist enables a more comprehensive and proactive approach to assessing interproximal RBL and monitoring periodontal disease.”

Videa Perio Assist is part of the VideaHealth dental AI platform Videa Assist. VideaHealth’s dental AI platform contains FDA-cleared medical algorithms that improve the detection of common dental diseases and foster stronger patient communication and higher case acceptance rates. Videa Assist is already used by leading dental support organizations (DSOs) like Heartland Dental and 42 North. Its technology seamlessly integrates with leading practice management systems, including Henry Schein One’s Dentrix, increasing access to thousands of dental practices across the nation.

Over the course of eight days, The Glo Good Foundation, Let Love Rule Foundation, and Henry Schein Cares embarked on a mission to improve oral health in the Bahamas. Eighty-four volunteer dentists, hygienists, technicians, friends, and family members had the opportunity to serve over 1,250 patients. Today, Henry Schein Cares released a mini-documentary video recapping the mission trip titled "Bringing the Joy: A Dental Mission to Eleuthera."

Click here to view the video.

National Nonprofit Also Commends Biden’s Commitment to Improving Access and Care in Medicare

Following the Presidential State of the Union Address, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, a leading national nonprofit focused on creating a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system, commended President Joe Biden’s commitment to expanding Medicaid coverage and improving access and care in the Medicare system.

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health CEO and President Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA, issued the following statement:

“We applaud President Biden’s call to strengthen Medicaid coverage in his State of the Union address, a move that will improve the health and well-being of underserved populations across our nation. We urge Congress to ensure that all state Medicaid programs offer extensive dental benefits to all members to help improve employability and productivity with less time away from work due to dental problems.

“We also commend President Biden’s commitment to lowering health care costs for Americans across the country by, for example, allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs. The savings generated by these policy changes, and others, should be used to further strengthen the Medicare program by including comprehensive dental coverage for millions of seniors and people living with disabilities. All Americans deserve access to affordable, quality health care, including oral health. We look forward to continuing our work with the Biden Administration and other policymakers to create a more equitable system for all.”

By Ultradent Products, Inc.

Ultradent proudly announces the return of one its most sought after products, Ultracare™ topical anesthetic gel—a delightfully flavored 20% benzocaine oral gel formulated for rapid, profound topical anesthesia.

Dental professionals can administer Ultracare gel directly on a cotton swab for increased patient comfort. The gel’s trio of benefits include 20% benzocaine for effective numbing, as well as rapid onset—numbing tissues in 15–20 seconds. Last, Ultracare gel comes in a delicious dye-free Walterberry flavor with no bitter aftertaste.

Click here to purchase or learn more about Ultracare topical anesthetic gel.

● Collaboration is part of Philips’ commitment to being an all-round player in oral healthcare and supports Candid’s dedication to provide dental professionals with the support and technology they need to effectively treat patients

● Partnership is a result of the companies’ shared mission to improve the long-term oral healthcare experience for both dental professionals and their patients

● Collaboration opens the door for offering integrated continuous education for dental professionals

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, and Candid Care Co[1], creator of the CandidPro orthodontic platform, today announced their partnership to advance the efficiency and effectiveness of orthodontic care. Philips Sonicare is the number one most often recommended power toothbrush brand among U.S. dental professionals. CandidPro makes clear aligners convenient for doctors and their patients through a category-defining integration of clinical support, industry-leading technology, and white-glove service. The collaboration is designed to provide dental professionals with an extended integrated oral healthcare offering, including orthodontic treatments alongside teeth whitening.

By leveraging Philips Sonicare’s 30 years of expertise, its extensive network of dental professionals and its knowledge and resources, Philips will support CandidPro to accelerate the development of its professional network and service platform. Together, the companies will set up continuous education initiatives for dental professionals, highlighting the importance of a total oral care approach; combining orthodontics with periodontic care, restorative and functional care and aesthetic care.

“The importance of healthy teeth and gums is a given, but for many people the confidence that comes from having the smile they want is also an important part of their lives. As part of our commitment to expanding our scope in the oral healthcare space and building on our strong partnership with dental professionals, we are pleased to have found the right partner in CandidPro so we can expand Philips Sonicare’s leadership beyond our existing solutions, connecting consumers and professionals to underpin our shared mission to provide the best oral care for patients,” said Deeptha Khanna, Chief Business Leader Personal Health at Philips.

“Our goal is to make the highest quality care accessible, approachable, and achievable for dental professionals and their patients by leveraging best-in-class technology and a game-changing approach to partnership. That means more confidence in their treatment plans, more accurate aligners, and more convenient and engaging patient experiences. Partnering with Philips means providing our CandidPro doctors with a more comprehensive platform that helps them treat more patients and save more time, and drive more efficiency” said Nick Greenfield, Chief Executive Officer at Candid.

Celebrating 30 years this year, Philips Sonicare has deep clinical knowledge, a broad oral care offering and a strong network of dental professionals, being the most often recommended power toothbrush brand among dental professionals in the U.S. Philips continuously innovates to help people achieve a higher degree of oral care at home between dental visits. Its latest innovation is its most advanced power toothbrush, the Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige which uses personalized human-led technology to help people always get the best results when brushing.

CandidPro’s total orthodontic system makes clear aligners easy for doctors, ensuring they have more control in treating cases and giving them the comprehensive white-glove support they can't get anywhere else. Through CandidPro’s category-defining AI-enabled CandidMonitoring™ technology, doctors and patients alike benefit from CandidPro’s clinical support and convenient treatment approach.

Together, Philips Sonicare and CandidPro empower dental practitioners to offer their patients straighter, cleaner, healthier smiles via an integrated care journey. This includes the potential for one-click integration of at-home Zoom whitening and CandidPro aligners. The two companies are committed to delivering the best complete oral care solutions to patients, delivered through professional dental services.

[1] Philips owns a minority interest in Candid Care Co. 

PDS is offering volunteer opportunities for its team members and raising awareness of how oral health can impact the heart – and vice versa.

Pacific Dental Services® (PDS), one of the nation’s leading dental support organizations, is recognizing American Heart Month by continuing to raise awareness of the link between oral health and heart health with several campaigns targeted toward patients and its own team members.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. On average, someone dies of cardiovascular disease every 36.1 seconds in the U.S. While oral health likely doesn’t play a role in all of those events, the association between oral health and heart health is too strong to ignore. About 90% of middle-aged adults and more than 74% of young adults have one or more risk factors for heart disease. Risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and gum disease or oral inflammation.

“Pacific Dental Services continues to lead the way in highlighting the connection between oral health and overall health, or what we call the Mouth-Body Connection®, and the benefits that are possible through dental-medical integration,” said Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO, Pacific Dental Services. “Science continues to demonstrate the correlation between periodontal disease and systemic conditions like heart disease. Our goal throughout American Heart Month is to continue educating our team members and the communities we serve about the importance of maintaining good oral health.”

Periodontal disease is a severe gum infection affecting more than 700 million people, making it is the sixth-most prevalent disease worldwide. A recent article suggested that people with periodontal disease have two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event.

Some of the ways Pacific Dental Services is observing American Health Month include:

● PDS team members and supported practices participated in the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day on Feb. 3 to help raise awareness about heart disease and stroke in women. The initiative, Go Red for Women, is designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally.

● Encouraging patients and PDS team members to join the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s #OurHearts movement to inspire people to support each other to be heart healthy and achieve heart-health goals. The better we understand #OurHearts, the more we can take care of them, which is why PDS team members are offered the Wellness Toolkit to find ways to improve their well-being.

● Inviting PDS team members in Irvine, California, Dallas, Texas and Henderson, Nevada to spend some of their Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14 creating no-sew heart pillows for those recovering from open heart surgery. The pillows provide an extra layer of comfort to combat painful jolts from coughing, sneezing or moving and helps to reduce pain by keeping the surgical incision and skin around the incision in place.

● PDS team members in Irvine, California are invited to participate in an interactive CPR demonstration on Feb. 16 hosted by members of the Orange County Fire Authority in Irvine, California.

● PDS-supported practices are distributing 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 latest issue focuses on the connection between oral health and heart health.

Since its inception in 1994, PDS-supported clinicians have been committed to educating patients about the link between oral health and whole-body health – what PDS and its supported practices call the Mouth-Body Connection®. Research shows that harmful bacteria and inflammation in the mouth can indicate and even cause systemic conditions throughout the body. Periodontal disease has been connected to systemic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, pregnancy complications that lead to pre-term/low-weight births, and more. Conversely, the link is often bi-directional: many systemic diseases, conditions and even medications can affect a patient’s oral health.

Pacific Dental Services was also the first dental support organization in the world to implement Epic, the most widely used comprehensive health records system, into all of its supported dental practices. Through Epic, oral health providers can easily exchange patient data with medical providers for improved patient care. This powerful tool helps connect what is happening in their mouth with the rest of their body, leading to better overall health for the patient.

February is National Children's Dental Health Month, and the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) reminds parents of the importance of not only knowing how to keep your child's teeth healthy, but also ensuring that they have access to safe dental anesthesia care. This month-long national health observance brings together thousands of dedicated professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, teachers, and many others.

Untreated cavities can cause pain, infections, and can lead to problems eating, speaking, and learning. Although generally thought of for adult dental procedures, many children receive sedation and anesthesia, even for what would be considered routine dental care like cavity fillings, due to special needs, fear, anxiety, or procedural pain.

"As an increasing number of patients of all ages and health comorbidities seek sedation and anesthesia for dental procedures in office-based settings, patient safety is the top priority in the delivery of these services," said AANA President Angela Mund, DNP, CRNA. "Children who require sedation or anesthesia for dental procedures can count on a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) to stay with them throughout their procedure and provide high-quality, patient-centered care."

Sedation for any dental procedure increases the complexity of care and emphasizes the importance of having sedation and anesthesia provided by an anesthesia professional, such as a CRNA, who is focused only on patient safety, monitoring, and vigilance. "Each patient has a unique response to medications utilized for sedation and anesthesia. As anesthesia experts, CRNAs are available to continuously monitor the patient, and can focus on changes in the patient's condition and intervene as necessary in emergent situations," said Mund. "Even for what would be considered routine dental care like cavity fillings, a discussion of the anesthesia delivery plan is important to address any concerns and help the patient and the patient's caregivers move forward to treat the dental health issues."

Cavities are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don't. Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life.

CRNAs are highly educated, trained, and qualified anesthesia experts. They provide 50 million anesthetics per year in the United States, working in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered. CRNAs are skilled to provide safe, high-quality, and cost-effective care as members of patient-centered dental care teams in all settings, including dental offices, in accordance with state law. CRNAs have the education and experience to react quickly to emergency situations in dental care settings, possessing the expertise to administer the anesthesia and focus solely on the patient's condition and intervene as necessary if critical events occur during the procedure. They also deliver quality care to rural and other medically underserved areas, where they ensure access to anesthesia care to populations that would otherwise have to travel significant distances from their homes for treatment. 

Risks Include Bone Loss, Dental Decay, and “Hairy Tongue”

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, a leading national nonprofit focused on creating a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system, released a report that points to a variety of oral health risks associated with the use of e-cigarettes, including gum disease, dental decay, bone loss, and hairy tongue.

“The surge in e-cigarette use by teens and adults poses serious risks to their health, including their oral health,” said Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA, president and CEO at CareQuest Institute. “And dental professionals are not the only ones who can help patients understand the risks vaping has on their health. All medical professionals, counselors, and teachers need to work together to share these important facts about vaping and urge patients to quit before it becomes detrimental to their health.”

The use of e-cigarettes has increased in popularity in the US since 2007, particularly among middle and high school students. In 2020, approximately 3.6 million adolescents and 9.1 million adults reported e-cigarette use.

Some individuals have turned to e-cigarettes as a strategy to stop smoking conventional cigarettes. However, as of June 2022, no e-cigarette products have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a tobacco cessation device. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that smokers use alternative smoking cessation options (such as nicotine replacement patches, gum, or lozenges) due to the unknown hazards associated with chemicals in electronic cigarettes.

The visual report calls out the vaping risks related to oral health, including:

● Individuals who use e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to report having periodontal (gum) disease compared to those who do not smoke or use other nicotine products.

● E-cigarette use is linked with signs of periodontal disease such as increased plaque, deeper periodontal pockets around the teeth, and bone loss.

● Oral lesions such as nicotine stomatitis (“smoker’s palate”), hairy tongue (discoloration of the tongue), and angular cheilitis (sores in the corners of the mouth) are commonly seen in the mouths of e-cigarette users.

● There is growing evidence that individuals who use e-cigarettes are at a higher risk for dental caries (decay).

● Although long-term evidence is limited, prolonged use of e-cigarettes may increase the risk of oral cancer.

Click here to access the full report. 

Since its foundation, Ivoclar has become one of the world’s leading companies in the dental industry, consistently bringing customer-focused innovations to the market. The year 2023 marks the dental company’s 100-year anniversary. Through those many years, Ivoclar has become associated with numerous world-class products, services, training, and education offerings, all of which have significantly influenced the dental industry.

To continue to honour that tradition, while simultaneously looking ahead into the next century, Ivoclar Academy will be hosting a global webinar series, "Celebrating a Century of Innovation with 100 Minutes of Education", open to anyone who wishes to register.

Available on demand beginning April 21st, 2023, this free webinar series that includes special guests from around the world, evaluates the past, present, and future of innovation in dentistry. Separated into five parts for the ultimate viewing convenience, this webinar will cover the following topics: a look back at how far the dental industry has come; current ways to improve patient satisfaction in a clinical setting through efficient esthetics; the impact of all-ceramic materials; and how a digital denture workflow can benefit the dental laboratory, clinicians, and the patient.

The webinar series will conclude with a panel discussion where a wide range of industry experts from around the world will discuss the future of our profession and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Dr Saiesha Mistry will discuss esthetic dentistry trends throughout Asia, Dr Roshan Parikh will comment on the growth of group practices, Sascha Heinze will analyse advancing technology for dental professionals from a laboratory perspective, and Dr Victor Clavijo will touch on social media and patient education. 

The program boasts some of the industry’s most well-known presenters, including Dr Eduardo Mahn, Dr Lyndon Cooper, and Dr Andrea Ricci. Additionally, Ivoclar’s Dr Thomas Hirt and Dr George Tysowsky will be presenting.

Ivoclar has a long history of educating dental professionals. As early as the 1950s, the company's dental laboratory specialists started offering its customers practical demonstrations on how to use its products. Since then, the advanced learning and education opportunities provided have expanded significantly.

"We are excited to host such an exciting program in 2023. It honours our begin-nings as leaders in the dental education field, while also serving as a thank you to all of our dedicated customers and partners, who helped make this milestone a reality," said Dr. George Tysowsky, Head of Global Training and Education for Ivoclar.

About Ivoclar Academy 

With all educational activities now falling under the umbrella of Ivoclar Academy, the company offers courses and resources specifically developed for clinicians, hygienists, and technicians across all levels of experience. Ivoclar Academy offers content through partnerships with over 800 industry leaders and experts across the globe and at 70 Ivoclar Academy in-person training centers throughout the world. The more recently launched Ivoclar Academy digital platform is a one-stop educational resource center. Here, customers can find out more information and register for cutting-edge in-person learning, while taking advantage of contemporary virtual education offered by dental experts from across the globe – all in one easy-to-navigate place. Furthermore, Ivoclar Academy offers both virtual and on-site tailored learning programs for key product workflows and large groups. The type of training experience can be selected and personalized. Learn from the Ivoclar Academy experts online, in-office, at partner training centers or other suitable locations.

Registration for the webinar is now open at https://www.ivoclar.com/100-mins-of-education