Perform natural jaw movements with a 3D-printed jaw model

exocad, an Align Technology, Inc. company and a leading dental CAD/CAM software provider, now provides dental models with a 3D-printed articulator. The new xSNAP add-on module for DentalCAD 3.1 Rijeka allows users to simulate physiological mandibular movements (protrusion, mediotrusion and laterotrusion) without the use of a conventional articulator. xSNAP is also the first 3D joint system for dental models produced in a 3D printer, which enables the simulation of dynamic jaw movements. The xSNAP attachments are equipped with integrated articular paths and condylar path inclinations of 15, 25, 35 and 45 degrees. Additionally, users can choose between a flat incisal plate and an incisal plate with a 30-degree inclination. exocad offers added value to many users with the easy click mechanism for joining the models and precisely designed guideways.

“We’re happy to offer an even more cost-effective and accelerated workflow for dental models to further empower our customers,” said Novica Savic, CCO and general manager at exocad.

exocad users also benefit from these additional software features:

• The co-printed component eliminates the need to subsequently articulate acrylic

models

• Joint guidance is dynamically adjustable for each printer and personal preferences

• No additional support structures are necessary because of the adaptive support of the xSNAP attachment

The xSNAP Module is available as a library for exocad’s Model Creator module in DentalCAD 3.1 Rijeka, the newest generation of exocad’s open architecture CAD software for labs and clinics. Additional information is available at exocad.com/our-products/exocad-dentalcad/xsnap-module 

Mattingly Will Play a Key Role in Building on Sage’s Commitment to Provide Its Patients with Premier Dental Care

Sage Dental, a leading dental service organization (DSO) committed to providing consistent, high-quality care, as well as non-clinical business and administrative services to affiliated practices, announced today that Misty Mattingly, RDH, BS, has been promoted to senior vice president and chief dental hygiene officer. In her new role, Mattingly will continue to oversee the company’s hygiene program and will manage more than 150 hygienists at Sage’s 93 practices throughout Florida and Georgia.

In addition to her responsibilities at Sage, Mattingly will continue to serve as the vice president of the Georgia Board of Dentistry. She was appointed to a five-year board term in 2021 and continues to be a strong advocate for expanding access to dental care regardless of socio-economic and geographic barriers.

“As Sage Dental continues to build on our strategy of providing the best possible care for patients, we are pleased to announce the promotion of Misty Mattingly to senior vice president and chief dental hygiene officer,” said Sage Dental President and CEO Tom Marler. “Misty’s commitment to the teams she manages, her excellence in patient care and her commitment to oral hygiene and knowledge of dental technology positions her very well for continued success in her new role at Sage Dental.”

Before joining Sage in 2018, Mattingly held executive and consultant roles in dental organizations that included Northwest Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates, Intelident Solutions, and Coast Dental.

“I've worked in dental offices since I was 14 years old and have been a practicing hygienist for over 17 years,” Mattingly said. “Oral hygiene is truly a passion for me, and I’m thrilled to begin my next chapter at Sage. We have the state-of-the-art technology and expertise to provide the best-in-class, personalized care that our providers and patients deserve.”

TrueDent™ Resin is Stratasys’ First FDA-Cleared Medical Device New TrueDent™ Resin Enables 3D Printing of High-Fidelity Polychromatic Dental Appliances

Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), a leader in polymer 3D printing, today introduced TrueDent™ the first monolithic, full-color 3D printed permanent dentures solution. The TrueDent resin enables labs to create permanent, natural looking gums with accurate tooth structure, shade, and translucency in one continuous print.

TrueDent is an FDA-cleared (Class II) dental resin made specifically for the fabrication of dental appliances, including removable dentures. The resin was developed to be printed exclusively with the Stratasys® J5 DentaJet® 3D printer and GrabCAD® Print software platform. The complete solution will allow dental labs to scale manufacturing by simplifying workflow and reducing processing time for dentures, while achieving a personalized, highly aesthetic dental appliance.

TrueDent is designed to eliminate several barriers for patients and laboratories:

● Potential to reduce chair time for office visits, measurements, fittings and adjustments.

● High fidelity match between scan, design and fit.

● Scalable digital solutions are repeatable, and can provide consistent production of accurate, well-fitting dentures.

● Can increase efficiency through streamlined workflow with less time between scan and delivery.

“Until now, printed dentures and appliances had to be designed and manufactured in multiple parts and bonded together,” said Frank Acosta, Owner of AA Dental Design. “The TrueDent solution, utilizing Stratasys’ systems and software takes a lot of that stress out. It simplifies the process, lowers the costs, and allows for dentures and temporaries to be produced much faster, achieving incredible aesthetics. We can now expand our prosthetic service printing multi-colored personalized appliance at scale.”

The global dentures market, estimated by Stratasys at $5.5 billion, is challenged to meet the rising global demand for dentures and appliances through conventional methods due to a shortage of skilled dental laboratory technicians. According to research from iData, in 2021, more than 4.2 million full dentures were created in the United States, and 18 million full dentures were sold worldwide. Of that total, only five percent are estimated to be created through a 3D printed solution. The TrueDent solution offers a scalable alternative with a digital workflow that delivers a predictable, high-quality, fully finished result.

“This new solution will be transformative for the dental industry, and we believe it will help our customers significantly reduce the time and cost of producing dentures and temporaries,” said Ronen Lebi, Vice President of Dental at Stratasys. “Stratasys continues to push the boundaries of digital dentistry leveraging our portfolio of advanced 3D printing technologies, including hardware, resins and software to deliver disruptive solutions that make a difference.”

TrueDent resin is patent pending and currently available only in the U.S., and only compatible with the Stratasys J5 DentaJet printer. The material will be unveiled at LMT Lab Day Chicago, February 23-25, 2023. Click the following links to learn more about the TrueDent resin and TrueDent application and Stratasys’ other dental solutions.

Stratasys is leading the global shift to additive manufacturing with innovative 3D printing solutions for industries such as aerospace, automotive, consumer products and healthcare. Through smart and connected 3D printers, polymer materials, a software ecosystem, and parts on demand, Stratasys solutions deliver competitive advantages at every stage in the product value chain. The world’s leading organizations turn to Stratasys to transform product design, bring agility to manufacturing and supply chains, and improve patient care.

To learn more about Stratasys, visit www.stratasys.com, the Stratasys blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Penn Dental Medicine’s Center for Integrative Global Oral Health (CIGOH) has partnered with Cochrane Oral Health to form the Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center at Penn Dental Medicine, the first oral-health-oriented Cochrane collaborative group in the world. The new Center marks a significant step in helping to expand evidence-based knowledge to inform practice and oral health policy worldwide.

Cochrane Oral Health, headquartered at The University of Manchester in the UK, is one of the groups within Cochrane, a global independent not-for-profit network that produces systematic reviews across all areas of medicine. Cochrane has more than 37,000 contributors from over 190 countries working together to produce up-to-date, accessible health information that is free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest to help inform decisions about health care. Since its inception, Cochrane has defined the methodological standards for conducting systematic reviews around the world.

"Cochrane is delighted and supports this new initiative with Cochrane Oral Health,” says Karla Soares-Weiser, Cochrane’s Editor-in-Chief. “This international partnership will enhance the impact of the Oral Health reviews and build on the effective and long-term contribution made by the Group in this area.”

“We are thrilled to be joining with Cochrane Oral Health and our colleagues at The University of Manchester to help move oral health care practice and policy forward through this new Center,” adds Dr. Michael Glick, the Executive Director of CIGOH, the School’s first policy center, which launched in 2021 and where the Collaborating Center is based.

The Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center at Penn Dental Medicine will build upon the work of Cochrane Oral Health, engaging researchers from around the globe in systematic reviews summarizing the best available evidence on oral health topics to help clinicians, policymakers, patients, and caregivers make well-informed decisions. Currently, Cochrane Oral Health has a curated collection of more than 200 systematic reviews and meta-analyses of over 34 clinical areas of dentistry. Cochrane Oral Health publishes its reviews, updates, and protocols in the Cochrane Library and those produced through the Collaborating Center at Penn Dental Medicine will become part of the Cochrane Library as well.

“This new partnership places Penn Dental Medicine at the center of the oral-health-evidence-synthesis field globally and aligns with the School’s mission to transform global oral health and well-being through exceptional clinical care, innovation, education, and research,” says Dr. Alonso Carrasco-Labra, Director of the Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center at Penn Dental Medicine and Associate Professor in the Department of Preventive & Restorative Sciences.

The Center will also focus on extensive capacity building and training a new generation of evidence-synthesis researchers and policymakers. A new Master of Science in Oral and Population Health program is set to launch at Penn Dental Medicine this year, and the new Cochrane Collaborating Center at Penn Dental Medicine will present its first workshop June 5-9, 2023. The five-day course on how to conduct and publish systematic reviews and meta-analyses will be presented with colleagues from Cochrane Oral Health in the UK.

“We believe this partnership will make a difference in improving health care decisions worldwide and is an exciting development after almost 30 years of contributing to the global oral health evidence base,” note Professors Jan Clarkson, Anne-Marie Glenny, and Tanya Walsh of Cochrane Oral Health University of Manchester in a joint statement.

The Cochrane Oral Health Collaborating Center at Penn Dental Medicine also adds to Penn’s affiliation with Cochrane. In 2019, Penn Medicine’s Center for Evidence-based Practice was one of 11 institutions nationwide to join the Cochrane U.S. Network, which was created to expand Cochrane’s national impact.

Cochrane’s work is recognized as representing an international gold standard for high quality, trusted information and methods.  

Synergy Dental Partners and Dental Success Network (DSN) are pleased to announce a partnership that will provide unparalleled support and resources for dentists and dental professionals.

This partnership brings together two highly respected companies in the dental industry, both with a long track record of success in helping dental practices to thrive. Synergy Dental Partners is one of the fastest growing group purchasing organizations (GPO) in the United States, providing its community of independent dentists with exclusive pricing on dental supplies, services, and products. DSN is a comprehensive educational and consulting organization that helps dental professionals achieve success in their practices through continuing education videos, team training, dental consulting, advice from industry leaders, and access to one of the largest online dental communities.

By combining the expertise and resources of both organizations, dental practices will now have access to a one-stop-shop for support services, supplies, practice management, education, and training.

DSN members will now benefit from access to Synergy’s Member Portal to member-only deals, services, and benefits, along with access to e-procurement software from Method Procurement Technologies (Method), available to Synergy and DSN members at no additional cost. Synergy members will benefit from a customized DSN offering which includes an online platform that allows members access to high quality tools to help their practices thrive. The platform includes a curriculum for Synergy members focusing on practice management, overhead control, cost savings, and other categories.

Synergy’s Member Portal and partnership with Method enables members to easily order products and get a deep view into spend analytics, which includes savings achieved and proprietary tools to identify untapped savings opportunities. Coupled with world-class educational guidance from Dr. Mark Costes and his team of educators, Synergy and DSN members can now take their practices to a new level in operational efficiency and expense management.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Dental Success Network and to welcome their members into the Synergy community,” said Brian Dershow, COO of Synergy Dental Partners. “This partnership is a testament to the commitment of both organizations to helping dental professionals succeed and will no doubt bring tremendous value to dental practices and the dental industry as a whole.”

DSN Founder, Dr. Mark Costes added, “We are excited to join forces with Synergy Dental Partners to bring our combined expertise to the dental community. Together, we will provide a comprehensive suite of resources that will benefit dentists and dental professionals of all levels and specialties by providing the tools and support they need to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.”

For more information about Synergy Dental Partners and Dental Success Network, please visit their websites at www.thesynergydentalpartners.com and www.dentalsuccessnetwork.com.  

On February 3, 2023, Woods Services, a Pennsylvania- and New Jersey-based nonprofit organization that serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, one of the leading dental schools in the United States, cut the ribbon on Penn Dental Medicine at Woods, Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center. The state-of-the-art dental care center on Woods’ Langhorne, Pa., campus, is providing enhanced and leading-edge dental treatment for Woods clients and residents. Starting in March 2023, services will expand to include the surrounding disability community, including former clients and residents of Woods who are still in need of care.

Residents and staff of Woods Services, doctors and representatives of Penn Dental Medicine, donors, and community members participated in the opening ceremony, which featured remarks from Tine Hansen-Turton, Woods president and CEO; Dr. Mark Wolff, Morton Amsterdam Dean of Penn Medicine; and Dr. Marc Henschel, director of Penn Dental Medicine’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program. Attendees also joined a tour of Penn Dental Medicine at Woods, Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center, which includes five operatories with state-of-the-art equipment, quiet space for those needing a lower-stimulation environment, a waiting area and reception check-in, and conference room.

In addition to meeting the dental care needs of individuals with disabilities, Penn Dental Medicine at Woods, Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center is helping prepare the next generation of dentists to care for patients with disabilities.

“Woods is pleased to announce our partnership with the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and to work with the school’s dean, Dr. Mark Wolff, to enhance dental services for our clients and residents,” said Tine Hansen-Turton, president and CEO, Woods Services. “Penn’s personalized care and interdisciplinary team approach are perfectly aligned with Woods, as is its emphasis on preparing the next generation of dentists to care for patients with special needs. Penn’s dentists are now able to perform procedures at our on-campus dental clinic that in the past would have required a visit to a specialist for treatment. This expansion of services will be less disruptive for our clients, further enhancing their quality of life,” she said.

Dr. Mark Wolff was appointed in 2018 as the new Morton Amsterdam Dean at Penn Dental Medicine and brought with him international renown as a pioneer and leader in teaching and providing care for patients with special oral health needs. Upon arrival, he established dental care for persons with disabilities as a priority for the school and set about raising money, renovating a space, and hiring team members, each with 20+ years of experience treating patients with special health care needs. In 2021, Penn Dental Medicine opened the state-of-the-art Care Center for Persons with Disabilities at Penn Dental Medicine, and under his leadership, Penn has established a national reputation for excellence in treating the dental needs of people with disabilities and in training dental students to care for these individuals.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our service and care within the community through this Woods partnership,” says Dean Wolff. “It not only allows us to help provide comprehensive care to the Woods clients, but also offers an invaluable setting for our students to gain experience caring for individuals with a wide range of disabilities.” Postgraduate students within Penn Dental Medicine’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry program will provide clinical care at the center under close faculty supervision.

Woods’ existing dental clinic was extensively renovated and modernized to create Penn Dental Medicine at Woods, Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center, with renovations and operational expenses made possible through generous donations from foundations and individuals. Woods Services is grateful to the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation for supporting start-up operational expenses for Penn Dental Medicine at Woods, Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center, and to the Joseph and Mary Faulkner Family Foundation, Eamon Foundation, The McLean Contributionship, TD Charitable Foundation, and Simon and Lisa Kimmelman for supporting the renovations. The waiting room renovation was made possible by the Joseph and Mary Faulkner Family Foundation.

Woods is organized around the principles of population health management and addresses the social determinants of health through a comprehensive continuum and system of care that connects prevention, wellness, education, behavioral health, and social services with coordinated and integrated healthcare delivery. “The Medical Center at Woods serves as a national model for providing comprehensive, coordinated personalized care for people with complex diagnoses and medical conditions, like Mikey Faulkner, current Woods client and the clinic’s namesake,” Hansen-Turton said. “The opening of Penn Dental Medicine at Woods, Mikey Faulkner Dental Care Center continues Woods’ commitment to providing an integrated healthcare experience for our clients – an approach that optimizes outcomes for individuals.” 

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, a month-long observance that reinforces the importance of oral health in children and the value of starting pediatric dental care at an early age. For children born with cleft conditions, maintaining proper oral health is uniquely challenging. Global surgical nonprofit Operation Smile goes beyond the call of providing free cleft repair surgery to children living in developing countries and establishes comprehensive care centers to ensure these children are living healthy lives before and after surgery. These comprehensive care centers offer patients a variety of services including dentistry and orthodontics. Through this extension of care, Operation Smile also provides patients with oral health education and resources to support healthy smiles for a lifetime.

This National Children’s Dental Health Month, Operation Smile is recognizing dedicated volunteer Dr. Carmen Kamas-Weiting from Houston, Texas. Dr. Kamas-Weiting has been volunteering with Operation Smile since 1996 and her enthusiasm for working with children in low- and middle- income countries is as strong as ever.

Dr. Carmen Kamas-Weiting owns a small private dental practice near Texas Medical Center in Houston. She has been in private practice for nearly 40 years but in that time has taken on the additional responsibility of providing dental care to children in under-resourced communities all over the world with Operation Smile.

“I started volunteering with Operation Smile in 1996 and was informed about it by two of my patients that were volunteering with them at that time,” Dr. Kamas-Weiting recalls. “I decided to go and volunteer even though my children were young because my father had been a dentist and got terminally ill and had told me that I should not wait to volunteer, but just go to it. I felt like I had a skill and should use it for others needing help.”

As a volunteer dentist, Dr. Kamas-Weiting wears many hats, but one of the most common procedures she performs is extracting teeth that may be infected or in the way of achieving a favorable surgical outcome. Additionally, Operation Smile dentists must incorporate innovative procedures and equipment into their treatment plans for patients with cleft conditions.

“We make appliances called obturators that are made to close the "hole" in a cleft palate or make molding plates to help close the gaps on cleft palates on infants before their surgery.” Dr. Kamas-Weiting explains. “The dentist can make feeding plates for babies that are underweight to help them gain weight prior to surgery. These feeding plates are for babies with large cleft palates that cannot feed correctly. We also give oral hygiene instructions. If we have a dedicated clinic at our clinic location, we can do fillings and cleanings as well.”

Dr. Kamas-Weiting was also one of the first volunteers to take part in the Operation Smile Women in Medicine program in Morocco in March 2020. She recently returned from her second Women in Medicine program in Malawi this past September. “It was amazing to see an all-women’s team take care of an entire surgical program,” Dr. Kamas-Weiting reflects. “The people in Malawi were so loving and caring. It was so cool to see all these people coming to help the Malawi people.”

While Dr. Kamas-Weiting’s work with Operation Smile is vital to the success of a patient’s outcome, she comments on the importance of proper dental hygiene for children in every stage of development. “All children deserve a healthy mouth and a healthy smile. National Children's Dental Health Month helps bring awareness to parents to help their children learn good oral hygiene habits. An early upbringing with the dentist will help ensure a lifetime of good oral health.”

Learn more at www.operationsmile.org or by following @operationsmile on social media.

Roland DGA Corporation, a leading provider of wide-format inkjet printers, vinyl cutters, 3D milling machines, and other digital imaging technology, has announced three key changes to its leadership team under new President Amado Lara.

Dan Johansen has joined Roland DGA as Vice President of Sales, replacing Lara, who previously held this position. Prior to joining Roland DGA, Johansen, a sign and graphics industry veteran of more than 22 years, served as U.S Director of Sales and Marketing for Industrial Printing at Ricoh USA. In his new position with Roland DGA, Johansen will be responsible for driving sales and growth across multiple industries. In addition, as a member of the company’s senior management team, he will also collaborate with other members to create strategy and synergy across departments.

Sid Lambert, who has been with Roland DGA for more than 18 years, serving most recently as U.S. Sales Manager, has been promoted to Director of Sales. In his expanded role, Lambert will be responsible for digital print division sales in North America and South America, excluding Brazil, overseeing Roland DGA’s current and growing reseller channel.

Dan Wilson, who has held several positions at Roland DGA over the last 16 years, serving most recently as Marketing Director, has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Customer Development. In his new role, Wilson’s responsibilities center around driving demand for the company’s product offerings – overseeing marketing, customer service and sales development functions to cultivate new customers and markets. Like Johansen and Lara, Dan Wilson also serves on Roland DGA’s senior management team.

“We are extremely excited about these important organizational changes,” said Roland DGA President Amado Lara. “Dan Johansen brings a wealth of talent and experience to our existing team, and his unique perspective will help generate new ideas that will allow us to expand outside of our current markets. We’re also thrilled about being able to promote from within. Both Sid Lambert and Dan Wilson have been instrumental in helping Roland DGA achieve its industry-leading position and record sales in recent years. We look forward to the future contributions they will make in their expanded roles.”

To learn more about Roland DGA Corporation, or the complete Roland DGA product line, visit https://www.rolanddga.com. 

Zimbis has announced a partnership with Magic Touch Dental Lab CPM software to provide an integrated, secure, inventory management solution for its customers. The company says in a release, "Gone are the days of missed charges, manual and duplicate entry, and overnight shipping."

Watch the video below to learn more:

Ultradent Prodcuts Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of high-tech dental materials, devices, and instruments worldwide, is celebrating the induction of its Founder and CEO Emeritus, Dr. Dan Fischer, into the Crown Council’s Dental Hall of Fame.

The ceremony was held January 28th, 2023 during the Crown Council’s 28th Annual Meeting. Dr. Fischer’s remarkable contributions to dentistry and his overwhelming lifelong commitment to humanitarian causes around the world were noted. Dr. Jaleena Jessop, Ultradent’s Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Dr. Fischer’s daughter, joined Crown Council CEO Greg Anderson onstage to present the award.

Dr. Fischer is not only the Founder and CEO Emeritus of Ultradent, he’s also an award-winning innovator, culture builder, passionate dentist, entrepreneur, and humanitarian. He started Ultradent at his kitchen table 44 years ago. Today, Ultradent operates 16 offices around the globe, in addition to its South Jordan headquarters. The company makes over 500 products and sells them in over 130 countries worldwide. This includes the award-winning Opalescence™ teeth whitening system—the #1 professional teeth whitening brand in the world, which he pioneered.

As passionate as Dr. Fischer is about improving oral health globally, he also continues to work tirelessly to better the lives of others through his undying commitment to humanitarian work. Under his direction, Ultradent donates products to dental humanitarian missions around the world. Additionally, he’s led efforts to raise significant funds for the Utah Food Bank for several years and has made many generous donations to catastrophic natural disaster relief efforts globally.

Dr. Fischer also founded and works continually to support and fund Ultradent’s long-standing charity, The Diversity Foundation, which focuses on providing education to young people who leave the FLDS community and need a helping hand. Since its inception, The Diversity Foundation has helped over 250 young people gain a college education and assimilate successfully to the outside world.

Ultradent joins Crown Council in congratulating Dr. Fischer for his outstanding commitment to improving oral health globally.