Today, Panthera announced the 10 participants of its 2023 Panthera Master Cup live on social media. The participants will complete a full case involving two implant bars for a chance to win prizes that will reach a record value of $75,000 CAD. After receiving an overwhelming number of applications from 11 different countries, the following 10 participants were selected:

Sophie Dallem, France

Shawna Schonauer, United States

Nina Frketin, United Kingdom

Patricia Strimb, Germany

Olivier Herblot, France

Ryan Tran, Canada

Evgeny Korneychuk, Ukraine

Derek Walker, United States

Salvatore Marono, Italy

Lola Welch, United Kingdom

Participants have until July 30th to submit their final case, and the Judgement Day is set to be September 8th. The Award Ceremony for the Top 3 Winners will be on October 6th, 2023, at the Panthera Dental Headquarters.

COVID-19 public health emergency continuous enrollment set to expire, states required to resume Medicaid redeterminations

DentaQuest, part of Sun Life U.S., is encouraging Medicaid and CHIP enrollees to receive oral health care services as the state resumes Medicaid redeterminations and disenrollments. In response to COVID-19, the federal government established a public health emergency (PHE). Congress provided states additional funds and suspended annual Medicaid eligibility reevaluations to ensure Americans had continuous access to health care coverage amid the pandemic. Medicaid and CHIP enrollees totaled roughly 92.3 million by December 2022, an increase of more than 20 million from February 2020, just before PHE.

Now that the pandemic threat has eased, Congress has given states 14 months to review whether Medicaid enrollees are still eligible for the program, an enormous undertaking that may result in 18 million Americans losing their Medicaid or CHIP coverage. These individuals will need to find an appropriate alternative, though children will have an additional year of coverage before possible disenrollment.

The focus has primarily been for medical coverage, however dental benefits – comprehensive for children and expanded for adults in several states – remain critical to maintain important momentum improving oral health nationwide.

“We provide Medicaid dental coverage to more than 33 million Americans nationwide, all of whom must go through the reevaluation process that will determine whether that coverage will continue,” said Steve Pollock, president of DentaQuest. “We know that every state Medicaid program is doing everything it can to make this as seamless as possible, but this process is a vast and complicated undertaking. People may have already been disenrolled, so we're encouraging Medicaid and CHIP recipients to take advantage of their benefits now and visit their dentist for preventive and restorative care.”

As part of DentaQuest’s ongoing effort to promote preventive dental care and education and increase access to care, the organization is working to ensure eligible members have access to the dental care they need. DentaQuest also may have affordable coverage options for individuals no longer eligible for Medicaid after the redetermination process.

If you are due for an appointment, find a DentaQuest dentist near you. 

Strategic Focus on Sales Growth for Canada

Planmeca announces the selection of Bill Dowe for the newly created Director of Sales, Canada role. By focusing on servicing Canadian dealers and doctors, Planmeca USA has strategically moved to provide an elevated level of support to the market.

Dowe has both vast commercial experience and clinical expertise. "We appreciate Bill's leadership for our Canadian sales and after-sales support team," noted Glen Kendrick, President. "This is an exciting time of growth at Planmeca. We are eager to see Bill transform his mastery of dental equipment technology into growth for our team and raise the bar for our Canadian customers."

"Bill's leadership skills are well known in the industry," stated Rudy Wolf, Vice President of Sales and Strategic Accounts. "His outstanding reputation results from strong relationships and his genuine nature. We are excited for our Canadian business's future and achieving sales and profit growth under his leadership."

"I feel privileged to join Planmeca," remarked Dowe. "From my 20-plus years in the dental industry, I am well acquainted with many of the team and the brand's high reputation – from the superior quality of the products to the outstanding support Planmeca delivers to their customers. There is a greenfield of opportunities to grow in Canada, and I am anxious to work in partnership to develop the business."

Dowe's extensive experience includes the dental laboratory market, the dental clinical sector, and, most recently, as a major distributor's equipment and technology sales leader. His clinical knowledge base includes Prosthetics, Orthodontics, and Implantology, as well as the business of dentistry. Dowe makes his home with his family in Port Stanley, Ontario.

Seasoned tech executive joins Overjet after leading engineering teams at New Relic, inVisionApp, and Ambassador Labs.

Overjet, a leading provider of dental AI, announces the appointment of seasoned technology leader Bjorn Freeman-Benson, PhD, as Chief Technology Officer.

Dr. Freeman-Benson brings decades of experience leading world-class engineering teams and bringing the best-in-class products to market. As the Senior Vice President at New Relic, he built the team from 3 to more than 300 people within a five-year period, and also helped lead the company through an IPO and beyond. He was then appointed as the CTO at inVisionApp where he helped transform the company's offerings from a prototyping tool to a full stack product design platform. Recently he served as CTO at Ambassador Labs, where he grew the engineering organization by 10x and built a product-led growth company. Earlier in his career, Freeman-Benson held a number of technology leadership and engineering roles at companies like Amazon, the Eclipse Foundation, and other innovative startups. Freeman-Benson holds a Bachelor of Computer Science, a Master's of Computer Science and a Ph.D. of Computer Science from the University of Washington.

"I am thrilled to welcome Bjorn to our executive team," said Wardah Inam, CEO and Co-founder of Overjet. "He has a proven record of building exceptional teams to advance best-in-class technology companies, and the products he helped develop are helping leading companies around the world. More than that, people love working both for him, and with him. Bjorn will help us in ushering in a new chapter of growth and help advance our mission of improving oral health for all."

"Engineers are much happier working in a system where they have a problem to solve and have the authority to solve it, knowing the business context and clarity around goals," said Bjorn Freeman-Benson. "At Overjet, we're changing lives with our AI technology that helps dentists provide better care and helps dental insurers evaluate claims more quickly. It's a rare opportunity to work for such a mission-driven, AI-first company. We are helping improve health care every single day."

Overjet's advanced technology and world-class team are the key drivers of the rapid growth and expansion it has experienced. Dr. Freeman-Benson brings his expertise to further accelerate this growth.

Great Lakes is pleased to announce a new partnership with In Hand Dental, developer of an innovative platform used for remote monitoring, teledentistry, and virtual consultations. Great Lakes will offer the platform under its brand for clear aligners. Doctors can customize the free patient application further enhancing practice-patient communication and case management. Great Lakes intends to make additional treatment options available through the platform including traditional braces, whitening treatments, TMJ-Splint therapy, and Sleep-Airway therapy.

"We were impressed with the idea of branding this exciting technology and offering the platform to our customers to improve patient outcomes, reduce chair time, and add value to their practices. We are always looking for solutions to help our customers and In Hand Dental's unique model offers us that opportunity," said John Ende, Great Lakes president and CEO.

The HlPPA-compliant teledentistry platform connects dentists and orthodontists directly with patients. The Al-enabled telehealth solution for clear aligners is designed so doctors can provide safe, timely, high-quality care while reducing in-patient visits. The scalable and customizable platform allows practices to monitor patient progress, conduct virtual visits, send treatment reminders, answer questions, and provide educational materials, videos, and photos. Subscriptions are available based on the number of clinical users and patients.

In Hand Dental is powered by In Hand Health, a Kansas-City-based software technology firm whose platform creates software solutions for practices to market their services and treat patients from initial consultation to wellness periods. Great Lakes, an employee-owned company, provides products, laboratory services, and both in-house and online appliance fabrication training to members of the orthodontic, prosthodontic, restorative, and general dental professions worldwide. Great Lakes has been a leading innovator in the dental industry since its start as an independent orthodontics lab in 1965.

Great Lakes corporate headquarters is located at 200 Cooper Avenue in Tonawanda, New York.

DTX Studio™ Clinic is the first software medical device to support six types of pathological dental findings, fully integrated into imaging software.

DEXIS announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for dental findings AI on 2D intraoral X-ray images. As the next generation of DEXIS software, DTX Studio Clinic now offers the first and only imaging solution with six types of pathological dental findings on periapical and bitewing intraoral radiograph images and is fully integrated into on-premise imaging software. DTX Studio Clinic is an imaging acquisition, diagnosis, and treatment planning software and is part of the DTX Studio suite of products used by over 10,000 dental offices.

DTX Studio Clinic screens dental radiographs and annotates suspected areas of interest, supporting the clinician in making informed decisions. These clinical conditions include six types of pathological dental findings: caries, discrepancy at margin, root canal defects, periapical radiolucency, bone loss and calculus. With DTX Studio Clinic, clinicians can present patients with a more comprehensive view of the diagnosis and treatment plan, building patient understanding and trust while also driving practice efficiencies.

This clearance further complements a series of enhanced AI-powered functionalities in DTX Studio Clinic. In 2017, Envista obtained FDA clearance for its AI-driven 3D virtual tooth setup algorithm. In 2020, a further clearance was received for automatic tooth position identification and automated sorting of full-mouth x-ray series. In 2022, the FDA cleared the fully automated mandibular nerve tracing on CBCT scans. These continual enhancements and innovations have earned DTX Studio Clinic back-to-back Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards, as well as high praise from doctors.

"DEXIS is empowering practices to embrace digital dentistry for improved efficiencies and predictable patient outcomes," says Amir Aghdaei, CEO Envista. "With our newest release of DTX Studio Clinic, featuring enhanced built-in AI features like the pathological dental findings, practices now have an enhanced solution for their digital workflow — from diagnosis to treatment planning to delivery of care."

Sign up to be the first to try DTX Studio Clinic AI 2D dental findings at www.dexis.com/earlyaccess.

A service organization at its core, team members and supported clinicians selflessly serve together locally, nationally, and internationally at Pacific Dental Services.

Pacific Dental Services® (PDS), a leading dental support organization, announced today its recognition of National Volunteer Week (April 16 – 22, 2023). The week celebrates the selflessness of individuals who generously donate their time, money, and skills to create a better world. As part of its commitment to giving back to communities, PDS is proud to join in the celebration and honor volunteers for their tireless efforts.

At the heart of PDS is a culture of service and a dedication to serving others. In 2006, the organization established its Corporate Social Responsibility and Service department, an internal team that engages PDS team members in acts of service year-round. Furthermore, team members are given the opportunity to participate in volunteer work in their local communities on paid time.

This week, PDS team members are participating in charitable activities to make a positive impact. These include:

● In Dallas, Texas, team members are preparing bookmarks for the Irving Schools Foundation, serving at the Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls, and the Irving Cares Food Pantry. 

●Teams in Henderson, Nev. are preparing book donations and bookmarks for local children through Spread the Word, assembling hygiene kits for Project Marilyn, and serving lunch to seniors at the City of Henderson Downtown Senior Center. 

●In Irvine, Calif., teams are volunteering at Bracken’s Kitchen and Sow and Grow Fridays. 

●At all three locations, team members are crafting cards for Cardz for Kidz, a program that brings joy to children suffering from trauma and hospitalization across the globe. 

●Blood drives are being held to replenish the supply and help save lives, supporting the vital work of health organizations. 

“At Pacific Dental Services, we hold service as a core value and are proud to offer our clinicians and team members the opportunity to give back to their communities,” said Carli Kingsley, Sr. Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility and Service at PDS. “Through volunteer work and charitable initiatives, we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of those around us. It is an honor to extend our care and compassion beyond our local offices and help create brighter futures for individuals who may lack access to dental care or face other challenges.”

Apart from local service, PDS also provides opportunities for its team members to participate in international service trips. These trips allow PDS-supported clinicians and team members to lend a helping hand to individuals who lack access to care and create a positive impact around the world.

Last week, a team of 10 PDS team members and supported clinicians generously offered their time to travel to Xenacoj, Guatemala with the Pacific Dental Services Foundation. In Guatemala, periodontal disease is a pervasive issue affecting more than 16 million people across the country. The team provided oral health care services to the local and neighboring communities — some as far as four hours away ― at the PDS Foundation Clínica Dental, which was established to address the significant need for dental care in the area. Through the collective efforts of the team, over 90 patients were able to receive access to critical oral health care, with a total of $101,579 worth of donated dentistry provided. Services provided include dental prophylaxis and deep cleanings, extractions, composite and amalgam restorations, and oral hygiene education.

To learn more about how PDS serves, please visit its Culture of Service webpage. 

• At the forthcoming Rapid + TCT Show, Lithoz and Colorado-based med startup SiNAPTIC will sign a major strategic partnership agreement to accelerate the growth in the North American market

• Co-branding agreement for products developed by SiNAPTIC will be identified by “powered by Lithoz” label and included in the partnership deal

Lithoz, global market and innovation leader in ceramic 3D printing, and SiNAPTIC, Colorado-based additive manufacturing and medical device startup focused on 3D-printed solutions made with technical ceramics, will sign a major strategic partnership agreement including sales and marketing activities at the forthcoming Rapid + TCT show. The deal also includes the purchase of 7 Lithoz CeraFab S65 Medical printers for SiNAPTIC’s new research center in Lafayette, Colorado.

The formalized agreement is yet another example how Lithoz supports their partners by building proactive partnerships and efficiently leveraging their key technology, all the way from designing and developing first prototypes to successful establishment as industrial scale contract manufacturers.

Besides the development of their medical device products and R&D activities, SiNAPTIC will with immediate effect offer their expertise for OEM contract manufacturing on the rapidly accelerating North American market, responding to the numerous inquiries of OEMs from various industries. They will also distribute Lithoz printers, materials and software across North America. A new “SiNAPTIC powered by Lithoz” ingredient branding will be prominently placed by SiNAPTIC on their products.

The agreement between Lithoz and SiNAPTIC will ultimately bring new additive manufacturing solutions to a wider audience in the US, Canada, and Mexico. With many more businesses now being able to take advantage of the ground-breaking capabilities offered by technical ceramics, it will give innovators and businesses a completely new way to bring many types of new products to market faster and with significantly less risk.

SiNAPTIC is comprised of two business divisions - SiNAPTIC Technologies and SiNAPTIC Surgical, each with a different focus. SiNAPTIC Technologies provides R&D and prototyping all the way to scaled OEM manufacturing, whereas SiNAPTIC Surgical is currently undergoing FDA approval to become a fully integrated original medical device producer.

Lithoz’s Dr. Johannes Homa, PhD and SiNAPTIC’s Bryan Scheer, MD will be officially signing the agreement at this year’s Rapid + TCT Chicago, one of the world’s premier additive manufacturing trade shows, commemorating their first joint appearance as strategic partners. At the Lithoz booth #5341, SiNAPTIC will show one of their CeraFab S65 Medical 3D printers live at the event, which also marks the first ever live appearance of an S65 Medical printer at a tradeshow, alongside displaying examples of its own intricate 3D printed parts.

SiNAPTIC’s CEO Bryan Scheer, MD underlines the great mutual benefit of this strategic partnership. “By partnering with Lithoz, the experienced global leader in ceramic 3D printing, SiNAPTIC will gain access to a comprehensive range of technical ceramics, technologies, and unparalleled expertise. This partnership will allow SiNAPTIC to focus on optimizing efficiency in manufacturing and scaling production for our customers,” he says.

For Lithoz CEO Dr. Johannes Homa, this deal will have a fruitful stimulus on both companies’ growth plans. “With SiNAPTIC we have found the right partner for the rapidly growing volume of inquiries on the North American market at exactly the right time! With the strong passion and huge momentum they bring on their mission to disrupt the medical device market with unique 3D-printed technical ceramics, we quickly came to the conclusion that they are also the right company to be a leading contract manufacturer for the many different inquiries, from prototyping to serial production, we have received from OEMs of various verticals during the last months,” he says.

First-Of-Its Kind Analysis Reveals Impact Redetermination Process Will Have on Access to Dental Health Care and Oral Health Equity

A new analysis from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health® — a leading national nonprofit focused on creating a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system — reveals that more than 14 million people across the country may lose dental coverage under the Medicaid redetermination process that began on April 1.

As the expiration of the national COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11 approaches, states are required to begin conducting eligibility redeterminations and un-enrolling individuals determined to no longer be eligible for their state’s Medicaid program.

Approximately 15 million people are expected to lose their health coverage as a result. But until now, little to no data has been reported about how many people are expected to lose dental coverage as well. The new analysis released by CareQuest Institute shows that 28% of the country’s adult population currently enrolled in Medicaid may lose dental coverage.

As people are removed from Medicaid coverage and seek to secure coverage through other programs or the private market, there is no guarantee that they will find or be able to afford coverage that includes dental benefits. This gap will likely have a greater impact on families of lower incomes and people of color.

“This new analysis illustrates the concerning impact that the Medicaid redetermination process will have on oral health equity for millions of people across our nation, especially in some of the most marginalized populations,” said CareQuest Institute for Oral Health CEO and President Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA. “We cannot walk back the incredible progress made to strengthen Medicaid dental coverage and connect more people with care in recent years. Access to oral health is critical to good overall health and well-being.”

Poor oral health has a direct link to a person’s overall health — including greater risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, dementia, mental health, and adverse birth outcomes. It has also been shown that regular preventive dental care significantly saves overall medical and dental care costs. For example, one recent study found that diabetics who were treated for periodontal disease saw their overall health care costs decrease by 12 to 14 percent. In addition, as states grapple with the high costs of emergency room visits, access to preventive dental care has been shown to reduce emergency room visits by patients due to oral health problems.

As community and state organizations support impacted Medicaid enrollees navigating this redetermination process, the importance of oral health must be elevated and help must be provided to people needing to find new coverage options that include dental benefits. 

Harvest Dental, a leading brand of premium dental laboratory materials, has been named 2023 Supplier Member of the Year by the National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL). Harvest was reportedly recognized for its refreshing and creative approach to product innovation, customer experience, and its commitment to giving back to the dental laboratory community.

During his acceptance speech, Harvest Founder & CEO, Sasha Der Avanessian, shared this encouragement, saying “Yes, business is a war, but the war is not against your competitors, but against your creativity spirit. Business will always be a conflict between creativity and logic. Fight for your creative spirit, because focusing solely on strategy and logic will make you less and less creative, but it will be your creative spirit, that will make you a better strategist. Make ‘art’ your business, and business your ‘art,’ because when you love the work you do, the world will love it to.

Harvest Dental Products designs premium dental products and materials for dental laboratories. Founded by CEO Sasha Der Avanessian, Harvest has consistently remained one of the fastest growing dental laboratory consumable brands in the world, with their products fully distributed in over 70 countries worldwide.

“In my experience as a dental laboratory owner for over 30 years, I have found very few companies that really stand out and separate themselves from the rest,” said Nelson Rego, CDT and owner of Smile Designs by Rego. “Harvest is one of those very few companies that you constantly hear about {I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone recommend or gush about Harvest), and they’re always right!”

The National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL) formed in 1951 in Chicago by a merger of the Dental Laboratory Institute of America and the American Dental Laboratory Association. The National Association of Dental Laboratories (NADL), today represents nearly 1,000 commercial laboratories nationwide.