U.S. Oral Surgery Management (USOSM) – a specialty management services company that exclusively serves premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons – congratulates its surgeon partner Julia R. Plevnia – DDS, FACS, FACD – on her recent ACOMS Humanitarian Award. The award, given by the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, recognizes outstanding philanthropic and humanitarian contributions made by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. It is awarded only to those of “exceptional merit,” not bestowed annually.

Dr. Plevnia is one of only 14 people to receive the award, since it was established in 1990. The last award was bestowed in 2016.

“The ACOMS Humanitarian Award is a tremendous honor, and we’re thrilled for Dr. Plevnia to be recognized in this way,” said USOSM President and CEO Richard Hall. “It is only awarded when the board of regents finds someone they feel is truly worthy, and that speaks volumes. Dr. Plevnia is exceptional, and it shows.”

Dr. Plevnia is an owner, partner and practicing oral and maxillofacial surgeon with Dry Creek Oral Surgery, a USOSM partner practice with an office in Parker, Colorado, and an office in the Denver Tech Center in Englewood, Colorado. Dr. Plevnia practices a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS), with a clinical interest in orthognathic surgery, dental implants, tooth extractions and pathology with reconstruction.

“I love what I do. I love being able to make a huge impact on someone’s health – to be able to change their face or profile. I love getting to know my patients and being a part of their lives. I love all the things that I learn from my patients – each one can teach you something,” says Dr. Plevnia. “I’m making a difference and it’s never boring.”

Dr. Plevnia earned dual bachelor’s degrees in communications and political science from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and went to dental school on an Army scholarship. During the summers, Dr. Plevnia served in active duty training at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C., where she was introduced to the OMS specialty, working orthognathic and trauma cases.

“The training I received there was amazing,” says Dr. Plevnia. “Seeing them rebuild people’s faces, helping our soldiers – that was the bug that bit me. From that moment on, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.”

Dr. Plevnia graduated with her DDS from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, ranked number one both internationally and in the U.S. On graduation day, Dr. Plevnia was commissioned as a Captain in the U.S. Army. She went on to complete a year in advanced education in general dentistry at Fort Meade, Maryland.

After that, Dr. Plevnia served for two years as the officer in charge for a dental clinic at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Following that assignment, Dr. Plevnia completed the officer advanced course in San Antonio, Texas, and then returned to Washington, D.C., to begin her OMS residency at Walter Reed. While there, she treated soldiers who were critically wounded in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as retirees and family members of the Armed Forces.

Following her residency, Dr. Plevnia was awarded the distinguished Silver Scalpel Award and was asked to teach in the OMS residency program at Walter Reed. After teaching there, Dr. Plevnia was sent to Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, where she served as the assistant program director of the oral surgery program and as a mentor for the advanced education general dentistry residency.

After that, Dr. Plevnia served at the Army Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado, where she taught and mentored students in the AEGD program in the oral surgery department. During this time, she was selected by her residents – twice – as Mentor of the Year and received a number of military commendations. After several years serving there, Dr. Plevnia transitioned off of active duty to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves and went into private practice.

While serving in the reserves, the U.S. Medical Detachment Commander personally requested Dr. Plevnia as the Colorado State Dental Officer, a post that she held for about five years, before being promoted to Colorado State Surgeon in 2018 and the Colorado Army National Guard/Colorado Joint State Surgeon in 2020. She is the first female, first Dental Corp officer and first oral maxillofacial surgeon to hold those distinctions. As the Colorado State Surgeon, she also served as the advisor to the governor on COVID-19 response, vaccinations and other medical concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, Dr. Plevnia continues to serve as the Colorado Army National Guard/Colorado State Surgeon and holds the rank of Colonel. She recently received the Order of Military Medical Merit for significant contributions to the U.S. Army Medical Education Department. Dr. Plevnia also is the DORA Anesthesia Office Inspector for Colorado, where she helps ensure that dental professionals who have sedation privileges are up-to-date on their training, certifications and onsite inspections.

In addition, Dr. Plevnia is an adjunct trauma lecturer at the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine and a preceptor on trauma rotations for Idaho State University. She also is a member of the Trauma Emergency Specialty Surgery (TESS) Facial Trauma Panel, which responds to difficult, emergency facial trauma cases at all the Centura Littleton Adventist hospitals and urgent care centers throughout the state of Colorado.

Dr. Plevnia serves in a number of leadership roles for a variety of professional organizations. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Dentists and is particularly active with the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American Board of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery.

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, USOSM has partner practices spanning 26 states. A shared services organization, USOSM collaborates with premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons to offer a partnership solution for continued and accelerated practice success. USOSM provides operational, marketing and administrative support services, reinvests resources, and applies best practices to improve clinical and financial performance and produce steadier, more profitable growth for all. For more information, visit https://www.usosm.com/.

Benco Dental, the nation’s largest independent distributor of oral healthcare technology and supplies, is bolstering its CAD/CAM and imaging offerings with the addition of Planmeca and Asiga to its roster of vendors.

"We believe in offering customers the power of choice via the widest possible selection of carefully curated products," said Lisa Fleming, Benco Dental's Digital Dentistry Manager. "We're delighted to add world-class CAD/CAM and imaging devices from the globally respected, deeply rooted dental industry leader Planmeca. It's also exciting to help expand awareness and availability of Asiga's reliable, affordable lineup of 3D printers and materials."

• Planmeca products have a massive installed user base spanning over 120 countries. From advanced CBCT imaging systems to open architecture CAD/CAM systems, Planmeca offers one of the most comprehensive product offerings in the industry. Even more importantly, Planmeca systems are powered by a single robust software platform for unparalleled practice efficiency – Planmeca Romexis®. Planmeca is strongly committed to continual research and development; driving technological advancements through product development and proprietary improvements to health care, including Planmeca Ultra Low Dose™ and Planmeca CALM®. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Planmeca is the largest privately-owned dental manufacturer with over 4,600 employees worldwide.

In addition, Benco Dental will also now offer Ivoclar restorative material blocks compatible with Planmeca products.

• Formed in 2007, Asiga launched the world’s first LED based DLP 3D printer in 2011 and started the affordable desktop stereolithography revolution which changed digital manufacturing forever. The company won the MJSA’s 2012 Thinking Ahead award for best new technology and gained international recognition for the innovations contained within the Pico, MAX and PRO 4K platforms that continue to lead their respective categories to this day. Asiga's product development and manufacturing is managed in-house at their facilities in Sydney, Australia. Benco Dental will offer first-line technical support for purchasers in addition to Asiga's unlimited lifetime tech support.

The new product offerings are part of Benco Dental's continual strengthening of its decades-long commitment to serving both in-house and commercial laboratories. In addition, Brian Denby is returning to Benco Dental as Field Sales Director for Dental Labs, where he'll leverage more than two decades of sales and marketing experience. He began his dental career as a CEREC Specialist for both chairside and lab, joining Benco Dental in 2003 to specialize in digital product offerings and capital equipment before spending a combined 15 years with AstraTech and Straumann. Brian has championed the early adoption of digital dentistry, while focusing on full mouth rehabilitation. Browse Benco Dental's 360+ page lab catalog here.

Both Planmeca and Asiga products will be featured in Benco Dental's CenterPoint design and equipment showrooms for hands-on product demonstrations. Learn more about CenterPoint locations in Texas, California and Pennsylvania. 

The Israeli company, Sion Medical, and Mexico based Degasa, Inc., have formed a joint venture SionBrands, LLC. Both companies are leaders in the healthcare industry and are pleased to announce the anticipated acquisition of Richmond Dental & Medical from Barnhardt Manufacturing Company on August 31, 2023. Since 1900, the Barnhardt family has been the cotton supplier to Richmond Dental Cotton Company. In 1947, Barnhardt acquired the company from Dr. Albert Richmond, making it vertically integrated. Throughout the decades, Richmond has developed significant medical devices which have strengthened its global reputation for quality across the medical and dental communities.

Once the acquisition is complete, SionBrands, LLC. will hold ownership of Richmond Dental & Medical, a renowned provider of superior performing dental disposables. We are thrilled to welcome this esteemed brand into our family and look forward to leveraging their expertise and product portfolio to enhance our overall value proposition.

Sion Medical and Degasa currently operate multiple production facilities in Mexico, Israel, the Netherlands, and China. This integration will enable Richmond to optimize production capabilities, streamline distribution channels, and ensure a seamless supply chain for its valued customers.

The Richmond Team will continue their dedication to your business and team members. Brad Fekete will assume the role of CEO of SionBrands, LLC. Fran Eskew will continue as Director of Sales & Marketing. Kim Anderson will continue to as Senior Customer Service and Inside Sales Specialist. Richmond's commitment to excellence will continue to drive mutual success.

With this strategic move, Richmond will introduce new, innovative offerings that will become readily available to its global customer base. The commitment to delivering exceptional quality and customer satisfaction, as the company enhances healthcare experiences and improves patient outcomes, will remain paramount.

The Richmond Team is excited about this transformative step in its journey and the opportunities it brings for the organization, customers, and partners. Together, the company will continue to innovate, collaborate, and create a positive impact in the healthcare industry.

The partnership will allow more dental practices across the U.S. to take advantage of the benefits of AI including increased patient confidence, improved case acceptance and higher production.

Planet DDS, the leading provider of cloud-based dental software, today announced a partnership with Pearl, among the industry’s most advanced radiologic AI software providers, to integrate Pearl’s AI technology into its Apteryx XVWeb Cloud Imaging software and all-in-one dental practice management solution, Denticon. The newly integrated solution will provide real-time, chairside decision support to dentists as they review X-ray images with patients, increasing confidence in clinical decisions, promoting proactive and preventative care, and enhancing dentist-patient relationships.

Despite a dentist’s desire to deliver the best possible care, there are challenges existing today in dentistry that can be mitigated with the help of AI. These include the evaluation of a patient’s X-rays. According to one study, 43% of caries in dental X-rays are undiagnosed and 20% of caries diagnosed in patients are not actually caries.

When patients doubt the accuracy of a diagnosis, they will often delay or avoid completion of important care. In a recent survey of 600 dental patients, a majority reported that they had on one or more occasions refused treatment (19%), sought a second opinion (25%) or switched dentists (32%) after receiving a radiologic diagnosis. Increasing the accuracy of diagnoses through visual support helps patients feel more confident when deciding to invest in their oral health.

With Pearl’s AI technology integrated into Apteryx XVWeb Cloud Imaging and Denticon Practice Management, these challenges are mitigated within the existing workflow without any need to log into a separate solution. Using the combined solution, practices have seen a marked improvement in diagnostic accuracy and patient experience:

• 37% more true-positive disease detected

• 28% less false-positive disease detected

• 71% of patients will have more trust in the dentist’s diagnoses

• 77% of patients will be more likely to choose a dentist who is using AI than a dentist who isn’t using AI

With the greater treatment volume and higher case acceptance rates that follow these results, practices using Pearl’s technology have benefited from production increases of more than 20 percent.

“Driving positive outcomes for dental practices is core to our mission at Planet DDS and we are excited to integrate Pearl’s AI technology with our cloud-based dental software platform,” says Eric Giesecke, CEO of Planet DDS. “Combining cloud and AI technologies will help practices optimize their operations while offering their patients more transparency and confidence in diagnosis and treatment planning.”

Pearl’s Second Opinion is the world’s most comprehensive radiologic AI software with FDA-clearance for numerous dental conditions in bitewing and periapical X-rays of patients 12 and older. It detects pathologies and other conditions in patient X-rays in real time for patient-facing display, helping dentists ensure the accuracy of their X-ray evaluations and enabling them to communicate diagnoses and treatment plans more accurately to patients.

“We founded Pearl to radically improve the accuracy, objectivity, and efficiency of dental medicine with the transformative power of artificial intelligence,” said Ophir Tanz, CEO of Pearl. “We are excited to partner with Planet DDS to broadly expand the use and positive impact of AI technology.”

Apteryx XVWeb is a cloud-based dental imaging solution that allows practices to store, view, and optimize clinical images for treatment planning. Designed to work with virtually all imaging devices and practice management solutions, Apteryx XVWeb offers anytime, anywhere access.

To learn more about Apteryx XVWeb and the AI capabilities powered by Pearl, visit: Apteryx XVWeb AI

Seeking Innovative Submissions That Promote Access To Dental Care For People With Disabilities

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, a leading national nonprofit focused on creating a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system, has launched a request for proposals (RFP) to fund projects and partner with organizations that are working to address systemic barriers to oral health for people with disabilities. Proposals can be submitted now through August 31.

CareQuest Institute will select proposals that reflect the applicant's authentic commitment to meaningfully and consistently engage members of the disability community throughout their proposed project. They will fund 10 projects at $125,000 each through the Disability Inclusion and Justice in Oral Health RFP.

“We know systemic barriers to oral health care exist for many marginalized populations, including those with disabilities. That’s why it is important for us to collaborate as oral health providers, advocates, researchers, and community members to find effective ways to eliminate those barriers,” said Trenae Simpson, director of grants and programs at CareQuest Institute. “This RFP is an opportunity to work together to create a health care system that works for all of us. We’re excited to see what innovative approaches we receive to increase access – in its broadest definition – for people with disabilities. This includes addressing issues of provider availability, the delivery of evidence-based care, and amplifying the voices of the community, enabling us all to come together as we work towards a more just oral health system.”

CareQuest Institute’s philanthropic approach is centered on the belief that oral health care solutions are not as effective without the individuals and communities that have been most negatively impacted by oral health disparities driving their design, development, and implementation. This RFP is an opportunity to support new partners to reshape, disrupt, and transform the oral health system.

Examples of projects that fall within the Disability Inclusion and Justice in Oral Health Care RFP include, but are not limited to:

• A national organization developing a disability-focused oral health policy agenda in collaboration with disability advocates

• A state-based organization hosting community listening sessions and advocacy trainings to strengthen the capacity of community members to advocate for expanding access to Medicaid oral health services

• A clinical organization piloting innovative clinical, workforce, and workflow solutions to inform and/or validate creative payment models that support oral health care for people with disabilities

Specific details related to eligibility, proposal requirements, and evaluation criteria can be found on our Disability Inclusion and Justice in Oral Health Request for Proposals page. 

Waterpik Expands Product Portfolio With New Electric Toothbrush For A Deeper Clean You Can See And Feel

From the number one recommended water flosser brand by dental professionals, WATERPIK® announces the launch of their new Sensonic Electric Toothbrush. Building on the success of the brand's award-winning ION water flosser, fan-favorite Aquarius water flosser and the world's first flossing toothbrush, Sonic-Fusion®, Waterpik continues to deliver oral care solutions that provide amazing results with the new Sensonic Electric Toothbrush.

Developed with dental professional and consumer input, extensive clinical research and cutting edge technology, the Waterpik Sensonic Toothbrush was created to provide everything you need in an electric toothbrush and nothing you don't. The Sensonic Toothbrush features advanced sonic technology and a specially designed bristle pattern that hugs the natural contour of tooth surfaces. These advanced features deliver a deeper clean you can see and feel. Waterpik Sensonic is clinically shown to remove up to 4X more plaque bacteria than manual brushing in hard-to-reach areas and helps protect against gingivitis, cavities, and bad breath.

"For 60 years, Waterpik has been designing and engineering clinically proven products that deliver superior oral care. We are thrilled to introduce the innovative Sensonic Toothbrush to the oral care space," said Dan Cover, Waterpik Product Marketing Director. "Our new Sensonic Toothbrush is a testament to Waterpik's commitment to developing meaningful oral care solutions that surprise and delight consumers. We test all new products with consumers and dental professionals before launching. The response to this toothbrush has been incredibly positive."

Sensonic offers a truly personalized brushing experience with three different brushing modes: Clean, Stain Removal, and Gum Care. The ergonomic handle with a non-slip finish feels great in your hand. Sensonic is equipped with a rechargeable battery that delivers up to four weeks of use per single charge, 2-minute timer with a 30-second pacer to ensure a thorough clean, ultra-quiet technology, and is ADA accepted for safety and effectiveness. Plus, Sensonic comes with a premium hard-sided travel case for travel and use on the go.

"Waterpik has a rich history of innovation and design, and the launch of Waterpik Sensonic Electric Toothbrush continues its legacy in delivering thoughtfully engineered products that allow anyone to effortlessly elevate and maintain their oral hygiene routines," said Dr. Chris Strandburg, DDS, Waterpik Spokesperson. "The specially designed brush head bristle pattern is an important feature that will help remove harmful bacteria that can be missed by manual toothbrushes, and I can't wait to introduce Sensonic to my patients to help protect against gum disease."

The new Waterpik Sensonic Electric Toothbrush is available for $99.99 at Amazon. For more information, visit waterpik.com.

By brushing daily with Colgate Total® Plaque Pro-Release, Colgate wants to help people get ahead of oral health problems¹ before they start and Be Dentist-Ready.

Let's face it, being totally honest during dental checkups can be challenging, especially when it comes to topics like flossing, sugar intake, and toothbrush replacement. In fact, 82% of people admitted to lying to their dental professional, with more than half (54%) saying they lie at least somewhat often.² That is why Colgate is launching Totally Honest, an initiative inviting people to come clean about their oral care habits and learn about a solution that can help them take control of their oral health.

Dental anxiety is common, and most people are concerned about plaque,³ the root cause of many oral health problems like bad breath, cavities, and gingivitis. By brushing daily with Colgate Total® Plaque Pro-Release, consumers can reduce and prevent plaque bacteria between dentist visits, with the goal of feeling more confident going into their next appointment, eliminating the need for lies and excuses altogether.

Colgate wants everyone to be totally honest with their dentist, and is partnering with actress, singer, entrepreneur and mom Ashley Tisdale to share her tips for managing dental anxiety and staying dentist-ready between appointments.

"As a mom who is passionate about wellness, being proactive about my health is super important to me, but visiting the dentist isn't exactly my favorite thing," said Ashley Tisdale. "I am no stranger to dental anxiety, which is why I'm excited to have a toothpaste that I can trust to do a good job. By incorporating Colgate Total® Plaque Pro-Release into my daily routine, I feel confident being totally honest with my dentist, knowing I am doing what I can to get ahead of oral health problems before they start."

To celebrate the initiative, Colgate is hosting a vibrant pop-up at the Flatiron Plaza in New York City on August 8th and 9th. The event will provide a safe space for people to anonymously admit the lies they've been telling their dentist and receive a complimentary sample of Colgate Total® Plaque Pro-Release. Participants will also be able to enter for a chance to win a year's supply of Colgate Total® Plaque Pro-Release and a $400 gift card (about the cost of two dental checkups).*

"Less than one-third of people feel very confident going to the dentist.² At Colgate, we are determined to increase those odds by helping people feel more prepared for their appointments so they can be totally honest," said Salma Kaddouri, Integrated Marketing and Communications Lead, Colgate-Palmolive. "With Colgate Total® Plaque Pro-Release, we are excited to have a toothpaste that can help people be proactive about their oral health and head into the dentist feeling more confident."

Colgate Total® Plaque Pro-Release is a new innovative toothpaste that significantly reduces harmful plaque bacteria, resulting in 2X less gum-harming plaque.⁴ Developed by Colgate scientists, Colgate Total® Plaque Pro-Release offers long-lasting 24-hour antibacterial protection.⁵

Ready to experience the power of Colgate Total® Plaque Pro-Release for yourself? Look for the Whitening and Fresh Mint variants (MSRP: $7.99) at leading retailers nationwide, including Amazon, Walmart, and CVS.

To learn more about Colgate Total® Plaque Pro-Release visit www.colgate.com/colgate-total-plaque-pro-release. Stay connected with us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for exciting updates and oral care tips.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES & D.C., 18+. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes is open between 8:30 AM ET – 6:30 PM ET on 8/8/23 and 8:30 AM ET – 6:30 PM ET on 8/9/23. For Official Rules, and complete details and eligibility, visit https://rules.dja.com/colgatetotal/. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Sponsor: Colgate-Palmolive Company, 300 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022

1. like gingivitis and cavities

2. Dental anxiety survey by Censuswide (1000 US adults), June 2023

3. Kantar 12me December 2018 | Consumer Age 13+ | Dental Problems within the last 6 months

4. vs. regular fluoride toothpaste, with twice daily brushing for 6 months

5. after 2 weeks of daily brushing  

Recently introduced J3 DentaJet multi-material 3D printer already making its mark as a cost-effective entry-level solution to boost productivity and address skilled labor issues among dental labs

Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), a leader in polymer 3D printing solutions, today said it is winning over more dental labs to its professional-grade DentaJet® series of multi-material 3D printers by delivering increased quality and higher accuracy to dental applications while improving overall production efficiencies. Stratasys introduced its entry-level J3™ DentaJet 3D printer earlier this year to complement its more advanced J5™ DentaJet model.

Advanced Dental Technologies, a full-service lab based in Boston, recently purchased the new J3 DentaJet printer and has been using it to produce crown and bridge, removable, and implant models.

“We’re really thrilled with the J3’s output quality, and the ability to undertake multi-material printing has made our workflow so much easier and faster,” said owner Dany Karam. “We own several 3D printers, but this is by far the team’s favorite. We were able to streamline and simplify the process from multiple prints every day to a more streamlined, efficient workflow and environment in the lab, helping us reduce cost by eliminating unnecessary overtime. What would have previously taken three days, we can now do in a day, with greater accuracy and at a fraction of the cost.”

Leveraging Stratasys’ smart digital workflow, the cost-effective DentaJet 3D printers address the evolving production needs of dental labs by enabling unattended printing and minimal post-processing. This helps to overcome the ongoing industry-wide challenge of skilled-labor shortage by enabling labs to redistribute resources. Stratasys is providing a tailored solution for each dental application and its unique requirements, such as high accuracy, color realism, or durability. Users can create extremely accurate, high-quality models, surgical guides and soft gingiva masks – each comprising multiple materials – in a single tray simultaneously.

Ident’M, a dental lab in France, recently purchased a J5 DentaJet printer, which now runs 20 hours a day to create about 1,000 dental parts each month. Alongside other requirements, the dental parts need to be incredibly precise, with the Stratasys system meeting that need with accuracy to just 18 microns.

Olivier Mangot, Co-director, Ident’M, said, “This 3D printer’s precision is simply unachievable with any other technology today. Thanks to the level of accuracy, we have reduced chair time for patients for applications such as crown fittings which has led to very positive feedback from our customers. We’ve also been able to save time and improve productivity by producing full-color dental models on one J5 printer instead of three legacy 3D printers that were dedicated to three different applications.”

Germany-based dental lab MA CAD/CAM Service UG has also just purchased a J5 DentaJet printer. Owner Michael Anger reinforced the value of precision, along with quality aesthetics and productivity. “Being able to print different materials and colors in one single print job, combined with minimal post-processing, has resulted in huge cost savings for us,” he said. “We’re now also able to present models to patients that are more aesthetically appealing as the printer can reproduce the colors from the oral scan."

The DentaJet series powered by PolyJet™ technology is unlocking new applications such as monolithic full-color dentures with Stratasys’ TrueDent™ solution, which the company announced for the U.S. market earlier this year. Ronen Lebi, Vice President of Dental at Stratasys, said, “DentaJet printers are proving ideal for dental applications, given the complex geometries and variety of materials required. With its robust catalog of strengths spanning unrivalled accuracy to superior color realism, the technology not only unlocks important advantages across various applications, but crucially provides a versatility that is critical in any modern, competitive and fast-paced dental environment. We’ve paired these printers with a seamless digital workflow that ensures dental labs quickly see the business benefits while better serving their own customers; that’s why we’re seeing such rapid adoption around the world.”

Fall 2023 Continuing Education Lecture and Hands-on Workshop

The Center for Esthetic Excellence, (CEE) has scheduled a lecture and hands-on workshop, entitled, “Becoming a Cosmetic Dentist with Composite Resin Veneers”, Thursday — Friday, October 12 - 13, 2023, 8:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m., presented by Dr. Javier Quirós. Learn how to make eight anterior composite veneers in one appointment. Learn the anatomy of a smile from smile design to mockup. Create strong and predictable contact points with composite resin.

Finish, polish and texturize your veneers. Open vertical dimension with composite, make centric relation records, take Face Bow and esthetic transfers.

For more information regarding this course, please contact Erika Heier at 800-837-2321 or cee@cosmedent.com.

Houston-based Perio Health Professionals is excited to announce the successful formation of Rocket DSO, a project formed by Perio Health and facilitated by the Optimize Practice Services consulting team. The project is funded by the impact investment fund Altura Capital, in partnership with Plexus Capital and Hamilton Lane, and was brought to market by Kurt Harvey and Caber Hill Advisors.

Dr. Todd Scheyer of Perio Health Professionals had a vision and passion to scale a highly differentiated platform with worldwide impact alongside his partners Dr. Michael McGuire and Dr. Andrew Rossi.

“Making this DSO a reality required leadership, credibility, and hard work. My partner Dr. Todd Scheyer and the Optimize Practice Services team brought all three in equal measure. I am so proud to see the legacy of my 40+ year career reach these heights and am forever grateful for the partnership it took to get here,” Dr. Michael K. McGuire, DDS, FICD, FACD, Board Certified Periodontist, Founder.

“At Altura Capital, we look for investment opportunities to improve lives in communities across the country. The vision of the Rocket DSO founders will do just that,” says Altura Capital managing partner Carlos Signoret. “We are eager to work with these skilled clinicians to build a platform for growth and excellence for years to come.”

Josh Gwinn, CEO of Optimize Practice Services, joined Rocket as CEO consultant in 2022. He built trust and teamwork across the network of doctors and supported clarifying the doctors’ vision. From that early process through the close of the deal, the team worked together to put all the necessary pieces in place to make their vision a reality.

“The close of this deal for Rocket is a testimony to what can be accomplished when clear intentions are declared and all parties are respected. The result is a structure that reflects the vision of the founders and is built for growth. It will benefit the member practices for years to come,” says Josh Gwinn, CEO, Optimize Practice Services, “we are looking forward to seeing their future success.”

Optimize Practice Services worked with all parties involved in the following areas:

• Communication, support, and leadership through the transition.

• Robust project management infrastructure.

• Operational leadership.

• Best-in-class vendors to support the DSO build.

After many years of planning, the DSO has successfully:

• Brought 90+ doctors and employees together onto one team.

• Centralized HR, accounting, procurement, and more under one roof.

• Established a foundation for M&A activity to bring this innovative model to new areas.

ABOUT ROCKET DSO

Rocket is a Houston-based dental support organization led by world-renowned and respected periodontists that have hand selected a highly committed group of founding practices. The network is comprised of master clinician dentists that provide comprehensive dental services. We believe our collective legacies will last for generations to come and positively impact the healthcare system worldwide.