EASE CLASS wins in the sustainability categories Best Product and Best Lab

The Die Grüne Praxis (green practice) initiative voted vhf the winners with two accolades at the Green Dental Award 2023. The expert panel of judges voted the vhf dental milling machines E5 and E4 in the EASE CLASS and the AIRTOOL the winners in the two sustainability categories of Best Product and Best Lab. The official award ceremony was held on 13 October 2023 at the Fachdental Südwest trade fair in Stuttgart and was attended by numerous specialists, industry experts and representatives from the media.

In addition to the Gold at the German Innovation Award 2023, the EASE CLASS, which was only launched by vhf in the spring of this year, has also won the Green Dental Award 2023, which was presented for the first time. The independent panel of judges recognized in particular the positive environmental and sustainability aspects of the EASE CLASS, which were developed by vhf with technical innovations and additional measures. “We knew we had a good chance of winning the Green Dental Award with the EASE CLASS. We were surprised and of course delighted that we received two awards,” says Lucas Kehl, Head of Product at vhf camfacture AG. “The Green Dental Award is a wonderful accolade and another great success for vhf and the EASE CLASS. The prize represents a true recognition of our work, and is also an incentive and motivation for us to continue taking into account issues around the environment and resources when developing ideas and to promote them in the product development process.”

The vhf EASE CLASS represents a new generation of dental milling machines that is a unique combination of technical innovation and a minimal use of resources. The innovative AIRTOOL plays a key role here: The turbine blades in the milling tool generate a powerful air-flow thanks to the impressive speeds of the high-frequency spindle. This ensures that the workpiece remains free of chips and dust during processing. Significant energy is saved by eliminating the need for an air compressor: This is all the more remarkable, as compressed air is one of the most expensive forms of energy and can easily account for half of the total electricity consumption in dental practices and laboratories.

The E4 and E5 dental milling machines were recognized at the Green Dental Award 2023 and, similar to all vhf products, are manufactured in Germany with verifiable 100% certified green electricity. In addition, as customary from vhf, they are characterized by the highest quality: The best manufacturing results made in Germany paired with high-quality industrial components from leading manufacturers guarantee a long service life for the dental milling machines. vhf's technology-neutral complete solutions also enable a long-term and flexible usage phase and offer users maximum flexibility and products that can be combined with components from other manufacturers such as intraoral scanners and CAD software. The light weight of the E4 (28 kg) and E5 (43 kg) and the compact dimensions of these two dental milling machines are also crucial for maximizing resource-saving logistics and environmentally friendly shipping. Finally, vhf seized the opportunity of the launch of the new EASE CLASS to develop the technical documentation for the E5, E4 and E3 dental milling machines in digital format and to make it even more intuitive for users. The digital operating instructions save valuable resources and help protect the environment.

Longstanding Partner Pacific Dental Services Receives Employer of the Year Award

Concorde Career Colleges was awarded the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) highest award at the association's annual conference on Oct. 4, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine in San Diego, Calif. The college was named School of the Year, and its longtime corporate partner and Concorde scholarship sponsor Pacific Dental Services (PDS) received the Employer of the Year award.

Concorde is the healthcare division of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (UTI). Concorde's California campuses in Garden Grove, North Hollywood, San Bernardino, and San Diego offer career-focused hands-on healthcare programs in dental hygiene, medical assisting, nursing, physical therapist assisting, respiratory therapy, and more. Concorde has helped train students for over 60 years. Concorde is proud to work with some of the region's innovative healthcare providers like Pacific Dental Services to provide students with the training and hands-on skills needed to help prepare them for careers in healthcare.

"The CAPPS School of the Year award celebrates Concorde's excellence in student outcomes, and the hard work and dedication by our faculty and staff in support of our students," commented Kevin Prehn, Concorde chief operating officer. "I am incredibly proud of the impact that Concorde has made in helping prepare California students for careers across the wide range of healthcare disciplines. The CAPPS award further emphasizes our commitment to the students, employers, and communities we serve in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. I also am excited to see our longtime employer partner, PDS, named Employer of the Year. Through our partnership with PDS and other healthcare providers, we will continue to change lives and address the nation's healthcare skills gap."

The Concorde partnership with Pacific Dental Services, dating to 2008, helps prepare students to achieve careers as dental professionals and to deliver clinical excellence to the communities they serve. The Pacific Dental Services Foundation proudly offers the Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship, aimed at molding passionate, servant-hearted dental assistant leaders. The scholarship provides need-based financial aid, mentorship, and on-the-job training.

"Concorde and Pacific Dental Services share an unwavering passion for teaching and training the dental professionals of tomorrow," added Rose Olague, PDS director of dental assistant programs and school relations. "The college's faculty, staff, and leadership continually exhibit the high level of integrity and creativity needed to work in partnership to help drive successful student outcomes and employment upon graduation. We are honored to be awarded CAPPS 2023 Employer of the Year."

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected demand nationally for dental assistants and dental hygienists, estimating the 10-year job growth outlook for both at 7 percent, faster than the average for all occupations.¹

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the number of Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants to grow 7% between 2022 and 2023. See https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm and https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm, viewed Oct. 11, 2023. Concorde is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.

Hager Worldwide has announced a new advancement in hands-free retraction with the introduction of its Spandex Advanced Lip & Cheek Retractor. This versatile, durable, and reusable retractor is made from 100% medical grade silicon that is ultra-durable and latex-free. It is also autoclavable for reuse, reducing clinical waste and providing cost savings when compared with disposable retractors. Tested over 1,000 autoclave cycles, a single Spandex Advanced is equivalent to more than 12 boxes of 80 single-use retractors.

The retractor is designed for multi applications and demonstrates high retention. The innovative flexible design moves with the lips and cheeks, providing secure and comfortable retraction when the mouth is open or closed, and its versatile applications include hygiene procedures, whitening, digital dentistry, use of a photo-contraster, restorative dentistry, and orthodontics. In addition, the Spandex Advanced provides full-lip coverage for extra protection from sharps, rotaries, whitening agents, and more.

Spandex Advanced Lip & Cheek Retractors are available for order through your preferred dental dealer. 

VOCO Expands Bleach Shade Offerings Within its All Ceramic-based Packable Nano-ORMOCER Restorative

Further enhancing the esthetics of its universal nano-ORMOCER material, VOCO has added to its bleach shade offerings with Admira Fusion BXL, bringing the total number of available shades for this material to 19. This new shade is available in both 0.2g caps and 3g syringes.

Admira Fusion is a universal nano-hybrid ORMOCER (Organically-Modified CERamic) restorative material that provides extremely low shrinkage (1.25%), immediate and long-term esthetics, easy handling, and superior biocompatibility, without any BPA or traditional monomers (BisGMA, UDMA, TEGDMA, UDMA or HEMA).

It is a universal restorative material, indicated for Class I to Class V restorations, composite inlays, core build-ups, and as a base for Class I and Class II cavities. It is the world's first all ceramic-based direct universal restorative material, and features Pure Silicate Technology, with fillers and matrix based purely on silicon oxide. This technology reduces shrinkage and shrinkage stress by up to 50% and features outstanding shade stability.

Admira Fusion is compatible with all conventional bonding agents, has a non-sticky consistency for easy handling, and offers a perfect balance of translucency and opacity for natural looking restorations. It is easy to polish to a high shine luster and has a high 84% fill rate for high wear resistance.

The Ivoclar Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of integrated solutions for high-quality dental applications, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and systems for dentists, dental technicians and dental hygienists. With the products of the IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime Disc range, the company provides a high-strength and versatile zirconium oxide that is distinguished by quality, stability and esthetics, allowing patients to benefit from the best possible care. The Prime product family includes IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime and IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime Esthetic, representing exceptional high-quality characteristics and high-end esthetics.

Prime Zirconia: esthetic and strong

Zirconium oxide is an all-ceramic material that has the properties required for long-lasting restorations and can be used in diverse applications, ranging from single crowns to multi-unit bridges. Esthetic yet strong, Prime Zirconia closely reproduces the function of the natural tooth structure*. Zirconia restorations offer many advantages: They deliver impressive patient-specific esthetics and provide high stability and versatility. So, Prime Zirconia is the material of choice for creating esthetic and durable restorations in a diverse range of cases.

The essence: expertise

Prime Zirconia is reliable, has been clinically proven for years and is based on Ivoclar’s many years of material science expertise in the field of ceramics. In substance, the material combines competence and confidence as customers worldwide have trusted the Ivoclar’s all-ceramic materials (IPS e.max) for many years.

The continuously growing body of clinical studies confirms an excellent survival rate of 96 percent after five years for Prime Zirconia.

“Our unique GT Technology is the key to Prime Zirconia’s genuine, true-to-nature progression of shade and translucency, exceptional accuracy of fit and efficient processing. Prime Zirconia represents high-end esthetics that is well-received not only in the laboratory and dental practice but also when placed in the patient’s mouth. The material’s impressive high-quality characteristics are supported by a growing number of clinical studies and so we are proud to extend the ten-year IPS e.max guarantee to include Prime Zirconia restorations as well. We are committed to making ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of our products and we value the active feedback and input from our customers. A new ring on the disc enables correct positioning and easy repositioning by means of an indicator mark. In addition, the ring gives dental technicians an extra layer of safety (e.g. against chipping or similar), which will have a positive impact on the efficiency of the dental laboratory and, as a result, on the entire workflow. Ultimately, our customers and our company have the same goal: to offer patients worldwide high-quality and durable final restorations,” explains Tobias Specht, Senior Director Global Business Unit Labside Digital of the Ivoclar Group.

Seamless workflow and IPS e.max guarantee

Ivoclar offers the right product for each individual step so that restorations made of Prime Zirconia can be optimally prepared and effortlessly cemented in the patient’s mouth. A carefully designed workflow with optimally coordinated products guides dentists through all stages. In addition, individual products cross over with other workflows and simplify the coordination between practice and laboratory to ensure enhanced efficiency on both ends.

Dentists can preview and discuss the desired outcome with their patients in advance. Digital impression-taking and swift data transfer to the dental lab enables an efficient and purpose-driven collaboration.

Prime Zirconia restorations are fabricated in the dental lab and then sent to the practice, where they can be placed using a conventional, self-adhesive or adhesive cementation method. Cementation can be achieved easily and efficiently using ZirCAD Cement, a high-performance resin-modified glass ionomer cement designed for everyday use. The cement delivers predictable cementation results case after case with its easy handling and quick clean-up.

Smooth surfaces and a lustrous finish can be attained with OptraGloss®. Using the OptraGloss universal polishers, ceramic restorations are polished to a high gloss in no time at all - ultimately, the most important outcome is to have patients smile with satisfaction.

Ivoclar’s e.max family comprises the following ceramic ranges: zirconium oxide ceramics (IPS e.max ZirCAD, IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime and IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime Esthetic), lithium disilicate ceramics (IPS e.max CAD and IPS e.max Press) and layering ceramics (IPS e.max Ceram).

Customers worldwide have relied on the quality and esthetics of e.max restorations for over 15 years. Backed by the placement of over 150 million restorations and supported by long-term clinical evidence, Ivoclar offers a ten-year guarantee so that dental professionals can continue to provide their patients with a healthy smile.

For more information about Prime Zirconia: https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/campaigns/expertise-and-confidence#Form

* At natural light conditions. LED-generated UV or UV-like light may result in a deviating impression. 

exocad customers with a DentalCAD perpetual dongle activated on or before August 31, 2023, can take advantage of the “ULTIMATE TRADE-UP OFFER” that allows customers to upgrade to an Ultimate Bundle for a one-time fixed fee, regardless of how old their software licenses are or how many modules have been activated. Ultimate Bundles provide the largest range of included exocad modules.

By accepting this offer, customers benefit threefold: They receive an upgrade to the most current software release DentalCAD 3.1 Rijeka, a license equipped with all Ultimate Bundle DentalCAD modules, and access to the next generation DentalCAD software within the next 12 months. The promotion is valid from October 16 to December 31, 2023. Interested customers may contact their preferred reseller for more information.

Additional information is available at https://promo.exocad.com/en/trade-up-2023.

More than 3,000 companies across the state competed in the startup competition

After months of preparation and competition, Eagan-based REMastered Sleep has been named the MN Cup Grand Finals Runner-Up for the 2023 competition. The airway health company competed against 3,052 other Minnesota companies during the statewide start-up competition.

REMastered Sleep was also named the Division Winner in the General category before moving on to be named runner-up in the Grand Finale. In addition to mentorship resources, the company was awarded a total of $40,000 to help it continue to grow and innovate.

”It is an honor to be the 2023 MN Cup Grand Prize Runner-Up, especially when competing against so many amazing Minnesota companies,” Anders Olmanson, CEO of REMastered Sleep said. “Poor airway health resulting in obstructive sleep apnea and snoring is a huge problem that affects more than 1 billion people worldwide. Winning this honor helps spread awareness of the importance of airway health.”

Olmanson and his team plan to use the prize money to help launch their newest product, REMplenish Jr™, which is targeted to help children between 3 and 9 years old. Olmanson says REMplenish Jr has the potential to change the trajectory of the current airway health epidemic.

Jointly with the Ivoclar Vivadent Charity Foundation, the Ivoclar Group has been supporting a variety of social projects around the world for many years, with the aim to help people in less privileged regions. Celebrating its 100-year anniversary, the Liechtenstein-based family business is now unveiling its own aid program called Ivoclar Joy. The program’s main beneficiaries will be children and young people across three continents.

Comprising a workforce of roughly 3,700 employees, the group of companies has been dedicated to ensuring that people have the best possible oral health and quality of life worldwide for a century. Following several years of determined work, the Ivoclar Group launched its own international aid program called Ivoclar Joy in 2022, at the behest of Christina Zeller, Supervisory Board Member responsible for CSR. The program is accompanied by a steering committee and an operational project management team. With Ivoclar Joy, the company’s primary goal is to provide dental care to children and young people in underserviced regions worldwide. In addition, the program aims to raise awareness about oral health in these groups to enhance their potential for a positive and successful future. After having laid the groundwork, Ivoclar is now unveiling its aid program to the public as part of its anniversary celebration.

Global commitment

The focus of Ivoclar Joy is to provide on-location dental care in the form of preventive measures, minor restorative procedures, basic fillings and surgical interventions. The leading provider of integrated solutions has already set up base stations in Ghana, Cambodia and Peru, treating over 2000 patients (as of June 2023). “Going forward, the goal is to involve interested Ivoclar employees around the world in the years to come and establish our aid program in additional locations,” says Christina Zeller.

Portable dental units

Three portable dental units allow the local teams of professionals to deliver dental procedures in all three of the above countries, including remote regions. The portable units, which have demonstrated their effectiveness in international aid projects, are outfitted with a range of dental equipment, including a high-performance suction system, three-way syringe and an ultrasound element with LED light. The portable units are regularly supplied with instruments and materials from Ivoclar. The program encompasses additional activities such as advancing the skills of local dental professionals and delivering oral healthcare education at schools, fully covering all related expenses.

Three pillars of responsibility

At www.ivoclar.com/en_li/ivoclarjoy, the Group of Companies presents detailed insights into the projects of its charitable commitment. The family business places maximum importance on sustainable action and impact, both in its charitable endeavours and as a core principle of its entrepreneurial approach. In its 2022 CSR report, the Ivoclar Group emphasises as an integral part of an interconnected system the significance of all three pillars of sustainability (www.ivoclar.com).

The PDS Foundation has granted over $1.4 million in scholarships since 2016.

The Pacific Dental Services® (PDS) Foundation proudly announces the Fall 2023 Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship recipients, a remarkable group of 18 dental assisting (DA) students who collectively received over $70,000 to help cover tuition expenses.

The scholarship comes at an important time in the dental industry. According to a recent report from the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, the dental industry is currently experiencing a significant workforce shortage, with vacant dental assisting positions contributing to a 10 percent reduction in dental practice capacity nationwide. Moreover, financial hardship often prevents many enrolled DA students from finishing school.

Recognizing the importance of DAs to the future of dentistry, the PDS Foundation created this scholarship to provide students with the financial support they need to complete their education. Named after Carolyn Ghazal, DDS, a member of the PDS Foundation Board of Directors, this educational scholarship provides DA students with need-based financial aid, mentorship, on-the-job training, and aims to mold the next generation of passionate, servant-hearted dental leaders.

“As a member of the scholarship committee, meeting with applicants seeking these critical scholarships brings me immense satisfaction,” said Dr. Ghazal. “Through our commitment to empowering the upcoming generation of dental assistant students nationwide, this financial aid and comprehensive support will facilitate a clear path for students to pursue a fruitful, lifelong career in dental assisting.”

Scholarships are awarded on a quarterly basis to DA students to help cover tuition expenses. The Scholarship Review Committee awards scholarships based on applicants' financial need, heart for service, career aspirations, and other criteria.

Since its establishment in 2016, the PDS Foundation has granted over $1.4 million in scholarships to support the educational pursuits of over 230 students in the dental field.

Michael Le, Executive Director of the PDS Foundation, said, “Facilitating the development of dental assistants is a top priority, given their future leadership in oral health. It's important to remember that being a dental assistant is a journey, rather than a destination. We are honored to be part of their journey and committed to supporting them every step of the way.”

The application deadline for the next dental assistant scholarship is Nov. 1. To learn more or apply, please visit pdsfoundation.org/programs/scholarships.

Fall 2023 Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship Recipients:

Edwin A. del Valle-Sepúlveda, D.M.D., J.D., an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the new Second Vice President of the American Dental Association (ADA). Dr. del Valle-Sepúlveda was recently elected at the ADA House of Delegates Meeting at ADA SmileCon™ in Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 10.

Dr. del Valle-Sepúlveda has been an engaged member of the ADA for 41 years, serving on the ADA House of Delegates for half of that time. With over 25 years of experience in the leadership of the ADA Tripartite, he has also served as a member of the Commission on Continuing Education Provider Recognition and as a member representing the 4th District on the ADA Council on Membership. He is also a member of the Hispanic Dental Association, where he served as President in 2020 and National Treasurer in 2018.

Dr. del Valle-Sepúlveda has been involved with numerous other dental organizations, including the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and the American College of Dentists (ACD) Puerto Rico Section, where he has served as Chairman since 2002. As a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), he previously served as the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Clinical Interest Group on Cosmetic Maxillofacial Surgery. He also served as President of Colegio de Cirujanos Dentistas de Puerto Rico in 1997 and 2010, as well as President of the Puerto Rico Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons from 1991-1994 and 1999-2001. He is also a past member of the Puerto Rico Board of Dentistry.

He is a fellow in both the AAOMS and the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is an honorary fellow in both the ACD and the International College of Dentists. He has been a diplomat of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery since 1997 and was a diplomat on the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology from 2008-2020.

Dr. del Valle-Sepúlveda graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine. A member of a medical family, his wife, Dr. Lilian de Laosa-Vazquez, is a general dentist, and his sons, Alberto E. del Valle-de Laosa and Alejandro M. del Valle-de Laosa are a physician and veterinarian, respectively.