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BURST® Oral Care Launches The Next Generation of Their Iconic Flagship Toothbrush and First-of-its-Kind Curve Sonic Toothbrush

Posted on Thursday, October 5, 2023

The New Launches Were Designed Based on the Feedback and Expertise of BURST's Network of 35,000+ Dental Professionals

To further their mission of bringing better oral hygiene to all, BURST Oral Care is proud to introduce the Pro Sonic Toothbrush and Curve Sonic Toothbrush to market. Featuring innovative designs and new technology, both brushes were created in partnership with BURST's Ambassador network of over 35,000+ dental professionals to ensure high-quality performance at accessible price points for consumers.

"We introduced the Original Sonic Toothbrush in 2017, backed by stellar clinical results, an innovative design, and the enthusiastic support of our dental Ambassador network. It remains a sought-after brush on the market today," states BURST Co-Founder and President Brittany Stewart. "Six years of feedback from our Ambassadors has led us to evolve and enhance to create the Pro, bringing forth the next generation of BURST with a modernized design and upgraded intelligent features that prioritize our hygienists' and dentists' needs."

Enhanced with reinvigorated cutting-edge features, the BURST Pro Sonic Toothbrush is a clinically-proven brush that offers an elevated user experience. Created as the peak of dental technology to provide the ultimate cleaning and whitening experience, the Pro boasts a new high-end color LED screen, smart responsive software to provide optimal care, and a category defining (up to) 9-month rechargeable battery life. Add to that a sensor that provides feedback for every brushing session via a score graded on how many seconds users remained in the proper pressure zone to help them brush better. There's also an impressive range of 5 custom brushing modes including Whitening, Clean, Sensitivity, Freshen, and Massage.

The Pro still embraces the iconic hygienist-approved bristles that are soft and tapered to clean without damage and reach plaque below the gumline. These standout bristles help the brush maintain its impressive clinical claims, including removing up to 10x more plaque* than a manual brush.

BURST is also introducing their new Curve Sonic Toothbrush. With their dental professional Ambassadors, they designed a uniquely curved powerhouse to target neglected back molars with dental precision while fitting seamlessly into your bag — thereby ensuring fresh breath and optimal oral health for anyone on the go. The Curve is fully equipped with super soft tapered bristles, cleansing sonic vibrations from a powerful motor, whitening and sensitive modes and a two-minute timer. It serves as the ideal on-the-go brush with its up to 75-day battery life, compact design, and sanitary travel top. The Curve fits into your life, not the other way around.

"Amid the pandemic, people recognized the value of dependable at-home oral care and the impact of oral health," notes BURST Co-Founder and CEO Hamish Khayat. "The Curve emerged as our response, directly resulting from collaboration with our dental professionals. It effortlessly merges professional-grade cleaning tech with stylish design to offer a consistent oral health companion at an affordable price. It's perfect for newcomers and those seeking a minimalistic, on-the-go option."

Find the Pro (starting at $79.99) at burstoralcare.com, Amazon, and exclusively in-store at Walmart and the Curve (starting at $29.99) at burstoralcare.com, Amazon, and in-store both Walmart & CVS.

*Data on file at burstoralcare.com/clinical







ADA Holds Second Annual Dental Olympics at SmileCon® 2023

Posted on Thursday, October 5, 2023

Local Orlando Speaker and Dentist, Dr. ArNelle Wright, to Offer Opening Remarks

Dental Olympics is back for a second year at SmileCon® 2023. Students from dental schools in Florida and Puerto Rico will go head-to-head in a series of competitive events, which will take place on Oct. 6 and 7 during SmileCon in Orlando, Fla. at the Orange County Convention Center.

Opening this year’s Dental Olympics will be Dr. ArNelle Wright, an Orlando dentist, speaker and co-host of the American Dental Association’s Dental Sound Bites podcast. The Dental Olympics are sponsored by Pacific Dental Services (PDS).

“I’m excited that Pacific Dental Services is once again sponsoring the Dental Olympics at SmileCon this year,” said Gary Pickard, senior director of government & industry affairs for PDS. “It is an honor to support this incredible new concept, and I look forward to seeing it continue to grow, getting bigger every year with more dental schools and students participating. As they are the future of our industry, we need them to feel welcome and be engaged as soon and as much as possible.”

This year, teams from the University of Florida College of Dentistry, LECOM School of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, and University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine will take part in several competitive events that will test their skills and put their knowledge to the test. Students will participate in a Social Media Competition and face off in dental trivia and other challenges throughout the two-day event. The winning team will be announced on the last day of SmileCon on Oct. 7.

“Our first-ever Dental Olympics brought a lot of fun to SmileCon last year, and we’re excited to continue this tradition in Orlando,” said Dr. George R. Shepley, 2022-2023 president of the ADA. “We welcome these young, aspiring dentists from across the U.S. into our community to foster comradery with their peers and inspire them as they get a chance to connect with industry professionals all while enjoying a little friendly competition during the events.”

Located in Dental Central South Hall A and B, the four teams will participate in events at the ADA Hub and around Dental Central. Attendees are welcome to cheer on their favorite teams and enjoy the competition with provided refreshments.

SmileCon’s Dental Olympics 2023 will adhere to the following schedule of events:

● Day 1: Friday, Oct. 6, from 2-3:30 p.m. at the ADA Hub, includes the kickoff of the Social Media Competition, which runs from Friday afternoon to Saturday at noon and invites students to post from specific areas at SmileCon and around Orlando. Also on Friday is the first round of Dental Trivia, pitting LECOM against the University of Florida and Nova Southeastern against the University of Puerto Rico.

● Day 2: Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. at the Dental Team Hub and ADA Hub, includes a variety of other challenges as well as the Dental Trivia Finals, featuring the winners from Day One’s events. The overall winners of this year’s Dental Olympics will be announced during the Dental Central Closing Party, from 1-2:30 p.m. in the ADA Hub.







Henry Schein Earns Dual Honors at Ragan’s 2023 CSR and Diversity Awards

Posted on Thursday, October 5, 2023

Chairman and CEO Stanley M. Bergman Named Executive of the Year for Diversity and Inclusion; Global Practice Green™ Initiative Recognized


Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) announced today that Chairman and CEO Stanley M. Bergman was honored as Ragan’s 2023 Executive of the Year for Diversity and Inclusion.

The Company also was honored by Ragan Communications, an industry leader in providing professional development, training and intelligence to communicators, marketers, HR professionals and business leaders worldwide, with a “CSR and Diversity Award” for the Practice Green™ by Henry Schein program.

Mr. Bergman was honored for personal commitment to diversity and inclusion, which is rooted in his experience growing up in South Africa during apartheid. He has actively promoted diversity within the Company, engaging the Board of Directors and the Executive Management Committee in the Company’s D&I Council and with each of Henry Schein’s six Employee Resource Groups. The Company has also incorporated diversity and inclusion into the Team Schein values. Mr. Bergman’s thought leadership on diversity and inclusion has extended to industry events and partnerships with universities to foster diverse health care professionals.

Practice Green™ by Henry Schein won in Ragan’s category for “Global ESG Initiative.” Practice Green is a global sustainability initiative that encourages health care professionals to become more eco-friendly. The program launched in January of 2023 in the EMEA (Europe/Middle East/Africa) region, followed later in the year by Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. Practice Green aims to offer customers solutions that will help to implement practical ways to become more sustainable, while following the current health and safety legislation and continuing to provide high-quality patient care. A selection of environmentally friendly products and solutions are available, as well as services and support to help create greener practices and enhance environmental sustainability efforts. Practice Green will continue to expand over time, with new products, services, and solutions added as the program evolves with the ever-changing health care landscape. Learn more about the program’s mission in this video.

“We are honored to receive these awards, which reflect our commitment to sustainability and building a culture that recognizes and values diversity and inclusion,” said Mr. Bergman. “Our success is a testament to the dedication of our Team Schein Members and our unwavering commitment to champion diversity and a belief in the power of doing well by doing good.”

Additionally, Henry Schein earned honorable mentions in the following categories:

● “Employee Resource Groups” Program: Henry Schein’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) program was recognized with an honorable mention. These employee-led networks promote diversity and inclusivity in alignment with corporate values. The six ERGs—Women’s Leadership Network, Pride and Allies, Black Legacy Professionals, COLEGAS, elevAsian, and the Veteran Engagement Team—aim to build inclusive communities, provide visibility, amplify employee voices, educate allies, foster innovation, and promote diverse viewpoints. Henry Schein will be adding its seventh ERG focused on the disabilities community this year.

● “Diversity and Inclusion Training/Education”: Henry Schein also earned an honorable mention for its commitment to diversity and inclusion training and education. Henry Schein offers in-house designed and facilitated diversity and inclusion education programs for Team Schein Members, including Global Directors and Vice Presidents. The Company also extends these programs to external audiences through professional associations and conferences. In 2022, participation rates were impressive, with 98% of Global Directors and Vice Presidents attending, 25% of more than 23,000 Team Schein Members taking part, and 74% of attendees recommending the program to other colleagues.

Henry Schein’s dedication to diversity and inclusion has garnered recognition from various organizations, including the HRC’s Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality and the Women’s Choice Award.







Future Focused Together: Ivoclar successfully expands education activities for dental students around the globe

Posted on Thursday, October 5, 2023

For Ivoclar, one of the world's leading providers of integrated solutions for high-quality dental applications with a comprehensive product and system portfolio for dentists, dental technicians, and dental hygienists, supporting universities and their students is an essential part of the company's philosophy.

Over the summer of 2023, Ivoclar invited the next generation of dental professionals to eight different Ivoclar Academy centers across the globe: An educational Summer School program offering supplemental learning opportunities

Learning together. Growing together.

Ivoclar's Summer School program included product training, lectures by renowned experts and professional advice on how to interact with patients and the best way to kickstart their own career. Over five days, the next generation of dental professionals got the chance to participate in a diverse program – from workshops, to open dialogues or webinars. Also offering them the chance to connect with each other and learn from experienced members of the industry.

Ivoclar's Summer School offers the ideal conditions for successful networking with peers and professionals. Participants can personally meet students from all over the world, get to know new perspectives and become part of the dental community. The opportunity for students to connect is just as important to Ivoclar as providing an exciting new learning environment.

Summer School goes international.

After a successful start in 2022, the Ivoclar Summer School program expanded in 2023. The originally European based offer went global – now including locations in North America, Asia and yet again Europe. Students could choose freely which time and location worked best for them, coming together with like minded students from across the world.

In total over 117 students from 28 countries participated in this year’s Summer School – making every location a success. “We are delighted and happy that the program was well received by students across the world. Ivoclar values the relationships with all dental professionals, no matter where they are on their career path. We strive to offer a diverse and fitting Academy program for everybody.” says Dr. George Tysowsky, Head of Global Training and Education, Ivoclar Group.

Exciting content to come.

Ivoclar is happy to announce that the Summer School program will continue in 2024 with new exciting locations and valuable insights. Bringing together dental professionals across the globe, students and professionals learning together and from each other – 2024 will bring additional educational content, supporting the future dental professionals in their career.

To stay up to date regarding Summer School, please visit: Summer School 2024 waitlist : Ivoclar 







Americans May Forgo Dental Treatments Due to Cost, Risking Overall Health, New Synchrony Research Reveals

Posted on Thursday, October 5, 2023

Dental Care Costs Can Range from $51,000 for Single Adult Coverage to $95,000 for Couple and Family Coverage During a Lifetime According to the Synchrony “Lifetime of Dental Care Costs” Study

58% of Americans Say Dental Care is Not Affordable

Costs are a major factor impacting American’s dental care, according to new study results from Synchrony, a leading consumer financial services company, conducted on behalf of the company’s leading dental financial solution, CareCredit. Synchrony’s Lifetime of Dental Care Costs study interviewed more than 1,000 insured and uninsured Americans between the ages of 20 and 79 about annual out-of-pocket dental costs and the financial, emotional, and psychological effects surrounding those costs.

“Dental health is essential to overall health, and rising out of pocket costs are preventing patients from accessing the care they want and need,” said Bete Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Dental, Synchrony. “We conducted this research to get a clear picture of what patients can expect in dental care costs during a lifetime – to help them plan ahead, and connect them with the tools and resources to manage these costs.”

The report found that more than half (58%) of consumers expressed that dental care is not affordable, and for those living without dental insurance, that number rose to 75%. Results depicted that dental care for the average adult, aged 20-79 can cost $51,000 for single coverage and up to $95,000+ for couple and family coverage during a lifetime— and is only the tip of the iceberg. Additional care, like dental implants, orthodontia or more complex needs, could costs tens of thousands of dollars per procedure.

Cost as a Barrier to Dental Care

As a result of these costs, 9 out of 10 respondents (92%) said they would consider holding off on general dental care because of cost, with 4 out of 5 (83%) saying the same for emergency dental care. Fifty-four percent of the surveyed consumers cited costs as the primary reason they did not visit the dentist in the last year. Among consumers, people with dental insurance (78%) were more likely to visit the dentist than those without insurance (55%).

Data also showed the ability to afford dental care worsens as Americans age. When asked if dental care was affordable, 51% and 52% of Generation Z and Millennials said “no,” and that number increased for older generations— 61% of both Generation X and Baby Boomers as well as 67% of Silent Generation respondents reported dental care as not being affordable.

Are Consumers Prepared for Unexpected Dental Costs?

People are more likely to experience a dental emergency than they realize, with half of the survey respondents reporting at least one dental emergency in their lifetime and 13% reporting one in the last year. Despite this, just 26% of respondents said they actively save for dental expenses. Among those that do, on average, only $648 is saved—nearly two-thirds use a savings account and a quarter have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or FSA. More than half of all respondents (52%) said they would hold off general dental care if the out-of-pocket cost was up to $1,000.

The Impact of Delayed Dental Care

Nearly half of respondents who delayed care reported that delaying their recommended procedure caused additional dental issues. Poor dental health can lead to additional problems, as supported by a growing body of evidence that shows the connection between oral health and overall health.

“People should be able to access their routine dental care when they need and want it, just as they should with other aspects of their wellness,” added Johnson.

With patients shouldering more financial responsibility for their dental care because of higher out-of-pocket costs, rising costs can result in people choosing between their financial and their physical health.

“The research findings are important because the reality is that patients are far more likely to delay dental care because of the associated costs,” said Dr. Brian Harris, DDS. “I believe it’s important to have full transparency with patients about the cost of their care so they can know their options before they sit in my chair. I think the findings of this study highlight just how important that step is to ensuring people can plan, pay for and ultimately receive the care they need.”

The Importance of Financial Support

Increasingly, dentists are looking to external support to maintain financial operations while ensuring patients are getting the experience they want and financial support they need. Synchrony, a leader in consumer lending for more than 90 years, has also been a leading financial solutions provider in the dental space with its CareCredit credit card for more than 35 years.

CareCredit is accepted in 80% of dental practices across the country, and is a convenient and reliable solution that offers financing options for qualified consumers. CareCredit is integrated in many of the top dental practice management software solutions available today, making it easy for dental teams to offer to patients and for patients to apply. It fulfills the evolving needs and expectations of patients, empowering people to pay for the health and wellness care they want or need in a way that fits within their budget.

Synchrony is providing the resources and tools to help educate patients on dental costs and the financial solutions they can use to plan and pay for care. To read the Synchrony Lifetime of Dental Care Costs research or to find content about solutions to pay for dental care with or without insurance, and opportunities to ask questions of care experts, please visit https://www.dentallifetimeofcare.com/ To learn more about CareCredit, please visit: www.carecredit.com.

Methodology

The “Lifetime of Dental Care Costs” study was performed by ASQ360 Market Research and Stephens & Associates on behalf of Synchrony. Researchers surveyed 1,335 respondents in the U.S (aged 20-79+), including 93 members of Gen Z (born after 1996), 360 Millennials (born 1977 – 1996), 374 members of Gen X (born 1965 to 1976), 427 Boomers (born 1946 to 1964) and 81 members of the Silent Generation (born before 1946). Researchers also conducted 22 dentist/practice manager interviews. The survey and interviews were conducted in January 2023.







DEXIS Introduces DEXIS 10 Imaging Suite Software Featuring the DEXassist Solution with AI-Enabled 2D Findings

Posted on Thursday, October 5, 2023

Leading innovator of dental imaging technologies, sensors, intraoral scanning, and CBCT solutions, DEXIS announces the launch of the DEXassist solution with 2D findings powered by Assisted Intelligence (AI). The DEXassist solution integrates AI features from DTX StudioTM Clinic into DEXIS 10 Imaging Suite Software. The solution helps practitioners to detect six pathologies in 2D intraoral X-rays including carries, calculus, bone loss, periapical radiolucency, root canal filing deficiency and discrepancy at margin of an existing restoration. Built on the proven DEXIS Imaging Suite Software platform, the DEXassist solution is designed to enhance diagnostic confidence, efficiency, and productivity.

The DEXassist solution seamlessly integrates with practices’ existing DEXIS 10 software for fast access to capture 2D intraoral X-ray images with your existing DEXIS sensors, requiring no additional training.

“Integration with current DEXIS software means that installation is quick and easy for practices that are already familiar with DEXIS systems,” says Lori Clements, Vice President, Commercial, North America at DEXIS. “This allows staff to begin using DEXassist right away without having to learn how to operate a new system.”

The DEXassist solution additionally allows dentists to leverage AI-enabled 2D findings for efficiency when diagnosing patient conditions and planning treatments. With a simple click, clinicians can identify up to six different focus areas when acquiring X-rays directly in DEXIS software.

“DEXassist’s AI solution helps to identify and supports diagnoses in up to six areas of dental pathologies, helping clinicians and staff to save time and optimize patient care,” explains Brian Gooch, Vice President, Global Product Management. “DEXassist also allows practitioners to share AI findings with patients in an easy-to-understand format when discussing their diagnosis and treatment plan.”

This newest software solution enables standardization in workflows and streamlines processes across the practice.

Because DEXassist is built on a proven DEXIS software platform, practices can expect the same reliable performance they’ve come to associate with the DEXIS software they use every day. For added confidence, DEXIS offers a 30-day free trial for the DEXassist solution.

To learn more about the new DEXassist solution, visit https://dexis.com/en-us/dexassist-earlyaccess  







Humana Includes Dental Benefits in 100% of 2024 Medicare Advantage plans

Posted on Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Rich embedded benefits, dental allowances and flexible spending allowances offer more coverage and flexibility

Leading health and well-being company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) recently announced 100% of its Medicare Advantage plans in 2024 include dental coverage.

Humana has enhanced dental benefits to make it easy for dental providers to work with the company and easy for patients to use their benefits.

People eligible for Medicare are able to select their 2024 plan during the Medicare Advantage Annual Election Period happening Oct. 15-Dec. 7. All Humana Medicare Advantage dental benefits use a PPO network, even if the patient is on an HMO medical plan.

“Dental continues to be one of the leading benefits our members look for when considering a Medicare Advantage plan,” said George Renaudin, Medicare and Medicaid President for Humana. “We put our members at the center of everything we do, which means we listen and continue to deliver what they want and need in a plan.”

Humana members have the ability to seek in-network dental care in and outside of their home state, which is important for those who travel often or snowbirds who split their time between different locations.

Humana’s enhanced dental benefits for many of its 2024 Medicare Advantage plans include:

Dental coverage on 100% of Medicare plans. Every Humana Medicare Advantage plan includes coverage for preventive services - like exams and cleanings. Many of the Medicare Advantage plans also include dental coverage for additional services, and all Medicare Advantage members have access to a nationwide network of participating dental providers.

Rich embedded dental benefits. More than 87% of Humana Medicare Advantage members will have embedded benefits that cover some major services. About 90% of members will have plans that cover periodontal scaling.

Dental allowances without frequency limitations on covered services. Some Humana Medicare Advantage plan members have dental allowances allowing them to use the allowance with no frequency limitations on covered services. This provides more flexibility for patients to get the services that they need when they need them. Claims process and clinical review still apply. Dental allowances are shaded grey in the dental office handbook.

Flexible allowance on the Humana spending account card. On certain plans, patients can use up to the allowance provided for out-of-pocket dental, vision and hearing services that are covered by their plan. This gives patients the flexibility to choose which expenses they want to pay for with their allowance. The allowance must be used for services that are covered by the 2024 embedded plan benefits.

Beyond the benefits it offers, Humana remains committed to the experience each member has with the company. For the third year in a row, Humana has been ranked No. 1 among health insurers for customer experience quality in Forrester’s proprietary 2023 U.S. Customer Experience Benchmark survey.

For five consecutive years, Humana has had the highest percentage of members in 4+ Star contracts of all national health plans, as rated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – another testament to its commitment to putting the health and well-being of its members first.

Humana has served Medicare beneficiaries for decades, with nearly 8.7 million Medicare members in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, as of June 30, 2023. Nearly 5.8 million of those members are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.

Dental providers interested in learning more about Humana’s network can visit www.humana.com/provider/dentist-resources/join-dental-network.







Benco Dental Acquires PPO Profits, a Leading Dental Practice Solutions Firm Focused on Fee Optimization and Revenue Cycle Management

Posted on Wednesday, October 4, 2023

The strategic acquisition will help Benco Dental better serve customers by offering class-leading fee negotiations, credentialing, and other revenue cycle management services.

Benco Dental, the nation’s largest independent distributor of oral healthcare technology and supplies, today announced the acquisition of PPO Profits, one of the market’s leading providers of dental fee negotiations and revenue cycle management services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Benco Dental will operate PPO Profits as a standalone company, and PPO Profits will continue to serve current clients without interruption. Anna DuHamel, previously Benco Dental’s VP of Sales for Strategic Markets, has assumed the role of Chief Business Officer at PPO Profits.

“In today’s healthcare business climate, it’s essential for dental practices committed to succeeding long-term to strike a spot-on balance between generating enhanced revenue and delivering remarkable value to patients,” said DuHamel. “Adding PPO Profits to our portfolio allows us to immediately offer Benco Dental customers a proven solution for optimizing revenue from both insurance and cash patients.”

Benco Dental has long offered a comprehensive suite of added-value practice growth and development services. PPO Profits is additive and will remain a separate entity. “PPO Profits has a very distinct mission that will compliment, but live separately from, services under umbrellas within Benco Dental like practice transitions, dental office design and IT,” explained DuHamel.

PPO Profits was founded by Vivek Kinra. After two decades in the corporate world, he left his job to take a more active leadership role in his wife’s startup practice. That led to forming PPO Profits with the goal of helping dental offices become more profitable while being contracted with PPOs. The company initially focused on fee negotiations and credentialing, but quickly expanded into billing and claims processing, and in-office membership plans. Within five years, PPO Profits was serving thousands of dentists nationwide with a workforce of 70 full time professionals and growing revenues 50% year-over-year.

Customers who wish to learn more can register for free weekly webinars or send an email.

“I connected with Benco Dental immediately and saw firsthand how they value their employees and customers. As a family-owned and customer-focused company rooted in the dental industry for decades, Benco Dental is the ideal organization to seamlessly assume the mission of PPO Profits,” said Kinra. “With Benco’s considerable resources, support, and leadership, I am confident that PPO Profits will be better equipped to serve dentists and assist them with all things dental insurance. I am psyched about the future and this next phase of the company, and am super excited to support the growth in a consulting capacity.”







Introducing Renamel® OPALITE™ and Renamel® Flowable OPAL™ From COSMEDENT®

Posted on Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Renamel® OPALITE™

Renamel® OPALITE™ is a new packable microfill resin with subtle opalescent effects that brighten the tooth and give it optical depth and vitality. This particular microfill will have a color adaptive effect as well as maintaining the value of your restorations. Use as a final layer on your anterior restorations to emulate a bright natural enamel.

Renamel® Flowable OPAL™

Renamel® OPAL™ is a flowable translucent microfill with opalescent optical properties that is unique to anything on the market. This material recreates the subtle dichroism found in natural enamel. Due to the transmission of light, when illuminated, opals and enamels will appear at times a delicate orange or blue. Use beneath the final enamel layer to create a natural incisal opalescence that is built into the restoration.

For information please contact us toll-free at 800-621-6729 or visit www.cosmedent.com.

 







Announcing: Installation of the New Alan J. Sherman-Alpha Omega Foundation US Dental Chair at the Dental Volunteers for Israel Trudi Birger Dental Clinic

Posted on Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Alpha Omega Foundation US (Foundation) and Dental Volunteers for Israel (DVI) are pleased to announce the installation of the state-of-the-art Alan J. Sherman-Alpha Omega Foundation US Dental Chair at the Trudi Birger Dental Clinic. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the commitment of both organizations providing high-quality dental care to underserved communities in Israel.

Dr. Jonathan Sherman initiated a matching gift campaign for a New Dental Chair at the DVI Trudi Birger Dental Clinic in Jerusalem, Israel, in honor of his father, Alan J. Sherman. Everyone who knew him always said that helping others was the essence of Alan’s very being, and a value he clearly passed on to his children. He is pictured on the right volunteering in the DVI clinic. Dr. Jonathan Sherman donated $10,000 and the Alpha Omega US Foundation donated the remaining $15,000! This is the largest donation that DVI has received from the US supporters and the Alpha Omega Foundation US since 2002, when Trudi Birger passed away. Alan was an active member of the Alpha Omega International Dental Society and served as a Southern California Regent from 1978-1980 & International Trustee from 1994-1996.

Alpha Omega US Foundation: The Alpha Omega Foundation was officially chartered in 1969 as the philanthropic arm of the Alpha Omega Fraternity, now known as the Society. The Foundation focuses on raising money to provide oral health care to children and adults suffering from a lack of accessibility to oral health services while training dental professionals to care for the most vulnerable populations. Since the formation of the foundation, there is no way to measure the years of tzedakah (charity) and mitzvot (good deeds) except that the programs have changed people’s lives.

Alpha Omega and the founding of DVI’s Trudi Birger Clinic: In the beginning, Alpha Omega members from France helped purchase equipment, set-up the clinic, and advise DVI founder and Holocaust Survivor Trudi Birger on the day-to-day operations of the clinic. AO members from France would frequently volunteer in the clinic sleep on mattresses and live the principle of Tikkun Olam. From the early beginning to current day, Alpha Omega members are deeply-rooted in supporting and continue to volunteer at DVI Trudi Birger Dental Clinic in Jerusalem.

DVI Background: Since its founding in 1980, DVI – Dental Volunteers for Israel, has been working to improve the health and quality of life of Jerusalem’s most underprivileged children and youth on an equal basis, regardless of race or religion, providing caring treatment to needy youth who would not otherwise receive care. This is afforded them through oral health education and state-of-the-art dentistry, free of charge with the help of volunteer dentists from around the world as well as local professionals, operating out of DVI’s totally free dental clinic in Jerusalem. In 2019, DVI hosted 140 international volunteer dentists from 19 different countries from all religious faiths who provided dental treatments to thousands of needy youth, elderly and Holocaust Survivors. In 2020, despite the pandemic, DVI had 56 volunteer dentists! To achieve that, with foreign dentists unable to GET to Israel, DVI had to switch gears and recruit locally. DVI is also committed to the training and advancement of promising young dentists interested in specializing in pediatric dentistry and is the only dental clinic in Israel that serves as an external pediatric rotation for dental students. DVI’s initial partnership with the Hadassah School of Dental Medicine expanded to include the Tel-Aviv School of Dental Medicine in 2020 and in 2021, the Galilee Medical Center and Tel HaShomer (Sheba) Medical Center, turning DVI into the largest off-site Residents’ Training Facility in Israel.

DVI Statistcis

2022

2020

2007

Total Number of Youth Treated

2,307

1,946

2,306

Total Number of Treatments to Youth

9,226

7,784

9,225

Total Number of Elderly/Survivors Treated

114

138

0*

Total Number of Dentures' Treatments

530

434

0*

Total Number of Volunteer Dentists

128

56

98

Dental Chair for DVI’s Free Jerusalem Clinic: DVI’s less operable dental chairs have been presenting problems, as dental assistants struggle to get them up and down while some first-time young dental patients get more and more anxious. As the individuals DVI treats are already coming from difficult backgrounds, this additional anxiety is creating a serious patient care issue. The workstation will replace an existing dental operatory, which is barely functioning, after several decades of use, can no longer be repaired, and when it fails to rise and lower, the result is reducing output in the number of treatments DVI can provide every week. In real terms, the chart below shows the number of children, youth and elderly who will benefit from this new equipment every year. The A-Dec dental chair, a quality manufactured operatory which is built to last, is likely replacing the actual chair Dr. Sherman was working from here.

For additional information, visit the AO website http://www.aofus.org/ and the DVI website http://www.dental-dvi.org.il/.


 







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