Clinical Management Company to expand training curriculum in 2024 and beyond.

DSO University (DSO-U), a leading clinical management company providing DSOs with a turnkey solution for developing provider skills, today announced the release of its new cutting-edge training management software platform and continuing education services. The company serves as a one-of-a-kind training solution for dental service organizations and their staff.

“Having been in the private dental space for 20 years, I had long envisioned creating a university where providers could continually hone their skills and help more patients,” said DSO-U founder and CEO, Dr. Sam Bollwinkel. “I’m excited to see the facility come to fruition as we address the need for DSOs to nurture their providers and give them the skills to organically grow their practices.”

With state-of-the-art facilities located in the Phoenix East Valley, DSO-U and its team of seasoned faculty provide participants with hands-on experience working with real patients so they can gain the skills necessary to immediately add new procedures and workflows to their practices.

“I’ve come to DSO University several times now and I always find the hands-on training extremely beneficial,” said Dr. Cameron Blyth “Because of the two 3-day sessions I’ve completed at the University, I have been able to add two new service offerings to my practice, which not only helps my patients, it has also dramatically increased my clinic revenue.”

While DSO-U can help improve the skills of any clinician, the organization is primarily focused on helping DSO’s train a core team of providers who in turn can train other providers within the DSO at the DSO University facility. Training currently being offered includes procedures in orthodontics and endodontics as well as dental implants.

“From start to finish, DSO-U serves as a real-world training ground for our participants,” said DSO-U’s Chief Revenue Officer, Joe Slade. “Doctors come here having no experience with a new procedure, such as implants or clear aligners, and leave confident in their ability to implement the solution for their patients upon their return.”

3M has announced that Solventum will be the name of the planned, independent healthcare company following its spin-off

Solventum originates from two words: “solving” and “momentum. The new name aims to represent how the company will focus on solving big healthcare challenges and emphasise the impact it can make on the world.

Mike Roman, 3M chairman and chief executive officer, said: “This is another significant milestone on the path to building two-world class companies, 3M and Solventum. We continue to prepare for the spin-off, and we’re committed to driving long-term value for shareholders.”

For more than 70 years, 3M’s healthcare business has been trusted by countless customers to solve their critical needs with quality and high-performing solutions rooted in science.

Bryan Hanson, chief executive officer, 3M Health Care Business Group, said: “As we build this new company, Solventum will embody our mission of enabling better, smarter, safer healthcare to improve lives. The name signifies who we are as a team — problem solvers who create innovative solutions that touch millions of lives, transform the patient experience, and save time for healthcare professionals.”

The new name and branding will go into effect when the spin-off of the independent healthcare company occurs, which is expected in the first half of 2024, subject to final approval by 3M’s board of directors and other required conditions. Until the spin-off, the healthcare business continues to be part of 3M and governed by the policies and procedures of 3M.

3M’s Health Care Business will continue to focus on markets such as: wound care, healthcare IT, oral care, filtration, and purification, which resulted in $8.4 billion in sales in 2022.

Commitment to people in need and measures against food waste combined

With food prices rising at the highest rate in decades, more and more people in the U.S. are living in poverty. Food banks across the country continue to experience an increased demand since the beginning of the pandemic and rising food costs. vhf has once again partnered with Feeding America, a non-profit organization that distributes and donates food to tens of millions of people in need.

For many years, vhf has been committed to charitable causes during the Holiday season – following the principle: donations instead of gifts. “We are grateful to be in a position due to our successful business with our customers to give back to the community”, says Christoph Roeer, CEO of vhf Inc.

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, Feeding America helped provide 6.6 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people served.                                                                                                             

Myerson, LLC, an industry leader in manufacturing digital dental materials, announces the launch of the Trusana™ Premium Denture System. The system is comprised of Trusana Premium 3D Tooth Resin and the newly released Trusana Premium 3D Denture Base Resin and Trusana Bond Denture Adhesive. The three products work together to create a premium denture with optimal physical properties and esthetics. Created by a team of scientists and clinicians from around the world, Trusana resins won a RadTech/UVA Emerging Technology award for additive manufacturing in 2020.

Trusana’s patented chemistry delivers an esthetic, unfilled polymer with high flexural strength, fracture toughness, and wear-resistance. Trusana also mirrors the beauty and translucency of a natural smile.

"We are thrilled to introduce the new Trusana Premium Denture system. We dedicated years of university-based research to create resins for 3D printing denture teeth with exceptional wear resistance and optimal esthetics and a denture base with high-impact strength. Independent clinical and in vitro multi-site studies have shown our patented 3D resins deliver the requisite strength and toughness with minimal moisture absorption,” says Jim Swartout, Myerson’s President and CEO. “The dental industry has been asking for years what the Trusana Premium Denture System now offers — a straightforward 3D workflow using next level 3D resins to produce the highest quality dentures.”

The Trusana premium denture system gives dental labs what they are seeking in terms of innovative science and technology, and the ability to produce final digital dentures that maintain strength and the characteristics of a traditional denture. Together, the Trusana premium 3D resins result in a high-quality product for doctors while helping to save time, money, and materials.

Myerson’s Vice President, Susan van Kinsbergen, CDT, says, “Our Trusana Premium Denture System empowers dental labs to elevate their craftsmanship, streamline their workflow, and offer patients unrivaled precision with high-impact strength. By harnessing the potential of 3D printing and Trusana, dental labs can enhance their capabilities, drive efficiency, and deliver exceptional denture solutions that transform smiles.”

Zahn Dental, the U.S. dental laboratory business of Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), is the exclusive distributor of Trusana resins.

“Zahn Dental's ongoing relationship with Myerson has helped us deliver on our commitment of helping dental laboratories embrace and accelerate their adoption of digital dentistry,” said Rita Acquafredda, President, Global Dental Lab & Prosthetic Solutions. “With the addition of Myerson’s complete digital denture system, we can continue to strengthen our portfolio of dental laboratory solutions that help improve our customers’ production processes and enhance patient outcomes.” 

Studies have shown that using Solea Protect in conjunction with fluoride is up to six times more effective at reducing mineral loss in tooth enamel than fluoride alone.¹

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, can affect patients of all ages and is one of the top reasons for dental appointments. Convergent Dental, the power behind the Solea® All-Tissue Dental Laser, is now helping dentists inhibit caries development with the commercial launch of Solea® Protect™. This new application for the Solea laser helps reduce mineral loss in dental enamel, protecting teeth against acid attack and caries development.

Solea Protect is the result of decades of research in caries prevention using CO2 lasers. The treatment uses the Solea laser's novel 9.3-micron wavelength to gently heat the surface of the tooth enamel, removing impurities that can weaken teeth. This process creates a strong, crystal-like tooth structure that is more resistant to decay (click here for the animation). When used in combination with fluoride, Solea Protect reduces mineral loss up to six times more than fluoride alone.¹ In a one-year clinical trial, 22% of patients who received only fluoride treatments required caries restoration within the 12 months. Conversely, none of the patients (0%) who were treated with a combination of Solea Protect and fluoride required a restoration during the trial.²

“Convergent Dental is committed to driving innovation that elevates dental practices. Preventing tooth decay benefits nearly everyone and Solea Protect gives providers easy-to-use technology that is convenient and effective for their patients,” said Robert L. Gershon, CEO of Convergent Dental. “This new application is another example of the versatility of the Solea laser and how Convergent Dental is pushing the future of dentistry forward.”

With the addition of the Solea Protect treatment, the Solea laser enables dentists to offer both a unique preventative treatment and an anxiety-free experience when restorative work is required.

About Convergent Dental

Convergent Dental, Inc. is a privately owned dental equipment and technology company. The Company’s flagship product, Solea®, is the only CO2 laser to be cleared by the FDA for all-tissue indications and delivers an anesthesia-free, blood-free, suture-free experience that dentists can rely on.³ Solea® is a true breakthrough in dental laser technology that offers a completely different experience for both dentists and patients when compared to traditional instruments or any earlier laser treatment. Solea® enables dentists to elevate their practices through improved efficiency, patient experience, clinical effectiveness, and procedural expansion.⁴

For more information, please visit www.convergentdental.com.

1. Badreddine AH, et al. Demineralization Inhibition by High-Speed Scanning of 9.3 μm CO2 Single Laser Pulses Over Enamel. Lasers Surg Med. 2021 Jul;53(5):703-712.

4. Based on 2022 Annual Survey of Solea users. Documentation on file.

After five years of transformative breakthroughs in the orthodontic industry and serving over 30,000 patients, Retainer Club is thrilled to announce the launch of its highly anticipated RC2 platform. This revolutionary platform is set to redefine the way Dental Service Organizations (DSOs), orthodontists, and dentists serve patients, manage post-treatment care and drive growth. RC2 offers a simple approach to generate revenue and provide valuable analytics for practices to boost growth.

Retainer Club President and Co-Founder, Dr. Blair Feldman, expressed excitement about the launch, saying, "RC2 is a game-changer for practices. Our mission is to provide the tools and support to enhance patient care and boost revenue. We are taking a giant leap towards that goal, and are excited to see the positive impact it will have on the industry."

Key Features

The launch of RC2 marks a significant milestone in the evolution of post treatment retainer delivery and patient care. The platform is designed to empower practices to break free from the traditional retainer model and raise the bar for profitability and patient satisfaction. The pioneering features introduced with this launch will revolutionize how practices operate, setting a new standard for the industry. These (6) core features of RC2 integrate a holistic approach to retainer management:

1. Online Ordering & Home Delivery - allow 100% of patients to easily order perfect-fit retainer replacements with FREE home delivery.

2. Custom Smile Care Plan - create and manage a customized retainer replacement membership program that boosts revenue and saves your practice valuable time and money.

3. Analytics - streamline patient data with accurate insights into KPIs that measure patient orders and revenue.

4. Revenue Optimization - consistently grow revenue with your customized Smile Care Plan that supports 100% of patients for years after orthodontic treatment is complete.

5. New Patient Marketing - activate and manage integrated marketing, co-branded inserts, digital advertising and our custom built partner locator to increase referrals and retention.

6. Patient Management & Engagement - automate a seamless process for your staff for fulfillment, logistics, and billing to extend the lifetime value and referral reminders for all retainer patients.

Dr. Dustin Burleson, Orthodontist and Dental Practice Consultant for over 4,000 orthodontists stated, "I've been following Retainer Club for four years now - and the new RC2 platform will revolutionize the retainer model. Dental groups will either be all-in early - or playing catch-up a year from now."

To learn more about RC2 and experience the new era in orthodontic care and patient management, visit info.retainerclub.com/rc-2-demo.

HITRUST CSF® v9.3 Risk-Based Certification validates SKYGEN is committed to strong cybersecurity and meeting key regulations to protect sensitive data

SKYGEN, the leading software as a service (SaaS) technology and third-party administration (TPA) services company for dental and vision benefits, has announced that its Enterprise System SaaS platform and facilities have earned certified status by HITRUST for information security. The facilities include Menomonee Falls Data Center and Anthony Avenue Office Services located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and Mequon Data Center, located in Mequon, Wisconsin. In this way, the company has met demanding regulatory compliance and industry-defined requirements and is appropriately managing risk.

The achievement places SKYGEN in an elite group of organizations worldwide that have earned this certification. By including federal and state regulations, standards and frameworks, and incorporating a risk-based approach, the HITRUST Assurance Program helps organizations address security and data protection challenges through a comprehensive and flexible framework of prescriptive and scalable security controls.

“At SKYGEN, we consistently work to ensure we are addressing current and emerging threats and meeting complex compliance, information protection and privacy requirements,” said Darrin Haehle, SKYGEN Chief Technology Officer. “The HITRUST CSF® v9.3 certification demonstrates our commitment to upholding the highest standards for data protection and information security, and adeptness at helping our clients navigate an ever-evolving landscape.”

Reaching the highly acclaimed HITRUST standards unifies SKYGEN under a common security framework.

“HITRUST Certification is globally recognized as validation that information security and privacy controls are effective and compliant with various regulations. HITRUST Certification is considered the gold standard because of the comprehensiveness and applicability of the control requirements, depth of the assurance process and level of oversight that ensures accuracy,” said Jeremy Huval, Chief Innovation Officer, HITRUST. “Individually, each element exceeds most other programs, and collectively they make HITRUST Certification the most comprehensive, transparent, consistent and highest quality assessment available.”

As the leading software as a service (SaaS) technology and third-party administration (TPA) services, recognition of SKYGEN’s Enterprise System and data centers for the HITRUST CSF® Certification underscores its commitment to serving customers as a trusted partner. 

The funding, from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, will establish UNE’s Oral Health Center as a clinical research site for approximately 40 dental medicine students as they look for predictors of pain in patients recovering from oral surgery.

The University of New England College of Dental Medicine (CDM), Maine’s only dental school, is among seven collaborators sharing a $4.4 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) to launch a novel clinical practice-based research network to train future clinician-scientists.

Known as the Collaborative Clinical Practice-based REsearch Program for DENTal Schools (H-CREDENT), the five-year grant from NIDCR, a division of the National Institutes of Health, is being led by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) and will establish UNE’s Oral Health Center, home to the CDM, as a clinical research site for approximately 40 dental medicine students throughout the grant period.

The goal of the collaborative research project is to look for predictors of pain in patients as they recover from oral surgeries like root canals or tooth extractions. Participating students will collect saliva samples from patients and monitor their post-operative pain as they heal.

Mohamed ElSalhy, B.D.M., Ph.D., M.Sc., M.P.H., assistant clinical professor of dentistry, will serve as principal investigator for UNE on the project. Through the research process, he said, students and faculty will develop a system for identifying patients who experience higher-than-normal levels of pain to aid clinicians in making evidence-based decisions for treating post-operative pain.

“The project aims to train dentists to have a good research background so that they can do research in whatever setting they choose, including private practice,” ElSalhy said.

Nicole Kimmes, D.D.S., dean of the College of Dental Medicine, will oversee the facilitation of administrative, academic, and clinical logistics. She said students who participate in the program will benefit from a Harvard-developed research curriculum in addition to early, pre-career research opportunities and mentorship by skilled faculty from the CDM and from across the research network.

“This opportunity will provide participating students and faculty with valuable research training using the curriculum that Harvard has created. The data gathered from training sites will contribute to our understanding of the risk factors that contribute to patient pain development following invasive dental procedures,” she said. “This research project perfectly aligns with UNE’s mission and the mission of the College of Dental Medicine to improve the health of Northern New England, and we are grateful to collaborate with colleagues across the consortium.”

Additional collaborators on the project include Cambridge Health Alliance, Charles River Community Health, Harvard Catalyst, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Meharry Medical College. H-CREDENT will leverage the consortium’s collective expertise and encourage scientific partnerships between students and research faculty across collaborating sites.

Kimmes noted that the H-CREDENT program is a great example of the profession’s efforts to expand the practice-based research network.

“For practicing dentists who aren’t affiliated with the university setting, practice-based research is a vital way to contribute to the science and scholarship of dentistry,” Kimmes said. “By giving dentists that foundation while they’re students, we’re setting them up for success in their own practices with conducting their own research studies or collaborations with other colleagues.”

HSDM Dean William Giannobile, D.D.S., M.S., said partnering with UNE will advance both institutions’ “shared vision” of enhancing research in the dental health sphere.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the University of New England College of Dental Medicine and our other regional partners to advance our shared vision of fostering a new generation of clinician-scientists and scientifically astute clinicians,” Giannobile said. “We look forward to trainees in the program going on to make an impact here in New England as well as widely across the profession.” 

Clinux CAD, the world’s first cloud-based CAD software designed for dentists, launches three innovations, expanding its range of possibilities for customers:

1. New indication: Inlay/Onlay

Dentists have a growing desire to 3D print their inlays and onlays. This trend is now satisfied by Clinux CAD’s new indication where users will find comfort in the familiar workflow, as with Crowns, and where multiple unit designs, even in opposing quadrants, are fully supported.

2. New Margin Tool function: Semi-Automatic Margin

Clinux users will now find a fully functioning semi-automatic margin finder when doing their next case. This feature allows a clinician to quickly complete the margin process, tracing the cursor and finding the shortest distance along an edge.

3. Pay-per Export License

This option allows access and use of Clinux CAD, paying only when a design is exported. This newly available license is in addition to monthly, annual, or a five-year license option, where all exports are unlimited, and are purchased in blocks of credits with the cost based on the volume of credits purchased.

“The new indications open up a world of possibilities for dentists wishing to make their own CAD designs,” stated Roddy MacLeod, Clinux Inc. CEO. “Multiple-unit, simultaneous designing unlocks profitable workflows for the dentist, whether restoring a quadrant in one visit or a patient’s new smile.”

The clinical convenience of the innovations allows users to mix and match the optimal design method on a tooth-by-tooth basis. MacLeod states, “As an example, a user may use Database design when there is no useful pre-existing occlusion or Copy design, which is ideal for reproducing wax-ups in the anterior. In any scenario, we have worked to ensure the maximum clinical outcome through guided and intuitive workflows.”

DENTERPRISE International, Inc. (Denterprise) of Ormond Beach, Florida, and RUNYES MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS Ltd (RUNYES) of Ningbo, China jointly announce the launch of RUNYES AMERICA, Inc, a joint venture between the two companies whereas the new company will distribute RUNYES’s well established line of dental products on the North American market. The deal was formulated first in Shanghai last October, between Bright Xu, CEO of RUNYES, and Claude Berthoin, CEO of Denterprise. Details of the new joint venture were sealed in Ormond Beach just before the Greater New York Dental Meeting by Claude Berthoin, and Jane Li, Vice President of RUNYES.

Denterprise has long been known as a manufacturer, exclusive importer distributor, and incubator of foreign manufacturers. RUNYES is the largest dental x-ray manufacturer in the PRC and also produces chairs and dental units, autoclaves, and intraoral scanners. RUNYES has over 150 distributors worldwide.

"We will immediately joint our effort and focus first on the continued distribution of intraoral scanners both under the QuickSCanIOS and RUNYES brands, as well as on the new recently FDA cleared Smile-o-Ray handheld X-ray line," says Claude Berthoin, President of RUNYES AMERICA. "Another breakthrough will be the release of TeliCam Intraoral cameras for patient use at the Greater New York show, a long time dream I have had since I co-invented the technology in 1989. Bright Xu, and his daughter Emily Xu who is RUNYES Vice President of Digital Technologies, also share the vision and the new partners plan to enter the teledentistry field in the near future. For now, TeliCam is the necessary link to conduct real live teledentistry consultations made possible through a proprietary HIPAA compliant app developed by RUNYES. With TeliCam, dental tele-imaging is born and the product will be available through multiple channels," says Berthoin.

For more information about RUNYES AMERICA, Inc, visit Denterprise booth # 4113 and RUNYES Booth# 700 at GNY show!