Wide-format imaging leader Roland DGA Corporation, a leading provider of digital inkjet printers, vinyl cutters, dental milling machines, engravers, and other innovative devices, has been named one of Orange County’s “Top Workplaces” for 2023 by the Orange County Register. This marks the 10th time Roland DGA has received this recognition from the region’s largest newspaper. This year, a total of 4,231 organizations were invited to survey their employees for Top Workplace consideration, with just 146 of these companies earning this prestigious recognition.

The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by The Orange County Register’s employee engagement technology partner, Energage LLC. This confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. Employers are ranked among groupings of similar size and those that score high enough are recognized as Top Workplaces.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

Roland DGA’s President, Amado Lara agrees with Rubino. “Being named one of the top workplaces in Orange County says a lot about a company,” noted Lara. “Establishing and maintaining a positive, collaborative, and inclusive work culture and environment has always been a high priority for Roland DGA. “We are firm believers that these factors directly impact not only the happiness and satisfaction of our staff, but also things like overall productivity and how we interact with our customers.”

The Orange County Register published its list of Top Workplaces for 2023 on December 8, 2023. To view the complete list or obtain additional details regarding the program, visit https://www.ocregister.com/2023/12/08/top-workplaces-2023-see-all-146-orange-county-company-winners. For more information on Roland DGA Corporation or the Roland DGA product line, visit https://www.rolanddga.com. 

The organizations celebrated the successful launch of an innovative co-located dental and medical practice, revolutionizing integrated healthcare services.

Pacific Dental Services® (PDS), one of the leading dental and medical support organizations in the U.S., proudly announced the grand opening of its first co-located dental-medical practice in partnership with MemorialCare, a distinguished Southern California healthcare system. The launch of Culver Smiles Dentistry marks a historic milestone as the first-of-its-kind collaboration between a national dental support organization and a regional healthcare system.

Recognizing the critical role of oral health in overall health, the co-located practices are designed to offer a revolutionary approach to healthcare. Both practices leverage the Epic® electronic health records system, providing a longitudinal view of a patient’s health history and enabling seamless collaboration between physicians and oral health providers. This integration aims to provide patients with an unparalleled whole-person health experience, where medical and dental professionals collaborate closely to develop specialized treatment plans tailored to individual needs. Additionally, this approach may contribute to reducing annual healthcare expenses and unnecessary hospitalizations.

“Today marks an exciting milestone with the opening of Culver Smiles Dentistry, representing a significant leap in healthcare innovation as our inaugural co-located medical and dental practice in partnership with MemorialCare,” said Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO of Pacific Dental Services. “We’re excited about the positive impact this collaboration will have on patient care, especially for our seniors. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the MemorialCare team for their invaluable partnership and shared commitment to advancing oral health as a vital component of overall wellness. Through the integration of dental and medical expertise and the use of shared electronic health records, we’re pioneering proactive healthcare models that prioritize early detection and comprehensive care.”

“We are grateful for our partnership with Pacific Dental Services. It’s tremendously beneficial to the communities we serve as it creates an environment that encourages proactive preventative care,” says Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D., president and CEO of MemorialCare. “We are deeply rooted in our mission to serve the healthcare needs of our community, and this is another integral partnership that enables us to do so.”

Dr. Deepika Dhama, owner of Culver Smiles Dentistry, highlighted the benefits of the integrated approach: “Our ability to seamlessly communicate and collaborate with medical professionals within the same facility enhances our capacity to comprehensively diagnose, treat, and prevent potential health issues at an early stage. Additionally, offering comprehensive specialty services like endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery further supports our commitment to providing diverse, patient-centered care within our integrated practice.”

The grand opening of the dental practice follows the successful launch of MemorialCare’s medical practice within the University Park shopping center in May 2023. The location offers patients easy access to various essential healthcare services including dental care, oral surgery, family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatrics, available under one roof.

The co-located practices aim to underscore the Mouth-Body Connection®, emphasizing the link between oral health and overall systemic health. They recognize the role that harmful bacteria, inflammation, and bone loss in the mouth may play in chronic systemic diseases. Moreover, the practices aim to highlight the connection between periodontal disease and systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, and pregnancy complications.

This is the first of several co-located practices that will open over the next five years, with PDS-supported dental offices located within select MemorialCare Medical Group health centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. 

Spear Education proudly announces the successful completion of its Spear Core Workshop Curriculum by 24 dedicated dental professionals. These individuals have received this honor by completing the final workshop in the curriculum pathway, Advanced Treatment Planning, on Dec. 12, 2024.

This transformative curriculum path includes 182 continuing education credit hours and guides participants through a comprehensive journey, providing mastery in precision treatment planning, occlusal mastery, worn dentition expertise, phased treatment proficiency, and a patient-centric approach.

Congratulations to the following graduates:

Adela Cabrera, El Paso Quality Dentistry, El Paso, Texas

Elizabeth Beard, Renew Dental, Lubbock, Texas

Jeremy Ely, Dental Crafters, Marshfield, Wisconsin

Tom Fraser, Advanced Dental Group, West Palm Beach, Florida

Chitra Hardikar, Smile Creations of Raleigh, Raliegh, North Carolina

Karen Harris, Karen Harris DMD Renewal & Cosmetic Dentistry, St. Louis, Missouri

Andrew Jorgensen, Pine Grove Dental Arts, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Eric Langenwalter, East Alton Dental Group, East Alton, Illinois

Glenn Miller, Richboro Family Dentistry, LLC, Richboro, Pennsylvania

Matt Milana, Arcadia Dentistry, Phoenix, Arizona

Resmi Nair, Carewell Dental, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

Andrew Newman, Huffman Family Dentistry, Anchorage, Alaska

Poorva Parnaik, Dental Creations, Medford, New Jersey

Sarah Phillips, Family Tree Dentistry, Santa Clarita, California

Justin Poff, Poff Dental Associates, Nashville, Tennessee

Kirk R. Rathburn, Kirk Rathburn DDS, Boulder, Colorado

Jonathon Rogers, Rogers Family Dental, Greenville, Tennessee

Josh Rogoff, Rogoff Dental Group, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Jackie Schuler, Dakota Dental, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Brad Slominski, Dental Crafters, Marshfield, Wisconsin

Maria Tapia, Dentistry by Design Palisades, Pacific Palisades, California

Shannon Thorsteinson, Wellspring Dental, Atlanta, Georgia

Tara Ziaya, Dental Crafters, Marshfield, Wisconsin

Derrick Ziemba, Pioneer Valley Dental Arts, Longmeadow, Massachusetts

The individuals have completed Spear’s six-workshop curriculum path that includes: Treatment Planning with Confidence, Occlusion in Clinical Practice, Advanced Occlusion, Worn Dentition, Phasing and Sequencing Complex Treatment, and Advanced Treatment Planning.

"I am extremely proud of each graduate who has completed the Spear Core Workshop Curriculum. They are among the elite of the dental industry because of all of the work they have put in to elevate their clinical expertise,” said Gregg Kinzer, D.D.S., M.S.D., Spear’s Faculty Chair and Chief Curriculum and Campus Officer. “This group has been a great pleasure to teach. They have challenged us, learned from each other, and I know will continue to go forward and provide exceptional dentistry.”

The Spear Core Workshop Curriculum path is designed to help individuals master everything from confidently treatment planning complex cases and restoring a patient's bite to the proper technique to use to diagnose and treat worn dentition. Conducted over two or three-day sessions at Spear's campus in Scottsdale, Arizona, it combines in-person lectures and hands-on training. This unique format allows participants to integrate the curriculum seamlessly into their busy schedules, with multiple sessions available throughout the year.

To learn more about how you can elevate your skills to the next level through the Spear Workshop Curriculum path, visit https://content.speareducation.com/core-curriculum-workshops-master-clinician-program?hs_preview=WovmtoNM-148191138632. 

Two new studies have shed light on the effectiveness of oral probiotic BLIS M18™ in promoting dental health among various age groups. These new findings underscore the potential of BLIS M18™ as a powerful oral probiotic for improving teeth and gum health.

Oral health issues, including dental caries and gum diseases, are primarily attributed to harmful oral bacteria. S. salivarius M18 (BLIS M18™) has shown promising results in inhibiting these bacteria associated with dental problems, as highlighted in the recent studies:

Study 1: published in Nutrients Journal - A clinical trial involving 61 young adults (aged 18-25) revealed significant improvements in gum health markers after a 4-week intervention with BLIS M18™. The intervention group displayed noticeable enhancements in oral hygiene levels and reduced gingival bleeding, indicating improved gum condition.

Study 2: published in Paediatric Dentistry and Dental Prophylaxis - In a year-long examination among 90 preschoolers with dental caries, repeated 3-month applications of BLIS M18™ exhibited substantial improvements in oral health indicators, including notable reductions in caries and gingivitis indices.

These publications reinforce BLIS M18™'s potential in combatting cariogenic bacteria, decreasing inflammatory markers associated with oral health issues, and enhancing gum health in both adults and children, building upon previous scientific research.

"We're excited about the implications of these latest studies, further substantiating the role of BLIS M18™ in oral health improvement," said Chief Technology Officer, John Hale. "The findings reflect a further step forward in validating the efficacy of BLIS M18™ as an effective oral probiotic supplement for teeth and gum health "

For more details on BLIS M18™ and its clinical research, visit www.blis.co.nz.

The PDS Foundation has granted over $1.5 million in scholarships since 2016.

The Pacific Dental Services® (PDS) Foundation proudly announces the Winter 2023 Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship recipients, a remarkable group of 24 dental assisting (DA) students who collectively received over $100,000 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.

“Serving on the scholarship committee and engaging with our applicants is one of the highlights of my role,” said Dr. Ghazal. “Empowering aspiring dental assistants across the country is our priority. That's why we offer comprehensive support and financial aid, so students can focus on their studies and pursue a successful career in dental assisting with confidence.”

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 $1.5 million in scholarships to support the educational pursuits of over 260 students in the dental field.

Michael Le, Executive Director of the PDS Foundation, said, “Our mission is to empower aspiring dental assistants to become influential leaders in oral health. Through their journeys of personal and professional growth, we stand alongside them by investing in their future. We are grateful for the community's unwavering commitment to helping these students achieve a brighter tomorrow.”

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

Winter 2023 Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarship Recipients:

Student	Academic Institution	City, State
Summer Bannister	Tri County Technical College	Pendleton, S.C.
Alisha Beltran	Concorde Career College	Tampa, Fla.
Taris Bergerson	Houston Community College Coleman Campus	Houston, Texas
Raquel Cienfuegos	UEI College	Huntington Park, Calif.
Maria Robles Cuevas	Pickens Technical College	Aurora, Colo.
Leslie Curiel	Unitek College	Antioch, Calif.
Daniella Franco	UEI College	Oceanside, Calif.
Madelyn Hembree	Ross Medical Center	Erlanger, Ky.
Tracy Hetherington	Palm Beach State College	Lake Worth, Fla.
Sara Karnick	Dakota County Technical College	Rosemount, Minn.
Erika Martinez	Brookline College	Phoenix, Ariz.
Victoria Mazyck	UEI College	Tacoma, Wash.
Ecaterina Meleshko	Dakota County Technical College	Rosemount, Minn.
Evelyn Vega Miranda	West-Mec Southwest Campus	Buckeye, Ariz.
Heather Oliver	Pima Medical Institute	Mesa, Ariz.
Allli Park	Central Lakes College	Brainerd, Minn.
Claritza Plascencia	San Joaquin Valley College	Temecula, Calif.
Leslie Quesada	Concorde Career College	Garden Grove, Calif.
Jamaica Pauline Rectra	Houston Community College Coleman Campus	Houston, Texas
Christina Aguilar-DeLa Rosa	Carrington College	Sacremento, Calif.
Caroline Spriggs	Lane Community College	Eugene, Ore.
Alaidria Stone	Milan Institute	Visalia, Calif.
Odessa Taylor	Land Community College	Eugene, Ore.
Emily Woltjer	Clackamas Community College, Harmony Campus	Milwaukie, Ore.

New programs such as teledentistry and mobile dental clinics create more ways to access care across the state

DentaQuest, part of Sun Life U.S. and the nation’s second-largest dental benefits provider by membership, is expanding efforts to ensure access to quality dental care for people across Michigan using a mix of new provider programs, member engagement strategies and community investments. DentaQuest provides dental benefits to more than two million Michiganders through state-based Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Marketplace plans.

"Despite a broad network of more than 6,700 dental care access points in Michigan, many of our members struggle to get the critical oral health care they need," said Steve Pollock, president of DentaQuest. "Oral health is directly tied to overall health, and our efforts to expand mobile dentistry and teledentistry services are essential to ensure all patients have access to quality care, no matter where they live or any socio-economic status.”

As part of DentaQuest’s commitment to improve the oral health of all, the organization has implemented various strategies to further increase dental care access in Michigan. These efforts include:

Mobile dental clinics: Launched in September, DentaQuest has teamed up with a mobile dental partner to provide care to some of the most underserved counties. The team has already served dozens of members at five events statewide with more planned later this year. Mobile dental clinics are portable clinics that offer access to care to patients who live in more rural communities and don’t have a dental clinic nearby. They provide a number of services, including preventive and restorative dental care, such as dental exams, cleanings, sealants and oral health education.

Teledentistry: DentaQuest recently partnered with Teledentistry.com to bring members virtual, anytime access to dental providers. Now available on some Michigan plans, virtual dental appointments can eliminate the need for in-person care 30% of the time, according to a recent internal DentaQuest pilot.

Health behavior member rewards: A number of plan members may receive gift cards after receiving essential, preventive dental care and completing a survey to help guide future programs.

Concierge appointment scheduling: Plan members can now receive assistance from DentaQuest’s Access to Care team to find the right provider and schedule an appointment.

Provider programs: DentaQuest is working with providers in the state to offer extended office hours and ease administrative burdens that can hold up treatment.

Philanthropic investments: DentaQuest is also committed to investing in the community and partnering with local organizations to improve access to oral health care.

• DentaQuest has donated more than $300,000 to organizations dedicated to increasing oral health care access in Michigan. Most recently, the organization announced a series of contributions to Michigan nonprofits to help increase oral health care access and education among underserved communities.

• The organization donated a total of $45,000 to seven organizations, which include programs at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, Central City Health, Great Lakes Bay Health Center, Cherry Health Foundation, Macomb Community College, Lansing Community College and the Michigan Dental Society.

• DentaQuest is the exclusive national dental insurance partner of TeamSmile, the nation’s premier advocacy group that connects oral health professionals with professional athletic organizations to bring life-changing dental care to children in need. Last month, DentaQuest and TeamSmile held a single-day event at Ford Field, which provided 80 children with diagnostic, preventive and restorative care, as well as oral health education, valued at $56,904.

For more information on DentaQuest’s plans and benefits available in Michigan, visit https://www.dentaquest.com/en/members and search Michigan.

The Western Society of Periodontology named Sherri M. Lukes, RDH, MS, FAADH, its Dental Hygiene Speaker of the Year for 2023.

Lukes is the owner of Sherri Lukes Speaking/Consulting. She also is an Associate Professor Emerita at Southern Illinois University, a Past President of the Illinois Dental Hygienists Association, and a member of Inside Dental Hygiene's Editorial Advisory Board.

Mid America Dental Sales, a Master Distributor of industry leading Dental Imaging and Diagnostic products is proud to announce that they have been chosen to distribute the HuLaser K2 Mobile Cordless Diode Laser into the USA through their dental dealer distribution channels. Mid America Dental sales, with its Nationwide team of Manufacturer reps, and support dept. meet the high standards of Hulaser.

The K2 Mobile will be distributed and supported from Mid America’s 20,000 square foot Chicago area facility. The lightweight and balanced K2 weighs in at just 135G’s, which includes the battery. The wireless K2 is feature packed and provides more user options than many of the more expensive corded units with its 22 pre-set programs plus 4 additional memory settings that are user definable for added convenience. The powerful laser provides enough power for most any soft tissue procedure with 3.5W of continuous power, and up to 6W pulse.

Designed in South Korea, with major components from Germany and Japan, the K2’s innovative design includes more than twelve technology and design patents that provide increased efficiency, durability, and an ergonomic design, for comfortable use. This unit has been sold worldwide for the last couple of years with an outstanding reliability track record and just recently available in the USA. Should you have any product issues covered by the manufacturer’s 2-Year warranty period; your unit will simply be replaced through your local dealer.

The K2 is well thought out, both for productivity and economical use. The K2 features the world’s first AFL system. A patented Adjustable Fiber Length system that is ideal for instantly reaching anywhere in the mouth, especially those hard to access areas. The K2 is very economical to operate as well. It features autoclavable Optic Fibers, Aluminum front caps, and Hygienic silicone front covers. The autoclavable Optic Fibers get up to 50 uses per fiber, making them less than a dollar per use, much more cost effective than many other units requiring costly disposable tips.

The easy to operate K2 Laser is available through your local authorized Mid America Dental Sales full-service dealer. Contact them to arrange a demo, or visit www.dentalsalesinc.com 888-629-6646 for additional details.

Dental Manufacturer Pac-Dent, Inc. and 3D Printer Manufacturer Carbon are proud to announce the introduction of Pac-Dent’s Rodin™ Sculpture to the Carbon platform.

Indicated for the printing of single crowns, inlays, onlay and veneers, Pac-Dent’s Rodin™ Sculpture is a FDA 510k cleared Class II medical device that fulfills all the necessary regulatory requirements for permanent and temporary restorations. Due to Rodin™ Sculpture’s unique formulation of over 50% ceramic filler, permanent crowns printed with this ceramic nanohybrid resin qualify for insurance reimbursements under amended ADA insurance codes for 2023.

The high concentration of true ceramic fillers in Rodin™ Sculpture also provides best-in-class radiopacity and maximum fracture resistance of printed restorations. Rodin™ Sculpture is now available to order in 6 shades, corresponding with the Vita shade guide system, as well as three distinct size configurations.

Transform your All-On-X Workflow: Revolutionize long-term provisional all-on-x restorations with the first Carbon validated all-on-x resin – designed for premium aesthetics and strength. This unlocks a new printed application on the Carbon platform for dental labs

Digital Meets Artistry: Deliver lifelike dental prosthetics with a workflow that combines digital printing with secondary processing that leverages your lab’s artistic abilities to create natural and highly aesthetic teeth.

Cost-Efficiency in Production: Reduce material waste and production time, while delivering high-quality results with a cost-effective process.

Visit https://rodin-3d.com to learn more

Dental AI bridges awareness and action. Majority of those surveyed would be more likely to take their dentist’s recommendations when validated by AI

Nine out of 10 Americans have experienced dental disease, and yet it is the most treatable of all potential health issues. Data and clinical experiences indicate dental AI helps to bridge awareness and action, reducing the need for complicated and invasive treatments and staving off long-term health issues.

VideaHealth, the leading dental AI software company, announced the results of new research which found more than 90 percent (94%) of consumers surveyed agree that untreated oral issues, such as cavities and unhealthy gums, directly impact overall physical health and risk of disease, suggesting that public health campaigns designed to raise awareness of the long-term impact of oral disease on overall health are working.

However, there is a gaping disconnect between awareness and action. Despite recent and repeated warnings from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association and many others, a majority of Americans (81%) surveyed have questioned or hesitated to commit to a treatment their dentist suggested. In fact, nearly one-third (31%) won’t get dental treatment altogether until the pain is too great to manage or just ignore problems completely.

While it is hard to imagine someone refusing to treat conditions ranging from a broken ankle to heart disease, that is exactly what Americans are doing when it comes to their oral health. The top reasons given for questioning or hesitating to commit to a suggested treatment include cost (53%), fear or pain (28%), and because the problem does not seem too painful or problematic (18%).

Accepting earlier dental treatment can save significant money and time, and stave off more complicated and invasive treatments and long-term health issues.

· One in four adults in the U.S. have an untreated cavity

· More than 47% of Americans have periodontal, or gum disease

· A recent study indicates the estimated cost of untreated gum disease alone is $154 billion

· More than $45 billion in U.S. productivity is lost each year due to untreated oral disease

Dental AI moves consumers toward action

An earlier study demonstrated that the majority of consumers are uncomfortable with AI in healthcare. However, the data suggests a much greater interest in and comfort with AI in dentistry. Nearly half of those polled are open to the use of dental AI if it could either help catch issues early or if it could reduce the need for more invasive treatment in the future.

When informed that AI could see things on a dental X-ray that a dentist could not detect with the naked eye, six out of 10 (59%) said they would be more likely to take their dentist’s recommendation with the percentage even higher for Baby Boomers at nearly seven out of 10 (65%). Consistency across geography, education level and gender shows widespread agreement among consumers.

Reasons for accepting AI-powered dental diagnosis confirmation include:

· Knowing it would lead to less invasive treatment (44%);

o Gen Z (34%), Millennials (46%), Gen X (40%), Baby Boomers (50%)

· It saves money (37%);

o Gen Z (41%), Millennials (42%), Gen X (32%), Baby Boomers (34%)

· It may not falsely overdiagnose (32%); and

o Gen Z (35%), Millennials (35%), Gen X (30%), Baby Boomers (29%)

· It could help prevent systemic disease (31%)

o Gen Z (30%), Millennials (36%), Gen X (31%), Baby Boomers (25%)

“AI in dentistry is a game-changer. The positive impact of dental AI on patient behavior can make a meaningful impact on health, which in turn can drive down costs.” Florian Hillen, CEO, VideaHealth

Supplemental data:

In some cases, when a small cavity is detected in an early stage, it may only require a $20 to $50 fluoride treatment. In contrast, delaying treatment could create a larger cavity and require a more invasive dental treatment like filling, crown or root canal which could cost anywhere from $200 to nearly $2,000.

Survey Methodology

This consumer survey was conducted online by Directions Research, independently recognized as one of the nation’s leading business decision insight firms. The survey was fielded from October 12-16, 2023 among a demographically balanced nationally representative sample of 1,047 U.S. adults 18 years of age and older.