In a landmark move set to redefine the dental industry, Patient Prism and Curve Dental® have joined forces to launch an innovative integration aimed at accelerating growth in dental practices nationwide. This partnership challenges the status quo, urging dental professionals to embrace digital and AI transformation for outsized returns in the coming decade.

The collaboration brings together Patient Prism's sophisticated AI platform and Curve Dental's world-class practice management software solution, offering an unprecedented view of the patient journey from marketing to production and re-engagement. This integration is a first in the industry, providing end-to-end funnel metrics powered by Curve data - a crucial tool for business success.

Revolutionizing the Dental Industry with AI and Digital Innovation

Amol Nirgudkar, CEO of Patient Prism, emphasized the significance of this integration. "End-to-end funnel metrics is the holy grail in any business," he said. "Our partnership with Curve Dental equips practices with a predictable way to grow their top and bottom lines, leveraging the power of AI and digital innovation."

Jana Macon, President of Curve Dental, also expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. "Combining forces with Patient Prism, the most sophisticated conversational AI platform in dentistry, was a logical step to redefine growth for our customers. Our commitment to this partnership, including alliances with world-class companies like Pearl and Patient Prism, demonstrates our dedication to bringing the best technology to our customers and helping them manage and grow their practices."

Challenging the Status Quo

As the dental industry stands at a crossroads, with rapid consolidation, technological advancements, and evolving patient acquisition strategies reshaping the landscape, this partnership is timely. The integration between Patient Prism and Curve Dental is not just a technological leap but a call to action for dental practices to adopt digital transformation and AI to remain competitive and achieve remarkable growth.

Orthodontist and entrepreneur with nearly 30 years of experience provides insight on the rapidly changing dental landscape.

Dr. Greg White, President and CEO of PepperPointe Partnerships and orthodontist with nearly 30 years of experience, recently released an article sharing his insight on the state of the dental industry. In this article, Dr. White discusses what led to the growth of dental service organizations (DSOs), private equity's influence on dentistry, and his predictions for the future.

Within the past five years, practicing dentists affiliated with DSOs increased by nearly 50%, while the top DSOs grew an average of 145%.

“Some of the cash flow that the doctor owner previously took in profits is used by the DSO to support the administrative work of the DSO platform, but most of the profits are reaped by the owners of the DSO, which is predominantly owned by its founders and the PE investors; the doctors are only small stakeholders,” said Dr. White. “The DSO at this point is taking the lion’s share of the profits that the doctor once received. But, make no mistake, the doctors are still doing all the work and generating all of the production.”

The article states what Dr. White sees as the real concern with private equity’s entrance into the dental space: its impact on the continuity of patient care. As DSO employees (and without true ownership in the practice and its assets), doctors are not committed to the practice and communities leading to a high turnover rate and inconsistent patient care.

“If a doctor does not own the non-clinical assets of the practice — accounts receivable, leases, and the furniture fixtures, and equipment (FFE) — and control the profitability of the practice, the likelihood of that doctor having the authority and ability to invest into the community diminishes significantly,” said Dr. White. “Without true ownership, the ability to allocate resources, and commit to the community in any meaningful way is curtailed, or even derailed.”

The article sheds light on the ever-changing dental landscape and provides practicing doctor owners with a unique perspective for a better future.

Access the full article here.

PreVu Software, a pioneer in dental technology solutions, proudly announces the launch of new, innovative technology that will continue our tradition of delivering dental treatment simulation software that changes the way dental professionals interact with patients and elevates the standard of patient education and engagement in the dental industry. These enhancements, driven by our proprietary SmileAI artificial intelligence, make the process of generating simulations with PreVu even faster, taking about 60 seconds.

Faster, smarter, simpler: the power of AI integration

We are excited to unveil new features that leverage our SmileAI technology — enhancements designed to streamline the process of creating smile simulations chairside. Thanks to our commitment to continuous innovation, dental professionals can more quickly provide patients with an understanding of their treatment options and potential outcomes.

Key highlights of the new features:

● Proprietary AI algorithms: Our advanced AI algorithms analyze facial structures and dental conditions, creating natural-looking smile simulations tailored to each patient.

● Enhanced speed: The integration of SmileAI ensures a faster workflow, empowering dental professionals to generate high-quality smile mock-ups efficiently, ultimately saving valuable time for both practitioners and patients.

● Improved whitening simulation: Leveraging the SmileAI framework, PreVu now supports improved whitening simulation capabilities, resulting in a more realistic simulation and increased patient acceptance of this type of procedure, which is often considered a gateway to further cosmetic treatment.

● Intuitive user interface: The software boasts an intuitive user interface, making it easy for dental professionals to navigate and create compelling smile simulations with minimal effort.

Elevating practices and increasing revenue

Beyond the positive impact on patient education, PreVu plays a pivotal role in supporting growth-minded dental practices. Using PreVu digital smile mock-ups increases patient interest and acceptance of high-value and fee-for-service dental treatments, including dental veneers, teeth whitening, aesthetic bonding, orthodontics, full-arch reconstruction, and full-arch replacement such as AOX implants, and more.

PreVu dental treatment simulations emotionally link patients to their new smile through compelling visualizations that offer a glimpse into their potential future and the enhanced version of themselves. This emotional connection plays an important part in the patient’s decision-making process and contributes to increased revenue for dental practices.

“Since our initial launch in 2016, we have been committed to continually improving our software features and user experience,” explains PreVu co-founder Joanne Villani. “We are excited to make it even faster for dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, and treatment coordinators who use our SmileAI technology to continue to create simulations that can be presented to patients chairside during the same appointment, without having to return for a second visit. This helps dental practices not only increase revenue from more fee-for-service treatments but also generate more patient interest in cosmetic dentistry resulting in more patients having smiles that they love, improving their self-esteem and how they interact with other people.”

Availability

The new features are available immediately to all current PreVu users. Dental professionals interested in experiencing the transformative capabilities of our enhanced software can schedule a discovery call and demo at our website at www.prevudental.com.

Best-in-class one-platform approach sets standard of care throughout the patient journey for 100+ practices

Henry Schein One today announced that 42 North Dental is implementing the full range of the company’s cloud-based platform including Dentrix Ascend, Jarvis Analytics, TechCentral and its AI-enabled X-ray analysis tool, Detect AI, powered and manufactured by VideaHealth.

42 North Dental, a dental support organization based in the Boston area, continues to implement the Henry Schein One platform across its more than 100 practices to create a scalable experience for their clinicians and patients.

Dentrix Ascend streamlines workflows with its intuitive interface and cloud-based flexibility. The technology can scale to accommodate 42 North Dental’s dynamic growth, while seamlessly integrating Detect AI into the platform. An FDA-approved study by VideaHealth revealed a 43% decrease in missed caries diagnoses by dentists utilizing the AI-powered system. The study also documented a 15% reduction in false positives, suggesting a substantial improvement in diagnostic accuracy and the potential for optimal treatment plans for all patients.

“Together with 42 North Dental, we're raising the standard of care for patients, empowering practices to deliver exceptional, personalized experiences through cutting-edge technology,” said Alan Rencher, Chief Technology Officer, Henry Schein One. “We're not just streamlining practice management – we're partnering with our customers to achieve their vision and become essential health accelerators, driving positive change within the dental industry.”

The decision to partner with Henry Schein One by 42 North Dental's clinical management team, field operations, and support staff leaders reflects their commitment to innovation. The platform's effectiveness, coupled with Henry Schein One's world-class implementation and support, solidified Dentrix Ascend and Detect AI as the clear choice for empowering 42 North Dental's supported practices and their teams to deliver personalized, exceptional care.

“At 42 North Dental, we’re committed to continually raising the bar for what’s possible in the practice of dentistry by delivering healthy, confident smiles for life,” said Michael Scialabba, DDS, Chief Clinical Officer of 42 North Dental. “This new technology aligns perfectly with our mission and empowers our teams to enhance the patient experience.”

With this transformative step, 42 North Dental sets a new standard for its patient-centric dentistry, proving that innovation truly delivers healthy smiles for life.

Henry Schein One Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer Ali Hyatt will participate in a panel at the Yankee Dental Congress in Boston on Jan. 25, 2024, alongside leaders from 42 North Dental and VideaHealth. The session, titled "AI in Practice: The Future is Now," will be moderated by 42 North Dental's Dr. Scialabba from 2-4 p.m. Eastern time. Additional panelists include VideaHealth Founder and CEO Florian Hillen and 42 North Dental's Stephanie Payne, DDS.

Benevis is an industry provider for the Department of Defense program that offers meaningful employment transition services for military members.

Benevis, a leading dental healthcare and orthodontics delivery organization committed to providing quality care to underserved communities, is excited to announce its collaboration with SkillBridge, a Department of Defense program. This collaboration aims to offer transitioning service members meaningful career opportunities within the Benevis network of 120 dental offices across 13 states and Washington, D.C., underscoring the company’s commitment to supporting veterans.

Through the SkillBridge collaboration, Benevis will provide veterans with access to training, mentorship, and employment opportunities in the oral healthcare sector, focusing on expanding access to care in disadvantaged communities. This initiative not only aligns with Benevis’ mission to make a difference in the communities it serves, but it also recognizes the unique skills, disciplines, and perspectives that veterans bring to the workforce.

Veterans are known for their exceptional work ethic, leadership abilities, and adaptability – qualities that are invaluable in the fast-paced, ever-evolving healthcare industry. Benevis believes that integrating these skilled professionals into their workforce will not only enhance their team but also improve the quality of care provided to a diverse patient population.

“As a SkillBridge provider, Benevis is committed to creating a veteran-inclusive environment that values the experiences and skills of former service members to build a diverse and dynamic workforce,” shared Bryan Carey, CEO of Benevis. “Through our collaboration, Benevis aims to provide veterans skill development and mentorship to meet the oral healthcare needs of our communities, while also offering career opportunity advancements upon program completion. We believe this career development will be a win-win for veterans and our company that stands to benefit from their experience.”

A Spotlight on Veteran Support

A recent example of the embodiment of Benevis’ ongoing commitment to veterans is Chris Fisher, a former U.S. Army soldier and current clinical operations manager at Benevis, managing clinical operations across multiple states. Fisher’s transition from an eight-year military career to a pivotal role at Benevis is a journey of resilience, dedication, and growth. After his military service, he took on the challenge of healthcare, driven by a personal mission to serve the community. His 12-year journey with Benevis is a testament to the impact that military training and discipline can have in the private sector, particularly in healthcare.

As a former Medicaid patient himself, Fisher’s passion for providing quality dental care to underserved populations resonates deeply with Benevis’ mission. His story is not just about professional success; it’s about making a real difference in people’s lives, whether it’s through direct patient care or mentoring new dental assistants, some of whom were inspired by Fisher himself to join the field.

Veterans like Chris Fisher bring unique qualities to the civilian workforce – a strong sense of mission, leadership skills, and a commitment to service. “Benevis recognizes these traits as invaluable, especially in healthcare, where dedication and resilience are key,” said Benevis Chief Dental Officer Dale Mayfield, DMD. “By collaborating with SkillBridge, Benevis is not just providing career opportunities for veterans; it is strengthening our own mission to deliver exceptional care to those who need it most.”

With this new collaboration, Benevis is excited to welcome more veterans into its ranks, confident that their unique skills and experiences will enrich the organization and enhance the quality of care provided to patients. Chris Fisher’s journey from soldier to healthcare leader is just one example of the extraordinary potential veterans bring to the civilian world, and Benevis is proud to be part of their continued journey.

To learn more about starting a meaningful oral healthcare career at Benevis, explore the company’s career website or read inspiring care team dental spotlights.  

Spear Education, a leading provider of dental education, is delighted to welcome Dr. Effie Habsha to its esteemed faculty. Renowned for her expertise in prosthodontics and her pioneering efforts in championing women in dentistry, Dr. Habsha's addition enhances Spear Education's commitment to delivering top-notch dental education.

Dr. Habsha will be the instructor for a number of Spear’s in-person workshops and seminars including Restoring the Edentulous Arch.

Dr. Habsha, a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC) and an examiner and former Section Head for the Oral Examination in Prosthodontics for the RCDC, brings a wealth of experience. She currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Dentistry, Eastman Institute for Oral Health at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She has served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and currently instructs both at the undergraduate and graduate level in Prosthodontics at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Habsha is also a Professor at George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology and is the on-staff Prosthodontist at MedCan clinic in Toronto. Her recognition as an Associate Fellow of the Academy of Prosthodontics and Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics, and a Fellow of The Pierre Fauchard Academy, attests to her significant contributions to the field.

Dr. Habsha is not only a leader in the field of prosthodontics but also a trailblazer. She is the founder of Women in Dentistry: Work.Life.Balance, an organization dedicated to educating, networking, and empowering women in the dental field. Her passion for sharing knowledge is evident through her national and international lectures on various prosthodontic topics.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and earned her D.D.S. degree from the University of Toronto. She also completed a one-year General Practice Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, ON, and received her Diploma in Prosthodontics and Master of Science degree from the University of Toronto.

For more information about any of Spear’s in-person workshops or seminars, visit https://campus.speareducation.com/workshops/.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation, the nation's largest dentist-led charity dedicated to child oral health, has awarded $1.8 million in grants to eight selected nonprofit clinics providing dental care to underserved children in their respective communities. Each clinic will receive $225,000 through December 2026.

Children living in poverty are twice as likely to suffer cavities, and their dental disease is more than twice as likely to go untreated compared to their more affluent peers. The 2024-2026 grant recipients will utilize the AAPD Foundation support to further expand their impact in their communities.

"The AAPD Foundation is dedicated to making dental care accessible to all children by supporting nonprofit clinics providing routine cleanings, advanced treatments and ongoing care that helps kids in need," said Douglas Keck, DMD, MSHed, Foundation president, pediatric dentist, and dental director of a Federally Qualified Health Center in Florida. "These grants not only will help them address oral health disparities in their communities, the Foundation will also gain valuable insights for how we can best address a major health concern suffered by too many low-income children."

Organizations receiving $225,000 grants include:

Barrio Comprehensive Family Health Care Center, Inc.; San Antonio

Caridad Center; Boynton Beach, Fla.

Community Volunteers in Medicine; West Chester, Pa.

Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic; Lancaster, Pa.

Oak Par River Forest Infant Welfare Society; Oak Park, Ill.

Salt Lake Donated Dental Services; Salt Lake City

University of Maryland; Baltimore

Variety Care and Variety Care Foundation; Oklahoma City

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, regular preventive dental care is essential for good oral health to detect problems early when they are easier to treat. However, many children do not get the care they need, often because families cannot afford to pay out of pocket for dental care or do not have private or public dental insurance.

"Access to care is a complex challenge and these grant recipients are making a difference in the ongoing oral health – and overall health – of their patients. These recipients are true Healthy Smile Heroes in their communities," said Foundation Grants and Programs Committee Chair Deven Shroff, DMD, a pediatric dentist practicing in Maryland. "These new commitments are the first round of sustained support the Foundation hopes to make over the next three years."

Continued expansion in market reach, technological innovations, and strategic acquisitions mark a landmark year for Planet DDS

Planet DDS, the leading provider of cloud-based dental software, today announced a landmark year of unprecedented growth in revenue, customer base, and technological advancements.

2023 was a transformative year for Planet DDS, marked by the strategic acquisition of Cloud 9, the category creator for cloud-based practice management solutions for orthodontists. The company also saw 53% year-over-year growth in revenue and added over 5,000 new locations served nationwide.

With a rapidly growing customer base, Planet DDS now boasts one of the largest, if not the largest, dental databases in the world, a testament to its technological prowess and commitment to innovation. Planet DDS also achieved a new company milestone of hosting 1 billion images and now manages over 1,256 terabytes of customer data. Planet DDS’s cloud-based solutions facilitated over $7 billion in production while serving the dental needs of over 75 million patients.

Planet DDS was also recognized as an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company for the fifth time and honored by Deloitte on its Technology Fast 500 fastest growing companies list. The company’s commitment to innovation and employee engagement also earned it a spot on Fast Company’s List of Top 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators.

“As we reflect on 2023, we have a lot to be proud of. We’re leading a sea change in dental, delivering cloud solutions to more practices each year. We’re positioned for another strong year in 2024 and look forward to partnering with more practices to drive growth in profitability, patient outcomes, staff engagement and efficiency,” says Eric Giesecke, CEO of Planet DDS.

In addition to the impressive growth and multiple awards, Planet DDS also announced a partnership with Pearl to integrate AI into their imaging solution and opened a new Technology Development and Support Centre in Glasgow, Scotland. Notably, Planet DDS also converted all locations for one of North America’s largest dental service organizations, InterDent, in a single calendar year. Among the mid-market and large DSO market, Planet DDS launched implementation for over a dozen groups with over 20 locations and several DSOs with 150+ locations, solidifying its position as the proven solution for large groups and DSOs.

Further enhancing the service offerings, Planet DDS launched two groundbreaking solutions: Denticon Pay and Denticon Practice Analytics. Denticon Pay is a comprehensive, fully integrated patient payment acceptance solution, streamlining payment processes for customers and the patients they serve. Complementing this, Denticon Practice Analytics empowers dental offices with real-time, actionable data insights and integrates seamlessly within Denticon, providing actionable data insights at the office and corporate level. Together, these new features underscore the company’s commitment to being the partner in growth for its customers and revolutionize dental practice management through innovative technology.   

The National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference (NMTC), the only educational conference geared towards virtual and mobile dental care, is excited to announce its 5-year anniversary at the upcoming event on March 1-2, 2024 in Dallas, TX.

This year’s event is pivotal as it represents the future of dentistry and focuses on collaboration with industry stakeholders including the Texas Oral Health Coalition, People of Color in DSO, Speaking Consulting Network and more. Two-days of educational courses will provide introductory and deep-dive education on the implementation, best practices, and protocols for organizations who are currently implementing or looking to implement service offerings beyond the brick-and-mortar. "What we’ve learned through the pandemic is that patients may never again walk through our practice doors but certainly will let us walk through their doors," said Sonya Dunbar, cofounder of NMTC. "This is critical as we think about how our dental practices will continue to be successful in the future."

NMTC brings together stakeholders, management, and decision-makers from general and specialty practices, public health organizations, DSOs, MSOs, independent practices, and technology and product companies. “Our annual event is unique in that it brings together stakeholders who understand that operational efficiency and same store growth are vital for the future success of dental practices,” said Melissa Turner, cofounder of NMTC. “Because of this, our platform creates space for innovation, partnerships, and conversations that significantly shape the future of the clinical and business sides of dentistry.” Courses include education on artificial intelligence, remote patient monitoring, how to get started in virtual care, best practices for mobile and portable care, how to add a virtual or mobile arm to a brick-and-mortar practice, medical-dental integration and prevention-based models of care..

This year, NMTC will again host The Denobi Awards, a world-wide industry awards program honoring unsung heroes in dentistry, on the closing night of the 3-day event. Ten individuals and one dental team will be announced live on stage at the annual red-carpet gala. The gala is open to the public and tickets are on sale now at www.denobiawards.com.

Since launch, the community also founded the American Mobile & Teledentistry Alliance (AMTA), a 501c(4) membership association geared towards supporting the dental professionals, dental practices and brands around the world who are utilizing mobile, virtual and other non-traditional care delivery methods. Individual, organizational and corporate memberships are available at www.amda.net.

With the combination of Lucitone Digital Print Denture™ System and Primeprint™ Solution, dental practices and labs have access to a highly automated and fully validated 3D printing and finishing workflow for in-house denture manufacturing.

Dentsply Sirona, the world's largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, enhances the range of applications for its Primeprint Solution with additions to its resin portfolio. The Lucitone Digital Print Denture™ System has now been FDA and CE cleared for Primeprint™ Solution. This enables practices and labs to grow and advance confidently to a streamlined in-house denture production process, supported by a fully validated 3D printing and post-processing workflow.

Additional automated and easy-to-use features provide new opportunities for practices

The Dentsply Sirona Lucitone Digital Print Denture™ System with Lucitone Digital Print™ 3D Denture Base, Lucitone Digital IPN™ 3D Premium Tooth and Lucitone Digital Value™ Trial Placement for manufacturing of try-ins delivers the excellent combination of market-leading materials provided in the convenient Primeprint cartridge system for safe and clean usage. The resins offer the excellent combination of high impact denture resin and highly esthetic, durable tooth resin. Furthermore, the highly automated and software-supported workflow requires fewer manual steps than traditional denture production techniques. The automatic washing and curing process with the Primeprint Post Processing Unit reduces the amount of manual labor needed to clean and cure – simplifying the workflow.

“The validated materials and workflows establish process consistency and product confidence to deliver accurate and repeatable results,” said Max Milz, Group Vice President Connected Technology Solutions at Dentsply Sirona. 

Efficient and medical-grade 3D printing with Primeprint™ Solution

Primeprint™ Solution is a medical-grade 3D printing system that can be used to produce a wide range of medical applications. With simplified, end-to-end workflows the solution is designed to be convenient and easy to use while meeting very high standards of safety, cleanliness, quality, and accuracy.

Meanwhile, DS Core ordering portal provides dentists an easy-access solution to outsource the digital denture design to their skilled partner labs.

“For me, the benefits of the Lucitone Digital Print denture system are the strength of the product itself, and the denture base, which exceeds our regular standards and is amazing. Now seeing what I've seen with the Primeprint – it's really going to revolutionize that workflow,” says Jonathan Verroche, denturist from Canada.

For more information please visit: Primeprint™ Solution.