Dentsply Sirona is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Indirect Restorative course series through the DS Academy. This comprehensive course series is designed to help empower dental professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge in the rapidly evolving field of restorative dentistry

Dentsply Sirona’s new Indirect Restorative course series covers a range of topics, including the latest advancements in digital technology, the science behind material selection, incorporating new technology into the practice, and digital workflows for indirect restorations. The new series consists of 11 courses taking participants from foundational to procedure-based to mastery-level. This self-paced online course series focuses on how digital dentistry can enhance indirect restorative treatment outcomes.

One of the featured instructors in the Indirect Restorative course series, Dr. Alan Atlas highlighted the innovative approach to learning in the new courses. "As Albert Einstein once said, 'We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.' Interactive procedure-based learning is here that makes online learning more fun, interesting, and engaging. This course series is designed to inspire a fresh perspective and elevate the learning experience for dental professionals."

Excellent dental education

Each year, the DS Academy engages approximately half a million dental professionals through its clinical education available both in-person and online. The new Indirect Restorative course series further underscores the company’s dedication to supporting dental professionals in their pursuit of knowledge and expertise. As the landscape of dentistry continues to evolve thanks to new innovations in digital technology, it is imperative to provide cutting-edge resources to empower dental practitioners to advance with confidence.

The new course series is the latest in a broader series of Clinical Education course series that dental professionals can access through the DS Academy online:

• Diagnosis and Treatment Planning course series

• Endodontics course series

• Implants course series

• Aligner course series

• Sustainability course series

"At Dentsply Sirona, we recognize that clinical education is pivotal for our customers to advance with confidence towards the future of dentistry. Our goal is to provide dental professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to excel in their practice and deliver the best possible care to their patients," said Andreas Frank, EVP and Chief Business Officer at Dentsply Sirona. “Working together, we can leverage the potential of new solutions to improve oral healthcare.”

Dental professionals can access the new Indirect Restorative course series through the DS Academy online, where they can enroll and also access many other evidence-based educational materials and gain valuable continuing education (CE) credits. *

For more information, please visit https://dentsplysirona.com/Ind-Resto-Course-Series.

Dentsply Sirona continues to expand access to high quality clinical education courses online with the launch of the DS Academy Campus. The new platform offers a variety of on-demand courses and webinars focused on innovative trends and topics. To register for the new DS Campus and access a plethora of high quality clinical education content including the webinars, please visit: https://campus.dentsplysirona.com

*CE credits are not available in all markets globally

PDA’s First Event of 2024 Provided Dentists with Strategies to Optimize Their Dental Practices

Productive Dentist Academy (PDA), the leading dental consulting and marketing firm in the nation, concluded a successful Productivity Workshop and Investment Grade Practice™ (IGP) Summit. The season’s most anticipated conference occurred March 14-16, at the Hyatt Regency Frisco-Dallas, in Frisco, Texas.

Dentists and their teams from around the nation convened for two and a half days to learn proven methods to increase production, elevate the patient experience, and decrease stress. This comprehensive program taught dentists and dental teams new ways to:

• Schedule to productivity, not time

• Become a better patient advocate through comprehensive diagnosis

• Align their teams to their vision of success

• Produce an ROI on their marketing efforts

• Integrate new technology and services

“PDA’s Productivity Workshop & IGP Summit is not just an investment in productivity, it’s an investment in the future of dentistry,” says PDA Co-founder & CEO Dr. Victoria Peterson. “For 20 years, PDA’s mission has been twofold: to equip dentists with the tools they need to excel in the dental profession, and to help dentists live a fulfilling life. The success of our first workshop of 2024 underscores this commitment.”

At the workshop, attendees had the invaluable opportunity to engage directly with respected experts in the dental profession, as well as influential dentists who have successfully implemented PDA’s strategies into their own practices. Through these conversations, attendees gained firsthand insights into how these strategies have propelled others to the peak of their careers, enriching their understanding of PDA’s acclaimed methodologies.

“It is an honor to provide the expertise, frameworks, and community space filled with like-minded peers that help transform lives,” says PDA Chief Communications Officer Regan Robertson. “The ripple effect that happens when patient communication is improved and stress is decreased creates wealth for the mind, body, and business. At our events it is common for doctors and teams to experience a renewed sense of purpose. Attendees can apply practical management and team-building skills that turn dreams into reality. Ultimately, this unlocks the freedom to live life on one's own terms.”

As the dental profession continues to evolve, PDA remains at the forefront, equipping professionals with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing landscape. The next opportunity for dentists and their teams to come to a PDA workshop is September 12-14, 2024, in Frisco, Texas, where PDA will officially celebrate its 20th anniversary.

For more information about Productive Dentist Academy and upcoming Productivity Workshops & IGP Summits, please visit http://www.productivedentist.com.  

The anticipation is building as the Shils Fund gears up for the third and final Great Oral Health Pitch Event, taking place in Anaheim, California on Saturday, May 18, 2024. Coinciding with the prestigious California Dental Association Meeting, this event promises to be the culmination of innovation and expertise in the oral healthcare industry.

Are you ready to present your groundbreaking ideas directly to a panel of esteemed oral healthcare experts? This is your chance to shine! The Great Oral Health Pitch: Innovate, Elevate and Generate Your Idea to Advance Oral Health! is a “Shark Tank” style event for oral health innovators to showcase your vision and receive invaluable guidance and expert feedback to refine your pitch to perfection.

But the benefits don’t stop there! By participating in the Great Oral Health Pitch Event, you automatically enter the running to win a prestigious sponsorship package valued at over $50,000. This package includes cash rewards, comprehensive business launch marketing materials, exclusive networking opportunities, and more. Imagine the possibilities this could unlock for your innovative ideas!

Don’t let this extraordinary opportunity pass you by. Register now, prepare your pitches, and join us at The Great Oral Health Pitch Event in Anaheim, California for a chance to revolutionize the oral healthcare industry. See your vision come to life and start your journey toward making a lasting impact today!

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024

Location: Anaheim, California

Venue: Anaheim Convention Center

Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm

For more information and to register, visit The Great Oral Health Pitch Program – Shils Fund.

The Shils Fund is thrilled to be hosting this event and looks forward to welcoming the brightest minds in oral healthcare innovation. Together, let’s shape the future of oral health!

Intiveo, patient engagement software designed to empower dental practices to enhance the patient experience, announced the launch of Intiveo Connect, a feature designed to enhance communication channels between dental practices and non-patients, including caregivers, extended family members and referring practices. This new feature also streamlines the process for non-patients to effortlessly reach out to dental offices for inquiries or to initiate the process of becoming new patients.

Intiveo's patient engagement technology already offers unparalleled patient service to dental practices by streamlining front office workflows, centralizing patient engagement and communication management. With its new Intiveo Connect feature, it is one of the few solutions that bridges the communication gap between dental practices and non-patients, ensuring everyone involved in a patient's journey is kept in the loop.

"Intiveo has always been committed to inclusive and effective patient care no matter if they are looking to book an appointment, a parent looking to get more details prior to a procedure or even looking to become a new patient," said Josh DeVries, CEO and co-founder of Intiveo. "We recognize the vital role non-patients play in the care process, and with the release of Intiveo Connect, we address those complex communication challenges patients and dental practices face, ensuring everyone involved in a patient's care journey is informed and engaged."

Intiveo Connect solves vital communication challenges, other benefits for patients and dental offices include:

• Direct Communication with Non-Patients: Enabling dental practices to send automated and manual texts to parents, guardians, and other non-patient contacts, ensuring they are integral to the patient care process.

• Ease of New Patient Acquisition: Offers a straightforward way for non-patients to contact the office directly through text, enhancing accessibility and simplifying appointment booking.

• Streamlined Operational Efficiency: Reduces administrative workload through automation of appointment reminders, follow-up care instructions, logistical coordination messages, and facilitating new patient registrations.

• Improved Patient and Non-Patient Satisfaction: Enhances the overall experience by ensuring timely, relevant communication and an easy entry point for new patients, in turn leading to increased trust and satisfaction.

• Support for Better Post-Operative Care: Facilitates better recovery outcomes by ensuring caregivers are well-informed about post-operative care instructions.

• Marketing and Engagement Opportunities: Opens new avenues for engaging local communities, promoting dental health services and education, and attracting new patients through an inclusive and accessible communication strategy.

"The feature to text non-patients emerged as one of the leading suggestions from our customers, signaling a strong desire for more expansive communication tools," said DeVries. "Intiveo is dedicated to developing new features and tools that meet and enhance our community's evolving needs."

Intiveo Connect will be rolling out to both existing and new customers, starting with Intiveo's Beta Explorers community. To learn more about Intiveo Connect visit www.intiveo.com/intiveo-connect.

Pac-Dent, Inc., announced the launch of the iMatrix™ Clear Sectional Matrix System at the Chicago Mid Winter Dental Meeting. The addition of this Sectional Matrix System with clear Mylar matrices, rings, and wedges expands Pac-Dent’s existing iMatrix™ Sectional Matrix System, further solidifying Pac-Dent as a leading force in the dental industry.

The iMatrix™ Clear system features innovative clear Nickel Titanium (NiTi) matrix rings with a unique undercut design that allows for better handling and greater visibility, while being strong enough to avoid slipping and to provide consistent, ideal tooth separation. The clear Mylar matrices and clear interproximal wedges allow ample light to pass through for complete uniform restoration curing. The color coded, clear Mylar matrices with convenient pinholes leave the composite with a more polished and contoured finish than traditional stainless steel matrices while having a more pronounced marginal ridge for correct anatomical form.

The starter kit includes matrix ring placement forceps, pin tweezers, 1 clear molar and 1 clear premolar NiTi matrix rings, assorted clear Mylar matrix bands, assorted clear interproximal wedges, and an assorted composite polishing kit.

Features and Benefits of the iMatrix™ Clear

1. 2 clear NiTi rings that provide optimal tooth separation with an undercut design for greater visibility andimproved handling

2.Clear, color coded Mylar matrices with pinholes for cure-through restorations with ideal marginal ridge

3.Includes assorted composite polishing kit for high aesthetic finishing of composite restorations

4.Easy to place clear wedges that stay in place while providing a superior gingival seal

*Patent Pending

For more information on the iMatrix™ Clear, visit the product page.

Spectrum Solutions®, saliva diagnostic biotech leader, today announced the official release of a new saliva diagnostic testing innovation, SimplyPERIO™. As advances in science continue to focus on the mouth-body connection and its direct link to systemic disease, SimplyPERIO™ fills a testing void by delivering more intelligent health measures with real clinical relevance using 16 oral targets from a single patient sample.

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is one of the most undiagnosed and untreated diseases, but has some of the highest negative impacts on many bodily systems and functions. In addition, gum disease decreases a person’s ability to fight infection and inflammation.

SimplyPERIO™ uses a proprietary molecular technology to test for and measure periodontal bacteria, caries, fungal and viral targets all for one affordable cost. Understanding treatment success is often influenced by host immunity and host response, this unique, highly sensitive and highly specific saliva test offers Providers the real opportunity to elevate patient care with the most complete oral health picture.

“We are using science to make saliva diagnostics simple for both Patients and Providers. SimplyPERIO™ testing is not only pain-free it takes less than 30 seconds for a patient to collect their own sample,” said Dr. David Vigerust, PhD, Chief Science Officer at Spectrum Solutions. “In addition, our CAP accredited laboratory delivers Providers the independent, 3rd party results necessary for intelligent, data-supported patient conversations about stopping and even reversing their disease and systemic risks.”

In the U.S., numbers illustrate that 80% of individuals over 35 have a form of gum disease. Gingivitis, periodontitis and peri-implantitis are all forms of gum disease. These numbers demonstrate that for the vast majority, there may be dangerous and damaging periodontal disease pathogens hiding that can't be identified with a perio-probe or visual exam during regular semi-annual cleanings. Gone unchecked, these harmful oral bacteria and toxins are allowed to sit and accumulate inside the mouth. From inside the mouth these microorganisms move freely to and through the bloodstream with far reaching and catastrophic effects on the heart, arteries, central nervous system and more.

The SimplyPERIO™ patented blue buffer solution located inside the collection device’s cap stabilizes saliva samples at room temperature eliminating any special post-collection storage or shipping requirements. Easily deposit one at a time, supporting at-home patient testing for follow-up and treatment monitoring, or gather an entire day’s worth of in-office collections into the USPS postage-paid return box for mailing samples back to the lab for processing.

For more information, please visit spectrumsolution.com or simplytest.com.

The Delta Dental Oral Health Diversity Fund is once again accepting applications from programs focused on inspiring school-aged children from historically underrepresented groups to explore careers in oral health

The Delta Dental Institute continued its commitment to diversifying the oral health workforce and promoting health equity by announcing its Oral Health Diversity Fund is once again accepting applications. This industry-leading fund invests up to $1 million annually in comprehensive solutions, innovative pilots, and scalable models that inspire school-aged children from historically underrepresented groups to pursue careers in oral health.

Research shows that racial and ethnic diversity among health professionals is linked to improved patient outcomes, but the current oral health workforce doesn’t accurately represent the diversity of the communities they serve.

“Young kids should know that the sky's the limit when dreaming of what they want to be when they grow up,” said Erik Montlack, president of Delta Dental of Massachusetts. “At Delta Dental, we are committed to encouraging those from all communities and backgrounds that they do belong in the dental industry. Through this investment, we plan to continue inspiring students with the opportunity to consider careers in oral health.”

The application period for this year’s Oral Health Diversity Fund is open from March 20 to May 31 at 5:00 PM ET.

• Those interested in applying to the Delta Dental Oral Health Diversity Fund can visit www.deltadentalinstitute.com/fund.

• Eligible applicants must be based in the United States, and may include 501(c)(3) organizations, private businesses, or limited or general partnerships.

• Information about last year’s Delta Dental Oral Health Diversity Fund award winners can be found here.

This announcement is a continuation of the Delta Dental Institute’s Driving Greater Diversity in the Oral Health Workforce campaign, which aims to increase the number of oral health professionals from historically underrepresented groups and supports programs that help diversify the oral health workforce through education, research, and community engagement.  

Visit deltadentalinstitute.com for more information.

Today, Aspen Dental® announced the promotion of Kimberly (Cameron) Jones to Vice President of Hygiene Operations. Jones will be succeeding the retiring Jan LeBeau, who served in the Vice President role for four years.

Jones has been with Aspen Dental for 13 of her 15 years in dental hygiene. After beginning her career as a chairside hygienist, Jones continued to rise through the ranks at Aspen Dental, holding positions including Hygiene Manager, Director of Hygiene Support, and her recent position of Vice President of Hygiene Operations. Her wealth of experience positions her as a valuable asset in advancing Aspen Dental's mission to bring better care to more people.

"Having served in multiple capacities throughout the company, I deeply understand the day-to-day efforts of our team," stated Jones. "I find inspiration from each of our fantastic territory managers. I have a genuine passion for what I do and look forward to contributing to the Hygiene team's development and growth in various capacities."

Alongside Jones's promotion comes the retirement announcement from Jan LeBeau, who remarked, "After four decades of fulfilling service, it's time to pass the baton. My advice to my colleagues is to embrace lifelong learning, as it is the key to enduring success."

To learn more about careers at Aspen Dental, visit https://www.aspendental.com/.

ABOUT ASPEN DENTAL

Aspen Dental® was founded in 1998 in New York by Bob Fontana with a simple goal in mind: to break down the barriers that doctors and patients face when it comes to dental care. Today, more than 25 years later, with a network of 1,000+ Aspen Dental locations nationwide, the mission of the company remains the same – to bring better care to more people. Aspen Dental is the largest group of branded dental offices in the world. For more information, visit aspendental.com, and follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.

Monaghan Tooling Group introduces Axis high precision micro tools for digital dentistry, including machining of dental appliances and fixtures. With unique geometries and NextGen coatings, these tools enable detailed and accurate machining for unparalleled precision and finish quality. Axis micro tools are available for the broad range of dental machining challenges – from soft waxes to challenging Zirconia. Superfinishing maintains the cutting geometry of tools which reduces flute friction to drastically improve chip evacuation while machining soft materials like PMMA, PEEK, and wax. Smoother cutting reduces the heat generated. Controlled and repeatable edge honing ensures consistent, repeatable results. This superfinishing enhances adhesion of PVD, producing an extremely low coefficient of friction when machining hard and difficult to machine materials like chrome cobalt and titanium. Shank sizes of 3.00, 4.00, and 6.00mm, are available, with diameters from 0.30 to 3.00 mm, coupled with unique geometries and finishes and coatings, making Axis micro tools ideal for virtually all digital dentistry machining applications.

Axis micro tools are available through Monaghan Tooling Group with industry-leading lead times. For more information visit https://monaghantooling.com/micro-machining-tooling/.

Today, Co-CEO Dr. Jason Auerbach announces Mark Censoprano as the new Co-Chief Executive Officer at MAX Surgical Specialty Management, effective immediately. As Co-CEO, Mark will work alongside Dr. Auerbach to lead MAX’s growth strategy and executive team.

Mark’s arrival will accelerate the already exceptional growth that MAX SSM has enjoyed since its inception. His wealth of knowledge and proven track record of success, coupled with his leadership within two of Fortune's Top 100 Best Companies to Work For, will undoubtedly bolster the practices’ and MAX’s already outstanding reputation. As CEO, President, and CMO/COO, Mark grew Guardian Dentistry Partners into one of the most respected organizations in the industry, with 170 locations across 11 states. Mark’s experience as CMO at Aspen Dental earlier in his career, where he led transformative brand initiatives, which contributed to the doubling of sales and earnings during his tenure.

“In the short time I have known him, Mark has already proven to be an insightful, cooperative, and motivated partner with great energy and a genuinely collaborative demeanor,” says Dr. Auerbach. “That’s what set him apart, and ultimately, that’s what I believe will complement an already amazing team at MAX and our family of practices. This is a new chapter, having Mark join MAX. I am confident that his strategic vision, leadership, and industry-specific expertise will be invaluable as we continue to grow and achieve our goals while never losing focus of what got us here in the first place: our absolute dedication to our patients, to our referring doctors, and our surgeons, the heartbeat of our organization.”

Together with leadership from Dr. Auerbach and Mark Censoprano, MAX will continue to build upon the organization’s promise to reshape the future of oral & maxillofacial surgical care. The MAX team is excited for all that is to come under Mark’s guidance. To learn more about Mark, you can find him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-censoprano/.

MAX is grateful to Interim Co-CEO Jeff Ward for his unwavering support in leading the MAX executive team while balancing the significant responsibilities associated with running MedEquity Capital. Mark's addition to MAX will allow Jeff to refocus his efforts and contributions to MAX as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.