Kellie Nock is the assistant editor for Dental Products Report. She graduated from Kent State University in 2018 with a Bachelor's in Journalism. Kellie enjoys multimedia content creation with a focus on audio and video storytelling. 

Henry Schein Continues Support for 'Carry The Load' Memorial May Campaign. Image credit: © Carry the Load

Henry Schein has reaffirmed its commitment to honoring the sacrifices of the U.S. military, veterans, first responders, and their families by supporting the Carry The Load® Memorial May campaign for the third consecutive year.

Since 2022, Team Schein has actively participated in events nationwide, walking to honor and remember the nation’s fallen heroes, according to a press release from the company. As a national sponsor, Henry Schein is extending its support through its various businesses and corporate organizations, including North American Rescue (NAR), Henry Schein Dental, Henry Schein Medical, and Henry Schein One. These entities, along with Henry Schein Cares and the Henry Schein Veterans Engagement Team (VET) Employee Resource Group, are joining forces to sponsor events across the U.S. throughout the month of May.

The flagship event, the Dallas Memorial March, is a 2-day event, sponsored by Henry Schein, which aims to educate and stand as a respectful observance in honor of Memorial Day. Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, expressed the company's anticipation for participating in Carry The Load events this May in the press release. Bergman emphasized the importance of pausing to remember the ultimate sacrifice made by service members to protect the freedoms enjoyed every day.

Carry The Load, a non-profit organization, was founded over a decade ago by 2 veteran United States Navy SEALs with the aim of restoring the true meaning of Memorial Day. Their Memorial May initiative serves to honor and remember those who died while serving in the military.

Stephen Holley, Co-founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Carry The Load, expressed gratitude for Team Schein in the press release, stating, “Seeing Team Schein join us in support of the Memorial May campaign for consecutive years further highlights our shared values and dedication to honoring our nation’s heroes.”

Henry Schein's involvement in the Carry The Load program aligns with its ongoing support of veterans and service members. The company's Veterans Engagement Team (VET) serves as a unifying force for veterans, their families, and Team Schein Members, fostering camaraderie and providing advocacy and support for service members, per the press release.

For more information about the Carry The Load Memorial May campaign and to register for an event, please 

Articles

Henry Schein, Inc. announces its third consecutive year of support for the Carry The Load® Memorial May campaign, honoring U.S. military, veterans, and first responders.

Henry Schein Continues Support for 'Carry The Load' Memorial May Campaign

Terri Legno is the Sr. Operations Manager for the TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence. Located in Chicago’s West Loop, the TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence is a 25,000 sq. ft. clinic that provides cutting-edge comprehensive dental care at no cost to underserved Illinois residents.

The Aspen Group Oral Care Center for Excellence, Midwestern Career College, and Women Employed Partnering to Jump-Start Careers for Women | Image Credit: © The Aspen Group

The Aspen Group (TAG), Midwestern Career College (MCC), and Women Employed recently partnered to launch a new initiative for low-income women in the Chicago area. The goal of the initiative is to empower women interested in dentistry by providing training, externship opportunities, and financial assistance.

This collaboration brings together 3 organizations with the shared goal of helping women enter the dental industry. MCC provides thorough dental assistant education to prepare students for working with live patients. Women Employed offers needs-based financial assistance to low-income women interested in the MCC program, covering the costs of tuition, books, uniforms, and even childcare. TAG gives students of the MCC dental assistant program the opportunity to complete their externships in the state-of-the-art Oral Care Center for Excellence (OCC), which provides free, comprehensive care to underserved residents of the Chicago area.

Through this partnership, Chicago-area women can access the education and career opportunities that will set them up for financial independence and success. Graduates will be prepared to work as dental assistants in Chicago and the surrounding communities.

At TAG’s Oral Care Center for Excellence, women participating in this initiative are able to complete their externship hours in a multimillion-dollar, state-of-the-art facility with digital dentistry labs, 3Shape TRIOS scanning, 3D equipment, and surgical implant operatories. Unlike more traditional externships, training at the OCC prepares dental-assistants-in-training to work at a high level with surgical, implant, digital, and other dentistry techniques and procedures.

This specialized training comes with hands-on, side-by-side mentorship from experienced dental assistants, which helps trainees apply the skills they learned in the MCC classrooms to live patients. Additionally, OCC trainees have the added benefit of learning how to work with the broader dental team and understand workflow efficiencies.

This collaboration aims to increase opportunities for low-income women that can have long-term benefits, along with ripple effects throughout the community. Building up women who might not otherwise have had dental career opportunities helps strengthen the local workforce, increase access to dental care for patients, and relieve staffing shortages.

Entering the dental industry as a dental assistant can be a steppingstone to an entire career trajectory that can help women support themselves and their families while also caring for their communities.

The combination of education, financial assistance, and cutting-edge, specialized training presents a unique opportunity for women to join the workforce. Women interested in jump-starting their careers can apply today at mccollege.edu/dental-assisting.

Last August, The Aspen Group University (TAG U) showed off its impressive new facilities and interactive learning capabilities at an 

exclusive preview at its headquarters in Chicago.

The primary TAG U campus is located within TAG's headquarters in Chicago’s West Loop. The TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence, another campus of TAG U, is located just a few blocks away, and is a new 25,000 sq. ft. clinic that provides cutting-edge training for Aspen Dental clinicians and comprehensive dental care at no cost to underserved Illinois residents.

Collaboration provides education, externships, and state-of-the-art training to empower low-income women starting dental assisting careers.

The Aspen Group Oral Care Center for Excellence, Midwestern Career College, and Women Employed Partnering to Jump-Start Careers for Women

Stan Goff is a Managing Editor with MJH Life Sciences, which includes Dental Products Report, Dental Practice Management, Dental Lab Products, Modern Hygienist, and Dentist's Money Digest. He has covered the dental industry since 1999 and can be reached at sgoff@mjhlifesciences.com.  

Oral Cancer Screenings Can Save Lives | Image Credit: © Netsay - stock.adobe.com

Earlier this month, we published an article taking a look at some recent 

content related to oral cancer in recognition of April being National Oral Cancer Awareness Month.

You can read that full article click here: 

A Look Back at Some Important Oral Cancer Awareness Articles

Today, however, we’re going to flash back a full decade to share some highlights from the April 2014 issue of 

 when our “Be Aware…this month and every month” feature took a look at products, perspectives and people in an effort to raise awareness about oral cancer.

While some things have changed over the last 10 years, oral cancer awareness is as important today as ever. In the April 2014 article, we showcased some oral cancer devices that were available then [make sure to visit

to check out some of the newer systems available], we heard from an oral cancer survivor, and a few clinicians shared the methods they use for oral cancer screening in their practices.

Here are some of the highlights from a decade ago, along with some updates:

Dr. Martin Jablow, Woodbridge, NJ, said, “In my office, I take the responsibility of screening for oral cancer among all new patients during their initial visits, and existing patients at their re-care appointments. The dental hygienist can also assist in screening for oral cancer. I feel that the greater the number of eyes looking for the earliest signs of oral cancer, the greater the chance that nothing will be missed. It’s the responsibility of the entire team to try and identify areas in the mouth that do not look normal. As mentioned earlier, I perform an oral cancer examination on all patients beginning in their mid to late teens. Since the face of oral cancer is changing due to human papillomavirus infection, we must be more vigilant with a younger demographic.”

 The ADA has since expanded its policy on oral cancer screening recommending that dentists and hygienists perform routine examinations for oral cancer, including oropharyngeal cancer for all dental patients. The inclusion of oropharyngeal cancer in these screening protocols is driven by the escalating numbers of diagnosed cases of oropharyngeal cancer linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV).

A good source for up-to-date information on the topic is the The Oral Cancer Foundation (

). According to the foundation’s website, close to 58,500 Americans will be diagnosed with oral oropharyngeal cancer this year, and it will cause over 12,250 deaths, killing roughly one person per hour, 24 hours per day.

 Jennifer Rooney, RDH, BS, The Gorman Center for Fine Dentistry, North Oaks, MN, said, her practice decided to incorporate the fee for the oral cancer exam directly into its fee structure for other services already being performed during preventive visits, “We strongly believe this test to be a vital component in providing the best preventive service, ensuring that we have done everything in our professional ability to help confirm that there are no observed abnormal/precancerous or cancerous tissues present.”

At the time of the publication of the original article, this Minnesota practice was using the StarDental Identifi oral cancer screening device, which is no longer available at this time. For information on screening devices currently available, including the VELscope Vx from LED Dental, and the OralID Oral Cancer Screening Device from Forward Science, visit 

In a Q&A with oral cancer survivor Joana Breckner, she described the role her dentist played in her cancer diagnosis which led to 3 surgeries for malignant tumors. Initially her dentist’s oral cancer screening was visual and manual and he noticed small white spots on the right side of her tongue. She believes the practice later added the VELscope Vx to assist with screenings on all dental patients.
Her recommendation regarding oral cancer screenings included:
“Ask your dentist and/or hygienist if they are performing an oral cancer screening on you and how they do this,” and she added, that patients should choose their dentist wisely. Since dentists are among the doctors people visit more regularly, dentists are often the first to see symptoms of many possible health problems [including oral cancer], she added.

The infographic (below) was included in the article 10 years ago. Some of the statistics have surely changed since then, but the importance of oral cancer awareness has not.

While April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month and a great time for dental practices and their staff to remind patients how important screenings are, this topic should be top of mind every month of every year.

While April is National Oral Cancer Awareness Month, dentists and hygienists should be on the lookout for oral cancers all year long.

Oral Cancer Screenings Can Save Lives

A bite-sized look at all the latest dental product launches this week. 

Product Bites – April 19, 2024

Product Bites – April 19, 2024 episode transcript: 

Welcome to Product Bites a weekly podcast from Dental Products Report providing you with a rundown of recently launched and updated dental technologies, materials, instruments, and everything else you might use with patients or while running your practice.

I’m your host for this week, DPR Editor Kellie Nock, and on this week’s podcast we’ve got 3 new products with launches from TheraBreath and RevenueWell.

So let’s get to it and learn about these newly launched dental products.

TheraBreath™ introduces two new additions to their line of mouthwash products, tailor-made for both the patients' nighttime routines and deep cleaning needs. TheraBreath™ Overnight Oral Rinse, a dentist-formulated, alcohol-free, and dye-free solution, fights bad breath for up to 12 hours while preventing cavities and strengthening enamel. This specially designed rinse is available in a soothing Chamomile Mint flavor.

Added to that—TheraBreath™ Deep Clean Oral Rinse marks the brand's venture into antiseptic benefits while maintaining their signature alcohol-free formula. This powerful rinse, in a Fresh Mint flavor, eliminates 99.9% of germs causing bad breath, plaque, and gingivitis, as demonstrated in laboratory testing. 

Shifting gears, RevenueWell introduces their latest tool: Insurance Verification. Designed to automate insurance verification processes, this tool integrates seamlessly with RevenueWell's Marketing Platform, providing up-to-date insurance information for patients before they walk through the door. RevenueWell's Insurance Verification pulls data directly from provider portals, clearinghouses, and practice management systems, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.

That does it for this week's Product Bites from Dental Products Report. Stay up to date on all the latest dental product news by visiting dentalproductsreport.com/newdentalproducts.

I'm Kellie Nock saying thanks for listening. And we'll be back next week with all the latest new dental products on Product Bites from Dental Products Report.

Podcasts

A bite-sized look at all the latest new dental product launches. This week's episode features launches from TheraBreath and RevenueWell.

New Synchrony, Adit Partnership Expands Dental Payment Offerings | Image Credit: © CareCredit

As of today, more dental practices will have access to CareCredit patient financing solutions designed to make it easier for patients to get the oral care they need.

Synchrony—a consumer financial services company that provides the CareCredit credit card—today announced a new partnership with dental practice management software provider Adit. Increasingly, dentists are looking for external support to deliver patient financing while ensuring patients are getting the experience they want and financial support they need.

"Connecting patients to payment solutions at their dentist's office is an essential part of ensuring their care journey is as smooth as possible," Matt Muscolo, SVP and general manager, dental practices, Synchrony, says in a press release. "As margin pressures continue, a healthy practice depends on effective and timely revenue cycle management. This is where financial solutions like CareCredit and operations technology like Adit are able to lift that burden from the shoulders of practitioners."

CareCredit is one of the industry's first credit cards for health and wellness. It helps patients pay for their care over time and has been endorsed by major organizations in the industry including the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and American Association of Dental Office Management.

When Synchrony conducted a study last year to learn how out-of-pocket costs affect decisions about dental treatments, the need to help patients was reinforced.

ffering financial solutions to patients is particularly important, as more than half (58%) of consumers expressed that dental care is not affordable, and for those living without dental insurance, that number rose to 75%, according to the company's recently published Dental Lifetime of Care study.

Report Provides Insights to Help Give Patients Clarity on the Cost of Dental Care

This new partnership with Adit will integrate CareCredit into "AditPay," which easily allows dental practices to offer their patients CareCredit as a financing option seamlessly. CareCredit's innovative Batch Quick Screen will also help clinicians know when patients are preapproved for the health and wellness credit card.

"At Adit, our developers understand that creating a high-value dental business begins with a solid foundation based on creating satisfying customer experiences and efficient operations,"says Ali Jhaver, CEO of Adit, in the press release. "Our partnership with Synchrony to integrate CareCredit's offerings into our technology is just another way we can strengthen that foundation for providers."

CareCredit is integrated in top dental practice management software solutions, including a recent partnership with RevenueWell to more effectively communicate CareCredit financing options to patients using RevenueWell marketing campaigns, text messaging, and website templates. These integrations make it easy for dental teams to offer the financing solution to patients and for patients to apply. Patients looking for a modern, flexible way to pay for dental care can learn if they prequalify in the dental practice and on any smart device with no impact to their credit score. They also have the option to apply by phone.

A credit decision is made within minutes, the company states, and if approved, patients can use their account to pay their dentist right away. CareCredit has a variety of financing options available, from 6 to 60 months, depending on the purchase amount. The CareCredit payment calculator allows patients to help estimate their monthly payments based on the amount of care financed and the financing option selected.

"Patient expectations are evolving and dental professionals need to adapt their practices accordingly," adds Josh Gosnell, vice president of revenue at Adit. "Adit's seamless integration with other popular systems and technologies, such as CareCredit, gives practitioners a leg-up in overcoming these hurdles by transforming your practice, enhancing patient care, and setting you up to thrive in today's ever-changing landscape."

According to Synchrony, CareCredit is accepted at more than 270,000 healthcare provider and retail locations, including more than 117,000 dental care locations.

Founded in 2012, Adit provides a suite of dental software products designed to help dental practices manage their operations, improve patient communication, boost production, and enhance patient care.

1. CareCredit. October 19, 2023. Dental Lifetime of Care Study.

https://www.carecredit.com/providers/insights/dental-lifetime-of-care-study/

CareCredit access now integrates with "Adit Pay" for patients; partnership also enables streamlined payment options to Adit practice management users.

New Synchrony, Adit Partnership Expands Dental Payment Offerings

America's ToothFairy Initiative Bridges Dental Care Gap for Vulnerable Children. Image credit: © America's ToothFairy


Recent studies have indicated that 1 in 5 children in America don’t receive essential dental care each year, equaling about 14.5 million children who may be at risk for a variety of oral infections or issues later down the line, according to a press release from America’s ToothFairy. To address this challenge, America's ToothFairy, a nationwide nonprofit organization, has been working to provide crucial resources to safety-net dental clinics. These resources, including dental products, equipment, and financial grants, are channeled through the organization's Dental Resource Program (DRP) to support clinics serving vulnerable children.

FirstHealth Dental Care, a DRP member since 2008 located in Southern Pines, North Carolina, serves nearly 3700 children from rural counties with limited access to dental services. FirstHealth Dental Care relies on the support provided by America's ToothFairy to fulfill its mission.

Dr Sharon Harrell, the clinic's dental director, emphasized the vital role these resources play in preventing decay and maintaining oral health for their primarily Medicaid and uninsured low-income patients in the press release. “America’s ToothFairy helps keep us afloat.” Dr Harrell said.

One of the flagship initiatives driving America's ToothFairy's mission is its annual online auction, known as "Bid For Smiles." 2024’s event, held from March 20 to March 22, raised nearly $19,000. The proceeds from this auction will facilitate access to dental services for an estimated 3500 children in need.

Jill Malmgren, executive director of America's ToothFairy, underscored the importance of initiatives like Bid For Smiles, stating in the press release, "We believe that kids with healthy smiles have a better chance of reaching their potential." Since its inception in 2016, Bid For Smiles has garnered substantial support, raising a total of $745,000 to date. Corporate sponsors such as GC America and Darby Dental have been instrumental in the success of this initiative, contributing to its impact on children's oral health nationwide, per the press release.

The auction featured an array of prizes, including an Apple Watch donated by Darby Dental, dental equipment from Patterson Dental, and various other donated dental products. With over $35,000 worth of items available for bidding, participants had ample opportunities to support the cause.

Looking ahead, America's ToothFairy is gearing up for the next Bid For Smiles auction, scheduled for March 19-21, 2025. Those interested in participating or contributing as sponsors are encouraged to visit 

America's ToothFairy, a nonprofit organization, aids safety-net dental clinics in providing essential care to children in need, with their recent online auction raising money to support access to dental services for thousands of vulnerable kids.

America's ToothFairy Initiative Bridges Dental Care Gap for Vulnerable Children

VITA Celebrating 100 Years of Dental Business | Image Credit: © VITA North America

The company best known for its tooth shade guide is celebrating 100 years of serving the dental industry.

VITA Zahnfabrik and VITA North America are celebrating the company’s 100-year anniversary, a significant milestone in the history of the business. The fourth-generation family company is known for its pioneering dental technologies and innovations, including setting the shade standard for the industry.

VITA pioneered the field of tooth shade determination with the development of the world-renowned VITA classical A1-D4®shade guide and its proprietary VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER®. With the company’s VITA Toothguide 3D-MASTER— the first and only system of its kind that covers the complete range of natural tooth shades—every natural tooth shade can be determined accurately and systematically.

“The 100th anniversary is a special experience and another milestone in VITA's history,” says Dr. Emanuel Rauter, Managing Partner of VITA Zahnfabrik, in a press release. “We take pride in our accomplishments and look forward to the future, where we will continue to perfect and actively shape prosthetics. As a reliable partner in the dental industry, we are ready for another 100 years of innovative solutions, ensuring the best possible care for patients.”

VITA is conducting a variety of activities, events and educational formats as part of its centennial celebration, including 100-highlighted educational courses, 100-minute webinars, and a contest awarding prizes. A 100-year social media competition was launched featuring monthly winners and a grand prize winner. Participants can enter by creating a post about VITA and using the hashtag #VITA100years and tagging @VITA. The grand prize is an invitation to IDS2025 in Cologne, Germany, including travel and accommodations and 2-day tickets to the international dental show in March of 2025.

As part of the celebration, VITA is offering a limited-edition VITA VACUMAT® 6000M furnace in magenta. | Image Credit: © VITA North America

The company will also launch several product line extensions during this special year including: • VITA MFT® denture tooth line is now available in 16 VITA classical A1-D4® shades, 16 VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER® shades and 3 bleach shades. 

• VITAPAN EXCELL® and VITAPAN LINGOFORM® are now available in all VITA classical A1-D4® and all VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER® shades.

• In honor of the 100-year anniversary, the company is also offering a limited-edition VITA VACUMAT® 6000M furnace in magenta.

Offering a vast portfolio of dental products from premium denture teeth and veneering materials, to digital shade measurement, furnaces and CAD/CAM restorations, VITA has been assisting laboratory technicians and clinicians for many years in their efforts to deliver high quality and esthetic results to patients quickly and efficiently.

The company that set the standard for tooth shade guides has special events, education, product line expansions, and contests planned as part of the milestone celebration. 

VITA Celebrating 100 Years of Dental Business

Unveiled today, Formlabs’ new Form 4 and Form 4B 3D printers promise faster print speeds designed to provide professionals new levels of productivity. The Form 4B can reportedly print an accurate, great-fitting dental model every 49 seconds.

The company’s new flagship resin 3D printers look to set a new standard for additive manufacturing with Formlabs’ proprietary new Low Force Display™ (LFD) print engine, updates to their library of industry-leading resins, new automated post-processing, and an enhanced user experience. The Form 4 printers are said to deliver 5 times faster print speeds to enable new levels of productivity for healthcare professionals as well as product designers, engineers, and manufacturers. The result: prototyping through production that can lead to fast reliable parts and an accelerated time to market.

“Form 4 is a huge leap not only for Formlabs and our customers, but also for the entire 3D printing world,” Formlabs CEO and co-founder Max Lobovsky says in today’s press release. “More than a decade ago, Formlabs created the desktop SLA 3D printer category and set a new standard for accuracy, reliability, ease of use, and affordability in 3D printing. We’ve built on the strength and insights gathered from more than 130,000 printers on the market and over 300 million parts printed to deliver the Form 4, our best SLA printer ever. Its reliability and new level of speed will transform how our customers develop new products.”

The Form 4B, designed for healthcare professionals, is compatible with 15 additional biocompatible materials. | Image Credit: © Formlabs

Form 4, the company’s fourth generation of desktop resin 3D printers, is designed to deliver blazing fast print speeds, reliability, industry-leading material properties, optimal print quality, and intuitive operation, according to Formlabs.

The company has also expanded its resin library including the introduction of new resins for orthodontic and dental models.

 Prints 2 to 5 times faster than Form 3+ depending on material, enabling same-hour iteration or batch production with masked stereolithography (mSLA) technology.
Completes most prints in under 2 hours and small parts in minutes of cycle time.
Achieve maximum vertical print speeds of 100 mm per hour.

: A departure from laser and galvanometer technology, the new printer features an ultra-high power backlight (16 mw/cm2), proprietary release texture, Light Processing Unit 4 (LPU 4), and dual-layer, flexible film resin tank.

Validated print settings, precision heating, force sensing, and debris detection produce print success.

: With 50-micron pixels, highly collimated light, advanced pixel smoothing, and light touch supports, the print quality is strong.

Users can learn to print in 15 minutes – featuring automatic resin handling, instant material changes, automated post-processing, and quick release build platform technology.

Delivers affordability with long-lasting resin tanks (75,000+ layers) and Light Processing Unit (1M+ layers), 33% lower resin pricing, 30% larger print volume, and 3.5 times higher throughput, the company states.


"We support all hardware categories at Microsoft. Form 4 is our go-to choice for projects needing tight tolerances and engineering-grade materials,” says Mark Honschke, Additive Prototyping Lead, Microsoft, in the press release. “It produces high-performance parts with amazingly fast print times and makes it possible for our model makers to produce multiple iterations in a 24-hour period.”

Bruno Alves, development engineer AM/IM, Ford Motor Company, adds, "Form 4's speed and materials versatility enable us to create multiple prototypes and manufacturing aids every day. The printer has already changed the way we design and produce parts, helping us drive efficiency in our product development."

In addition to the new printers, Formlabs is introducing 6 new resins to its resin library, including model resins for orthodontic models and dental models. These additions are the Fast Model Resin, for high-speed prototypes and production of orthodontic models; the Precision Model Resin, for highly accurate dental models that always fit; and 4 newly reformulated General Purpose Resins designed to take advantage of the Form 4 ecosystem to print 2 to 5 times faster than Form 3 with improved toughness and color.

The Form 4B, designed for innovative healthcare professionals in the dental and medical industries, is compatible with 15 additional biocompatible materials. The Form 4, meanwhile, is validated to use 17+ other performance materials from Formlabs’ materials library. The company plans to regularly add new materials.

Form 4 (starting at $4,499) and Form 4B (starting at $6,299) are available as of today at

The company’s fourth generation of desktop resin 3D printers also features reliability, industry-leading material properties for dental models, optimal print quality, and intuitive operation.


New Form 4 and Form 4B 3D Printers from Formlabs Boast Fast Print Speeds, Accuracy

Bruce Bryen is a certified public accountant with over 45 years of experience and is a part of Baratz & Associates CPAs. He specializes in deferred compensation, such as retirement planning design; income and estate tax planning; determination of the proper organizational business structure; asset protection and structuring loan packages for presentation to financial institutions. He is experienced in providing litigation support services to dentists with Valuation and Expert Witness testimony in matrimonial and partnership dispute cases. He is also a financial writer for several dental journals. You may contact him at 609-502-0691 or at 

Every clinician’s situation is unique and that is why it’s critical for them to understand the different types of retirement plans available.

The following article provides a summary of some of the various types of retirement plans including their flexibility, goals and the costs associated with each type of plan. These will all be based upon each plan being a qualified employer sponsored retirement plan, meaning their adoption by the employer are IRS approved and that the employer payments into the plan are tax deductible to the dental practice who is known as the plan sponsor.

There are basically 2 types of retirement plan designs, including one known as a defined contribution plan with various names associated with it. These plans have names such as a 401k, profit sharing plan, and any other qualified retirement plans where the annual contribution is defined by law. The other type of plan design is known as a defined benefit plan. This type of plan uses by definition the amount you will receive as your benefit when you have retired. It is a complex plan that can be described and written on your behalf based on your age, compensation and job description and the number of years you have worked with some exceptions. In essence, the benefit is defined compared to the defined contribution plan where the contribution is defined. You can imagine that this type of plan is much more expensive to draft than the defined contribution plan.

Let’s discuss employer qualified retirement plan flexibility:

With the types of qualified employer sponsored retirement plans available how does the dentist know which to choose? Since this decision will allow the dentist to substantially reduce his or her taxes on an annual basis and to accumulate a sum that creditors cannot attach, the choice is a momentous one for the dentist. A critical advisor to the dentist who can give a substantial boost to his or her client, is the dental CPA. The dental CPA understands how working with an actuary to assist in designing the employer qualified retirement plan can insulate the dentist for a lifetime against those attempting to take away his or her assets, and to allow the dentist to grow his or her estate.

A dental CPA will discuss the long- and short-term goals of the dentist and explain the options available, the time line to achieve this and the estimated cost to draft the adoption agreement. As an example, if the dentist is 50 years old or older, he or she may want to contribute as much as possible as quickly as possible to the retirement plan. This would probably have the dental CPA discuss the implementation and adoption of a defined benefit plan since the potential for a tax-deductible annual contribution from the dental practice to this type of retirement plan could exceed $150,000 per year. If you think of the power of this type of retirement plan contribution with the plan earnings being accumulated tax free until their withdrawal, how much do you think the retirement plan assets will be worth in 10 years?

Other types of qualified employer sponsored retirement plans and their impact on the dentist:

As discussed, the other type of employer sponsored qualified retirement plan is known as the defined contribution plan. The contribution is defined each year and the dentist cannot contribute and deduct more than a certain amount each year. This type of retirement plan is a good plan with good definitions of what the dentist can and can’t do. This plan does not allow the larger contributions that the defined benefit plan does but the amounts are still reasonably good.

This kind of retirement plan is typically adopted by those who are not yet 50 years old and want to have a reasonable tax-deductible contribution for their dental practice. The 401k defined contribution plan also allows the employee to contribute to his or her own plan. As of this writing, the employer and employee contributions cannot exceed $66,000 for the defined contribution plan. If the employee is 50 years old or older, they can contribute with the employer’s share, up to $73,500. As you can see, this is about one half of the defined benefit plan contribution of $150,000 or more.

What else does an employer sponsored qualified retirement plan offer as benefits for the dental practice as well as the owner and employees?

With the short summary described in the preceding paragraphs, one may wonder why every dental practice does not have either a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan. There are other types of retirement plans as well. The Simple IRA has much lesser amounts of annual tax-deductible contributions. Its maximum contribution this year is $16,000. If you are 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $3500. The Simple IRA, the SEP plan and others offer a way for a dental practice to make much smaller tax-deductible contributions and still accumulate a significant sum based on the number of years they must fund the plan.

Additionally, the earnings in the plan are not taxable until you withdraw them. The funds in the retirement plan are immune from creditors. That means that if you are in a lawsuit, the funds in the retirement account cannot be attached, even if you lose the lawsuit. Another advantage of an employer sponsored qualified retirement plan is that the assets in the plan can’t be pledged as collateral if you are trying to borrow money. All these things when accumulated, will give the owner a safe haven when he or she is ready to retire. The dentist should begin working with his or her dental CPA right now to take advantage of the current tax deductions as well as to build his or her nest egg for the future that no one can touch. If you don’t have a dental CPA who has experience with the different types of retirement plans, find one by asking your dental supply representative or your attorney.

A little homework and help from an expert can help clinicians choose the right benefit plan and the ideal amounts to be deposited. 

Digging Into Employer Qualified Retirement Plan Options

Oral care products manufacturer RADIUS has announced its latest offering, the Immune Support Toothpaste Collection. This collection, which consists of both a standard and pediatric toothpaste option, is formulated with elderberry, vitamin C, vitamin E, and hydroxyapatite–what RADIUS has dubbed the “Triple Action Immune Boost,” according to a press release from the company. The blend of vitamins and hydroxyapatite are included specifically to both bolster the immune system as well as provide the cavity protection and remineralization that patients desire.

The Immune Support Toothpaste Collection has 2 variants which are the Immuni-Minty in Elderberry Mint Flavor for adults and Super Duper Bubble Berry Mint for children. Ingredients include coconut oil, baking soda, and elderberry which will enable teeth whitening. These features are all combined to provide users with a fully robust toothpaste solution, according to RADIUS CEO and president Saskia Coleman.

“As a response to the growing consumer demand for multifunctional oral care products, our Immune Support Toothpaste Collection represents a significant breakthrough in innovation,” Coleman said in the press release. “We’re proud to offer a product that not only enhances oral health but also supports immune function, addressing a vital consumer need in the evolving premium oral care segment.”

The Immune Support Toothpaste Collection is available now. To learn more, visit the 

RADIUS’s latest toothpaste offering contains ingredients that enable immune system support as well as cavity protection and remineralization features. 