Proclaim’s Custom-Jet Oral Irrigator Trial Offer Extended to Dental Practices | Image Credit: © Proclaim

Proclaim™, a provider of customized preventative health solutions, is extending an invitation to forward-thinking dental practices to participate in the exclusive trial of their groundbreaking medical device, the Custom-Jet Oral Irrigator. This Preventative Health System is a global first, designed to deliver a fully customized and automated approach to achieve a comprehensive at-home dental clean. With the simple push of a button, the device has been clinically validated to reduce the signs of gingivitis in as little as 7 seconds a day.

Employing cutting-edge digital intraoral scanning technology, facilitated through Proclaim's network of dental partners, and advanced 3D-printing techniques, Proclaim crafts personalized mouthpieces for each patient. These mouthpieces feature up to 60 strategically positioned, pressurized jets on both the facial and lingual interproximal sites.

These jets emit pulsating water streams that penetrate between teeth and beneath the gumline, ensuring a thorough 360-degree clean with consistent and effective results every time. Unlike conventional manual solutions, this innovation empowers patients to maintain their oral health effortlessly and sustainably in the comfort of their homes, thereby promoting superior preventative care, according to Proclaim.

Steven Glassman, DDS, a renowned cosmetic dentist and advisor to celebrities, expressed his enthusiasm, stating in a press release, "This device will truly revolutionize the guidance we can give our adult patients who are struggling with varying levels of gum disease, especially for those who find it difficult to maintain a proper oral care routine at home."

Clinical trial participants who used Proclaim experienced significant reductions in plaque buildup, gingival inflammation, bleeding, and improvements in pocket depth and bleeding on probing when compared to traditional tooth brushing and flossing. After 30 days of usage, the results showcased an 82% reduction in gingival bleeding, a 41% reduction in gingival inflammation, a 23% reduction in pocket depth, and a 34% reduction in plaque accumulation. You can access the published 

Jonathan Nicozisis, DMD, MS, a nationally recognized orthodontist and Invisalign expert, adds in the press release, "The Proclaim experience is life-changing for patients. It's the first oral care innovation I've seen in decades that combines cutting-edge technology with clinically proven effectiveness. And by customizing and automating the process, we're able to remove the barriers to better oral health that many of our patients face on a daily basis."

Upon purchasing Proclaim online, patients are prompted to schedule an appointment for an intraoral scan at a nearby dental partner location. This step is vital for the 3D printing of their personalized mouthpiece. Once this is completed, the mouthpiece and Custom-Jet Oral Irrigator are promptly shipped to the patient for immediate use.

For a limited time, Proclaim is extending an offer to dental professionals who wish to experience the difference firsthand. Discover more about partnering with Proclaim and sign up for the opportunity to receive an exclusive trial device at 

The Custom-Jet Oral Irrigator is scheduled for shipping soon, and trial quantities are limited.

Established in 2017 in Mountain View, California, Proclaim is a leading preventative health company committed to developing innovative, technology-driven solutions that revolutionize daily oral care. The Proclaim Custom-Jet Oral Health System is a clinically proven at-home solution that effortlessly enhances overall oral health within just 30 days.

In a 30-day randomized, examiner-blinded clinical trial, 192 adult subjects participated, with 61 subjects assigned to the control group (brushing only), 65 subjects to the brushing + floss group, and 66 subjects to the brushing + Proclaim Oral Care System group. All subjects were provided with an ADA reference soft manual toothbrush and ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste and instructed to brush twice daily according to their usual habits. Subjects in the Proclaim group visited the research site daily to use the Custom-Jet Oral Irrigator at the maximum setting (with water).

Those in the floss group were instructed to floss once daily at home. The trial assessed gingivitis at 6 sites per tooth using the Modified Gingival Index (MGI) and marginal probing bleeding via the Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), as well as plaque measured using the Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI). Additionally, periodontal probing depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were measured at 6 sites per tooth. The clinical trial was conducted at Salus Research in Fort Wayne, Indiana, an ADA-qualified research site.

Articles

Proclaim crafts personalized mouthpieces for each patient as part of the fully customized and automated approach to achieve a comprehensive at-home dental clean.  

Proclaim’s Custom-Jet Oral Irrigator Trial Offer Extended to Dental Practices

Dentsply Sirona's Commitment to Sustainability Shines in Third Annual Report. Image credit: © Dentsply Sirona

Dental products manufacturer and distributor Dentsply Sirona has unveiled its third sustainability report, showcasing substantial progress against its sustainability strategy "BEYOND: Taking action for a brighter world." The company's efforts to drive sustainability both internally and within the dental industry are making a significant impact, with notable achievements in various areas, according to a press release.

The 2022 sustainability report was launched during the prestigious Dentsply Sirona World Las Vegas, an annual clinical education event for the dental industry. The event served as the perfect backdrop for showcasing the company's ongoing dedication to sustainability.

Erania Brackett, Dentsply Sirona's Senior Vice President, Orthodontic Aligner Solutions & Customer Experience, and Head of Sustainability, expressed her satisfaction with the company's continued commitment to sustainability. "I'm pleased that in 2022 we once again demonstrated our commitment to sustainability and made solid progress against all our goals, be they environmental, social, or governance related," Brackett said. "For me, a special highlight of the past year has been the launch of our Sustainability Educational Curriculum. It is our response to the need for more knowledge expressed by a large number of dentists in our global sustainability study. The curriculum is available online on DS Academy and aims to help empower dental professionals around the world with the knowledge they need to drive sustainability within their practices and labs."

The sustainability strategy of Dentsply Sirona is structured around 3 key pillars:

: The company has been consistently reducing its Scope 1 and 2 Green House Gas emissions, water withdrawal, and total waste, in alignment with its goals. Initiatives like energy and waste audits across several global sites and the implementation of renewable energy sources like solar panels have been instrumental in achieving these reductions. Dentsply Sirona is also adopting digital solutions and tools to enhance its sustainability, with DS Core operating on Google Cloud's renewable energy-powered platform.

: Dentsply Sirona has reached over 11.2 million healthy smiles, nearly half of the 25 million smiles it aims to achieve by 2025. To improve global access to oral healthcare, the company has continued to support Smile Train in advancing cleft care, with more than 2700 cleft surgeries supported since 2021. Furthermore, Dentsply Sirona and Smile Train, in partnership with the FDI World Dental Federation, have developed digital cleft treatment protocols to enhance quality and access to care for cleft patients worldwide.

: Gender parity has been a focus for Dentsply Sirona, with the achievement of gender pay parity in the United States, the company's largest market, for professional managerial levels. The company is dedicated to closing the small remaining international gender pay gap by 2025. Dentsply Sirona also focuses on fostering diversity and inclusion, with 55% of global hires in 2022 being diverse.

Simon Campion, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dentsply Sirona, emphasized the company's culture of unity and its relentless determination to provide superior solutions for patient and customer care. "With sustainability principles in our hearts and minds, we will continue to drive transformative innovations as well as cooperation across our industry to make a positive impact on the lives and health of millions of patients and the planet on which they live."

Dentsply Sirona has published its third annual Sustainability Report “BEYOND: Taking action for a brighter world” with optimistic results for healthier smiles and business. 

Dentsply Sirona's Commitment to Sustainability Shines in Third Annual Report

Designs for Health Launches PerioBiotic™ Silver, a Fluoride-Free Probiotic Toothpaste for Enhanced Oral Health. Image credit: © Designs for Health

Nutraceutical company Designs for Health is breaking new ground in oral health with the introduction of its PerioBiotic™ Silver, a fluoride-free probiotic toothpaste that is said to offer a unique blend of ingredients designed to promote tooth enamel strength, enhance smile brightness, and support overall oral health, according to a press release from the company. This product is the latest addition to Designs for Health's expanding line of oral health solutions, which already includes PerioPull™ and Periommune™.

PerioBiotic™ Silver boasts a distinctive formula that includes several key components, such as Kalident, nano-hydroxyapatite, purified silver, CoQ10, grape seed extract, and Dental-Lac™, a strain of 

. Clinical research has shown that Dental-Lac™ plays a crucial role in fostering a balanced oral microbiome, promoting periodontal health, and maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in the mouth, akin to the role of probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract. Each ingredient plays a specific role––purified silver reportedly supporting overall oral wellness, CoQ10 contributing to gum health, and grape seed extract offering inflammatory support.

Calcium hydroxyapatite and hydrated silica play a vital role in PerioBiotic Silver’s formulation. Calcium hydroxyapatite, the primary mineral component of healthy tooth enamel, helps counteract enamel wear caused by acidic foods, beverages, orthodontic treatments, and microbial imbalances within the mouth. Hydrated silica contains natural cleaning properties and contributes to the natural brightness of teeth. This innovative toothpaste avoids the use of traditional harsh sulfates and contains coco betaine, a coconut-sourced foaming and cleansing agent, making it suitable for individuals with sensitive teeth, per the press release.

Jonathan Lizotte, Founder and Chairman of Designs for Health, expressed excitement about this new product, stating, "Since fluoride was added to toothpaste in the 1950s, not much has changed in the way of true innovation in the toothpaste category, which is why we are thrilled to announce the launch of our unique PerioBiotic™ Silver formulation. The latest science shows a healthy mouth begins with a balanced oral microbiome, which is why we have meticulously formulated it to exclude harsh irritants, toxins, and foaming and whitening agents that could compromise one's oral health. The final product is a culmination of clinically studied ingredients based on the latest research to help design a healthier smile for all."

PerioBiotic™ Silver is free from fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, and saccharin. It is also free of BPAs, parabens, synthetic colors, gluten, dairy, and synthetic sweeteners, and is suitable for vegetarians and non-GMO. The toothpaste is available in spearmint and lemon flavors and can be purchased through the Designs for Health 

Designs for Health has been a pioneer in the natural medicine field since its inception in 1989, and over the last 30 years, it has revolutionized nutritional science, upheld high-quality standards, and transformed the healthcare ecosystem, per the press release. Designs for Health aims to revolutionize the natural and integrative medicine movement to enable healthier smiles and healthier people all around the globe.

This new toothpaste from Designs for Health balances the oral microbiome to create healthier and brighter smiles. 

Designs for Health Launches PerioBiotic™ Silver, a Fluoride-Free Probiotic Toothpaste for Enhanced Oral Health

New Intiveo Global Insights Offers Tailored Analytics for DSOs | Image Credit: © Intiveo

Intiveo, a renowned patient engagement software dedicated to enhancing the patient experience in dental practices, has announced the launch of Intiveo Global Insights, a cutting-edge analytics solution meticulously crafted for Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) and multi-location group practices.

Intiveo boasts a strong commitment to providing exceptional patient service and the Vancouver, British Columbia company has consistently streamlined front office workflows and centralized patient engagement and communication management for dental practices. With the introduction of their new Global Insights analytics, they are taking it a step further by offering DSOs and multi-location practices a comprehensive view into actionable insights, empowering them to optimize their operations.

Josh deVries, the co-founder and CEO of Intiveo, expressed their dedication to addressing the unique challenges faced by DSOs and multi-location practices. He emphasizes in a press release by saying, "We truly understand and recognize the unique challenges and complexities faced by DSOs and multi-location practices and are passionate about providing innovative and groundbreaking solutions to our customers. With the launch of our new Global Insights, we are catering to the expansive and intricate dynamics of these dental operations to help them provide a consistent patient experience across all their practices, whether they have dozens or hundreds of locations."

Global Insights seamlessly integrates with existing Intiveo subscriptions and brings a host of benefits, including:

Comprehensive performance analytics: Access to a wide range of performance metrics and insights, offering a holistic view of operations across all locations.

Analytics-informed strategies: Dynamic dashboard widgets, in-depth reports, and granular insights provide actionable data to stakeholders.

Global access: Offers a single login to easily access practice data across multiple regions and groups.

Unified data aggregation: The capability to pull and synchronize data from various Practice Management Systems (PMS) databases, centralizing it into one accessible hub.

Competitive Advantage: Enhanced insights into confirmation rates and trends enable the optimization of patient interactions and refinement of operational strategies, culminating in a superior patient experience.

Intuitive Interface: A user-friendly dashboard ensures that data, no matter how complex, is easily understandable and actionable for all team members.

Security and Reliability: Offers a highly secure, HIPAA-compliant platform.

Intiveo's Global Insights is now available for all Intiveo customers. To delve deeper into the capabilities and features of Intiveo Global Insights, visit 

Intiveo is a patient engagement software designed to automate your patient communications without losing that important personal touch. The platform achieves this by improving patient engagement and outcomes through 2-way chat, recall reminders, quality improvement surveys, and online review management tools, the company states.

With comprehensive integrations across major PMS systems, Intiveo streamlines front-office workflows and centralizes patient engagement and communication management. Currently over 3,000 dental practices across North America are served by the platform, helping them improve their patients' experience, streamline operations, and drive revenue growth while boosting staff morale.

With a goal to continuously improve patient care by understanding their communication needs, behaviors, and preferences, the solution is designed to result in successful treatment outcomes.

The cutting-edge analytics solution is geared specifically for Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) and multi-location group practices.

New Intiveo Global Insights Offers Tailored Analytics for DSOs

Tempmee Rebrands to GoTu. Image credit: © GoTu!

In a transformative move that is said to reflect their commitment to dental professionals and their ever-evolving needs, TempMee, a leading platform for dental staffing solutions, has announced its rebrand as GoTu. The rebrand, effective immediately, comes with a new name, fresh logo, and an enhanced suite of services to better serve dental professionals and practices, according to a blog on GoTu’s website.

Dental practices across the nation rely on staffing solutions to maintain their quality of care, and GoTu understands the unique challenges and demands faced by these professionals. With the rebrand, GoTu aims to become an even more valuable partner in the dental community.

The new name, "GoTu," reflects the company's renewed focus on understanding the specific needs and desires of both dental professionals seeking employment and dental practices looking to hire qualified staff.

GoTu's enhanced suite of services includes:

Job Matching: GoTu's sophisticated algorithms will connect dental professionals with job opportunities that match their skills, preferences, and career goals more effectively than before.

Dental Staffing Solutions: The platform will provide dental practices with a simplified, efficient, and cost-effective way to find the ideal candidates for their staffing needs.

The transition from TempMee to GoTu has been carefully planned to minimize disruptions for existing users. Dental professionals and practices currently using TempMee will have their profiles and data seamlessly transferred to the new GoTu platform.

In a rapidly evolving dental landscape, GoTu's rebrand aims to represent a forward-thinking approach to meeting the needs of dental professionals and practices, per the company’s website. As "GoTu," the platform is poised to be the go-to destination for dental staffing solutions, offering a range of innovative services to support dental careers and practice growth.

"GoTu underscores our evolution into the ‘go-to’ workforce resource for the entire dental community,” said Ed Thomas, co-founder and co-chief executive officer, in the press release. “As our company has matured, we see new opportunities to serve this market and make a bigger impact on the dental industry overall.”

Cary Gahm, co-founder and co-chief executive officer, also remarked in the press release, “We remain deeply committed to providing technology-driven solutions for today’s challenges. Our rebrand to GoTu embodies the entrepreneurial, innovative spirit of the community we serve, and ushers in a new chapter for our company. It is more than just a name; it encapsulates our commitment to value-driven conversations and empowering individuals and businesses alike.”

Dental professionals and practices can explore the rebranded platform and its enhanced features at 

. With this rebrand, GoTu aspires to be the catalyst that brings success, satisfaction, and smiles to dental professionals and practices alike.

This rebrand from TempMee to GoTu aims to reaffirm a commitment to matching clinicians with the dental practices they deserve. 

TempMee Rebrands to GoTu

Hanife Bayraktaroglu DDS speaks about the Yomi robot from Neocis at the 2023 AAID Annual Conference.

Attendees were focused on unique educational opportunities from leading dental implant experts, as well as a chance to see some of the latest technologies and approaches to dental implant care during the 2023 American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) Annual Conference in Las Vegas, November 1-4.

The meeting was busy with dental professionals networking and sharing their expertise, whether in the range of lectures, hands-on courses, and specialized educational tracks, or while walking the conference center hallways, or exhibit hall aisles. Here is a wrap up of some of what happened during AAID 2023.

Lecturers on the AAID 2023 mainstage touched on a range of topics, but the importance of digital technology in both treatment design and execution was a connective theme between many presentations.

In a presentation titled “Robotics and Facial Esthetics” Hanife Bayraktaroglu, DDS, shared how the guided robotic technology of Neocis’ Yomi helped give her the confidence to take on more complex implant cases. With Yomi she can plan implant placements digitally, and then the system’s robotic arm guides her handpiece to make sure they are delivered to those precise spots and the planned angulation.

“We want to obtain control of every aspect of clinical care, and the robot is one tool that helps us do that,” she says.

Among the other key technologies for Dr Bayraktaroglu were CBCT imaging, intraoral scans, and photogrammetry which she said is likely to be the standard of care for restoring full-arch cases.

Another mainstage presenter who highlighted the importance of the accuracy of digital imaging was Scott Ganz, DMD, who shared his best practices for helping patients with malpositioned implants. Dr Ganz walked the audience through a series of cases featuring failing previously placed implants. Whether the implants were showing their threads above the gumline, or had been placed in ill-advised positions previously, Dr Ganz detailed how 3D imaging and treatment planning in a digital environment allow him to find where there is bone, and how he can create a platform to support new implants and a restoration.

Dr Ganz also highlighted a range of digital technologies key to his successful outcomes. Along with CBCT imaging, intraoral scanning, and photogrammetry for planning the treatment and the restoration, he demonstrated how 3D printing can be used to create custom guides for these unique situations, which allows him to deliver optimal outcomes.

The Implant World Expo exhibit hall was not bursting with product launches, but a look at who was exhibiting, and what they were showing provided a great look at the trends when it comes to implant dentistry. Innovation in the design of implants themselves continues to be one story, as manufacturers continue to refine the design and surface of the implants themselves. But the design of implant connections, and abutment solutions are also impacting the possibilities of what can be engineered when it comes to full-arch restorations.

There are also a range of new approaches to the implant workflow with companies such as InstaRisa with its extraoral face-scanning solution, and S.I.N. 360 with its end-to-end workflow for providing full-arch, implant-supported restorations.

Of course, along with the dental implants, numerous products designed to aid with healing were also on display. StellaLife was on hand showcasing the research supporting the use of its VEGA Oral Care Gel as an alternative to chlorhexidine for post-surgical care.

While the 2023 AAID Annual Conference is over, next year’s event is already set. The 2024 AAID Annual Conference will be November 13-16, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Here’s a quick hitting rundown of some of the mainstage lecturers, products, and trends we noticed while attending the 2023 American Academy of Implant Dentistry Annual Conference.

AAID 2023: Speaker, News, and Product Wrap Up

Study Shows Dental Opioid Prescribing Went Up During COVID-19 Pandemic. Image credit: © PLOS ONE

A recent study published in PLoS ONE, titled "Association between the COVID-19 outbreak and opioid prescribing by U.S. dentists," has shed light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental opioid prescribing practices in the United States.

 The study, conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr Jian Zhang from the University of Michigan Medical School, aimed to evaluate the association between the COVID-19 outbreak and the rate of opioid prescribing by U.S. dentists. The findings offer valuable insights into the evolving landscape of dental opioid prescribing.

Prior to this study, United States data on opioid prescribing by dentists were limited to 2019. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became essential to assess whether this global health crisis had affected dental opioid prescribing practices. The study aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 on dental opioid prescribing, understand current trends, and assess the need for continued dental opioid stewardship initiatives.

To find answers, the research team conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Database, which covers 92% of prescriptions dispensed in United States retail pharmacies. Opioid cough-and-cold medications and opioids used to treat opioid use disorder were excluded per this definition, according to the study. The research team calculated the monthly dental opioid dispensing rate, defined as the monthly number of dispensed opioid prescriptions by dentists per 100,000 U.S. individuals. The analysis spanned from January 2016 to February 2020 and from June 2020 to December 2022. Data from March to May 2020, when dental prescribing sharply declined due to national lockdowns, were excluded to avoid distortions in trends. Linear segmented regression models were used to assess level and slope changes in the dental opioid dispensing rate during June 2020.

The study included a staggering 81,189,605 dental opioid prescriptions, revealing significant trends in dental opioid prescribing. The annual number of prescriptions saw a decline of 44.7% from 2016 to 2022.

Between January 2016 and February 2020, the monthly dental opioid dispensing rate declined at a rate of -3.9 per month. However, a notable shift occurred in June 2020, when this rate abruptly increased by 31.4, and the monthly decline in dental opioid dispensing slowed to -2.1 per month. This change in trends meant that 6.1 million more dental opioid prescriptions were dispensed during June 2020 to December 2022 than would have been predicted had trends from January 2016 to February 2020 continued.

The study highlights that while dental opioid prescribing was on a declining trend in the United States, this decline slowed down after the COVID-19 outbreak, underscoring the continued importance of dental opioid stewardship initiatives in mitigating the potential risks associated with opioid prescriptions.

The study's subgroup analyses revealed variations in changes, suggesting that efforts to monitor and improve the appropriateness of dental opioid prescribing need to consider demographic factors and regional disparities. It is also vital to maintain access to dental care during public health emergencies to reduce the need for opioid prescribing for complications due to delayed dental care.

These insights are crucial as the dental profession plays a significant role in the overall opioid prescribing landscape, and addressing these practices is vital in the ongoing battle against opioid-related harms and the opioid epidemic.

Authors Jason Zhang, Romesh P. Nalliah, Jennifer F. Waljee, Chad M. Brummett, and Kao-Ping Chua, published “Association between the COVID-19 outbreak and opioid prescribing by U.S. dentists,” in PLOS ONE, with funding provided by a grant from the Benter Foundation, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School.

To dive deeper into the methodology of this study, read it for 

Zhang J, Nalliah RP, Waljee JF, Brummett CM, Chua K-P (2023) Association between the COVID-19 outbreak and opioid prescribing by U.S. dentists. 

 18(11): e0293621. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293621

A new study demonstrates that dental opioid prescribing increased during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, reinforcing the importance of non-opioid pain management solutions even during global health emergencies. 

Study Shows Dental Opioid Prescribing Went Up During COVID-19 Pandemic

The 2023 AAID Annual Conference - Interview with Erin Elliot, DDS

In this video, Dental Products Report provides coverage of the 2023 AAID Annual Conference in Las Vegas. The conference offers attendees and clinicians, such as Erin Elliot, an exclusive opportunity to explore the latest innovations and developments in the field of implant dentistry. This event serves as a platform for professionals to get a firsthand look at new and groundbreaking dental products and technologies.

Dr Elliot: Hey everybody, I'm Dr Erin Elliot, a general dentist that does implants up in Post Falls, Idaho, and I am here at AAID so that I can present on sleep apnea. So that we can help you screen and diagnose and treat your patients. You know, interestingly enough, when you look at the numbers, the amount of patients that have full arch prostheses have a high percentage of sleep apnea. 

In addition, when you look at the studies that show the prosthesis complications, most of them 13 out of 16, in one study had obstructive sleep apnea. So we need to be looking for the root cause, in addition to help protect all that investment that the patient just made, and the way to do so is to treat that main disease of obstructive sleep apnea. Dentists are the exact people that should come alongside sleep physicians in order to help identify these patients. We're in the trenches with them each and every day, we're looking at our ways, patients see us more often than their regular primary care physicians. We are the best positioned with our cone beam, just our communication skills, and the ability to even help treat them once they are discovered and diagnosed. I have to admit, this was my first AI D meeting. And I was pleasantly surprised to see just how many people are here that care about dentistry, that are pushing the envelope in our digital workflows and our workflows in general to help our patients which is really the whole reason we're here have better outcomes and better results. 

The thing that has me the most excited about dentistry is not just all the fancy toys and the cool technology that we get to work with. But the fact that it truly impacts our patients to make a better procedure. They don't seem as scared about dentistry anymore. And our patients are seeing their mouth, their health as more of an investment which we've I've never seen before in my patient population. I just want to thank AAID and its board and leadership in basically pushing dentistry forward so that we can help our patients that are in our chair each and every day, and we can help solve their problems.

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Dental Products Report took to Las Vegas to cover the 2023 AAID Annual Conference, where attendees and clinicians like Erin Elliot got a first look at all things new and innovative in implant dentistry. [3 minutes]

A new desktop scanner from Amann Girrbach.

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Ecosite Elements from DMG America

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Glider Integrated Dental Surgical Table from ASI Dental Specialties

New Dental Products - October 30 - November 3, 2023

All the new dental product launches from October 30, 2023 through November 3, 2023. 

Richard Miron, DMD, MMSc, PhD, presenting at 2023 AAID Annual Conference

As a researcher, author and educator, Richard Miron, DMD, MMSc, PhD is known for his work on periodontal wound healing and helping develop platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) protocols and clinical applications, but as he took the podium on the mainstage at the 2023 American Academy of Implant Dentistry Annual Conference, he shared how began a growing facial esthetics business based on increasing patient demands for “Vampire Facials” a skincare procedure using either hyaluronic acid or PRF and microneedling.

Dr Miron shared his story about how his interest in implants and a scholarship opportunity led him to Bern, Switzerland for advanced studies in biology, dental implants, and periodontics. While he remains an active researcher and academic, Dr Miron says he feels its important to stay clinically active and treating patients so he can see the real-world applications of the concepts he researches.

When he saw the potential of providing facial esthetics alongside dental treatments using the technologies he researches, he jumped into it, and created a model for dental professional-delivered facial esthetic services that now spread to close to 200 practices around the country. Dr Miron encouraged the audience to look into providing facial esthetic services, but before he shared more details on the possibilities in facial esthetic services, Dr Miron backed up and provided a detailed rundown on the science behind PRF.

He first noted how at a cellular level the human body has an amazing ability to close wounds and heal itself. The process of blood clotting and concentrating growth factors and other beneficial natural chemicals at the wound site promotes this healing, but this requires blood flow, and the effectiveness of self healing changes throughout a person’s life.

“As we age, your ability to heal yourself goes down,” he says.

Dr Miron noted that clotting is a critical step in healing, but some wounds do not heal properly whether because of a lack of sufficient blood flow to the wounded area, or other factors. The PRF precursor platelet rich plasma (PRP) was developed to bring these blood-based healing factors directly to wound sites. In dentistry both PRP and PRF have been mixed with graft materials to promote healing, but Dr Miron explained why they are not interchangeable.

“PRF allows clinicians to take concentrated blood growth factors and put them in places where there’s not enough blood flow to promote healing,” he says.

With PRP a patient’s blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate the while blood cells, the red blood cells and the platelets. However, traditional blood draw tubes contain anti-clotting factors to keep the blood from clotting and becoming unusable. However, with PRP some of those anti-clotting factors remain in the PRP material, meaning some negatives are mixed into the positive benefits from the platelets. For PRF special tube were designed with hydrophobic properties to keep blood in a liquid form for 4 hours without the use of any additives.

This allows PRF to provide all the benefits from the concentrated platelets while also promoting clotting, and thus promoting enhanced wound healing. Dr Miron says that with this knowledge he would not consider using PRP in clinical care any longer.

Before he moved on to discussing dental and esthetic uses of PRF, Dr Miron first shared a series of examples of the results medical doctors are having when using PRF with patients who are at risk of having a digit or a limb amputated due to a wound not healing. In many cases use of a custom PRF membrane can help patient wounds heal and eliminate the need for an amputation. Dr Miron explained that PRF in a normal clot will keep working for approximately 2 weeks.

Still, Dr Miron explained that PRF wasn’t the answer for situations requiring longer healing times, but that changed in 2019, with the development of Alb-PRF, a mixture of heated PRF and unheated PRF to create a more robust form of the healing agent that provides benefits for 4-6 months. In his practice, Dr Miron now uses Alb-PRF in his practice to make custom membranes for his periodontal patients which are both less expensive and more effective than collagen membranes.

“In my perio practice we have not used a collagen membrane in years,” he says.

In other fields this new, longer-lasting form of PRF is allowing medical doctors to create new minimally invasive treatments. One example Dr Miron shared is that spinal surgeons are using Alb-PRF injections rather than invasive surgery for patients with serious and painful back ailments.

When sharing best practices for producing PRF chairside, Dr Miron explained how there isn’t a specific RPM and time for blood to be in a centrifuge to create PRF because the power of the G-forces on the blood in the centrifuge is more important than the speed at which it spins. While a centrifuge manufacturer might provide a protocol with an RPM setting, that would only be accurate for using that exact system.

Dr Miron also explained the physics of the centrifuge process and why using a system that spins blood in a horizontal position is better than one that spins at a fixed angle. He says that spinning the blood in this way will produce 4 times the beneficial factors than spinning an angled tube of blood.

While he does use PRF in a range of esthetic procedures, Dr Miron also uses it with implant and periodontal cases. One technique he is using involves placing a PRF matrix around implant healing caps both help promote wound healing, and to help prevent the colonization of bacteria at the implant site.

“Bacteria love the roughened portion of dental implants,” Dr Miron says. “[With PRF it’s] not just platelets to help the implant heal faster, but it’s also leukocytes that are antibacterial.”

Other clinical uses include using an incubator for the production of PRF clots that can be tucked into periodontal pockets, and application at bone graft sites to prevent infection and promote healing. He uses 3D design software and a 3D printer to create custom PRF clot grafts shaped to match the patient’s specific needs. He noted that not only is the treatment effective, but also affordable and profitable for a dental practice.

“Everybody should do this. It literally costs a dollar.”

Using PRF to create custom grafts helps speed healing, and depending on the case standard PRF can be used and resorbed in several weeks instead of several months for traditional graft materials. For cases that require longer term healing, Alb-PRF lasts 4 to 6 months before resorption, making it a great replacement for collagen.

With the science explained, and the dental applications demonstrated, Dr Miron finally returned to the topic of facial esthetics, explaining the market for these services is far larger than that for dental services, and adding these services to a practice is generally easy, as many of the services can be provided by hygienists or assistants with just a little education.

While facial esthetic treatments are offered in a range of settings both clinical and retail, Dr Miron argues that dentists are better educated about facial anatomy than most esthetic providers, and thus are better prepared to offer esthetic services. He says microneedling is a service dentists can easily add to their practice. It’s safe for patients, can be used to break up scar tissue, and when combined with PRF or hyaluronic acid, provides a very effective skin care treatment. Other esthetic uses of this technology include using Alb-PRF as an all-natural alternative to the dermal fillers used in eye lifts, and even in procedures like the Brazilian Butt Lift.

On the mainstage at the 2023 AAID Annual Conference, Richard Miron, DMD, MMSc, PhD shared his journey from researching cell biology and working as a periodontist to promoting and providing facial esthetic treatment.