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. 

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

Product Bites – September 6, 2024

Product Bites Script – September 6, 2024

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 4 new products with launches from Solventum, Bsolve Dental, Listerine, and KaVo Dental.

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

Solventum has introduced the 3M Clinpro Clear Fluoride Treatment, a new water-based fluoride treatment designed for enhanced patient comfort and ease of application. This smooth coating treatment allows patients to eat and drink just 15 minutes post-application. Free from sticky rosins and common allergens, it offers a more pleasant taste, smell, and mouthfeel. Clinpro delivers effective fluoride uptake with a lower dosage of 2.1% sodium fluoride, available in watermelon, mint, and flavorless options. It’s applied easily using the L-Pop unit dose and won’t clog suction lines, making it a practical choice for dental practices.

Origin and Origin Instants whitening strips by Bsolve Dental feature a patented HAP3 formula combined with dissolving strip technology. This innovative blend, containing hydroxyapatite, naturally fortifies enamel and boosts whitening by 40% more than peroxide alone while protecting against stains and plaque. The formula also reduces sensitivity and shields against acid erosion. The dissolving strips quickly absorb saliva, ensuring the active ingredients are effectively delivered. This fast and convenient whitening solution is gentle on teeth, providing protection and reduced sensitivity.

LISTERINE® has partnered again with Black-owned creative agency Compound to launch the latest Whoa Collection, reinforcing their commitment to closing the diversity gap in dentistry within the Black community. The collection, featuring limited-edition mouthwash bottle art by artists Hebru Brantley and Frank Morrison, is available exclusively at Target. This initiative aims to raise awareness and inspire long-term support for better representation in the dental field.

The DIAGNOcam Vision Full HD is a breakthrough in dental diagnostics, offering simultaneous capture, presentation, and storage of three diagnostic images in under one second. Integrating easily into existing workflows, it enhances diagnostic efficiency and patient education. The device uses transillumination and fluorescence technology for immediate, radiation-free imaging, preserving healthy tooth structure and improving long-term care. Key features include early detection of caries and cracks, bacterial fluorescence detection, and a gyro sensor for easy orientation. This lightweight system is user-friendly, with ergonomically placed controls and seamless software integration.

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.

Videos

A bite-sized look at all the latest dental product launches. This week's episode features products from Solventum, Bsolve Dental, LISTERINE, and KaVo Dental. 

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.  

Dentsply Sirona Unveils New Intraoral Scanning Solution Primescan® 2 Powered By DS Core | Image Credit: © Dentsply Sirona

Powered by the company’s DS Core cloud platform, Dentsply Sirona today introduced the Primescan 2, a new cloud-native wireless intraoral scanner capable of scanning on any internet-connected mobile or desktop device— without needing a dedicated computer.

The versatile and innovative intraoral scanner is the latest offering from Dentsply Sirona which continues to pave the way for the future of digital dentistry. The Primescan 2 is designed to deliver improved workflow efficiency and extended treatment capabilities, and when compared to Primescan AC and Primescan Connect, the new scanner allows practices to expand the services they offer to patients and grow their business, according to the company. Additionally, improved communication and diagnostic tools help dental professionals deliver a high standard of care and comfort.

Primescan 2 will be available for hands-on experiences later this month at 

Benefits to clinicians of the new scanner include:

 Cloud-native solution operating on any device with an internet browser and enabled DS Core features (

Note: To operate Primescan 2 a paid DS Core® subscription is required

Wireless and easy to move. With this scanner clinicians can scan any patient, anytime, anywhere.

Sleek and well-balanced design with a narrower tip, allowing for easier access to molars or distal surfaces.

 A full arch scan can be taken in less than 1 minute while delivering excellent accuracy, according to Dentsply Sirona.

 Easy to delegate the scanning work to other dental professionals in the practice team. During treatment, only the affected teeth must be rescanned.

DS Core always runs on the latest version, eliminating the need for manual software updates.

 Reduces the need for additional scan storage costs in the practice.

Comprehensive hygiene concept with closed design around the field of view, convenient single-use sleeves, and optional multi-use steel sleeve with sapphire glass (anticipated launch in Q4).

“Primescan 2 is more than just an intraoral scanner— it provides new momentum for dental practices navigating today's rapidly evolving landscape. Designed with the future in mind, Primescan 2 is transformative in its field, empowering dental professionals to confidently meet the demands of their patients by delivering simplicity, efficiency, and versatility,” Simon Campion, president & CEO at Dentsply Sirona, states in today’s press release. “This solution not only enhances the patient experience but also supports practice growth. With Primescan 2, we enable our users to stay ahead of the curve, thriving in a dynamic environment while focusing on what truly matters—providing exceptional patient care."

Primescan 2 is based on the patented scanning technology of Primescan — combining the speed, accuracy, and ease of use of the company’s original scanner with new cloud-native capabilities made possible through direct integration with DS Core. As a cloud-native intraoral scanner, the device allows dental professionals to scan anytime, anywhere — including visits to hospitals, partner practices, or labs — using any laptop, computer, tablet, or other internet-connected device at hand.

The scan data is automatically processed and stored on DS Core, meaning that patient consultations, lab ordering, and treatment planning can take place independently on any internet-connected device available.

The scanning workflow on DS Core is said to be intuitive and simple to use, allowing for easy delegation to dental professionals within the practice team so they can collaborate in this evolving era of digital patient care. The scanning device itself is only needed for the scan itself, so it is immediately ready to be used on the next patient after the scan is complete. There is no need for software updates, as these are ready for use with every login to DS Core, and data can be shared with partners, labs, or even patients via DS Core.

“Primescan 2 is a lot more than a wireless scanner, it's all I need to scan every patient,” explains Dr. Marko Ahonen, dentist and beta-tester from Hämeenlinna, Finland. “Not only can I use it anywhere in my practice without being tied to a specific computer, but I can also confidently apply it to a wide range of treatments, from basic restorative cases to more complex interventions and specialized procedures.”

Practice growth and High Case Acceptance


The new intraoral scanner can lead a broad range of treatments and is designed to reliably deliver highly accurate scan data for optimal patient outcomes. Primescan 2 creates excellent conditions for patient communication and treatment acceptance, especially for more complex cases like implant treatments, Dentsply Sirona states. DS Core's Communication Canvas allows the oral situation and treatment proposal to be clearly displayed side-by-side and explained using all necessary files (scan, x-ray, intraoral images).

With the use of the SureSmile™ Simulator, dentists can preview the potential new smile of a patient in just minutes to visually demonstrate the scope of treatment, fostering confident treatment decisions.

Additionally, it can be an excellent starting point for in-house fabrication using the CEREC workflow or with a 3D printer such as the company’s Primeprint Solution. Scanning, design, and fabrication are all decoupled from each other to offer great flexibility in practice workflows.

Enhanced Patient Care and Thorough Hygiene


The size and outer shape of the scanner tip have been redesigned with Primescan 2 making intraoral scanning more comfortable for patients — helping clinicians easily scan molars and hard-to-reach distal surfaces.

Intraoral scanners must meet the highest hygiene standards, and while Primescan already fulfills these, Primescan 2 comes with single-use closed sleeves for a high-level of ease of use, scan performance and hygiene. A multi-use steel closed sleeve, expected to be released later this year, will be available optionally. Primescan 2 also has a tapping sensor for hygienic and ergonomic usage. Users can start and end the scanning process, change catalogs, and switch from 3D to 2D images with just a tap of the finger, the company says.

“With Primescan 2, we open a new era of digital patient care,” Max Milz, group vice president, connected technology solutions at Dentsply Sirona, adds in the press release. “Celebrating a milestone in digital dentistry, our latest innovation is the world's first cloud-native intraoral scanning solution. As we strive for a future centered around DS Core, this innovative technology serves as a testament to our commitment to fostering the digital universe of dentistry. By empowering dental professionals to enhance their skills with confidence, we're driving transformative change for a healthy future.”

More information about Primescan 2 can be found by 

additional details on DS World Las Vegas are available here

Articles

The company’s next-generation intraoral scanner allows scanning directly to the cloud on any internet-connected device.

Dentsply Sirona Unveils New Intraoral Scanning Solution Primescan® 2 Powered By DS Core

Lorne Lavine, DMD, founder and president of The Digital Dentist, has more than 30 years invested in the dental and dental technology fields. A graduate of USC, he earned his DMD from Boston University and completed his residency at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, N.Y. He received his specialty training at the University of Washington and went into private practice in Vermont until moving to California in 2002 to establish TDD, a company that focuses on the specialized technological and HIPAA needs of the dental community. He can be reached at drlavine@thedigitaldentists.com or 866-204-3398.

Digital Radiography Troubleshooting. Image credit: © Ivan – stock.adobe.com

Although many of my articles focus on cybersecurity and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance, I am asked to assist offices with many other things. Having spent 10 years as a periodontist, I am uniquely positioned to work with practices in areas in which other information technology companies have little experience. I recently visited an office in Pennsylvania to help diagnose less-than-satisfactory digital x-rays, and I thought how I handled the troubleshooting would make a good article.

One of the main challenges in digital radiography is that many variables exist between the taking of the image and what appears on the screen. In no specific order, these include the x-ray head, the sensor, the patient, the USB cables, the monitor, the video card…the list goes on and on. When the practice first contacted me, the initial thought was that the images were diagnostic but that there were just some people in the practice who could not differentiate between a good film image and a good digital image (digital x-rays tend to be a bit softer or fuzzier).

When I arrived onsite, I realized a few things:

The images were indeed not diagnostic. There was considerable graininess in the images, which is almost always due to underexposure.

As I evaluated the setup in more detail, I saw that every image had a sharpening filter applied, which tends to accentuate the graininess. When I removed the filter, the raw image was completely undiagnostic; it was not capturing enough information.

When I visited a second location for this group practice that used the same software and settings but different sensors and x-ray heads, the images were far more diagnostic.

So, what conclusions could I draw, and how would I test them?

The primary way to troubleshoot is to do a differential diagnosis. I had to determine the most likely diagnosis and work from there.

The most common culprits are the x-ray heads and sensors.

Software and computer infrastructure can also cause similar issues, but because both locations had the same computers and monitors, I ruled those out as the leading causes.

One thing I suggested, and we tested, was bumping up the exposure times. Back in the day, digital x-rays required less radiation than film, so many people still have this too low. The practice used 0.16 seconds, but when I tested at
0.20 and 0.25 seconds, there was no evidence of overexposure. I suggested they keep going higher until it was clear that the exposure was too high, then step back 1 setting from there.

I suggested that they take the x-ray head from the office with good x-rays and test it at the office with bad images; it is easy to do because they have a portable NOMAD handheld system (DEXIS).

I also suggested they take a sensor from the good office and test it at the office that needed to be getting better images.

Anytime you deal with systems with multiple steps in their processes, it can be challenging to isolate the one variable causing the issues. Approaching it just like we approach patients with nonspecific pain is often the best course of action to determine the problem and how to fix it.

Various digital radiography challenges due to factors like x-ray heads, sensors, and exposure times can affect practice performance. By applying a differential diagnosis approach, practices can find the solution and improve their image quality without breaking the bank.

Digital Radiography Troubleshooting

Designed to streamlines access to accurate, up-to-date insurance data from an extensive network of payors presented in a clear, uniform format directly within Dentrix, Eligibility Essentials is one of 2 new offerings introduced by Henry Schein One today. The company has announced both Eligibility Essentials and Eligibility Pro, 2 powerful tools designed to simplify the insurance eligibility process for dental practices, are available now for Dentrix and Dentrix Ascend. 

Eligibility Pro is an advanced option that goes even further by pulling in additional benefits data from payor portals, reducing the time staff spend manually gathering information, and allowing patients to make better-informed decisions regarding treatment, Henry Schein One states. Eligibility verification has long been a time-consuming process, with dental staff members spending valuable time logging into patient portals and calling payors for eligibility data 1 patient at a time. The standard Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) connections often do not deliver responses from many payors, and when they do, the information may be incomplete. These obstacles can force staff to call help lines or access payor portals for required coverage data.

Eligibility Essentials reduces administrative burden, and provides dental practices with fast, accurate coverage insights — all within the trusted platform the dental profession has come to rely on, the company says. Eligibility data from each payor is returned in a standardized PDF format, automatically saved to the document center, and will populate in the patient’s insurance tables. This process is designed to deliver consistency that makes it easy to find and use the necessary information for treatment planning.

Taking insurance verification to the next level, Eligibility Pro unlocks more benefits data by delivering information from payor portals in addition to the EDI data provided by Essentials, according to Henry Schein One. This includes patient history, frequency limitations, procedure-level coverage percentages, remaining benefits, and network coverage. By eliminating the need to log into multiple insurance portals, the dental staff saves time, and treatment plan acceptance may improve since patients better understand their coverage and out-of-pocket expenses.

“Dentrix Eligibility Essentials and Pro help foster trust between dental practices and patients by minimizing insurance surprises,” Dr. Ryan Hungate, Chief Clinical Officer, Henry Schein One, says in today’s press release. “As a care catalyst, Henry Schein One empowers practices with detailed benefit information, enabling accurate discussions about treatment plans and financial responsibilities with patients. This leads to happier, more satisfied patients who are more likely to remain loyal to and recommend the practice. Looking ahead, we'll continue to push boundaries to support our customers in managing insurance eligibility.”

Dawson Family Dentistry, located in Danville, Illinois, recently beta-tested Eligibility Pro. “Eligibility Pro has cut patient processing time in half. Hygienists can check coverage instantly, and the confidence it brings has transformed our workflow,” says Amy Kaminski, business manager at Dawson Family Dentistry. “I have hygienists who will look at the breakdown to find out if they can do fluoride, to know if they can do bite wings, and it saves them from having to message the front-desk team during the day. It's right there for them to check.”

For more information on Eligibility Pro, 

Eligibility Essentials and Eligibility Pro are designed to elevate insurance verification and patient care, as well as reduce administrative burden.

Henry Schein One Unveils 2 Dentrix Eligibility Offerings

Formlabs Announces New Post-Processing Tools and Materials. Image credit:  © Formlabs


3D printing company Formlabs has announced the launch of new workflow applications, including 2 new materials and new post-processing tools. These new products are designed specifically to make 3D printing workflows more efficient, according to a press release from Formlabs.

Among these new applications is the Clear Cast Resin material, which is said to feature optimal thermal expansion. This thermal expansion is able to cut down on turnaround times, reducing cost and improving efficiency both in-office and in the lab. It is reportedly accurate within 0.25mm and is designed to improve iterating flexibility.

According to VP or Technology at Diversified Metalsmiths John Farr, there was no issue adding Clear Cast Resin into everyday workflows.

“The whole [Formlabs] ecosystem and support system made sense to us. The fit and finish of the printers, the software, it seems better than everything else in the price point by a long-shot,” Farr said in the press release. “The Clear Cast parts slotted straight into the workflow, [and] the amount of time saved with 3D printing where I push a button and go off to do something else, ten skip the machining and hand-work after the cast, will make up for the cost of 3D printed patterns.”

Another material introduced is Formlabs’ first third-party certified material, BEGO

 Resin. This resin is a ceramic-filed biocompatible material that is indicated for permanent and provisional restorations and bridges, according to the press release. This 3D-printed resin is designed for both accuracy and efficiency. Also notable is its ability to be used with Form 4B printers and the Open Material Mode software for other Form 4 printers. Open Material Mode enables Formlabs SLA printers to print with any 405nm resin, per the press release.

Finally, Formlabs has also introduced new SLA and SLS post-processing tools. These include the non-flammable Formlabs Resin Washing Solution, which is said to clean while dissolving twice as much resin before becoming saturated in comparison to IPA. Also included is the Fuse Blast Polishing System which is said to clean and polish parts from the Fuse shift, giving an optimal surface finish to SLS printed parts. The last Post-Processing Tool is the Fuse Sift Glovebox Bundle which combines the Fuse Sift Glovebox Panel and Fuse Parts Carrier. The bundle aspect cuts down on powder exposure and is said to streamline operations.

To learn more about these new offerings, visit the 

New materials and post-processing tools aim to streamline workflows, as well as introduce the first 3D printing resin indicated for permanent bridges. 

Formlabs Announces New Post-Processing Tools and Materials

Microcopy’s NeoBurr Max2 Metal Cutter Designed to Cut With Ease | Image Credit: © Microcopy 

Microcopy’s NeoBurr Max2 Metal Cutter is a single-patient-use bur designed to cut through amalgam, composite, and both semi-precious and non-precious metals with ease, and without clogging or hassle, and with no compromise on sharpness.

The NeoBurr MAX 2 is crafted with precision-engineered concentric blading that minimizes vibration to deliver fast, smooth cuts without the dreaded chatter, according to the manufacturer. That means reduced chair time for your patients and less hand fatigue for you.

With its innovative blended neck design and single-piece construction, the NeoBurr MAX 2 isn’t just tough—it’s built to last. Reportedly, clinicians can tackle multiple restorations in one go without dulling the blade or needing to switch burs mid-procedure. Users can experience the cutting-edge performance of the NeoBurr Max2 Metal Cutter designed to make every procedure quicker, smoother, and more efficient.

Originally founded in 1970 as a dental x-ray solutions business, Microcopy launched its flagship NEODIAMOND single-patient-use dental bur in 1989 to eliminate the worry of using a worn bur with limited cutting performance or reusing burs that could in fact still be contaminated by previous patients’ germs. Since that launch, the company has been an industry leader in single-patient-use diamond instruments.

For information on Microcopy’s full line of dental products, visit 

The company’s single-patient-use bur features a precision-engineered concentric blading that minimizes vibration for fast, smooth cuts without the chatter.

Microcopy’s NeoBurr Max2 Metal Cutter Designed to Cut With Ease

John Flucke, DDS, is in private practice in Lee’s Summit, Mo. He also serves as chief clinical editor and technology editor for 

® and keeps an active blog filled with thoughts and tidbits on the world of technology at blog.denticle.com.

To kick things off, I have some questions for those of you who have been in practice 10 to 15 years or longer. Do you miss the darkroom? Do you miss having to dispose of all the chemicals properly and paying for a hazardous materials disposal company to remove them from the office? Do you miss waiting 5 minutes for a film to spit out of the processor while running 30 minutes behind on a complex endodontic case? How about films getting stuck in that processor and disappearing until the next time someone cleaned the unit? Yup, I don’t miss that either. I started using digital radiography in the early 2000s, and when I built my new office in 2007, the architectural plans didn’t even include a darkroom. I don’t pine for those days, and I’m sure you don’t either.

The other thing I did when designing the new office was to make the lab area considerably smaller. I gladly admit that I gambled a bit by doing that. However, I did it with a little perspective on the future. I had been using in-office CAD/CAM for a few years but had stepped away by 2005. At that time, I wasn’t getting the fit and feel I got from lab-fabricated restorations. Yet even though I was back to taking analog impressions, I was pretty sure I knew where the industry was headed. Fortunately, my gamble paid off. One year after moving into the new office, I brought in the original Cadent iTero system, and we were going to digital impressions rather quickly.

I bring up all these old stories because I want you to know we are on the brink of another wholesale change in the dental industry. 3D printing is about to do the same to dentistry as digital radiography did. In the not too distant future, we will experience another digital workflow that will change dentistry for the better––much better. For most of 2024, I have been immersed in the world of 3D printing, and I think it’s time you learned more about it.

Some of you are saying, “Flucke, 3D printing has been around for 5 or more years and hasn’t caught on. What’s the big deal now?” My answer is that a lot has changed since we first saw 3D printing in dentistry. The best example I can give is to look at artificial intelligence (AI).

I don’t think many will argue with me that 2023 was the Year of AI in Dentistry. AI seemed to come out of nowhere. Several companies had released dental products in 2022, but in February of 2023, ChatGPT was suddenly a huge news story. The press coverage of AI was immense, and suddenly AI was of interest to everyone. However, the tech had been in development for years. While it seemed to emerge out of nowhere, in reality it had been building slowly under the radar for over a decade.

 The Carbon Gen2 aligner solution was launched last year. | Image Credit: © Carbon, Inc

We are seeing a very similar situation with 3D printing. It has been around in dentistry for 5 to 10 years but has had limited scope. But trust me when I say that the next 12 to 18 months will see a major shift in our workflows as this tech goes more mainstream.

The proliferation of intraoral scanners is one big reason. At least 30% of offices now have a scanner, and surveys indicate that for those who don’t, purchasing one is high on their list of must-haves. We have 2 scanners in our office, both used multiple times a day. Not only the doctors but also the hygiene team use them.

Many offices now include a full mouth scan in their new patient intake process. That means a large percentage of offices are moving in that direction. Yet even with scanners becoming increasingly intrinsic to what we do, many offices still take physical impressions for various services other than fixed prosthetics. If a patient comes into the office and has a full mouth scan but also wants to undergo at-home whitening, many offices pull out alginate, pour the impressions, and then create the trays with a vacuum-forming device. In the sense of a totally digital workflow, that is like confirming an appointment by fax. Once the scanner digitally captures the patient data, having a digital solution just makes sense.

However, that digital solution must be simple, which brings us to the other part of why 3D printing is poised to change dentistry significantly. Until recently, designing anything produced by a 3D printer was cumbersome and complicated to learn. The companies that make these amazing pieces of hardware quickly realized that a busy office has trouble integrating any technology with a significant and challenging learning curve. No one wants to have to open Adobe Photoshop and spend 30 minutes editing just to post a photo on Instagram. The 3D printing companies quickly came to the same conclusion and set about creating design software to allow quick, easy, and reliable processes to generate the majority of projects a dental office might require.

These software solutions are available now and have essentially solved that problem. Many are cloud based, which simplifies things even more. Cloud-based systems update independently with no user intervention required and back up projects every step of the way. All the office needs to do is upload the STL files from the scanner and select the project required. The system then walks the user through the process.

Let’s use a bleaching tray as an example. The upper and lower arches are uploaded, the “bleaching tray” option is selected, and the user creates the reservoir area by drawing the proper shape on each tooth. The system then proposes a margin for the tray that the user can edit by simply clicking on it and dragging it to the desired area. When the design is completed, the finished project appears on the screen so the user can be sure it is exactly what they want. Many of these design programs integrate AI into the design, so the design process is often a matter of just clicking “next” and moving to the next step. I am really excited about this, and you can expect these systems only to get smarter as they continue to get feedback from users and the software engineers improve these already intelligent platforms.

The finished project is then downloaded and loaded into the printer’s “slicing/nesting” software. This software shows the user the appliance’s position on the printer bed. Once confirmed, the software converts the STL file into a language the printer understands, and the project is printed.

This cloud-based software makes it easy to integrate dental 3D printing into day-to-day work at your dental clinic or laboratory. | Image Credit: © DMG America

The design project I just described takes only a few minutes. The advantages are quite clear when you think about the analog process (and mess) of making an impression, pouring, trimming the model, blocking out for the whitening agent, heating and vacuuming, and trimming the tray. Of course, one of the other great advantages of having a digital design is that if the patient loses their trays or their pet destroys them, making a new one is as easy as pushing a button. (By the way, are you as amazed as I am at how often pets chew up dental devices?)

The project is printed using a liquid resin––and hundreds of resins are on the market. Thus, no matter what type of project you need, chances are there is a resin that will meet your needs. You can create bleaching trays, soft and hard occlusal guards, orthodontic retainers, surgical guides, models, dentures, and more.

The other thing the slicing/nesting software does is add supports to the project. These are necessary to help build the project. The resins are liquid and, like composites, are light cured. The printer builds the projects in layers, again similar to composites. Because the printer cures the projects in layers, supports are needed to ensure printer accuracy. The supports are tiny cured bars that stabilize the resin. When the project is completed, it is removed from the printer with the supports attached to it.

The project is then placed in a wash station that circulates isopropyl alcohol, removing any remaining liquid resin. Once the wash is completed, the project is put into a curing station, essentially a box with high-intensity LEDs on all sides. The project then goes through a set “postcure” time to ensure a total and complete cure. Once the postcure stage is complete, the supports are removed, and the project is polished.

3D printers are incredibly precise, with many having an accuracy of 50 µm. That means pairing an intraoral scanner with a 3D printer gives results that meet our profession’s extremely high demands. When I first began using the iTero back in 2008, I immediately noticed how much faster our crown seat appointments were. The tech was precise even nearly 2 decades ago, but I hadn’t expected that much precision. Of course, the current generation of scanners has only got better. (Since 2008, Align Technology’s iTero systems have made even greater strides, and other manufacturers have developed high-quality scanners that give clinicians numerous choices to find the solution that best fits their practice.) The combination of scanner and 3D printer offers serious advantages over analog systems. Your in-office lab will soon be used for fewer and fewer things.

Many of you will have noticed that I haven’t mentioned permanent crowns in my discussion and may be wondering why. I want to state my feelings on the subject for the record. My opinion is based on a couple of factors. The first is that I have an in-office mill. In April 2022 we installed a DGSHAPE DWX-42W mill, producing fantastic results. The main materials we use are presintered zirconia and prefired lithium disilicate. These materials eliminate the need for an oven and are ready to cement after being polished. Both materials have a long track record of clinical success, and I am incredibly confident in their long-term viability.

is a light-cured resin for 3D printing of highly esthetic long-term temporaries. | Image Credit: © VOCO America, Inc

The second factor is that resins for 3D-printed crowns don’t have that same track record, which is why I am still not printing permanent crowns personally at this point. I realize some people are, and I have no problem with that. As I already have an in-office solution that works well for me, I am still watching and evaluating this permanent crown aspect. I have no doubt that someday soon, this will become a viable option for all of us. I have been practicing for a while, and over those years I have occasionally pushed the envelope with materials. Some of those decisions have been ones I regret. I have redone cases because a new material has fractured or not held up, and I admit those experiences have affected how I view crown materials. We all have our biases, and I want to be sure you understand mine. If you are currently printing crowns and having success, I would love to hear more about your experiences.

Other than anything permanent, I am all in on 3D printing. I am a big fan of how the manufacturers approach this. There are so many everyday applications for this tech, and I appreciate that those companies have noticed this. There is no need for a patient to wait 2 weeks or more for a slam dunk occlusal guard or anything else that can be easily created in a day in the office. I can envision a patient being diagnosed as a candidate for implants and having the guided surgery performed the very next day. The process is now that simple.

I am also excited about 3D printing to help with full arch or full mouth reconstruction. One of the most difficult things we do is correctly open a collapsed bite. With the right design software, those cases can be created digitally, and the temporaries fabricated on a 3D printer. If you place the 

3D Print Resins and Technology Are Always Evolving

Dental manufacturers appear to be launching new 3D printer technologies and advances in materials every week. The capabilities of 3D printing resins are constantly expanding, and companies are regularly introducing digital workflows with a focus on quick, efficient 3D printing solutions.

To stay on stop of this evolving field, visit 

temporaries and the next week determine that the vertical needs to be changed, you simply correct it in the software and print new temporaries to the corrected vertical. If a fractured temporary occurs, reprinting a new one is a simple process. The same can be said of dentures. If a patient drops one and it fractures, printing a new one is straightforward. I’ve even heard of doctors providing 2 dentures at delivery so the patient always has an identical backup if disaster strikes.

Get ready. 3D printing is going to change our profession, and I believe the change will happen quickly. After my deep dive into 3D design and printing this year, I am confident we will see some profound changes in the near future. If you have invested in companies that make plaster and stone, now might be a good time to put that money to work for you elsewhere. If you are thinking of building a new office or new office space, I would think about where you can better use the space you might have been considering for your large in-office lab. Square footage is expensive, and you might not need as much room for that lab as you thought.

I sometimes think about the days when I would watch a talented dental assistant squeeze equal lengths of an impression material out of 2 tubes and mix it to a perfect consistency with a spatula before loading my syringe and then loading the tray. I don’t sigh longingly and think, “Ah, the good old days.” Instead I think, “I can’t believe we ever did it that way!” Soon we will feel the same way about mixing stone, pouring impressions, and trimming models. Imagine the possibilities.

3D printing technology is the next big thing, and we are going to experience another digital workflow that will change dentistry for the better sooner than you think.

3D Printing: Bigger & Better

Doug Fettig is a dental keynote speaker and Culture Coaching VP of Business Development, Health Professinals Alliance. As a dental business advisor, he is adept at incorporating his expertise to help dentists think like a CEO, grow thriving practices, create dynamic office environments and help dentists create the retirement of their dreams. Visit his website at www.dentaldollarsandsense.com for more information.

Your Retirement Lifestyle? It’s What You Create for Yourself! Image credit: © William W. Potter – stock.adobe.com

At some point in your life a well-meaning relative, mentor, or friend will say to you, "Whatever you do, pay off all of your debt before you do anything else." When you hear this politely nod your head and then, when the person isn't looking, TURN AND RUN AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN!

But wait, isn't all debt evil and shouldn't I try to get out of debt ASAP? No. Let's say you've just graduated from dental school with $400K in student loan debt. Or you just graduated from a 4-year state school with $50K in student loan debt. Once you start earning a paycheck, you have the chance to leverage what is considered the eighth wonder of the world – the power of compounding interest (the power of time and money).

Let's say the starting salary in your first job is $30,000 per year. And let's say you decide to put 10% of your salary into your company's 401(k) plan. You decide to put your 401(k) contributions into a low-fee stock index fund thereby minimizing your expenses. Assuming you never get a raise the rest of your life (and not even considering a company match) your $3K annual contribution, starting at the age of 22, will grow to about $850,000 at age 65. For those scoring at home, that's using a 7% rate of return, after inflation and including dividends, which is the ballpark historic return of the S&P 500 (the average return is actually closer to 10% over the last 40 years).

Now let's say you are busy paying off all of your student loans and other debts in the first 10 years of your career. So, you don't start contributing that $3000 per year into your 401(k) till the age of 32. Guess how much you'll have in the account at the age of 65? Ready? Less than half – about $410,000.

Remember – my first example above (the $850K amount) is super conservative, as it assumes you never get a raise and doesn't include a company match. If you factor those things into the equation, you'll be able to buy your own island when you retire!

Why the incredible difference between starting your retirement savings at age 22 versus 32? The power of time. Which you can never, ever get back.

I often have people say to me that they are not 22 anymore so what's the point of trying. My response? The best day to start saving for retirement is the day you get your first check. The next best day? Today! You can't change the past, but what you do today will impact your future.

Final example: let's say you start saving $5K per year at the age of 35 versus age 45 (using the same investment parameters as above). Starting at age 35 will get you to about $543K. Starting at age 45? Only $239K.

 – Sit down with your dental specific CPA/Financial Advisor (and your spouse or partner if applicable), set retirement goals, and determine if you are on track to meet those goals

 – If you are not on track to meet your goals, assess your options (e.g., an increase in monthly investment amounts, altering your investment mix to impact potential returns, altering your retirement timeline)

 – Review your retirement plan (at least yearly) to determine if you are on track to meet your goals or if revisions are needed

 – Don’t track your retirement balances and returns too closely. Assuming you have some investments that will fluctuate in value, such as equities/stocks, you need to take the long view. Tracking your balances on a daily basis can lead to making short-term, fear-based decisions that can have long-term negative effect on your overall returns and balances.

You basically have 2 choices in life. Either plan and prepare for your retirement years. Or depend on someone/something else to do it for you.

The best time to start saving for retirement? Right now. 

Your Retirement Lifestyle? It’s What You Create for Yourself!

International College of Dentists Transitions Senior Dental Leadership Program to Global Oral Health Leadership Institute. Image credit: © International College of Dentists. Image credit: © Henry Schein Inc


The International College of Dentists (ICD) has announced the transition of its Senior Dental Leadership Program to the ICD Global Oral Health Leadership (GOHL) Institute, with the goal of dental leadership development globally. It will offer a year-long program, including a 5-day residential and multiple educational and networking opportunities, building off successful efforts according to ICD International President Argirios Pissiotis.

“The ICD began its second centennial a few years ago and had been making efforts, such as achieving consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and collaborating with World Health Organization initiatives, to increase the Colleges’ global footprint,” Pissiotis said in a press release from the company. “Now, the ICD has reached an even higher level towards improving global health through the procurement of this rebranded Global Oral Health Leadership Institute.”

Previously known as the Senior Dental Leaders Program, the GOHL has reportedly graduated more than 200 potential leaders across 43 countries, according to the press release. Professor Raman Bedi, the founder of the original program, emphasized the importance of leadership in driving change, particularly in child oral health.

“It has been a privilege to have led the Senior Dental Leadership program over the past 14 years. Good leadership brings about change, and SDL has reinforced its importance in improving child oral health,” Bedi said in the press release. “As the new President-elect of the World Federation of Public Health Associations, my first task will be establishing a global public health leadership program so that our public health colleagues can benefit from effective leadership networks.”

Henry Schein has also reinforced its partnership with the ICD through its academic partners Harvard School of Dental Medicine and King’s College London. This global network has also spawned ICD’s Alumni Network, which encourages membership to enhance global oral health initiatives.

The International College of Dentists has transitioned its leadership program to the Global Oral Health Leadership Institute, expanding its partnership with Henry Schein to offer a leadership program for dental professionals. 

International College of Dentists Transitions Senior Dental Leadership Program to Global Oral Health Leadership Institute

Jessica Snell is an experienced leader with a passion for translating science and improving consumers’ lives through developing innovative products and solutions by continuing to challenge the status quo. Jessica has spent the last 16 years working on consumer products at Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue formulating in the lab and shaping the product development strategy and pipeline for brands such as Clean & Clear, Neutrogena, and Listerine, in product categories spanning cleansing, acne, moisture, anti-aging, wipes, and devices, such as light therapy and skin360, and most recently, mouthwashes. Throughout that time, she has either developed or shaped the execution of over 50 products in Kenvue’s portfolio. Some of her notable developments were the formulation of Neutrogena Naturals skincare line, the development and execution of Clean & Clear & Neutrogena’s Medicated dissolving blackhead strips, execution and deployment of Neutrogena’s Light Therapy Devices, and currently is proud to be part of the team elevating the role of mouthwash in your oral care routine through the launch of Listerine’s Clinical Solutions product line and the recent clinicals evaluating the impact of adding rinses to oral care routines.

Jessica began her career at a pharmacy apothecary developing over the counter products, then moved on to work at a global fragrance house. She holds a Bachelors degree in Chemistry and a Master degree in Cosmetic Science.

During more than a century spent studying Listerine®, Kenvue, Inc has established plenty of evidence that the solution improves oral health. But exactly how does this family of rinses accomplish that?

Antimicrobial rinses work by helping to create a healthier balance within the oral microbiome, with Listerine relying on 4 essential oils — eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate and thymol — to kill 99.9% of germs that cause bad breath, plaque and gingivitis. But just how these ingredients drive those changes is still a bit of a mystery, as scientific exploration into this complex area of human health is only starting to emerge.

At Kenvue, our research and development teams have begun looking more closely at this dynamic, and we’re excited to learn more about why these products make a difference in oral health and how we can increase their effectiveness. Listerine is a brand of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., a subsidiary of Kenvue.

In our first foray into this area, we conducted studies that were published recently in 3 

In addition to reaffirming that essential oil mouthwashes add to the effectiveness of brushing and flossing, we shed light on how the rinses induce those improvements by creating a smaller, better-balanced population of bacteria in the mouth.

In the first study, we tested a novel method that made it possible to identify bacterial species, and assessed the changes in the numbers of the different types of bacteria during treatment. Researchers used spike DNA standards, meaning that they added artificial DNA into biologic samples as reference points, and then applied shotgun metagenomic sequencing. This enabled them to sample the genetic content of every species they found and measure bacterial numbers down to the individual cell level.

In a second study, Kenvue experts evaluated the clinical outcomes of a brushing, flossing, and rinsing routine. And in a sub-analysis using the new measurement technique, they quantified the bacteria collected in that study and examined their types and quantities in relation to clinically meaningful oral health outcomes.

The results, verified through the sub-analysis, were compelling. We learned that a regimen of brushing, flossing and rinsing is 5 times more effective at reducing supragingival plaque and gingivitis than brushing and flossing alone, and that the addition of an antimicrobial mouthrinse also reduces plaque bacteria below the gumline.

 And we found that newer, milder-tasting rinses such as Listerine Cool Mint Zero Alcohol support the same kinds of benefits as our original robustly flavored formulas.

Although the subjects population was fairly homogenous, we believe these studies provide a promising start to our industry’s early understanding of how over-the-counter rinses affect oral health — particularly when it comes to the susceptibility of specific types of bacteria to these products. As we prepare to take a deeper dive into this area of research, we’re looking forward to inviting a range of medical and industry leaders to engage with us for guidance.

Ultimately, we hope our findings will do more than provide new evidence for the use of essential oil rinses. By helping scientists to better understand oral disease progression, we anticipate that this research will lead to new innovations in the control of plaque and gingivitis.

in the series, conducted between October and December of 2019, bypassed conventional qualitative microbiome measurements such as relative proportions, instead applying our novel method of analysis.

We reported results for 121 people with moderate gingivitis, along with 32 healthy volunteers. In addition to brushing twice daily, they were randomly assigned to use one of 4 rinses twice a day for 6 weeks: Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic, a commercially available alcohol-based essential oil rinse; a prototype flavored essential oil rinse containing alcohol; a prototype flavored essential oil rinse that was free of alcohol; and a hydroalcohol control (placebo mouthwash).

Supragingival plaque was collected 4 times throughout the study for microbiome analysis from all 4 treatment groups. Microbiome results for each experimental group were compared with the placebo mouthwash, and with those healthy volunteers whose microbiome samples were collected only at baseline.

There were significant improvements in clinical signs of gingivitis, plaque and bleeding in each of the 3 treatment groups. Compared to the control, all the rinses reduced gingivitis by at least 37.4% and bleeding by at least 36.3%.

Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic also significantly reduced plaque by at least 22% after 4 weeks, with further improvements seen at 6 weeks; meanwhile, the alcohol-free rinse logged a significant plaque reduction of 14% after 6 weeks.

So, what does this say about the microbiome?

By using a literature search to sort bacterial species into categories associated with good or bad oral health, the researchers found 213 oral species at the study population level, and then examined their responses to treatment. Overall, patients with gingivitis had elevated amounts of total bacteria including species that are associated with gingivitis compared to the healthy reference subjects. Furthermore, bacterial load, richness and diversity were reduced after dental prophylaxis and the first rinse. This result showed a substantial impact, but it is important to note that neither of these interventions eradicated all of the bacteria. For participants using Listerine Cool Mint that shift persisted throughout the study.

, conducted from April through July 2022, followed up on previous findings

 that an alcohol-based essential oil rinse, when added to a routine of brushing with or without flossing, significantly reduced supragingival plaque, gingivitis and bleeding after 12 weeks.

Our goal was to consider the relative efficacy of an alcohol-free essential oil rinse in that setting.

The study included 254 adult subjects who completed the study (a total of 270 subjects were randomized) with gingivitis and 30 healthy volunteers who served as a microbiome comparator group. After a cleaning that removed all calculus and plaque, participants were randomly assigned in equal numbers to:

Brush with fluoridated toothpaste twice daily (the control group);

Brush twice-daily and use Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic, an alcohol-based essential oil rinse, twice-daily;

Brush twice-daily and use Listerine Cool Mint Zero Alcohol, an alcohol-free essential oil rinse, twice-daily;

Brush twice-daily, floss once-daily and use the alcohol-free rinse twice-daily.

Compared with those who strictly brushed, all participants using rinse experienced statistically significant reductions in gingivitis and supragingival plaque after 12 weeks.

At week 12, compared with the brushing-only group, we recorded a statistically significant mean reduction in interproximal plaque in the rinse cohorts: 30.8% in the group that used alcohol-based rinse and 18.2% in the group that used alcohol-free rinse. At the same time point, the alcohol-based and alcohol-free rinses were associated with reduced interproximal gingivitis by a statistically significant 39% and 36.9%, respectively. The rinses also reduced plaque, gingivitis and bleeding in between the teeth.

Fifteen participants experienced mild or moderate adverse events, including oral mucosal exfoliation — all of which resolved without treatment.

A sub-analysis of that study evaluated the microbiome of supragingival plaque at baseline and at 4 and 12 weeks, also assessing viable bacteria in subgingival plaque at 12 weeks via live/dead polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Through metagenomic sequencing and a literature review, researchers found 120 species per individual patient level, encompassing 236 taxa, that were native to the oral cavity — 91 commensal and others associated with gingivitis, malodor or acidogenesis.

Only groups that paired brushing with rinsing experienced significant reductions in bacterial diversity, richness and abundance, in either alcohol or alcohol-free rinse. At 12 weeks, the alcohol-based versus alcohol-free rinses reduced the quantity of gingivitis bacteria by 91.3% versus 80.2% and quantity of malodor bacteria by 85.2% versus 68.5%, respectively.

Compared with brushing alone, all the rinse groups also demonstrated significant reductions in plaque markers. Furthermore, PCR determined that adding flossing and rinsing to brushing significantly reduced bacterial abundance in subgingival plaque, particularly 

Finally, the study found that flossing and rinsing reduced total bacteria in plaque below the gumline, helping to explain our clinical findings of reduced gingivitis and bleeding in this study population.

Despite decades of studies confirming the safety and efficacy of our essential oil rinses, there is education needed on the different types of rinses available to patients. There are various types of mouthrinses including over the counter and prescription options. Listerine rinses reduce bacterial load with 4 essential oils, while promoting the growth of good bacteria, which repopulate faster than bad bacteria. Listerine has a long history, and having extensively studied our wide range of essential oil rinses, we have established they not only deliver oral health outcomes but are safe and effective when used as directed on their labels, twice daily.

Our recent studies go a step further by confirming the safety and efficacy of Listerine rinses in a brushing and flossing routine.

That’s key, as the American Dental Association has long recommended brushing and flossing for at-home oral care, and it’s crucial for dentists to understand the health benefits of adding an antimicrobial rinse.

Beyond that, dental professionals should watch for further scientific developments as research scientists, leaders in dentistry and other stakeholders work together to understand the oral microbiome and determine the direction of future research. Kenvue is excited to help move the needle in this emerging area of scientific exploration, and we look forward to contributing to a new wave of innovation in the fight against plaque and gingivitis.

If you would like to engage with Kenvue about our studies or contribute to future research, please contact Jessica Snell at Kenvue.

1. Min, K., Glowacki, A.J., Bosma, M.L. 

 Quantitative analysis of the effects of essential oil mouthrinses on clinical plaque microbiome: a parallel-group, randomized trial. 

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04365-9

 effects of brushing, flossing, and mouthrinsing on supragingival and subgingival plaque microbiota: 12-week clinical trial. 

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04362-y3

3. Quantitative analysis of the effects of essential oil mouthrinses on clinical plaque microbiome: a parallel-group, randomized trial | BMC Oral Health | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)

In a series of studies, Kenvue used novel metagenomic analysis to explore how essential oil mouthwashes, including Listerine, impact the oral microbiome to reduce plaque and gingivitis.