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.  

Intiveo Updates Its User-friendly Interface for Intiveo Forms | Image Credit: © Intiveo

Patient engagement software company Intiveo has unveiled a new interface that supports clinicians in enhancing their patients’ experience of Intiveo Forms. Featuring new logic options, patients can pre-fill fields based on earlier answers, saving them time and reducing the likelihood of errors.

Collapsible menus to provide more workspace.

Improved page navigation to make multi-page forms easy and save on time switching between pages.

New drawer headers that allow you to organize your components.

Fast entry options, allowing dental and oral surgery practices to copy and paste multiple lines of questions to quickly create lists of checkboxes, “pick one” options, and more.

Before practices send forms, they’re also able to check their responsiveness, previewing how they will look on phones, tablets, and desktops, facilitating a seamless patient experience. With faster versioning provided by Intiveo, users can make changes and see how they will look for patients easily without entering fake data to bypass required fields. According to the company, with the components stacking horizontally, you can better visualize how the form will look for your patients.

Additionally, the platform addresses language barriers with a new translation interface that allows you to easily add or edit translations for each question, in multiple languages.

The ability to tailor the style of your forms to stay consistent with your practice’s brand enables you to give your patients a cohesive experience of your practice, Intiveo states.

Related reading: 5Ws* Intiveo Global Insights

Designed with the needs of dental and oral surgery practices in mind, these changes to the interface streamline workflows and enhance patient experience. The updated forms offer more breathing room, making it easier for practices to select exactly what they need without feeling cramped.

This new interface is designed to help practices work more efficiently, reduce errors, and provide a better experience for their patients. Whether updating patient intake forms, creating new consent forms, or streamlining office workflows, the company’s improved Forms Add-ON is designed to provide support every step of the way.

Articles

Designed to help dental and oral surgery practices streamline their workflow and enhance patient experience, the patient engagement software company has announced an update to its Intiveo Forms.

Intiveo Updates Its User-friendly Interface for Intiveo Forms

Gary Glassman, DDS, graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry in 1984 and was awarded the James B. Willmott Scholarship, the Mosby Scholarship and the George Hare Endodontic Scholarship for proficiency in Endodontics. A graduate of the Endodontology Program at Temple University in 1987, he received the Louis I. Grossman Study Club Award for academic and clinical proficiency in Endodontics.

The author of numerous publications, Dr Glassman lectures globally on endodontics, is on staff at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry in the graduate department of endodontics. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, Fellow of the American College of Dentists, endodontic editor for Oral Health dental journal, Editorial Advisory Board for Inside Dentistry, Faculty Chair for DC Institute and Chief Dental Officer for dentalcorp Canada.

He maintains a private practice, Endodontic Specialists in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His personal/professional website is 

 Dr Glassman can be reached at gary@rootcanals.ca.

How Dental Lasers are Revolutionizing Endodontic Procedures | Image Credit: © BIOLASE

Endodontic procedures have been successfully practiced for a very long time. However, there are elements that are due for innovation. Consider this: When was the last time you made a call on a landline telephone or sent an important letter by mail instead of email? While these older methods still work, there may be better options given modern alternatives.

Treatments such as crown/veneer removal and root canal therapy can be enhanced by embracing new technologies and techniques that can help improve the patient experience while maximizing treatment efficiency. There is now a revolutionizing minimally invasive laser technology that 

 for less painful and more precise laser-assisted irrigation in addition to efficient removal of crowns and veneers. As awareness of these newer methods continues to grow, laser technology has the opportunity to become the standard of care for these well-established procedures.

The challenges of traditional irrigation techniques in endodontics and overcoming these obstacles

The challenge for successful endodontic treatment has always been the removal of vital and necrotic remnants of pulp tissue, debris generated during instrumentation, the smear layer (the organic and inorganic layer that is produced on the wall of the root canal during instrumentation), micro-organisms, and micro-toxins from the root canal system.

Even with the use of rotary instrumentation, the nickel-titanium instruments currently available only act on the central body of the root canal, 

 in a reliance on irrigation to clean beyond what may be achieved by these instruments.

Clinicians face the conundrum of how to safely and effectively deliver irrigants to the apical terminus, break the apical vapor lock, and allow for constant exchange of irrigant and thereby continual hydrolysis of pulpal tissue by the sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) without the risk of apical extrusion and the potential deleterious sequelae that may result from positive pressure needle irrigation delivery.

 to deliver NaOCl safely and effectively, few delivery and activation systems provide the ability to debride into the deep lateral anatomy, remove the smear layer, and dislodge biofilm clumps within the anatomy of complex root canal systems.

In the case of crown and veneer removal, the traditional experience is not optimized for patients. Procedures may take upwards of half an hour and are often met with patient discomfort. With laser technology, treatment time may be reduced to as little as 5 minutes. In addition, crowns or veneers can be costly and require maintenance, with a typical lifespan of 10 years. Laser technology offers the potential for their reuse following a removal procedure when indicated.

The Waterlase iPlus from BIOLASE is FDA-cleared for over 80 dental procedures. It is equipped with the proprietary Er, Cr: YSGG 2780 nm wavelength laser to better absorb water and hydroxyapatite for cool and efficient cutting. The YSGG laser, along with 2.5 percent NaOCl or 2 percent chlorohexidine achieves better than 99.9 percent microbial reduction. It solves many challenges associated with endodontic debridement and disinfection. Through laser-assisted irrigation, patients

 from predictable and efficient disinfection and less post-operative patient discomfort.They offer exceptional fluid dynamics while removing the smear layer and destroying biofilm withdeep lateral cleaning even in the most complex of root canal systems.

Another dental laser of mention is BIOLASE’s EPIC™ X, a soft-tissue laser used in pulpotomies and periodontal procedures. It utilizes diode laser technology to offer an aerosol-free treatment mode – surgery, pain relief, and whitening – across 30 clinical indications. 

It’s time to transform crown/veneer removal and root canal therapy

Endodontic treatment often involves creating access openings through crowns or on teeth that have porcelain veneers. Their removal risks damage not only to these restorations (fracture, chipping, and microleakage secondary to caries and debonding) but also to the underlying tooth structure itself.

 has shown that the Waterlase iPlus is a safe and viable alternative for the use of rotary instruments for crown/veneer removal and helps tooth preservation throughout the removal process. Real-life case studies attest to its precision, specifically targeting cement while minimizing adverse effects on underlying tooth structures.

On average, endodontists and dentists in the United States perform about 15 million root canals each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic. We have entered the dawn of tooth-focused treatment aimed at dentin conservation and shrugged off file-focused treatment, where we sacrifice valuable tooth structure to satisfy our current methodologies. The future of endodontics has never been brighter! With the development of safe and effective protocols for crown/veneer removal and the proper agitation of irrigating solutions, lasers, like the Waterlase iPlus have the potential to remove 100% of the organic tissue and 100% of the microbial contaminants right to the apical terminus. Successful endodontic treatment may be taken to levels never seen before.

By integrating these innovative technologies, the dental industry continues to evolve, providing more efficient and patient-friendly solutions that set new standards for oral healthcare.

The use of minimally invasive laser technology can allow clinicians to deliver less painful and more precise laser-assisted irrigation.

How Dental Lasers are Revolutionizing Endodontic Procedures

Henry Schein Releases its 2023 CARES Report | Image Credit: © Henry Schein, Inc.

Henry Schein, Inc. released its 2023 CARES Report on Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship last week and it highlights the health care solutions company's efforts to promote responsible business practices and create value for each of its stakeholders – Team Schein Members, customers, suppliers, investors, and society.

The world’s largest provider of health care solutions to office-based dental and medical practitioners reported on its sustainability efforts in 2023 in accordance with Sustainability Accounting Standards Board and Global Reporting Initiative Standards, as well as with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

Henry Schein Cares, the company’s global corporate citizenship program, aims to drive positive change through its 5 pillars:

dvancing policies, solutions and innovation;

Key progress on its 2023 goals and commitments, according to Henry Schein, includes, but is not limited to:

Submitted near- and long- term targets, committing to Net Zero by 2050 to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), from a 2022 base year;

Achieved a recycling goal (10%) by increasing the North American distribution recycling program by 28.8% over 2020 metrics;

Expanded its Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) learning journey by educating Team Schein Members on key D&I topics (66% of Directors and Vice Presidents, and 79% of U.S. Managers);

Donated more than $40 million in cash and product to hundreds of global charitable partners;

Increased the percentage of independent directors (from 71% to 85%) and female directors (from 21% to 31%) on the Henry Schein Board;

Updated the company’s Worldwide Business Standards and issued its Global Principles on Data Protection and Security and the Responsible Use of AI Systems;

Launched a new Corporate Citizenship Barometer to better understand and quantify how key stakeholders perceive its sustainability priorities, commitments, and impact.

“At Henry Schein, we envision a future where our innovation, leadership, and trusted partnerships inspire and generate positive impact across the health care ecosystem, ensuring a more sustainable and healthier future for generations to come,” Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein, says in a press release. “This report reflects Henry Schein’s 92-year history of serving as a good corporate citizen because we believe that the foundation of our success – a culture built on care – fosters not only business prosperity but also a more sustainable world. We remain dedicated to fulfilling our commitments and strengthening trust with our constituencies.”

According to the report, Henry Schein had a global net sales of $12.3 billion in 2023, 61% ($7.5 billion) of which came from its dental business. Growth opportunities for the dental business include a greater penetration of specialty markets, continued focus on large group practices, and advancing technology solutions.

Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 300,000 branded products and Henry Schein corporate brand products in their distribution centers. The company’s business, clinical, technology, and supply chain solutions are designed to help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently and to provide optimal quality care more effectively. These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, as well as other alternate care sites, the company states.

The company shares details on progress made in its report on Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship.

Henry Schein Releases its 2023 CARES Report

GenTek® from ZimVie

Synea Power Edition from W&H

RealGUIDE® 5.4 from ZimVie

A new steam sterilizer from Flight Dental Systems. 

Clave45+ from Flight Dental Systems

iTero Design Suite from Align

New Dental Products – July 29 - August 2, 2024

All the latest dental product launches from the week of July 29 through August 2, 2024. 

Dr Derse, the Chief Clinical Director at Espire Dental, is experienced in cosmetic dentistry including veneers and clear aligner therapy. She owned and operated a private practice until 2018 and transitioned to the DSO model. She lectures from short to full day courses with topics including aligner therapy workflow, occlusion, cosmetic dentistry, and patient service. Her current role at Espire includes hiring and mentoring doctors and advising in practice strategy and growth.

Outline a phased treatment approach for full-mouth rehabilitation.

Initial assessment and temporomandibular disorder workup, treatment planning, and execution using various dental technologies and VOCO products.

 Improved functionality, patient satisfaction, and esthetic results.

A phased approach can help clinicians verify the patient’s vertical dimension of occlusion and functional occlusion as well as meet the patient’s immediate and long-term goals of a more esthetically pleasing smile.

 By addressing both functional and esthetic concerns in dental practices, we not only create long-lasting restorations but also correct early temporomandibular disorder dysfunction.

 Loss of posterior occlusion and its impact on patient’s oral health, health outcomes, and advanced premature aging.

The article aims to present a viable treatment planning and execution method that accommodates the patient’s temporal and financial constraints.

This approach can transform patient outcomes by allowing flexibility in treatment planning.

Patients present to our practices with different goals. It could be to relieve jaw pain, fix chipped teeth, chew better, have a brighter smile, or feel more confident. Many times, a patient’s chewing function is what leads them to the desire for improvement. If a patient has a chewing pattern or occlusal alignment that makes it difficult to fit their posterior teeth together, the resulting chipping or wear on the front teeth drives them to us for help. This was the case in this situation.

Our patient presented with loss of her posterior teeth, which forced her to move toward chewing on her anterior teeth. Front teeth are supposed to behave like scissors and not potato mashers, and when flipped, they begin to have excessive breakdown. This premature and excessive wear can lead to further loss of tooth structure as it becomes thin, brittle, and possibly sensitive. To address that anterior breakdown, we first needed to recreate a posterior stop and build occlusion. Is it easier to do everything all at once? Absolutely. Is that always possible? Absolutely not. For patients who may need to break treatment into sections, we as clinicians need a way to offer a solution so that treatment can be planned comprehensively yet phased to achieve the desired outcome at the pace the patient desires.

Available in both discs and blocks, Structur CAD from VOCO is a strong and esthetic composite material for milling long-term temporary crowns and bridges. Restorations fabricated from the material can serve for up to 3 years. The material is said to offer a high degree of edge stability after milling. It does not require firing nor glazing and can be polished quickly to provide natural looking fluorescence and esthetics. The temporary restorations fabricated with Structur CAD can be customized and repaired using conventional dental composites. The material can be cemented using either temporary cement or a longer-lasting dental adhesive, and it does not require an MMA primer. Available in shades A1, A2, and A3, Structur CAD can be purchased in size 40L blocks or 20-mm discs.

For this specific case, our patient needed to restore proper occlusion, as she had lost most of her posterior occlusion earlier in life. To determine where the posterior teeth would go, we first needed to design the anterior teeth in our patient’s mouth. Ideally, she would have had her canine edge position set to zero (the cuspid tips placed right behind her lip line) followed by her centrals having 1 to 2 mm of display in the repose position as well (

). Our patient presented with moderate tissue display in her Duchenne smile, which we also incorporated into our design (

). Once we established the incisal edge position, we could then design her tissue architecture balanced with the width of her incisors. From there, we built the mock-up for her upper posterior teeth horizontally using the Kois glasses to level her plane of occlusion.

When phasing treatment such as this, we design from front to back but build from back to front. If we had performed her anterior restorative dentistry using her current occlusion, she would ultimately break any composite or ceramic off. Maximum intercuspation for her posterior lower teeth were directed by using a Kois Deprogrammer because she had lost her ability to find a repeatable bite. After wearing the deprogrammer for 2 weeks, she had a repeatable stop on the deprogrammer platform and demonstrated relief of her temporomandibular disorder symptoms (

). For this patient, we placed implants on both sides of her upper arch (using Neodent by Straumann) and allowed the implants to integrate while aligning her lower anterior teeth. Once her ClearCorrect® (Straumann) aligners were completed, she had an appropriate arch form for our upper anterior restorations. She was then ready for permanent posterior temporaries. This can be done using Grandio® blocs by VOCO if your patient is planning to have a temporary occlusion for a few years; however, in this case, we only wanted the temporaries to last until we were able to verify her new occlusion was comfortable and stable. This is more economical with Structur® CAD, which is a milled temporary material available in blocks or discs, and injectable material. When we used a hybrid of milled temporaries along with the mock-up, this allowed us to build an injected Structur 2 temporary crown on her remaining posterior tooth (

Once all posterior milled Stuctur CAD implant crowns were seated or prepared and temporized, we could move to the upper anterior teeth. We created a posterior stop along with an anterior open bite that would provide space for restorations that increased length and reestablished a facially generated incisal edge position. The patient was ready for injection composites using GrandioSO flow in shade BL on the anterior teeth (

VOCO's Structur 2 SC is a fast-setting, temporary BIS-acrylic crown and bridge material designed for convenience and efficiency. Packaged in a 1:1 cartridge or QuickMix syringe, Structur 2 SC simplified mix ensures easy handling and application. This material boasts exceptional strength and wear resistance, providing durable temporary restorations that can withstand the rigors of daily use. Its quick setting time allows for a comparatively expedited provisional workflow, improving overall productivity.

Structur 2 SC offers excellent marginal integrity and fits seamlessly, ensuring patient comfort and satisfaction. Its natural esthetics with fluorescence blends well with existing dentition, making it an ideal choice for anterior or posterior provisional restorations. Additionally, Structur 2 SC can be easily polished and adjusted, ensuring a smooth, professional finish every time. For reliable, efficient, and esthetically pleasing temporary restorations, VOCO's Structur 2 SC exceeds expectations.

Now we have a patient who has a full set of teeth using milled Structur CAD restorations in the posterior and injected GrandioSO flowable composites in the anterior to create a beautiful full-mouth rehabilitation. This gives us the freedom to advance her to ceramic restorations in any order. We could even phase her right side and left side in the posterior dentition.

This patient felt great with her new vertical dimension of occlusion and functional occlusion, meaning no jaw or masseter symptoms. Speech sounds were ideal, with no lisping, and she loved her new smile. She could stay in these restorations, and we have the ability to do a section each year for the next 3 years.

As you can see, the process can be simplified and systematized to create an outcome and pathway that work for a patient of any financial background and any treatment plan. When you have only a hammer, everything looks like a nail, and when you have a full armamentarium, you can treat the patient and the disease.

Using a variety of products, including Structur CAD from VOCO, we can craft restorative solutions that can address esthetics, functionality, and even temporomandibular disorders. 

A Step-by-Step Approach to Phased Treatment for Full-Mouth Rehabilitation

Dr Alvarez enjoys the complexities that come with treating patients. The key to understanding complex cases lends itself to having a proper diagnosis. He believes in using conservative materials with conservative treatment philosophies to help repair, restore, and maintain his patients’ smiles. Dr Alvarez’s treatment philosophy embraces the holistic approach of not just treating the “hole” but the “whole.” It’s about treating the whole patient and meeting them where they are at with comprehensive and conservative treatment options. His practice, Artizan Dental Care, in Marshfield, MO, combines both the artistic and technological sides of dentistry to create beautiful smiles every day.

When practitioners look across the dental industry for new materials, and specifically dental cements, there are a myriad of options that we can choose from. There are some cements that do specific things very well but are not as strong in other aspects, whereas other cements claim to do everything we would need in our practices.

When determining which cement to use or which is ideal, the answer can become very complex. Even dentists or specialists who normally aren’t preparing, temporizing, or fabricating crowns will occasionally have to deal with a patient’s crown coming off. The scale and diversity of these cement offerings is incredibly complex, and as such, many materials and clinical circumstances must be considered for an ideal cement.

The usual questions that dentists likely will ask about cements are also fairly wide ranging. Although these are not representative of all the questions one might ask, they may include the following:

Which substrates will these cements adhere to?

Which types of crowns can be used with this cement?

How will I know that it will achieve a completely uniform distribution of a 103.5-µm cement thickness layer across the entire intaglio surface of our restorations?

To further complicate the selection of an ideal cement, practitioners must consider several more factors, including but not limited to:

Flexibility in the presence of blood or other contaminants

Bisphenol A–free biomaterials in the cement itself

Long-term flexural similarity with natural tooth structure

SDI, an international leader in introducing innovative and highly practical products to the clinical dental armamentarium, has recently introduced a unique and effective cement product called Riva Cem Automix. This is a resin-modified glass ionomer (GI) luting cement that comes from a single syringe and is 

Riva Cem Automix resin-modified glass ionomer luting cement features the company’s revolutionary ionglass™ technology designed to deliver optimal strength and esthetics. The self-curing, radiopaque, fluoride releasing paste/paste resin luting cement is indicated for the permanent cementation of metal and ceramic restorations such as crowns, bridges and orthodontic bands. It features a unique blend of different sized reactive glass particles that harness ion-release to cross-link polycarboxylic acid chains. The automix tip attachment offers convenience over traditional hand-mixed cement systems.

dispensed through a mixing tip. What makes this cement product different from the host of resin-modified GI luting cements that currently exist in the marketplace is the use of a proprietary technology called ionglass. Within the cement is a blend of different sized glass-reactive particles that release both fluoride ions and cross-link polycarboxylic chains, resulting in a better bond strength and more stable esthetic properties.

In addition to the improvement in strength and esthetics, it is delivered through a unique smaller-sized mixing tip, allowing for less waste and greater economy. Along with that, in contrast to several other cement options, this cement boasts an easier and more efficient cleanup after the 5-second tack cure. It doesn’t require primers on either the restoration or the tooth, which greatly increases clinical efficiency.

Riva Cem Automix was given to 14 members of the Catapult Education product evaluation group, which consisted of mostly general dentists coming from a variety of clinical environments and patient demographics. During the evaluation phase, the participating dentists used the product for crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, implant crowns, and veneers. All the participants found the tip to fit securely, with an acceptable length and minimal waste vs other systems in the market, and reported it as perfectly sufficient for clinical needs. Only 1 of us found the 5-second setting time unacceptable. From a practical perspective, I would agree that having a 2- to 3-second tack cure would save me a lot of time during the day to do other, more productive things—like drink more coffee or ponder the origins of our great profession.

When evaluating the tack cure feature, all but 1 of us found the cement cleanup to be easier or the same as our current product of choice. More than 57% of evaluators were strongly impressed with the cleanup. In terms of shade, 93% of evaluators found the product shade to be acceptable for GI cementation, 100% found the product to be homogeneous in its consistency, and 100% found the product to be suitable for the purpose of successful and efficient cementation. All either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “Overall, I can use this material as intended for my dentistry needs.” Only 1 person marked neutral, and no evaluators marked either disagree or strongly disagree. All evaluators agreed that Riva Cem Automix is a suitable product in a dental setting, and 93% of the respondents said they would recommend it to a colleague.

The following patient presented for crown fabrication due to recurrent decay under an existing defective restoration with fractures through the mesial and distal marginal ridges on #5. Clinically, the tooth was reconfirmed for the diagnosis of cracked tooth syndrome.

Cold testing was performed to determine pulp vitality. The pain and thermal sensitivity did not linger with testing that day, and the pain was only on release of the bite stick. Prior to the delivery of anesthesia, a preprocedural rinse with StellaLife was used, and intraoral scans using CEREC Primescan (Dentsply Sirona) were taken to use for fabrication. Along with the usual opposing scan and bite scan, a Biocopy scan was also taken of the tooth to be used in the fabrication process as needed.

After the patient achieved profound anesthesia with 4% Septocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine (Septodont), the tooth was prepared in a normal manner to remove prior restorative material and the recurrent decay. After removing the decay, Sable Seek (Ultradent) was placed on the prep to confirm whether any remaining decay was present. Next, a core buildup was placed using RE-GEN Flowable (Vista Apex) after my standard bonding protocol, and the prep was finalized (

Prep scan was then taken and used to fabricate the restoration in office. The crown was tried on, verifying the margins were closed, and a precementation radiograph was taken. The zirconia crown was then microetched using 50-µm aluminum oxide to remove any remaining organic phosphates, smear layer, and tissue debris on the intaglio surface. In my clinical theater, the preparation still needs to be treated prior to cementation. SDI recommends using their Riva Conditioner to help with optimum adhesion and if clinically close to the pulp, where you need protection to use a liner/base of choice.

I use Clean & Boost (Vista Apex) to clean the prep after it has been scrubbed for 20 seconds. This removes smear layer and debris, etches the enamel, and can help with minor bleeding to help get an ideal surface to cement or bond to. I also scrub the preparation for 5 to 10 seconds with BondSaver (Vista Apex) and remove any excess with a dry microbrush, leaving the surface wet but not pooled. Doing this will help create a better surface for the resin in Riva Cem Automix to bond to and minimize postoperative sensitivity.

The crown was filled with Riva Cem Automix, placed onto the prep, and light cured in place for 5 seconds on each side of the tooth (

). Excess cement was removed from all surfaces with an explorer and allowed to sit for an additional 5 minutes with firm-even pressure with a highly complex absorbing medium, typically a cotton roll (

). Afterward, the occlusion was checked (adjusted if needed), the contacts were checked, and a postoperative cementation radiograph was taken to confirm that cement removal was successful (

As dentists, we always seek ways to be more cost-efficient in our techniques and with products that will ultimately create an equal to or more superior outcome. Catapult Education has stringent criteria that must be met to attain the Catapult Vote of Confidence, requiring that a certain percentage of evaluating clinicians must rate a product as either very good or excellent, must intend to recommend the product to colleagues, and must intend to continue using the product. For this reason, it is without hesitation that we would like to bestow the Catapult Vote of Confidence upon SDI for Riva Cem Automix.

The Catapult Education evaluation team tries out SDI’s new Riva Cem Automix and bestows the Catapult Vote of Confidence.

Using Technology, Reliable Cementation Methods to Deliver Great Clinical Results

Most innovative technologies take time to find their way into a majority of dental practices, as dental professionals want to see what will truly work, and what is nothing but marketing buzz and bluster. Find out which dental technologies are winning over the industry and which are seen as over-hyped as we present the results of the 2024 

In general, how would you describe yourself in terms of incorporating new technologies into your practice?

The results here are on par with previous years, but fans of assuring a return on their technology investments grew at the expense of the dreamers and the impulse shoppers. In fact, while the researchers have remained in the majority through every Technology Census, this is the lowest total we’ve recorded for either the dreamers or the impulse shoppers.

Technologies in Practices and in Future Plans

Rate the following technologies based on the options listed below.

The movement toward digital dentistry being the norm is apparent in these numbers, especially when it comes to 3D imaging solutions. The number of practices using their own CBCT systems and intraoral scanners continues to grow year over year. While chairside mills seem to have lost some of their appeal, 3D printers saw growing adoption and interest. Artificial intelligence (AI) solutions also saw a rapid adoption. The number of practices using these automated computing solutions almost doubled year over year, and stands out with more than one-third of practices planning to add the technology in the next 12 months. All-tissue lasers and operating microscopes continue to occupy a similar niche, and the only technology losing space in practices seems to be the aerosol mitigation solutions that saw quick adoption during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Technology Shaping the Future of Dentistry

What technology has the biggest potential to impact dentistry’s future?

The almost even 3-way spilt of these results shows that there is no consensus about the technology that will drive dentistry in the future. While development in 3D printing, regenerative materials, and AI is moving rapidly, all 3 technologies are likely to make a big impact on what dentists can do to care for their patients in the future.

In this case there is a clear frontrunner. Dental practices are certainly adopting AI technologies, and dental professionals see the potential in these technologies, but they also see plenty of bluster. Both in dentistry and in the wider world, AI seems to be everywhere these days, and maybe that’s a little too much AI for everyone to handle.

Rate the following technologies on their potential to provide a strong return on investment for your practice. 

(1 = least return on investment, 5 = most return on investment)

When it comes to a technology being worth the price paid for the tech, the most commonly used devices were rated as having the highest return on the investment. Loupes, curing lights, and digital x-ray systems topped the rankings, with intraoral cameras and intraoral scanners close behind. Other digital imaging and practice management solutions also provide value to a practice. The ROI on AI solutions was in the lower end of the rankings, while digital shade matching solutions and all-tissue lasers were seen as providing the least value to a practice’s bottom line.

Rate the following technologies on how much you believe your patients expect its use in your practice. 

(1 = patients do not care, 5 = patients expect this technology)

While many practices put their technology investments front and center for patients to see, most clinicians do not feel patients have high technology expectations when they come in for dental care. Once again digital x-rays proved to be the technology at the top of the rankings, with other digital technologies following closely behind. While clinicians believe some patients expect to see loupes on their dentist and hygienist, few believe they expect clinicians to work under a microscope.

Every year Dental Products Report surveys our audience to see what technologies are making the biggest impact on the way dental practices operate and the care they provide to patients.

High Tech Takeover: The 2024 Dental Products Report® Technology Census reveals the start of the industry’s true shift to digital solutions

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 – August 2, 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 2 new products with launches from Shofu and Ackuretta.

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

First up, let's talk about BeautiLink SA from Shofu. This self-adhesive resin cement is optimized for zirconia restorations, available in 3 versatile shades. With an ideal viscosity, BeautiLink SA offers easy handling and quick cleanup, thanks to itsmixing tips. BeautiLink SA is formulated to ensure optimal retention and marginal integrity, providing a strong and long-lasting bond. One of the standout features of BeautiLink SA is its ability to combat secondary decay, a common cause of crown failure. Leveraging proprietary bioactive Giomer Technology, BeautiLink SA releases and recharges fluoride and other beneficial ions, significantly reducing the risk of crown failure over time. Additionally, its anti-bacterial and acid-neutralizing properties help to minimize caries-causing bacteria, offering health benefits not found in competitive products. Available in Clear, Ivory, and Opaque shades, BeautiLink SA ensures color stability and long-lasting esthetics for all indirect restorations.

Moving on to another innovative product—Ackuretta's NFinity Nitrogen Generator. This device is set to streamline dental 3D printing post-curing by delivering optimal esthetics and consistency. In the world of digital dentistry, precision and esthetics are paramount. The NFinity Nitrogen Generator ensures dental applications with unparalleled clarity, smoother surfaces, and enhanced strength—all seamlessly integrated into existing workflows. The NFinity Nitrogen Generator works in harmony with Ackuretta's CURIE Plus to enhance biocompatible UV curing for crowns, splints, and dentures. By creating a near-oxygen-free environment with 95% nitrogen purity, it eliminates the need for vacuum or glycerin methods, significantly enhancing UV light absorption. This results in superior color transparency and smoothness, with up to a 25% improvement in strength and durability for 3D printed applications.

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

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

Podcasts

A bite-sized look at all the latest dental product launches. This week's episode features products from Shofu and Ackuretta. 

Dr Jeffrey Rohde, DDS currently maintains an innovative restorative and surgical practice in Santa Barbara, CA. Dr. Rohde graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and a master’s degree in Biochemistry. He continued his studies at UCLA in the School of Dentistry, graduating with numerous awards, including the Robert D. Wolcott Operative Dentistry Award. In 2006, Dr. Rohde became one of the founders of Dentalcompare, an online resource that specializes in helping doctors learn about new products and techniques. His practice in Santa Barbara continues to innovate with new ideas and technology, and is often speaking across the country (and currently on Zoom) about laser dentistry, CAD/CAM technology, digital dentistry, 3D printing, and more.

, we get to highlight new products or technologies by taking them for a test-drive. It’s a chance to give you insights that break through any marketing hype and determine how best to use that product in your practice. As I sat down to write this newest Test Drive, there was a realization that a simple “unboxing with first impressions” was not going to work for a product that takes months, if not years, to develop. So in an exciting way, this Test Drive for SureSmile® Clear Aligners has been years in the making.

I started my journey with clear aligners more than 20 years ago. Using the leading system at the time, we started to change our mindset about the role of orthodontics in restorative practice. For example, we would have a patient with crowded teeth asking for veneers. But rather than amputating healthy enamel to make room for porcelain, we were able to move those healthy teeth into a better position using clear aligners. Even if we were going to place veneers due to unsightly old restorations, there was a benefit to improving root position and occlusion for a more predictable result. It also added another dimension that broadened our treatment planning for a multidisciplinary mindset. We were able to move our dentistry from single-tooth reactive treatment (“There’s a hole; let’s fix it!”) to looking at full-mouth health with an active, anticipatory approach.

The problem we ran into with that first system is that we often had a hard time finding our way back out of the case. We would get stuck in endless refinements, and it was only a matter of time before the patient blamed us rather than their own poor adherence. We also got tired of taking impressions and waiting for weeks, only to find out our impression was rejected. But we still saw the potential. We ended up trying other systems, but nothing gave us predictability or matched with the style and workflow of our practice.

Approximately 5 years ago, we switched over to SureSmile and have had a much different experience. One of the first things that makes a difference to me as a business owner is that it maximizes the investment we already have with our equipment. SureSmile will accept scans from any digital impression system available. Although the former clear aligner provider we worked with eventually had their own scanner, we had already invested in digital impression with CEREC. Rather than our equipment sitting around between crown preparations, those machines are being used all day.

The second thing that makes a difference is the ability to use various trimlines on the trays. Although we are used to a scalloped trimline that follows the gumline, SureSmile offers a straight trimline that could be at the gumline or just above it. What this does is create a stiffness to the trays for more balanced pressure on the tooth. It also helps to hold the shape of the aligner during the time in the tray when the patient is constantly taking the tray in and out.

This results in a reduction in the number of attachments needed. More complex cases are coming back with fewer attachments because the tray has better adaptation on each tooth. Basically, it grabs the tooth better than a scalloped edge that will flare out over weeks of wear. It also allows for more constant pressure on the tooth, resulting in more predictable movement. For us, this dramatically reduces the number of refinements necessary for our cases. SureSmile itself also has an analysis where they looked at more than 150,000 cases globally completed between January 2021 and June 2023. Seventy-five percent of those cases required no refinements.

 This is quite a change from what we were experiencing before.

Another factor to consider is the educational aspect. I had not exactly received a robust orthodontic education when I was in dental school. By the time I started into clear aligners, I realized I had to go back to school in a way. At the time, this resulted in an expensive start-up class followed by the occasional class when I could find them. Although online education has grown across the spectrum from the advent of webinars and streaming lectures, SureSmile has an extremely robust online presence for education. DS Academy and SureSmileU have resources for you and your team that start with how SureSmile moves teeth, to analyzing a case for problems, to setting up your digital prescription. I also know I can call the digital laboratory directly and talk to the person designing my case directly. My personal experience with my local SureSmile team has been valuable as we are using an entirely new system for us. On the most basic level, you can find the information you need in one way or another.

Regarding the financial aspect, as soon as I got home from my introductory class with our first system, we had expensive laboratory bills to pay for each case. Depending on which tier of treatment we chose, we would be on the hook for higher cost if we needed to do refinements. With SureSmile, I have a single fee for the laboratory case that covers any number of trays and any number of refinements for 3 years. This is for any size case, so I am not penalized financially for doing a larger case. The SureSmile fee also includes tooth whitening for the patient as well as the SureSmile VPro, which uses high-frequency vibrations to help facilitate minor anterior tooth movement and helps reduce discomfort to the patient when switching trays. Depending on tooth movements prescribed, we have been able to move patients to 1-week protocols to move through treatment fast. But in an age where everything is more expensive, it is nice to be able to cut costs for our business without any sacrifice in clinical results.

Looking back on this extended Test Drive, we have had a chance to get to know this product. Clear aligner therapy has become an essential part of our practice in diagnosis, treatment planning, and providing uncompromised care to our patients. SureSmile has been good for us, as the system has proven itself to show predictable results, making our practice more efficient and patients happier with the results.

Based on an internal analysis by Dentsply Sirona in excess of 150,000 global SureSmile aligner cases conducted between January 2021 to June 2023. Data on file with Dentsply Sirona.

“With SureSmile, I have a single fee for the laboratory case that covers any number of trays and any number of refinements for 3 years.”

SureSmile Clear Aligners Offer Predictable, Positive Outcomes 

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.

Over the past 20 to 30 years we have seen tremendous improvements and advantages in increasing our ability to visually educate our patients. Intraoral cameras meant that for the first time, patients could see their oral health conditions and better understand our explanations of our diagnoses as well as the solutions we offered.

Better information leads to better decisions and better outcomes in dentistry. It’s important that doctors gather and maintain as much information as possible.

That’s why I’m so excited to be able to tell you about a new device from KaVo that not only increases our visual communication, but also provides critical diagnostic information that previously has been difficult to share with patients. The device is called the KaVo DIAGNOcam™ Vision Full HD, and it is impressive.

The KaVo DIAGNOcam Vision Full HD allows the dental team to capture intraoral photos, transillumination photos, and caries fluorescence photos all with a single device. Up to this point, these images were challenging to acquire. It required different devices with separate computer inputs capturing each image separately. Acquiring all of those images required a serious amount of time, if the office even had all 3 imaging capabilities in the first place.

Into this realm comes the KaVo DIAGNOcam Vision Full HD, which can acquire 3 diagnostic images with 1 device. You can place the device over a tooth and, with the push of a single button, acquire an intraoral photo, a transillumination photo, and a caries fluorescence photo within a second or 2. The entire mouth can be captured and recorded in 2 to 3 minutes by an experienced user.

We all know the value of a good, clear intraoral photo for communication with patients as well as for diagnosis and recordkeeping. Most offices use an intraoral camera multiple times a day.

Despite their usefulness, intraoral cameras can suffer from some problems and limitations. Most have a set focal length, which means it might be easy to capture a single tooth, but images from farther away or outside the mouth are blurry or have a fisheye effect that distorts the images.

KaVo built in a constant autofocus that instantly brings things into focus and renders them without distortion. You can easily take a photo of a second molar and then take a full-face extraoral photo a moment later, and both images are rendered perfectly with no distortion. Simply point the camera at the target, and it is instantly in focus and ready to capture. Whether it’s a single tooth, a quadrant, a smile, or full face, this device does it all.

The KaVo DIAGNOcam Vision Full HD captures precise and clear high definition images. These crisp images allow both the professional and the patient to see amazing amounts of detail.

Most offices using transillumination are doing so with small bright lights utilizing visible white light. They are like tiny flashlights that can be placed to illuminate the interproximal area. The problem with this approach is that because they are bright by design, the light pollution often makes things hard for the doctor to visualize clearly.

The second problem is simply sharing what the doctor sees. Because a flashlight doesn’t take pictures, the doctor has to share their findings verbally, and that brings us back to the fact that only 10% of our perception comes through the ears.

The DIAGNOcam Vision Full HD uses near-infrared (NIR) illumination instead of white light for this process. In the product photos, you can see what appears to be 2 small arms on the device. These arms go over the tooth to embrace it from the buccal and lingual aspects, and they contain fiberoptics that deliver this NIR from both sides of the target tooth. NIR harmlessly penetrates the tooth more effectively than white light and with no light pollution. These images are just as clear as the intraoral ones, and they can be shared with the patient to explain the findings.

Transillumination is a great tool for finding lesions too small to be found on x-rays. It’s a tremendous tool for early diagnosis, pediatrics, and pregnant patients. It is also a tremendous tool for monitoring remineralization therapy.

Transillumination is also a useful tool for locating cracks in teeth and decay under sealants and restorations. Conservative doctors will find this device a wonderful adjunct for their patients.

The third function the device delivers is fluorescence imaging. The bacteria that cause decay create a metabolic byproduct that glows (fluoresces) under certain wavelengths of light. The DIAGNOcam Vision Full HD has LEDs that emit these wavelengths.

The image created by this wavelength causes healthy enamel to have a light-green color, similar to the skin of a green apple. Areas of active caries glow with a red color, allowing for quick identification of their presence.

Simply put, if there are no metabolic byproducts, there are no active cariogenic bacteria. This also allows doctors to find and treat caries at their earliest stages as well as allowing for active monitoring for doctors using remineralization therapy. Comparing images taken over time can give a much better indication if lesions are progressing or shrinking.

If lesions are found when small, restorations can be small and potentially done with no anesthetic while preserving tooth structure. Being able to find active caries early also helps prevent the placing of a sealant over an area of active caries.

The device can also be used during restorative procedures to ensure all active caries are removed before placing the final restoration.

The KaVo DIAGNOcam Vision Full HD is an amazing device. Not only does it provide high-quality images in all modalities, but it also streamlines treatment. The efficiency of gaining all this information in a short amount of time means that offices can obtain more diagnostic information than ever before and still maintain the efficiency of a digital workflow.

I’ve found it to be a valuable addition to my office, and I highly recommend giving it a look. For offices looking to improve their diagnostic accuracy while maintaining efficiency, this is a device that should be considered. KaVo has a long history of delivering high-quality equipment and devices for the profession, and the DIAGNOcam Vision Full HD is a great addition to their product line. I’m confident you’ll be as impressed with it as I am.

This three-in-one intraoral imaging solution is designed for efficient diagnostics and documentation.