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. 

Align Technology Introduces iTero™ Design Suite for In-Practice 3D Printing. Image credit: © Align Technology

Align has announced the launch of the iTero Design Suite. This new software reportedly allows doctors to design 3D printed models, bite splints, and restorations directly in their practice, according to a press release from Align. The iTero Design Suite aims to improve efficiency and enhance patient experiences by reducing the time to treatment. To do this, the iTero Design Suite employs the use of exocad™ CAD/CAM software. It is part of the Align™ Digital Platform, which offers a range of workflow technologies for dental professionals.

Dr Steven Glassman, a cosmetic dentist in New York, New York, and an Align Technology speaker, praised the new software in the press release. “The workflow is fast and efficient. We can easily design restorations, hard splints, models, and mockups to show patients the possibilities of cosmetic dentistry.”

Karim Boussebaa, Align Technology executive vice president, emphasized the company's commitment to providing digital solutions. “We have seen growing interest in 3D printing technology from our customers, and brining the iTero Design Suite to market reflects our commitment to offering our customers the digital transformation solutions they need to enhance practice efficiency and patient experiences through technology.”

The iTero™ Design Suite is currently available through an early access program. Clinicians with an iTero scanner can express their interest via their scanner or the MyiTero™ portal. The software is expected to be widely available later in 2024 in selected markets.

Articles

This digital workflow from Align provides in-office 3D printing for dental practices looking for an efficient digital solution to boost patient experiences.  

Align Introduces iTero™ Design Suite for In-Practice 3D Printing

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.  

Promise of Las Vegas provides displaced families the opportunity to achieve housing stability by providing short term transitional shelter, case management and essential needs. Education kits were sponsored by SunBrite Dental, a dental care provider located in Las Vegas that participates in the Smile Guardian Program. | Image Credit: America’s ToothFairy.

Looking to help every child maintain a healthy smile and to educate them on how to prevent tooth decay, America’s ToothFairy began working on a program 5 years ago that just now is taking form.

America’s ToothFairy believes every child should know how to keep their smile healthy and have what they need to prevent tooth decay. That’s why in 2019 the nonprofit foundation began developing education resource kits to help oral health advocates and safety-net dental care providers teach families about the importance of oral health and how to prevent dental disease.

Last week the organization launched the Smile Guardian Program, which is powered by partners who help provide oral health education kits for families. These kits include Storytime Smiles Library Kits, Nutrition & Oral Health Kits, My Healthy Smile Booklet Kit, and the My Healthy Smile Activity Sheets Kit.

Too many children in the United States don’t know what causes dental disease and how they can prevent tooth decay, America’s ToothFairy states. The result is often a lifetime of poor oral health, contributing to lower grades and self-image, limited job opportunities, and poorer overall health.

“When we launched our Smile Guardian education initiative 5 years ago our intention was to provide a way for dental offices to support oral health education within their own communities,” America’s ToothFairy’s executive director Jill Malmgren says in a press release announcing the launch. The organizations that have access to the children who are most at risk for dental disease often lack engaging printed materials, which can be quite expensive to produce. What we didn’t expect was generous contributions from larger corporate entities that helped us develop materials with special themes to address the different habits that impact oral health.”

What started as a small-scale initiative has grown into a full-blown program supported by industry leaders such as Patterson Dental Supply, Delta Dental, MGE Management Experts, Cranberry, Crest, Oral-B and many others. The nonprofit says the program is reaching more 132,000 kids and their caregivers.

Some kits, such as those designed for use at public library story time events, include dental-themed storybooks. Others include superhero capes and masks that empower kids to be “Oral Health Action Heroes.”

Other Smile Guardian Program kits items can include:

• activity booklets for kids
• informational brochures for parents
• bookmarks with oral health tips
• dental hygiene habit trackers
• two-minute timers
• toothbrushes and toothpaste
• stickers

Robin Vann, the national programs manager of America’s ToothFairy, was surprised by the number of non-dental organizations that request educational tools. “We’ve received overwhelming responses from school nurses, librarians, and food banks to name a few. They see the rampant decay and how it affects the children they serve but they often feel powerless to change the mindset and habits that lead to dental caries. These kits give them what they need to address these issues effectively,” she states.

Ashley Conder, a school nurse at Midland School District in Pleasant Plains, Arkansas, poses with her young students and oral health education kits provided by America’s ToothFairy through their Smile Guardian Program.

“We’ve received overwhelming responses from school nurses, librarians, and food banks to name a few,” she said. “They see the rampant decay and how it affects the children they serve but they often feel powerless to change the mindset and habits that lead to dental caries. These kits give them what they need to address these issues effectively.”

“The cape and mask helped our kindergarten students get excited about being oral health superheroes and they really liked the activity booklets.” Ashley Conder, a school nurse at Midland School District in Pleasant Plains, Arkansas, adds in the press release. “The students were so excited about getting a new toothbrush and it is so encouraging to be able to give them a tool to help improve their health.”

With financial support from manufacturer Cranberry, which makes exam gloves, masks and rubber dams, America's ToothFairy has 

 where dental professionals can sign up to sponsor these kits to be distributed to organizations serving at-risk kids in their local communities. The education packages can reach up to 5,000 families with sponsorship levels ranging from $2,500 to $20,000.

“We encourage dental offices to participate in oral health presentations along with the kits but that isn’t always feasible,” Malmgren adds. “That’s the best part about sponsoring these education kits–it puts the resources in the hands of people who are already serving and trusted by families who experience a higher rate of dental disease and helps connect them with the care they need to have healthy smiles.”

For those interested in partnering with America’s ToothFairy on providing oral health education kits for families in their community, you can visit the 

After 5 years in development, the nonprofit introduces the program designed to provide oral health education kits for families to educate children on how to prevent tooth decay.

Smile Guardian Program Launched by America’s ToothFairy

ZimVie Launches GenTek® Restorative Components in United States. Image credit: © ZimVie Inc.

ZimVie has launched its GenTek® Genuine Restorative Components product portfolio in the United States. This move follows the recent FDA 510(k) clearance and expands ZimVie’s range of prosthetic offerings. The GenTek portfolio was first introduced in Europe in 2019 and has been highly successful, according to a press release from ZimVie.

The U.S. launch of GenTek brings a variety of restorative components to the ZimVie product line, including Ti-Bases, pre-milled abutment blanks, screws, instruments, and ancillary products. These components reportedly support digitally driven CAD/CAM restorations and are designed to integrate with ZimVie implant systems, ensuring proper fit and long-term durability.

“We’re excited to expand our product portfolio with the introduction of GenTek premium prosthetic components, enabling digital workflows and patient-specific restorations for U.S. customers,” said Indraneel Kanaglekar, SVP, Chief Commercial Officer, in the press release. “We have received excellent feedback and strong demand for GenTek in the European market, and we are optimistic that this product suite will be well received here in the U.S. – the largest market we serve.”

ZimVie has launched its GenTek® Genuine Restorative Components product portfolio in the United States, expanding its range of prosthetic offerings following FDA 510(k) clearance.

ZimVie Launches GenTek® Restorative Components in United States

Dental Care Alliance Bringing Overjet AI to More Than 400 Practices | Image Credit: © Overjet

One of the nation's leading dental support organizations (DSOs) is rolling out Overjet's artificial intelligence (AI) to its alliance of more than 400 practices.

Dental Care Alliance (DCA) announced last week its collaboration with Overjet, a leader in dental AI. Overjet’s AI platform for dentistry is FDA-cleared technology trained on millions of x-rays and continuously tested by a team of leading dentists. The technology enables Overjet to detect, outline, and quantify oral diseases with millimeter-level precision. In addition to analyzing x-rays, Overjet is also a helpful tool for educating patients, since it highlights cavities, calculus, and other pathologies with colorful overlays that patients can understand. The result is greater trust in the clinician, the company says, which leads to higher case acceptance.

The combination of sheer size and technical sophistication makes this launch one of the most ambitious deployments of dental AI, the two groups state. But for DCA, the goal remains the same — giving every patient the best possible care.

"Transforming dental care through AI isn't just about innovation or technology," Jason Hefelinger, CEO of Dental Care Alliance, says in a press release. "It's about empowering our supported providers, advancing precision, personalizing patient experiences, and pioneering a new era of oral health. We are proud to partner with Overjet to be the first DSO to implement this game-changing platform across our family of more than 400 affiliated practices."

DCA's leadership recognizes that its success with AI will depend on how well its people understand and implement the new technology. The large DSO, headquartered in Florida, says that was the motivation for DCA's unique and comprehensive rollout plan, which is carefully designed to maximize Overjet's impact across all of its providers.

Through a combination of in-depth training sessions and study clubs led by Overjet's experienced clinical team, deep integrations with providers' existing systems, and high-profile promotional campaigns, DCA is setting an example for how to implement dental AI at scale.

This organization-wide expansion builds on DCA's initial partnership with Overjet that began in the spring of 2022, and which has produced overwhelmingly positive reactions from both its providers and patients, the organization states. DCA has integrated multiple technologies designed to elevate dental care through teamwork and technology and has been recognized by the industry for its drive to improve and affect meaningful change across its growing network of dental practices, according to the DSO.

Beyond the dental chair, the platform will help DCA's providers grow their practices—from streamlining morning meetings to identifying opportunities for care.

"The most successful DSOs of tomorrow will be those that embrace AI today," adds Wardah Inam, CEO of Overjet. "From the very beginning of our partnership, DCA's leaders wanted to do more than just keep pace with the latest technology. They wanted to push dentistry forward. With this milestone deployment of AI, Dental Care Alliance will set the new standard for what patients expect at the dentist."

DCA currently supports over 400 allied practices and supports over 900 dentists across 24 states. DCA's allied practices represent all dental specialties and treat patients under more than 150 brand names.

Founded by experts from MIT and Harvard University, Overjet builds AI designed to help dental organizations give patients the highest quality of care — the technology enables clinicians to detect pathologies with precision and educate patients with confidence.

Leading dental support organization is rolling out Overjet's artificial intelligence to its alliance across the country.

Dental Care Alliance Bringing Overjet AI to More Than 400 Practices

Caitlin Parsons is a RDH of 15 years and chronic pain survivor turned Certified Yoga Therapist and Ergonomic Consultant for dental professionals. Caitlin helps dental professionals prevent, reduce and overcome workplace pain, manage stress, and optimize their health so they can thrive in and out of the office. She is passionate about helping dental professionals and teams optimize their health to provide better patient care and become better clinicians through her in-person and online programs, speaking, writing team experiences, and her podcast, The Aligned Hygienist (

Guarding Against Burnout: Essential Strategies for Dental Hygienists. Image credit: © Parradee - stock.adobe.com


Burnout has become a significant concern in various professions, and dental hygiene is no exception. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as “a syndrome caused by unmanaged, chronic stress.” Burnout is a state of complete mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. Symptoms can range from headaches and fatigue to helplessness, detachment, cynicism, reduced performance, withdrawal, and procrastination.¹ This condition is particularly prevalent in dentistry, where high patient loads, repetitive tasks, ergonomic challenges, and toxic work environments are standard.

Studies indicate that a significant percentage of dental hygienists experience symptoms of burnout, such as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. These symptoms can lead to decreased job satisfaction, increased absenteeism, and even early retirement from the profession.²⁻⁴ According to one study, 36% of dental hygienists meet the criteria for burnout, meaning that one in three hygienists experience burnout.⁴

Many dental professionals recognize the symptoms of burnout, but understanding the root cause may be more challenging. Burnout can be work-related or arise from chronic, unmanaged stress from life. Understanding the root cause makes it easier to find solutions. Addressing burnout is essential for maintaining the well-being of dental hygienists and ensuring the highest quality of patient care. Regardless of the root cause, it is crucial to implement effective strategies to prevent and/or overcome burnout. The three main strategies we’ll discuss are reducing stressors, building resilience, and optimizing the stress response. Let's explore these in detail, with practical examples tailored for dental hygienists.

Dental hygienists face numerous stressors daily. High patient loads can lead to time pressures and feelings of being overwhelmed. Repetitive tasks and awkward positioning contribute to physical strain. At the same time, ergonomic challenges can result in chronic pain and an MSD. Work environments without support or with challenging co-workers or patients can cause emotional stress. Once we understand the stressors, we can work on reducing one stressor at a time. Journaling can be an effective way to learn what’s causing the stress and help get to the root of it. While everyone is different, everyone's needs vary, here are some practical tips for reducing stressors at work.

Implement Efficient Scheduling and Communication: 

Work with your team to create a schedule that allows adequate time for each patient and avoids overbooking. Review patient protocols and systems so your team is on the same page. Foster a culture of open communication, where you and your team can voice concerns about work and suggest improvements. This can lead to a more effective, supportive, and collaborative work environment.

Prioritize ergonomic education, tools, and support to minimize physical strain and optimize physical health. Adjust your workstation to support your body, maintain a neutral posture, and reduce bad habits leading to musculoskeletal issues. Investing in ergonomic loupes, properly fitted saddle stools and ergonomic support can make a big difference.⁵

Clearly define work and personal time to avoid taking work-related stress home and create a better work-life balance. Use personal time for relaxation and rejuvenation to fill your cup versus watching Netflix and scrolling on social media. Remember that you cannot give from an empty cup, so prioritize yourself.

Preparing for stressful moments can make navigating and recovering from them more manageable. Stress resilience is the ability to cope with and recover from stress. Once we stop or slow the inundated flow of stressors, we can build resilience to stress, which can help dental hygienists manage stressful situations more effectively. Here are some ideas for ways you can support your ability to manage stress and build resilience.

Incorporate Chairside Yoga and Mindfulness Breaks: 

Take short breaks to slow your breathing or perform a quick body scan. Studies show that performing breathing exercises, stretches, or a few minutes of meditation can significantly reduce stress. Additionally, yoga has been proven to build mental resilience, positively affecting our nervous system, helping to calm the mind, and improving focus and emotional stability.⁶⁻⁷ Dental hygienists can practice yoga and mindfulness chairside.

Ensure Adequate Exercise, Nutrition, and Sleep: 

Regularly exercise, maintain a healthy diet, and stay hydrated! Exercise releases endorphins, which help combat stress, while a balanced diet ensures better energy, focus, and overall well-being.⁸ Adequate sleep is more crucial for mental and physical health than most realize.⁹ We function optimally when we get a good night's rest, so prioritize proper rest and sleep to support your body's resilience.

Pursue hobbies and activities that bring joy and relaxation outside work. Whether reading, gardening, painting, or spending quality time with your family, these activities can help reduce stress and support a well-balanced nervous system.

Strategy 3: Optimizing the Stress Response

Early recognition of burnout symptoms is critical to effectively addressing them. It’s pivotal for hygienists to adopt a healthy lifestyle with habits and coping strategies that support our ability to manage and bounce back from stress while also maintaining our ability to find peace, joy, and positivity. Like building strength in muscles to support posture, building stress resilience takes time and consistency. Here are a few interventions to optimize the stress response.

Practice stress management techniques regularly, such as breathing exercises, meditation, mindfulness, visualization, training, and progressive relaxation. These can be done quickly during breaks to help calm the mind. Studies show that breathing exercises can reduce anxiety and stress and support mental well-being.⁶⁻⁷ Deep breathing helps to calm the nervous system and support a well-regulated system.

Connect with friends, family, or colleagues. A strong support network of meaningful relationships and regular social interactions is one of the top indicators of overall health for all populations. Isolation and loneliness increase the risk of cognitive decline, emotional dysregulation, and overall mental health issues.¹⁰

Foster a work culture that values and appreciates the entire team. Regular recognition and appreciation can boost morale and reduce stress. Find offices that promote mutual respect, teamwork, and collaboration among staff. A supportive team environment can significantly improve work-related stress management.

To combat burnout, dental hygienists should take a multi-pronged approach, finding ways to reduce stressors, build resilience, and optimize the stress response. Implementing these strategies can lead to healthier, more fulfilling lives and careers. As dental hygienists, we should encourage ourselves and our colleagues to take steps actively toward stress and burnout prevention. Prioritizing mental health and well-being is crucial for high-quality patient care and long-term success and fulfillment in the dental hygiene profession. By guarding against burnout, dental hygienists can ensure their well-being while positively impacting their patients' lives.

World Health Organization. Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases. World Health Organization. Published May 28, 2019. Accessed May 10, 2024. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases

Knutt A, Boyd LD, Adams JL, Vineyard J. Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout among Dental Hygienists in the United States. 

American Dental Hygienists’ Association

. 2022;96(1):34-42. https://jdh.adha.org/content/96/1/34

Bercasio L, Rowe D, Yansane AI. Factors Associated with Burnout among Dental Hygienists in California. 

. 2020;40(6). https://jdh.adha.org/content/jdenthyg/94/6/40.full.pdf

Haslam SK, Wade A, Macdonald LK, Johnson J, Rock LD. Burnout syndrome in Nova Scotia dental hygienists during the COVID-19 pandemic: Maslach Burnout Inventory. 

. 2022;56(2):63-71. Published 2022 Jun 1.

Lietz J, Ulusoy N, Nienhaus A. Prevention of Musculoskeletal Diseases and Pain among Dental Professionals through Ergonomic Interventions: A Systematic Literature Review. 

. 2020;17(10):3482. Published 2020 May 16. doi:10.3390/ijerph17103482

Shohani M, Badfar G, Nasirkandy MP, et al. The Effect of Yoga on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Women. 

. 2018;9:21. Published 2018 Feb 21. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_242_16

Woodyard C. Exploring the therapeutic effects of yoga and its ability to increase quality of life. 

. 2011;4(2):49-54. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.85485

Childs E, de Wit H. Regular exercise is associated with emotional resilience to acute stress in healthy adults. 

. 2014;5:161. Published 2014 May 1. doi:10.3389/fphys.2014.00161

Alotaibi AD, Alosaimi FM, Alajlan AA, Bin Abdulrahman KA. The relationship between sleep quality, stress, and academic performance among medical students. 

. 2020;27(1):23-28. doi:10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_132_19

Finley AJ, Schaefer SM. Affective Neuroscience of Loneliness: Potential Mechanisms underlying the Association between Perceived Social Isolation, Health, and Well-Being. 

. 2022;7(6):e220011. doi:10.20900/jpbs.20220011

Expert Caitlin Parsons, RDH, C-IAYT, CEAS, provides valuable insight specifical for dental hygienists on how to avoid dreaded burnout.

Guarding Against Burnout: Essential Strategies for Dental Hygienists

BeautiLink SA from Shofu Dental Corp.

NFinity Nitrogen Generator from Ackuretta

All the latest dental product launches from the week of July 22 through July 26, 2024. 

New Dental Products — July 22 - July 26, 2024 

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

Product Bites – July 26, 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 8 new products with launches from BioLux Technology, OCU-GUARD, Optivida, Viome, OraCare, Oclean, Stratasys, and Ivoclar.

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

First up, Biolux Technology has announced the U.S. launch of their updated OrthoPulse product and platform—OrthoPulse 2.0. This latest version is said to offer enhanced reliability and comes with an expanded pool of clinical evidence to support orthodontic care. For those unfamiliar, OrthoPulse uses photobiomodulation to stimulate the bone surrounding the roots of teeth, enabling movement for both aligner and bracket patients.

Next, OCU-GUARD is a new shield designed to protect your patients' eyes from ionizing radiation. Comparable to lead aprons, this flexible eye-mask incorporates finely divided lead particles within a durable vinyl matrix, offering more than 93% radiation attenuation. It’s easy to clean and guaranteed to last through at least 500 exams.

On the toothpaste front, Optivida has launched their new Nano-Silver Whitening Toothpaste. Unlike standard whitening toothpastes that use hydrogen peroxide, this one doesn’t. Instead, it uses nano-silver and hydroxyapatite to kill germs, prevent gum disease, and remineralize teeth. Plus, it's free of fluoride, making it an excellent option for patients with sensitivity issues.

If your patients are looking for a truly customized toothpaste option, check out the VRx MyBiotics Toothpaste & Gel. This product is tailored to the user’s specific oral microbiome, based on results from Viome's Oral Health Intelligence™ Test. Free of harsh chemicals, this toothpaste comes in unit dose packages with different formulas for morning and night care routines. The morning formula prevents plaque and stains, while the nighttime formula focuses on remineralizing and whitening without harsh abrasives.

Orthodontic patients have unique needs, and Ortho Protect is designed to meet them. This product is formulated with chlorine dioxide, poloxamer 407, calcium lactate, and xylitol. Together, these ingredients break up biofilm, kill bacteria, protect tooth surfaces from plaque build-up, and help remineralize tooth structure.

Oclean has announced their new AI-integrated toothbrushes—the X Ultra and X Lite. These smart toothbrushes use AI to provide real-time feedback on brushing techniques. The X Ultra even connects to an app to track brushing progress and patterns, offering personalized suggestions. With 6 brushing modes and a long battery life, these brushes could be optimal for maintaining oral health.

For our dental lab technicians, the new DentaJet™ XL high-speed 3D printer is here to boost productivity and reduce costs. This latest addition to the DentaJet series features larger resin cartridges, a larger print tray, and a super high-speed mode. With minimal post-processing work required, this printer promises to cut labor costs by up to 90% and lower cost per part by up to 67%.

Lastly, we have VivaDent® Aerosol Reduction Gel, designed to make tooth cleaning more comfortable for both patients and practitioners. This clear, water-based gel reduces spray mist and aerosol produced by ultrasonic scalers by up to 99%. Not only does it improve visibility and reduce the spread of airborne diseases, but it also keeps the patient’s face drier and integrates seamlessly into daily routines.

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 BioLux Technology, OCU-GUARD, Optivida, Viome, Oclean, OraCare, Stratasys, and Ivoclar.

Curve, the award-winning all-in-one cloud-based dental practice management software


Curve is perfect for dental practices of all sizes in the US and Canada that are looking to modernize their operations, reduce IT expenses, and automate redundant workflows while boosting profitability and enhancing the patient experience.


Whenever. Wherever. Curve’s comprehensive platform is available anytime and anywhere across all aspects of dental practice management, from scheduling and billing to patient engagement and charting/imaging. Also, Curve Mobile, the company’s robust mobile app, allows dental teams to securely view vital patient info (including images), manage their schedules, and text patients on the go.


Dental practices need a solution to boost revenue, increase efficiency, and improve patient care. With Curve’s automated features and user-friendly interface, the company helps provide practices with an average 5X return on investment, including up 25% increase in revenue on average, up to 30% higher case acceptance rates, and up to 25% reduction in patient no-shows.


Curve streamlines dental practice management with an all-in-one platform featuring imaging, scheduling, billing, patient engagement, charting, business intelligence, and treatment planning. Curve’s newest mobile app, Curve Mobile, delivers added flexibility to work wherever you are. With low-touch technology that makes it easy to automate tasks, modern patient engagement features, easy implementation, and backed by 5-star US-based customer support, Curve is designed to empower dentists to focus on patient care while increasing efficiency and revenue.

This all-in-one dental software solution is designed to make practice management easy for practices of all sizes.

5Ws: Curve Dental

Ackuretta's latest innovation, the NFinity nitrogen generator, is designed to transform the landscape of dental 3D printing post-curing by delivering optimal esthetics and printing consistency.

With dental professionals constantly seeking ways to enhance their 3D printing outcomes, balancing the need for durability with the demand for natural-looking results is key—in the fast-paced world of digital dentistry, precision and esthetics are paramount, the global manufacturer of high-precision 3D printing solutions for dental professionals states.

Ackuretta’s NFinity enables users to craft dental applications with unparalleled clarity, smoother surfaces, and enhanced strength—all within their existing workﬂow. The NFinity nitrogen generator complements the company’s CURIE Plus to enhance biocompatible UV curing for crowns, splints, and dentures.

The new nitrogen generator optimizes the CURIE Plus UV curing process by creating a near-oxygen-free environment (95% nitrogen purity) within the curing chamber, which eliminates the need to use uncontrollable methods like vacuum and glycerin. This process signiﬁcantly enhances UV light absorption.

According to Ackuretta, curing in a nitrogen rich environment makes a signiﬁcant diﬀerence and the benefits include:

The higher nitrogen concentration ensures even better light absorption, resulting in dental appliances with superior color transparency and smoothness.

 NFinity users can expect up to a 25% improvement in the strength and durability of their 3D printed applications like splints, crowns and dentures.

The 95% nitrogen environment guarantees uniform curing, eliminating variations that can occur with less controlled methods like glycerin or water submersion.

The nitrogen generator is an alternative to cumbersome nitrogen tanks or messy glycerin baths. NFinity produces unlimited curing cycles of 95% purity nitrogen on demand, ﬁtting seamlessly into any dental workspace. This not only streamlines the workﬂow but also signiﬁcantly enhances safety in the dental oﬃce or lab, the company adds.

The NFinity doesn't just improve curing—it unlocks the full potential of Ackuretta's certiﬁed FLOW resins. Dental technicians can now achieve improved esthetics for FLOW Hard Splint applications, increased mechanical properties for FLOW Denture products, and enhanced durability for long-term temporaries using FLOW C&B.

By combining cutting-edge technology with user-centric design, Ackuretta aids dental professionals in delivering results that were once thought unachievable. The new NFinity is the latest product designed to assist dental professionals embracing digital solutions and seeking efficient ways to deliver high-quality patient care.

For more details on how NFinity and CURIE Plus can enhance dental 3D printing workﬂows,

The new offering complements the company’s CURIE Plus to enhance biocompatible UV curing for crowns, splints, and dentures.

New NFinity Nitrogen Generator from Ackuretta Takes 3D Printing Post-Curing to New Heights

Planet DDS’s new open and robust Planet DDS API platform is designed to empower dental service organizations (DSOs) and dental group practices by facilitating seamless integration, synchronized data sharing, and transformative operational eﬃciencies across multiple applications.

The cloud-based dental software company last week launched what it calls the industry’s most open and robust APIs and developer platform to deliver dental software integration for group practices.

In today's dental industry, growth-minded DSOs and groups are faced with the challenge of managing multiple software applications, often leading to data silos and operational ineﬃciencies. For these dental groups to thrive, they must prioritize productivity, cost reduction, and scalability, aiming to deliver consistent, high-quality patient care across locations. Unfortunately, fragmented systems hinder their ability to scale without substantially increasing complexity and resource demands, Planet DDS explains.

"With the Planet DDS API program, we are not only addressing the challenges of fragmented systems but also enabling our customers and partners to build and deliver powerful, customized solutions that increase eﬃciency and improve the experience for both employees and patients alike,” Eric Giesecke, CEO of Planet DDS, says in a press release. “Innovation is at the core of what we do, and the Planet DDS API program represents our commitment to providing a comprehensive and open DentalOS

 platform. This is one that enables DSOs to collaborate with partners and customize their technology to meet unique needs, ensuring they can future- proof their operations in a rapidly changing industry eﬀectively."

Behrod Ganjifard, VP of Technology at Onsite Dental, a longtime customer of Planet DDS, adds “The enhanced APIs for Denticon means we're unlocking a new era of customization and interoperability for our DSO. This is exactly the innovation we've needed to enhance our operations and patient interactions.”

The core capabilities of the platform are designed to enhance data integration and scalability across dental practices, Planet DDS states. The key features of the solution include:

: Facilitates data exchange from external sources to Denticon, enabling updates to patient information, documents, medical history, and appointment status.

: The cloud-based infrastructure supports growth and resilience to accommodate the evolving needs of dental practices.

: Provides comprehensive access to patient, appointment, ﬁnancial, and clinical data, allowing for extensive integration possibilities.

: Designed to integrate with the broadest range of third-party systems, it ensures seamless data ﬂow and compatibility across all technology ecosystems.

: Planet DDS API will oﬀer synchronized patient and appointment data updates, ensuring that practices always have the latest information without manual data pulls.

Ensures the highest industry standards for data protection with SOC2 Type 2 Certiﬁcation and HIPAA compliance. Features include external vulnerability scans on beta APIs, continuous monitoring, a trusted third-party identity platform, and OAuth2.0 best practices.

Paul Kaiser, CEO of DentalXChange, a Planet DDS API partner, states in the press release, “DentalXChange leverages Planet DDS's new API program to deliver transformative RCM (revenue cycle management) experiences. With Planet DDS APIs, we have consistently delivered high-performing, integrated solutions to our customers with tremendous time-to-value. We are proud to partner with Planet DDS."

Ophir Tanz, founder and CEO of Pearl, another Planet DDS API partner, adds, "As a partner, Planet DDS is uniquely capable when it comes to integration. With its uniﬁed API program, Planet DDS enabled us quickly and eﬃciently to deliver an innovative cross-application radiologic AI integration. Together, we've been able to oﬀer a more streamlined AI-enabled workﬂow that not only elevates customer user experiences but also increases their productivity and AI utilization."

The company invites DSOs and third-party vendors to make the move to an integrated, eﬃcient, and innovative dental ecosystem by applying for the Planet DDS API program. By adopting the solution, DSOs and groups can streamline their operations, enhance patient care, and position themselves for scalable growth, Planet DDS says.

Planet DDS serves over 13,000 practices in the UnitedStates with over 118,000 users and delivers a complete platform of solutions for dental practices, including Denticon Practice Management, Apteryx Cloud Imaging, Cloud 9 Ortho Practice Management, and Legwork Practice Marketing.

For more information about the Planet DDS API program and how to apply, visit 

Planet DDS API looks to eliminate data silos and enhance interoperability across systems for improved efficiency and security.