At the Dental Products Report Product Solution Center at the 100th GNYDM, Debra Engelhardt-Nash talks about how Weave's systems can help with increasing patient acceptance and with practices getting paid.

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Debra Engelhardt-Nash talks about how Weave's systems can help with increasing patient acceptance and with practices getting paid.

Hi. My name is Deborah-Engelhardt Nash. I'm here at the Greater New York Dental Meeting. I just had the opportunity to present in the 

 lecture area—a phenomenal facility and space, by the way. My presentation was getting patients to say yes to treatment and how to get paid for it. And one of the things that I really highlighted, and I think it's really important, it's sort of my mantra, if you will, is that patients do not choose dentistry based on the clinical abilities of the provider, of the doctor. They don't know the difference between great dentistry, subpar dentistry, and average dentistry. They don't judge the dental office based on the tertiary anatomy of the dentist’s crown.

What they do judge their dentistry by is the way they are treated while they are in the patient's care. And actually, statistics will reveal, that 75% of brand loyalty is created because the patient feels strongly about the relationship they've developed with the doctor and the team. So, it's really a critical piece about patient attraction and retention, actually even about marketing and Google reviews, growing the practice is all based on this.

We are now currently living in what we call an experienced economy, which means that transactions are more relational, and people are inclined to buy based on the emotional appeal, as opposed to the goods and services that they're providing. So, we talked, I talked, about that in my presentation. I also talked about, what are some of the critical questions to ask a patient and some of the words to avoid, you know, avoiding the word like policy, or it's just a cleaning, or I'm just calling to check up. Or when we hand the patient a policy statement letter that says here's how you have to abide by our rules and protocols in the office. That's not what people want anymore. I want an experience. I want to feel like I'm special, that my relationship matters.

I also make sure that—I really don't have time to talk about body language—But how do we present the treatment and the importance of the team endorsing the doctor. Most dentists do not walk into an operatory and say, ‘I'm a really good dentist, and you're so lucky that you're in my care.’ But that would almost be ridiculous. And how would a patient feel if someone, if a doctor's ego, walked in before they did, but a dental team can do that endorsement. A dental team can walk in and say, Can I tell you about the doctor for who I work and why I'm here and why I believe in what they have to offer, and I think that's important. I also really want to talk about the utilization of technology in today's world. One of the customer service trends for 2024 is the expectation of technology. People expect to be able to pay online. They expect to be able to contact their dental office through texting, through other avenues. We're expecting to be able to gather data through technology, and gone are the days of the laborious process of one person on the team being responsible, for example, of insurance verification. Once again, you can actually take care of that technologically through systems like Weave where that will actually be populated for you.

So, consumers today are expecting the utilization of technology. Consumers today are expecting an exceptional customer service experience, and dentists will increase and improve their treatment acceptance rate by thinking about, ‘how do I bring that into their experience? The new patient experience. I have the treatment presentation skills that I utilize with my patients, and I think they'll be far more successful if they think about that. So, think about the experience economy, which is what we really focused on, and how you involve your team, and some of the things. In fact, one of the key notes that I brought up is, and I asked the question today, what is the most expensive piece of equipment in your in your office? And no one in the audience got the question right; got the answer right. The answer is this, the most expensive piece of equipment in your office is an empty chair. Systems such as Weave’s, technologically can help you, fill chair time without having to take laborious, uneventful or…in the past, in the old days, we would call a patient, we'd get an answering machine, we try and get the patient in. Now, it's all done technologically. It's so advanced, this makes it so much easier. I can populate a call out to patients to get my chair time filled. It's a critical piece in business success.

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At the Greater New York Dental Meeting in early Decemebr, Debra Engelhardt-Nash discusses how Weave's software and patient engagement systems can help with increasing patient acceptance and with practices getting paid. [4.5 minutes]

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Debra Engelhardt-Nash talks about how Weave's systems can help with increasing patient acceptance and with practices getting paid

Program Director, College of Health Sciences, Fones School of Dental Hygiene

Adriana Fields is an assistant professor and program director at the Fones School of Dental Hygiene. She joined the Fones team in 2020 and has served in the roles of adjunct professor and second-year clinical coordinator. She graduated from the University of New Haven, in Connecticut, with a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene in 2007 and a master’s degree in healthcare administration in 2017. Before joining Fones, Director Fields taught in the dental hygiene program at the University of New Haven from 2012 to 2021. She is also active in the Connecticut Dental Hygienists’ Association, serving as treasurer, and with the Norwalk Community Health Center, serving on the its Bboard of Ddirectors.

Associate Director of Clinical Affairs, College of Health Sciences, Fones School of Dental Hygiene.

Dr Boyce has extensive experience in private practice, having worked as an associate dentist from 1991 to 1993, practice owner from 1993 to 2018, and associate again in 2019. She worked at Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport as an adjunct faculty/clinic dentist from 2015 to 2019, when she became dental administrator. In 2021, she was named and is currently the associate director of clinical affairs.

Recognized for her contributions to the field, Dr Boyce received the 2020 American Dental Hygienists’ Association Connecticut Gold Star Award and the 2022 Teledentistry Innovation in Education Award. She has presented at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) National Convention in 2022 and 2023, and at the ADEA Allied Dental Program Director’s’ Meeting Conference in 2024. Additionally, she serves on the ADEA Compendium on Dental Assisting Competency Revision Committee for Dental Materials (2024 to 2026).

As a Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA) Allied Dentist Site Visitor (DA/DH) since 2021 and a member of the CODA Review Committee (DA) from 2023, she is dedicated to advancing dental education. Dr Boyce has served as principal in securing more than $950,000 in grants for Fones School of Dental Hygiene since 2019, including funding from the American Rescue Plan for teledentistry innovation and from Delta Dental Foundation for the Senior Smiles program and Connecticut's first expanded-function dental-assisting program.

Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences, Fones School of Dental Hygiene

Amanda Sargent is a dedicated and accomplished dental hygienist with more than 30 years of experience in the field of dental health. She holds a master of science degree in dental hygiene from the University of Bridgeport, in Connecticut, and completed her undergraduate studies, earning a bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene, at the former Briarcliffe College in New York state.

Sargent is currently a professor of dental hygiene at the University of Bridgeport Fones School of Dental Hygiene School, where she has been inspiring and educating the next generation of dental hygienists for the past 4 years. Her passion for teaching is evident in her dynamic and engaging lectures, as well as her commitment to mentoring students in both clinical and academic settings.

Throughout her career, Amanda has been actively involved in the dental hygiene community and continuing her education, specifically in areas of interest such as special needs, pediatric patients, and patients suffering with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition to her academic pursuits, she maintains a part-time clinical position, providing comprehensive dental hygiene care with a focus on patient-centered treatment and preventive strategies. Her clinical expertise and compassionate approach ensure that her patients receive the highest standard of care.

She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Dental Hygienists' Association, the American Mobile and Teledentistry Alliance, and the American Dental Educators Education Association. She is also actively involved in community outreach programs, promoting oral health awareness, and providing free dental hygiene services to underserved populations.

Sargent's dedication to the field of dental hygiene, her excellence in teaching, and her contributions to clinical practice make her a respected leader and advocate for oral health.

Intraoral Cameras, Teledentistry Enabling Fones School to Advance Hygiene Education and Access to Care 

Fones School of Dental Hygiene, the world’s first dental hygiene school, holds the unique distinction of being the originator of dental public health. This heritage drives the school’s commitment to remain at the forefront of dental education and public service.

Embracing new technologies has always been integral to our mission of simultaneously and effectively educating our students and serving the public. Achieving this dual mission is made possible by Fones continuously incorporating new technology into its curriculum.

Since 2021, Fones School has integrated MouthWatch intraoral cameras and its TeleDent teledentistry platform into its hygiene education program. This was made possible by a grant aimed at addressing post-COVID-19 access to dental care.

Although intraoral cameras were already in use, the grant provided the impetus for the school to expand into teledentistry, thus allowing hygienists to work within the top of their scope of practice, while also improving patients’ access to care.

The Fones School teledentistry program began almost by accident. A grant needing fulfillment led to an unexpected but welcome opportunity to use newer technologies offered by MouthWatch, such as intraoral cameras and its cloud-based teledentistry platform called TeleDent.

This unforeseen opportunity significantly broadened the school’s horizons in hygiene education, but also in community outreach. During and post-COVID-19, access to care dramatically decreased, but this technology has enabled us to have our doctor on campus while Fones’ faculty and students provide virtual dental exams and consultations at off-site locations across Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The Real-World Impact of Teledentistry on Access to Care


Teledentistry has enabled Fones School to extend care far beyond the clinic. Students now provide dental services at a homeless shelter, a Head Start program, and a community center in East Bridgeport, serving patients from newborns to older adults.

This expanded outreach allows hygiene students to act as the primary information gatherers; they use intraoral cameras to capture detailed images and videos of patients’ oral cavities. These are immediately uploaded to the TeleDent platform, where our on-campus dentist can review them in real-time or asynchronously. The dentist can then use the video conferencing feature to discuss findings with the hygienist and patient, annotate images to highlight areas of concern, and develop treatment plans collaboratively.

The program’s success has led to additional funding, enabling us not only to continue providing free oral care but to serve a larger population.

Another significant achievement is the high rate of patient referrals for further care, demonstrating the effectiveness of our outreach with intraoral cameras and teledentistry.

The introduction of the teledentistry program brought exciting opportunities for growth and learning. While the school initially encountered some technical considerations regarding software and hardware compatibility, data security, and system integration, these were promptly addressed by MouthWatch’s dedicated client success team.

Although adapting to new systems required some adjustment for staff members, they quickly recognized how teledentistry simplified remote supervision procedures. This ultimately led to a more streamlined and efficient process, enhancing the overall experience for patients and practitioners alike.

 Intraoral camers allow hygienists to work within the top of thier scope of practice, while also improving patients’ access to care. | Image Credit: © Fones School of Dental Hygiene

Dental hygiene students at Fones School are now trained in using intraoral cameras and teledentistry during their first year. They gain practical experience in the classroom and clinic before participating in external rotations in the community.

This training is essential as intraoral cameras are the primary tool for virtual examinations, enabling students to gather accurate data for remote assessments.

Our students quickly adapt to this technology—appreciating the practical application of their classroom skills in real-world settings. The technology’s user-friendly nature facilitated a smooth transition from clinic to community-based care, enhancing the students’ educational experience and their contributions to public health dentistry.

Intraoral Cameras, Teledentistry, and Their Positive Impact on Patient Care


The use of intraoral cameras has greatly enhanced patient education. Showing patients what we see in their mouths has always been beneficial, and the new MouthWatch cameras have made it even easier. They are lightweight, easy to use, and help capture clear images, which aid in accurate diagnosis and referral.

What’s more, patients have responded positively to teledentistry. The technology facilitates thorough and engaging consultations, enhancing the patient-provider relationship.

The convenience and accessibility of care in their communities, coupled with the removal of financial barriers, have significantly improved patient satisfaction and follow-up rates.


The success of the Fones’ School program can be seen in the number of patients treated and their continuous return for care. Initially anticipating treating around 150 patients a year, Fones School ended up treating closer to 350.

The ease of use of the technology, once implemented, played a significant role in this success. More than 300 patients of all ages have benefited from the program. It has also identified patients eligible for free restorative care, creating a comprehensive care loop.

In addition, the ability to see patients return to the clinic for routine care is a significant achievement, addressing a common challenge in outreach programs. Perhaps most importantly, the trust built through these services ensures patients receive continuous and comprehensive care.

Fones School of Dental Hygiene’s integration of teledentistry and intraoral cameras has significantly advanced its mission of providing advanced hygiene education for its students and delivering accessible, high-quality dental care through its clinic.

The program’s success serves as a model for incorporating innovative technologies in dental education and public health. Through community rotations, mobile equipment, and supportive technology, Fones School of Dental Hygiene has not only expanded its reach but also ensured that dental care is accessible to those who need it most.

Articles

Here’s a look at the history of technology adoption and the benefits gained by the first dental hygiene school, its students, and dental patients.

Intraoral Cameras, Teledentistry  Enabling Fones School to Advance Hygiene Education and Access to Care

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.  

5Ws: Xpanders | Image Credit: © ArtCraft Dental, Inc

Most dental practices perform extractions, so these elevators should be available in every operatory to assist in ensuring more efficient and less stressful procedures. This instrument will improve your confidence and decrease the need for referring out extractions.


These atraumatic elevators can be used in any situation and are designed to help avoid the dreaded deep broken root tip mishaps that can occur during extractions. The Xpanders’ power comes from its double-action prongs.

With these elevators, users achieve both buccolingual and mesiodistal movement. The more movement you can get prior to the use of forceps, the less likely root tips will break off. Xpanders prongs allow for a stable 2-point contact between the crest of bone and the neck of the tooth. Clinicians can elevate their surgical setup with an Xpanders kit.

With simple twisting, one point locks onto the bone, while the other point pushes the tooth laterally, causing buccolingual socket expansion and superior pre-forceps loosening. These powerful intraligamental elevators are designed to make extractions less stressful, and much faster. Just a small amount of penetration into the periodontal ligament space is all that is needed for maximum lateral tooth movement.

[Sponsored] Invented by a dentist, Xpanders atraumatic elevators are designed to enable clinicians to avoid breaking root tips in their practice.

5Ws: Xpanders

Nisha Gupta, DDS, graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 2004. She went on to do a general practice residency at Metrohealth Medical Center. Following that she started a dental practice from scratch with her husband. While the practice and their family was growing, Dr Gupta spent several years learning the ins and outs of dentistry in different practice settings, from public health clinics to corporate dentistry, associateship, all while growing her own practice. She not only believes it’s important to work on clinical skills, it is also important to work on leadership skills and has spent extensive time working on leadership development and public speaking. She has been involved with her local Toastmasters group for 5 years and has achieved several awards. She has also spent a majority of her time taking continuing education specifically in implants and sleep apnea.
Dr Gupta is currently a member of the LCDS, ODA, ADA, AGD and serves on the Ohio Dental Association Judicial Affairs Subcommittee. Dr Gupta has adopted the philosophy that while dentistry is important if you don't take care of your health, nothing else matters. She started not only working on her own personal health and fitness, but branching out into the community giving talks about health, diet, and wellness, and received her certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University.

User-Friendliness Is a Hallmark of This Extraoral Dental Camera | Image Credit: © Catapult

There is no shortage of classes on digital photography, and most dentists have taken more of those courses than they can count. Each time I think that this is it. It’s the time when I will finally memorize what shutter, aperture, and ISO mean, the time when I will sit down with my camera and really figure it out. I have committed to this more times than I can remember. It just seems so appealing to be able to document dental scenarios and to use beautiful, high-quality photos to further develop conversations with patients regarding their long-term dental goals.

For years, I wanted consistent photos of my patients but could never establish the process and systems to accomplish this goal. I would head back to the office, usually after making a purchase of some sort, and then progress would halt as I tried to figure out how to train each assistant, transfer the photos onto our imaging software, and properly disinfect the camera after use. I had the courses, the camera, and the need for photos, but I never had the right systems. This was the case for so many years.

The EyeSpecial digital camera is designed exclusively for dentistry. This innovative camera enables your entire dental team to capture perfect pictures every time—no photography skills are needed. With just a press of 1 of 9 pre-set dental shooting modes, you can obtain high-quality images for case documentation, lab collaboration, and patient communication. This camera features tailored modes, including Surgery Mode for intraoral images at a distance and Isolation Shade Mode which isolates the shade of the gingiva for optimal shade matching. All of the preset modes automatically adjust the f-stop, shutter speed, and flash intensity, simplifying clinical documentation to a straightforward point-and-shoot experience. The EyeSpecial is designed to be the ultimate solution for the entire dental team.

One day, I discovered Shofu’s EyeSpecial camera. I was in a sleep apnea course with our entire team, and we were working through the steps on how to gather all the information for patients with sleep apnea. Photos are an essential part of the sleep apnea workup, and in all the instructor’s examples, team members were taking the photos. It was seamless. Photos were being taken at an extremely consistent rate, and they were being taken without any of the roadblocks I was used to seeing. My big question was “How did they do this?” The instructor mentioned the EyeSpecial camera and that it was the most user-friendly camera in the industry, able to take quality images and every single team member could use it. I couldn’t wait to try it!

During the breakout session, we were given a quick rundown of all the features, and in a few minutes, each of us was able to take quality photos that we were proud of. The camera is user-friendly and easy to navigate. The photo quality was superb, even when my least tech-savvy assistant had the camera in her hands. It was so simple, we decided to give it a try at the office.

Taking photos of our patients in the dental office is helpful for a variety of reasons. The most obvious is having “before” and “after” images. However, as the digital age has expanded, the need for photos has increased. When we have photos on the screen in an operatory, we give the patient a glimpse of what we see in the mouth. The patient can see why treatment is needed. And in some cases, the photos help them articulate their wants/needs.

As more offices embrace technological advances, it is becoming a standard of care in high-level practices to include extraoral photographs as an adjunct to standard radiographic exams and intraoral photography. These extraoral photos, at a simple level, include a basic smile, retracted front facial with the teeth in occlusion, retracted front facial with the lower incisors showing, retracted upper occlusal, retracted lower occlusal, and specific lower lingual anterior. 

Showing these photos to patients very conveniently opens the door to discussions about their long-term oral health goals. Rather than lecturing a list of problems, dentists can discover various dental needs along with the patient.

This only works if the camera used is simple. It needs to consistently produce high-quality images, be easy to focus, be easy to disinfect, and seamlessly integrate with the multitude of imaging software available.

Catapult Education consists of several general dentists and specialists, representing a variety of clinical backgrounds, all of whom are charged with objectively evaluating various dental supplies, software, equipment, and technology. For the most recent product evaluation, members were asked to rate the EyeSpecial camera based on the following characteristics: chairside workflow, learning curve with the camera, shooting modes, and prevention of cross-contamination (infection control).

When respondents were asked about the use of camera and chairside workflow, the answers were as follows:

“ [The] workflow is so smooth since anyone in the practice can take photos.”

“So easy to use—just point and shoot.”

“[It’s] user-friendly for the entire team.”

It often can take a long time for team members to become proficient with a new technology in the practice. Respondents were asked about the learning curve for the EyeSpecial camera. Here are their responses:

“It’s very easy to use with little or no prior experience.”

“[It took] 1 session with the Shofu representative.”

When respondents were asked about greater office efficiency and better patient outcomes, all responses were overwhelmingly positive:

“It’s so much easier to see what is going on when the image is taken quickly and can be displayed on a TV.”

All respondents reported that the camera was easy to disinfect because normal disinfecting wipes can be used on it.

There are 2 tips that I would like to share with readers. The first is to consider purchasing Wi-Fi memory SD cards. Prior to learning about these, our office team had to take photos with the camera, then remove the SD card, plug it into the desktop workstation, and upload those photos to our imaging software. Having a Wi-Fi SD card has allowed us to directly send images to our software under the patient’s name the moment the photo was taken. This has been an incredible time saver.

The second is to consider purchasing antifog, LED-illuminated mirrors. One issue that most dental photographers run into is fog from the patient’s breathing during occlusal photos. This technology connects to an occlusal mirror, providing additional light, and a constant stream of air, which prevents the mirror from fogging. Both of the items can be purchased online.

Every survey respondent said they would highly recommend the EyeSpecial camera to their colleagues, which is a rare response. It is clear that they had a great experience with the EyeSpecial camera. For this reason, it is without hesitation that we would like to bestow the Catapult Vote of Confidence™ on Shofu’s EyeSpecial camera. Congratulations!

Catapult is a premier dental education company with over 21 years of experience in providing world-class CE, product reviews, and now savings opportunities through our buying group, Catapult Grow. Our esteemed Speaker Bureau and evaluator team lead all product and service reviews, with companies paying a fee with the understanding that the Vote of Confidence™ award is not guaranteed. We deliver honest and unbiased feedback through thorough evaluations and surveys, often aiding companies in improving their offering prior to market release. Our commitment to dental excellence allows us to work with a diverse range of clients, ensuring impartiality—no favoritism, just constructive feedback. Visit 

With 9 modes and extremely accurate images, the EyeSpecial extraoral camera from Shofu is easy for any dental professional to use.

User-Friendliness Is a Hallmark of This Extraoral Dental Camera

Dentsply Sirona Completes Speaker Development Program for Dentists of Color in Partnership with the NDA | Image Credit: © Dentsply Sirona 

Dental manufacturer Dentsply Sirona has announced the completion of its Speaker Development Program by a distinguished class of 8 dentists of color from the National Dental Association (NDA). This milestone is part of the company’s on-going partnership with the NDA and underscores its commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) within the dental industry.

Dentsply Sirona first launched a speaker development program for female dentists called “First to 50” in 2020, with more than 90 graduates having completed the course since inception. This year the company added to this a cohort in collaboration with NDA, exclusively open to dentists of color in the United States. The dental professionals were given access to a structured speaker development program for all levels of experience, with the aim to help elevate their voices and enable them to be share their knowledge with their communities and colleagues, Dentsply Sirona states.

“We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of these talented dentists,” Julie Mroziak, VP, Restorative Solutions and Executive Sponsor of the Global DE&I Council at Dentsply Sirona, says in a press release. “The program has helped them hone their skills and equipped them with the necessary confidence. We are now very much looking forward to seeing them prosper and become influential speakers and leaders in their field.”

The collaboration on the speaker development program is part of the ongoing and impactful partnership between Dentsply Sirona and the NDA and aligns with the company’s sustainability strategy 

“BEYOND: Taking Action for a Brighter World”.

The partnership, which has entered its third year, is led on Dentsply Sirona’s side by its employee resource group (ERG)BOLD@DS (Black Organization for Leadership & Development@DS), which aims to transform the experiences of black employees and allies.

After Successful DS World 24, Dentsply Sirona Making Plans for Next Year’s Return to Las Vegas

At this year’s annual NDA conference, Dentsply Sirona contributed to the educational side of the event by sponsoring 2 instructional courses for the conference’s attendees which expounded on the relevance of digital dentistry as well as on aligner solutions.The global dental manufacturer also presented cutting-edge dental technologies and solutions at 2 booths.

With a network of more than 10,000 minority dentists, the NDA works to improve the delivery of oral healthcare in underserved communities as well as improve the educational opportunities of minorities underrepresented in the oral health field.

“As our partnership with Dentsply Sirona celebrates its third year, we remain as committed as ever to advance diversity and inclusion within the dental industry and to provide ongoing support and resources to minority dentists,” adds Nicole Cheek, president of the NDA. “We are grateful to have such a dedicated partner as Dentsply Sirona who works alongside us towards our shared goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable dental profession.”

Dentsply Sirona was named one of the “Greatest Workplaces for Diversity” by 

in 2024. In its recently published sustainability report, the company announced that it made progress towards its DE&I priorities, with54% of the company’s global hires in 2023 being diverse

 and more than 10,000 employees registering for DE&I training and awareness programs.

For more information on Dentsply Sirona’s sustainability strategy BEYOND, visit 

https://www.dentsplysirona.com/en/company/our-sustainability.html.

1. Dentsply Sirona defines 'diverse'as all global employees who self-identify as female, or in the U.S., as people of color which includes all non-white race categories (Black, Hispanic, Asian, Other).

As part of its sustainability strategy “BEYOND: Taking Action for a Brighter World”, the company has implemented an impactful program and forged strong partnerships to advocate for a diverse and equitable industry.

Dentsply Sirona Completes Speaker Development Program for Dentists of Color in Partnership with the NDA

Open Dental and Flex Dental Solutions Form Strategic Partnership 

A strategic partnership between Flex Dental Solutions and Open Dental is designed to include Flex as a certified vendor of Open Dental, and to solidify both Open Dental and Flex's commitment to delivering secure, innovative and integrated solutions to dental practices across North America.

Flex Dental Solutions, a comprehensive solution for dental patient engagement software, and Open Dental, an Oregon-based dental practice management solution for practices of any size or specialty, last week announced an extension of their long-term relationship into a formal agreement.

"We are thrilled to strengthen our long-term relationship with Open Dental by becoming a certified vendor," Craig Cormack, general manager at Flex Dental Solutions, says in a press release. "This partnership allows us to continue delivering high-quality solutions that complement the robust Open Dental platform, providing our customers with the best possible tools to manage their practices."

As a certified vendor, Flex Dental Solutions is positioned to provide a seamless and reliable integration with Open Dental, offering over 3,000 mutual customers a comprehensive and efficient patient engagement experience, the companies state. Flex provides an intelligently designed solution that modernizes practice communications with patients, reduces team workloads, increases treatment acceptance, boosts payment collection, and more.

Automated Appointment Reminders/Confirmations

Integrated Payment Processing with Automated Patient Statements

Flex's software platform is exclusively designed to complement Open Dental, providing a robust solution that streamlines workflows and improves overall dental practice efficiency and return on investment.

"The combination of Open Dental with Flex Dental provides a strong and effective solution for practices and their patients alike," adds Nathan Sparks, CEO at Open Dental. "Our team is thrilled to deepen our relationship with Flex Dental, in order to continue to provide a robust and effective solution set to dental practices across North America."

Flex Dental Solutions provides dental practices with cutting-edge technology that simplifies their operations and enhances patient care. By integrating seamlessly with Open Dental, the company offers a comprehensive solution that meets the unique needs of dental professionals.

Flex is a leading patient engagement software that solely integrates with Open Dental, offering a comprehensive suite of tools to help businesses modernize communication with patients, reduce dental team workloads, increase treatment acceptance, boost payment collection and more.

Open Dental is a comprehensive and highly customizable dental practice management software designed to meet the needs of practices of all sizes and specialties. Said to offer a powerful solution at an affordable price, Open Dental includes a wide range of time- and cost-saving features, along with unmatched technical support and extensive training resources. The platform empowers users with control over their data, making it an ideal choice for practices looking for flexibility and efficiency. Developed by a dentist with the goal of minimizing practice management costs, Open Dental also provides a smooth transition process with expert conversion specialists to support practices moving from other systems.

With the agreement, Flex becomes a certified vendor of the Open Dental practice management solution.

Open Dental and Flex Dental Solutions Form Strategic Partnership

Kenn Butler, head of research and development at Dandy, discusses his GNYDM presentation and the company's new fully digital, flexible partial. 

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Dandy's Fully Digital, Flexible Partial with Kenn Butler

Hi guys. My name is Kenn Butler. I am the head of R & D [research and development] here at Dandy. Just wrapped up doing a presentation here at the Greater New York Dental Show about our latest and greatest innovation at Dandy. What we did is we invented the world's first fully digital, flexible partial, and this is a no compromises product. So, when we set out to do this on the R & D team, we wanted to make sure that we made a product that didn't have any material compromises, but still preserved all the benefits of the digital manufacturing process—the precision, the repeatability, the cutting down on the number of appointments. I'm very happy to announce here at this show, our first fully digital flexible partial made out of the same partial materials that you know and love—your TCSs your DuraFlexes and your Valplasts. If you want to learn more about this digital partial offering and going digital with Dandy, you can go to MeetDandy.com and schedule a demo there. Thank you.

Kenn Butler, head of research and development at Dandy, discusses his GNYDM presentation and the company's new fully digital, flexible partial, which features precision, repeatability, and also cuts down on the number of appointments. [1 minute]

GNYDM24 Product Focus: Dandy's Fully Digital, Flexible Partial with Kenn Butler 

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.

Don’t Get Burned by Having Weak Passwords | Image Credit: © Fauzi - stock.adobe.com

Passwords can be the first line of defense against unauthorized access to business data and systems. Cyber threats are constantly changing, so it’s crucial for all dental practices to prioritize password security. Weak passwords can be easily exploited by malicious actors, possibly resulting in severe consequences. 

This month, we’ll take a close look at passwords, with a focus on problems that may occur when you have weak passwords and what you can do to fend off some all-too-prevalent cyber security issues.

Password security is a basic yet crucial way to protect ourselves online. It means creating strong and complicated passwords to keep our private information safe from people who shouldn’t have access to it.

Consequences of Data Breaches
Data breaches

: Recent studies, including one from Verizon's Data Breach Investigations Report, show that 80% of data breaches are caused by compromised passwords. 

: The average cost of a breach in the US in 2020 is $8.64 million, according to Digital Guardian. 

: A company may experience a long-term loss in its market value and decreased customer trust from a data breach.

To significantly reduce the risk of a data breach, implement strong password policies, such as the following:

Require the use of unique passwords for different accounts. 

Educate employees on the importance of password complexity.

Regularly update and review password practices.

 are inherently more secure due to their complexity. Thus, they are more resistant to common attack methods such as dictionary attacks and brute force attempts. 

Practices often falter when creating passwords by:

Using easily guessable information (eg, birthdates, simple sequences).

Reusing passwords across multiple accounts, which increases vulnerability if just one account is compromised.

Ignoring the importance of updating passwords regularly for each service. 

Adopting these password security tips can mitigate risks and fortify your organization’s defenses against cyber threats.

Real-World Examples of Data Breaches:
Yahoo (2013-2014)

: One of the most infamous cases involved Yahoo, where weak password practices led to the exposure of 3 billion user accounts. This breach not only resulted in a substantial financial loss but also severely damaged Yahoo’s reputation.

: Marriott experienced a breach affecting approximately 500 million guests’ information due to inadequate password protections. The fallout included hefty fines and a significant blow to consumer trust. 

: The credit reporting giant suffered a breach impacting 147 million customers. Poor password management was pinpointed as one of the contributing factors, causing extensive financial damage and eroding public confidence.

Best Practices for Creating Secure Passwords


Creating robust passwords is essential for safeguarding data. Here are some best practices to ensure your passwords are secure:

: Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. This complexity makes it significantly harder for attackers to guess or crack the password.

: Aim for passwords that are at least 12 characters long. Longer passwords provide enhanced security by increasing the difficulty and time required to crack them.

Traditional complex passwords can be difficult to remember. Passphrases offer an effective solution by combining multiple random words into a single, memorable string. For instance:

This method maintains high levels of security while being easier for users to recall when the passphrase has meaning to them.

Incorporating these strategies will significantly bolster your password security, making it much more challenging for unauthorized individuals to gain access to sensitive business information.

Strong passwords can bolster the security of your data and make you less likely to be the victim of a data breach.

Don’t Get Burned by Having Weak Passwords

VeneerNow™ Injectable Matrix System is an innovative solution designed to simplify chairside anterior composite restorations.

VeneerNow™ Injectable Matrix System from Premier Dental

Featuring artificial intelligence (AI) processing and reduced radiation, Owandy Radiology, Inc’s new, compact l-Max 3D XPro CBCT unit was launched at the Greater New Dental Meeting 2024.

I-Max 3D XPro CBCT from Owandy Radiology

Air Techniques, Inc unveiled its new VistaPosition PSP Holder System at the Greater New York Dental Meeting 2024.

Vista Position PSP Holder System, Air Techniques

All the latest product launches from the week of December 2-6, 2024.


New Dental Products – December 2-6, 2024

Frank J. Milnar, DDS, AAACD, is a graduate from the University of Minnesota, School of Dentistry in 1976. He is an Accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Board Examiner for the Accreditation process. Dr Milnar maintains a full-time practice in St. Paul, Minnesota emphasizing Minimally Invasive and appearance related dentistry. He has published over 50 peer reviewed articles about the direct placement of composites, shade selection and porcelain materials and is on editorial review boards for dental journals. Dr Milnar has received the BIOCLEAR Mastership Award.

For dental professionals, addressing noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) effectively can be both easy and rewarding. Early intervention is crucial, offering numerous benefits such as cost efficiency, minimal discomfort, and improved restoration longevity. Our patients are living longer, and with this increased longevity comes a greater likelihood of experiencing dental issues such as caries, xerostomia, gingival recession, periodontal disease, and, of course, tooth wear. Class V lesions, in particular, are prevalent among older adults and present unique challenges in treatment.

•The OMNICHROMA composite family offers clinicians a complete direct restorative system with only 3 viscosities and 1 shade to choose from, streamlining the restorative process.

•Its products boast exceptional physical, mechanical, and esthetic properties, such as low shrinkage; low wear and abrasion; high compressive and flexural strength; high polishability and stain resistance; and unprecedented shade matching before and after bleaching.

•OMNICHROMA products save doctors time and money by eliminating the need for shade selection and, thus, decreasing inventory of excess products of incidental shades.

•OMNICHROMA’s use of structural color allows it to overcome the shade-matching challenges of Class V restorations.

Tooth wear is a general term used to describe surface loss of dental hard tissue from causes other than caries, trauma, or developmental disorders. Tooth wear is a multifactorial process that results from 3 main interacting mechanisms, each of which is age/time related, progressive, and omni-directional. The types of tooth wear are attrition, erosion, and abrasion. Though not technically tooth wear, abfraction is a common condition seen in aging patients. Abfraction is the loss of hard tissue due to eccentric occlusal loads leading to compressive and tensile stresses at the cervical fulcrum area of the tooth. It usually manifests with the classic wedge-shaped defects with sharp rims at the cementoenamel junction.

Patients are living longer, so the dental profession must help them manage their dental health, which affects overall health through the oral-systemic connection. The number of Class V lesions in older adults is increasing, and this may be attributed to the growing population of older adults and a lower rate of tooth loss. It may also be due to the increase in some etiologic factors such as inadequate brushing techniques in gingival recession cases, corrosive food and drink consumption, and occlusal stress concentrating factors (eg, occlusal interferences, premature contacts, habits of bruxism, and clenching). Treating NCCLs can be problematic. They can result in lack of retention, secondary decay, and improper placement of materials resulting in open margins, contouring, finishing and polishing.

Patients don’t know what to do about it.

Patients rely on their dentist’s knowledge of how and when to treat it.

They don’t want healthy tooth structure removed.

Patients don’t like needles (eg, for local anesthesia).

Patients want convenient, affordable treatment options.

Many dentists take a wait-and-see approach to treating NCCLs. Treating cases of Class V NCCLs can be easy and profitable. Early intervention can take very little time and materials to arrest damage caused by years or even decades of this condition. The wait-and-see approach can lead to severe tooth wear and may evolve into complex Class V restorations. The costly options that a patient may be less likely to want or be able to afford include restorations, bite modifications, implants, tooth alignment, and/or nightguards.

What Are the Benefits of Early Intervention and Treatment of Lesions?

Greater case acceptance by and lower cost for the patient and more profit for the dentist. With a thorough explanation of the causes and effects of tooth wear and the necessary treatment—along with the use of intraoral photography—patients will find it difficult to refuse treatment.

Less technical procedures for the dentist. Most cases of NCCLs are quite simple to restore when treated in the early stages because the patient’s bite has not yet been altered. Use composite to restore the teeth to their original size and shape to restore normal function. A nightguard is often recommended to protect certain restorations and prolong the need for additional treatment.

Less drilling, anesthesia, and sensitivity, which result in less anxiety. Most cases of tooth wear treatment are quite comfortable for the patient when caught early. Since these restorations are primarily in the enamel, often they can be accomplished with minimal drilling, anesthesia, and sensitivity.

Improved prognosis of the restoration and preservation of enamel. When caught early, most tooth wear restorations are primarily in the enamel, and bonding to enamel allows for high bond strength and more reliable long-term predictability.

What is the criteria for material selection when treating Class V restorations? Universal single-shade paste and flowable composites offer an efficient and effective solution for today’s dentists. The omni-shade restoratives—which include OMNICHROMA from Tokuyama Dental America—combine the light transmission and diffusion properties of enamel and dentin, which negates the need for a multiopacity layering technique that is required by many brands. These universal restorative materials offer high strength that can be used for all restorative classes. They are durable and wear-resistant for load-bearing applications.

By leveraging advanced restorative materials and adopting a proactive treatment strategy, dentists can provide patients with comfortable, durable, and esthetically pleasing outcomes. Prioritizing early treatment enhances the longevity and health of restorations and aligns with the growing need for cost-effective solutions in today’s dental practice. Embracing new restorative solutions will ultimately lead to better patient care and more successful management of tooth wear.

The clinical photos highlight the preparation steps and the benefits of OMNICHROMA. 

are preoperative photos of the typodont. 

illustrate the preparation and the placement of the restorative. The final polish with the OptraGloss universal polisher (Ivoclar) and the completed restoration are shown in 

Clinicians should embrace new restorative solutions, including Tokuyama Dental America’s OMNICHROMA, to provide better patient care and more successful management of tooth wear. 