Lynne Slim is an award-winning dental author who has published extensively in dental/dental hygiene journals including 

Journal of the Western Society of Periodontology

. She was the periodontal columnist for RDH magazine for about 17 years and is now a columnist for 

 and is a member of their advisory board. In 2003, Lynne founded Perio C Dent, a dental practice management company that specializes in the incorporation of non-surgical periodontal therapy into the hygiene department of the general dental practice.

As a key opinion leader in the dental industry, Lynne is frequently asked to review new products and write product reviews. She participates in product development and is consulted about consumer/RDH product awareness. Lynne received the Philips Oral Healthcare “Mentor of Distinction” award at the 2012 ADHA Annual Session.

Ms. Newkirk received her dental hygiene degree from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, in 1981. A recognized key opinion leader in periodontal endoscopy, Suzanne has published numerous articles and co-authored several dental textbook chapters on minimally invasive non-surgical periodontal therapy with use of the dental endoscope.

Ms. Newkirk is the national and international dental endoscopy instructor for Zest Dental Solutions and is a professional speaker. Her website is: 

A Comparison of Nursing and Dental Hygiene: Part II. Image credit: © DC Studio – stock.adobe.com


In Part 1 of this article the authors provided a comparison of nursing and dental hygiene and how the profession of nursing has far surpassed that of dental hygiene. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) are clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives are often primary care providers who play a pivotal role in providing preventive care services to the public.

But what about dental hygiene? Can we really say that dental hygiene mirrors nursing with similar advancements? Are dental hygienists, like nurses, beginning to achieve the status of a full profession, and does our educational level make a difference in the practice of dental hygiene?

Dental hygiene education has advanced since its inception in the early 1900s. Back then, there were no bachelor’s or master of dental hygiene degree programs, and dental hygienists were restricted to practice under the direct supervision of a dentist. A master’s degree in dental hygiene is a terminal degree and there are no doctoral dental hygiene degree programs in the United States. Like nursing, as the needs of the public increased requirements of care, many states began expanding the dental hygiene scope of practice. This included administration of local anesthesia for pain management, restorative services, nonsurgical periodontal therapy, and direct access to the public.

“Direct access” refers to the ability of a dental hygienist to initiate treatment based on their assessment of a patient’s needs without the specific authorization of a dentist, treat the patient without the presence of a dentist, and maintain a provider-patient relationship.

 Currently, 42 states authorize dental hygienists’ direct access to the public to serve low income and underserved populations.

In 2000, Surgeon General Dr David Satcher published the first Surgeon General report addressing Oral Health in America which called for a national effort to improve oral health among Americans. As a follow up to the 2000 Surgeon General’s Report, in 2003 Surgeon General Dr Richard Carmona published “A National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health.” The report called for a national effort to change perceptions of oral health among the public, policy makers and healthcare providers, and to promote and increase underutilized oral disease prevention measures. At the time, only 19 state dental hygiene practice acts authorized dental hygienists to provide dental hygiene services directly to the public.

To address the 2003 Surgeon General Action Report, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) developed the concept of an Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP). Duties of this midlevel dental therapist included diagnostic, preventative, and basic restorative care for underserved population groups.

 The model was based on training similar to the highly successful Forsyth Experiment which took place in 1972 and trained dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia and prepare and fill Class I through Class V restorations.

Although dental examiners for the Forsyth Experiment found the quality of the dental hygienists work to be equivalent to that of practicing dentists, a small group of dentists in Massachusetts urged the Board of Dental Examiners to close the project down. This action prevented the advanced trained dental hygienists from ever utilizing their skill set beyond that of the experiment.

Although both the Forsyth Experiment and the ADHA received push back from organized dentistry, the ADHP received support from many coalition groups and stakeholders. In 2009, the University of Minnesota passed legislation to grant a degree in Dental Therapy. By 2016, the program evolved into a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene/Master of Dental Therapy dual degree program to better meet the needs of oral health care providers and patients in the state.

As of February 2024, 14 states have passed dental therapy legislation.

 However, opposition from the American Dental Association and their state affiliates have prevented many of these states from enacting the legislation. Although dental hygienists have provided direct access to oral hygiene care to the public for decades, the exact number of direct access dental hygiene providers in the US is unknown. Additional research is needed to accumulate qualitative and quantitative outcome data related to direct access care provided by dental hygienists and other mid-level dental providers of oral health services.

Dental hygiene has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the early 1900s. As of 2023, 70% of states authorize dental hygienists to perform some restorative functions, with 60% of them authorizing the placement of temporary restorations. 49 states authorize dental hygienists the administration of local anesthetic, 11 of which authorize administration under the general supervision of a dentist. During the height of the COVID public health crisis, 20 states authorized dental hygienists to administer the COVID vaccination. 40 states authorize dental hygienists to work in some form for the integration of preventive dental care in medical settings. 42 states authorize the public direct access to dental hygienists and 2 states authorize dental hygienists the administration of a neurotoxin for the treatment of bruxism and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

But is this enough for dental hygiene to catch up with nursing? Are we being delusional by calling dental hygiene a “profession?" We weren’t a profession in the eyes of the United States government until 2018, when the United States Office of Management's Budget Standard Occupational Classification changed the classification of dental hygienists from “technicians” to Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, which is in the same broad grouping as dentists.

But does classification labeling qualify to make dental hygiene a profession? How is a true profession defined? Few academic pathways can match the depth and many contributions of a doctorate. Not only are there academic gains, but also analytical, critical thinking, and research skills rise to a level beyond the bachelor’s or master’s degree. A doctorate in one’s chosen profession is a research degree that expands knowledge in a field of study and dental hygiene has fallen short in obtaining a growing body of knowledge. The mark of a true profession is one that continually acquires new knowledge and skills that relate to one’s profession.

Around the world, there are about 250 nursing journals and nursing content includes: practice, education, policy, administration and/or specialty areas, nursing knowledge and processes.

 Dental hygiene, by contrast, has a handful of journals and the American Dental Hygienists’ Association only has one Journal that includes dental hygiene research. Science that promotes the application of emerging theories and research findings to the practice of dental hygiene is mostly missing and it’s possible that the placement of dental hygiene in entry level technical school programs versus four-year colleges and universities has contributed to the challenge of increasing dental hygiene research knowledge.

Is it possible to predict dental hygiene’s future by looking at nursing? There are approximately 327 entry level dental hygiene programs in the United States, 51 baccalaureate degree-completion programs, and 17 dental hygiene Master’s degree programs.

 In comparison, there are over 2600 nursing colleges or universities in the United States, 1631 of them offer certificate or associate degree programs for registered or practical nursing, 1033 offer a bachelor’s degree, 594 offer graduate nursing programs, and 135 offer PhD nursing programs.

 In addition, an RN with a BSN can complete a focused graduate master’s or doctoral nursing program and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) who has greater autonomy, specialization, and leadership in the workplace.

Even though dental hygiene has advanced in many areas, it seems plausible that the profession of dental hygiene will struggle as a semi or quasi profession. Until the dental hygiene profession becomes self-regulated, and dental hygienists effectively advocate for their profession at the state and national levels, dental hygiene may never realize the autonomy, or respect earned by other professions like nursing.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). American Nurses Association. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing/aprn/

Scope of Practice. American Dental Hygienists Association. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://www.adha.org/advocacy/scope-of-practice/

Direct Access – ADHA. American Dental Hygienists Association. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://www.adha.org/advocacy/scope-of-practice/direct-access/

The Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner. National Oral Health Conference. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://www.nationaloralhealthconference.com/docs/presentations/2006/0502/Wendy%20Kerschbaum%20NOHC%20Presentation.pdf

Lobene R, Berman K, Chaisson L, Karelas H, Nolan L. The Forsyth Experiment in Training of Advanced Skills Hygienists. American Dental Hygienists' Association. Jan 2013, 87 (suppl 1) 63-66;

Standard Occupational Classification. American Dental Hygienists Association. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://www.adha.org/hypac/self-regulation/standard-occupational-classification/

AACN Fact Sheet – DNP. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Updated June 2023. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/dnp-fact-sheet#:~:text=The%20DNP%20is%20designed%20for,other%20research%2Dfocused%20nursing%20doctorates.

Dental Hygiene by the Numbers. American Dental Education Association. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://www.adea.org/GoDental/Future_Dental_Hygienists/Dental_hygiene_by_the_numbers.aspx

Data Reports 2022-2023. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://aacnnursing.org/news Data Reports 2022-2023.

Donley, R., Flaherty, M.J., (Sept. 30, 2008) "Promoting Professional Development: Three Phases of Articulation in Nursing Education and Practice" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://ojin.nursingworld.org/table-of-contents/volume-13-2008/number-3-september-2008/phases-of-articulation-/

Articles

This part 2 of this series, the authors explore key differences between nursing and dental hygiene, and the importance of self-advocacy in the hygiene profession. 

A Comparison of Nursing and Dental Hygiene: Part II

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. 

Study Shows Matcha Green Tea Powder Mouthwash Fights Harmful Oral Bacteria. Image credit: © supamas - stock.adobe.com


found that the green tea powder often used in a variety of beverages, can actually inhibit the growth of 

, which is a periodontitis-causing bacteria found in the mouth. Found by researchers from the Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, the National Institute of Infectious Disease and Tokyo, and other institutions in Japan, this study also indicates that people with periodontitis who apply matcha mouthwash reduced the amount of 

This is all because of a vital ingredient in Matcha and, by extension, green tea—

is not only antimicrobial, but it also reduces the adherence of 

to epithelial cells in the mouth. External studies have also shown that those who regularly drink or consume green tea have better health outcomes.

The research process found that matcha extract eliminated almost all 

cells in a 2 hour period, with a full 4 hours eliminating all of these cells. The research was garnered from 45 different patients with periodontitis. Per the study’s authors, “Matcha may have clinical applicability for prevention and treatment of periodontitis.”

Green tea matcha powder in mouthwash may be able to assist in the fight against harmful, periodontitis-causing bacteria, according to new study. 

Study Shows Matcha Green Tea Powder Mouthwash Fights Harmful Oral Bacteria

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.  

GreenMark, Dentulu Partnering to Enhance Preventive Dental Care | Image Credit: © GreenMark and Dentulu 

A new strategic partnership between GreenMark Biomedical Inc., and Dentulu, Inc., paves the way for the introduction of a first product, CrystLCare™ Biorestorative, Fluoride-Free, in a GreenMark-Dentulu co-branded product line.

GreenMark Biomedical, a pioneer in biomimetic nanotechnology, announced the partnership and the new product, designed to provide groundbreaking solutions to combat dental sensitivity and promote dental health using advanced nanotechnology.

“This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to make preventative and noninvasive dental care more accessible and effective,” Arash Hakhamian, DDS, co-founder and CEO of Dentulu, Inc., says in a press release. “Combining our expertise in preventative dentistry using Teledentists along with GreenMark’s innovative products sets new standards in noninvasive dental care with accessible and affordable solutions.”

The 2 companies seek to expand reach and enhance accessibility of these preventive dental care advances.

“This non-exclusive Dentulu partnership broadens the reach of our technologies and supports our vision of integrating scientific advancements directly into consumer and professional dental care, to make them accessible to a wider audience in the US market, followed by Canada and the rest of the world,” says Dr. Steven Bloembergen, Ph.D., founder, Chairman and CEO of GreenMark, in the press release.

GreenMark strives to transform dental care through scientific innovation and technological excellence, the company states. Its patented nanotechnology, derived from nature, is at the core of the new CrystLCare™ dissolvable dental strips, which utilize bioresorbable nano-starch particles to deliver calcium and phosphate by targeting delivery precisely to sites where needed. There they form hydroxyapatite, the main component of enamel and dentin, aiding in the natural repair process of these dental tissues. The technology not only is said to provide rapid sensitivity relief but also enhances the long-term health of patients' teeth.

The new dental strips were designed to provide immediate, long-lasting, and “on-the-go” dental sensitivity relief. GreenMark says independent third-party testing has shown the dissolvable strips are effective for treatment of this indication. Through their targeted delivery of minerals to form hydroxyapatite, they also support tooth remineralization. Cavities form when demineralization exceeds remineralization and shifting this balance favors prevention of cavities.

The CrystLCare™ dissolvable dental strips are recommended for use in various clinical scenarios, including before and after teeth whitening procedures, to address sensitivity caused by receding gums, following scaling and root planing, and other types of dentinal sensitivity experienced by millions of patients nationwide. Available online and through participating dental offices, these strips offer a practical solution for managing dentinal sensitivity across the nation.

For more information on CrystLCare™ Biorestorative strips and other related noninvasive products, visit the websites of Dentulu and GreenMark—

The collaboration leads the way to the introduction of the co-branded CrystLCare™ Biorestorative, Fluoride-Free sensitivity strips.

GreenMark, Dentulu Partnering to Enhance Preventive Dental Care

Popular Hartzell Scalers and Curettes Are Reintroduced by Nordent | Image Credit: © Nordent

Featuring 40 new tips, the original Hartzell

 Cone Socket Scalers and Curettes have been added to Nordent®’s product line-up.

The dental instrument innovator from Elk Grove Village, Illinois, announced the new addition and showcased the instruments at the recent CDA trade show in Anaheim, California. The industry-proven Hartzell line is now available with Nordent’s proven, tried-and-true signature stainless steel or long-lasting, sharpen-free titanium nitride (TiN) infused tips for a unique, customizable experience.

“We are excited to reintroduce Hartzell’s renowned designs to the dental industry, now backed by Nordent’s well-known quality manufacturing processes,” Chad Cochrane, president of Nordent, says in a press release. “Hartzell’s unique cone socket design has long been a favorite of dental professionals, and we are so proud to make these popular, sought-after products available once again.”

The company partnered with dental industry veteran Andrew McIver-Hartzell on the re-introduction of the popular cone socket instruments. “I’m thrilled to partner with the Nordent Team to reintroduce the iconic Hartzell designs to the dental industry,” McIver-Hartzell adds.

With the reintroduction of the Hartzell Cone Socket Scalers and Curettes, Nordent returns the high-quality, detachable tips and compatible Hartzell handle for clinicians. Bringing back these offerings comes with the bonus of the instruments being masterfully produced by the craftspeople at Nordent.

Dental professionals can replace individual tips 1 at a time and dispose of end-of-life tips, cutting down on office waste and costs, the company states. Hartzell’s 9.5-mm diameter, lightweight and ergonomically designed handle is designed to provide a secure handle grip with interchangeable tips that allow users to customize for their needs.

Hartzell cone socket instruments are now available through Nordent authorized distributors. For additional information, visit 

Dental instruments with unique cone socket design are now backed by Nordent’s quality manufacturing.

Popular Hartzell Scalers and Curettes Are Reintroduced by Nordent

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health Awards Grand Funding for Oral Health Equity Projects. Image credit: © CareQuest Institute

Oral health nonprofit CareQuest Institute for Oral Health has proudly announced its rewarding of over $2.3 million in grant funds to various equity projects across the U.S. Organizations in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Texas, and Vermont have received funding for projects that aim to make oral health care more accessible, according to Director of Grants and Programs at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, Trenae Simpson.

“We are excited to award funding to organizations dedicated to advancing equity in oral health locally and across the nation,” Simpson said in a press release from CareQuest. “Allocation of these funds underscores CareQuest Institute’s commitment to fostering inclusive and accessible oral health systems, particularly within historically marginalized communities. By supporting initiatives with equity-driven approaches, we aim to spark transformative change and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to attain optimal oral health.”

Organizations awarded these funds are Alabama Arise, which advocates for expanded Medicaid coverage; Berkeley Free Dental Clinic; Center for Medicare Advocacy; Community Catalyst, for inclusive oral health coverage advocacy; Health Care For All; Heart Ministry Center; Hispanic Dental Association; Kentucky Voices for Health; Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers; Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences; and Suwannee River Area Health Education Center.

CareQuest Institute will award $13 million in grant funding throughout 2024, with an increased focus on organizations that aim to serve communities that have faced oral health inequities, per the press release. 

To learn more about CareQuest Institute for Oral Health 

Funding has been awarded to organizations across the United States serving communities historically facing oral health inequities. 

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health Awards Grant Funding for Oral Health Equity Projects

AO Stack from Carbon

FASTCheck15 In-Office Waterline Test from Solmetex

Viso G3 from Planmeca

New Dental Products – May 20 - May 25, 2024

All the latest dental product launches from the week of May 20 - May 25, 2024.

Cathy Stewart, RDH, BS, Manager, Professional Education, Philips Oral Healthcare - South Central Region

Cathy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Iowa. Cathy’s dental hygiene career has included clinical practice, experience in the dental insurance industry, public health, hospital pediatric dentistry, practice consulting and she has served as the Director of Dental Hygiene for a large dental service organization.

She is currently a full-time Professional Education Manager in the South Central Region for Philips Oral Healthcare. Cathy is a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the American Dental Education Association.

A Dental Hygiene Career Journey: Time Well Spent | Image Credit: © KeetaKawee - stock.adobe.com / AI generated

“Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.”

In 1975, when I was a high school junior, my first job was cleaning the office of our family dentist. I never could have imagined how that job would be the start of my rewarding, lifelong career in dental hygiene!

My journey has not been a straight line, but more like a winding country road. It was sometimes a mystery about what was around the next corner. In addition to clinical dental hygiene, I have had the opportunity to work in several other areas in the dental field.

It seems to me that careers occur in stages or seasons. If we are lucky, we gain valuable insights into what energizes us and what drains us. We learn to identify our strengths and our areas that need development. When I reflected on the insights I gained in each role, it gave me the confidence and clarity to make decisions on my personal and professional goals.

My key takeaways from each season of my 44 years as a registered dental hygienist:

Dental Hygiene Student (BS in Dental Hygiene at the University of Iowa)

Don’t be afraid to be bad at something new.

Empathy and kindness with patients are essential skills.

Collaboration and teamwork are invaluable.

Study, study, study, and study some more. (Who needs sleep?)

Will I ever be able to do an adult prophylaxis in under 3 hours? Yes, I will!

There is a dental home for everyone—most likely more than 1, but you might not find it immediately. You may have to search for it.

The only constant is change. I started this season with paper appointment books, paper charts, hand-dipped analog radiographs, paper appointment books and 

Learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Sales is not a bad word—I was selling treatment plans every day without even realizing it. Patient education is sales. When a patient understands the treatment you recommend, they accept their treatment plan—a win for the patient!

A smile is a gift. When you partner with your patients, you give them a tremendous gift.

Do something outside your comfort zone to gain experience.

This experience, although it temporarily lowered my income, was a huge plus for future career opportunities.

From doing screenings at well child clinics to serving as a gerodontic health educator, I knew I was contributing to my community in ways that made a difference in people’s lives.

Dental Hygiene Director for a Large Dental Service Organization

It is amazing to have people believe in you personally.

Seek out a mentor. They want to help you.

Huge opportunities for growth appear when you least expect it.

People are the greatest asset to any business.

Working with medically compromised children is a gift.

When you work for a hospital with the mission to “Make Life Better for Children,” you will feel that mission and support it every day.

You may have a season in your personal life when you decide you must leave a role that you love, and you will cry when you give your resignation.

A career can come full circle. I am no longer a student, but I have the pleasure of working with dental professional students every day in my role as a professional education manager at Philips Oral Healthcare. Their joy and excitement to be starting out in their dental career is contagious and energizing. Networking with other professionals is a key component when looking for a new role. I would not have this job if it were not for a colleague who strongly recommended me.

Everything you learned in the past seasons of your career will build and contribute to how you perform in this season.

I’m grateful to be part of a company as trusted in the community as Philips whose products can really help patients. It makes that part of my job easy!

Dental hygiene students often ask me 2 questions:



 1. “What was the most rewarding or favorite job you have had so far?” My response is always, “The one I am working in at this moment.”

 2. “What is your No. 1 tip for a new graduate?” I can’t narrow it down to a single tip, and it applies to both new graduates and seasoned hygienists:

• Be a continual learner—and not just in your field. Branch out!

• Read books on leadership, business principles, and goal setting.

• Listen to podcasts in your areas of interest.

• Value what you do and what your team does every day.

• Dentistry is a small world—do not burn bridges.

• Always act and react in a professional manner.

• Be kind.

• Surprises happen every day—be ready.

• Stop telling yourself you are not qualified, not worthy or not experienced enough.

• “Growth happens when you start doing the things you are not qualified to do.” —Steve Bartlett 



• Surround yourself with coworkers and employers who create energy in your life and help you reach your full potential. In a recent episode of 

, she reviewed the results from the recent American Time Use Survey. Do you know who you spend the most time with between the ages of 20 and 60? Your coworkers! The people you work with every day have an enormous impact on your quality of life. For approximately 40 years of your work life, these are the people you spend the most time with, so be choosy.

• If you prioritize a great work environment, you will not only reach your financial goals, but you will also tap into your full potential.

In 2012, Sheryl Sandberg, who was at that time the chief operating officer of Facebook, 

 to graduating MBA students at Harvard Business School. Even now, 12 years later, this is still great advice, no matter where you are in your career.

“As you start your career, look for opportunities, look for growth, look for impact, look for mission. Move sideways, move down, move on, move off.Build your skills, not your résumé.Evaluate what you can do, not the title they’re going to give you. Do real work. Take a sales quota, a line role, an [operations] job. Don’t plan too much, and don’t expect a direct climb. If I had mapped out my career when I was sitting where you are, I would have missed my career.” —Sheryl Sandberg

Best wishes to all of my dental professional colleagues and friends as you start or continue on your career journey. It is truly time well spent.

Learn, grow, surround yourself with good people, and be kind. These are some of the many lessons this author learned during her long journey.

A Dental Hygiene Career Journey: Time Well Spent

This week's episode features products from SprintRay, Overjet, Ivoclar, DEXIS, and Kuraray Noritake Dental

Product Bites – May 24, 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 SprintRay, Overjet, Ivoclar, DEXIS, and Kuraray Noritake Dental.

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

SprintRay has introduced the new Pro2 desktop 3D printer. This printer is powered by the all-new Optical Panel technology, offering a 35-micron XY resolution and 385 nanometer UV light. The Pro2 can print up to 6 full-arch dental models in just 15 minutes, maintaining over 99% dimensional stability.

Alongside this launch, SprintRay unveiled 2 new resins from their BioMaterial Innovation Lab: a direct-print Retainer resin and a next-gen Dental Model resin. When combined with the Pro2, these resins enable clinicians to fabricate appliances with optimal anatomy and a precise marginal fit, making high-volume orthodontic production and precise restorative work faster and more accurate. Speaking of the SprintRay Retainer resin, this new material allows for the direct 3D printing of retainers, eliminating traditional labor steps and enabling same-day delivery. The SprintRay Retainer resin, combined with the Pro2 printer, offers an efficient solution for orthodontists, speeding up fabrication and ensuring precise marginal fit.

Next, let’s talk about the SprintRay Dental Model resin. This advanced resin is designed for orthodontic and dental models, promising significant speed and accuracy improvements for digital workflows. The Pro2 printer, in combination with the Dental Model resin, allows clinicians to create appliances with precise anatomy and fit. SprintRay also plans to validate Ivoclar resins with their 3D printing ecosystem, broadening the range of restorative materials and enhancing flexibility and speed in dental care delivery.

Moving on to artificial intelligence in dental insurance, Overjet has announced enhancements to its Insurance Intelligence platform. These upgrades enable dental insurers to approve claims much faster. The platform now includes Overjet Connect, which connects insurers with licensed professionals for case review, streamlining workflows across the U.S. With new AI capabilities, the platform can automatically review over 350 CDT codes, ensuring efficient and accurate claims processing.

In other news, Ivoclar has expanded its Variolink® Esthetic line with a new White opaque shade, available in both dual-cure and light-cure variants. These enhancements provide clinicians with more flexibility in adhesive cementation, ensuring consistent and reliable results across various restorative materials. The light-cure variant now features enhanced viscosity for easier handling, especially in veneer cementation, while the dual-cure variant offers new esthetic options with its White opaque shade.

DEXIS has introduced the Ti2 intraoral sensor, the successor to the DEXIS Titanium Sensor. This new sensor features a more durable housing, a proactive servicing module, and access to 2D AI dental findings. The AI capabilities can automatically detect a range of dental issues, including periapical radiolucency, bone loss, and caries, enhancing diagnostic accuracy. The Ti2 sensor also boasts improved drop resistance and the innovative WiseAngle™ cable design, ensuring patient comfort and longevity of the device.

Lastly, let’s highlight two new products from CLEARFIL™. The Universal Bond Quick 2 is a single-bottle adhesive system that forms an immediate bond to dentin and enamel, simplifying restorative procedures. It resists pooling and ensures consistent, strong bonds. Additionally, CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow Universal is a high-viscosity flowable composite that mimics natural tooth structure, blending seamlessly with surrounding dentition. It's suitable for both posterior and anterior restorations, providing durable and esthetic outcomes.

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 SprintRay, Overjet, Ivoclar, DEXIS, and Kuraray Noritake Dental. 

RevenueWell Partners with Rectangle Health to Enhance Payments Experience | Image Credit: © RevenueWell / Rectangle Health

Looking to simplify the payments experience, RevenueWell and Rectangle Health are joining forces. On Wednesday, RevenueWell, a leading patient experience software and digital marketing services partner for dental practices, announced the new partnership with Rectangle Health, a healthcare-care focused financial technology company providing software solutions to healthcare organizations.

Through this partnership, RevenueWell has launched a comprehensive, yet simple solution for dental practices to collect and process payments both online and in-practice. Additionally, through RevenueWell's integration with Bridge™ Payments, practices also have access to Rectangle Health’s Practice Management Bridge Platform® to fully manage their merchant account.

The new integration is designed to enable dental teams to improve their work efficiency and get paid sooner. Patients, meanwhile, will have more flexibility to pay for their dental care in line with what they expect from healthcare providers and businesses.

“The payments and collection processes are the lifeblood of every successful and sustainable dental practice, and yet are often overly complex and manual,” says Steve Prosser, chief technology officer at RevenueWell, in a press release. “RevenueWell’s Partnership with Rectangle Health brings a simple and holistic approach to capturing and managing payments for the practice, both virtually and in-office. Rectangle Health’s proven payments platform coupled with RevenueWell’s industry-leading patient engagement solutions provide a modern experience that ensures practices are paid on time, and patients have an exceptional experience.”

Through this collaboration, the dental team cuts down its manual data entry with automatic posting. Practices can also offer patients the option to pay online through automated campaigns and manual outreach, or at the front desk, with a Lane/7000 point-of-sale system, RevenueWell states. The new point-of-sale system adds a modern touch to the practice experience and helps to reduce PCI-DSS scope, protecting the patients’ information and the practice reputation. Dental practices also will be able to issue refunds to patients paying online within RevenueWell. The staff can also access payment information through Rectangle Health’s Practice Management Bridge.

Benefits of the new collaboration include:

Reduced routine admin work – Practice teams spend less time chasing down unpaid bills, posting payments, and doing payment reconciliation.

Decreased accounts receivable – Patients have flexible ways to pay for care, including online payments, point-of-sale, text to pay, and QR codes.

Savings on office supplies – Practices can cut back on supplies needed for paper bills.

A modernized practice experience – Practice teams can move away from outdated billing and payment processes that slow them down and impact how patients view their practice.

"We are thrilled to announce the launch of the partnership with RevenueWell, aimed at empowering dentists to offer robust payment tools and options for their patients," Brian Doyle, senior vice president of technology partnerships at Rectangle Health, adds in the press release. "This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to revolutionize payment processes within dental practices. By harnessing the power of our technology, we aim to streamline billing, collection, and reconciliation tasks, saving dental staff hours of valuable time previously spent on administrative burdens. Together, we are dedicated to providing innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and elevate the patient experience in dental care."

For additional information on RevenueWell’s Online Payments, visit 

The 2 companies join forces to launch a comprehensive, yet simple solution for dental practices to collect and process payments both online and in-practice.

RevenueWell Partners with Rectangle Health to Enhance Payments Experience

Bruce Bryen is a certified public accountant with over 45 years of experience and is a part of Baratz & Associates CPAs. He specializes in deferred compensation, such as retirement planning design; income and estate tax planning; determination of the proper organizational business structure; asset protection and structuring loan packages for presentation to financial institutions. He is experienced in providing litigation support services to dentists with Valuation and Expert Witness testimony in matrimonial and partnership dispute cases. He is also a financial writer for several dental journals. You may contact him at 609-502-0691 or at 

Dentists Should Be Aware of What Defined Benefit Retirement Plans Can Do for Them | Image Credit: © Pcess609 - stock.adobe.com

Dental practice owners need to take time to plan for their retirement and in this process should know what different retirement plans can do for them. In 

we addressed employer qualified retirement plan options. Here we’ll take a close look at defined benefit or cash balance retirement plans.

So, let’s look at defined benefit or cash balance retirement plans and the gamut they run if the understanding is there to utilize them to their fullest extent. There are creative ways to employ these so that the maximum is gained from their adoption and use.

Employer sponsored qualified retirement plans are extremely useful for the dental practice’s owner for the current year and beyond implementation as a tax shelter as well as a means of saving and protecting for his or her future. The important point in the discussion of retirement plans is knowing what they can do for you. Having the right advisors is the key to the implementation and continued operation of the adoption and continuation of this asset.

With the proper advisors, an unlimited world of possibilities exist that most dentists know nothing about and the effect these opinions can accomplish for the dentist and his or her goals in the short and long term. Dentists and the general population are constantly searching for tax deductions that make sense. They want their tax bill to be as low as it can be. Dentists want something meaningful if their search becomes their focus near the end of the year.

The defined benefit plan and its adoption and implementation near the end of the year:

To achieve a meaningful (material) tax deduction prior to the end of the year, the dentist should think about his or her cost and the time it will take to implement something that is worthwhile. Spending a lot of time attempting to find a minimal deduction that projects a minor amount of savings does not seem like a practical way for the clinician to spend his or her time. For the type and amount of deduction that is desired and needed, it will take the advisors time to find and implement what is necessary to create a deduction that is worthwhile. The cost to prepare the adoption papers for the defined benefit or cash balance retirement plan is not cheap. The knowledge to do so must be substantial.

Depending on the dental practice and the ages and number of employees that work for it, also forces the advisors to be very creative and trustworthy. There may be a one-time charge of between $5,000 and $10,000 for the initial design and adoption of this type of plan. Once in place, there will be annual charges to keep things operating smoothly and up to date. The advice given by the advisors will assist in the kind of investment decisions that the owner, now trustee of the plan, will make. The advisors won’t suggest an investment for the owner, but will offer advice as to whether an investment is recognized by the IRS as an acceptable one. What does the defined benefit or cash balance plan offer for the owner of the dental practice?

Benefits of the defined benefit or cash balance plan that exist for the owner:

Some benefits are obvious to the owner of the dental practice. An example is a tax deduction up to and many times more than $150,000 per year for many years, based on meetings with the advisors and the dentist’s own ideas and goals. Another benefit is the protection of those funds in the retirement plan. While in the plan, the funds are immune from creditors. That means hypothetically, that if the dentist signed a note for $1,000,000 and couldn’t pay it, the lender could not go into the retirement plan to take any money owed to the lender. If the dentist filed a bankruptcy petition, the funds in the retirement plan could not be attached by the creditors to pay the dentist’s personal bills.

The shifting of the dentist’s personal assets which are basically all attachable by creditors, to the retirement plan where none are attachable, is a major benefit for the dentist. The retirement plan effectively removes the need for the dentist to worry about saving any amount of substantial money personally. The benefit of having the funds and other investments held by the retirement plan eliminates any tax on the interest or gain from any investments while they are in the retirement plan. They are taxed on the withdrawal.

An innovative approach to the use of the defined benefit plan or the cash balance plan:

One of the last matters that a dentist considers is usually his or her exit strategy. The dentist owner should consider hiring a dental practice broker to list the dental practice for sale. The broker spends the time and due diligence to market the practice and may eventually find a buyer, whether a dental service organization (DSO) or an individual or group practice.

Once a potential buyer is found, the advisors to the buyer and to the seller get very involved attempting to allocate the assets of the dental practice to give each of their clients the best tax advantage. These negotiations create a lot of movement back and forth between the brokerage agents, the accountants and attorneys and the potential buyer and seller of the dental practice. The tax is usually substantial for the seller and the buyer even though the buyer, especially does not realize the extent of his or her potential tax. The seller hopes to receive capital gains treatment on his or her share. A really smart and innovative advisor will know that if the retirement plan is part of the transaction the buyer and the seller can save or at least defer for many years a large portion of the protected tax for each. The following projects show how the arrangement would work:

How to accomplish an acquisition using the retirement plan

The seller must be willing to wait for most of the money from his or her payout. In essence, this is somewhat similar to an installment sale. The exception is that the seller receives funds indirectly by having them accepted fully into the retirement plan. As described earlier, this keeps the funds safe from creditors and the tax to a minimum. The seller must be willing to continue to work for a while and receive a modest salary while deferring the largest part into the retirement plan. The dentist should contact his or her dental CPA for the balance of this model.

The employer sponsored qualified retirement plans, especially the defined benefit plan, can be very helpful as a tax shelter for clinicians.