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. 

Spring Selection 2024 – Round 4: The Finals

This 4-in-1 system is designed to enhance user experience, leading to improvements in diagnoses, patient care, and business growth. A versatile system catering to the diverse imaging needs of clinicians, including full-arch scanning, the CS8200 3D access offers 2D panoramic imaging, CBCT imaging, 3D-object scanning, and optional cephalometric imaging.

A light-cured, resin-modified calcium silicate indicated for direct and indirect pulp capping and as a protective liner, TheraCal LC acts as a protectant of the dental pulp, and the hydrophilic resin formulation is designed to create a durable liner.

Two products stand toe-to-toe as they take on the 2024 Spring Selection Finals. Will the powerful imaging capabilities of the CS 8200 3D Access reign supreme or will TheraCal LC's hydrophilic resin formulation take the crown? Make your vote now to crown the champion of this year's Spring Selection. 

Articles

The 2024 Spring Selection Finals have arrived. Which 2 products will go head-to-head to be crowned the winner? Vote on your choice now. 

An overview of GrowthPlug with Nick Navarro, Digital Marketing Consultant. 

GrowthPlug from PracticeTek: An Inside Look with Nick Navarro

Dive deep on what GrowthPlug can do for the dental practice with GrowthPlug Digital Marketing Consultant Nick Navarro. With a focus on growth, engagement, and reach, GrowthPlug aims to support dental and orthodontic practices. 

Dive deep on what GrowthPlug can do for the dental practice with GrowthPlug Digital Marketing Consultant Nick Navarro. With a focus on growth, engagement, and reach, GrowthPlug aims to support dental and orthodontic practices. [1 minute]

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.  

Glidewell Unveils New Silent Nite 3D Sleep Appliance | Image Credit: © Glidewell

Glidewell’s latest sleep appliance, the Silent Nite® 3D Sleep Appliance, is a fully digital, 3D-printed sleep appliance for prescription by dental professionals. The company is evolving its Silent Nite Sleep Appliance to take part in the continued rise of digital dentistry and 3D printing.

Silent Nite 3D is a mandibular advancement device fabricated from durable light-cured resin. The appliance treats patients who suffer from snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Not only has technology and material advances spurred the growth of 3D printing in dentistry, but there’s also been a growing demand for oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea therapies.

“Glidewell is committed to the digital transformation of dentistry–both in the lab and chairside,” Robert Brenneise, chief growth officer at Glidewell, says in a press release announcing the product launch. “Digital dentistry makes quality care more accessible for dentists and patients alike, and the Silent Nite 3D Sleep Appliance is a patient-friendly, digitally produced solution for relieving snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea.”

These clear, custom-fit appliances are designed to gently shift the mandible forward, using nylon connectors adjustable in 0.5mm increments over a 10mm span, and open up the airway to prevent it from collapsing during sleep. These connectors are replaceable, which allows clinicians to adjust the position of the mandible to ensure the patient is receiving proper care while remaining comfortable, Glidewell states. The scalloped edge of the appliance, which is achieved with the 3D-printing method, increases retention with minimal contact to the patient’s gingiva. The Silent Nite 3D Sleep Appliance is suited for patients to use at home or while traveling; it is lightweight and easy to store, which makes a good night’s sleep achievable virtually anywhere.

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), approximately 39 million adults in the United States suffer from sleep apnea.

This new device from Glidewell can alleviate symptoms of sleep apnea and give patients the rest they deserve, and as an added benefit, clinicians can also order a duplicate of the same case to be included as part of a Glidewell Clinical Twinpak™.

. Ling, V. Sleep Apnea Statistics and Facts You Should Know. The National Council on Aging. National Council on Aging; Oct 4, 2023.

The company’s 3D-printed mandibular advancement device is designed for a precise, comfortable fit that alleviates the symptoms of sleep apnea.

Glidewell Unveils New Silent Nite 3D Sleep Appliance

Get-Grin Receives Favorable Grants in Patent Infringement Lawsuit | Image Credit: © Get-Grin

Get-Grin received some good news from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office regarding patent litigations brought by a competitor of the oral health manufacturer.

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted all 3 of its reexamination requests for its client Get-Grin in its defense of patent litigations brought by Dental Monitoring.The granted reexams also resulted in a ful lstay of the patent litigations, the Washington D.C. firm states.

Get-Grin is the manufacturer and developer of solutions that include the Grin App and Grin Scope® designed to allow patients access to quality professional care from the convenience of their smart devices, all while clinicians remotely monitor patients via virtual check-ins for complete visibility. According to a press release, the Patent Office determined that each of Get-Grin’s requests raised “substantial new questions of patentability” as to whether Dental Monitoring’s patents should have been issued in the first place.

The latest order involved a patent that covers using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze photographs of a patient’s teeth. Dental Monitoring, which provides virtual treatment monitoring platforms, asserted the patent—along with 3 others—against Get-Grin in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. According to the press release, Get-Grin asked the Patent Office to take a second look at 3 of the patents, and the Patent Office has now granted all of Get-Grin’s requests, finding that Get-Grin successfully showed 20 substantial new questions of patentability—meaning that the patents cover inventions that may not be new after all. The Patent Office has likewise concluded that a similar petition filed by another competitor on the fourth patent that Dental Monitoring asserted against Get-Grin has a reasonable likelihood of success.

The Patent Office’s most recent decision comes on the heels of Judge Bryson (sitting by designation in Delaware),ruling to halt Dental Monitoring’s lawsuit against Get-Grin to allow the Patent Office time to review the validity of Dental Monitoring’s patents. As Judge Bryson noted, “it makes sense to ask the agency that issued the patent in the first place to decide whether it made a mistake, rather than to ask a court and 8 jurors–strangers to the original issuance decision—to take the lead in second-guessing the [PatentOffice’s] issuance decision,” the press release states. He further noted that Get-Grin’s reexaminations are “likely to result in the cancellation or amendment of at least some of the asserted claims” from the patents.

The Sterne Kessler team representing Get-Grin includes: directors Robert Green Sterne, Deirdre M. Wells, Daniel S. Block, Richard Crudo, Tyler Dutton, and Counsel James Hietala.

Additional details on the granted reexams can be found online here:

OrderGrantingRequestforExParteReexaminationNo.90/019,435regardingU.S.PatentNo.11,314,983

OrderGrantingRequestforExParteReexaminationNo.90/019,416regardingU.S.PatentNo.11,599,997

OrderGrantingRequestforExParteReexaminationNo.90/019,399regardingU.S.PatentNo.11,532,079

MemorandumOpinionandOrderGrantingaStayPendingReexaminationoftheAssertedClaims

first reported on this lawsuit in May of 2022

The U.S. Patent Office grants 3 re-exam requests and the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware grants a full stay of the related litigation favoring Get-Grin in defense of patent litigations brought by Dental Monitoring.

Get-Grin Receives Favorable Grants in Patent Infringement Lawsuit

OrthoFX™ Aims to Enhance Orthodontic Treatment with NiTime™ Clear Aligners. Image credit: © OrthoFx

OrthoFX™ has announced the availability of their NiTime™ Clear Aligners. These aligners, cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are the first of their kind designed to significantly reduce wear time while maintaining exceptional effectiveness in straightening teeth.

NiTime Clear Aligners boast several key features that reportedly set them apart. These features include a shorter wear time of 9-12 hours; up to 30% greater movement efficiency, per a press release from the company; a 92% treatment success rate; and 86% predictability in tooth movement through its AirShell™ technology.

Ren Menon, Co-founder of OrthoFX, emphasized the company's dedication to solving challenges faced by both providers and patients. He said in the press release, “NiTime Clear Aligners are truly the most advanced innovation the category has seen in polymer science in decades. It’s a testament to our commitment to solving real treatment challenges faced by providers and their patients…Our patented technology behind NiTime aligners make patient compliance effortless by reducing wear time in half, and nearly eliminating the need for extended treatment given most cases do not need refinements.”

NiTime Aligners, initially available to a limited group of orthodontic practices, are now accessible across the United States, empowering doctors to deliver these orthodontic treatment experiences to their patients.

These aligners are now available across the United States, harnessing its unique formulation to bolster the orthodontic treatment process. 

OrthoFX™ Aims to Enhance Orthodontic Treatment with NiTime™ Clear Aligners

Breaking Material Boundaries | Image by Kristen Morabito / MJH Life Sciences Using AI

The practice of clinical dentistry employs a wide array of materials. Just about every procedure requires at least one specialized formulation, and while one product might be accomplishing the task at hand, this doesn’t mean something more effective isn’t in development or already available.

Even as innovative technologies create new ways of diagnosing and treating patients, this often simply means switching from using one type of dental material to another. So while practices using intraoral scanners are likely capturing fewer impressions with physical materials, the act of restoring a tooth will require some material to be affixed in the mouth.

Dental material innovations take many forms, but the end goal is to create something that looks and functions as much like the material it is replacing as possible, and every generation of dental materials gets closer to that objective. Today many material options are designed to both mimic natural esthetics and to provide patients with added protection from recurrent decay. To showcase these innovations, we spoke with a number of clinicians, who shared their thoughts on the types of products making a huge impact in their practices and for their patients.

Direct Restoratives, Preventive Materials, and Bioactive Materials

The rapid innovation of dental materials creates new possibilities for treatment, results in easier workflows for clinicians, and improves outcomes for patients. But just how far have things progressed, and what new materials are making an 
impact on dental practices?

Breaking Material Boundaries 

1.5 Open Sensor from DentiMax

Medit i900 from Miedit

3DXPRINT 3D Printer from Roland DGA

P55D from UP3D

A new crown design bulk processing software from Imagoworks.

Dentbird Batch from Imagoworks

DIBS AI 8.0 from OrthoSelect

A new feature for email campaigns on Yapi Leap from Yapi. 

Email Campaigns for Yapi Leap from Yapi

All the latest dental product launches from April 29 - May 3, 2024. 

New Dental Products – April 29 - May 3, 2024

Matt Muscolo is senior vice president and general manager of dental practices at CareCredit.

Be Prepared for Unprepared Patients | Source: CareCredit

There are a lot of good surprises, like finding a $20 bill in an old coat pocket. Then there are surprises that are not as welcome, like unexpected dentistry. Synchrony, on behalf of CareCredit, conducted the Dental Lifetime of Care study in 2023 to understand individuals’ perceptions of the cost of dentistry and gain insights on how that perception may shape their dental health care decisions.

 One of the key findings was that 46% of survey respondents were unprepared for their largest dental expense, ranging from exams to implants. Utilizing the survey results, dental practices can help more patients move forward with needed or wanted dentistry by being prepared when their patients are not.

Only 30% of survey respondents found it easy to understand dental health expenses. And of those with insurance, 50% did not know their annual maximum. A lack of information or understanding often results in a patient believing that the cost will be prohibitive, which can result in the patient walking out the door without a scheduled appointment or not committing to the recommended care.

To help more patients get the care they need and keep their appointments, we recommended that practice staff do the following:

Determine if the patient has insurance to cover the cost of the treatments and services and what their benefits might provide. Plan to supplement this information with a discussion about how benefits can help pay for the cost of dental care.

Have an honest discussion with the patient. Ask clarifying questions to make sure they understand the information completely.

 Thoroughly review the cost of the dentistry with the patient and explain its value to their oral and overall health. Consider unique approaches for different patients. For example, use visual aids for those who are visual learners.

 Share details of any out-of-pocket costs in a way that is easy for them to understand, through discussions, informational materials, or videos.

Unfortunately, cost can be a challenge even when patients have dental benefits to help with the cost of the treatment. It’s especially frustrating to those patients who value dental care. In fact, cost or expense was the No. 1 reason respondents said they did not see their general dentist in the past 12 months.

Patients often delay or ignore treatments because of cost. Specifically, the survey results showed the following:

29% of respondents indicated they have delayed care

With patients shouldering more financial responsibility for their dental care because of higher out-of-pocket costs, rising costs can result in individuals choosing between their financial and physical health. We think it’s important for individuals to proactively prepare for expenses when they believe they will need or want to pay those expenses in the future.

According to the study results, the out-of-pocket costs for the average adult aged 20 to 79 years was $51,000 to more than $95,000 over their lifetime, not including complex care such as implants or orthodontics for children. It’s important to help patients get a clear picture of what they can expect to pay in dental care costs over a lifetime so that they can plan ahead and look at financial options that can help them manage these costs today and in the future.

Proactively offering payment solutions that include major credit cards and a financing solution such as the CareCredit credit card may be appreciated by patients. In the survey, 58% of respondents indicated they would probably or definitely choose a payment option that provided predictable, set, equal payments without having to use their general purpose or retail credit cards.

Ultimately, the goal is to help patients be prepared and comfortable accepting recommended dentistry so they can have a healthy and beautiful smile. To learn more about the study, visit carecredit.com/sites/pc/pdf/dental-lifetime-of-care-study.pdf.

1. Synchrony; Americans May Forgo Dental Treatments Due to Cost, Risking Overall Health, New Synchrony Research Reveals. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://www.synchrony.com/contenthub/newsroom/americans-may-forgo-dental-treatments-due-to-cost,-risking-overa.html

CareCredit research indicates that many individuals are not prepared to handle large dental expenses and may need payment options to follow through with treatments.

Be Prepared for Unprepared Patients

Manager of Clinical Research at BISCO Rolando Nunez discusses TheraCal LC.

Dental Product Insights: TheraCal LC from BISCO

TheraCal LC is a light-cured, resin-modified calcium silicate. It is indicated for direct and indirect pulp capping and as a protective liner. TheraCal LC acts as a protectant of the dental pulp and the hydrophilic resin formulation is designed to create a durable liner. It touts moisture tolerance and can be placed under restorative materials and cements.

Want to see TheraCal LC in action? Check out 

How to Repair Amalgam Restorations With Recurrent Caries

by Dr James Chae, as featured in the April 2022 issue of 

Dental Products Report spoke with Manager of Clinical Research at BISCO, Rolando Nunez, to discuss the materials science behind TheraCal LC, and why it is a boon for restorative practices. [3 minutes]

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.

I’ve had the pleasure of writing this column for close to 7 years. In that time, I’ve discussed many high-tech advances in dentistry such as 3D printing, imaging, artificial intelligence…the list goes on and on. One thing that often gets lost in the discussion is that to run these applications, you need the proper infrastructure. Over the next few columns, I want to take a step back and review my recommendations for that infrastructure.

Many offices are unaware that the need to overhaul your computers and network will often exceed the cost of these advanced applications, and nobody likes those types of surprises. For this month, I am focusing on the server.

One question I often get from clients is whether they even need a server. In almost all cases, the answer is yes! Certain aspects of a server make it more “bulletproof.” The server usually contains your most critical patient information; you must do everything, within reason, to protect and secure that data. As I discussed in a recent column on cloud computing, even if you are using a web-based practice management software (PMS), you still will need a server. There are often multiple sources of patient information in your practice beyond the PMS, such as images, emails, explanations of benefits, QuickBooks, Invisalign…you get the idea.

There are certain features to look for when designing a server. The first is a server operating system, such as Windows Server 2019 or 2022. One aspect of HIPAA regulations is that you must control and manage access to patient information. This is much easier to do with a server operating system rather than workstation software such as Windows 10 or 11.

I always recommend using an Intel Xeon processor, which is designed to handle the multitasking that most servers do every day. You should consider using 32 GB of RAM (memory). For the hard drives, I typically recommend using a pair of 4 TB drives in a RAID 1 configuration. What does that mean? RAID is a way of mirroring drives to provide redundancy. That means the server will continue to operate even if one of the hard drives fails. There are plenty of variations of RAID, such as RAID 5 or RAID 10; I prefer RAID 1 because it only requires 2 drives and is easier to manage and recover.

Large vendors such as Dell offer different levels of warranty for servers. I typically only buy servers with a 3-year warranty. Most servers should provide 5 to 7 years of use, but if a server makes it to year 3, it’s highly likely it will go to year 6 or 7 without issues. In other words, it’s difficult to justify paying extra for a warranty that is longer than 3 years.

What does a server cost? Well, there are a lot of options and variables. You can get a good Dell server that should provide 5 to 7 years of service for approximately $3500 to $4000, but there are certainly practices that spend more or less than this, depending on their needs.

Any time you are considering adding new technology to your practice, you should reevaluate your server. The server is the lifeblood of the practice; the hardware always has to match and exceed the demands of the software for things to run smoothly. Any good dental information technology provider can recommend an appropriate server for your practice.

Practices require a lot of data management, and a dedicated server is the best way to keep data safe, secure, and under control.