Optimizer X is the Latest Business Performance Solution from

San Jose, California-based Sikka.ai, a leader in oral healthcare software and producer of the award-winning Sikka ONE API, has announced this week the launch of its enhanced flagship business performance solution, Optimizer X.

This upgraded dental software is designed to empower Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) and dental practices by providing advanced analytics, intelligent insights, and streamlined operations designed to elevate patient care and practice efficiency.

Described as a comprehensive solution that combines state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) with user-friendly interfaces, Optimizer X caters specifically to the unique needs of DSOs and dental practices. Boasting a robust set of features and the ability to connect to over 200 practice management systems and versions, the new business solution is poised to enhance overall productivity and transform the way dental practices operate, the company states.

Optimizer X harnesses the power of AI technology to analyze practice data, providing valuable insights into key performance indicators, patient demographics, and financial trends.

The platform uses predictive analytics to forecast patient appointment schedules, identify potential revenue opportunities, and optimize resource allocation for enhanced patient engagement.

Optimizer X streamlines administrative tasks such as automating appointment scheduling, billing processes, and insurance claim submissions, allowing dental professionals to focus more on patient care. When these time-consuming tasks become automated, the dental team can work much more efficiently.

Users can create personalized dashboards tailored to their specific needs of the practice, providing at-a-glance access to critical information and performance metrics.

Optimizer X prioritizes the security and confidentiality of patient data, adhering to industry standards and regulations to ensure compliance and peace of mind for dental practices.

"Optimizer X represents a significant milestone in our commitment to providing dental professionals with a powerful toolset to enhance their practice management. We've worked tirelessly to create a product that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of the dental community, ultimately improving patient care and practice efficiency,” Andrew Ross, product management leader for Optimizer X, says in a press release this week.

Patrick Assioun, DMD, founder & CEO of Passion Dental, is looking forward to working with Optimizer X. "Sikka has been there for a very long time and [they] integrate with a lot of practice management software and that's important because they integrate and they're accurate," Dr Assioun, an orthodontist, adds in the press release.

Sikka, which focuses on practices in dentistry, vets, physician, optometry, and chiropractic industries, has several products specifically for the dental industry, including Sikka’s Fee Survey tool, Patient Home Page®, and Sikka Prime, a new tool to help practices get the most out of each day.

Dental practices adopting Optimizer X can expect increased operational efficiency, improved financial performance, and a more personalized patient experience. Optimizer X’s predecessor, Optimizer Classic, currently has a large install base of successful multi-year DSO users who are switching over to the upgraded software, according to Sikka.

Optimizer X is now available for dental practices and DSOs of all sizes. For more information about the product and to schedule a demo visit 

Articles

Software company launches new business performance solution built for DSOs and dental practitioners; Optimizer X designed to improve efficiency and dental patient care.


Optimizer X is the Latest Business Performance Solution from   Sikka.ai

iCoreConnect Acquires Verifi Dental. Image credit: © iCoreConnect © Verifi Dental

Cloud-based software creator iCoreConnect has announced its strategic acquisition of Verifi, to streamline insurance verifications in its health care platform. This move was done to further expand iCoreConnect’s software portfolio as well as offer more value for the customers, according to president and CEO Robert McDermott.

“This strategic acquisition signifies positive momentum for the company and the advancement of our growth strategy. The addition of Verifi brings iCore enhanced capabilities, a broader market presence, and ultimately improves the value we offer to our customers and stakeholders,” McDermott said in a press release from the company. “We believe the combined strengths of iCoreConnect and Verifi will position us as a formidable force in the insurance verification sector. These strengths will bring us complementary expertise, and additional products and service offerings, including synergies and operational efficiencies.”

As dentistry wrangles with complicated insurance verifications, Verifi aims to make this process smoother, something that they hope to achieve through this verification according to CEO Jacob Weprin.

“Insurance verifications have always been one of the major challenges and pain points in the dentistry field,” Weprin said in the press release. “The acquisition of Verifi empowers iCoreConnect to immediately connect to a vast network of additional insurance companies and provide the best results in the industry through a cloud-based environment that ensures accessibility from any location.”

Both companies have expressed excitement at this acquisition, with an end goal of becoming a comprehensive and robust software as a service, with the power of Verifi’s insurance verifications combined with iCoreConnect’s platform. To learn more about this acquisition, visit the 

Cloud software company iCoreConnect has acquired Verifi Dental to make insurance verification more streamlined on its platform. 

iCoreConnect Acquires Verifi Dental

Grand Avenue Software and SafeLink Consulting Working Together to Help Companies with FDA Process and Compliance | Image Credit: © Grand Avenue Software and SafeLink Consulting, Inc

In an effort to make it easier for dental and medical device companies to work within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) process more efficiently, Grand Avenue Software and SafeLink Consulting, Inc, are joining forces.

Grand Avenue Software, a leader in electronic quality management solutions (eQMS) systems, recently announced it has entered a strategic relationship with SafeLink Consulting, a premier provider of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and FDA regulatory compliance services. The goal of the move is to help medical and dental device companies navigate the FDA process, achieve compliance, and bring their devices to market.

“We are pleased to team with SafeLink to bring value to dental and medical device companies navigating the challenging regulatory and quality management environment,” says Ron Schmitz, President, and CEO of Grand Avenue Software, in a press release. “SafeLink’s expertise in helping medical and dental device companies achieve regulatory compliance combined with our 20+ years of delivering best-in-class, affordable and scalable electronic quality management solutions (eQMS) is an ideal combination.”

As part of this new relationship, Grand Avenue Software and SafeLink will collaborate on projects for clients in the medical, dental, and life sciences space to improve and automate their quality systems and workflows. By combining SafeLink’s quality, safety, and compliance expertise with Grand Avenue’s software solution, the two companies plan to deliver a best-in-class combination for clients.

“At SafeLink, we know how challenging the FDA process can be for medical and dental device companies, which is why we are committed to helping our customers enhance their compliance processes, improve document control and maintain a quality culture,” says Mary A. Bartlett, president, SafeLink Consulting, Inc, in the press release. “We are confident that our deep risk management expertise, combined with Grand Avenue Software’s quality management software and support, will help companies achieve compliance quickly, standardize processes, increase productivity, control overhead expense, and ultimately increase profit.”

Grand Avenue Software, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, is described as affordable, scalable, and efficient eQMS deployed by med-tech innovators and leaders around the world. The company’s team has extensive experience in software development, Software as a Service delivery, and quality compliance, specifically for the life sciences industries.

Since 1991, SafeLink Consulting has been educating the dental industry by preparing them with the day-to- day health & safety requirements needed to meet OSHA standards and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. SafeLink also assists laboratories and medical devices manufacturers with quality systems and establishing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) required by FDA. The Cumming, Georgia company is nationally and internationally recognized for providing virtual and onsite training, assessments, and seminars to diverse audiences with a commitment to helping businesses succeed. The company’s services include a customized, industry-specific, continuous solution for all stages of safety programs and quality management systems, focused on client needs, backed by strong service and support. Additional information can be found at 

Strategic partnership is designed to assist dental and medical device companies in navigating the FDA process and help in bringing their devices to market.

 Grand Avenue Software and SafeLink Consulting Working Together to Help Companies with FDA Process and Compliance

Adravision Perio from Adravision

Resin Pumping System

Premium Teeth Resin

Owandy-IOS from Owandy Radiology, Inc

Carriere® Motion Pro™ Bite Corrector from Henry Schein Orthodontics

Dang Good Debubblizer from Dental Creations

A new portable dental unit from dental blue box. 

Blue Box from Dental Blue Box

New Dental Products — January 8 - January 12, 2024

All the latest dental product launches from the week of January 8 through January 12, 2024. 

New Dental Products — January 8 - January 12, 2024 

Blue Box Aims for Innovation in Portable Dental Care. Image credit: © Dental Blue Box

The new dental Blue Box has emerged, aiming to provide dental professionals with a compact and portable mobile dentistry platform. This product is designed with a variety of features that are designed specifically to enable a portable solution, according to a press release from the manufacturer.

The unit weighs in at 50 pounds with a protective hard shell suitcase to ensure safe travel. Measuring 16” x 20” x 27” and available in 110V or 220V, the Blue Box comes complete with a portable assistant tray and a 3-gallon aluminum tank. This is said to make it the ideal portable dental unit for a variety of applications, including mission dentistry and even emergency dental care situations, among applications. The unit comes equipped with a range of features, including adjustable heights, swivel armrests, and intuitive controls, prioritizing user comfort and convenience.

Notably, Blue Box features a True High-Volume Evacuation (HVE) System, which is said to be a first in portable dental units. This powerful suction technology ensures the efficient removal of fluids, debris, and aerosols during dental procedures, creating a clean and safe environment for both patients and practitioners alike. Blue Box features are designed to integrate directly with high-speed handpieces and ultrasonic scalers, enabling quality treatment for patients.

Blue Box integrates a self-contained water and air supply system, eliminating the need for external connections. This self-sufficiency empowers dental professionals to perform a wide range of procedures without relying on additional infrastructure, making it ideal for remote or temporary dental setups, per the press release. Also paramount to its design, Blue Box puts infection control at the forefront, with autoclavable components and disposable suction liners.

The specifications of the Blue Box further underline its capabilities, with a built-in compressor, adjustable handpieces, a true HVE with .025MPa, and the ability to attach external autoscalers and tabletop electric motors. The inclusion of a foot control, vapor traps, and a quiet, self-contained, oil-less .78 HP compressor further enhance its functionality, according to the press release.

This new portable dental unit it designed with a variety of features, including a true high-volume evacuation system, to enable effective mobile dentistry. 

Blue Box Aims for Innovation in Portable Dental 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.  

Information provided by Owandy Radiology, Inc.

Owandy-IOS artificial intelligence (AI)–enhanced digital intraoral scanner

Described as an affordable solution without compromising on quality, the Owandy-IOS is well suited for dental practices of all sizes looking to benefit from state-of-the-art intraoral scanning technology without breaking the bank.

The scanner can be used on every patient for every case, replacing the need for impression materials and allowing clinicians to expand their digital dentistry capabilities. Equipped with advanced optics and imaging technology, it ensures precise and high-resolution scans, enabling dental professionals to provide the best possible care for their patients.

Available in either wired or wireless models, the company’s latest intraoral scanner is designed for speed and accurate scans. Additionally, no calibration is needed and there’s no warm up, so it’s ready to use right away—the scanner comes with the software fully integrated. Its durable construction ensures longevity and consistent performance.

The combination of cutting-edge technology, software, and depth of field allows for industry-leading 20-µm accuracy, according to the manufacturer. Equipped with advanced optics and imaging technology, it ensures precise and high-resolution scans. A dual scan button, long battery life, and 2 tip sizes make it more comfortable for dental professionals and their patients. AI-enhanced Fast-Scan technology assists with soft tissue removal and overlap correction, while exceptional transmission speed can scan a full arch in 20 seconds.

The company’s newest intraoral scanner features speed, accuracy, AI-enhanced Fast-Scan technology, and more features to benefit patients and clinicians.

5Ws* Owandy-IOS 

Image Credit: © stock.adobe.com / Dmitry Kovalchuk

In an announcement on January 8, 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially designated vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) as an established sterilization method for medical devices. This move recognizes VHP's extensive history of safety and effectiveness. The FDA's decision marks a significant step forward in diversifying sterilization practices in the medical device industry, aiming to reduce reliance on ethylene oxide (EtO) and fortify the medical device supply chain's resilience.

, titled "Submission and Review of Sterility Information in Premarket Notification (510(k)) Submissions for Devices Labeled as Sterile," has been revised to include VHP as an example of an Established Category A method of sterilization. This strategic update is poised to encourage wider acceptance and implementation of VHP across the medical device manufacturing landscape.

“Vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) has been recognized by the FDA as an established method of sterilization for medical devices, given its long history of safety and effectiveness,” Maureen Spencer, MEd, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, infection preventionist consultant, told 

 about the announcement. “The FDA has revised the final guidance, Submission and Review of Sterility Information in Premarket Notification (510 (k)) Submissions for Devices Labeled as Sterile, to list VHP as an example of an Established Category A method of sterilization. This update is expected to facilitate broader adoption of VHP as a sterilization method for the medical device industry and is part of the agency’s multi-pronged approach to reducing the use of EtO where possible and further supports the agency’s efforts to advance medical device supply chain resiliency.”

Effective sterilization is paramount for ensuring the safety of 

, as it neutralizes or eliminates potentially harmful microorganisms. The sterilization process must achieve this without compromising the integrity or functionality of the devices. For devices labeled as sterile, premarket submissions must provide evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the sterilization process, aligning with internationally accepted consensus standards recognized by the FDA.

Ethylene oxide has traditionally been the most widely used sterilization method for medical devices in the United States, with over 20 billion devices annually undergoing EtO sterilization, constituting roughly 50% of devices requiring this process. Since 2019, the FDA has been actively promoting the exploration and development of alternatives to EtO, launching various programs and initiatives to foster innovation in medical device sterilization.

Including VHP as an established sterilization method is a pivotal development in the FDA's ongoing efforts to reduce dependence on EtO. Suzanne Schwartz, MD, MBA, the director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships and Technology Innovation in the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, emphasized the agency's commitment to protecting public health in the complex medical device landscape. She highlighted VHP's addition as a significant step in building a more resilient supply chain for sterilized devices, contributing to the prevention of potential shortages.

Established Category A sterilization methods are those with a long-standing record of safe and effective use on medical devices are categorized as. This includes moist heat, dry heat, EtO, and radiation. With the recent FDA recognition of the 

, VHP joins this prestigious category, empowering industries to adopt alternative sterilization processes that pose fewer risks to the environment and local communities.

As sterilization technologies continue to advance, the FDA states in the press release that it remains “committed to reducing adverse impacts to the environment and public health and to developing solutions that avert potential shortages of devices that the American public relies upon.“ This announcement signals a new era in medical device sterilization, one that prioritizes health, innovation, and sustainability.

FDA designates vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) as an Established Category A sterilization method, reducing reliance on Ethylene Oxide. Boosting innovation for safer, effective medical device sterilization.

 FDA Expands Established Sterilization Methods for Medical Devices With Addition of Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP)

Product Bites makes sure you don't miss the next innovation. This week's Product Bites podcast features new launches from Videa Health and DentalXChange.

Product Bites – January 12, 2024

Welcome to Product Bites, a weekly podcast from Dental Products Report, providing you with a rundown of recently launched an updated dental technologies and materials, instruments and everything else you might use with patients or while running your practice.

I'm your host for this week DPR editorial director Noah Levine saying Welcome to 2024, and on this week's podcast, we've got a pair of new products to discuss from DentalXChange and VideaHealth. So let's jump right in and learn about these two artificial intelligence based solutions.

VideaHealth recently received FDA 510(k) clearance for Videa Dental Assist a software platform that uses artificial intelligence to review radiographs. The FDA clearance covers more than 30 AI algorithms, expanding the range of AI detections to cover many of the most common dental diseases, including periapical radiolucencies, calculus, and the FDA's first approval for pediatric caries detection for patients ages 3 and older.

Also in AI dental product news, DentalXChange announced the launch of its new artificial intelligence powered platform eligibilityAI. Designed to automate pre-appointment eligibility and benefits verification processes, this new solution helps streamline operations by automatically synchronizing with the dental practice's schedule to ensure verification is completed before each appointment. The software displays a patient's eligibility information in standardized, easy to read data points, which can help eliminate the need to have staff reach out directly to insurance companies. By automating the pre-appointment review, DentalXChange's eligibilityAI helps reduce errors that can happen in the manual claims process.

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 Noah Levine 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

The weekly new products podcast from Dental Products Report is back. With a quick look at all of the newest dental product launches, Product Bites makes sure you don't miss the next innovation for your practice.

This week's Product Bites podcast features new launches from Videa Health and DentalXChange.


Dental Creations, Ltd, has launched Dang Good Debubblizer, a product formulated to perfect for reducing surface tension and eliminating voids and bubbles when pouring stone models. It also reduces surface tension which allows adherence of investments to patterns or cast. This product is said to be ideal for spraying on impression materials prior to pouring stone and is a non-contaminating solution that eliminates surface oils from wax to ensure a smoother finish.

Dang Good Debubblizer’s benefits include time savings for the lab technician, the production of smooth and accurate models, bubble-free castings, a reduction in surface tension, and a no contamination formulation. Dang Good Debubblizer (Item# 621) is available in 16 oz. containers with a suggested retail price of $25.95.

The Texas company offers a wide variety of products designed to assist lab technicians, including Wonderfill tongue and void filler designed to help produce perfectly clean models.

The company’s latest product Dang Good Debubblizer well suited for spraying on impression materials prior to pouring stone and is a non-contaminating solution that eliminates surface oils from wax to ensure a smoother finish.

New Debubblizer from Dental Creations Eliminates Voids and Bubbles

Any dental operatory or other area where surgical facemasks are worn.

Anytime a clinician or patient needs to improve communication while remaining masked.

Clinicians and patients with communication needs such as autism, aphasia, deafness, or hearing loss can struggle to communicate in masked environments, especially when they rely on lip reading. Additionally, some patients with special needs benefit from seeing more of the clinician’s face during treatment, especially pediatric patients.

Available with either ASTM F2100 Level 1 or Level 3 protection, The Communicator™ is a surgical facemask with an integrated, fog-resistant clear window allowing the wearer’s mouth and facial expressions to be clearly seen. The disposable masks are designed for comfort and breathability without compromising protection from the spread of microorganisms and other particulate.

These innovative masks are designed to make it easier to communicate with people who read lips while masks are worn.