Vyne Dental and Subscribili Join Forces to Launch Vyne Dental Plans | Image Credit: © Vyne Dental

VyneDental® is partnering with Subscribili to launch Vyne dental plans with the goal of increasing patient access to care and empowering dentists nation wide with flexible in-house dental plans.

This innovative partnership is set to elevate the dental experience, for both patients and providers, to unprecedented heights by offering accessible and comprehensive oral healthcare, states Vyne Dental, a leading provider of dental revenue technologies, claims processing, and electronic health information exchange for dental practices of all sizes.

Vyne dental plans are designed to empower providers to diversify their patient base, better serve their uninsured and self-pay patients, and grow patient retention and case acceptance while boosting the top line of their practices. These benefits are delivered all from the convenience of the company’s trusted Vyne Trellis® platform.

These next-generation membership plans combine Vyne Dental's unique revenue acceleration platform with Subscribili's advanced custom dental plan platform, allowing patients and their family members to access subscriptions covering preventative care and reduced pricing on other treatments and services. By enhancing both the patient and provider experience, the membership plan is designed to produce a strong relationship between patients and providers, while helping to increase the flow of cash within the dental practice.

VyneDental empowers 50,000 dental practices across the nation with highly efficient solutions that accelerate revenue, the company states. This new partnership reinforces VyneDental's commitment to streamlining dental billing and simplifying processes that have long burdened the industry.

To gain early access to Vyne Dental Plans powered by Subscribili, register at: 

Vyne Dental is part of the Vyne family of industry-leading information exchange, revenue acceleration, and communication solutions for healthcare. The company strategically develops solutions for dental practices, healthcare providers, and insurance plans and payers, that facilitate the secure exchange of health information in a digital, end-to-end revenue accelerator that optimizes cash flow while helping to reduce associative costs.

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Vyne Dental and Subscribili working together to increase patient access to care and provide dentists nationwide with flexible in-house dental plans.

Vyne Dental and Subscribili Join Forces to Launch Vyne Dental Plans

EasyRx and 3DISC Collaborate to Offer Seamless Digital Lab Prescription Workflows | Image Credit: © EasyRx and 3DISC 

Looking to deliver a more eﬃcient, streamlined experience for dental labs and practices by eliminating extra steps and elevating the quality of patient care, EasyRx and 3DISC are joining forces to offer a seamless digital lab prescription workflow.

EasyRx is a leader in universal lab prescription, digital workﬂow, and 3D software for dentists and orthodontists, and the company just announced its collaboration with 3DISC, a pioneer in digital dentistry and intraoral scanning solutions. In response to user demand, this new partnership brings 3DISC's Heron and OVO IOS technology into the EasyRx digital workﬂow.

“We're delighted to partner with 3DISC, a company committed to advancing digital dentistry. This collaboration not only meets the demands of our users for an integrated, high-tech workﬂow, but it also sets a new standard for patient care by combining our platform with 3DISC’s advanced intraoral scanning solutions,” says Todd Blankenbecler, general manager of EasyRx, who shares his thoughts on the new alliance in a press release.

Joe Andrasko, vice president of business development at 3DISC, adds this in the press release: “We are very excited to partner with EasyRx, which has been a pioneer in the digital workﬂow at the forefront of dentistry today. This collaboration makes it easier than ever for practitioners to share and use their scan data across EasyRx’s vast digital ecosystem, enabling many advanced applications for faster and better patient care.”

3DISC’s OVO and Heron IOS technologies are designed to deliver a user-friendly interface and comfort. More than scanning tools, these technologies also capture patient images and track patient data over time. 3DISC's OVO is unique in its ability to combine intraoral scanning, dental imaging, and time-sequenced patient data, all within a compact, 165-gram device, according to the company. Combined with the Scan & Tell software, the OVO facilitates better patient-practitioner communication, allowing a complete and shareable overview of a patient's dental health in under 3 minutes.

Through this integration, EasyRx looks to continue its mission to modernize the entire lab prescription management process for dentists and orthodontists through this integration. Dental practices and labs can now minimize manual tasks through a more streamlined digital workﬂow. In doing so, providers can now reduce manual tasks and focus on quality patient care.

Founded in 2007, 3DISC is a global leader in digital imaging solutions for dental and medical practices. With headquarters in the United States and France, the company focuses on developing solutions with both dentist and patient in mind.

EasyRx, meanwhile, is a pioneer in orthodontic prescription management, that has empowered over 2,300 practices and 550 labs with its comprehensive case management and 3D software platform. The solution earned the 2020 AAO Ortho Innovator Award. EasyRx is designed to streamline digitalworkﬂows and reduce errors while saving valuable time. Its universal platform seamlessly integrates digital prescriptions, STL ﬁles for 3D printing, and graphical case design, making it an important tool for modern, eﬃcient practices and labs, the company states.

The companies announced a partnership designed to advance digital dentistry and improve patient care.

EasyRx and 3DISC Collaborate to Offer Seamless Digital Lab Prescription Workflows

K Line Europe’s OEM Clear Aligners Now Available in the US |

K Line Europe, a top manufacturer of OEM clear aligners in Europe, has recently received United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration to offer its top-selling K Clear Aligners in the United States.

The K Line delivers a best-in-class refinement rate of only 15.8%, according to the manufacturer. The low refinement rate suggests that practitioners will deliver more predictable case outcomes, more satisfied patients, and greater productivity. When clinicians are spending less time reworking existing cases than what is required due to the higher refinement rates of competitors, they can work more efficiently.

K Line Europe’s process is designed to achieve its 15.8% rate by having every case created by an expert team of orthodontists and dentists, not an artificial intelligence (AI) software program, or lab tech. K Line currently manufactures 7,000 aligners daily to exact specifications at its new, state-of-the-art facility in Germany.

The clear aligners are made from K Line’s K Flex multi-layered material. This material is formulated to provide increased patient comfort, durability, and predictable tooth movement.

The company’s platform works with all 3D intraoral scanners creating a universal STL file. Additionally, K Line’s submission portal is free of charge with no monthly fees. All the aligners are manufactured in 3 to 5 days after case submission, then overnighted to the company’s newly opened distribution center in Florida. The cases are then boxed up at the distribution center, and shipped out to the clinics free of charge, and this entire process takes 14-16 days on average, according to the company.

K Line products will soon be available from most full-service dental dealers in the US. K Line also offers private label opportunities to dental dealers, groups, and dental service organizations (DSOs). For additional information, those interested can contact their authorized K Line dealer or visit the company’s website at 

Top manufacturer of OEM clear aligners in Europe recently garners United States Food and Drug Administration registration. 

K Line Europe’s OEM Clear Aligners Now Available in the US

Pacific Dental Services® Empowers Dental and Medical Professionals with Inaugural Mouth-Body Connection® Symposium. Image credit: © Pacific Dental Services

Pacific Dental Services® (PDS) has marked a significant milestone in its commitment to advancing health care with the successful hosting of its first-ever Mouth-Body Connection® Symposium. Held in Irvine, California, the event brought together PDS-supported dentists, dental hygienists, and primary care providers for an exploration of the critical link between oral health and overall wellbeing, according to a press release from PDS.

Underscoring PDS's dedication to continuous education and clinical expertise development, the symposium served as a platform for attendees to glean insights from industry experts on preventive dentistry and the integration of dental and medical care. The event featured distinguished keynote speakers such as Amy Doneen, DNP, ARNP, a trailblazer in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes; Dirk-Rolf Gieselmann, a leader in periodontal health; and PDS Founder and CEO Stephen E. Thorne IV.

One of the key focuses of the symposium was the correlation between oral health and overall health. Presentations highlighted the Mouth-Body Connection mindset, dental-medical integration, incorporating arterial health into dental practice, and the utilization of advanced tools such as aMMP-8/OralFitnessCheck® and salivary and blood testing for improved patient outcomes.

PDS Founder and CEO, Stephen E. Thorne IV, expressed the significance of the symposium, stating, "Our inaugural Mouth-Body Connection Symposium was a powerful educational platform, marking the beginning of a growth trajectory for our dental and medical professionals. Recognizing the mouth as a gateway to the body, the event emphasized a comprehensive, integrated approach to oral health."

The conference's curriculum is an integral part of PDS's continuing education program, offering a diverse selection of free units online or in-person through PDS University® – Institute of Dentistry. Attendees earned 7 continuing education credits, enhancing their expertise and staying at the forefront of advancements in dental health care.

PDS, as an early adopter of salivary and blood testing, showcased its commitment to innovation in health care. Practices supported by PDS initiated pilot programs in 2020, utilizing active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) and point-of-care blood glucose (HbA1c) testing to identify early signs of disease and improve patient outcomes.

Numerous PDS-supported clinicians shared success stories during the symposium, illustrating the positive impact of embracing the Mouth-Body Connection in their practices. Diana Do-Yabut, DMD, a PDS-supported general dentist and multi-practice owner, expressed gratitude, stating, "The insights from the experts in the field enhanced my understanding and validated my purpose for incorporating saliva testing in my practice–so I could better understand the best way to treat their periodontal disease and reduce long-term systemic health risks. I am thankful to have the opportunity to incorporate a Mouth-Body Connection mindset in my daily practice and cannot imagine practicing any other way.”

The Mouth-Body Connection Symposium not only served as an educational forum but also as a testament to PDS's commitment to transforming dental and medical care through proactive and integrated approaches, ultimately benefiting patient health outcomes.

Pacific Dental Services has hosted a mouth-body connection symposium, an educational opportunity to inform dental clinicians on 

Pacific Dental Services® Empowers Dental and Medical Professionals with Inaugural Mouth-Body Connection® Symposium

Angelalign Technology Inc. and Medit Corporation Unveil Software Integration for Streamlined Dental Workflow. Image credit: © Angelalign, Medit

Angelalign Technology, aligner group, and intraoral scanner developers, Medit Corporation, have announced a cutting-edge software integration. With Medit's intraoral scanning capabilities and Angelalign Technology’s iOrtho™ treatment planning software and aligners, clinicians worldwide now have access to a seamlessly integrated, efficient, and highly accurate workflow, according to a press release from Angelalign.

Angelalign Technology Inc. is renowned for its remarkable innovations, including the revolutionary angelButton™, the world's first and only integrated button for elastic wearing, the A6 Mandibular Advancement, and the advanced iOrtho software. These innovations have not only set Angel Aligners apart in the market but have also positioned the company for significant global expansion, per the press release. 

Medit's state-of-the-art scanners are said to be celebrated for their quality, promising clinicians both precision and speed. This commitment to excellence aligns seamlessly with Angel Aligner's dedication to delivering superior orthodontic solutions, according to the press release.

The newly announced collaboration between Angelalign Technology Inc. and Medit Corporation represents a fusion of experience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. By bringing together the strengths of both companies, this partnership aims to empower dental care providers globally to deliver the best possible care and results to their patients.

The integrated workflow, combining Angelalign's iOrtho software with Medit's IOS capabilities, promises a streamlined experience for clinicians. This not only enhances the efficiency of the treatment planning process but also ensures a high level of accuracy, contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Medit and Angelalign have integrated software systems for a streamlined digital dental workflow. 

Angelalign Technology and Medit Corporation Unveil Software Integration for Streamlined Dental Workflow

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.  

A growth in new patient numbers and enhanced diagnostics for existing and new patients are among the many findings shared in a recently released white paper on dental artificial intelligence (AI) published by VideaHealth.

The report includes a comprehensive analysis of over 470,000 patients with VideaAI, the company’s dental AI solution. The “Dental AI: Hype or Reality—The True Impact on Dentistry” white paper features research studied on 100 dental practices across 41 dental service organizations (DSOs) over a 9-month span. According to the VideaHealth report, the results show that by supporting dental clinicians to identify disease earlier and provide a second opinion to the patient, the average office saw a “remarkable 13% increase in annual net production for restorative and periodontal treatments.” This translates into an additional $78,268 in annual growth per practice followingVideaAIintegration, according to the company.

VideaAI, which includes FDA-cleared medical algorithms that improve the detection of common dental diseases, is signaling a new era of enhanced clinical consistency, elevated patient experiences, and a data-centric approach to dental care. One goal of the new white paper is to analyze the true impact of AI in dentistry, which can help dental leaders contemplating the role AI can play in their practice or group practices.

DentalAI has the promise to support time-strapped dentists and hygienists in their diagnoses and treatment planning, helping them to identify decay and periodontal disease earlier while offering a second opinion to the patient chairside. Most DSOs are interested in the technology as it promises to introduce clinical consistency across their locations and dentists, while also bringing efficiencies to group practices which manage several dental practices and up to thousands of clinicians.

“AI calibrates the care received in an office. It removes any personal bias of the provider and in turn provides transparent objective findings to the patient,” says Michael Scialabba, DDS, chief clinical officer of 42 North Dental.

Designed to deliver the first large benchmark study of AI in dentistry, this research investigates the clinical and financial value of AI across 100 locations picked from over 40 DSOs across the United States.

The study indicates a solid growth in restorative production with the use of VideaAI. | Image Credit: © VideaHealth

To control for seasonality and other changing factors in dental practices such as change of personnel, the largest data set to date was used to determine the value of AI, based on a 9-month timespan across 100 locations and over 471,000 patients, states VideaHealth. Additionally, the study controlled for seasonality as well as change of fee schedules with year-over-year comparisons. The locations analyzed were semi-randomly selected from 41DSOs across the U.S. to control for a geographically diverse and representative sample of dentistry and not have regional and patient-population biases.

“AI helps early detection of decay and allows us to intervene earlier in the caries progression process, giving us the opportunity to improve one’s oral health earlier and with less expensive minimally invasive care,” DrScialabba adds.

The study’s complete data set was split into treatment plans,e.g., treatments planned, scheduled and completed, with and without AI. The analysis was done 3 months after the last patient was analyzed given that treatments completed is a lagging indicator, says VideaHealth. The treatment plans were analyzed for specific ADA CDT codes which should be driven by VideaAI’s modules: Restorative Treatments (D2***) codes and Periodontal Treatments (D4***) codes.

VideaHealth used the analysis to calculate several key indicators of clinical and financial performance across the patient population with and without AI. The key indicators were the “net production per patient” and “change of net new patient acquisitions” (e.g., a change of share of patients who receive a specific treatment).

To control if a potential change in these indicators across these 2 major treatment categories is a true increase in treatment acceptance or a shift of treatments, the study also analyzed the year-over-year total revenue as a control.

The restorative procedures category experienced changes post-VideaAI’s integration. Three months post-go-live, there was a $60,998 growth in annual net restorative production—a 12% uptick in restorative output, according to VideHealth.

Patient Engagement: An increase in the restorative patient population from 21.3% to 21.6% was observed, which translates to an additional 14 net new restorative patients per practice annually.

Production per patient: A significant boost in production per restorative patient was shown, jumping from $546 to $605, an 11% enhancement.

Diagnosis Precision: The diagnostic rate saw a 22% increase in treatments planned and a 13% rise in completed treatments. This showcases the platform’sefficacyinoptimizingclinicalworkflow.

Specific Treatments: Crowns experienced a 25% increase in treatments planned and 13% in treatments completed, while fillings saw a 21% growth in treatments planned and 14% in treatments completed.


VideaHealth’s Comprehensive Study Highlights Many Benefits of Dental AI | Image Credit: © VideaHealth

The white paper also indicates that periodontal procedures displayed marked advancements following VideaAI’s implementation. Three months post-go-live, an annual net increase of $17,270 in periodontal production was registered, equating to a 19% increase in production.

Other key findings on the periodontal side include:

Patient Engagement: The percentage of periodontal patients rose from 10.0% to 10.4%, which yielded 18 net new periodontal patients annually, underscoring VideaAI’s influence in expanding patient scope.

Production Per Patient: The production rate per periodontal patient underwent a growth, ascending from $210 to $241, marking a 15% improvement.

Diagnostic Precision: The results indicate a 22% uptick in treatments planned and completed post go-live, highlighting VideaAI’s pivotal role in enhancing the diagnostic process and follow-through in treatment, the company states.

According to the white paper, growth in new patient inflow was a clear testament to the dental AI’s efficacy. But just as important was the enhanced diagnostic precision for both new and existing patients. While this precision grew the financial bottom line, its more profound impact was in the quality of care, ensuring patients received timely and appropriate care, states VideaHealth in the study.

Dentists are both healthcare providers and businesses and need to balancepatientoutcomeswitheconomic viability. Because of this, it is critical to be efficient both in providing optimal care and with workflows. This study indicates with the integration of VideaAI, practices witnessed holistic growth, impacting not just practice production but also the very essence of delivering care.

For dental practices, VideaAI is more than just a tool. The technology represents a transformative shift, bridging the gap between modern technology and quality patient care. Going forward it’s clear that solutions like VideaAI will be at the forefront of this evolution, the company states.

The white paper analyzes more than 470,000 patients from 41 DSOs and indicates practices and patients alike are helped by VideaAI.

VideaHealth’s Comprehensive Study Highlights Many Benefits of Dental AI

Rutgers Study Finds CBD Alleviates Acute Dental Pain. Image credit: © Rutgers University

, researchers from Rutgers University have discovered that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-addictive derivative of marijuana, holds significant promise in alleviating acute dental pain. This groundbreaking finding suggests that CBD could be a safer alternative to traditional opioid painkillers, with potential applications in dental pain management.

Lead study author Vanessa Chrepa, an associate professor at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, highlighted the current challenges in dental pain management in a press release from Rutgers.

“The first line of defense for dental pain has always been anti-inflammatory medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve), but many patients can’t take such medications or can’t get sufficient relief from them, so dentists have traditionally been among the largest prescribers of opioid medications, either alone or in combination with these other medications,” Chrepa says in the press release.

Per Chrepa, because opioid-related addiction and death are so prevalent, finding new ways to effectively manage pain is crucial in fighting back. Hence, this trial was formed out of Rutgers.

The clinical trial, involving 61 participants with severe tooth pain, randomly assigned participants to receive either one of two doses of an FDA-approved pure CBD solution called Epidiolex or a placebo. For 3 hours, patients’ pain levels were monitored using a standardized visual analog scale. The results revealed that both CBD groups experienced significantly more pain reduction than the placebo group. Approximately 85% of CBD users reported at least a 50% reduction in their initial pain, with both CBD groups achieving a median 70% reduction in pain.

A notable outcome of the study was the increase in bite force among participants who received CBD, suggesting an improvement in tooth function and implying potential benefits for individuals with dental pain that makes it difficult to chew food.

Despite the promising results, the study acknowledged certain limitations, including a small sample size and side effects such as sedation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain occurring more frequently in the CBD groups than the placebo group. The researchers emphasized the need for more extensive research to confirm these findings and explore broader applications of CBD in pain management.

“There are more things to study with follow-up research. Can CBD be used to manage postoperative pain for patients who have undergone tooth extraction or root canal? Can we get even better pain relief by combining it with other agents like Tylenol?” Chrepa says in the press release. “That said, the results of this study are strong enough to make a compelling case to use pure CBD like Epidiolex for dental pain. A larger phase 3 trial will be the next step to get FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) approval for Epidiolex or other pure CBD solutions to use for dental pain management. I am looking forward to translating this into common practice. It will tremendously help patients with acute toothache and possibly other acute inflammatory pain conditions.”

A new study out of Rutgers University has found that cannabidiol, commonly referred to as CBD, can help patients manage acute dental pain, forgoing the need for harmful opioids. 

Rutgers Study Finds CBD Alleviates Acute Dental Pain

HDL Ergo™ 5.0x. from Orascoptic

GENESIS ACTIVE Implant System from Keystone Dental Holdings

ZenSeal from Kerr Dental

xCURE Desktop from Nexa3D

NextDent® Base 3D Printing Resin from 3D Systems

A new retainer platform from Retainer Club.

RC2 from Retainer Club

New software updates to DS Core from Dentsply Sirona.

DS Core Updates from Dentsply Sirona

PARL Assist from Overjet

New Dental Products - November 13 - November 17, 2023

All the latest dental product launches from the week of November 13, 2023 through November 17, 2023. 

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. 

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic and its urgency and necessity of virtual care, dental hygiene has been undergoing a shift with the advent of teledentistry. Teledentistry aims to enhance oral health care, leveraging technology for a new approach. Teledentistry merges the principles of dentistry with telecommunication tools, allowing dental professionals to remotely assess, diagnose, and provide guidance on oral health concerns. This innovative method not only addresses geographical barriers but also promotes proactive dental care by enabling individuals to connect with oral health experts from the comfort of their homes. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, teledentistry emerges as a promising avenue, offering convenience, accessibility, and timely interventions to ensure optimal dental hygiene. This paradigm shift in oral health practices underscores the intersection of technology and health care, heralding a new era in which dental care becomes more personalized, efficient, and inclusive.

But what does this mean for hygienists? How can hygienists properly leverage this technology in their practice to keep up with modern patient demands. 

® had a chat with Director of Customer Success at MouthWatch, Eden Ivie, RDH, BSDH, PHDHP, to talk about how much hygienists can work to serve their patients through teledentistry, and how they can employ telehygiene in their dental practices.

 Can you talk about how telehygiene has evolved in the dental field, and what role dental hygienists play in this emerging trend?

Teledentistry has evolved and grown dramatically over the last few years from being a niche, new age technology, to being a staple in providing care. We’ve seen providers moving several types of appointments to virtual including emergency evaluations, pre-op appointments, and follow ups, saving time and money for both the practice and the patient. We’ve also seen an increase in provider-to-provider use of teledentistry.

Innovative hygiene models are using teledentistry to provide supervision and authorization making their programs sustainable and also increasing services offered. Hygienists have been the driving force behind teledentistry adoption, especially in the mobile hygiene space. Teledentistry allows hygienists to practice at the top of their scope, which improves oral health outcomes for patients.

Telehealth obviously presents different circumstances for the patient and practitioner. What specific services or procedures can dental hygienists perform through telehygiene platforms?

 Hygienists can use teledentistry to receive authorization and supervision from a dentist when they are working in locations such as schools and long-term care facilities. Hygienists can also provide follow-up care, coaching, and oral hygiene instruction virtually using teledentistry. This enables the hygienist to perform non-invasive caries treatments, SDF (Silver diamine fluoride), and periodontal therapy.

Are there any limitations or procedures that absolutely cannot be solved with teledentistry?

Dentistry will always require in-person visits for both preventive and restorative procedures. Teledentistry helps optimize chair time for procedures that must be done in-person, while moving other appointments to virtual.

With technology being so advanced these days, teledentistry has an expanded toolkit to better serve patients. What kind of technologies are commonly used in telehygiene, and how do those technologies and products enhance the delivery of dental hygiene services?

For live video teledentistry appointments, a HIPAA-compliant audio and video source to communicate with patients is needed. For store and forward, a secure way to share oral health data, such as images, notes, documents, and health histories is needed. A turnkey teledentistry platform like MouthWatch’s TeleDent provides both live video and store and forward, which makes sharing data easy and secure.

No technology works perfectly every time. How do you address potential challenges related to technology, such as connectivity issues or equipment limitations?

There's a baseline of technology required to deploy teledentistry. But with a fundamental level of capabilities and access to broadband, any program at a low price can easily implement a technology solution. When there are connectivity challenges, we support offline approaches to data collection, which can be uploaded when a connection is available. Some oral health programs don’t rely on an internet connection found in a school or community setting and typically bring their own hotspot. This enables these programs to continue uninterrupted quite effectively. Also, programs have captured data, images, and patient information and then developed a treatment plan or screening report following their community outreach visit.

Are there regulatory and legal considerations for dental hygienists practicing through telehygiene platforms? If so, how can hygienists be aware of these considerations?

It is important to consult your state Practice Act to ensure you are practicing within your scope, as all states in the U.S. have different regulations regarding allowable duties and supervision requirements.You have to ensure you are using a HIPAA-compliant and secure software solution to protect PHI. Teledentistry can help hygienists practice at the top of their scope but doesn’t expand their scope.

How do practitioners ensure compliance with privacy and security standards in virtual consultations?

Most importantly, practitioners need to understand what's required for compliance in addition to having a platform designed with the highest level of security and access controls in order to protect patient health information. Understanding the documentation and approvals required for consent and other policies is important when delivering care through alternative modalities.

How does telehygiene facilitate collaboration between dental hygienists and dentists?

Teledentistry and a telehygiene approach enable the team to work at the top of their scope of practice and deliver the most efficient and effective utilization of team resources. Remote supervision by a collaborating dentist not only frees up a hygienist to see more patients in a range of settings but also allows the dentist's expertise and diagnostic ability to authorize care across a broader range of patients.

For example, a hygienist can document the need for a minimally invasive care approach and get authorization from the dentist to treat the patient - all in a seamless appointment for the hygienist that would normally require either a dental visit or a follow-up appointment following review of clinical data to authorize services. Teledentistry empowers the hygienist to deliver a vast range of care solutions to the patient while they're in their chair.

Teledentistry seems to do a great job at bridging gaps between the hygienist and the dentist, as well as serving more patient populations. How does it address issues related to accessibility, especially for individuals in remote or underserved areas?

: There are numerous barriers to care that teledentistry breaks down, so that oral care can be offered to patients regardless of their location, level of anxiety, or cost associated with an in-person visit. Teledentistry enables a more productive in-office appointment, helping to avoid the need for a patient to return to the practice multiple times.

Plus, with teledentistry, the patient can stay engaged with the dentist or hygienist in-between visits from the comfort of their home, which is particularly important for homebound patients or others with limited access to in-person care.

What training and skill development opportunities are available for dental hygienists to adapt to telehygiene practices?

 In addition to acquiring a certain level of technical skill, hygienists using teledentistry may deliver care in a mobile or portable setting, which will bring different challenges than a traditional operatory. To help facilitate the development of a successful teledentistry program, the dental team can work with a vendor who can support them by optimizing their workflows and providing critical education and resources.

What do you see as the future trends and potential advancements in telehygiene for dental hygienists?

Future trends supporting telehygiene include the advancement of minimally invasive care solutions that allow for the treatment of conditions that previously required restorative care to be arrested and addressed on site by a hygienist with the supervision of a dentist. These approaches can significantly transform access and connection to care and improve the oral health of individuals across the country.

Through virtual care networks, hygienists will have the ability to collaborate with a virtual dentist who can authorize services and support patient care. This eliminates the need for a hygienist to locate a local doctor willing to be their collaborating dentist. We are excited to see ongoing technological innovations support improved approaches for hygiene teams and a greater focus on convenience and access, which leads to a win for practitioners and patients.

A hygienist and teledentistry expert chats with Dental Products Report about how telehealth, teledentistry, and telehygiene can all better serve patients while providing flexibility for practitioners. 

Telehygienic: What Can Hygienists Do for Patients via Teledental Platforms

This week's Product Bites podcast features new launches from Intiveo, quip, Designs for Health, and Premier Dental.

Product Bites – November 17, 2023

Welcome to Product Bites, a weekly podcast from Dental Products Report, providing you with a rundown of recently launched an 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 editorial director Noah Levine, and on this week's podcast, we've got new products to cover from quip, Premier Dental Intiveo, and Designs for Health. So let's jump right in and learn about these new dental products.

First up Intiveo introduces Global Insights, an advanced analytics solution tailored for dental service organizations and multilocation group practices. This cutting edge practice management software seamlessly integrates with existing Intiveo subscriptions, offering comprehensive performance analytics and actionable insights via a HIPAA compliant platform. With global access, unified data aggregation and a user friendly dashboard, Global Insights is designed to empower DSOs to optimize operations and enhance the patient experience.

ProFlare articulating disposable prophy angles from Premier Dental bring innovation to dental polishing. Featuring a latex-free articulating cup with a unique pivot and flare design, these angles effortlessly adapt to tooth contours, reducing clinician wrist motion, and improving ergonomics. The design ensures efficient stain removal, and the compact head and neck enhance visibility. ProFlare angles, packaged in sets of 125, are designed to pair seamlessly with Premier Dental's EnamelPro prophy paste and AeroPro cordless prophy handpiece for an efficient prophy protocol

Designs for Health recently introduced PerioBiotic Silver, a fluoride-free probiotic toothpaste with a unique formula that includes Kalident, nano-hydroxyapatite, purified silver, COQ10 grapeseed extract, and Dental-Lac Dental-Lac is a strain of lactobacillus paracasei promotes a balanced oral microbiome. The toothpaste is formulated to support enamel strength, tooth brightness, and overall oral health. It does not contain sulfates, but does feature coco betaine for a gentle cleanse, making it suitable for patients with sensitive teeth.

Home oral care company quip recently launched a trio of custom dental care solutions in the form of custom nightguards, sportscards, and whitening kits. The goal is to bring professional-grade oral care right into patients homes. With all three products, patients begin taking impressions at home, mail them to quip and receive a personalized comfortable guard or whitening kit. quip night guards are designed to address teeth grinding and feature two lining options. Sports guards offer essential protection against sports related injuries. The whitening kit with two treatment options guarantees up to 63% teeth whitening after a 14-day treatment. Each custom care kit includes FDA-approved BPA-free and latex-free materials. quip covers the shipping costs for customers as well.

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 Intiveo, quip, Designs for Health, and Premier Dental.