the DPR Editorial Team

 provides some of the latest advances in dental technology in her private practice. She attends extensive postdoctoral studies in advanced dentistry with a special focus on restorative dentistry and prevention. She earned her doctorate from Marquette University and served in the U.S. Navy where she completed a residency at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. She gives back to the community through the 

, and dental mission trips around the world.

 It seems that many offices are looking for ways to increase efficiency. What products have helped you find tangible time savings?

: There are many new technologies that save us time and increase efficiency. The big ones include digital charting and radiographs, cassettes and procedure tubs and making sure that we’re using high quality materials and instruments. Personally, any product that can make a practice more streamlined and efficient is a must, which is why I invested in 

 How has IMS helped make your team and practice more productive?

I run a small office, so when we get busy we need to be able to help each other. We are all fully cross-trained so anyone in the office can assist, as well as set up or clean up a room. Having 

 has streamlined our process, allowing us to know that each set up is sterile and ready to go. Not having to search through pouches for missing instruments greatly increases our productivity.

Check out this side-by-side comparison of Hu-Friedy's IMS

 What, if any, learning curve did your team face in implementing the system?

Whenever a new technology is introduced to an office there is some resistance to change. An assistant who had been with the practice for many years was hesitant-she believed cassettes were unnecessary. Her attitude changed right after we started implementing them into our daily routine and she realized how efficient the system is. My entire office also comments on how they feel safer when it comes to preventing sharps exposure and love how it eliminates instrument hand-scrubbing.

 The average practice saves 5 to 10 minutes per procedure when using IMS. How have you used that recaptured time?

We are able to see more patients on a daily basis, making us more productive and increasing our bottom line. It also allows time for us to focus on non-procedure related activities such as team building, continuing education courses, administrative duties, marketing and social media outreach and taking part in community service. One of the best perks of IMS is the extra time we have to get to know our patients on a personal level.

 In addition to time savings, would you say you’ve seen a financial return on this investment?

When patients come in for appointments they seem much more aware of their surroundings and have started paying attention to the steps taken by myself and my staff in regards to their well-being. I think they are looking for a more modern and clean office. Implementing IMS has helped us impress existing patients and attract new ones. Another added bonus is that IMS keeps instruments from getting damaged, saving us money by not having to replace things so often. With new patients, minimized instrument costs and the time and energy saved for my staff and myself, the initial investment for IMS seems minimal. I would definitely encourage other offices to practice using Hu- Friedy’s Instrument Management System.

Maximizing efficiency is possible when the exact procedural set up needed for each patient is at your fingertips. The Instrument Management System (IMS®) standardizes and combines the cleaning, sterilization, storage and organization of instruments in one integrated cassette system. This creates results that can save up to 5-10 minutes per procedure while eliminating dangerous processing steps that require handling of contaminated, sharp instruments.

Procedural tubs are flexible tools to organize and transport items, such as consumable products, and can be color coded to match your cassettes, creating the most efficient Instrument Management System. Procedural tubs standardize your materials required for a specific procedure, eliminating time-consuming tray prep. Disposables, cassettes, and other items can be safely transported, using locking lids to protect contents from airborne contamination.

Hu-Friedy Hand Essentials™ has been designed specifically to help promote proper hand hygiene protocols in the dental office. Each product supports specific routines that dental professionals perform each day including hand washing and skin protection as recommended by the CDC. The Hand Essentials line includes medical grade lotions, sanitizers, and soaps. All Hu-Friedy Hand Essentials products are tested to be latex and CHG friendly, making them compatible with other products in the dental office.

Articles

Dr. Angela Cotey provides some of the latest advances in dental technology in her private practice. She attends extensive postdoctoral studies in advanced dentistry with a special focus on restorative dentistry and prevention. She earned her doctorate from Marquette University and served in the U.S. Navy where she completed a residency at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Dental Innovator: How Hu-Friedy's IMS® increases efficiency and offers a solid ROI [VIDEO]

We talk with Laura Woodruff, sales manager for North America SDI, as she explains why patients rave about 

 DPR is currently fielding a survey asking dentists about the trends they’re seeing in the presentation and acceptance of whitening. From your vantage point on the manufacturing side, what are you seeing in terms of whitening demand?

: In terms of whitening demand, we feel it has been consistent over the last several years. Most offices have whitening programs in place but the difference is in the way each office markets their specific whitening products.

We have found there is always an interest in learning more about a new or different whitening line. The main reason for this is most offices know whitening is a very hot topic and if it isn’t offered in their dental office, the patients will eventually leave for another office that does offer whitening or will purchase over the counter products.

 help dentists deliver better results to patients?

: The multiple packaging options are definitely an attractive feature of the Pola line for dentists. We have the “pre-packaged” aesthetic packaging for offices that prefer to offer a professional looking whitening kit to first time whiteners investing their own money into a take-home package.

It is common for offices to offer this type of packaging for the first official whitening treatment because they charge anywhere from $200-$400 for this package. We also offer very cost-effective packaging options for the office to provide maintenance whitening and whitening for life program syringes.

When looking at how we provide better results, the built-in desensitizer and shorter wear times set us apart from other whitening lines. Patients are getting the desired results without the longer wear times and sensitivity they have often encountered with other whitening products.

 What materials does SDI have available to help dentists promote whitening in their practices?

: In addition to all of the tangible products that can be sent immediately to the offices, i.e. patient brochures with informative FAQ sections for the patients, appointment cards, posters, and even ceiling tiles (which many offices do use), the 

 has a VERY comprehensive collection of online marketing materials that are pre-made to promote almost any holiday or event.

These are easily made into personalized documents by adding the office information and promotional product information based upon what an individual office wants to promote. We also have all of our product images and Whiter Brighter You logo images in jpg format so the offices can easily save these images to their own computers and insert into their social media pages, flyers, websites, etc.

Another great marketing tool actually exists within the product line itself with Pola Paint. This cosmetic whitening pen makes a great marketing tool when placed in the front of the office. It not only markets 

 in the office but also shows patients the Pola line has many options for take-home whitening.

 is a 9th generation of adhesives that dramatically reduces the polymerization stress caused by composites shrinking. Riva Bond LC is a universal light cured adhesive for direct restorations.  Until now, dentists have had no choice but to place a composite they know will shrink and not be able to do anything about it. Riva Bond LC’s unique Stress Reduction Technology™ incorporates bioactive ionglass™technology with advanced glass ionomer resin technology ensuring minimal stress at all bonding interfaces. 

reportedly requires less than 30 minutes of treatment time. Because it doesn’t require light activation, the system can be used with or without a bleaching light as any heat emitting curing light can be used.

Plus, the neutral pH bleaching and built-in desensitizer of Pola Office+ is said to offer maximum comfort during and after treatment, resulting in lower sensitivity and less patient discomfort. Equipped with a dual barrel syringe system capable of reaching tight spots, the whitener doesn’t require mixing trays as it mixes as it’s applied to guarantee a blend of activated gel.

A rapid take-home teeth whitening system,

 promises immediate change with a wear time of just 15 minutes once or twice per day. The gel is pH neutral, composed of 35% carbamide peroxide and has a high water content that stops teeth from drying.  Plus, the high viscosity, fluoride-infused, spearmint flavored gel remains where it’s placed and remineralizes the tooth surface, assisting in sensitivity reduction.

We talk with Laura Woodruff, sales manager for North America SDI, as she explains why patients rave about Pola Whitening products and what it can do for your practice. 

Dental Innovator: Why patients are loving the SDI Pola Whitening line [VIDEO]

 co-founder Brian Smith about how the company's automated patient communication service brings patients back with an individualized touch.

 Options for patient outreach have evolved substantially over the last 5 years. How is Lighthouse working to stay on the leading edge?

Text messaging has exploded in that period: 80% of Americans now use their cell phones for texting. We have enabled two-way text messages for every purpose for which we send messages. We’d love to tap into social media for direct patient communications, but none of them allow third parties to piggyback on their platforms. If they ever do, we’ll be there!

 Often, there is a push-pull between high tech and high touch. How does the Lighthouse approach address that tension?

I think most people think of “high touch” as “human interaction,” but I disagree with that. To me, “high touch” is being attentive to your patients and doing what they want (within reason, of course!). For example, a lot of people today don’t want a personal phone call from their dentist-instead, they prefer an email or a text. Why NOT give those patients what they want, especially when it’s cheaper and automated? On the other hand, 23% of patients don’t use either email or text, so they clearly want a more traditional form of contact-either a postcard or a phone call. We can automate all of these types, using both high- and low-tech to deliver a “high touch” approach to patient communications. Bottom line-we help our clients reach 100% of their patients the way the patients prefer.

 One incredible value add you have with the Lighthouse system is the 

. At a $799 value, why is the company giving it away?

Mobile search is expected to exceed desktop search for local business information by 2015, but most dental websites look terrible on a smart phone. Even if your website comes up in a search and a prospective patient clicks on it, Google has found that more than 60% will move on if they can’t read it on a phone. That’s a problem. Mobile websites aren’t intended to have the same content as a full sized website, because people searching on a phone don’t generally want a ton of information. They want to see just enough to know this business can do what they need. We already have all the basic information needed for a mobile site: practice name and contact info, hours, payment methods, short profiles on the doctor and staff, and patient reviews. We invested in the technology to put that information into a mobile-friendly website and simply give it to our clients. We have no contract, so every month we need to prove we’re worth more than our monthly fee. Adding the free mobile website is just one way we do that.

 One notable feature in the Lighthouse system is “

There are actually two keys: it’s 100% automated, and it reaches 100% of patients. Not only do we use email, text, postcards and letters to reach every patient-we also notify the office when a patient isn’t responding to our automated messages, so they can pick up the phone and call. No one has to run a recall report from the practice management system, and no patient falls through the cracks. As the patient gets further past due, our messages become more “pointed,” to the point where we can send a letter-which is a lot more compelling than an email or a postcard-if the patient ignores all previous messages. If a patient is going to come back at all, some component of our Perfect Recall system will make that happen.

. How will that affect your customers, present and future?

Yodle’s mission is to connect local businesses with new customers. The online marketing platform – including desktop and mobile websites, unique SEO techniques, and proprietary paid search technology – Yodle uses to do that is truly impressive, and is constantly refined to work even better. One of the biggest challenges in the advertising business is proving that what you’re doing is working. Since Lighthouse sees the flow of every new patient through the dental practice, we can make the connection between the phone call to the office that came from a Yodle website, the prospective patient scheduling, and he or she actually showing up. In other words, we’ll be able to further illustrate the effectiveness of advertising, and calculate its ROI based on actual production figures. No one has ever done that before because acquisition and relationship marketing are traditionally separate. However, by the time this interview is published, we’ll be doing it for a group of Lighthouse clients who have just started using Yodle’s solutions and eventually, for any Lighthouse client who wants it. Beyond that, Lighthouse clients won’t be affected. They’ll continue to get the same benefits they’ve always received.

Confirming appointments may be the most significant thing that an automated patient communications system does for an office. Lighthouse 360 is the only system that automatically marks appointments “confirmed” in the schedule for every major practice management system. Why would you even consider a system that doesn’t do this?

Perfect Recall can be set up to send any combination of message types, on any schedule you want, starting as early as you want, and going for as long as you want. Start with a gentle reminder to make an appointment several weeks before the patient is due, then continue to send a series of messages over time. Each message will escalate the importance of making the appointment. Messages will continue only if necessary, all the way to a “past due by a year or more” message expressing your concerns, all within the privacy of an enveloped letter. All of this is easily automated with Lighthouse 360, with zero staff intervention.

DPR recently talked to Lighthouse 360 co-founder Brian Smith about how the company's automated patient communication service brings patients back with an individualized touch. Q: Options for patient outreach have evolved substantially over the last 5 years. How is Lighthouse working to stay on the leading edge?

Dental Innovator: Lighthouse 360 combines high tech and high touch to provide efficient patient outreach

We talk with Steve Schiess, chief executive officer of 

, about the growing interest in the implant overdenture category.

 How have you seen your business evolve over the last 5 years?

: Clinicians and patients alike are increasingly recognizing implants as a viable and preferred treatment option to missing teeth. This is especially evident in how implant-retained overdenture (dentures retained by implants) treatment has risen, and is one of the fastest growing segments in the overall implant market. More and more people are presenting to clinician offices partially or fully edentulous with ill-fitting traditional dentures and partials.

Frequently, the patient’s chief complaint is his or her quality of life with these non-retained dentures. Clinicians are offering an implant-retained option to satisfy these patients. This edentulous patient population is exactly the demographic that 

ZEST has tailored our business to this patient population by creating interface compatible LOCATOR® Attachments with a pioneering self-aligning design for more than 350 different implant products. Providing this unique technology across a variety of implant systems has propelled ZEST to be recognized as the premier manufacturer of overdenture attachments.

 How has the growing interest in the implant overdenture category shaped your internal product development process?

: Being an innovator in dental solutions for edentulous patients and repeatedly hearing from clinicians about what a great solution LOCATOR provides their patients focused our attention on identifying new key market opportunities within the overdenture category.

What we found was that the implant-retained overdenture demographic is projected to grow substantially throughout the next 20 years and market research indicated that narrow (less than 3 mm) diameter implants will play an increased role in retaining overdentures. Even today, this type of technology is being used to retain about a third of all implant-retained overdentures.

The LOCATOR Attachment, while currently made for nearly all implant systems, was not available for the narrow diameter implant segment. Recognizing this, we set out to develop a LOCATOR incorporated onto a narrow diameter implant. Thus, the idea of creating a next generation narrow diameter implant system was born-The LOCATOR Overdenture Implant System (LODI).

We used years of collective knowledge in the dental implant market and focused on all the features that were lacking in current designs to create an enhanced narrow diameter implant system designed exclusively for overdenture patients.

 The Locator Overdenture Implant System (LODI) has generated a lot of excitement since the launch. What gap in the marketplace were you hoping to fill?

: In speaking with several key opinion leaders during our research phase, they shared with us their collective experiences with other currently available narrow diameter implant systems- many of which have seen little to no innovation over the last decade.  In the product development stage, the LOCATOR Overdenture Implant was specifically designed to address the most sought after improvements by incorporating the following key features into the LODI System:

The implant is manufactured using the strongest titanium available and has a proven RBM surface. The implant body is tapered and includes self-tapping, cutting edges for easy insertion. The thread design on LODI is unique in the narrow diameter implant market; the threads are aggressive in pitch and gradually widen to the coronal thread terminus to provide increased primary stability.

The LOCATOR Attachment is detachable for simple replacement if tissue height changes or if wear occurs throughout time. It is also the same familiar design that clinicians have used for years, offering dramatically lower attachment height necessary for denture strength and patient comfort when the denture is removed. 

The surgical instrumentation includes easily identifiable laser etched depth markings and drill stops, as well as a simple procedure making osteotomy preparation intuitive and safe while offering the less invasive option of a flapless surgery or the option to create a flap.

All of these features combine together to answer the market need for an implant system designed specifically for patients requiring a cost effective, predictable and long-term implant-retained overdenture option.

 Now that it’s been on the market for almost a year, what has been the response?

: The response has been tremendous and it is clear that clinicians are beginning to realize the unique benefits that a thoughtfully designed, next generation narrow diameter implant system can provide.

We are frequently receiving feedback that clinicians feel LODI is providing them with the ability to tailor the system to the patient rather than the other way around. Denture patients with narrow ridges who refuse bone grafting and have limited finances are definitely the patients that LODI is helping, while providing meaningful benefits to the clinicians who treat them.

With a two-piece coronal design, the LOCATOR

 Overdenture Implant System (LODI) is said to offer a less invasive, predictable and durable implant retained overdenture for patients requiring an effective, cost-conscious technique for securing their dentures.

We talk with Steve Schiess, chief executive officer of ZEST Anchors, about the growing interest in the implant overdenture category.

Dental Innovator: Zest LODI System answering market need of value and predictability

“I have used a lot of polishers, all sorts, all kinds, and I have never found something that brings me this close to the natural enamel."

Dr. Monica Barrera of New City, N.Y. practices general dentistry part time in an office she describes as “small - focused on quality, not volume.”

, Dr. Barrera was open to trying out the new single use diamond composite polisher, and found herself surprisingly impressed by the product.

“I have used a lot of polishers, all sorts, all kinds,” she shared, “and I have never found something that brings me this close to the natural enamel. I was looking for something that compares to the texture/shininess of the natural enamel, and this product does just that.”

The new polisher allows her to accomplish the natural enamel-like shine without taking a long time to reach the texture.

“It really makes the surface shine,” she said. “I haven’t been able to accomplish this before, and I’ve been a dentist for many years.”

It is that experience that Dr. Barrera draws from when trying to explain why such a simple product can have such a big impact.

“I’ve tried it all -why reinvent the wheel again? This is a good product that gets the job done well and quickly,” she said. “I spend so much time trying to get a good luster, but with this, I can accomplish that easily. It gets the job done.”

recently released a new single use diamond composite polisher.

Johnson-Promident carries 500 different carbide and diamond burs, with a full range of shapes, sizes and grits to accommodate individual preferences and cover a multitude of applications. Its new Finishing and Polishing Instruments are also designed and manufactured to consistently deliver the best performance and durability, including products that use the newest technologies in composite polishers.

Dental Innovator: Johnson-Promident diamond composite polisher offers quality and value

, patient satisfaction levels continued to exceed our expectations..."

 What initially sparked your interest in pursuing CAD/CAM dentures?

: The need for reducing the time it takes with conventional prosthetics laboratories to complete a denture case is very important to our company and to our clients. Being able to complete a full denture case in two appointments greatly reduced the time for completion of a denture case.

I first heard about CAD/CAM denture technology at the FNDC Convention in 2012 when a colleague of mine showed me the DENTCA starter kit. Mid America Professional Group, PC is a company of dedicated professionals specializing in the business of dentistry, so it seemed to me that CAD/CAM digital denture production could be a significant time-saver for our network of doctors across the United States who frequently go out to Skilled Nursing Facilities to perform dental procedures. At first, it sounded too good to be true. So, of course, we had to test it.

 What about the DENTCA product and company inspired confidence to partner with them?

: We started testing the DENTCA system with a series of common and complicated denture cases. After evaluating the product clinically, it became clear that DENTCA’s system would be ideal for rolling out to all Mid America Skilled Nursing Facilities because of its simplicity and accuracy, as well as immense time and cost-saving advantages.

During the evaluation, DENTCA worked tirelessly to accommodate our company’s needs and delivered all the final dentures with outstanding results. After reviewing the results, MAH determined that with DENTCA’s CAD/CAM system, we could reduce denture production time by half across the board and reduce the number of patient visits needed from the conventional five visits to two. For many of our doctors who travel offsite to treat patients, reducing the total number of visits needed was the greatest gift of all besides the accuracy and reliability of the system. With DENTCA’s CAD/CAM system, patient satisfaction levels continued to exceed our expectations with faster turnarounds and welcome results.

Having met with the DENTCA team from the beginning, our professional relationship involved a strong communication loop with their company. Mid America Professional Group recognized the need to partner with a company that is stable, committed to its customers, and visionary in the field. DENTCA has consistently proven their commitment through their dedication to customer service and research & development. DENTCA’s efforts coupled with their ability and desire to comprehend our needs, has developed in a stronger partnership over time.

 With any major technology purchase, ROI is always a consideration. Do you feel you’ve earned a return with DENTCA?

: There was minimal investment to begin using their system and our return has been great. DENTCA requires no additional hardware or software to use the system beyond the DENTCA impression tray. We have been able to reduce our cost for completing denture cases and still provide a quality product that is esthetically pleasing and functionally stable. We have completed hundreds of denture cases with DENTCA, with our network of doctors across the United States, and the ROI continues to increase with their continuous system and process improvements.

: When speaking with colleagues, how would you tell them to evaluate their readiness for embracing DENTCA?

: We must embrace new technology particularly when it comes to removable prosthetics. There really have not been major changes in the way we fabricated dentures until this technology surfaced. I believe it has revolutionized the way we as general practitioners can treat an edentulous patient. The ability to accurately record a functional occlusion and deliver a full set of dentures in two appointments has made denture cases a viable option for dentists who normally don’t embrace removable prosthetics. The DENTCA system provides huge time and cost benefits for networks of doctors like Mid America, and considerable ease of use for general practitioners who want to deliver high quality, comfortable and esthetic dentures in the shortest time. For those of us who continue to treat edentulism, there is no better alternative than DENTCA’s 3D CAD/CAM system.

DENTCA can fabricate try-ins (prototypes) in 3 days and final dentures in 5 days upon receiving the impression. DENTCA’s 3D software automatically calculates: Teeth Selection, Midline, Occlusal Plane, Lip Support, Curve of Spee, Curve of Wilson, Articulation, Posterior Dam, and more - all from the single impression. With the software system calculating these measurements and mapping out the perfect anatomical setup for each patient, only one patient visit is needed before try-in or final delivery.

DENTCA's 3D CAD/CAM Denture Solution Advantages

• Only 1 patient visit needed before final denture delivery

• Chairtime = 55 Minutes vs. 5+ hours conventionally

• Processing Time = 3-5 Days vs. 30+ days to fabricate conventionally

Mid America Professional Group, PC, and Mid America Health (MAH) is a company of dedicated professionals specializing in the business of dentistry. MAH is dedicated to serving the needs of America’s elderly population by providing portable dental care to long-term care facilities. We understand the dental needs of this underserved population and strive to improve each resident’s quality of life one smile at a time. (www.mah.com).

 "With DENTCA, patient satisfaction levels continued to exceed our expectations..."

Dental Innovator: DENTCA's 3D CAD/CAM denture solution offers accuracy and quick delivery

 Director of Clinical Research and Education Dr. Chris Walinski about the company's continuing innovations in laser dentistry, plus its claim as an established player in 3D imaging solutions.

 Biolase has-for many years-been synonymous with innovation in dental lasers. The WaterLase is a standard bearer in that tradition. How has the WaterLase brand and product evolved to meet the needs of the high-tech dental practice?

 anniversary of WaterLase this year. The 

, which is our fourth-generation of this technology, has evolved to meet the demands of every dental practice. Reliability is at an all-time high; performance has never been better, even rivaling the cutting speed of a highspeed drill. The system is driven with a touchscreen featuring full-color illustrations of clinical procedures, and is now available with a second wavelength on-board.

 In EPIC, you have a state-of-the-art diode laser. With so many competitors in this category, what makes EPIC the go-to solution for dentists?

The EPIC Total Diode Solution represents the ingenuity of a team of laser physicists who have been designing dental and medical laser devices for more than two decades. Featuring our proprietary 940nm laser wavelength, and patents surrounding nearly every component, EPIC offers greater flexibility, cutting speed, comfort levels, more power-and greater flexibility with the laser treatments a practice can offer. In addition to common surgical procedures, EPIC is the only laser cleared by the U.S. FDA for treatment of minor pain related to common orofacial disorders such as TMJ, as well as Whitening mode for laser-assisted bleaching. Plus, the iPlus is driven with a straightforward touchscreen menu interface, which can greatly shorten the learning curve.

 In the last year, Biolase has established itself as a player in 3D imaging solutions. What prompted this expanded offering?

: The emergence of digital 3D dentistry is important for BIOLASE. No technology is better suited as a complement to precise, full-view 3D dentistry than the WaterLase iPlus. The iPlus is a superb clinical tool in the hands of any dentist when addressing the clinical conditions associated with 3D scans, such as endodontic treatment, periodontal surgery, placing implants, and contouring osseous tissue. We also are on the leading edge of using 3D digital imaging in restorative and orthodontic procedures. We also carry the 3Shape TRIOS line of intraoral scanners. We see these technologies merging with the excellent, minimally invasive, full dimensional approaches the WaterLase iPlus and EPIC allow. We call this confluence of technologies the Total Technology Solution. We believe we are positioning our company to offer great customer service and technological know-how to become partners with dentists as they deploy the Total Technology Solution.

 In choosing a 3D solution to stand behind, what did you find most compelling about the NewTom brand?

NewTom was the first 3D CBCT technology in dentistry and is well respected in the medical and dental communities. NewTom images are considered among the highest quality. Adding NewTom’s highly regarded imaging technologies to our Total Technology Solutions product portfolio was essential as part of our “See More. Do More.” vision to enable dentists to provide faster, more accurate, more patient-friendly diagnosis and treatment planning.

 With many dentists concerned about obsolescence, how do you feel investments in lasers and 3D position dental practices for long-term success?

While the concern over obsolescence is valid, the short-term benefits of lasers and 3D imaging systems can be realized almost from day one. The ROI can be exponential, which mitigates obsolescence in the long term by providing an incredible new type of dentistry for dentists and their patients. For example, 3D imaging can reveal clinical conditions not otherwise visible on traditional 2D images; 3D digital intraoral scanning dramatically simplifies the lab/dentist interface, including eliminating impression material. Lasers can allow for anesthetic-free, drill-free procedures for patients, which redefines the dental experience.

The most recent addition to the WaterLase brand family, the WaterLase iPlus Delivers 2,780nm YSGG and 940nm diode versatility with docking station for optional 

The iPlus “Point and Perform” graphical user interface instantly programs ideal settings for each procedure you select. The iPlus also cuts hard-tissue as fast as conventional drills, but without the discomfort or risk of cross contamination.

The EPIC™ laser’s graphical touchscreen puts 20 soft-tissue procedures, plus 20-minute full-mouth whitening and FDA-cleared temporary pain relief at the clinician’s fingertips. The ComfortPulse modes can reduce pulse length to as little as one ten-millionth of a second to avoid heat build-up at the surgical site for fast cutting with less patient discomfort.

Newly launched under the NewTom banner, the NewTom VG3 takes an image at every degree of rotation, 360° rotation = 360 images, increasing the range of possibilities for image manipulation. A revolutionary flat panel X-ray detector produces the clearest, sharpest images possible. NewTom VG3 features an adjustable Field Of View, which allows the operator to irradiate just the right volume, depending on the required clinical application.

DPR recently spoke with Biolase Director of Clinical Research and Education Dr. Chris Walinski about the company's continuing innovations in laser dentistry, plus its claim as an established player in 3D imaging solutions. Q: Biolase has-for many years-been synonymous with innovation in dental lasers. The WaterLase is a standard bearer in that tradition. How has the WaterLase brand and product evolved to meet the needs of the high-tech dental practice?

Dental Innovator: How "BIOLASE leads the way in creating the 'total technology solution'..."

“It is all about the user experience.”

 is a strong brand in a number of imaging categories, but you’ve been extremely muscular in promoting 3D imaging. What drives the excitement behind this category?

Gendex always has been a leader in dental imaging technology by providing cutting edge solutions for the dental professional. 3D digital x-rays, also referred to as Cone Beam CT (CBCT), provide state-of-the-art scans of the mouth and jaw area in a matter of seconds.

These 3D CBCT x-rays provide a wealth of information used to precisely plan for treatment prior to any procedure’s beginning. The patient anatomy is seen in 3D, rather than the traditional flat 2D view, which provides more complete visual information to study the case from every angle. 3D Cone Beam x-ray images give the doctor more of the high quality, detailed visual information they want for diagnosis and planning. More complete information is not only important to the dental workflow, but also is vital to improved patient care.

 With so many 3D options available, what do you see as the 

: For more than 120 years Gendex has been providing innovative and dependable imaging solutions to dental professionals. We design imaging solutions that provide vital information to support accurate diagnosis and predictable treatment planning. With the introduction of the new 

, Gendex offers the clinician the power of choice with the modular 3-in-1 system.

Choose the solutions that best fit the practice’s imaging needs. From general preventive care to implants, extractions, root treatments, and orthodontics, the GXDP-700 is a flexible system capable of being upgraded from panoramic to cephalometric and Cone Bean 3D. It is all about the user experience.

From the large easy-to-use touchscreen LCD interface, to the EasyPosition™ repeatable patient positioning system, the 

 delivers high quality, consistent imaging results. This ensures increased predictability confidence in the treatment planning phase. Plus, the compact footprint allows the unit to be installed in any space-limited location.

 - feature. How does this benefit the dentist?

: Metal and other dense radio-opaque materials present in the patient’s mouth during a Cone Beam CT scan have been problematic in the past with respect to image quality. The resulting image could contain streaking artifacts and distortion to the surrounding areas around the metals present. Recently Gendex introduced SRT™, Scatter Reduction Technology, to its award-winning 

This new feature allows clinicians to reduce artifacts caused by metal or radio-opaque objects such as restorations, endodontic filling materials, and implant posts. The use of SRT image optimization technology delivers 3D scans with higher clarity and detail around scatter-generating material. SRT represents a significant aid when 3D scans are required for a variety of procedures from endodontic to restorative and the post-surgical assessment of implant sites.

 What do you see as some of the most misunderstood aspects of 3D imaging technology?

: When I have the opportunity to speak to a doctor about 3D imaging, several common myths prevail: 1. The unit is producing too much radiation; 2. The software is too hard to use; 3. There are increased liability concerns.

In reality, the radiation levels produced by today’s CBCT machines are not much more, and in some cases less, than that of a standard panoramic 2D x-ray unit, but with increased benefits to the clinician and patient. The software being offered with the 3D machines today is intuitive and easy-to-use while delivering repeatable and reliable results and decreasing workflow time.

Other clinicians feel that by going to 3D they give up their opportunity to take 2D images. With the GXDP-700, all of these common myths are unfounded or untrue. Because the GXDP-700 comes in a modular platform, 3D images along with commonly used 2D panoramic and cephalometric images are available using the same machine. So the clinician has the ability to invest in only the imaging capabilities currently needed with the possibility of adding more as the practice expands.

The GXDP-700™ Series is a 3-in-1 system designed to help dentists achieve their clinical goals.  Along with the ability to transform from 2D Panoramics to Cephalometrics to 3D, the GXDP-700 Series gives clinicians dependable image capture of a wide variety of radiographs. These images are valuable for diagnosis and treatment planning of caries, root investigation, orthodontics, implants, and other surgical procedures, as well as patient education.

Earlier this year, Gendex introduced SRT, 

, to the GXDP-700 system. The use of SRT image optimization technology delivers 3D scans with higher clarity and detail around scatter-generating material. The activation of SRT is a very simple and easy step. When a scan is prescribed near a known area of scatter generating material, the user only needs to select the SRT button from the GXDP-700 touchscreen interface to use this new optimization technology.

Dental Innovator: The Gendex advantage of 3D options [VIDEO]

“We maximize and optimize the benefits dentists are getting from each product...”

 We’re so used to hearing about major materials launches from 3M ESPE that the recent launch of 

Sof-Lex™ Spiral Finishing and Polishing Wheels

 definitely grabbed our editors’ attention. 

How does a product like this demonstrate the type of innovation we’ve come to expect from 3M ESPE?

: One of the advantages in working at 3M ESPE is that we are part of 3M as a whole, which gives us access to experts in more than 40 core technologies. We are able to utilize technology, expertise and products from other divisions and incorporate modifications to better suit our customers.

The new Sof-Lex spiral wheels are a great example of that. This technology was adapted from spiral-shaped wheel products produced by the 3M Abrasives Systems Division, which were originally sold for polishing metal in industrial and jewelry applications. Once our team realized the potential of these spiral wheels for dentistry, we used our voice-of-customer research to guide modifications to the product and make it into an effective and safe tool for dentists.

 Sof-Lex™ spiral wheels are now part of a greater 3M ESPE Restorative Procedure Solution that includes 

Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative

. How do you see this “system” approach benefitting the dentist?

: As a manufacturer, we do extensive testing of our products together to prove their efficacy. This is inherent in the new product development process, regardless of whether we’re developing a finishing and polishing device or an adhesive. That ensures our adhesives work with our composites and our composites work with our finishing and polishing systems.

We maximize and optimize the benefits dentists are getting from each product and the entire system. This allows us to have the highest confidence in restorations placed with all 3M ESPE products. Additionally, we periodically repeat this testing especially if changes are made in raw materials or manufacturing processes. Because we do not know what other manufacturers are doing, we therefore don’t know when updated testing is needed with products outside our system.

 Many doctors are either insecure or skeptical about changing their procedure style. Fewer steps may sound good, but can it really deliver the same quality?

: That’s a really good question that we encourage doctors to ask, because fewer steps are not always better. But in this particular case, when you look at the fact that some doctors are using in excess of 10 different tools in order to finish and polish their restorations, this streamlined system can be a great benefit.

Once you’ve shaped the restoration and refined the margins using burs and diamonds, you simply use the beige spiral finishing wheel to remove the scratches and then the white spiral polishing wheel to polish it to a high gloss shine. You no longer need to go through the different shapes or the variety of tools you may have used in the past.

 The versatility of the Sof-Lex spiral wheels certainly seems to be a benefit. How do the materials in this solution - Filtek Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative and Scotchbond Universal adhesive - offer versatility?

 Filtek Supreme Ultra universal restorative

 is available in such a wide range of shades and opacities gives dentists a lot of 

 flexibility in how they use it, whether they want to layer shades for customization.

 truly lives up to the “universal” in its name. It’s a one-bottle system that can be used in all techniques and on all surfaces for a durable bond for direct and indirect restorations.

Sof-Lex Spiral finishing and polishing wheels provide dentists with a more versatile and easy-to-use alternative to traditional points, cups, discs, and brushes. Incorporating flexible spiral “fingers,” the finishing and polishing wheels conform to convex and concave surfaces as they traverse the restoration, preventing the need to switch shapes mid-procedure to fit different contours.

Additionally, 3M ESPE has embedded the wheels with abrasive particles that provide effective dental finishing from any side – top, bottom or edge.

Designed with nanofiller technology to offer optimal strength and esthetics - excellent polish and better polish retention than a microfill - Filtek Supreme Ultra nanocomposite is also easy to use: exceptional handling; color-coded by opacity; and bold, easy-to-read labels. The restorative features improved fluorescence in a wide range of shades and opacities.

Scotchbond™ Universal Adhesive is a combined Total-Etch, Self-Etch and Selective-Etch adhesive that offers consistent bond strength to both moist and dry etched dentin with virtually no post-op sensitivity.

Its one-step, one-coat adhesive application is effective on all surfaces and provides high bond strength to all indirect surfaces (zirconia, alumina, glass ceramics and metals) without a separate primer. It offers excellent marginal integrity for highly esthetic restorations and is both self- and dual-cure compatible.

Dental Innovator: What gives 3M ESPE the cutting edge in product development [VIDEO]

Keep reading to learn how you can post a product review and be entered for the chance to win a FREE iPad Mini!

s is proud to announce its new product research and review site, DentalProductsAndReviews.com.

DentalProducts&Reviews.com features in-depth information and Real Reviews from Real Dentists

 on hundreds of high-tech dental products, including Digital Radiography, 3D Cone Beam and Panoramic Imaging Systems, In-Office CAD/CAM Systems and Lasers.  The site will continue to grow as new products are routinely added and reviewed by real dentists and peers.

Here’s where you can play a major role: Have you used any of the products currently listed on 

DentalProducts&Reviews.com? What was your experience? What did you think? Post a review! It only takes a few minutes and can help others in their search for the perfect product. 

 to learn how to post a review and be entered for a chance to win an iPad Mini.