Jo Donofrio

The MyPerio Health app is a patient education tool that is designed to provide patients an understanding of the different stages and grades of periodontal disease. Patients who have been diagnosed with periodontitis can use the app to gain a better understanding of the disease. The app compliments manual staging and grading through its data collection and automated calculations using the American Academy of Periodontology guidelines.

The MyPerioHealth app is an educational, patient-facing app designed to help dental professionals quickly determine and review the stages and grades of periodontal disease with their patients at the point of care. This first-of-its-kind portable app complements manual staging and grading by streamlining data collection and automating calculations to provide an assessment and then automatically output a patient’s exact periodontitis stage and grade.

Developed by oral health care company OraPharma, the MyPerioHealth app is based on the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Staging and Grading Periodontitis Guidelines. Featuring an interactive and easy-to-follow workflow, the app features an educational video on periodontal disease and engages a patient by having them input their own oral health risk factors and clinical parameters. By responding to a series of short questions, a patient and their dental care provider can obtain a wealth of important information regarding the patient’s periodontal stage and grade, which is key for treatment planning and disease management.

“We have been using the MyPerioHealth app since it launched in October 2021,” says Christine Wojdula, RDH, of Plymouth Meeting Family Dental, a practice outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that provides a wide range of restorative, preventive, and cosmetic services. “One of the main benefits of the app is that, for the first time, patients are actively discovering the extent of their disease.”

By participating in the process, the patients enhance their understanding of their periodontal disease, increasing dialogue and collaboration between the patient and dental staff and resulting in greater acceptance of potential treatment options. “Up until now, patients have been passive players in their dental health,” Wojdula says. “With the app, we are no longer simply telling the patient they have gum disease. Instead, the patient and clinician are working together to determine the patient’s oral health status, which facilitates greater communication between the patient and dental team.”

During the initial assessment, patients are asked to input basic information. Then, with the help of the dentist or hygienist, they also input information regarding their clinical parameters, including clinical attachment loss, radiographic bone loss, and pocket depth.

“Each page includes a short description of the clinical information being requested,” Wojdula says. “These explanations increase the patient’s understanding of their gum disease and facilitate more informed questions and discussions regarding their disease. Using the app at maintenance visits also allows the patient to monitor their progress and maintain ownership of their disease. No special training is required to use the app, and the learning curve is short [because of] the app’s intuitive nature.”

The AAP guidelines and the MyPerioHealth app are designed only for use with patients who have completed the normal diagnostic process of periodontal evaluation and radiographs and have an established diagnosis of periodontitis. The app provides a comprehensive assessment of a patient’s exact periodontitis stage and grade, after a diagnosis of periodontitis is made. Based on the assessment of the patient’s current stage and grade of disease, the dental professional can then recommend possible treatment options.

“Our patients’ response to being active in the discovery of their disease has been highly favorable,” Wojdula says. “We have seen a noticeable increase in the acceptance of treatment and maintenance recommendations and in adherence with in-home care.”

The MyPerioHealth app is free and widely accessible. Designed for use on a tablet or cell phone, it is available on both iOS and Android platforms.

“The app helps to make the staging and grading process more understandable to the patient and has made my job a lot easier,” Wojdula says. “More importantly, it helps patients understand what is going on in their mouth and why we are always trying to achieve ideal oral health.”

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The app is an education tool that engages patients by allowing them to discover the extent of their periodontitis.

MyPerio Health App Educates, Engages Patients

 zirconia disc is the latest innovation in dental restoration. The leading digital solution in the field of zirconia material, 3D pro-zir features high strength, a natural gradient of color, superior translucency and a layer-less natural transition. The excellent characteristics of this material combined with the 3D pro zir Rapid Aesthetic Solution helps dental labs finalize and develop restorations within 24 hours.

3D pro-zir is a natural monolithic zirconia restoration material available in 16 Vita colors touting 57% translucency. It is a full contour material with a natural gradient of color, translucency, and strength. It has a fracture toughness of 5 Mpam0.5 and a flexural strength of 1050 MPa. The full contour material of 3D pro-zir is said to achieve a fast turnaround for dental labs that need to create zirconia restorations in a short amount of time.

Developed by Aidite Technology and Peking University School of Stomatology, 3D pro-zir is available in 16 different colors and features 57% translucency, creating a uniformity of hue and brightness. Matching the color transition of natural teeth from cervical to incisal, 3D pro-zir is regarded as tooth-colored restorative material.

“I have been using 3D pro-zir for approximately 3 years, mainly for full-arch cases,” says Obad Alshammaa, CDT and owner of Shama Dental Lab in Seattle, Washington. “It is an extremely strong, bright, and multilayered zirconia that blends beautifully inside the patient’s mouth.”

In addition to superior esthetics, 3D pro-zir has biomimetic properties in terms of abrasion, strength, and functional competence. With a bending strength of 1050 MPa at the cervical region, it meets the standard strength requirements of dental laboratories and ensures a high resistance against opposing dentine and resulting deformation. A lower bending strength of 700 MPa at the incisal region protects mandibular teeth and makes 3D pro-zir ideal for a broad range of indications, including veneers, posterior and anterior crowns, full contour bridges, and implants.

“3D pro-zir looks very natural and gives me the right color and value,” Alshammaa says. “It blends in beautifully, so I don’t have to manipulate the color with a stain or layer it with other ceramic materials. When it comes out of the milling machine, it is perfect. I can mill the full arch and glaze it, and it is ready to be placed inside.”

In addition, 3D pro-zir requires less time and material than other zirconia.

“In the past, in order to match the patient’s mouth, we had to layer ceramics on top to make it look more natural, but this also made the material a little weaker,” Alshammaa says. “3D pro-zir is multilayered and has all the body and translucency in it. So I don’t have to cut and layer porcelain and spend hours trying to make it look good. It really saves me a lot of time.”

The quick sintering process achieves a faster restoration and greatly reduces the patient’s waiting time. The full contour and impressive characteristics of the material itself, combined with the 3D pro zir Rapid Aesthetic Solution, enables dental laboratories to finalize and deliver zirconia restorations within 24 hours. 3D pro-zir is preferred by many dental labs because it can meet the needs of laboratory-customized solutions.

“It really is a partnership between the lab and the dentist,” Alshammaa explains. “Every dental lab tests many materials to find the right one in terms of strength and value. 3D pro-zir is one of the best zirconia materials I’ve used for my full-arch cases.

“We have to work smarter, not harder, by using the right materials,” Alshammaa continues. “Anyone who uses this material once will love it and start using it all the time. The company is also very good to work [with] and provides excellent technical support.”

The 3D pro-zir is a zirconia material that is designed to offer both strength and esthetic solutions for dental labs and practices

A Brisk and Beautiful Dental Restoration 

Dental websites have become an effective marketing tool and serve as the heart of a successful online presence. It is estimated that approximately 3 out of 4 dental practices have a website, though many are outdated. Many also have a minimal presence on Facebook, Google, and other platforms, but these often can be improved. For a website to be successful, it must be personalized, showcase what makes your practice unique, highlight positive reviews, and easily provide relevant information.

The DocSites, a leading provider of websites and online marketing for dentists, offers effective and affordable programs. It has been working with dentists nationwide for more than a decade to help each practice improve their online presence and promote their practice.

“I had created a website 2 or 3 years earlier and felt like it was outdated,” says Laura Greenwald, DDS, owner of All Kids Dentistry in Valencia, California. “I had a brand and an online presence, but it felt disorganized and inconsistent. I needed a company that could bridge my website with my social media pages and help me build a reputation.”

The DocSites offers website services and online marketing specifically geared toward dental practices. With no long-term contracts, the company offers 3 different tiers of website design with transparent pricing to fit any budget. The DocSites makes it easy to switch with Easy Site Transfer and features personalized websites that stand out. Live customer service is readily available and clients are assigned a dedicated account representative.

Offering 3 website tiers at prices to fit any budget, The DocSites creates personalized, user-friendly websites that stand out and compellingly present your practice. All standard websites feature modern, personalized design and content, as well as contact/appointment forms. A dedicated account manager works with each client throughout the process.

The DocSites can design a first-time website and secure a domain name if needed. It can also utilize content, images, and the current domain name from an existing website which will point to the new website once it’s launched. Current logos and taglines can also be integrated.

“I wanted a website that was more personal,” Dr Greenwald says. “They took some old content from my previous website and improved it. They also transferred my logo and tagline to maintain my brand and created a photo collage of pictures taken in my practice for my website’s homepage.”

All The DocSite’s websites are responsive and mobile-friendly and are search engine optimization (SEO) friendly to improve positioning on major internet search engines. Well-researched keywords are strategically placed on each website page to target specific content and services based on the user’s search criteria. Search-engine-friendly pages on the website come optimized in order to gain organic traffic in a specific geographic area with their marketing packages.

The Standard Plus and Premium website packages offer additional features, including enhanced SEO setup, a customized website color scheme, integrated Google reviews, custom content, content migration, and a before-and-after patient gallery.

The DocSites also offers monthly marketing packages to increase social media and search engine visibility. All packages include website hosting and updates, setup and optimize Google My Business to properly represent a dental practice and increase exposure. Monthly SEO blogging is also available, where you can see exactly what you’re paying for, and new blogs are written, published, and optimized to focus on the services you offer in your geographic area. Dr Greenwald’s practice has used this to great effect.

“I am happy with the website and continue to work with The DocSites to keep my website current. When I request changes or a specific post on my Facebook page, they are very responsive,” says Dr Greenwald who views her website as a big asset to her practice. “If somebody hears about us through word of mouth, they usually go to the website before contacting us, so it is important that the All Kids Dentistry site reflects the culture of my practice. The website has helped grow my business. Patients now tell us they heard about us online all the time.”

The DocSites offers personalized website design and marketing packages to help increase practice visibility.


Improve Your Online Presence and Showcase Your Practice Efficiently

More than 50 million individuals in the United States and 1 billion individuals globally experience some form of sleep disorder and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with an estimated 80% of cases undiagnosed.

 Mild to moderate OSA is often the result of underdeveloped upper and lower jaws, which can obstruct the airway. Symptoms include mouth breathing, snoring, daytime drowsiness, depression, and chronic pain. Left untreated, OSA can lead to a wide variety of health risks.

“When people stop breathing at night, their body doesn’t get the deep sleep that it needs,” says Tammarie Heit, DDS, International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics member and general and craniofacial dentist at Avalon Dentistry who sits on the Vivos Therapeutics Clinical Advisory Board. “This can result in myriad illnesses, including high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease, and other chronic conditions that can affect quality and length of life.”

Traditional treatments for sleep apnea, including continuous positive airway pressure, a snoring appliance, and surgical implants, are directed at reducing symptoms and require lifelong intervention.

The Vivos System from Vivos Therapeutics, Inc, is an advanced multidisciplinary therapeutic protocol for treating mild to moderate OSA, snoring, and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in adults. Offering an all-natural, nonsurgical, and pain-free approach, the system combines the use of oral appliance technology prescribed by specially trained independent dentists with cooperation from their medical colleagues.

Mandibular Repositioning-Nighttime Appliance (mRNA)

The Vivos System includes the patented mRNA appliance. The proprietary and virtually painless system enhances and increases the upper airway and offers adult patients what Vivos believes to be an effective treatment alternative for mild-to-moderate OSA, snoring and SDB symptoms.

Sleep apnea is a condition that must be diagnosed by a medical professional. “If I suspect that my patient’s airway is collapsing at night, I will screen the patient, including a history and general exam of their mouths and dentition,” says Dr Heit. “If my dental diagnosis is possible sleep apnea, I may also order a sleep study to make it more efficient for my medical colleagues in starting treatment.”

The Vivos System typically begins with a thorough diagnosis of the patient’s condition by a qualified medical doctor working in close collaboration with a specially trained independent dentist. Vivos trains doctors to perform a comprehensive, in-home sleep wellness assessment, including biometric analysis using VivoScore HSAT, which is a single-sensor ring recorder. Precise measurements of the size and volume of the patient’s upper jaw, or maxilla, and their nasal airway volume are obtained. The doctor determines a therapeutic approach and treatment plan to correct craniofacial deficiencies and prescribes a custom oral appliance using a sophisticated algorithm. The system’s appliances include the mRNA appliance®, an FDA-cleared Class II medical device for the treatment of snoring, mild to moderate OSA, and SDB; and the DNA appliance®, an FDA-registered Class I device for palatal expansion.

The patient is instructed to wear the device for 12 to 24 months. During treatment, periodic adjustments to the appliance are made by the dentist.

“The most successful patient wears the device 12 to 16 hours a day in the evening and while sleeping, when growth hormones are higher so the device can change the relationship inside the mouth,” Dr Heit says. “Throughout the night, the device holds the bottom jaw forward, opening up the airway and allowing oxygen in so the body can get the deep sleep it needs.”

Signs that the device is working in expanding the jaw and airway include visible gaps forming between the teeth and more ease of flossing. The patient may also notice fewer headaches, less snoring, better sleep, and an improved overall feeling of well-being.

“As dentists, we can be part of the breathing wellness movement by collaborating with our medical colleagues to get OSA under control,” she concludes. 

1. Brunk, D. Estimated prevalence of OSA in the Americas stands at 170 million MDedge, June 9, 2019. Accessed March 5, 2021. 

https://www.mdedge.com/chestphysician/article/202195/sleep-medicine/estimated-prevalence-osa-americas-stands-170-million

2. Punjabi NM. The epidemiology of adult obstructive sleep apnea. 

. 2018;5(2):136-143. doi:10.513/pats.200709-155MG 

The Vivos System’s advanced multidisciplinary therapeutic protocol treats mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and snoring in adults.

A New Approach to Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Effective case presentation in dentistry has evolved in recent years because of technological advancements, broader access to information, and patient acceptance of preventive dentistry as part of an overall health plan. Traditional case presentations, which usually consisted of the dentist informing the patient of the problem and then recommending the solution, are no longer effective in gaining widespread treatment acceptance. Today, successful case presentation is far more than citing research, providing a diagnosis, recommending a treatment, and discussing financial options. Thanks to the internet, patients are more educated and have more options, making case presentation even more important in treatment planning and acceptance.

A key to treatment acceptance is being able to build relationships and establish trust with patients. “Patients are better at doing research today,” says Jenn Janicki, executive director of Clinical Mastery Series, a national-based dental curriculum education program. “Whether it is dental work or medical work, people conduct their own research online and rely heavily on the referrals of their peers.” These referrals are no longer just from friends but from Facebook and private online groups, resulting in the sharing of misinformation. “Your dental team must be well trained to weed out the misinformation and help the patient make a good decision,” Janicki says. “It is more important than ever for a dental team to establish trust with the patient and become their trusted source of information.”

Successful case presentation focuses on 3 elements: listening carefully, communicating clearly, and, specifically, addressing patients’ questions in language they can understand

. Presenting treatment from the patient’s perspective adds value and can be a motivating factor that leads to acceptance of the proposed treatment.

“Communication always was and still is the basis of everything we do in dentistry,” says Jason Goodchild, DMD, of Jenkintown Dental Medicine and vice president of clinical affairs at Premier Dental Products Company. “For a long time in dentistry, the patient just had to trust what the dentist or hygienist was telling them, so trust and rapport with the patient was the key to acceptance. But today with social media and the internet, people can do their own research on what dental treatments are, what they feel like, and even what they should be paying for them.” 

One of the most important things in case presentation is knowing patients and what they value and paying attention to details that are important to them. “You have to determine the best way to communicate with each patient,” Dr Goodchild says. “Some patients want all the specific details, whereas others just want to know the bottom line.”

A patient’s decision to accept dental treatment is almost always emotional, not intellectual. Yet many dentists present a treatment plan from an educational and analytical perspective. “It is really vital that we do not use too much dental speak when speaking with a patient,” Dr Goodchild says. “You need to have emotional intelligence and empathy and talk with patients in a language they can understand. It is a skill that we must develop to effectively communicate with our patients.”

“One thing that is important to remember is that not every patient is the same,” says Jeff Lineberry, DDS, AAACD, and owner of Carolina Center for Comprehensive Dentistry. “I recommend having guided questions based on your knowledge of the patient. If you ask the correct questions, it guides you through the process while better understanding what the patient truly wants and supports them in making a good decision.”

Technological advances have made a huge impact on how dental providers present to and communicate with patients. With so many tools to capture and share images, visual treatment planning has become an essential and persuasive tool in increasing acceptance. “So many people are visual learners,” Dr Goodchild says, “so being able to show patients what is happening in their own mouth is an excellent way to educate and facilitate codiagnosis.”

Codiagnosis helps the patient better understand the condition that needs to be treated and the importance of doing so. Codiagnosis makes the patient an active participant in the examination and in developing a customized treatment plan.

“The real value of a codiagnostic examination is that the patient sees what you see, the way you see it, in real time,” Dr Goodchild says. “During the codiagnosis, you can discuss the potential benefits of treatment and the consequences of leaving things untreated, from an oral and overall health standpoint.”

The sophistication of tools such as high-quality digital cameras, intraoral scanners, and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) offer extraordinary detail and facilitate open, honest discussions. Patients can now fully participate during examinations and in customizing their treatment plans, which builds confidence and trust.

An intraoral scanner, also known as an optical scanner, uses images and stitches them into a 3D file. “We really have some incredible, amazing tools to show patients what is going on in their mouths,” Dr Goodchild says. “A lot of dental offices are using intraoral cameras, which they can integrate with their practice management software. We are sitting side by side with the patient and using quality images to discuss issues and options for successful treatment. Some images can be rotated so you can present from different angles to help the patient better understand what is going on in their mouth.”Knowing how to capture each image consistently and predictably helps the patient better visualize the current condition of their teeth as well as appreciate the result of treatment.

Dental CBCT is a special type of technology used to generate 3D images of dental structures, soft tissues, nerve pathways, and bone in a single scan, allowing for more precise treatment planning. CT

 provides detailed images of the bone and is performed to evaluate diseases of the jaw, dentition, and bony structures of the face, nasal cavity, and sinuses. 

“A major advantage of CBCT is its ability to image bone and soft tissue at the same time,” says Brent Garvin, senior product manager for imaging at Planmeca. “What a 3D scan offers that is valuable for case presentations is … a wide variety of views and angles that can be manipulated to present a more complete evaluation and presentation to the patient. It is more accurate than 2-dimensional images and gives the dentist total control of the x-ray.”

With CBCT technology, the dentist can take the x-ray on the screen and use software to highlight issues the patient is facing and how they could possibly affect other areas in the mouth or neighboring teeth. It allows clinicians to gather more information than standard 2-dimensional panoramic images and provides the patient with a truer understanding of the treatment the doctor is recommending.

“The importance of imaging in case presentation cannot be understated,” Garvin says. “When the clinician is attempting to present a treatment plan to a patient, having an x-ray up on a screen for the patient to view helps them to better identify the source of the problem and the plan, rather than having it explained just in words. By using this approach, the clinician is assuring the patient that they are going to do a safe and effective procedure, which translates to competence for the patient. Now that the technology is more advanced and research shows 3D imaging to be a far superior, I don’t think there are any limitations on its clinical use in dentistry.”

Dental photography is also an important tool in treatment acceptance. You must be able to capture your work in quality images that will build confidence in the plan. A single-lens reflex camera, occlusal mirrors, and retractors are the basic package needed for photography that lends itself to a more emotional response. Keynote and PowerPoint are also essential tools in creating a visual treatment plan for patients.

Getting patients to say yes to needed treatment should be a team effort. To build trust and confidence with the patient, the entire dental team must be well informed of the recommended treatment and moving in the same direction. Every team member must be able to talk to patients about what they see in language the patient can understand. “All team members must be on board and have the same understanding of what we want to do for the patient and why,” Dr Lineberry says.

There can be a fair amount of dissension just from lack of communication among the team members. “The core of team training is understanding where comprehensive dentistry fits and creating awareness and a vision for the team so they can support their doctor,” says Janicki. “The team should have a common vision of how they are going to communicate with each other as well as with the patient.”

It is not uncommon for a patient to spend more time with dental hygienists or dental assistants and be more comfortable speaking with them. “Sometimes a patient speaking with a dental hygienist or dental assistant regarding their concerns is more successful than speaking with the doctor,” says Dr Lineberry. “They are more comfortable with this person and will confide in this person and ask questions, for example regarding financial concerns, that they are not comfortable asking me. This can be very helpful in terms of case acceptance rates.”

Asking the right questions can reduce objections by reassuring patients that the doctor is recommending the best treatment for them. “You have to be able to read the patient,” says Dr Lineberry. “If I am talking with a patient and I can see from their body language that they are overwhelmed, I will ask them about their concerns and may have to adapt my presentation. It is about being connected with the patient and then sharing your communication with the patient with all other team members in the office.”

There are many reasons why patients object to dental procedures. These include the time commitment, lack of insurance coverage, uncertainty regarding the immediacy of the problem, and, most commonly, price.

“It is really about value, and value is difficult to define,” Dr Goodchild says. “There is a value proposition in dentistry a lot of people consider, especially when they cannot see or feel a problem. We address the value of the procedure by educating the patient using all the tools at our disposal. For example, if a patient is objecting to the cost, we assure them that our office is going to do everything we can to make it affordable.”

Clinical Mastery Series and Janicki conducted a study of 13 practices over 8 years to track treatment plan acceptance. According to Janicki, findings showed that 25% of patients accepted complex treatment plans within 60 days of their visit. Another 30% of patients moved forward with some part of their treatment plan 24 months later. “My belief is that these patients had been in hygiene and continued to see the hygienist over the course of those 2 years,” says Janicki. “If the hygienist is well trained, they likely took photographs and were reporting to the patient on noticeable changes, resulting in partial acceptance of the treatment.”

Providing a good customer experience including follow-through is important in ensuring a certain level of care. “The No. 1 failure I see in most practices is that they don’t ask for any commitment prior to them leaving their office

,” says Janicki. “If you simply ask the patient if what you have discussed today is in line with their goals and they say yes, you now have a commitment and just need to work out the details.” Often patients want to discuss the treatment with a significant other before making a final decision. “Send the patient home empowered with all the information they need regarding their treatment plan, including observations, recommendations, photographs, and pricing, and then offer to bring them back for a second consultation.” 

Although the patient may need time to consider the treatment plan, setting a time frame for follow-up is the second step in future case acceptance. “Ask the patient when they would like you to follow up, and then do so,” Janicki says. “When we open the door and put them in the driver’s seat, suddenly they start asking questions and are more receptive.”

The most effective case presentations are customized to what patients want and what fits their values. With all the new tools and technology, creating an environment in which patients feel comfortable and confident can significantly improve treatment acceptance. “Case presentation and treatment planning are taught in dental school, but there is an art to it that has to be developed,” says Dr Goodchild. “With all the new tools and technology, it is a continual learning process. One of the most important things a young dentist needs to know is unless you present it and patients accept it, you can’t do it. You have to have patient buy-in, and they have to understand what you are going to do and then show up to have it done.”

Providing effective presentation and excellent care can also lead to patient referrals. “Your photography has to be good, your documentation must be excellent, and your relationship with your patients strong in order for them to give you a referral, allow you to use their photograph, or write a beautiful story about their experience in a way that is impactful for someone who reads about it,” says Janicki. “If it is important what your patients say about you, foremost of all is that you have patients that speak on your behalf.”

Getting dental patients to say yes to proposed treatment requires careful planning.

 Case Presentation Strategies Lead to Success

The Zir-Perfect CAD/CAM Zirconia Disc, a highly translucent zirconia, is designed to provide superb strength and durability, long-term stability, high natural translucency, and excellent esthetics to ensure a beautiful and stable restoration. Introduced in March 2020 by Dental Creations,Zir-Perfect features a 3-point flexural strength of 1200 Mpa after sintering and a natural translucency of 43%. Compatible with most CAD/CAM machines, the Zir-Perfect Zirconia Disc reportedly creates long-lasting restorations that have a beautiful appearance and function like a natural tooth.

“I currently work in conjunction with Dental Creations to help test new products,” says Joey Dvorak, CDT crown and bridge manager at CenTex Dental Lab, a state-of-the-art full-service dental lab in Waco, Texas. “In 2019, Dental Creations asked me to test the Zir-Perfect Zirconia Disc to determine how it compared with other zirconia products. I was very impressed. It is a high-quality, very clean zirconia and is easy to handle. The units looked so natural that the doctors couldn’t tell the difference.”

The Zir-Perfect Zirconia Disc is designed for superb strength, long-term stability, high natural translucency and great esthetics. With a 3-point flexural strength of 1200 Mpa after sintering, a natural translucency of 43%, and a resistance to corrosion, this block is said to produce long-lasting, beautiful restorations that have a natural appearance and function like a real tooth. Zir-Perfect is available in 9 shades, including white to use with dip stains. It is sized at 98 mm by 14 mm and is compatible with most open CAD/CAM milling machines.

Many CAD/CAM materials are susceptible to fractures, undermining a restoration’s integrity. Even with its high translucency, Zir-Perfect maintains its superb strength and provides strong resistance to corrosion and long-term stability.

“There are a lot of forces in the mouth, so the flexural strength of a zirconia product is key to its durability,” Dvorak says. ”Zir-Perfect is the perfect blend of strength and translucency, 2 key features that both a dentist and a patient are looking for in a restoration.”

Zir-Perfect comes in 98-by-14-mm discs and is available in 9 shades, including white for use with dip stains. “When I first started working with zirconia more than 20 years ago, it was very dull and only available in 1 color that didn’t match natural teeth,” Dvorak says. “We had to stain it to try and get a closer match, which was very tedious and time-consuming. With Zir-Perfect, we choose the closest shade and do almost nothing else to it. It’s a huge time-saver, and the restoration blends so well with the patient’s natural teeth that you can hardly tell them apart.”

Zir-Perfect is suitable for a variety of restorations, including crowns, bridges, and implants. “I can make just about anything in the mouth out of it,” Dvorak says. “[Although] posterior teeth are the bread and butter of our business, Zir-Perfect is pretty enough to use for anterior teeth too.”

The process is efficient, predictable, and precise. “I can usually get 10 to 15 units out of 1 Zir-Perfect puck,” Dvorak says. “We can make the product quicker and have more time to accentuate it, staining and glazing after sintering to match it perfectly to other teeth and look more enamel-like.”

The result is a beautiful, durable restoration that is a perfect fit. “With digital technology, it is all done on a computer screen, and the restoration is almost always a perfect fit,” Dvorak says. “We seldom do a remake anymore.”

According to Dvorak, zirconia now accounts for approximately 99.9% of restorations created at CenTex Dental Lab. “Almost all dentists are using zirconia now,” he says. “Occasionally, we still have a dentist request a metal restoration, but that is very rare.”

The Zir-Perfect CAD/CAM Zirconia Disc offers a unique blend of strength and translucency. “There are several companies that make a zirconia product, and I have been fortunate to work with many of them,” Dvorak says. “I can put Zir-Perfect next to any of my higher-priced zirconia, and there is no difference. It is a very high-quality product at a lower price point, making it a very reliable and profitable choice.”

The High Translucent Zir-Perfect CAD/CAM Zirconia Disc can ensure a natural-looking restoration without sacrificing strength

Create beautiful restorations that retain natural tooth function

As more dental practices face mounting financial pressure due to stagnant reimbursement rates, increased competition, and high overhead, spend management is essential to productive and profitable growth. Effective management of vendor relationships and the integration and automation of all spend-related activities can result in lower supply costs, increased productivity, and improved financial results.

The Method Procurement system is an innovative cloud-based solution to spending management. From tracking inventory against budget, comparing supply costs from multiple vendors, and automating and controlling payments, Method streamlines and manages all phases of the purchasing process, driving improved financial results to the bottom line.

“Before we started using the Method Procurement system, our process was totally manual,” says Pamela Sandstede, director of operations at Dassel Dental, a 4-office general and cosmetic dentistry practice in central Minnesota. “One person in each office used a calculator to check their inventory as a percentage of collections and place orders, all while trying to stay within budget. Because each office ordered separately, we didn’t benefit from volume price breaks.”

Method Procurement is a cloud-based spend management system that offers a streamlined solution to all phases of the purchasing process. Suited for both solo dentists and the multi-practice DSO, Method allows users to compare supply costs, place orders from multiple suppliers, manage a formulary and budget, track inventory quickly, reorder supplies, and more, all from a digital platform.

Method is designed to streamline all phases of the purchasing process in a platform easy enough for any team member to use, and the dashboard can be customized.

“I was a little hesitant at first to try Method as I am an Excel spreadsheet person,” says Sandstede. “Method worked with me one-on-one and, after the first day, I was sold. If I had a question, [Method] got back to me quickly and walked me through the necessary steps. With one 30-minute training [session], we were able to set up the Method system within one week.”

From a comprehensive dental supply catalog to a specialized cost analysis feature, Method provides the tools to easily request quotes from multiple suppliers and place orders in a single, straightforward process. “We used to order from a few large suppliers,” says Sandstede, “With Method, our buying options are automatically shown from multiple suppliers and we see our contract pricing live. If a larger supplier is out of stock on an item, we can order it from a smaller supplier, which can result in better pricing and quicker delivery.”

Method also makes it easier to manage inventory, reorder supplies, and update on-hand quantities. “When an order is received, you can go to the purchase order, receive the items, and keep track of current inventory,” explains Sandstede. “This feature allows us to order smaller quantities more frequently and eliminate unnecessary waste.”

Method also provides a unique approach to managing financial performance by helping track supply costs as a percentage of collections. “As you order, the system automatically shows if you are over or under budget,” says Sandstede. “When we started using the Method system in February 2020, our supplies were 5% to 6% of collections. In just a couple of months, we were able to reduce it to 4%.”

Based on a pay-as-you-go subscription fee model, Method offers several options to meet the unique requirements of any dental practice. All packages come with an onboarding plan, self-guided training resources, and email, phone, and chat support. Additional tools such as electronic invoicing, enhanced dashboards, integration with financial systems, and a tailored onboarding process are also available.

Method empowers dental practices of all sizes to increase their productivity, maximize their buying power, and improve their bottom line. “You can see every penny with this method,” says Sandstede. “If your supply costs are more than 6% of your collections, you need this system.”

How Method’s cloud-based procurement system streamlines purchase processes.

Transforming spend management to improve your bottom line

Sodium Dental offers X-ray sensor repair performed by experienced, reputable sensor repair technicians. Sodium also manufactures their own custom components for high-quality repairs. They offer a 30-day warranty and an optional 1-year warranty on services. Turnaround can be completed in as few as 3 days, and Sodium can handle repairs from all sensor manufacturers.

Digital intraoral sensors provide high-quality resolution images that result in faster, more efficient diagnosis and treatment. Although these are valuable tools in digital dental technology, digital X-ray sensors can malfunction and are expensive to replace. Many dental clinicians throw away their device as soon as an issue occurs. They incur the cost of replacing it because they are not aware of a more affordable option: digital X-ray sensor repair.

Sodium Dental, a full-service dental technology integrator, is the first company in the industry to offer X-ray sensor repair. With more than 20 years of experience in the dental space, Sodium Dental helps practices increase productivity and efficiency and maximize the patient experience.

Sensor repair can get a device up and running in a couple of days for a fraction of the cost of replacement. “We have been using Sodium Dental for digital X-ray sensor repair since 2015,” says Maranda Lake, RDH, BASDH, a dental hygienist at Millhopper Family Dentistry, a full-service practice in Gainesville, Florida, and an adjunct professor at Santa Fe College in Gainesville. “Instead of buying a new sensor every 2 years, we can get it repaired and help keep our costs down.”

Dental practices can save thousands of dollars by opting for repair. A new digital X-ray sensor can cost $8000 to $10,000, depending on the brand. Sensor repairs range from $700 to $1750, based on the complexity of the problem, and can extend the tool’s life for many years.

Dental sensors are vulnerable to a wide range of issues, most of which are repairable. Common problems include full loss of functionality, a crushed cable, bite marks, inability to detect radiation, and pretriggering white images during X-ray capture.

“The most common problem we see with our digital sensors is fraying of the wire inside the cable from the constant bending, pulling, and twisting that occur throughout the day,” Lake says. “Typically, this repair extends the life of the sensor for approximately 2 years.”

Sodium Dental has been repairing X-ray sensors since 2011, with a success rate of more than 80%. Their in-house repair technicians are trained in the repair of several brands, including DEXIS, Kodak, Gendex, Schick, XDR, and ACTEON. Free estimates are given within 24 to 48 hours. All repairs are done in-house and backed by a 30-day warranty; an optional 1-year warranty includes remote support.

Repairs generally take 5 to 10 business days, but most fixed sensors are shipped back to the customer in fewer than 3 business days after repair authorization. Sodium Dental can also provide a compatible, high-quality loaner for up to 60 days, including free remote installation, troubleshooting, and a 1-day shipping option.

“We have typically received our repaired sensors within 1 to 2 weeks,” says Lake says. “Sodium Dental doesn’t just fix equipment and send it back. They also offer suggestions to improve your practice and extend the life of your products.”

Once a year, Millhopper Dentistry hosts a free day of dentistry for their community, with Sodium Dental partnering. “[That’s when] we treat 100 patients at no cost, providing services such as cleanings, fillings, and extractions,” Lake says. “Sodium Dental is kind enough to loan us sensors to expedite the process, so it minimizes the wait time for these patients.”

Many dentists automatically toss a malfunctioning digital sensor, but Sodium Dental can prevent that costly move.

Digital X-ray Sensor Repair: A smart and affordable option

Since 1983, Kuraray Noritake Dental, has provided innovative and exceptional technologies that have improved the quality of adhesive dentistry. As a manufacturer of both dental resin and ceramic materials, Kuraray has incorporated its technological expertise in adhesion into the fabrication of indirect restorations. Leading the way is KATANA Zirconia and PANAVIA Cements, an optimal combination for highly esthetic, durable, and reliable indirect restorations.

KATANA Zirconia is a high-strength ceramic material suitable for a variety of dental procedures.

KATANA discs feature a multilayered technology with a preshaded color gradient, natural translucency, and the flexibility to make full contour prosthetics. Together, KATANA Zirconia and PANAVIA Cements are designed to make natural-looking restorations easier than ever.

“In my practice, we are heavily focused on CAD/CAM technology,” says Karyn M. Halpern, DMD, MS, and the owner of Port Jefferson Smiles, a multispecialty, high-tech private dental practice in Port Jefferson Station, New York. “Using materials such as KATANA Zirconia and CEREC Solutions by Denstply Sirona, we are able to routinely provide same-day, single-visit full ceramic crowns, bridges, and onlays. After taking digital images, we design the restoration using the CEREC computer software, mill the block, and then sinter, polish, and cement it. Within a 2-hour appointment, the patient is able to go home with a finished restoration.”

With its superb flexural strength—763 MPa—and color gradient that mimics natural teeth,KATANA™ Zirconia provides new solutions that cannot be delivered with lithium silicate glass (LS glass) or conventional zirconia. PANAVIA™ V5 offers excellent bond strength and esthetics for everything from bridges to veneers. For everyday cementation cases, PANAVIA™ SA Cement Universal is a one bottle system that offers high bond strength, eliminating the need for separate silane. Both offer easy, quick cleanup and predictable, reliable outcomes.

PANAVIA Cements ensure that the cementation of the restoration is both reliable and durable. Known for their durability to zirconia, PANAVIA SA Cement Universal and PANAVIA V5 also provide ease of use, esthetic value, reliability, and high bond strength. PANAVIA V5 is Kuraray’s strongest cement and offers optimal margins, predictable restorations, and a strong and durable bond between KATANA Zirconia-based restorations and the tooth structure.

KATANA Zirconia gives practitioners a lot of control to balance out and manipulate the look of the restoration.

“The KATANA STML blocks have different gradients of translucency and come in many different shades. I can manipulate the restoration’s position within this multi-layer block using the CEREC software to achieve the overall look and translucency desired,” Halpern says.

The process is efficient, predictable, and precise. There are no traditional analog impressions to send to a lab, reducing the possibility of human error and eliminating the need for a second appointment. Using the CEREC system, this zirconia can be milled without chipping and can be sintered in 18 minutes. The restoration can be completed within the scope of a chairside appointment without compromising the quality of the product.

Zirconia is a category of materials that has been around for several years. But having the KATANA Zirconia compatibility available within the CEREC technology allows the practitioner to create the entire restoration in one office visit, which benefits both dentist and patient.

“I started using these materials approximately 1 year ago, and like having control of the product I am delivering,” she says. “I enjoy the artistic aspect of customizing restorations to make them look like real teeth. The tooth looks so natural that my patients often ask me which tooth has the crown.”

Although they do not constitute a one-size-fits-all approach, KATANA Zirconia and PANAVIA Cements should be in every dentist’s arsenal of products, says Halpern. “I believe these products have achieved the goal of best balance between strength and esthetics,” she adds. “In my opinion, it is the best dental care that you can provide. I am very happy with the results and so are my patients.”

KATANA™ Zirconia and PANAVIA™ Cements from Kuraray Noritake Dental offer an optimal combination for providing high esthetics and durability. 

Closer Look: The Perfect Fit for Ensuring Reliable Indirect Restorations

It is estimated that more than 80 percent of Americans experience some form of anxiety when going to the dentist and approximately 22 percent skip getting the care they need because they are afraid. Jennifer Fernjack, a motivational speaker from Spring Park, Minn., knows this fear all too well.

	“For years, I have passed out in the dental chair, sometimes even before getting the Novocaine,” Fernjack says. “My ears start ringing, my hands get clammy, my blood pressure drops, and I am out.”  

	For Fernjack, her anxiety extended far beyond her time in the dental chair. “For me, it was not only getting through the time in the dental chair, but also the worrying before my next appointment that this would happen again.” 

	Fernjack is a patient of Bryan Laskin, DDS, founder of Lake Minnetonka Dental in Wayzata, Minn., and the inventor of OperaVR, a virtual reality system that is changing the dental experience for both patient and practitioner.

	Scientific research has shown that virtual reality can effectively reduce pain and anxiety and limit worry. More than a mere distraction, OperaVR also known as digital nitrous, takes the patient “out of the office” and into a whole different dimension known as “involuntary mindfulness.” 

	The OperaVR headset is specifically designed for dentists and features glasses with an adjustable and flexible strap that goes behind the patient’s head. The headset is also designed to not obstruct the dentist’s workspace. 

	Providing a drug-free sedation, OperaVR also includes several adventures or scenes that depict calming settings such as a beach or sunset that “transport” the patient’s awareness to a different environment and quickly reduces their anxiety and perception of pain. 

	Patients are encouraged to choose a scene that is relevant to them. “Some dentists have a TV in the procedure rooms to distract you,” Fernjack says, “but with OperaVR, you choose the channel, so to speak. Having this choice gives you a perceived sense of control in a setting where you don’t normally feel like you have control.” The patient can also use earbuds to add audio that further enhances the experience.  

	OperaVR can be used with a variety of dental procedures including routine dental visits, extractions, fillings, and root canals. Additional instructional videos on oral health topics also provide consistent messaging and save time for the dental assistant. 

	“When people see the OperaVR hardware, they assume it only benefits the patient and only when the patient is in the chair,” Fernjack says. “But the benefits go beyond the chair and beyond the patient.”

	The drug-free sedation achieved with OperaVR also reduces the need for nitrous oxide and decreases liability, potential risks, and costs for dentists. It eliminates potential side effects for the patient as well and may result in increased procedural efficiency due to the patient’s relaxed state. 

	Patients who are confident and comfortable with their dental care are more likely to be compliant with their treatment plan and to tell others about their positive experience, creating word-of-mouth marketing for the dental practice. 

	“OperaVR is an amazing product,” Fernjack concludes “When Dr. Laskin first suggested the VR glasses, it gave me a sense of hope. Today, my fears and anxiety about going to the dentist have been transformed thanks to OperaVR.” 

	OperaVR is a virtual reality headset that provides a drug-free calming experience for anxious patients. OperaVR is reportedly effective at reducing pain and anxiety by immersing patients in a different environment. The headset is designed specifically for dentists and will not obstruct the workspace. OperaVR is equipped with sound, so patients can plug in and become fully focused on a scene of their choosing.

One patient consistently became so anxious, she passed out in the chair. That all changed when she experienced OperaVR™.