Noah Levine

	There are few pieces of equipment more associated with dentists and dental care than the dental handpiece. Most patients refer to them as drills, but in the hands of a trained clinician, these precision rotary systems are used for much more than simply poking holes in things.

	Whether it’s an air-turbine system or an electric system, the highspeed handpiece is the foundation of most restorative procedures. It is used to carve away diseased and damaged tissue and to carefully sculpt the remaining healthy tissue to properly support and retain a restoration. The hygiene department works with their own specialized handpieces designed for comfortable and efficient prophy appointments. Specialists also make use of specialized handpieces designed for their specific tasks including oral surgery and endodontics. 

Trending: Change is good when technology is in the mix   

	The function of the handpiece has not changed significantly over the years, but their design and features have been innovated and improved in almost every way. Modern dental handpieces are lighter than those of the past, and while they are capable of even more powerful and precise operations, they are also being designed to produce less of the noise that is so disconcerting to patients. Many newer handpieces are designed with smaller heads to make access to all areas of the mouth less challenging and to improve clinician visibility. Regardless of the type of handpiece you prefer to use, the latest models offer an enhanced experience for clinicians and patients alike.

	If you’re in the market for an upgrade to your handpiece spend some time looking through the products and details we’ve collected in the next several pages. You’ll find details on some of the latest handpiece models, and other details to help you find the next piece to fit your hand.

Click through the slides to view these handpieces

Nano 95LS 1:5 Increasing Compact Handpiece            

			More than 10% smaller than conventional anglesit is ideal for clinicians with smaller hands, and the smaller, slimmer, lighter design provides balance and reduces hand, arm and shoulder fatigue

			It has a durable titanium body with ceramic bearings and DLC (Diamond-Like-Carbon) is applied to the gears for optimal durability

			The 1:5 Increasing handpiece has cellular glass optics that deliver brilliant illumination, a push button chuck for one touch bur insertion and removal, and a quattro spray

			Its patented Clean Head System is designed to automatically prevent the entry of oral fluids and other contaminants into the handpiece head, prolonging the life of the bearings

			For the dental professional who values products that minimize the aches and pains associated with performing prophylaxis, the Ultrapro™ Tx Air handpiece is designed to reduce hand and arm fatigue thanks to its ergonomic, lightweight design at 2.2 ounces and 360° swivel

			Its soft-start motor minimizes splatter and is vibration-free to maximize patient comfort

			The Ultrapro Tx Air handpiece safely performs prophylaxis by reducing friction and heat when polishing the patient’s teeth, allowing it to clean effectively while still protecting the enamel

			Its universal E-type motor runs at up to 4,000 RPMs and can be used with other attachments and nose cones, and it can be used with all disposable prophy angles

High Speed Handpieces              

 high speed product line features the world's only double-impeller technology; a unique design that delivers up to 25 watts of superior cutting power even under high load conditions

			For enhanced infection control, a pressurized air system prevents the intake of contaminated aerosol and other particles into the air line resulting in zero drawback

			TwinPower Turbine handpieces also offer compact head sizes for greater access and visibility

			Model options now include high torque, standard, mini, surgical, and basic, and they can be connected to various commonly used couplings

			Other TwinPower Turbine features include: exceptional balance and comfort, ceramic bearings, rapid braking, a generous handpiece warranty, and a limited time, 30-day money back guarantee program

			Suited for all teeth all patients and almost all indications          

			For ergonomic handling and well-balanced, stress-free procedures, choose the handpiece length that’s right for you

			Avoid powder mist using the homogeneous, focused powder jet which also preserves the tooth structure

			Thanks to the bundled jet, you can work with extreme precision and, with marking in line with your WHO probe, you always have a perfect overview of the pocket as well

			Individually adjustable handpiece lengths provide even more sensitivity when cleaning pockets, particularly in subgingival applications

			With three levels of adjustment, you can determine the cleaning performance yourself – from powder-free to maximum cleaning power

			The perio tip is for subgingival applications, but can also be used to clean implants, crowns and bridges, as well as eliminate discoloration on exposed tooth necks

			An independent study showed that the 430 Torque produces 27 watts of power, which provides excellent cutting ability for all high-speed procedures

			The small head design promotes superior field visibility, while fiber optic models feature a dual beam glass design that prevents shadowing in front of the bur

			The dual drive air control maximizes airflow to the turbine, delivering powerful performance

			With easy, do-it-yourself turbine replacement, handpiece downtime is reduced from days to minutes.

			Compact and lightweight, A-dec’s Primea™ Advanced Air

 is the first air-driven, high-speed handpiece with an adjustable bur speed and constant removal rate, even with increasing pressure

			A sensor in the handpiece head constantly measures the rotation speed of the bur on the tooth, and when the system detects a slowing in the rpm, it immediately adjusts the air supply to maintain torque without the need to lift off or back up the bur, or press extra buttons

			Adjustable bur speeds between 60,000 to 320,000 rpm provide optimal application speed for multiple procedures including crown and cavity prep, crown and bridge cutting all ceramic restoration removal, amalgam restoration removal and finishing

			Integrated exclusively on the new A-dec 500 delivery, Primea Advanced Air offers the constant torque and power of an electric with the maneuverability of air, in one handpiece

Articles

Rounding up some of the top dental handpieces available today.

The foundational and iconic piece of dental equipment

	When you get something new in either your professional or personal life, do you read the manual? If you do, do you read it cover to cover and really absorb all the details?

	I’m sure some of you can confidently answer yes to those questions, but for most us-myself included-it’s more of a quick skim to catch the big details and a learn as we go approach.

	In most cases, this works just fine. Many new technologies are designed with intuitive interfaces and guided workflows. These make it easy to get something up and running right out of the package, and once it’s in use, we rarely look back to see what we missed.

	I mean, those instruction manuals can be long and very dry reads. The manuals for some robust software applications can be as large as a multi-volume encyclopedia, and with the type of schedules we all keep today, there’s rarely time to get through an entire manual even if it’s a shorter book for a less complex technology.

Trending: 5 ways your phone impacts patient interaction

	Instead, we file those manuals on a shelf, in a drawer, or elsewhere out of the way. Then, if we didn’t throw it out and we find ourselves in dire need of answers, it could be a valuable resource. Still, it’s more likely Google or a customer service phone number is that go-to resource.

	
	If the provided instructions aren’t the best resource for learning a new applications, we need to turn elsewhere. Sure, you can get by with just mastering the one or two everyday tasks that drew you to invest in the platform, but if you don’t at least get a sense of the full set of capabilities, you’re missing out on additional benefits and features that could greatly increase its value to you, your practice and patients. Those extra features could be time saving shortcuts, efficiency boosting automations, or capabilities that can open new opportunities for your practice if you just knew they existed.

	It’s important to have a plan to unlock these “secret” features. That manual is just one way to learn the application, and it’s most likely among the least effective. Instead, it’s important to make time for training for you and your team, even the team members who won’t be using the software every day. Dedicated training-whether in person or online-is a great place to start and being sure to bookmark any on-demand and online training resources is another great step. This will get you closer to unlocking the potential of the application and discovering all the secrets your software is hiding.

Those secrets are the focus of this issue’s cover story, Software Secrets Revealed, where we look at how to discern which applications best fit your practice, and then showcase a roundup of software titles along with some of their best “secret” features. Understanding those features can unlock new potential for your business. Discovering one of these unexpected software features can be like finding a cheat code for your practice or a shortcut to success.

	Implementing these features doesn’t require any special computer skills, but it does require some time and dedication. Just like anything else you use in your practice, it takes some effort to master it completely.

Trending: Optimizing your practice for success

	Discovering the full capabilities of your software platforms can be accomplished by seeking ongoing training, connecting with and communicating with experts, finding and using online resources, and simplest of all, trying out every option the software gives you.

	Make some time for you and your team to practice with your software. If it includes modules and capabilities you never touch, carve out a time every week to dive in and practice using them. You can delegate different segments of the software to different team members. Let everyone master one area of the application and then dedicate a time at a team meeting for those new experts to share the secrets they’ve learned.

	Learning something new is always a great feeling, and this is especially true when what you learn was once hidden or secret. Even if you know you won’t use a feature immediately, understanding it and how it works will help you have a deeper understanding of the full set of resources and capabilities available to your practice.

	If you haven’t already, get started learning today to unlock the full potential of your business. And, when you do uncover a secret to your software, pass it along to friends and colleagues because this type of secret is worth sharing.

Start learning today to unlock the full potential of your business.

Software secrets can be a cheat code for practice success

	The pace of technology development never slows, and this is true for both consumer technologies and for dental technologies.

	Innovations continue to be developed as people hope to create solutions to problems and to devise faster and better ways of accomplishing everyday tasks. In the dental industry, this means finding new ways to diagnose and treat oral disease, and restore damaged teeth and other tissues. As dental manufacturers and new start-ups work to develop and market these innovations, the annual Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards provide a platform to showcase some of the most impactful of these developments.

Read part 1 of our 2019 Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards coverage here

Selected by an expert panel of dentists comprised of Dental Products Report Chief Clinical Editor and Technology Editor John Flucke, DDS; Paul Feuerstein, DMD; Chris Salierno, DDS; Marty Jablow, DMD; Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD; and Lou Shuman, DMD, CAGS, these awards are now a hallmark of what’s ahead for the dental industry. The awards don’t look at specific categories of products and only select a winner if it’s truly game-changing and capable of standing out from a crowd of competitors.

	The 2019 winners include a range of product types, including curing lights, practice and clinical software, information technology infrastructure systems, imaging technologies, intraoral scanners and much more. The breadth of the award-winning products means that few practices will find every winning product is a fit for them, but almost every practice could realize efficiencies and improve patient care if they adopt one or two of these technologies.

	To provide a sense of how these innovative technologies can benefit a practice, we reached out to clinicians and dental professionals who use them every day to ask them why they decided to use these products, how they work for their practices and how they benefit their patients. We started this coverage in the June issue and present impressions of the benefits of the final 15 winning products here.

	Click through the slides to see the products.

	A larger curing light means efficient cures and piece of mind

Sean Lee, DDS
	Newtown Smile Dentistry – Newtown, Conn.

	How did you first learn about the VALO Grand curing light?

	I had previous experience with a VALO Light and it was nothing but a positive experience with the product. When I got in touch with a local Ultradent, the rep told me about Ultradent’s new and bigger VALO Grand light.

	How long has your practice been using the light?

	My practice has been using it over two years.

	What made you decide to use it in your practice?

	I’ve used several other curing lights from leading brands, but nothing came close to the quality of the VALO, which was great, but the VALO Grand was even better with the wider coverage of light from the 12 mm lens.

	Describe how the VALO Grand fits into the way you practice?

	The quality of every restorative treatment is a very important part of my practice. I’m always looking to provide treatments that involve using high-quality materials and minimal chair time. VALO Grand allows for quick curing of restorative dental materials and it makes restorative procedures quicker to finish without compromising the quality of the work. Patients love the outcome and they appreciate the reduced chair time.

	What would you tell a colleague if he or she asked what it’s like to use the VALO Grand curing light?

	I would tell them that once they try out the VALO Grand curing light, they’ll start to notice how much more convenient it is compared to the other curing lights that they’ve been using.

	What has been the best part of using the light in your practice?

	The best part of using the VALO Grand is the peace of mind that I get from knowing all restorative materials are fully cured while reducing treatment time for  patients.

	Are there any improvements you’d like to see in the next generation of the VALO curing light?

	It would be great to have a battery life indicator on the unit, so the light can be recharged more predictably.
	
	

	The VALO Grand curing light features everything you’ve come to love from the VALO curing light family but with a 50 percent bigger lens. The 12 mm lens is designed to easily cover a 10 mm molar for quick and effective curing. The second activation button on the underside allows for more intuitive operation. The VALO Grand light uses a custom, multi-wavelength, light-emitting diode (LED) for producing high-intensity light at 385-515 nm, capable of polymerizing all light-cured dental materials.

	Automated backups keep things running when disaster strikes

Tammy L. Coleman - Office manager
	Rancho Bernardo Dental Center – Raymond E. Carpenter DDS – San Diego

	How did you first learn about DDS Rescue?

	When I started managing the practice five years ago, DDS Rescue was already on board.

	It was recommended by our technical support team.

	Describe how DDS Rescue fits into the way your practice operates on a daily basis?

	I consider DDS Rescue a team member I don’t have to worry about. They do their job without any direct supervision. With my busy day as an office manager, that’s a big plus. I know that every hour all my data is being backed up and that’s part of my job that runs smoothly every day.   

	What would you tell a colleague if he or she asked what it’s like to use DDS Rescue?

	Data backup is a critical part of a practice and it’s usually part of the office manager’s job to make sure it happens. DDS Rescue is the expert, so let the expert do the job for you. This way you can do what you do best, which is work with your patients and your team.

	What impact has use of DDS Rescue made on your practice and your patients?

	We were hit with ransomware! Because of DDS Rescue, we didn’t pay the ransom and were up and running in about two hours. No loss of production! No loss of data! No patient information was breached! I’ve heard horror stories about ransomware, and due to DDS Rescue, our practice wasn’t one of these stories.  

	What has been the best part of using this system in your practice?

	They’re easy to work with and the customer service is wonderful. Data backup isn’t part of my day anymore!

	The DDS Rescue system is a full backup and recovery system that, when placed in an office, takes hourly backups of your complete server, not just selected files. It validates the backup, encrypts the data and tests for ransomware. We monitor the system 24/7. When your server can’t run your network, the DDS Rescue system does-all in under 30 minutes, guaranteed. In addition, we’ve now added a full HIPAA-compliance program that manages your complete compliance program, including the required enterprise-level risk assessment of your full network.

	Liptak Digital Inc.
	800-998-9048  |  

	High-quality images from a sensor that integrates well

Todd Snyder, DDS, FAACD
	Aesthetic Dental Designs

	How did you first learn about the DEXIS™ Titanium KaVo sensor?

	I already had the DEXIS Platinum sensor and was told they were coming out with a new, SMART sensor with enhanced image quality and durability. I’m someone who likes to implement new technology. I also was wanting another sensor, so I got one.

	How long has your practice been using the sensor?

	We’ve been using DEXIS Titanium by KaVo for almost a year.

	The quality of the product, the image quality, the software integration, and the ability to integrate my CariVu and DEXcam intraoral camera all into the same software.

	Describe how the imaging capabilities of the DEXIS Titanium fit into the way you practice?

	Easy to implement, fast to capture a great image and durable.

	What would you tell a colleague if he or she asked what it’s like to use the DEXIS Titanium sensor? 

	It’s one of the best quality images, simple to integrate and from one of the most reputable companies.

	What impact has use of the technology made on your practice and your patients?

	Patients like that it’s new technology and provides improved accuracy as well as instant results.

	What has been the best part of using the DEXIS Titanium in your practice?

	Simplification of our imaging process to have one platform. Also, a great quality image to enhance our diagnostic capabilities.

	Are there any improvements you’d like to see in the next generation of the sensor?

	Maybe a soft, pliable or cordless version.

	The DEXIS Titanium sensor delivers extraordinary image quality for confidence in diagnosis, SMART features for advances in workflow and sustainable durability for peace of mind. This new sensor captures high-quality images with improved tissue contrast even at lower doses. DEXIS Titanium incorporates SMART motion detection-make a gesture with the sensor to initiate image capture without touching your computer. The sensor refined the DEXIS award-winning features such as the TrueComfort™ design of the PerfectSize™ sensor that allows for quick, comfortable placement. 

	High-powered software expands chairside CAD/CAM

Christopher M. Silvoy, DMD
	Better Dentistry – Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

	How did you first learn about ChairsideCAD?

	I’ve worked with several software packages over the past eight years. When a chairside version of the exocad software was announced last year, I was very keen to try it.

	What made you decide to use ChairsideCAD?

	ChairsideCAD uses the same interface I was used to in DentalCAD and integrates with machines and printers commonly found in the dentist office. The software integrates well with equipment I already have and produces larger restorations such as bridges and occlusal guards.

	Describe how ChairsideCAD fits into your practices?

	ChairsideCAD accepts scan formats from almost anything. I have a TRIOS and two desktop scanners. As soon as the case is scanned and sent, it’s ready to work. The level of integration for milling and 3D printing is exceptional.

	What would you tell a colleague if he or she asked what it’s like to use ChairsideCAD software? 

	Digital dentistry fundamentally changed the way I look at patients and treatment. It can do the same for anyone. Independent of your choice of hardware for scanning or production, ChairsideCAD gives the clinician the ability to use, store and produce cases. With one software package, any scans of the patient, an impression or a model is useful for analysis or construction of almost any prosthetic that can be fabricated within the office.

	What impact has use of the software made on your practice and your patients?

	Specifically, exocad ChairsideCAD has made it very easy to design splints and occlusal guards, generate and send models to the 3D printer, and streamline production of multiple tooth restorations. Patients love the faster turnaround times and the lack of impressions. I love the fact that all of my hardware technology works better and more efficiently.

	What has been the best part of using ChairsideCAD?

	The absolute best part was the short learning curve to proficiency.

	For the first time, exocad’s ChairsideCAD provides clinicians with the freedom to choose the best hardware and software for their single-visit dentistry practice. Derived from the renowned DentalCAD platform, which has been a signature solution within the dental laboratory marketplace for over a decade, ChairsideCAD includes dentalshare, a robust, open collaboration tool for doctors and labs. The key benefit of exocad’s open architecture software is that third-party manufacturers’ products, data, libraries and services are easily integrated. Now, dental practices can easily add an IOS with CAD/CAM and develop expertise at their own pace.

Part II of our coverage of the 2019 Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards features interviews with dental professionals who have used these products.

Best of Class innovations push dentistry forward

Part II of our coverage of the 2019 Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards features interviews with dental professionals who have used these products.


	Public relations is one of the many aspects to running a successful dental practice, and finding ways to get your office, staff and even patients into the news can be a great practice builder…unless you find yourself making the wrong type of headlines.

	This negative coverage could center around a case gone awry, an employee’s personal misdeed, or quite often, a breach of infection control procedures. These breaches involve the potential of dangerous illnesses being spread to patients and staff, and they can cause major harm to a practice’s reputation. They’re also the easiest negative stories to avoid as long as a practice stays on top of infection control requirements, including proper cleaning and sterilization procedures, regular education and required documentation. Of course, keeping up with all that is a challenge unto itself.

	“Compliance is one of those things that, it’s essential but, unfortunately, if you don’t have a problem, sometimes it’s easy to ignore,” says Dr. Christian Willig of Orange Door Dental Group in northern Indiana. “I have seen some of the news, some of the stories about infection control problems or other compliance issues that were brought to light, whether it be by a disgruntled employee or a patient.”               

	Of course, keeping up with the requirements and properly cleaning every part of a dental practice is a major challenge, even if the requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and OSHA don’t change with great regularity, says Jessica Wilson, MPH, who works as a global business development manager for Hu-Friedy where she specializes in infection control. Performing the proper cleaning, sterilization and maintenance is one thing, but Wilson notes that just understanding the requirements as they’re meant to apply to your specific practice is a challenge for many practices.

	“I think what we see is there is a lack of compliance if you were to go in, in real time, and a lot of that is a lack of proper education and information around what is correct compliance,” she says. “I think when it comes down to real practice, there’s just a lot of confusion on what does this mean in my practice? And is this an exception? Do I have to do this? Is this a requirement?”

	Wilson says it’s important for practices to understand CDC guidelines should be considered a minimum standard of care, and those requirements should be just the starting point of a solid infection control policy for a practice. While every practice is required to have a designated infection control coordinator to take ownership of the policies and practices, everyone in the practice needs to know his or her responsibilities and should be aware patients will notice everything you do while providing their dental care.

	“People are just more educated on infection control measures,” Wilson says. “You have people that, they notice, and maybe they’ll say something, and you have plenty of people that will notice things like whether or not hands were washed.”

	To help practices make sense of the requirements and keep things up to date and properly documented, Hu-Friedy created the GreenLight Dental Compliance Center™. This online portal was designed to serve as a single place for practices to find answers to every aspect of infection control that might be causing confusion.

	The GreenLight platform includes information about which regulations apply to a specific practice, how to properly perform the outlined infection control procedures, what training is required and more, Wilson says. It also provides a place where practices can ask questions to infection control experts, create and store the practice’s infection control compliance plan, document required actions and even receive required infection control continuing education.

	“We produced probably the definitive guide on all the state regulations and CDC protocols,” says Hu-Friedy Chief Marketing Officer Patrick Bernardi. “We worked hard at codifying all those regulations so the clinicians wouldn’t have to. Their passion revolves around clinical-grade outcomes. Maybe their passion isn’t residing in knowing exactly what protocol changed, or what state regulation changed. That’s hard work. What we’ve figured is to take that off the plate of the clinician, and the doctors and the staff, and let us do the research.”

	This is exactly how the service is working for Dr. Willig and his practice. They want to be sure they do everything they’re supposed to and provide the optimal patient care they can, and GreenLight has become a valued resource for information both on the regulations and on the practice’s specific compliance. His practice uses GreenLight to make sure the clinicians are up to date on the critical aspects to their infection control efforts.

	“There’s a lot to worry about. Compliance issues sometimes take a backseat,” he says. “Just having one place we can go to means we’ve got a tabulation of, we do this today, this next month and this next month. Things get missed or forgotten or not updated and GreenLight is going to keep us on track.”

	While it’s not the only compliance program available, Wilson says GreenLight stands out because it’s comprehensive, customizable and easy for practices to take advantage of. Whether a practice already has a written infection control plan or needs to create one, setting things up in GreenLight only takes about an hour. This initial written protocol is the center of any practice’s efforts, and on GreenLight, it’s an easily accessible and easily updated digital asset.

	Beyond the initial steps of creating and storing a plan, GreenLight really provides value to practices with the education and answers it offers, Wilson says. The service includes training modules and videos and offers detailed information on every required infection control action. Wilson says this is critical to a successful infection control effort because checking a box to say something was completed without understanding if it actually was properly completed doesn’t help a practice or its patients.

	Infection control product information is another useful aspect to the GreenLight platform. The site can store documentation and instructions for infection control materials and products to make it easier for practices to use them properly. Of course, the first step is actually reading these instructions, and Wilson says this is a step that should never be skipped, even if you’ve used something similar and you think you know the proper way to use something new in your practice.

	These resources are the types of things in GreenLight that are useful for the entire team at a dental practice. The infection control coordinator might be the owner of the protocols and documentation steps, but everyone can use easy access to answers about their specific infection control tasks.

	“I’ve coined it as a team sport, it really is, because it involves and includes and affects every single person in that practice, including the patient,” Wilson says. “With GreenLight, the infection control coordinator will be the one to make sure things are set up properly, and they’re going to roll it out just like any other program, but they’re kind of the drivers of the team. They’re the captains.”

	The patients are the focus of any practice, and for Dr. Willig, they’re also a focus when it comes to infection control efforts. One of the reasons his practice began using GreenLight is to be sure he not only meets all the requirements for a properly cleaned practice and properly sanitized tools, but also operates in a place where patients feel safe and comfortable. He knows they’re smart and going to notice what he and his team do.

	When a practice is run the right way, patients will notice that too. Wilson agrees and feels every practice should be prepared to not only meet infection control requirements but to answer patients who have questions about what’s necessary and how it’s being done. Whether doing it on your own, using GreenLight, or working with another service to help a practice create and keep up with a plan, the important thing is to engage in infection control efforts as a team.

	“There are a ton of different resources available for dental clinicians and practices,” she says. “My message would be don’t wait. Find a program that works for you. And if you’re interested in GreenLight, then we’d love to share it with you and see if it can help you."

How the Hu-Friedy GreenLight Dental Compliance Center™ can become a vital resource in dental practices’ infection control efforts.

Lighting a path to infection control best practices

	As you read this, I hope it’s immediately apparent that something is different about Dental Products Report.

	The magazine looks different on the front, the paper is thicker and for the first time in years, Dental Products Report is bound instead of stapled to provide a nicer spine for easier display and reference on a shelf. We’re investing in every aspect of this publication to provide you with the best possible dental product resource, and the exterior look is just the start.

	Inside changes might be more subtle, but we’re taking a new approach to how we present our stories. Our monthly category roundups now feature more cat- egory details, and other features are also being designed with sidebars and quick facts. More improve- ments aimed at making our content easier to access and more pleasant to view are on the way.

Trending article: How to design optimal operatories

	I hope one of the first changes you noticed is that we’re back to calling ourselves Dental Products Report. This move goes way beyond just spelling out our full name to bet- ter fill the space on the magazine cover. It’s about embracing this publication’s legacy and living up to its reputation as the best dental products resource around.

We want to be a showcase for any and every dental product. Our goal is to provide you with the details and information you need to make a decision as to whether or not that product is the best option for your practice and your patients.

	That’s the dream powering our efforts, and it’s fitting that we’re launching our updates in our Dreamers and Doers issue, which includes profiles of seven dental companies and the people setting those companies up for success. Each of these companies has an interesting story about its products and the ways it works. Every one of those profiles of companies and people passionate about what they do is worth a read.

	With our updated print look in place, the next wave of change will focus on our website, dentalprod- uctsreport.com. The updated site is going to make our content easier to find and accessible on any con- nected device. We want you to be able to stop by our site for updates on new product innovations, industry news, topical and clini- cal articles, as well as long-form articles.

Read more: Why your dental office design matters

	We also have plans to expand our multimedia offerings. Our video production capabilities will debut at the American Dental Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco next month. We’ll be filming inter- views and other video content at future dental tradeshows as well.

As we look toward 2020, we’ll be rolling out new content for- mats in the magazine to showcase dental products in new ways and provide you with insights to help you evaluate those products. One part of those efforts is expanding the use of our Editorial Advisory Board and expanding that board itself.

	Our board strives to be a diverse rep- resentation of all facets of the dental industry, and we’re always on the look- out for additional clinicians interested in writing about the products they use or sharing their thoughts on trends in the industry.

	If you think such a role is right for you, send me a note.

	Actually, if you think there’s anything we can or should be doing better or differently, send me a note.

	Dental Products Report is published as a resource for you. Let us know when we’re on track, and defi- nitely let us know when we’re not.

	We believe this issue and the future of Dental Products Report looks a lot nicer, feels nicer in your hand and is a nicer experience to read. We sincerely hope you agree.

	We have a lot more planned, so let us know what you think of the changes as well as what else we can do to publish a product resource the dental industry deserves.

A new cover look and print style are among the latest upgrades to the print magazine.

Dental Products Report's next act begins to take shape

	At its best, technology makes tasks simpler to accomplish with improved accuracy and efficiency. It can change everything. And every year, the dental innovations that do this best are honored by the Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards.

	Created to shine a bright light on the breakthrough devices, materials, systems and services in the dental industry, the awards are chosen by a panel of expert clinicians. Now in their 11th year, the awards have earned a reputation for showcasing products that push the dental industry forward.

 feature 25 products across a wide range of categories. Of the winning products, 11 are repeat award recipients, while the remaining 14 innovations are taking home the hardware for the first time.

	These products include everything from cameras and curing lights to CAD/CAM solutions and imaging systems. Handpieces, restoratives, loupes and even IT infrastructure innovations got the selection committee’s attention, and each winning product offers something new to the dental practices ready to adopt them.

	The companies behind the winning products include major dental brands and newly launched start-ups. Some winning products are established with multiyear track records, while others are just finishing beta testing. But, all the winning products have a way of standing out from the crowd.

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	A hands-on experience with the winners will be available in the Digital Future of Dentistry Technology Expo during the 2019 ADA FDI World Dental Congress in San Francisco Sept. 5-7. Alongside the products, the Expo will offer free continuing education and lectures from the awards panel and other leading experts in technology integration and social media.

	But, before that, this article, along with additional articles in future issues of Dental Products Report, will feature interviews with clinicians who put these award-winning technologies to work every day for their practices and patients. Read on to learn about these impressive, award-winning technologies.

	Click through the slides to check out the winning products.

	Accurately measuring and tracking occlusion

Dr. Emilio Carlos Zanatta
	Private practice - São Paulo, Brazil

	How did you first learn about OccluSense?

	I was first introduced to OccluSense at the International Dental Show in 2017. After reviewing the prototype, I concluded the OccluSense would be greatly beneficial to me and my patients. It was very easy to learn and navigate the OccluSense app. This enabled me to quickly interpret the data collected as well as save and export it for future reference.

	Describe how OccluSense fits into the way you practice?

	A complete dental treatment requires step-by-step attention such as anamnesis, clinical examination and functional analysis of occlusion. Thus, at the first appointment, OccluSense considerably contributes to the evaluation in recording each of the steps of tooth contact of the mandibular position in centric and eccentric. OccluSense data provides clear and precise arguments to explain the functional analysis report of the occlusion, which I send to orthodontic specialists.

	What would you tell a colleague if he or she asked what it’s like to use OccluSense?

	OccluSense offers the possibility of a positive experience, as it combines the dentist’s knowledge regarding occlusion and a new technology for the benefit of the patient. By using the flexible OccluSense sensor, areas under pressure of occlusal contact in static and dynamic can be recorded. The professional analyzes the distribution, interprets the different positions of the mandible, and decides what to do for better preserving the form, function and esthetics of the teeth.

	OccluSense is quick and easy to set up and easy to use in more than one examining room. When I’m talking about the diagnostic hypothesis at the end of the first appointment, the OccluSense data recordings are of great relevance and clarity, so there can be a better understanding of the necessity of the complete examination, either for orthodontic treatment or oral rehabilitation. Presenting the treatment plan to the patient includes a report (PDF) with pictures and a simulation.

	Capable of recording 256 pressure levels, OccluSense is a handheld digital device designed to provide measurement and recording of masticatory forces. The pressure sensors are just 60 microns thick and flexible enough to record both static and dynamic occlusion, while its coating marks contacts on the patient’s teeth. Occlusion data is wirelessly sent to an app where it can be analyzed and tracked.

	Easy-to-use 3D imaging with benefits patients notice

Matthew Nichols, DDS
	Matthew Nichols DDS Oral and Facial Surgery – Manchester, Tenn.

	What made you decide to use the CS 9600 in your practice?

	After evaluating the options for upgrading my current CBCT, it was clear to me the CS 9600 was the most technologically advanced system available. For me, it had great image quality and a vast selection of imaging sizes, and it was made to help my dental assistants’ jobs easier and to remove many of the frustrations they experienced with our previous CBCT.

In part I of our coverage of the 2019 Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards, dental professionals share stories of using these standout products in their practices.