Noah Levine

How do you compare dental products? Handpiece to handpiece makes sense, but what wins out when a composite goes up against a laser, or loupes are matched against artificial intelligence? Well, 

® is asking just those questions with the debut of the 

Featuring 64 dental products that debuted in 2022, the Spring Selection bracket seeds are based on response to the publication of news about each new product launch. That set up a very interesting field that showcases a wide range of industry innovations.

Is this the ultimate dental product showdown? Likely not. Instead, it’s a light-hearted way to showcase dental products, and maybe have some fun trying to decide whether to back the implant or the impression tray.

The voting process is simple, each Monday starting March 27, dental professionals can visit the Spring Selection page on dentalproductsreport.com to find the latest results and the next matchups. Simply check out the article and cast your vote. Voting will close each Sunday, and the products receiving the most votes advance to the next round with voting starting up again on Tuesday. The matchups will continue until there is one product left standing, and that winner is named 2023 

The 64-product bracket is featured below. It’s divided into four quadrants of 16 products, and each quadrant will produce one winner to send to the semi-final round. The voting rounds will include details on each of the featured products, making this an excellent opportunity to learn about new products and technologies that can benefit your practice and patients. 

We’ll be taking a deeper look at each of the advancing products throughout the event as well, so if for no other reason, vote for the products you want to learn more about. Of course, this could all be about having some fun, so check out the bracket below and come back on Monday as voting begins in the 2023 

Articles

Introducing the Dental Products Report 2023 Spring Selection, a bracket featuring 64 new dental products with the chance to vote on which product advances to the next round.

The Dental Products Report 2023 Spring Selection – Bracket Reveal

 What are your impressions of the dental industry since coming over from medical businesses last year?

 I think there are a lot of similarities. First and foremost, it's very much about helping people, both customers and their patients, and we can do so in a number of ways. We can do so by developing products, but one of the interesting things I've discovered about dental is that the processes are as important as products, and so we can help customers with the processes too.

So we've got product and process, and the third way we help is with clinical education. And we're a leader in this field. I think the transformative piece here, the evolving piece, is the digitalization of dentistry, and how that's making a meaningful difference to the efficiency within a customer's practice. It is going to make a meaningful difference to the transportability of a patient and their data between dental offices, between different regions and between whatever it may be. We're happy we're at the forefront of that, realizing that we are only scratching the surface.

 What were some of the priorities you set when you came on board last year?

 Well, we were, or rather still are, in the COVID-19 pandemic, or endemic, and so that comes with a number of challenges. Number one, supply chain issues accelerated last year but I'm pleased to say that they've stabilized now. At this point, patient demand has certainly begun to approach pre-COVID levels, but it’s not quite there yet. I would say it’s stable. And then there’s obviously the lingering possibility of a recession and the inflationary impact on patient demand. So those are a couple of the first things that I have been focused on.

 What is the mood and focus like at Dentsply Sirona heading into the second quarter of 2023?

 We have introduced a new operating model. ’We will realign ourselves to allow us to focus very specifically on areas that we think are critically important. Typically, these are the faster growing, higher impact spaces such as digitalization, implants, and aligners. That's not to say all the other areas are not important. But where we see the biggest potential impacts are where we need to ensure that we continue to invest in at an appropriate level, when it comes to R&D and clinical education.

 How does Dentsply Sirona approach innovation and how does it cover such a broad range of dental solutions?

 I would classify this as a high-quality problem to have, that we have such a comprehensive portfolio where we can work with our distributors and customers to facilitate all the demands from a straightforward consumable product all the way up to a 3D x-ray or printer. It’s important that we are investing at proper levels to drive innovation in all areas, and we have to be extraordinarily diligent with respect to doing that. The way we do that is by driving an unapologetic focus on accuracy. Accuracy in how we value projects, accuracy in how we deliver projects on time to our customers.

 What connects all of Dentsply Sirona together?

 Digitalization is the thread that comes through all of our products, and we are focusing intensely on that space. It is the thread that integrates everything, and it is a capability that we are pretty good at.

 What are your impressions of the 2023 International Dental Show?

 The scale of this show is spectacular. I don't know that I've ever seen anything quite as large, and I've been at large medtech shows. So, the scale of the event is significant, and the scale of our presence here is immense. And I want to give a shout out to the team that's worked on this for years to put on a footprint like this while still focusing on sustainability. Over 80% of our booth is made using reusable and recyclable materials. Our actions are speaking as loud as our words. And we've got over 40 hours of clinical education going on here. So again, back to my earlier comment about product, process, and clinical education, we are driving clinical education at this event.

 What is the Dentsply Sirona approach to live events, and how has the growth of Dentsply Sirona World transformed that approach?

 At the end of my first week with Dentsply Sirona, I was at Dentsply Sirona World in Las Vegas, which was an incredible event where we had over 4500 dental practitioners. That was actually the first of more DS World shows that we've had around the world. Between September 2022 and February 2023, we also had DS Worlds in Madrid, Turkey, and Dubai. I think we've engaged with in excess of 7000 dental professionals as a result. We see it as a cornerstone for our engagement strategy with customers, with DSOs, with KOLs, and it’s been a good part of expanding our reach. I think we have transformed the way companies interact with customers in the dental space. And I think it’s fair to say that we still lead that particular angle of customer engagement and interaction.

 What makes Dentsply Sirona a company that customers want to connect with in this way?

 The willingness of 7000 dental professionals to attend Dentsply Sirona events taking place around the world is an incredible testament to the value that they place on what we’ve created with DS World. It is a barometer of why we should continue to invest in interactions like that.

 Dentsply Sirona held talks at IDS on digital dentistry and sustainability. You’ve touched on Dentsply Sirona’s position as a leader in digitalization, but can you share how Dentsply Sirona hopes to also be a leader when it comes to sustainability in the dental industry?

Our sustainability strategy is fundamental to our mission of transforming dentistry and improving oral health globally. Our commitment begins at the top, with the Board of Directors overseeing its deployment, and is embedded throughout our Company, permeating all our business. We call our sustainability journey BEYOND: Taking action for a brighter world. Our strategy is aligned to the United Nation’s SDGs and based on three pillars of action — Healthy Planet, Healthy Smiles and Healthy Business which reflect how we engage with our employees, customers, partners and communities.

Sustainability in dentistry is now a key challenge for the oral healthcare sector, with a large majority of dentists – 7 out of 10 participants – expressing that the dental industry is lagging when it comes to sustainability, while 80% say that it is important that our industry reduces its environmental impact. These are key findings of the Global Sustainability in Dentistry Study, which was commissioned by Dentsply Sirona in 2022. We undertook this study to understand how dentists around the world view sustainability and where they look to us and the industry for support. 

To address the existing knowledge gap among dentists and to support them in their journey towards becoming more sustainable, Dentsply Sirona has now launched the first course of its comprehensive Sustainability Educational Curriculum. Delivered online and for free through the Dentsply Sirona Academy, each of the five interactive courses is led by experienced experts and will focus on a different aspect of sustainability.

As we educate both customers and patients, they will demand other companies to begin to engage in a more meaningful way in sustainability. It's good for us. It's good for practitioners. It's good for patients. And it's good for the world.

 Thank you so much for making the time to speak with us.

During the 2023 International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany, Dental Products Report® Editorial Director Noah Levine sat down with Dentsply Sirona CEO Simon Campion about the company’s place in the industry, the trends its focused on, and how he plans to continue the company’s legacy as an industry leader.

Keeping a Focus on Accuracy and Engagement: A Conversation with Dentsply Sirona CEO Simon Campion

As the 2023 International Dental Show (IDS) wraps up its fourth day of dental product exhibitions, numerous new innovations were still to be found throughout the numerous exhibit halls. The trends of advanced software applications, enhanced 3D printing, and sustainable solutions continued to be apparent in the products making their debut at the event in Cologne, Germany.

Formlabs Showcases a Quintet of New 3D Printing Solutions

FastCure from formlabs cures printed parts in as little as 1 minute.

With a focus on enhancing 3D printing efficiency and ease of use, formlabs showcased 5 new enhancements and innovations at IDS 2023. With so many new things to see, it's not a big surprise that the company's booth was a busy place as the new products and updated solutions offer numerous time-saving opportunities.

With the company's enhanced offerings faster printing and post-production is easier than ever. Among the new technologies from formlabs is the FastCure curing system that can completely cure printed parts in just 1 to 6 minutes.

Other new formlabs updates include PreForm Dental software that automatically sets up print details such as layer thickness, material, orientation and supports. Other software enhancements include Fast Arch Printing which can produce 8 arches in 20 minutes or a single arch in less than 10.

The other two updates formlabs announced during IDS are integration with 3Shape to make it easier to bring an intraoral scan into the formlabs software, and a new Bleach shade for the company's temporary crown material.

Asiga Simplifies 3D Printed Splints With UltraGloss™ Material Trays

UltraGloss Resin from Asiga eliminates the need to polish 3D printed splints.

UltraGLOSS™ allows you to 3D print clear parts directly with a glossy / pre-polished surface removing the need for manual post-polishing.
No special post processing steps are required. Simply 3D print your parts using Asiga's new UltraGLOSS material trays and then wash and cure as normal following the material manufacturers guidelines.
The result—a pre-polished finish direct from the 3D printer.

Once the printing workflow is complete the UltraGloss splints are ready for the patient, which saves time for everyone involved. The material is compatible with the Asiga MAX UV, MAX X, and PRO 4K 3D printers.

Good Fit Technologies Shows A Compostable Clear Aligner Material

The sustainable dental products trend was evident throughout IDS 2023, but the new GT FLEX® GREEN aligner material from Good Fit Technologies could help eliminate one of the biggest sources of waste in the dental industry as traditional clear aligner production workflows produce a large amount of material waste, and that's not even counting the waste created after a patient finishes with an aligner.

The material is 100% plant-based and free of plastics. It works with standard clear aligner thermoforming workflows, allowing the material to be used without the need to change production processes. While the material is eco-friendly, it still provides the clarity, strength, and comfort necessary in a clear aligners and retainers. 

Planmeca Rolls Out Numerous New Innovations

While new products are always a part of the IDS experience, perhaps no company used this stage to launch more innovations than Planmeca. The company issued press releases throughout the week to tout each of its new offerings that included imaging systems, software updates, equipment launches, and more.

Among the new solutions from Planmeca is the company's latest 3D imaging solution the Viso® G3 which is designed to capture detailed images of a patient's entire dentition, and like other Viso solutions from Planmeca, the G3 allows users to capture 3D patient images with low radiation doses, among other features.

Other new innovations on display at the Planmeca booth include the Pro50™ dental unit which is designed for patient comfort, clinician ergonomics, simple infection control, and adaptability to meet the needs of any clinician.

The company's Romexis® software platform also received upgrades with a simplified and enhanced CAD/CAM module, an orthodontic outcome simulator, and the artificial intelligence powered Romexis Smart module that automatically recognizes anatomies and segments 3D CBCT images.

Among the other new systems from Planmeca is the Imprex™ mobile scanning station that allows the Emerald® S intraoral scanner to be connected to a portable screen for easier patient communication around digital impression scans. 

The flood of dental industry news and new product debuts continued as the 2023 International Dental Show continues.

International Dental Show – Day 4 Recap

With close to 2000 exhibitors on hand from around the globe, seeing all of the 2023 International Dental Show (IDS) is a massive, multi-day effort as the world's largest dental trade exhibition is filled with the latest ideas and innovations for dental professionals.

After several days of walking the exhibit halls, dental product trends begin to take shape. For IDS 2023 these include the expansion of intraoral scanning options, the rapid growth of 3D printers and materials, and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to create clinical and production efficiencies. Another trend emerging from the show is a focus on sustainability which can bring numerous benefits including savings in cost, time, and of course the reduction of waste.

Carbon Creates Efficiencies With New Model Material

Carbon's New Model Material Products Hollow Models for Clear Aligner Fabrication.

Carbon continued to focus on helping dental labs increase productivity with 3D printing as the company showed off its next generation of clear aligner model resin. The new resin produces hollow models that retain the strength necessary for thermoforming clear aligners, but uses 40% less material than the previous generation of Carbon 3D printed models.

The new model workflow, which allows a Carbon printer to increase its throughput by 65%, takes advantage of advancements in both material chemistry and software to plan a hollow interior while retaining the same exterior accuracy. The hollow models are produced without the need for a solvent, and uncured resins are returned to the tank for future model production.

While the new material will allow clear aligner producers to increase capacity and improve efficiencies, officials from Carbon are also focused on dental labs looking to print nightguards, dentures, and other dental appliances and restorations. The company sees 3D printing as driving both increased productivity for digital dental labs as well as more sustainable workflows that generate less waste.

Steiriliu Launches VisionButler Reusable Retractor

The VisionButler can be autoclaved to reduce practice costs and waste.

Innovative organization company Steiriliu is building on its portfolio of silicone bur blocks and organization systems with the addition of the VisionButler, a soft silicone lip and cheek retractor that can be autoclaved up to 1000 times. The reusable retractor is soft, and comfortable for patients while being simple to place.

The retractor's black color provides contrast for clinical photography and it can also be used while capturing clinical images, whitening teeth, or when managing orthodontic and prophy patients. As a reusable device, VisionButler can help reduce a practice's waste while saving money by reducing the need for disposable retraction solutions.

Shining 3D Dental Announces Wireless Intraoral Scanner Along With 3D Face Scanner

Shining 3D Launched the Wireless Version of the Aoralscan 3D Intraoral Scanner 3.

The Shinning 3D booth was a busy place as the growing digital dentistry company showed a pair of new innovations. The Aoralscan 3 Wireless brings even more flexibility to the company's intraoral scanning solutions, while the MetiSmile 3D Face Scanner.

The new intraoral scanner model features WiFi 6 technology for fast and stable data connections, while the battery can provide up to 2 hours of continuous scanning on a single charge. Two tip sizes are available, and the scanner software uses AI to enhance model creation and streamline scanning workflows.

The new MetiSmile is the company's first extraoral face scanner, and the unit is designed for multiple clinical applications. The scanner can automatically align extraoral and intraoral scan data to create a complete 3D patient model that can be used for a range of tasks including orthodontic simulation, facial feature measurement, and dynamic occlusion measurement.

HASS Shows Its Latest CAD/CAM Blocks for Abutment Crowns

The latest millable blocks from HASS are the Amber® MIll Meso, which are made from lithium disilicate and designed for fabricating implant crowns and abutments.

Compatible with Dentsply Sirona's TiBase system, the blocks feature variable translucency, and they are indicated for use as custom abutments or implant crowns in both the anterior and the posterior.

TSpro Demonstrates Vacuum Connects Tongue Cleaning System

German company TSpro was on hand demonstrating its TS1 Tongue Vacuum Cleaner solution. While the product is not yet available in the US, it works by connecting a small plastic head to the dental suction line. A cleansing gel is rubbed onto the tongue with a nubbed side of the TS1, and then the device is flipped over so the vacuum side can be used to clean a patient's tongue.

The simple solution is designed to remove oral bacteria that can build up on the tongue, and after a professional vacuum cleaning, the TS1 can be removed from the suction line, rinsed, and attached to a homecare handle so the patient can take the cleaner home and continue to maintain tongue hygiene at home.

Lithoz and Ivoclar Partner for 3D Printing With Lithium Disilicate

Lithoz Previewed 3D Printing in Lithium Disilicate during the 2023 IDS.

Ceramic 3D printing company also had a new innovation that is not yet ready to launch in the United States, 3D printing in lithium disilicate. The company is developing the material and workflow in partnership with Ivoclar and hope to launch the solution for practices and labs in the US sometime in 2024.

Designed for the printing of glass-ceramic veneers and crowns, the solution can be used to print up to 100 individual restorations at a time and can greatly reduce material waste while making it easier for labs to consistently produce precise, thin restorations.

Attempting to take in all of the 2023 International Dental Show is both challenging and rewarding, as new products and innovative concepts abound throughout the world's largest dental products exhibition.

International Dental Show 2023 – Day 3 Recap

Cologne, Germany - Host City for The 2023 International Dental Show (IDS)

The second day of the world's largest dental products exhibition—the 2023 International Dental Show (IDS)—was as busy and full of technology innovations and industry insights as the first day. Here are some of the highlights 

Align Technology Turns Focus to Ortho-Restorative Treatments

At a press briefing showcasing the latest updates to the Invisalign Platform, Align Technology discussed its recently launched Invisalign Smile Architect™ software update that allows clinicians to combine orthodontic and restorative treatment planning within a single platform. While noting that 45% of restorative case outcomes could benefit from some orthodontics, company representatives said their solution is able to bring the two areas of care together without the need for a clinician to adopt a new workflow.

Additionally, the company demonstrated the latest versions of the iTero intraoral scanner and previewed upcoming software enhancements that will include radiograph analysis, as well as an updated treatment outcome simulator that goes beyond images to create a realistic video of the patient with the proposed treatment outcomes which can enable them to not only visualize a new smile but to see it truly come to life. While no launch timeline was mentioned, the company did say they are hoping to launch this feature as soon as possible.

Stratasys Sets New Standards in Multi-Material and Multi-Shade 3D Printing

TrueDent Material from Stratasys allows 3D printing of monolithic multishade dentures.

3D printing is well established in the dental industry as the technology is a perfect fit for producing large numbers of very small customized parts, and the options available to dental practices and labs continue to improve at a rapid pace. 

For Stratasys, the latest advancements are the company's J3™ DentaJet® 3D Printer which uses PolyJet™ printing technology to allow it to produce multiple parts from multiple materials in the same print run. Additionally, the company was showcasing its TrueDent™ Resin, which allows for the printing of monolithic multi-color dentures.

®, Ronen Lebi, vice president of dental at Stratasys, says the company did a lot of testing to get the new material to get the material and its various gingival and teeth shades to work, but the result is the first monolithic printed denture which can bring a new level of efficiency to dental labs and practices.

The future of 3D printing is going to focus on advanced materials that will open new opportunities for applying 3D printing in dental settings, Lebi says, and he notes that Stratasys has created a dedicated dental team to provide support and service to dental operations so they can adopt new workflows and efficiencies quickly and successfully.

"No other vertical I've seen has such a strong use case for 3D printing," he says. "The trend is there."

Diagnocat Demonstrates Advanced Artificial Intelligence Imaging Solution

The Diagnocat booth was a busy place during IDS 2023.

While it is still pending FDA clearance for a full-scale launch to dentists throughout the United States, the company's software is already widely used in other regions, and Diagnocat's booth was a busy place in the IDS exhibit hall.

The artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solution works with multiple digital imaging formats to automatically organize and analyze 2D and 3D images. With the ability to detect and document a range of more than 65 potential conditions from caries to periodontal issues, and beyond. The solution provides an easy to review report that can be evaluated by a clinician and shared with a patient as a part of a treatment recommendation. 

Additional software applications include a module that can automate CBCT image segmentation and then create 3D STL models from the CBCT's DICOM data, as well as cloud capabilities for easy remote access and collaboration. 

Panthera Dental Brings Magnetic Connection Back to Removables

Mile Cone, DMD, CDT, FACP presents about the Magnet-X removable attachment solution from Panthera Dental.

Sometimes what's old is new again, and that was exactly the news from Panthera Dental as the company debuted its Magnet-X solution. This new removable implant bar features a magnetic connection system designed for both the high degree of retention these restorations require, as well as the ease of attachment and removal many dental patients need.

After announcing the new solution, Miles Cone, DMD, CDT, FACP, presented a lecture walking through his testing of the new solution and highlighting how this is an ideal option for patients with limited dexterity. Dr Cone shared how he'd wanted to see magnetic attachments return to the removables space, and that his testing with Magnet-X shows that the system is an ideal option for many older patients. With no parts that wear out over time, Magnet-X provides consistency and stability. 

Dentsply Sirona Showcases Its Latest Innovations

Dentsply Sirona's new Axano dental chair and delivery system offers advanced, automated functionality.

With kiosks, stands, and products on display across an area more than 100 meters long, there was no shortage of innovations to discover through Dentsply Sirona's booth at IDS 2023. Still despite the massive footprint, the booth was designed with sustainability in mind and features reusable booth structures, as well as reusable cups at the in-booth cafe.

A booth tour included a look at the company's recently launched DS OmniTaper Implant System which adds one more option for clinicians using the company's implant solutions. However, the real highlights in the booth were the latest updates to a pair of critical dental technologies, the company's latest dental chair and delivery system, Axano, as well as the newest features added to the DS Core cloud-based communications hub.

The Axano solution is a fully automated and integrated chair and delivery system. With the ability to preset multiple chair and delivery system positions, and a simple yet powerful foot pedal control, the Axano is easy to use during treatment, but the real power is the system's customizable controls that can operate multiple handpieces for restorative, endodontic, prophylactic, and surgical applications, and all of the controls can be customized on the delivery unit's large touchscreen panel.

The chair solution even integrates with clinical imaging solutions, allowing the images to be viewed on a patient-facing video screen with annotations from the clinician to help patients understand what they're seeing.

The new updates to DS Core allow streamlined communications with 1 secure portal connecting a practice and all of its data to labs, patients, referral partners, and more.

Oqton Brings New Efficiencies to 3D Print Production

Oqton software uses AI to prepare more efficient 3D printing builds.

A newer software company entering the dental CAD/CAM and AI arenas, Oqton makes solutions designed to bring new levels of efficiency to dental labs and production facilities. Capable of automating some of the most tedious steps in 3D printing production workflows, the solution can automatically plan the placement of and supports for multiple restorations within a single 3D print build.

Especially useful with metal 3D printers, the Oqton software arranges planned restorations and parts within the three dimensions of the build volume to optimize both the number of parts produced at once, as well as the pattern of the printing itself. These advancements enable 3D printers to produce more in less time.

3D Systems Continues to Drive New 3D Printing Applications

3D Systems launched its NextDent LCD1 3D printer with a small footprint to fit any lab or clinic.

Finally, a stop by the 3D Systems booth provided a chance to see the company's latest printer, the compact-sized NextDent LCD1. Capable of printing a wide range of materials with a high degree of accuracy, the system is small enough to fit almost anywhere and powerful enough to handle a wide range of printing tasks.

The company also previewed new print materials for CAD/Cast workflows and denture base printing. Both materials are updated versions of previous materials from the company, and they mark the company's dedication to consistently improving the dental technologies it offers.

"We want to make materials for all the workflows, and we want to make our materials best in class," says 3D Systems vice president/general manager dental Stef Vanneste.

As a company 3D Systems is working to provide the systems, materials, and support to help the industry continue to shift to digital workflows, Vanneste says. As materials advance, he believes 3D printing will be capable of being the standard for the production of any dental restoration and appliance. The key is proving the effectiveness and value of the new materials being developed.

"We need to challenge the notion that zirconia is the gold standard," he says. 

The second day at the 2023 International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany featured new product debuts, forthcoming product previews, and several discussions about 3D printing in dentistry.

International Dental Show 2023 – Day 2 Recap

Once again the global dental community is gathered in Cologne, Germany to take part in the industry's largest trade event, the International Dental Show (IDS) with close to 2000 exhibitors showing off the latest innovations for dental practices and laboratories.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the 2023 IDS  opened March 14, and with so many companies spread throughout 11 different exhibit halls and floors, it's a good thing attendees have 5 days to try to take it all in. Companies both big and small, and old and new were busy meeting with dental professionals and prospective partners in their booths and at media briefings throughout the day.

Here are some of the highlights from Day 1.

Henry Schein Discusses the Future of Dentistry and the Technologies Shaping It

Big data, connected dentistry, and artificial intelligence (AI) were the main topics covered during the Henry Schein press briefing as company CEO Stanley Bergman and other executives shared what they see as the future of the dental industry, but before they spoke, popular AI platform ChatGPT was allowed to present its own vision of what lies ahead for dental care, and it did a commendable job as the AI highlighted the importance of advanced diagnostics and preventive treatment, the power of digital dentistry and robotics, and of course the growing use of AI technologies.

While Bergman agreed with most of ChatGPT's predictions, he was quick to point out that innovative technologies are wonderful new tools for clinicians, but they are not likely to replace what dentists, hygienists, and other dental professionals do for patients.

"Technology can replace a lot, but it can't replace the human touch," he says.

While assessing where he sees the industry in terms of technology adoption, Bergman noted that intraoral scanning has moved beyond the innovation stage and is now approaching being "in the standard of care category." He also noted the rapid advancements in dental 3D printing, a technology he expects will also move past the innovation stage in the next 4 years.

Going forward, Bergman says he expects data to be a big focus, and integrating that data with hardware and software that works for practices and labs is critical. He also stressed the need for solutions to keep their platforms open in order to foster better connections, enhanced technology adoption, and better clinical outcomes.

Henry Schein is focused on helping create clinical workflows that leverage new technologies to make practice and lab operations more consistent and reliable. Besides the previously mentioned technologies, augmented reality is another exciting area of innovation the company expects to grow in the industry.

"Let's enjoy dentistry," Bergman says while closing the press conference. "Let's enjoy the technology because people need dentistry."

Dentsply Sirona Focuses on Digital Dentistry While Promoting Sustainability

With a pair of panel discussions, Dentsply Sirona made a point to highlight the importance of digital dentistry for the industry's future while also promoting sustainability in dental practices and the industry at large.

While the two topics were covered by separate panels, the overlap was clear as shifting to digital dental technologies can be one key part of a practice reducing its environmental impact. Partnering with the FDI, as well as others around the industry, the company is launching a series of free online education modules to help practices become more sustainable in their operations. Additional resources on the topic are also available from FDI.

But while the company is out front talking about sustainability, it is also working hard to reduce its own impact on the planet, and hoping to set a new standard for others to follow. Besides turning to renewable energy where possible, and working toward other internal sustainability goals, Dentsply Sirona also made sure it's expansive IDS 2023 booth was made from sustainable, reused, and recyclable materials.

"Our actions are truly speaking as loud as our words," notes Dentsply Sirona CEO Simon Campion. "I think that as we educate both customers and patients, then the demand will come from that side to other companies to begin to engage in a more meaningful way in sustainability."

New technology was also the focus at the press briefing from GC Corp. The company debuted its latest intraoral scanner, the Aadva IOS200. With a small and light scanning handpiece, the new system is designed to provide enhanced comfort for both clinicians and patients, while capturing high-quality digital impressions.

With its thin profile and light weight, the handpiece makes it easier to reach all areas of the mouth, and the learning curve for new users is greatly simplified.

After the recent launches of its new E5 and E4 mills, vhf used the 2023 IDS as the venue for the launch of its latest "E Series" product. The new E3 is a compact, tabletop unit that automatically trims and clear aligners. The system is designed to enhance productivity while lowering costs by saving staff time that was previously spent finishing the appliances. 

At the Amman Girrbach booth, the company is focusing on its complete digital chairside solution known as DRS. Among the updates on display was an updated intraoral scanner for the system, as well as enhanced software designed to improve accuracy and efficiency while continuing to support a range of clinical applications.

Finally, PreXion was busy showing a preview of the company's latest CBCT solution. However, the new solution is not yet through regulatory, and not much more can be said beyond noting that the latest from PreXion will likely be on display at the annual California Dental Association meeting in Anaheim this May.

Check back tomorrow for a look at the innovations and announcements from day 2 of IDS 2023.

The 2023 International Dental Show got underway March 14 with close to 2000 exhibiting companies and exciting dental innovations everywhere.

International Dental Show 2023 – Day 1 Recap

Ivoclar CEO Diego Gabathuler presents during the 2023 IDS Ivoclar Media Event.

Sometimes it's good to be first, and other times it makes more sense to wait a bit to learn from those who leap out front. For Ivoclar at the 2023 International Dental Show (IDS) it was a little of both, as the company celebrated a milestone while debuting its latest innovation and teasing more to come on the eve of the event.

At a media event featuring the company leadership, Ivoclar shared a video documenting the company's first 100 years from its 1923 start making denture teeth when the company was known as Ramco AG, to today when the company is a global leader in dental materials and technology. CEO Diego Gabathuler spoke about the company's history of innovation and its future focusing on integrated solutions and an optimal customer experience. 

"Our work is done in the mouth, but the magic is felt through the soul and visible through the eyes," he says while showing how a smile transformation brightens a patient's entire face.

Next up, CMO Patric Frank talked about the company's direction for future products and its goal of driving innovation beyond chemistry. The company has put it energies behind not just creating innovative products for dental practices and labs, but in helping to educate and train clinicians and technicians he said.

"The hardest job today is how to find talent and train talent to do the job," he notes while discussing the different online training formats the company currently offers.

Additionally, Frank discussed a new dental lab consulting service the company is currently piloting. The service aims to help labs increase efficiency while increasing employee retention. That was just one of a number of forthcoming products Ivoclar shared with attendees in the Innovation Room. While none of those innovations are ready to be shared publically, many are likely to make a big impression when they hit the market.

®, Frank shared how the company approaches its legacy of innovation as it spent the last few years looking back through its history while continuing to look ahead to develop new innovations.

"That's why I came to think of it as innovation beyond chemistry," he says. "Yes, we'll launch new products, and there will be new chemistry, and that's important, but solving our customers needs is our true goal. We will speak to customers, and they will tell us, "Hey, your blocks are the best in the market. So that's fine. Our problems are different, our problems are training our staff, finding our staff," More and more efficiency is a big deal. So I think that's where innovation has many faces these days. And that's what we want to cater to."

When it comes to the future of Ivoclar, Frank says the focus is firmly on understanding customers, learning about their challenges, and helping them find solutions. This means Ivoclar isn't looking to drive the industry toward one type of dentistry but instead is looking to be a partner helping individual practices and labs find success in their own ways. Frank says part of Ivoclar's success comes from watching and following the dental industry as a whole.

"I think it's not our call to make where the customer should go, it's our job to help them where they want to go. I think that's a big difference," Frank says. "I think where we are as a company, we're usually not an early adopter but a fast follower. I think we follow once we see it's a trend which really helps our customers."

Of course, the company is still dedicated to staying at the forefront of the dental industry and no IDS media event would be complete without at least one new innovation to share. In this case, Ivoclar launched its latest dental lab scanner. The new PrograScan® PS7 is designed to simultaneously scan two full-arch models, and it can complete a scan and render 3D models in less than 120 seconds, so a technician can start designing the case 3 times faster than previous Ivoclar scanning solutions.

With a media event a day before the opening of the 2023 International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany, Ivoclar showed off new and forthcoming innovations while marking the company's 100th anniversary.

Ivoclar Kicks Off IDS 2023 Celebrating 100 Years and Announcing the New PrograScan PS7 Lab Scanner

As a third-generation dental lab technician, John “Johnny O” Orfanidis, CDT, has experience with more than just a handful of dental materials. He’s seen a parade of novel options come and go from the lab bench, and he’s always been focused on pushing the boundaries to produce the best restorations as efficiently as possible.

Indicated for crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers, and implant-supported crowns, Grandio disc is an 86%-filled nano-ceramic hybrid CAD/CAM disc said to offer a combination of optimal tooth-like physical properties, category-leading compressive strength, extremely low water absorption and natural esthetics with enhanced color stability. The material provides excellent polishability and esthetics, and enhances production efficiency by eliminating the need for post-mill firing or curing.

Johnny O stays at the forefront of the industry by making sure he’s up-to-date on both the latest material science and the most innovative production technology and workflows. He built a reputation as a leading expert on dental zirconia, but for the past several years, he’s been working with a new material—the Grandio disc from VOCO—and he’s just as excited about the possibilities of working with this nano-ceramic hybrid material as he was when he first started with zirconia.

What makes the Grandio disc—and the chairside version, Grandio blocs—such an exciting material is its combination of toothlike physical properties, consistent and customizable esthetics, and streamlined fabrication workflow. The Grandio disc is not the only hybrid ceramic available for CAD/CAM production, but Johnny O says it’s the first product that truly brings the benefits of chairside composite materials to the lab bench.

The Grandio disc demonstrates a higher fracture force and flexural strength than other materials of the same type. At 86% by weight, it is formulated with the highest filler content of any CAD/CAM nano-ceramic hybrid material. Like chairside composites, the Grandio disc also provides consistent esthetics and, even more importantly, it offers a modulus of elasticity and a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of natural teeth, so restorations fabricated using the Grandio disc behave more like the structures they’re replacing. “When you understand what’s in it, [you realize] the opportunities it presents clinically and from a workflow perspective. This is where we’re headed,” he says.

Although patients can benefit from the physical properties of the Grandio disc, clinicians and dental labs will appreciate the efficient production workflow it offers. The material does not require any postproduction firing or curing, and Johnny O says, it polishes easily and retains its finish. In addition, if a Grandio restoration is chipped, it can be quickly and easily repaired intraorally using dental composite.

These properties attracted Johnny O’s attention because he’s seen how dental composites have become the go-to material for direct restorations, and he likes having a similar material option to work with in his lab. He believes there is a boom in what he’s calling “polymer dentistry” on the way, and the Grandio material is helping him get a head start for his lab.

The discs are available in monolithic shades, and milled restorations can be customized using an approach that is similar to customizing ceramic restorations. VOCO’s GrandioSO composites can be used while customizing a Grandio disc restoration, and because they are all from VOCO, these direct composites provide an identical shade match. Johhny O says VOCO’s reputation for making some of best chairside materials was a big reason he expected the Grandio disc to be an innovation to watch for. “When I started using it, it was great, because I knew “it was backed by extensive research and development,” he says. “It has a higher glass filler content [and] it has all the characteristics I like. That’s why I use it.”

Johnny O says he still sees a major role for zirconia in dentistry, but not every case needs that hard of a structure, which is becoming especially apparent as more and more cases involve dental implants. Although zirconia is durable and offers many other desirable physical characteristics, its strength can also present challenges when it comes to long-term function in the oral environment. This is why a more flexible material, such as the Grandio disc, that is kinder to opposing dentition is an ideal option for labs and practices today.

“When we have the opportunity to speak with doctors who understand material science at a different level, they’re willing to try some of these new materials because they’re putting that engineering and material science together, and they [realize that] there has to be a better way,” he says. “You have this solid chunk of zirconia on an implant part, with a screw in the bone. There are no ligaments, there’s nothing. It’s actually hard on the environment.”

The Grandio disc has become a go-to material for Johnny O when fabricating overstructures, and he likes that the material can be bonded to substructures fabricated from zirconia or other materials. This allows him to provide clinicians with a highly esthetic restoration made from materials that better approximate the physical properties of natural dentition.

“The polish is great. It has a beautiful smooth surface that gives you long wear because of the way the material is put together. More importantly, it has a little bit of flexibility to it,” he says. “For example, enamel does not have flexibility, but the rest of the tooth does. This gives you that tiny bit of flex you would need, and I really believe that’s going to be the next era of dentistry in the next few years. It’s going to be composite dentistry, and we’re just getting good at it.”

Another benefit of Grandio CAD/CAM materials is their repairability. Johnny O says this property often goes unnoticed, but having a restoration that can be repaired using standard dental composite is a huge advantage for patients. This means if something damages a Grandio restoration, the patient can have the issue fixed quickly from almost any dental office.

Although he’s quick to talk up the benefits of Grandio CAD/CAM materials, Johnny O notes that there’s a bit of a learning curve with milling the discs or blocs. He says the dense material mills more slowly than other materials he uses, and it produces a very fine powder. Still, most dental mills are compatible with the Grandio disc and are up to the task, and Johnny O says longer milling cycles are offset by other time savings during production.

“As you’re milling it, your offsets have to be a little different to make sure they fit,” he says. “When it comes out, it’s great. All you [have to] do is polish it. You don’t have to put it in an oven, and you don’t have to cure it for an extra amount of time to process it. Once you get your settings right, it’s a really nice material.”

However, as with everything he uses in the lab, Johnny O does see some room for improvement when it comes to the Grandio materials. He says the esthetics are great, but with US fashion trends pushing for whiter and brighter teeth, having a “super white” shade of the material would be helpful. Additionally, Johnny O says a thicker disc option would be another useful Grandio CAD/CAM option. “That would make a superb addition to the line of products,” he says.

That being said, Grandio discs and blocs fit the bill for what clinicians want in their CAD/CAM materials, Johnny O says. He believes dentists want seating appointments to be smooth and efficient, with a crown that drops right in, looks great, and can be bonded or cemented as the case dictates and the clinician prefers. As more evidence shows the benefits of using materials that are kinder to opposing dentition, Johnny O believes clinicians will increasingly request materials like Grandio. “I think doctors are going to drive demand [as] we start seeing a few more studies come out on hardness or toughness of materials,” he says.

John “Johnny O” Orfanidis, CDT, shares why he’s so excited about what he can do for clinicians and patients using the Grandio disc CAD/CAM material from VOCO.

This Material Is Guiding the Way Toward “Polymer Dentistry”

®editorial staff, these innovations stood out among the many new technologies and materials introduced throughout the past year. The products featured here each bring something new and exciting to a dental lab or practice, and all of them can be employed for enhanced efficiency and outcomes. Read on to discover the Top 5 Editor’s Choice Products of 2022.

Top 5 Editor’s Choice Dental Lab Technologies of 2022

The top new Editor’s Choice lab technology products of 2022 as chosen by the Dental Lab Products® editorial team.

 2022 Materials Survey said enhanced durability was important or very important when considering whether to use a new material in practice.

 2022 Technology Census strongly agree or agree that an intraoral scanner impresses patients and can drive word-of-mouth referrals.

 is the milestone achieved by Sterngold in 2022. Other dental companies celebrating notable anniversaries this year include: Pulpdent marked 75 years since it was founded, Keating Dental Lab celebrated 20 years in business, Panthera Dental marked 10 years in business, and Carestream Dental took time to note the fifth anniversary of its spinoff from Carestream Health.

33.7% of dental assistants and 31.4% of dental hygienists 

say they plan to retire within the next 5 years, according to research published by the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute in partnership with American Dental Assistants Association, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Dental Assisting National Board, and IgniteDA.

The size of Delta University for Science and Technology’s dental hospital in Mansoura, Egypt. For reference, the facility covers more than 3 acres. It was recognized by Guinness World Records in July.

Dental workforce shortages: data to navigate today’s labor market. American Dental Association Health Policy Institute. Accessed November 1, 2022. 

https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/hpi/dental_workforce_shortages_labor_market.pdf

There are many ways to tell the story of a year in the dental industry. Here we present some interesting and informative metrics, statistics, and other numerical milestones from the past year.