 we share news of new products and technology, along with innovative ways to put them to good use in everyday practice. Once a year we take that coverage to a new level with stories like the ones on the following pages.

There are a wealth of tremendous products available to today’s dentists. In fact, there are so many that it can be difficult stay on top of all them and to know what might really make a difference in your efforts to best treat your patients.

That’s where DPR steps in to provide some assistance. It’s important to know about the latest and greatest in dental products. It’s also critical to know how best to implement these innovations, to understand how and when to use them. It’s also vital to be sure that when you reach for a product that it can be counted out to consistently deliver great results.

The 9 companies featured in this year’s special section all have a long track record of producing products, services and education to assist you in reaching your goals.

Dr. John Flucke, Chief Dental Editor and Technology Editor for DPR, summed up these goals so well in a past Innovator Profile special section that we’re bringing his comments back one more time: “At the end of the day, everyone in this noble industry is working for the patient. Ensuring the best patient outcome is what we are all tasked to do and it is a tremendous privilege and a blessing to be allowed to do just that. It doesn’t matter whether you are the CEO of a dental supply company, a writer for a dental publication, or a doctor in the trenches seeing patients every day-we should all remember that it is the oral and systemic health of every human being that should be our focus and our goal.”

Philip Fijal, CDS President Elect, sat down to answer some questions about the Chicago Dental Society.

How has the CDS changed with the times to ensure the best opportunities for its members?

One of the things we continuously look at is the changing demographics of our profession. We engage with members and non-members to lead a path through the changing environment of the dental practice. We try to understand what the new dentist wants from membership and what services they most likely need, and have gained insight from our more seasoned members as well. We work hard to stay nimble so that we can still maneuver the ship in the rapidly changing waters of the health care industry.

How do you ensure that the Midwinter Meeting “stays fresh” and keeps its place as a “must-attend” event for dental professionals?

Being the leader in scientific dental meetings in the country, the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting is a well-planned and well-organized yearly event that I truly believe is a “must-attend.”

Premier speakers are chosen to provide attendees with a wide variety of lectures and hands-on learning opportunities. Special events featuring some of the finest talents are also planned. The Midwinter Meeting also offers the best exhibition in dentistry. Last year, we featured more than 700 exhibitors. Exhibitors display the latest equipment, materials and products for the attendees to see, touch and order. The results have spoken for themselves, with an average attendance of nearly 30,000.

Each year following the meeting, a very detailed critique process takes place so that each aspect of the meeting can be continually improved.

With all of the online opportunities for education, what are some of the challenges you have faced with in-person education?

It could be assumed that the younger generation would be more likely to want online-based education. We have introduced classes specifically for the new dentist, sort of a new dentist track, so there is something specific for their interests. We also host a New Dentist Reception during the Midwinter Meeting. Although the younger generation is well connected electronically, they still desire the face-to-face interaction that classroom learning and socializing can provide. And I think that is even truer for that slightly seasoned generation. No matter how convenient we find electronic learning, our needs still come back to a face-to-face connection with a speaker and our colleagues.

What are some of the latest happenings with the CDS Foundation?

The Chicago Dental Society Foundation, formed in 2007, has become the true philanthropic arm of CDS. One of its most significant accomplishments is the CDS Foundation Clinic in Wheaton, Illinois. The clinic treats the needs of the underserved in the Chicago area. The clinic is filling a void felt throughout Chicagoland by providing high quality dentistry for a much deserving population of patients.

The CDS Foundation provides grants for dental education programs, and also organizes oral health awareness campaigns and a variety of outreach programs. I am personally very proud of what the CDS Foundation stands for and have been a contributor from its onset. We have all been very blessed to be a part of this profession and I know a great many give back in whatever way they can. The CDS Foundation is a wonderful vehicle through which much good can be done.

What are some of the goals for CDS for the rest of this year and beyond?

A very important goal for CDS is to maintain relevance. Through continual evaluation and improvement, we maintain the ability to respond rapidly to the needs of our membership.

As member demographics continue to change, practice styles evolve and technology advances, we need to keep an ever-sharp eye on the importance of member connectedness. It is the human touch that makes us successful as practitioners. And it is that same touch that we need to nurture each other as fellow dentists.

Through our nine branches, our Society’s way to offer more local influence, we stay connected with monthly branch meetings and social events. We make a point to invite new dentists in the branch and dental students to branch meetings, as well as introduce them to fellow members. We also offer social events such as our New Dentists Rooftop Reception as a way of reaching out to both non-members and members we haven’t seen in a while.

What’s the one thing you’re most proud of when it comes to CDS?

The Society’s desire to continually improve itself, as well as the overwhelming support of our member volunteers. We have strong board leadership and a solid foundation formed by a committee structure that evaluates and directs the activities of the Society. And we have the most committed staff in the profession that keeps it focused. With that many eyes on the target, one would think we could get pushed off course. But our strength is the Society’s mission to be a leader in the profession that keeps everyone pulling in the right direction.

What’s the one thing you’re most proud of regarding the Midwinter Meeting?

I’m proud of the continued success of our meeting and the unending willingness of our volunteers to put in the hard work necessary to create it. The 2017 Midwinter Meeting is its 152nd year. To be successful for so long, everyone involved-both past and present-should feel an overwhelming sense of pride. We are truly blessed and honored with its success, and proud to be “The Respected Leader in Scientific Dental Meetings."

Come back to Chicago Feb. 23-25, 2017 for the 152nd Midwinter Meeting. Hosted by the Chicago Dental Society, the meeting features three days of lectures, demonstrations and participation courses coinciding with three days of commercial exhibits­-all under one roof in Chicago’s McCormick Place West Building. Registration begins Nov. 1 at cds.org. Find more information leading up to the meeting by following the Chicago Dental Society on Facebook and Twitter.

An ADA survey found 80 percent of dentists report work-related pain. This chronic pain not only affects the day-to-day performance by dental team members­-it can also shorten careers. This is why the use of ergonomically designed loupes is critical to clinicians. And that’s where SurgiTel can help.

Since 1993, SurgiTel has been innovating in the field of clinical vision technology. Their unique loupes, headlights and other optical accessories provide clinicians with the enhanced vision and ergonomics to help them work better. They achieve this through their unique patented designs which meet clinical ergonomic requirements. SurgiTel is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

	Improperly designed or fitted loupes with shallow declination angles (DA) can force users to excessively tilt their head, creating serious ergonomic problems such as eye strain, headaches, neck pain/injury and upper back pain/injury.

Improperly designed LED headlights may distort the color of objects and even damage the eye due to excessive blue light. Before purchasing loupes, you owe it to yourself to understand the ergonomic issues related to using loupes and the eye safety issues related to using LED lights.

The new Ergo Max Loupe brings together high-power magnification, ergonomics and comfort

Not all frames used with loupes were developed for loupes. Many traditional loupes with “adapted frames” cannot achieve true custom DAs for the best working postures, which is the main cause of chronic neck pain.

SurgiTel’s new Ergo Max frames allow Through-The-Lens (TTL) Loupes to be built with a wide range of custom DAs in order to prevent or alleviate chronic neck pain. The Ergo Max frames have been developed by SurgiTel specifically for ergonomic loupes and can mount all magnification levels (2.5x to 8.0x).

Early evaluations by clinicians describe Ergo Max as being “a very big deal” and that it “will be transforming the health of dentists and surgeons worldwide.” With adjustable Front-Lens-Mounted (FLM) Loupes, you can customize your declination angle at any time to meet the ergonomic need for any procedures.

Dr. Darryl Hatchett, DDS, of Denver, North Carolina shares his experience:

In the last three years I developed increasing pain in my anterior neck and shoulder. I saw a physical therapist and was given exercises to help me work on my scalene muscles which had become aggravated with the heavy loupes and an excessive forward head tilt. The exercises would help me through the weekends, but once I was back at work with my loupes on, the pain would start all over again. I was very eager to get help with the discomfort I was having. Tim, the SurgiTel rep, came in and showed me various loupes. I decided on the Micro Prism 4.5x Front-Lens-Mounted loupes. Tim showed me how to customize my loupes, including adjusting the declination angle. It only took about a week for the pain to decrease in my anterior neck and shoulder. I feel that this is due to the increase in declination angle and how much lighter the SurgiTel FLM’s were than my old Orascoptic TTL’s. I measured the declination angle of my loupes to compare: My SurgiTel’s are 47 degrees and my Orascoptic’s were only 28 degrees. I can also easily change end caps on the loupes to increase or decrease the working distance if I so desire-yet another great feature.

I am very happy with my new SurgiTel FLM loupes. I feel that SurgiTel is way ahead of the game in ergonomic features. The extremely light weight and easily customizable features are much better than other brands in the overall comfort of the practitioner. At different times in the past three years, I have wondered if I would have to change careers due to too much pain. Thanks to SurgiTel, I no longer have to worry-or go see a physical therapist!

Tim Long, COO of ACTEON North America, sat down to answer some questions about ACTEON.

What’s the one thing you want customers to know about ACTEON?

I would like people to know that ACTEON is not just a company that provides “products.” ACTEON provides solutions for dental practices as well as our dealer partners. For example, combining our digital radiography solutions such as Sopix

 allow clinicians to obtain images from the entire patient population from pediatrics to adults while decreasing patients’ radiation exposure. We also have a complete solution for prophylaxis where a clinician can identify and highlight calculus and gingival inflammation with SoproCARE

. They can also treat and maintain these patients with NEWTRON

 sub gingival polishing with glycine powder.

Lastly, ACTEON now offers support to clinicians that is unprecedented in the dental industry. We offer a one-year comprehensive warranty on all devices and a team of clinical trainers that provide peer-to-peer training on almost all ACTEON devices.

 sensors provide superior image quality at lightening speed, but some of the value added features put the Sopix

in a class by itself. Automatic Controlled Exposure (ACE

 allows the sensor to shut itself off after it has received sufficient X-ray energy for a perfect image. This eliminated the need for retakes due to overexposed images and reduces the amount of radiation to the patient. Sopix

 also has free imaging software included with every purchase and also works in Mac and PC environments. Lastly, the Sopix

 has a five-year manufacturer warranty included in the purchase price.

, what’s the biggest advantage to having this technology in your practice?

 provides cordless digital imaging in a compact device, providing superior imaging quality while improving office workflow. PSPIX

 is so small it can be placed chairside and provides images in as little as nine seconds. PSPIX

 can also be added to offices already using digital sensors to compliment the sensors and treat patients that are non-compliant or cannot tolerate a rigid digital sensor.

How can dentists and hygienists work with the NEWTRON technology to benefit their patients and bottom line?

 piezoelectric ultrasonic technology benefits the practice’s bottom line, providing superior versatility with over 80 tips available for multiple applications such as endodontic procedures, margin preparation, implant maintenance and many other uses. NEWTRON benefits patients by providing superior comfort over other technology. I have hygienists approach me all the time saying how their patients love when they have switched to NEWTRON piezoelectric technology from other methods of scaling.

Articles

With innovation comes great advancement. Find out how these companies partner with you to push the dental industry forward.

Here Come the Innovators: The 2016 Innovator Profiles

 interest in the area of dental materials-bonding, composite resins and esthetic dentistry-I’m always examining products with an eye toward simple techniques and patient-pleasing esthetic results.

	Recently, I was greatly impressed to discover a high-gloss finishing and polishing system that is effective for both anterior and posterior, direct and indirect restorations. 

 from 3M introduces a two-step approach that achieves a paste-like gloss with the convenience of a rubberized system. The flexible shape adapts to all tooth surfaces, producing a life-like, high-gloss finish for the dental restoration. 

Used with Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal Restorative (3M), the polishing system delivered excellent results while maintaining the integrity and anatomy of the restoration. When a young patient presented with a small anterior diastema, I used 

 to close the diastema, then completed the case using the 

, delivering beautiful esthetic results with a high-gloss shine that greatly impressed the patient. 

	As a complete system, the Esthetic Restorative Solution from 3M combines the time-tested Filtek Supreme Ultra restorative with the new Sof-Lex diamond polishing system to impart a very natural-looking gloss in a technique that is kinder to gingival tissues when compared with conventional discs. It brings together the diamond paste-like polish in the convenience of a rubberized system, which I can appreciate in my practice. 

	Step 01: A young female patient presented, after orthodontic treatment, with a small anterior diastema, mesial to the right lateral incisor (

). The patient’s main esthetic concern was to eliminate the space and increase the size of the lateral incisor. Additionally, to ensure optimal stability of the orthodontic treatment, proximal contact among all anterior teeth is desirable. 

	Step 02: Isolation with a rubber dam pushed the gingiva apically to provide accessibility to the cervical area and allowed me to create proper anatomical contour and emergence profile (

	Step 03: A mylar strip was used to protect the adjacent tooth from etching (

). The mesial proximal, facial and lingual areas were etched. I prefer to use a selective-etch enamel technique with 

 from 3M to increase the bond strength.  

	Step 04: To prevent contact of the adhesive with the adjacent tooth, another mylar strip was placed and adhesive was applied for 30 seconds and dried for 30 seconds (

	Step 05: Filtek Supreme Ultra shade XWE was placed in two increments and each increment was light cured for 20 seconds. The first increment was placed over the facial aspect of tooth #7 (

	Step 06: This increment was then spread and feathered towards the middle of the tooth to improve blending (

). The second increment was placed to fill the palatal aspect of the diastema with the help of a mylar strip. This completely closed the diastema.

	Step 07: To begin the contouring and polishing process, the proper length was first established with a 

 (3M). Second, an incisal-facial line angle was formed. Third, the mesio-facial line angle, as well as the incisal, facial and palatal embrasures were defined (

	Once contoured, the surface characterization of the adjacent teeth was copied onto the restoration using a fine diamond. In my experience, a speed of about 5,000 rpm using the diamond is ideal to create microanatomy.

	Step 08: Next, I utilized the Sof-Lex diamond polishing system, which consisted of two steps: a beige pre-polishing spiral (

) that smoothed and removed scratches in the restoration to prepare the surface for high-gloss polishing ... 

	Step 08 continued: ... and second, I used a pink diamond polishing spiral that imparted a smooth, high-gloss polish (

). These spirals reached small crevices and easily adapted to all surfaces. Finally, the proximal surface was polished with finishing strips.

	Step 09: Upon finishing the restoration, the patient was very satisfied by the ideal contour, surface smoothness and life-like luster (

	Step 10: The patient returned one week later for a final post-operative appointment (

). She was still very satisfied with the final restoration. 

For more information about 3M Sof-Lex polishers, call 

Dr. Marcos Vargas explains how using 3M materials and a breakthrough new polishing system help him create amazing and esthetic smiles.

Dental Products Report July 2016

Here Come the Innovators: The 2016 Innovator Profiles

How to close diastema using time-tested materials