Pride Institute's 2015 Best of Class winners: Part 1

July 17, 2015

In Part I of our three-part series, we feature eight award-winning companies and their innovative products.

In part one of our three-part series, Dental Products Report features eight of the products that have been honored with the 2015 Pride Institute “Best of Class” Technology Award.

The annual technology awards aim to recognize the most important technologies in the industry.

See more 2015 award winners: Pride Institute's 2015 Best of Class winners: Part 2

These awards highlight products of the highest integrity and of the greatest innovation in the dental community. “Best of Class” products have been thoroughly evaluated by an objective committee of experts; the winners are products users can trust and contain critical components that will benefit dentists’ practices, teams and patients.

Continue to the next page to see the honorees.

3Shape TRIOS^® Color

The TRIOS^® Color digital impression taking solution scans and captures intraoral images in realistic-looking color. RealColor™ Technology helps to create scanned images with the appearance of real teeth and gingiva. The natural-looking colors provide an excellent scanning experience, and make it easy for clinicians to distinguish between the different types of restorative materials (metals, enamel, composite, etc.), recognize bleeding areas, see color transitions on teeth and easily identify margin lines with enhanced detail and share highly accurate images with lab technicians.

What Pride Advisory Board Member Dr. Paul Feuerstein said:
Digital impressions and the digital workflow are probably the fastest-changing technology in the profession. Keeping up with the “latest” is almost a weekly process. For the past year, though, 3Shape has moved rapidly forward with advancements in the TRIOS scanner that put it in front of the pack. Earlier this year, at the IDS show in Cologne, it truly captivated attendees from around the world. The speed, accuracy, true color and new software make this easy to use and quite predictable. The fact that most laboratories utilize 3Shape design software, which can be used with any digital impression system, gives a bit more credence to the reliability of this unit.

What TRIOS^®Color user Sune Schmidt, Schmidt Dental Lab said:
Of all the systems I tested, 3Shape’s openness and workflow were the most attractive. You have TRIOS^® and the Dental System™ CAD/CAM software made by the same company. You don’t need two different partners. You know the support is there if something doesn’t work-one office to call if you have any questions. In theory, because of its openness, we knew we could accept files from dentists with other scanners. However, after completing the testing, we ended up working only with TRIOS^® scans. We felt they produced the best impressions and have since based our business model on dentists using TRIOS^®.

ACTEON SOPROCARE and SOPROLIFE

Using autofluorescence and chromatic amplification, the SOPROCARE prophylaxis camera reveals caries, new and old plaque and gingival inflammation. A complete oral exam can be completed with one device. It operates in three modes: PERIO mode highlights the old and new dental plaque and gingival inflammations, even at the early stage; CARIO mode Detects enamo-dentinal caries from stage 1 (code ICDAS II); and DAYLIGHT mode can also be used as a camera, providing all of the necessary tools to perform a complete and time-efficient oral examination.

SOPROLIFE is an imaging fluorescence device reportedly aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of caries. The auto fluorescence technology in SOPROLIFE is said to allow dental professsionals to detect occlusal or interproximal decay, even in its earliest stages, which can often by missed by the eyes or X-rays.

What Pride Advisory Board Member Dr. Paul Feuerstein said:
Minimally invasive dentistry, CAMBRA and new materials are leading dentists to be a lot more conservative than the teachings of G.V. Black. This understatement shies us away from extension for prevention and also tells us when early intervention is necessary. It is important to be able to go past the explorer “stick” and decide whether to “watch” an area or initiate treatment, whether it be sealant, remineralization or minimally invasive preparation and restoration. In the situation of watching for remineralization, the SOPROLIFE and SOPROCARE (with a new plaque/inflammation detection mode) give the practitioner a quick visual method to evaluate the initial need as well as the follow-up to see if further treatment is necessary.

Using fluoroscopy and a very good intraoral camera, the view can be evaluated at the time of inspection and the image stored for comparative evaluation at a later date. In addition, during restoration preparation, the practitioner can “see” if the caries was completely removed in an instant and much more easily than caries detection solutions. It can be a humbling experience. The bonus is that the units are excellent intraoral cameras when not in caries or plaque mode with settings from full-arch to very close macro views, which is excellent for seeing fractures.

What SOPROLIFE user Dr. Daniel Vasquez said:
One of the most important diagnostic tools in my practice, SOPROLIFE is my go-to for the detection of early caries, defective amalgams or composites and broken restorations. It is also part of my armamentarium during treatment; I use the Macro mode for the detection of cracked teeth and broken cuspids.

Our case acceptance, productivity, patient satisfaction and insurance payments have all increased in no small part because of the impact of SOPROLIFE.

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Bien-Air iChiropro and iOptima

Swiss medical technologies company Bien-Air introduced the world’s first implantology system controlled by an iPad: the iChiropro. Users can reportedly discover the perfect working balance between their iPad and exceptional electronics for controlling the MX-i LED motor. The iChiropro is said to contain the most powerful motor on the market, with LED lighting and ceramic ball bearings guaranteeing a very long service life. In combination with the 20:1 L contra-angle, the iChiropro is designed to redefine ergonomics and ease of use.

The iOptima is a reportedly ingenious system destined to boost performance and efficiency for the most common dental procedures. From its practical design to its seamless setup and operation, every aspect of the iOptima was said to be thought out with simplicity in mind. Composed of a tabletop control unit and Bien-Air’s best-selling MCX brushless micromotor, the iOptima is designed to give users the option to upgrade their units with the latest technology at the most affordable cost.

What Pride Advisory Board Member Dr. John Flucke said:
The problems every dentist faces in both surgical and endodontic handpiece systems are evolution and obsolescence. By that, I mean endo systems and implant systems require electric torque-controlled motors that are preprogrammed with all the proper settings.
Normally, the doctor purchases the motor from the same company that also manufacturers the files or implants. This means the motor is setup with the correct RPM, torque, etc. Changing these settings is possible but usually difficult. Frequently, when a new system is purchased or an old system is discontinued, a new motor is required.

That is, until Bien-Air introduced the iOptima and iChiropro. These two handpiece systems are powered by an iPod (iOptima) or an iPad (iChiropro). That means the handpiece systems are run by apps that can be updated to allow for new products in endo and implants, new parameters for those products, etc.

If a new implant comes on the market, all of the parameters required to place it are downloaded to the iPad and used by the iChiropro to control the handpiece. The iChiropro also allows for the patient name to be stored on the device along with all the all clinical data generated during the implant placement. The system literally records the torque used, RPM, length of time the handpiece was used during the surgery, etc.

The iOptima can be used for both endo and restorative. The app that controls the device allows for updates on new endo files (torque, RPM, etc), and the doctor can set preferences for the high-speed RPM desired during different procedures (amalgam removal, caries removal, etc).

These systems are designed to evolve as procedures evolve.

What iChiropro user Dr. Phil Bennett said:
I was looking for a new implant motor that would complement my state-of-the-art implant practice and was delighted to find the iChiropro. It is neat and tidy with a small footprint, and the saline feed is easy to attach to the unit. By far, the most interesting feature of the unit is the control system, which is a standard iPad-great for Apple aficionados! The controls are clear and easy-to-use and will function through a sterile cover. Combining that with the highest torque motor in its class makes it a winning combination for me.

Video: Bien-Air's iOptima makes it easy to transition from air-driven to electric

VELscope VX^®

Able to detect tissue abnormalities, the VELscope VX^®enhanced oral assessment system is said to be effective, minimally invasive and can be implemented seamlessly in a patient’s routine dental check-ups. The system’s blue-spectrum light causes the soft tissues of the mouth to naturally fluoresce. The device is designed to detect a wide variety of abnormalities so they can be discovered before they are visible to the unassisted eye.

What Pride Advisory Board Member Dr. Marty Jablow said:
Oral cancer is real, and it is the responsibility of every dentist to screen for it. In my office, we believe every patient should receive an oral cancer examination. We do the standard white light examination along with enhanced fluorescence screening using a VELscope VX. We consider this portion of the examination so important that we do not charge a fee. I don’t want patients to decline this enhanced examination because of cost or because they believe it is just a new profit center for the office. The VELscope VX is a small, battery-powered unit that is completely portable and can easily be shared between operatories. The VELscope VX provides the adjunctive screening I require and gives patients the peace of mind that we are doing everything we can to protect their health.

The VELscope VX is the standard of enhanced oral cancer detection. Every new device compares itself to VELscope. VELscope doesn’t just rest on its laurels. It has continued to make the devices better. One limitation has been the ability to photograph a lesion. There were expensive adapters to allow DSLR or a point-and-shoot camera to be attached. This barrier to entry has since been removed. The most recent addition is an adapter that allows an iPod touch to be attached to the VELscope VX. This new adapter makes acquiring and sharing images easy. Screen your patients with white light and VELscope, save the photos and refer when necessary.

What VELscope VX user Dr. Jean Wu said:
It is our responsibility to complete a thorough oral cancer evaluation at every hygiene recall and re-examination, and the VELscope VX provides us with the reassurance that we are adding an additional dimension to the visual and tactile examination. With the VELscope VX, we can better differentiate between the normal appearance and the abnormal and document what we see with the camera. It is an effective way to communicate with other physicians, as well as patients.

Related reading: 2015 "Best of Class" Technology Award winners announced

DEXIS CariVu

The CariVu caries detection system features proprietary infrared transillumination for seeing through the tooth, reportedly highlighting conditions not easily detected by other caries detection technologies. Dentists are said to be able to quickly gain confidence and confirm diagnoses, plus CariVu is easy to use.

What Pride Advisory Board Member Dr. Parag Kachalia said:
Cumulative ionizing radiation is a concern for many people in the world today, and practitioners must be cognizant of this concern when treating patients. In an ideal world, diagnostic assessment could be made without any ionizing radiation. The DEXIS CariVu device is a technology that is showing great promise to allow radiation-free diagnosis. Unlike a bitewing radiograph, where a practitioner must make an educated guess as to the position of the caries, the CariVu image clearly shows exactly where the practitioner should enter the lesion if surgical caries removal is indicated.

What CariVu user Dr. John Graeber said:
This product is now a part of my everyday examinations. My patients will look at an image I take using the CariVu and immediately say, ‘Wow! That’s cool.’ If I have used the technology on them once already, they will remind me to use it next time. I don’t even want to show people their X-rays anymore. The CariVu is an excellent patient education tool. Anyone can use this device. It’s so easy to use, and it’s hard to get a false positive or miss something in the diagnosis. It’s a great piece of technology that is very accurate.

Digital Doc Iris HD

The new IRIS HD USB 3.0 is said to bring the smallest details into brilliant full-screen, high-resolution focus. The device includes dual-capture buttons and one-touch focus and even knows when to turn itself on and off when you pick it up and set it down. The IRIS HD precision optical lens array is said to produce extreme clarity, while Sony’s advanced HD sensor is designed to provide the finest picture quality. In addition, the USB 3.0 connector is said to fit standard delivery units.

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What Pride Advisory Board Member Dr. Paul Feuerstein said:
I could not practice without the Digital Doc Iris HD. I use it on almost every patient, whether it is for diagnosis of a problem, for show and tell or for some other documentation. There are countless units in the marketplace ranging in cost from Asian imports for a couple hundred dollars on eBay to some in excess of $8,000. There are many variables and, to be honest, you can show a patient a fractured amalgam on the lower-end cameras. However, when you see images from a lower-end camera and the Iris HD side by side, you notice things on the Iris HD image you missed on the lower-end camera. Noticing things like fractures in restorations and teeth might change your treatment plan before you touch the handpiece. We have all found ourselves in the middle of a “simple” restoration only to encounter a cusp flying off or a fracture through the pulpal floor.

The winning camera comes from Digital Doc. The entire company focus is on one product, and it has consistently been the highest resolution, best illumination camera in the marketplace. By adding HD to the newest version, it rivals the low magnification of some microscopes. The color and clarity make it excellent for the practitioner’s diagnosis as well as the patient’s co-diagnosis and education. Button placement allows right- or left-handed use, and an attachment allows for full-face photos. Although the full-face may not rival a true digital camera, it is good, fast and easily disinfected.

What Iris HD user Dr. Wade Kifer said:
I have to say the new Digital Doc cameras we have are great. We bought five new cameras so we could put a camera in each treatment room, and it has already made a huge difference in the first month of use. I can’t stress enough how being able to show patients what we see changes everything. It is making a big impact on our practice, but, more importantly, it has convinced the patients to get work done that they need.

Kerr SonicFill 2

Retaining the same patented sonic-activation technology that made the original version successful, SonicFill 2™ reportedly incorporates a new filler system containing nano-scale zirconium oxide and silica oxide particles. This change is said to deliver excellent gloss, color-matching, wear resistance and strength to make bulk filling even easier and more reliable. In addition, SonicFill 2’s viscosity is designed to decrease dramatically during placement to ensure intimate adaption with the cavity surface.

What Pride Advisory Board Member Dr. Parag Kachalia said:
Since its introduction only a few years ago, numerous practitioners around the world continue to adopt SonicFill and literally millions of restorations have been placed with it. Rather than rest on its laurels, the research and development team at Kerr has continued to look at ways to take a very good product and make it even better. To this end, the company introduced SonicFill 2 with even better physical properties than the original SonicFill formulation, which demonstrated phenomenal clinical success. SonicFill 2 has a new nano-scale zirconium oxide filler system that allows it to have even better wear resistance and strength. In addition, this new filler also allows a higher level of polishability. These improvements allow practitioners to comfortably place SonicFill 2 restorations without giving up any of the properties they were accustomed to having in their traditional resins. Thankfully, these improvements have in no way taken away from the efficiency of the product. Some of my oldest restorations are now approaching four years of service with SonicFill, and I am happy to report there have been no signs of sensitivity, marginal leakage or fracture with any of them. Simplicity, improved physical properties and clear positive return on investment are reasons SonicFill 2 is being recognized by the Pride Institute as a “Best of Class” product.

What SonicFill 2 user Dr. Eric Hurtte said:
I love this product. The material flows from the handpiece and into prep similar to a flowable composite but is firm enough to condense. While condensing the material, it did not stick to the instrument and pull out of the prep as my other composite often would. SonicFill 2 eliminated my problems with Class II restorations. I no longer need a base of a weaker flowable composite to fill voids, the pull-back of the material out of the prep is gone and the polymerization shrinkage is minimal, which allows me to bulk fill and maintain a nice interproximal contact.

Liptak Dental DDS Rescue

DDS Rescue is said to be the only system that can restore your practice data in minutes-versus days or weeks with traditional backups-and recover deleted files and corrupt databases immediately. If your server fails, you reportedly can run your practice off the DDS Rescue failover server, an onsite unit designed to get your office back up and running in 10 minutes. The system routinely copies files to the cloud, storing them in multiple encrypted facilities. The server can be accessed via the web so you can manage your business remotely.

What Pride Advisory Board Member Dr. Marty Jablow said:
Practices are acquiring more data through their paperless office and digital imaging than ever before. As the amount of data grows exponentially, the threat to that data grows, too. Data protection is paramount to a practice, and systems must be in place to secure and protect the data. Office data is something you cannot afford to lose. Office downtime from data loss is costly. So how do I protect data in my office? Liptak’s DDS Rescue, a failover server that backs up not just my data but the entire server 30 times a day. Every evening, the data is encrypted and sent to an online data repository. So, with this system, you get the best of both worlds: fast 10-minute recovery in an emergency situation in your office and the added security of your office server available in the cloud if your office has a disaster or the server is stolen. You get nationwide, year-round data monitoring seven days a week to ensure your back-up data is secure in the event you need a fast restore of the entire system or even just a file. Don’t worry about the governmental parts, as DDS Rescues service is HIPAA-, HITECH- and PIPEDA-compliant. Peace of mind has never been easier with DDS Rescue protecting my office data.

What DDS Rescue user Dr. Stephen Dankworth, La Costa Dental Excellence said:
I have been a customer of DDS Rescue for the past four years and was glad I was from the very first day. Even before the DDS Rescue System was installed, the initial assessment the technician performed found one of the two hard drives on my server was no longer running. Then, the very first night after we had installed the full system, my other hard drive failed. The very nice part about this is that the monitoring part of the DDS Rescue system detected that my server was down and the DDS Rescue technician was waiting for us the next morning to arrive at my office. He quickly got us up and running, eliminating a very serious problem before our day even began.

If that level of service wasn’t enough to convince me of the total worth of this unique system, then last month’s incident did.

My office received an email that supposedly came from one of our patients that contained a malware called CryptoLocker that infected my office server. The CryptoLocker gave me the choice of paying them a ransom or having them permanently lock me out of my office server, including all of my patient records. I phoned DDS Rescue, and the company immediately had me shut down my server. Technicians then went about having the DDS Rescue Unit take over and run my office network. This allowed me to not only continue to work but have my infected server completely stripped of all programs. Once my server was completely clean, all of my office files were placed back onto my server.

As a result of having the DDS Rescue system I was able to avoid paying a ransom and completely remove CryptoLocker from my server, which avoided the threat of having my complete server locked down and loosing all of my records forever.

DDS Rescue saved my practice twice. I can tell you from experience that if you don’t have a DDS Rescue System in your office right now you should. It’s scary to imagine how much I would have lost.

More on HIPAA compliance: is your dental practice completely HIPAA-compliant?