If you are planning on attending the upcoming Greater New York Dental Meeting, there is more information for you! I won't be attending this year, but in addition to the great list of speakers the meeting has put together, the gang at DPR has also got some great CE for you as well.
DPR has put together a list of four great speakers that will be there. Here is that list...
As I've posted here previously, this year I have done a 'deep dive' into the world of 3D printing.
I've worked with several companies and several resins to see just how far we've come with 3D printing... and we've come *a long way*. I remember seeing a 3D printer in about 2017 at a major meeting and, as a geek and tech lover, I was impressed.
I even went so far as to order an extrusion printer (which is NOT recommended for dentistry), and built it from a big box of unassembled parts.
However, as I took the time back then to really look into it, I saw some limitations. Now, those limitations are off! Fabricating things in-office has made tremendous advances in the last couple of years and it is only getting better. As I type this, I'm currently printing an orthodontic retainer and a flexible (soft) occlusal guard.
3D printing is an amazing technology and now, at long last, it's easy! Trust me, if I can do this anyone can.
So if you can, join me on Thursday night at 7:00pm Eastern for a webinar on 3D printing. I'm going to cover the basics and hopefully encourage some of you to explore what this tech has to offer. I'm having a blast doing things in-office on a regular basis and you can too!
Just click this link to register. It's going to be a fun 60 minutes!
You can earn one CE credit and it's being provided free of charge. I hope a lot of you can make it.
Growing up as a kid who always loved science, was doing chemistry experiments in the basement, and taking things apart just to see how they worked, I've always loved NASA. Along those lines, our society *needs* kids who are interested in STEM to continue to move things forward.
That's why today's post is about a chance for kids to engage with science and NASA! Any of you who know a youngster who might be interested, be sure to pass this along to them. It's a tremendous opportunity for students with a dream of working on the journey into space.
I'm a NASA fan and this a *great* opportunity for students looking to engage with them.
You can also check out the following links:
Below is the information about the program straight from the folks at NASA:
NASA’s fourth annual Power to Explore Student Challenge kicked off November 7, 2024. The science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM) writing challenge invites kindergarten through 12th grade students in the United States to learn about radioisotope power systems, a type of nuclear battery integral to many of NASA’s far-reaching space missions.
Students are invited to write an essay about a new nuclear-powered mission to any moon in the solar system they choose. Submissions are due Jan. 31, 2025.
With freezing temperatures, long nights, and deep craters that never see sunlight on many of these moons, including our own, missions to them could use a special kind of power: radioisotope power systems. These power systems have helped NASA explore the harshest, darkest, and dustiest parts of our solar system and enabled spacecraft to study its many moons.
“Sending spacecraft into space is hard, and it’s even harder sending them to the extreme environments surrounding the diverse moons in our solar system,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “NASA’s Power to Explore Student Challenge provides the incredible opportunity for our next generation – our future explorers – to design their own daring missions using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to explore space and discover new science for the benefit of all, while also revealing incredible creative power within themselves. We cannot wait to see what the students dream up!”
Entries should detail where students would go, what they would explore, and how they would use radioisotope power systems to achieve mission success in a dusty, dark, or far away moon destination.
Judges will review entries in three grade-level categories: K-4, 5-8, and 9-12. Student entries are limited to 275 words and should address the mission destination, mission goals, and describe one of the student’s unique powers that will help the mission.
One grand prize winner from each grade category will receive a trip for two to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland to learn about the people and technologies that enable NASA missions. Every student who submits an entry will receive a digital certificate and an invitation to a virtual event with NASA experts where they’ll learn about what powers the NASA workforce to dream big and explore.
Judges Needed
NASA and Future Engineers are seeking volunteers to help judge the thousands of contest entries anticipated submitted from around the country. Interested U.S. residents older than 18 can offer to volunteer approximately three hours to review submissions should register to judge at the Future Engineers website.
The Power to Explore Student Challenge is funded by the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Radioisotope Power Systems Program Office and managed and administered by Future Engineers under the direction of the NASA Tournament Lab, a part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing Program in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.
To learn more about the challenge, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/power-to-explore/
Here is a super interesting idea for a curing light. The new Garrison Loop™ promises to give you the right cure by calibrating the distance between light and target. For years I've been a fan of putting a sleeve on the curing light, not only for infection control (which is critical), but also because then you can put the light directly onto the target tooth without getting bits of bonding agent stuck to the lens.
I've been in a lot of offices in my career and I've watched a lot of other doctors work. Many times the light will be applied and then the operator will turn away to protect their eyes. Often times when the operator turns, the light moves off the target (sort of like drifting in your lane when checking your blind spot.) Of course, when the light moves away from the target, the intensity of the cure drops.
The Loop™ has a sensing technology that gauges the distance and increases intensity which compensates for the distance.
I received one on Friday and I will start putting it through it's clinical paces in the next few days. I'll report back after some clinical experience.
In the meantime, here is the press release from Garrison Dental...
SPRING LAKE, Michigan –– Garrison Dental Solutions, a pioneer in dental innovation, is proud to introduce its latest breakthrough in light curing technology: the Loop™ Curing Light. This state-of-the-art curing light brings groundbreaking precision and consistency to restorative dentistry, enhancing clinician confidence with every cure.
The Loop™ Curing Light features a revolutionary closed-loop algorithm that dynamically adjusts light output to deliver the exact energy needed for a perfect cure every time. Loop ensures that the right dose of energy reaches the tooth, minimizing the risk of under-curing or over-curing. By continuously measuring and adjusting power output more than 500 times per second, Loop eliminates guesswork and allows for consistent curing across all restoration surfaces, regardless of hand positioning or distance.
Loop offers multiple modes, including Direct Restorative Mode with three power levels (1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 mW/cm²) for varied curing times and a specialized Tack Mode for securing materials. The built-in LED display provides intuitive real-time feedback, enabling seamless navigation through settings while confirming selected modes and remaining cure time at a glance. This streamlined control empowers clinicians to work with accuracy and efficiency.
The Loop™ Curing Light is equipped with a broad-spectrum dual-wavelength LED system that ensures consistent spectral beam homogeneity. This guarantees thorough activation of all photo initiators, covering a wavelength range from 390nm to 480nm, regardless of the material being cured. The expansive 9.7mm lens diameter and real-time adjustments maintain uniform irradiance even as the distance between the light and tooth surface varies, resulting in an effective beam diameter of 13 mm at 10 mm distance from the target.
Loop simplifies maintenance with a self-calibration feature. Daily lens checks and monthly full calibration cycles ensure optimal performance, preventing issues such as lens debris or LED degradation. The Loop system includes a calibration and charging base, protective sleeves, and other accessories, backed by a 3-year limited warranty.
About Garrison Dental Solutions
Established in 1996, Garrison Dental Solutions is a privately held company dedicated to advancing the quality and efficiency of dental care. As a global leader in sectional matrix systems and other dental innovations, Garrison’s products are trusted by clinicians worldwide. For more information, visit www.garrisondental.com
In advance of the Greater New York Dental Meeting later this month, here's a new company that is making their debut at this year's GNYDM. I received this info recently and thought I'd pass it along...
Thomas Jackson, a practicing periodontist, prosthodontist, and successful inventor recently founded Smyles Above Innovations Inc., a company dedicated to developing and commercializing leading-edge dental devices and oral care products that support the continuum of dental implant success from placement to maintenance, and advanced flossing tools for hard to access oral appliances.
Dr. Jackson will formally introduce Smyles Above Innovations during The Shils Entrepreneurial Fund’s “Great Oral Health Pitch,” which is taking place at the 2024 Greater New York Dental Meeting on Monday, starting at 2:30 PM.
According to Dr. Jackson, “Smyles Above was established to incorporate my two existing products IrriGUIDE and The AutoFlosser under one corporate umbrella to create more effective synergy and salability across our branding, operations and sales and to make our company more efficient and more attractive to investors.”
Dr. Jackson’s goal for additional funding is to invest in additional product development and to expand the sales and marketing support of his two existing and well-received product innovations:
IrriGUIDE: An easy-to-install retrofit adapter developed by Dr. Jackson for any dental implant surgical guide system. IrriGUIDE enables saline to flow through the guide and directly irrigate and cool the implant osteotomy to keep it below the critical temperature threshold of 47°.
The AutoFlosser: A unique dental floss solution specifically designed by Dr. Jackson to alleviate flossing difficulties for all-on-X patients and anyone who has been fitted with connected or solid appliances such as implants, bridges, braces, and bonded retainers.
Here's some info on an interesting development in the industry. Philips Sonicare and Aspen Dental have formed a collaboration to bring Sonicare products into Aspen Dental offices. Aspen is one of the largest DSOs in the industry with over 1,100 offices.
Industry leaders collaborate to offer Philips clinically proven tools and resources to Aspen Dental patients, providing better care for more people
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced a partnership with Aspen Dental®, the largest group of branded dental offices, to bring Philips Sonicare, the No.1 dental professional-recommended sonic toothbrush brand worldwide, to Aspen Dental's national network of over 1,100 locations. Aspen Dental's clinicians will now be able to offer Philips Sonicare solutions in office, including Philips Sonicare ExpertClean, which uses built-in smart sensors to guide a patient's brushing. Practices will also spotlight Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser and Philips Sonicare Teeth Whitening Kits, the brand's latest offerings in power interdental cleaning and at-home teeth whitening, providing patients with a full suite of at-home solutions and expanding access to comprehensive oral care.
Philips and Aspen Dental share a mission to empower dental professionals to deliver better care to more people. The Philips Sonicare portfolio of clinically proven power toothbrushes and interdental cleaners are trusted solutions to help patients achieve a healthy smile between dental visits.
"Our purpose is to improve people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation and Aspen Dental is the perfect partner to help continue to make that vision a reality," says Matina Vidalis, Senior Marketing Director, Consumer & Professional Oral Healthcare, Philips North America. "We're committed to working with Aspen Dental's network of dental professionals to introduce our evidence-based solutions to their patients. Together, we can help provide more people with access to the quality dental care they need both in and out of the chair."
Chairside education will also be at the center of this collaboration, with Philips introducing their new Path to Health Toolset to all Aspen Dental practices. Developed in partnership with behavioral scientists and dental professionals, the toolset seamlessly integrates into the natural workflow of dental practices. It is designed to help quickly learn a patient's health goals, drive case acceptance through patient education and support dental professionals and patients on a path towards health together.
"Making sure Americans have access to quality dental care is a priority for Aspen Dental that extends well beyond a visit to one of our offices," says Cameron Jones, RDH, BSDH, Vice President of Hygiene Operations at Aspen Dental. "We are proud to offer new solutions from Philips Oral Healthcare to our patients nationwide and pair them with the work our best-in-class practitioners provide on a daily basis."
Philips Sonicare products are available now at Aspen Dental. Visit PhilipsOralHealthcare.com and AspenDental.com to learn more.
This Friday, I'll be partnering with Gary Salman, CEO of Black Talon Security, on a webinar we've titled "Winning the Cyber War: A Battle Plan to Protect Your Practice".
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding security and best practices. Just like, as a dentist, I'm not qualified to perform an appendectomy, many doctors trust their security to either themselves or 'computer guys' that are really great with helping offices run, but are woefully under skilled to evaluate and perform security against threats.
The unfortunate truth is that the people who deal in ransomware, encryption attacks, and data theft are highly skilled professionals. Many of them have college degrees in Computer Science and they are incredibly good at what they do.
Cyber Security requires vigilance and experts that have your back. Gary and I are going to go over some best practices and recommendations to decrease your likelihood of having to deal with these types of threats. I've been at the tech game for quite a while and I've seen a lot of changes. The current environment requires offices to be vigilant about their security.
Join Gary and I this Friday to learn how you can do more to prevent a security disaster from happening!
