I'm Excited to Announce that Moisyn is Back!!!

 

Some good news for doctors and patients.  The dry mouth moisturizer Moisyn is back on the market!  

I've been a big fan of Moisyn since it was first available and was disappointed when it was no longer on the market.  Many of my patients loved it and were equally disappointed when they could no longer purchase it.  The great new is that you can now order it again through PerioSciences.  

Statistics show that 40-50% of adults suffer with some degree of dry mount, which is referred to as xerostomia.  This can happen for a variety of reasons.  Salivary flow tends to decrease as we age, but there are many other reasons.  Some prescription medications can cause reduction in salivary flow and it can also be caused by people who suffer with certain autoimmune diseases as well.  It can also be a problem for patients going through chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer.

As a dentist I can tell you from personal experience that patients with xerostomia can be an incredible challenge to keep healthy.  Patients with very low saliva levels breakdown quickly and severely.  The result isn't just cavities, but rapidly advancing *large* cavities.  This can happen even if a patient is incredibly focused on keeping their teeth clean.  It can be frustrating to both the patient and the doctor to see continuous problems even with a patient doing everything they can to take the best care of themselves possible.

Xerostomia isn't just annoying (although it is), but it can also be painful and lead to many problems.  Saliva performs several important functions for the mouth.  One of its most basic and important functions is to keep the mouth and teeth moist.  Dry teeth tend to decay faster.  Teeth covered with saliva are slick with means food can't stick to them.  It also means that acids created by bacteria are diluted and washed away.  There are billions of bacteria constantly present in the mouth and many of those bacteria secrete acid.   Those acids are what dissolve teeth and create cavities.  Good salivary flow washes food particles and those acids off the teeth and help keep them from breaking down.

It also helps wash away bacteria as well.  Dry teeth harbor bacteria more readily.  That can lead to excessive dental plaque formation which means not only cavities, but also problems with gum health.  Often xerostomia can mean lots of decay along with rapidly advancing periodontal disease.

Saliva also contains critical minerals that can help reverse microscopic areas of decay at the very beginning stages.  This is referred to as remineralization and it helps keep things healthy.

For people suffering with dry mouth one of the best things to help are rinses that can serve as "saliva substitutes".  Of course anything that goes in the mouth has a texture and a taste.  A weird texture or a weird taste can affect how often the product is used and that's one of the big reasons I am such a fan of Moisyn.

I learned about it from a friend who was working with the original manufacturer.  Normally when I am treating a patient with dry mouth I'll recommend several saliva substitute products.  As I mentioned above, finding the right one for every individual can be difficult, hence the list of suggested products.  What I quickly discovered was that patients who tried Moisyn really liked it.  In fact I can't remember anyone ever saying that they preferred something else and that probably says more about the product than anything else.  Patients *like* Moisyn!

Moisyn is based on glycopolymers and its key ingredient is Chitosan, which is a polysaccharide derived from shellfish.  It also contains Arginine which is an essential amino acid that helps keep the pH of the mouth neutral and it also enhances moisture retention.  It's available as an oral rinse or a spray mist.  The great thing about the mist is that it is packaged in 2 ounce spray bottles that can be easily carried in a pocket or purse which means you can always have it handy.

Last week I was at a meeting with the team at VistaApex Solutions and they told me they had purchased the rights to manufacture Moisyn through their company PerioSciences.  Needless to say, I was thrilled  and I wanted to get the word out to others who love it as well.

This is a product that I really like and *highly recommend*.  If you are a doctor OR a patient that is looking for a product that help with dry mouth, I truly feel you should check this out.  It's available through the PerioSciences website as well as Amazon and other online retailers.

Blinq Announces Changes - New Logo, New Color, New *Everything*

 I've used Blinq for a couple of years now and I thought I'd tell you all about it as I like it a lot.  I was doing a press event for Philips Sonicare a couple of years ago during the Chicago MidWinter Meeting and after the event there was quite a bit of networking going on.  Of course, in our digital world sharing contacts is hugely important.

I still carry business cards (gasp), and most people do, but it's funny.  You collect all of these business cards at a meeting and then... what do you do with them?  There are lots of ways to get them into a digital form.  There are apps that allow you to digitally scan them and drop them into your contacts, but you've got to go through the process of taking a photo of them and dropping them in.

One of the folks at Philips showed me an app called Blinq and I was intrigued.  The basic idea is that you download the app and enter your contact info... ONCE.  When you open Blinq, it puts a QR code on your screen that links to a download of your info.  The person you want to connect with simply scans the QR code and it drops your info into that person's contacts automatically.  You can even use it on an Apple Watch.

It will also scan business cards and a whole lot more.  Basically, if you want to connect to someone there is a Blinq way to do it.  As an individual and not someone who is meeting  people constantly, I use only a fraction of what Blinq can do.

Here's a quote from the company:

People have asked us a hundred different ways: isn't it just a digital business card? It's the question we hear the most, and it's the one that gets Blinq the most wrong. The card is where the relationship starts. What we're building is everything that grows from it.

So, needless to say, I'm using just a tiny part of Blinq, but if you are an organization or someone who's job revolves around making contacts, it does so much more.

As a user, today I got an email from the company that announced they are changing their logo and rebranding because the company has grown and changed so much.  You can read that announcement here.  If you are looking for an easy and seamless way to share and collect your contacts, I definitely think you should look at this.  Simply put, it has made connecting with others at meetings something easier for me than ever before.  If you are someone who is on the other end of the spectrum from me, you could probably benefit greatly from it.

Big news today from LightForce Orthodontics.  The company is a pioneer in the 3D printed bracket market and continues to make serious advancement in the orthodontic industry.  All the new info is below...

The 65% of orthodontic patients worldwide who choose metal can now receive LightBracket MetalTM braces, generated for their individual tooth anatomy

LightForce Orthodontics, the company behind the world’s first fully individualized 3D-printed bracket, today announced LightBracket MetalTM — the first-of-its-kind patient-specific 3D-printed metal bracket. The launch marks a significant expansion of access to individualized fixed treatment and establishes a new category of care: generative braces.

Generative braces are a new category of orthodontic care in which every appliance is generated from the individual treatment plan. The plan is the input, and the bracket is the output. If the plan changes, the bracket changes with it. Rather than relying on standardized appliances, each bracket is generated and manufactured for a specific patient and a specific tooth. The result is a patient-specific bracket system that directly reflects the doctor’s treatment plan.

“For more than a century, orthodontics relied on a stock bracket for patients who were never stock. LightBracket Metal changes the order of things. We’re giving doctors the most exact instrument they've ever had for the work they were born to do," said Alfred Griffin, founder and CEO of LightForce Orthodontics.

Orthodontic treatment has evolved through distinct generations, from standardized stock brackets requiring manual adjustments and longer treatment times, to clear aligners that introduced digital planning but remain limited in clinical scope. LightForce pioneered generative braces and validated the model with its ceramic bracket system, which has demonstrated up to 60% fewer appointments and 43% shorter treatment times over conventional braces. LightBracket Metal now brings those benefits to the majority of the $4.7 billion market, with 65% of patients worldwide who choose metal, including teens.

LightBracket Metal is created using a proprietary 3D metal printing process. Each bracket is generated from the orthodontist’s digital treatment plan and individualized across six dimensions: bracket base, slot height, slot prescription, bracket position, tie wings, and hooks. The base conforms to the morphology of the individual tooth. Three slot sizes are available (.018”, .020”, .022”) with bidimensional combinations. A lower-profile design with a breakthrough patient-specific tie-wing and hook delivers improved comfort and reduced debond rates. Algorithmically generated indirect bonding trays enable staff-delegated bonding.

“In my practice, I care deeply about providing individualized care for my patients. With LightBracket Metal, I am now able to provide that level of care with a patient-specific metal bracket system that is generated from my digital treatment plan,” said Dr. Jacquee Schieck at Schieck Orthodontics.

"For decades, every patient got the same bracket. That ends now. We are accelerating toward a future where the very idea of a universal, one-size-fits-all bracket is unthinkable,” said James Lawton, president of LightForce Orthodontics.

LightBracket Metal is now rolling out to orthodontic practices. Providers can contact LightForce here to request a demonstration and gain early access. Patients interested in LightForce treatment can consult their orthodontist to see if LightForce solutions are available in their area.

See LightBracket Metal Live

LightForce will debut LightBracket Metal at the AAO Annual Session 2026, May 1 through 3, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Live demonstrations and hands-on access will be given at booth 1261. LightForce leadership and clinical team members will be available for conversations and media interviews throughout the event. To schedule a demonstration, contact LightForce here.

Join the Webinar

Join LightForce for an exclusive first look at LightBracket Metal on May 7, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The webinar will include a product unveiling from LightForce CEO Dr. Alfred Griffin, an innovation deep dive with Head of Clinical Affairs, Dr. Chris Bonebreak Jackson, a case review with Dr. Alex Waldman, and an interactive panel discussion with contributing doctors. To reserve a spot, sign up here.

To learn more about LightForce’s offerings, visit https://lf.co/.

About LightForce Orthodontics

LightForce pioneered generative braces in 2019 with a radical idea: if every patient is unique, every bracket should be too. Today, the company's platform generates a completely individualized set of appliances for each patient — available in ceramic and metal. Backed by $200 million from Kleiner Perkins, Ally Bridge Group, the American Association of Orthodontists, and others. Named to Forbes' America's Best Startup Employers. Home to the world's largest facility for directly 3D-printed functional medical devices by volume, manufactured in the United States.

SuperMouth Taps into Viral Flavor Trend with Limited-Edition Dubai Chocolate Toothpaste and Mouthwash

 

Dentist-Founded Brand Turns Daily Chore into a Treat with Nano-Hydroxyapatite-Powered Oral Care

SuperMouth, the dentist-founded brand known for its advanced oral care solutions for all ages, is bringing indulgence to the bathroom sink with its new, limited-edition Dubai Chocolate Toothpaste and Mouthwash. The collection merges premium dental innovation with rich taste and novelty, turning a daily chore into an exciting treat.

Inspired by the global rise of Dubai chocolate as a cultural phenomenon and a growing appetite for unexpected flavors, SuperMouth’s latest launch taps directly into what consumers are craving. While this flavor profile continues to trend across food and beverage, SuperMouth is delivering it in an entirely new and functional format.

Delivering a subtly sweet, chocolate-forward flavor, the new toothpaste and mouthwash offer a moment reminiscent of dessert while simultaneously supporting oral microbiomes with clinically backed benefits. Both products, available with or without fluoride, are formulated with nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA), an ingredient that helps remineralize enamel, reduce sensitivity, and neutralize acids. SuperMouth’s unique nHA complex is further enhanced with vitamins D3 and K2, which play a critical role in calcium absorption and utilization to support stronger teeth below and beyond the surface.

Unlike conventional oral care solutions, SuperMouth’s toothpaste and mouthwash are free from alcohol, antiseptics, and potent essential oils that disrupt the balance of oral microbiomes. Instead, both products are enriched with prebiotics and xylitol to help coat teeth for long-lasting freshness and protection. Notably, SuperMouth’s limited-edition Dubai Chocolate collection is made completely nut-free, allowing those with allergies to safely indulge in the hottest flavor trend.

“Our goal was to capture the magic of Dubai chocolate and create oral care products that are genuinely beneficial,” said Dr. Kami Hoss, founder of SuperMouth and orthodontist of over 30 years. “By bridging the gap between indulgence and advanced dental science, we’re proving that taking care of your oral microbiome shouldn’t feel like a chore. Merging science with sensorial appeal makes healthy habits effortless to keep.”

In addition to its clinically-proven formulation, SuperMouth prioritizes radical transparency and ingredient safety. All products are free from harsh irritants, titanium dioxide, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and forever-chemicals — while also being safe if swallowed, a critical differentiator in an industry where many products still carry safety warnings. Designed with the intention of making oral care accessible and enjoyable, SuperMouth’s offerings are especially appealing to families and ingredient-conscious shoppers looking for cleaner alternatives.

SuperMouth’s Dubai Chocolate Toothpaste ($16.99) and Mouthwash ($18.99) can be purchased individually or as a bundle ($32.99) at SuperMouth.com. For more information about SuperMouth and the Dubai Chocolate collection, please visit www.SuperMouth.com.

About SuperMouth®

SuperMouth is a dentist-founded oral care brand offering over 200 best-in-class products and holding nearly 300 patents, reflecting its commitment to innovation and excellence. With products designed for every age and stage of life, SuperMouth continues to push the boundaries of oral care, creating solutions that combine safety, effectiveness, and fun. Learn more at www.SuperMouth.com.

vVARDIS Announces Investment from Apollo —Achieves Unicorn Status

 

Investment will support global commercial expansion of the Curodont™ technology platform, the first and only non-invasive peptide-containing formulations designed to treat tooth decay drill-free throughout the depth of the lesion.

vVARDIS Holding AG (“vVARDIS”), a high-growth dental medtech company pioneering non-invasive cavity treatment, today announced a strategic minority investment from Apollo-managed funds (“Apollo Funds”). 

The investment will support vVARDIS’ next phase of global growth and commercial expansion, including the continued rollout of its Curodont™ suite of products. The investment establishes vVARDIS as one of Europe’s few privately owned, billion-dollar-plus, healthcare companies. vVARDIS’ founders and co-CEOs, Drs. Haley and Goly Abivardi, will retain a substantial majority shareholding in the company.

vVARDIS is redefining the treatment of cavities through its Curodont™ technology, the first and only commercially available non-invasive peptide-containing formulations clinically proven to treat tooth decay. 

Curodont™ supports enamel repair by facilitating the formation of crystalline mineral structure throughout the affected area, giving dental professionals an easy-to-use, restorative option to treat early-stage cavities as an alternative to traditional drilling. 

Since the launch of Curodont™ Repair Fluoride Plus in the U.S. over two years ago, it has been used to treat approximately 3 million teeth, is now present in nearly 20 percent of general dental practices nationwide1 and is one of the fastest-growing dental products in the U.S.2.

“vVARDIS has built a differentiated business, with Drs. Haley and Goly Abivardi pioneering a new category in dental care backed by peer-reviewed clinical studies,” said Jeremy Honeth, Partner and Andrea Vanni, Managing Director at Apollo. “Apollo Funds’ investment supports the company’s continued expansion in key markets across the US and Europe, bringing this restorative therapy to more practices and patients worldwide.”

“Curodont™ fills a longstanding gap in dentistry: when prevention fails, dentists now have a quick, easy-to-use non-invasive treatment free of drilling and needles. The rapid adoption of Curodont™ reflects the urgency of that unmet need,” said Haley Abivardi, DMD, co-CEO and co-founder of vVARDIS. “Apollo Funds’ investment strengthens our commercial foundation in the US and Europe and enables us to scale this environmentally sustainable technology across markets.”

Goly Abivardi, DMD, co-CEO and co-founder of vVARDIS, said, “Our mission is to bring a medical, science driven approach to dentistry. Using peptide-containing formulations, our non-invasive technology is an innovative treatment designed to treat tooth decay without drilling and without polymer materials. Apollo Funds’ investment reinforces our leadership in generative dentistry and advances the future of oral science.”

Tooth decay is the world’s most prevalent non-communicable disease, affecting nearly 90 percent of US adults. Oral health is closely linked to overall health, and untreated cavities can contribute to serious chronic conditions, including a 26 percent increased risk of all-cause mortality.3. Recently published WHO guidelines reinforce vVARDIS’ mission of early intervention and non-invasive care, as the company targets an addressable market of over $30 billion in the US.

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About vVARDIS AG

vVARDIS is a disruptive Swiss healthcare company in the dental med-tech sector headquartered in Zug, Switzerland that offers groundbreaking, non-invasive solutions for dental professionals with the Curodont™ brand of products. Founded by Drs. Haley and Goly Abivardi, DMDs, sisters, internationally renowned dentists, innovators and self-made serial entrepreneurs, vVARDIS is the result of more than 25 years of research, paired with the commitment of its founders to make an impact on people's lives, especially the underserved.

vVARDIS' mission is to expand access to novel approaches that create new standards of care in dentistry with the purpose of improving oral health – the foundation for overall health. Backed by 25 years of research and more than 10 years of use in clinical practices globally, vVARDIS’ products and science are supported by more than 250 scientific publications, including meta-analysis, peer-reviewed and long-term peer-reviewed real-world evidence clinical studies, with a documented success rate above 90%. Curodont™ products are already presented in the lectures of renowned universities as a standard of care for the treatment of early decay. vVARDIS was awarded the 2026 Innovative Company of the Year and is a member of the World Economic Forum Innovator Communities. For more information, visit vVARDIS at www.vVARDIS.com and www.linkedin.com/company/vvardis .

About Apollo

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of December 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $938 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

References:

1 Data on file

2 vVARDIS’ ranked first in growth rate in the 2024 vs 2023 and YTD June 2025 periods among dental manufacturers with more than $1M sales in both the all merchandise & small equipment categories and preventive in the U.S. (Source: SDM Northcoast, LLC).

3 Liu J et al. Int J Epidemiol. 2022;51:1291-1303

Photo credit: Jos Schmid, Photographer

ChatGPT Announces a New Version for Clinicians

 

Making ChatGPT better for clinicians

Open AI just introduced ChatGPT for clinicians.  This is a free version for healthcare providers. The tool will be free for doctors, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in the US.  Below is a post from the OpenAI blog about the new system.  If you'd like to read the full version of this announcement directly from the company, follow this link.  

We’re introducing ChatGPT for Clinicians, a version of ChatGPT designed to support clinical tasks like documentation and medical research so clinicians can focus on delivering high-quality patient care. We’re making it free for any verified physician, NP, PA, or pharmacist, starting in the U.S.

The U.S. healthcare system today is under extraordinary strain. Clinicians are being asked to care for more patients while managing growing administrative demands and a rapidly expanding body of medical research. Many are already turning to AI tools like ChatGPT for support. According to a 2026 survey by the American Medical Association⁠(opens in a new window), physician use of AI is now at an all-time high, with 72% of physicians reporting they now use AI in clinical practice, up from 48% last year. Today, millions of clinicians worldwide use ChatGPT to support their clinical care every week, for applications like care consult, writing and documentation, and medical research. Clinician usage of ChatGPT has more than doubled over the past year.

As demand for AI in clinical settings grows, so does the responsibility to continuously improve our model’s performance and safety on clinical use cases and offer solutions that can safely and effectively support healthcare workflows. Earlier this year, we introduced ChatGPT for Healthcare,⁠ which allows organizations to deploy ChatGPT to clinicians, administrators, and researchers with the compliance and controls they need at scale. Clinicians across leading U.S. health systems are now using it to move faster through administrative work like medical research and documentation, and get time back for patient care.

Enabling free access to ChatGPT for Clinicians is the next step, in support of our mission to ensure AGI benefits all of humanity. Learn more on our website⁠(opens in a new window) or get started⁠(opens in a new window).

ChatGPT for Clinicians builds on our foundation of continual model evaluation and improvement in health in partnership with clinicians. With its release, we are also introducing HealthBench Professional⁠(opens in a new window), an open benchmark for real clinician chat tasks across three use cases: care consult, writing and documentation, and medical research, building on HealthBench’s⁠ broader evaluation of health conversations.

Personify Group Expands Commercialization Capabilities: Names Growth Strategist Mason Kesner to Advisory Board

 

Seasoned B2B/B2C Commercialization Expert Will Help Dental Innovators Scale Across Professional and Consumer Markets

Personify Group, a strategic branding, communications, and growth advisory firm serving the dental industry, announced today that Mason Kesner, a B2B/B2C commercialization consultant and growth strategist, has joined the company’s advisory board.

Kesner brings 15 years of experience scaling CPG brands such as P&G and Unilever across professional, retail, and e-commerce channels, as well as founding and exiting an independent premium consumer brand agency at eight figures. His appointment comes at a time when the dental industry is undergoing a significant structural shift, as clinical care, consumer-driven oral health, and digital delivery models continue to converge. 

A new generation of dental companies is emerging with oral health innovations designed to succeed across both professional channels and direct-to-consumer markets, requiring more integrated commercialization strategies than traditional dental models have supported.

“Mason’s unique skill set aligns perfectly with where the dental industry is heading,” said Michael Ventriello, Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer of Personify Group. “We’re seeing more companies that need to build clinical trust and consumer demand at the same time. That requires a different kind of strategy, and Mason knows how to execute it.”

Currently leading growth and strategy initiatives within an agency investment platform, Kesner is now advising Personify Group on product commercialization strategy, helping align brand development with scalable revenue models. His expertise spans go-to-market execution, growth architecture, and building integrated revenue engines.

“What drew me to Personify Group is their ability to translate complex innovation into market traction,” said Mason Kesner. “The brands that succeed in this next phase of dentistry will be the ones that connect clinical credibility with consumer relevance and execute across both.”

Through his advisory role, Kesner will support Personify Group’s clients in developing integrated commercialization strategies that align brand-building with measurable revenue growth across both professional and consumer audiences.

“Mason understands how to take a strong brand foundation and turn it into real market momentum,” said Mark Ross, Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer of Personify Group. “His perspective helps ensure our work resonates and performs simultaneously across professional and consumer markets”

About Personify Group

Personify Group is a strategic branding, communications, and growth advisory firm focused on the dental and oral health industry. The company works with emerging innovators and established dental organizations to develop brand narratives, industry visibility, and market adoption strategies that connect scientific innovation with real-world clinical practice and consumer adoption.