Coming Full Circle in 3D - Why Recycling Should be Part of 3D Printing and how DRNA is Making that Happen

I remember the first time I saw a dental 3D printer.  It was at the ADA meeting in Washington, D.C.  The year was 2015.  Back then as a die hard technology lover I knew that 3D printing existed and I understood the concept, but I understood very little else.

I was wandering the exhibit hall of the meeting, (which is one of the things I try to do at dental conventions), when I happened to see a booth that was displaying a 3D printer.  Like a moth to a flame, this super cool tech drew me into the booth and before long I was engaged in a conversation with one of the company's representatives.

I was shown dentures, transitional partials, and (I think) maybe even a surgical guide.  I was fascinated and mightily impressed.  The things I saw looked incredible and they fit on their corresponding models perfectly.  I learned the overall process and asked questions about resins.

This led me to the big question I had.  “How do you come up with a design for these things?” I asked.  The representative opened a laptop and showed me the design software the company had used.  Back in 2015, 3D printing was just starting to creep into the dental industry and there was no dental specific design system.  Instead I was shown software that was used for engineering design.  The screen looked like the cockpit of a 747.  I walked out of the booth and I knew that, while amazing, this tech would never make much progress in the industry unless the design process was fast and easy.  Dentists don’t have the time to spend 45 minutes designing something, they need to devote that time to treating patients.

Fast forward to 2026 and I’m happy to say things have changed a lot since that day in 2015.  In the 11 years since that meeting, 3D printing has seen considerable growth in offices.  I think the principal reason for that growth is in how much the design process has changed.  As AI continues to make rapid inroads into the dental industry, one of the areas that has been impacted the most is 3D design.

The design process has gone from a detailed and time consuming task that required a degree in engineering, to a process that frequently only requires the user to upload an intraoral scan and then click “next” until the project is ready to print.  The design process has always been the bottleneck in the use of 3D printing in the dental office and those design barriers are falling fast.

Dentistry is poised at the edge of a dramatic technological shift and the market is about to reflect that.  I predict in the next five years we will see a large change in how a great deal of dentistry is delivered.  What we’ll see is that the simple, everyday things are going to move to being fabricated in-office.  Things such as splints, occlusal guards, retainers, and surgical guides can now be easily printed, but more importantly they can also be easily designed.  

That means that as dental offices seek to deliver care faster and with lower costs, more and more offices will begin utilizing 3D printers.  This will allow offices to lower their lab costs on “bread and butter” cases while still delivering the precision the profession demands.

Many dental labs have already embraced 3D printing for a variety of applications.  That means that many doctors are already delivering 3D printed things to their patients so they already have confidence in the technology.  It’s only a small step to bring this into the dental office.

However, there’s one area that needs to be addressed.  Our world is dealing with an excess amount of plastics in our environment and as offices move into this realm, we need to do our part to help ensure the health of the planet we call home.

I’ll use my experience with my coffee maker as an example.  I’ve been a diehard coffee lover since my college days and that, of course, means I own a coffee maker for my home.  I’m not sure who invented the coffee pod, but whoever it was should have been awarded the Nobel prize for convenience.  I don’t think twice about dropping a pod into my machine and cranking out a steaming cup of dark roast.  Well, I should say I didn’t think twice about it… until one day when I did.  

One morning as I was placing an empty milk jug into the recycle bin it suddenly occurred to me that every coffee pod I was using was headed straight to the landfill.  I’m embarrassed that I hadn’t thought of it before that day, but when I realized how much plastic I was personally putting into the trash, I made the effort to search Amazon for a coffee pod I could buy that could be recycled.  That led me to a company that makes compostable pods and I’ve been using them ever since.  In a similar way that dentistry has moved to using amalgam separators to keep mercury out of the environment, we need to make a similar approach to recycling 3D printed scrap.

For those of you unfamiliar with the 3D printing process let me explain.  The resins used in 3D printing are liquid.  These resins are photo-polymerized by the printer in a manner that is similar to how doctors place composite resins.  The printing resins are cured in layers.  Because they are liquid and polymerized in layers, the printer software creates little bars of plastic under the printed project as it is created to keep it in the correct shape.  These bars are called “supports” and they are a necessary part of the 3D printing process.  To clarify, here's a screenshot of an occlusal guard in the design software.  You can clearly see the supports.

When the project is completed and fully cured, a human then removes the supports and polishes the completed printed project.  This process of removing the supports and polishing is easy and doesn’t take much time.  However the cured resin supports now need to be disposed of.  That means that every printed project is creating a certain amount of waste.

Now add to that the idea of “pods”.  We’re now seeing printers for dentistry that create small projects like crowns and veneers through the Keurig® concept of single use, resin filled pods.  These pods make printing incredibly easy, but in addition to the supports, the pods themselves are also made of plastic and need to be disposed of properly.

As more and more offices move into 3D printing, the amount of waste that will be generated from this amazing technology is going to be significant.  So what can dentistry do to properly and ethically deal with this problem that is looming on the horizon?

Just like my empty gallon bottle of milk, dentistry needs to recycle these leftovers.  Of course if you want to recycle plastics you’ll come across a problem.  Not all plastics are the same.  My gallon milk bottle is recycled by my local trash collector.  My plastic grocery bags need to be returned to the grocery store for proper recycling.  Printed 3D resins also require a specific recycling process and they cannot be disposed of in just any recycling bin.  

Fortunately there is a simple answer.  For over 25 years DRNA (Dental Recycling North America) has been in the business of helping dentistry properly dispose of waste.  The company provides amalgam separators, sharps disposal, and disposal of pharmaceuticals as some of its services. This year DRNA has launched a new effort that allows dentistry to recycle the waste from 3D printers.

It’s an incredibly easy solution, so allow me to explain how it works.  DRNA sends the dental office a shipping container.  Inside is a 2.5 gallon bucket with a liner and a return shipping label.  The liner is placed inside the bucket.  Any 3D printer waste, whether it is cured supports, resin pods, or empty resin bottles, is simply placed in the bucket.  When the bucket is full, the office places the bucket into the shipping container, attaches the label, and notifies DRNA.  The company ships a new 2.5 gallon bucket kit to the office while the office ships the full bucket back to DRNA.  The DRNA solution meets federal, state, and local hazard waste regulations, is an easy one-step process, and provides full documentation.  The entire process is  so easy, even I can follow the instructions!  

After integrating new technologies into my workflows over my entire career, here is my suggestion to the 3D printing companies.  Human beings are creatures of habit.  Once we learn a process for completing a task, we tend to follow the same process time after time.  This is especially true in dental offices which are incredibly procedure driven.  When making a change by incorporating a new workflow, it is much easier to make all the changes at once as opposed to developing a system and then making changes to it later.  Recycling with 3D printing needs to be a part of the office workflow from the very first day.  Partnering with DRNA and training the office that recycling is part of the process with their very first 3D printed project will ensure a smooth integration right from the start.  Let’s provide patients with the best solutions possible and do what’s right for planet Earth.  As an industry, we’re all in this together.  

Mid America Dental Sales Launches Watchdog for Wireless Sensor Tracking

Wireless sensors can be a blessing and a curse.  The blessings are:  they are easy to move and they don't require USB connections which can wear out over time.  The curse can be:  easy to move = easy to lose.

Let's face it, the cord makes it much more difficult to get the sensor folded up in a patient bib and tossed in the trash at the end of an appointment.  However, today's post might bring all of the concerns to an end.  Here's news about a way to wirelessly track your wireless sensors and even know if they've been out of their charger for longer than expected.

Mid America Dental Sales Launches Watchdog — RealTime X-ray Sensor Tracking for the DCAir Wireless Direct Conversion X-ray Sensor by FTG

Mid America Dental Sales has announced the nationwide release of Watchdog, a new realtime tracking and performance monitoring platform designed to protect and optimize the 4th generation DCAir Wireless Direct Conversion Sensor.

Watchdog provides instant system tray alerts the moment a sensor leaves its dock or isn’t returned, identifying the sensor, the room, and its last known location. While misplaced, or accidentally discarded sensors are relatively uncommon, concern about losing a wireless sensor is one of the most frequent questions practices have when transitioning from a corded sensor to a wireless sensor. Watchdog was specifically designed to eliminate that concern by proactively tracking each sensor’s location and status helping practices prevent loss before it occurs and providing greater confidence when adopting wireless technology.

DCAir Watchdog: Smart Tracking. Total Peace of Mind.

• Instant alerts when sensors are not returned to their charger in a pre-set number of minutes. 
• Pinpoint exact location via Bluetooth finder.
• Live dashboard showing every sensor and room location 

Paired with the DCAir sensor’s Direct Conversion technology — which captures photons directly for sharper, more detailed radiographs — Watchdog creates a complete imaging ecosystem that enhances clinical confidence and protects the practice’s investment.

Watchdog and the 4th generation DCAir Wireless Direct Conversion Sensor are available now through Mid America Dental Sales’ nationwide dealer network.

For more information, contact your local fullservice dental dealer or visit www.dentalsalesinc.com

Some Interesting Facts Regarding AI in Usage in Large Corporatons

AI is making inroads everywhere and probably nowhere as quickly as "big business".  Large corporations are always looking to increase efficiency while at the same time cutting costs.  Although I like to say that everything in life is a "yin & yang".  You can't have a left without a right and you can't have an up without a down.  Along those lines, while I'm a big fan of AI, I'll be the first to admit that there should be a "human in the loop".

What excites me about AI in dentistry is the hope that as more of the mundane time intensive tasks are offloaded to AI, that will free up the people in the office to have more time to have face to face interactions with patients.  Dentistry is a relationship business and those face to face interactions and conversations help build trust and confidence with patients.

The environment of large corporations is a completely different thing.  That's especially true when you factor in a remote work force.  Tracking employee work from remote locations can be difficult for some large companies and that becomes even more so as these large companies try to deploy AI agents across multiple departments and multiple parts of their workforce.  I recently found some interesting numbers & suggestions from TRG Datacenters and I think what they have is interesting.  It doesn't probably apply to dentistry, but might at some point in the future.  Personally I feel we learn a whole lot more from our mistakes than we do from our successes.  I also think it pays to analyze the mistakes of others so that we can learn from them and not repeat them.  At some point some of these things may very well apply to the profession.  If nothing else, the info below makes for an interesting read.

As issues from AI implementations affect even larger companies like Air Canada and McDonald’s, more and more businesses are rethinking the value AI agents bring to their projects. Over 60% of remote-capable employees are implementing AI tools in their processes now, and experts at data infrastructure provider TRG Datacenters looked at academic studies, industry reports, and verified corporate incidents and legal cases to outline key issues and risk management solutions. 

Here’s their breakdown of six key areas where artificial intelligence causes the highest risks:

1. The Rise of Shadow AI Use Leads To Millions in Losses

Key issues: As 67% of the UK’s organizations report not being able to track what employees are sharing with artificial intelligence, security breaches like copypasting client data into ChatGPT and software developers sharing internal code with AI agents are becoming more common.

Measures to take: Financial experts suggest that shadow AI breaches cost $670K more on average compared to regular security issues. To avoid additional losses, it’s important to install both IT and security oversight over AI interactions. 

2. Over-Permissioning AI Agents Can Wipe Your Entire Database

Key issues: To speed up AI involvement, many companies do not limit which databases, codes, and workflows it has access to. The high-profile cases of this problem include the deletion of entire production databases and backups by Claude-powered AI agents.

Measures to take: The AI-usage skills can be easily developed, but they require education. In addition to learning materials, every team engaged with AI needs to know not to treat AI as another colleague.  

3. AI Hallucination Rate Still Sits At 40%

Key issues: No LLM tool yet can fully avoid hallucinations, and the current estimations for false information are around 40%. Incorrect information provided by AI has already been spotted in the Air Canada chatbot and even in McDonald’s AI-driven drive-through, which brought both money losses and lawsuits for these companies. 

Measures to take: Human oversight is a key part of AI processes. No product can go straight from artificial intelligence without a specialist checking the data first. AI chatbots are the tools that need to be verified the most, as they currently show the highest unchecked hallucination rate.

4. Deepfakes & Impersonations Hit Much Harder Because of AI

Key issues: Involving AI in internal processes also puts companies at a greater risk of impersonations and deepfakes. The high-profile cases included an AI-cloned video call and an Italian government voice scam.

Measures to take: Educate employees on how to identify misinformation and scams. Staying updated on the latest tools to combat deepfakes is increasingly valuable, too. 

5. Algorithmic Bias & Discrimination Find Their Way In HR Decisions

Key issues: AI tools have the same biases as the data they were trained on, and AI inclusion in HR processes can harm both the company and the team. AI resume screenings favor white-associated names in 8 in 10 cases.

Measures to take: The training material for AI agents needs to be checked first, especially on the issues of fairness and representative data. Human oversight is needed, too, and no final decision regarding employee management should be left solely on AI.     

6. It’s Hard To Decide Who’s Responsible When AI Is Involved

Key issues: Only 23% of organizations which use AI rate themselves as highly prepared for artificial intelligence risk management and are not able to deal with accountability issues.

Measures to take: Conduct audits and keep data logs to track AI-related decisions. Looking out for current and new legal frameworks that governments put in place can also help contextualize AI work processes. 

AI experts at TRG Datacenters conclude:

“A lot of companies are asking staff to 'use AI more,’ but they are not giving them practical rules for what that means. That leaves workers guessing whether they can paste in meeting notes, client emails, contracts, or code. Employees are being pushed into AI adoption faster than leadership is building guardrails.”

Rodin® Chroma Flash™ Light Cure Box is Now Available

One of the most critical pieces of 3D printing is the post-cure system.  When a normal project comes out of the printer, it is washed in isopropyl alcohol to remove the excess resin, and then it is placed in the post-cure unit to give it a final cure.  This part of the process is critical.

The printing process cures the resin enough to harden it, but it is not completely polymerized at that point.  The final full polymerization and long chain formation comes from that good final cure in the post-curing unit.

That importance is the reason for today's post.  If you know a bit about dental 3D printing, you probably know Rodin, the line of 3D printing resins created by PacDent.  I happen to be a fan of the Rodin product line and I was excited last year when PacDent announced their plans to bring out an entire line of 3D printing hardware.  This hardware will be an open system, which means that the system will be able to use most of the resins on the market, but will be fine tuned for the Rodin line of resins.

To compliment this new line of hardware, PacDent decided to manufacture a new state of the art post-curing system.  That new state of the art post-cure is the Rodin® Chroma Flash™ and it's available now!   According to the company:

The Rodin® Chroma Flash™ is a nitrogen-free flash post-curing system engineered for consistent, reliable polymerization of 3D printed dental resins. Delivering uniform curing in minutes, it enhances mechanical properties, surface quality, and workflow efficiency without the need for nitrogen setups.

One of the biggest things that makes this unit different is the flash lamps.  Most post-cure units currently available accomplish their task thru the use of LEDs.  While LEDs certainly will do the job, the intensity of flash lamps makes a big difference.  The unit has xenon flash / stroboscopic light sources that emit from 280-950nm wavelength.  The intensity of the flash lamps provides a deep and full cure.

One of the post-curing systems that I use on a routine basis is the Otoflash unit.  It also uses flash lamps and I have been incredibly happy with the cure that those flash lamps provide.  The other great thing about the flash lamps in the Rodin® Chroma Flash™is that those flash lamps are optimized for Rodin resins which are nano-hybrid ceramic filled resins.  That means that if you are currently using Rodin resins, this unit will provide you with the best cure possible.  However, it's also been engineered for use with other manufacturer's resins and printers as well. 

The lamps provide uniform energy delivery across all the surfaces of the printed projects which means the end result is the strongest possible.  That translates to better stability, conversion, and flexural strength.  Also, because a flash lamp is incredibly intense, the post-cure process is faster.  

I should be receiving a unit soon and will report back on my experience with it.  However, as you can probably tell, I'm pretty optimistic about the results I'll get.  However, like always, I'll put it through the paces and objectively evaluate the results.  I'll report back here on my experience.  

Promising DMG Treatment for MIH Presented at AAPD 2026

 

Leading MIH researcher presents treatment being used successfully in Europe

A standing-room-only audience at the recent annual conference of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in Las Vegas was treated to an illuminating and encouraging presentation about the documented ability of DMG Icon® resin infiltration to treat Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization, or MIH. The presentation was given by Dr. Katrin Bekes, Professor and Head of Pediatric Dentistry at the Medical University of Vienna. Dr. Bekes is a world-renowned expert on MIH and a long-time supporter of the efforts of DMG researchers to find an effective and efficient treatment for a disease that afflicts one-in-seven children worldwide.

Icon is already indicated for use as an MIH treatment in the European Union and other countries.  DMG is currently working to secure the Federal Drug Administration’s clearance for Icon as an indication for MIH, as well as for trauma and enamel porosities, in the United States.  The AAPD 2026 conference afforded DMG an opportunity to increase awareness of several new Icon protocols, including transillumination, bleaching pre-treatment with 3D-printed bleaching trays for discolored opacities, micro- or air-abrasion for tougher and deeper lesions, and extended infiltration time. Dr. Carla Cohn, Dr. Bilyana Daskalova, Dr. Alyssa Delgado also gave lectures about their use of Icon for various approved indications. It also allowed the company to make pediatric dentists aware that Icon may soon be indicated for treatment of MIH.

However, as Dr. Bekes pointed out, treating MIH requires a totally different approach from treating carious lesions and white spot lesions. The condition is sometimes referred to as “chalky teeth” due to yellowish/brownish discoloration, large opacities, unstable molar structure, and enamel defects such as decavitation. Little is currently known about the multivariate causes of MIH, in part because the disease starts to build in the teeth years before it is diagnosed. But what is known that the condition can cause hypersensitivity and even chronic pain to children.  And, according to Dr. Bekes, an even more damaging effect can be the psychological trauma and embarrassment caused by teasing peers that lead some children with MIH to avoid smiling or speaking.

DMG researchers in Germany recently announced the first evidence-based, validated treatment concept for MIH lesions worldwide. The treatment protocol, developed by the DMG clinical research team in collaboration with Dr. Bekes and other leading MIH experts, offers a minimally invasive approach that removes discoloration and stabilizes the teeth. As Dr. Bekes explained, the first step in the protocol is bleaching to remove the brown discoloration composed of proteins. While bleaching agents for whitening purposes are not widely approved for use withchildren, DMG’s Flairesse Bleaching Gel is approved for use in the pediatric treatment of MIH in many countries due to its status as a medical device approved for the treatment of enamel opacities. (It will be launched as a 510K-exempt Class I medical device in the U.S. in the second half of 2026.) The bleaching takes place at home using DMG bleaching trays specially designed to prevent the bleaching agent from coming into contact with the gingiva. Once this step is completed, the teeth are conditioned and ready for the application of the Icon Caries Infiltrant in the dental practice. The protocol’s outcomes have been very well received by practitioners, patients and parents alike.

"With one in seven children globally impacted by MIH, it’s no wonder MIH was one of the hottest topics at AAPD 2026,” said John Scott, Clinical Affairs Director at DMG America. “In fact, because Dr. Bekes’s talk drew so many attendees, the AAPD has asked us to submit a proposal for a follow-up presentation on treating MIH on the main stage of AAPD 2027.”  For more about bleaching and MIH, visit https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jerd.70056.

For more about transillumination and MIH, visit

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ipd.70064.

About DMG

DMG manufactures and distributes a full range of market-leading dental materials and equipment that are internationally recognized for their quality and innovation. Known for its breakthrough dental technology – including flagship products like Luxatemp® and LuxaCore® Z Dual, the revolutionary Icon® caries infiltrant, LuxaCrown® long-term crown and bridge material, and new additions such as Ecosite restorative composites, and DentaMile® 3D printing solution, complete with software, hardware and resins – DMG is committed to helping provide holistic solutions and streamlined workflows for dental and lab professionals to meet their needs through innovation, collaboration, and dedication. 

For more information about DMG products, or to find a sales representative, please visit online at www.dmg-america.com, or call 800-662-6383.

Dr. Brian Novy Joins Personify Group Advisory Board, Reinforcing the Firm’s Commitment to Prevention, Oral-Systemic Health, and the Future of Evidence-Based Dentistry

Nationally Recognized Cariology Leader to Help Advance Strategic Initiatives Focused on Disease Prevention, Value-Based Care, and Medical-Dental Integration

Personify Group, a strategic branding, communications, and commercialization advisory firm serving the dental and oral health industries, announced today that Dr. Brian Novy, one of the profession's most respected authorities on cariology, preventive dentistry, and evidence-based oral healthcare, has been named the company’s Cariology and Preventive Dentistry Advisor.

The appointment reflects Personify Group's growing commitment to supporting organizations that are redefining oral healthcare through prevention, disease management, oral-systemic health awareness, and healthcare innovation. Dr. Novy's expertise will help guide the firm's work at the intersection of science, clinical practice, patient outcomes, and commercialization.

Widely regarded as one of dentistry's leading voices in caries management and disease prevention, Dr. Novy also serves as president of the National CAMBRA Coalition and holds faculty appointments at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and other leading institutions. He has served on the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs and as a consumer representative to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Dental Products Panel.  Throughout his career, Dr. Novy has been a leading advocate for transforming dentistry from a procedure-centered model into one focused on disease prevention, risk assessment, and long-term health outcomes. His influence extends across academia, private practice, organized dentistry, industry, and public health, helping clinicians and healthcare organizations adopt evidence-based strategies that preserve natural tooth structure and improve patient wellness.

"For decades, dentistry has excelled at repairing the consequences of disease. Dr. Novy's work has been focused on preventing disease before irreversible damage occurs,” said Michael Ventriello, Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer of Personify Group. “His leadership in preventive dentistry aligns perfectly with our vision of helping innovative organizations improve both oral health and overall health outcomes."

According to Mark Ross, Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer of Personify Group, "The future of dentistry will be defined by prevention, personalization, and integration within the broader healthcare ecosystem. Dr. Novy’s perspective will help ensure that the companies, technologies, and thought leaders we support are contributing to meaningful improvements in patient health while advancing the profession itself."

Dr. Novy said he was attracted to Personify Group's commitment to helping innovative organizations communicate scientific advancements in ways that create meaningful impact.

"I believe the future belongs to organizations that can effectively communicate evidence-based solutions and help accelerate the adoption of preventive care models,” said Dr. Novy. Personify Group understands the importance of bridging science, education, innovation, and communication, and I'm excited to contribute to that mission."

Dr. Novy's appointment is part of Personify Group's broader effort to assemble a  multidisciplinary advisory team capable of helping clients navigate some of the most significant and complex trends shaping healthcare today, including preventive dentistry, oral-systemic health, minimally invasive treatment approaches, healthcare consumerism, artificial intelligence, and medical-dental integration.

About Personify Group

Personify Group is a strategic branding, communications, and commercialization advisory firm serving the dental and oral health industries. The firm partners with emerging innovators, established manufacturers, healthcare organizations, and industry leaders to accelerate market adoption, strengthen thought leadership, and build brands that advance the future of oral healthcare.

Guided by a growing network of clinical, scientific, and business advisors, Personify Group is particularly focused on helping organizations champion prevention, oral-systemic health, evidence-based care, early caries solutions, and innovations that improve patient outcomes while strengthening the connection between dentistry and overall healthcare.

Pearl and Seattle Study Club Partner to Advance AI Education in Dentistry

My office began using Pearl's radiographic system Second Opinion in January 2023 and have never looked back.  Starting back in 2016 I had been working with a few different companies that were developing radiographic AI platforms and I was pretty quickly convinced of their value in clinical dentistry.  Those early systems were clunky and required the user to jump through several hoops before actually seeing the AI interpretation, but even with all of the steps they required, the value was obvious.  

I still remember the disappointment I felt when the first company I was working with ran out of funds and had to cease operations.  Even though it took several steps to get a bitewing into their system, I had grown to depend on it.  The confidence of having an objective third party helping me to evaluate radiographs was powerful.  I didn't want to go back to the "old way".  Fortunately a week or two later I was approached by another startup and began helping them in product development.  Now as I look back at how far we've come, it's amazing.

Today's post is about a recent announcement from Pearl and the Seattle Study Club.  They are partnering to help deliver cutting edge info to the profession.  The details of the partnership are below.

New partnership will expand clinician access to practical AI education designed to help practices improve care delivery, patient communication, operational efficiency, and financial predictability

Pearl, the global leader in dental AI solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Seattle Study Club, one of the nation’s most respected dental education networks, to help accelerate clinician education around the practical application of AI across the modern dental practice. As a Gold Tier partner, Pearl will collaborate with Seattle Study Club through educational programming, conference participation, and clinical content initiatives designed to help dentists understand not only what AI can do, but how to deploy it effectively throughout the dental workflow from examinations and patient communication to scheduling, documentation, insurance workflows, and practice operations.

The partnership reflects a shared belief between the organizations: that the future of dentistry will not be defined by technology alone, but by how effectively clinicians are educated on how to integrate new technologies into patient care.

While AI adoption in dentistry continues to accelerate, many practices still lack practical guidance around implementation, workflow integration, and clinical best practices. Pearl and Seattle Study Club aim to close that gap by providing educational experiences grounded in real-world application, clinical excellence, and operational outcomes.

“At Seattle Study Club, we believe exceptional dentistry starts with continuous learning,” said Gary Dickenson, CEO of Seattle Study Club. “AI is becoming an increasingly important part of modern practice, dentistry needs meaningful education around how these technologies support better care, stronger patient communication, and more efficient practice operations. Pearl brings both the technological leadership and the practical perspective to help make that education valuable for our members.”

Originally recognized for pioneering real-time AI radiologic analysis in dentistry, Pearl has evolved into a broader AI platform designed to reduce friction across the dental workflow. Today, Pearl’s technologies support clinical decision-making, patient understanding, imaging quality assurance, insurance preparation, documentation workflows, operational intelligence, and other systems that help practices operate more consistently and predictably.

By embedding AI directly into everyday workflows, Pearl helps practices improve diagnostic confidence, standardize communication, reduce administrative burden, and create a more connected experience for both clinicians and patients.

“Dentistry reaches its highest standard when great clinicians are equipped with both powerful tools and the education to use them well,” said Ophir Tanz. “Seattle Study Club has built one of the most trusted educational communities in dentistry, and we’re excited to work together to help clinicians better understand how AI can elevate every aspect of practice, not just diagnostics, but the broader systems that support exceptional patient care.”

Through the partnership, Pearl and Seattle Study Club will deliver educational initiatives throughout the year focused on helping dental professionals navigate the rapidly evolving role of AI in dentistry while maintaining a strong emphasis on clinical judgment, patient trust, and real-world implementation.

About Pearl

Pearl is a dental AI company committed to enhancing how patient care is delivered. Founded in 2019 by a team with decades of experience developing successful, enterprise-grade computer vision solutions, Pearl introduced the first-ever FDA-cleared AI capable of reading and instantly identifying diseases in dental x-rays. With regulatory clearance in 120 countries, Pearl's AI assists dentists in making precise clinical decisions and effectively communicating with patients, thereby transforming the dental care experience worldwide. As dentistry’s global AI leader, Pearl is committed to the ongoing innovation of robust, accessible AI tools that improve patient health outcomes and build greater trust in dental medicine. To request a demo, please visit hellopearl.com/demo

About Seattle Study Club

Seattle Study Club is the nation’s leading dental education network, empowering professionals to connect, learn, and achieve clinical excellence in a collaborative community. Founded in 1992 by Dr. Michael Cohen, it has grown into a global network offering hands-on learning, case discussions, and access to world-renowned speakers. Learn more at www.seattlestudyclub.com.