The Future of Whitening? A Powder That *Just Might* Brighten and Repair Teeth

 

Every few years, something comes along in dentistry that makes you stop and say, “Okay… this could be a big deal.”  This might be one of those moments.  The effects won't be seen for years, but it's still intriguing to look at something and think "maybe one day".

Researchers have developed a new type of tooth-whitening powder that doesn’t just whiten teeth—it may actually help repair enamel at the same time. That’s a pretty bold claim in a space where, historically, whitening and enamel preservation haven’t exactly gone hand in hand.

For bit of history, because I love backstories, let me tell you how tooth whitening was discovered.  In the 1960s, two doctors (who did not know each other) both faced the same problem.  One of the doctors was a periodontist and the other was an orthodontist.  Both faced finding a better way to help decrease gingival inflammation.  They started to use nightguard trays with filled with hydrogen peroxide to help eliminate the microbes that were causing the problem.  Over time what they both discovered, independently of one another, was that their patients had significantly less bleeding... but they also had significantly whiter teeth. 

That's why if you review the early literature on the subject you'll see this process referred to as NGVB, which refers to "night guard vital bleaching".

Now let’s break down this new concept, because there’s some really fascinating benefits—and I feel some potential—behind it.  Whitening is just the tip of this iceberg...

The Problem with Traditional Whitening

We all know the (ahem) drill...

Most whitening systems—whether in-office or take-home—rely on peroxide chemistry. Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide breaks down into reactive oxygen species (ROS), which attack and fragment the pigmented molecules that cause stains.

It works. No question.  And it works incredibly well.  So well in fact that tooth whitening is now a multibillion dollar segment of the market.  The sales are not just from dental offices, but from consumer products available over the counter.

But there’s always been some potential tradeoffs.  Those same ROS that remove stains can also:

• Potentially increase surface roughness
• Potentially contribute to sensitivity
• Potentially make teeth more prone to future staining

In other words, we’ve been accepting a bit of potential collateral problems in exchange for a brighter smile.  And for years, the industry has been trying to minimize that downside.  Studies since the late 1980s and early 1990s have proven that the chemistry used is safe and effective.  Adding things like ACP, fluoride, and KNO3 have helped deal with those potential problems.  However, science always looks for better alternatives.

Enter: Vibration-Activated Whitening

Now here’s where things get interesting. Instead of relying on constant chemical activity, this new concept uses a vibration-activated powder—meaning it only “turns on” when you brush with a powered toothbrush.

The material itself is a ceramic compound made from calcium, strontium, and barium titanate.

When exposed to those vibrations, it produces a small electrical field through the piezoelectric effect.  That electrical activity triggers the formation of reactive oxygen species—but only during the time brushing occurs and the material is activated.  So instead of bathing the tooth in continuous chemical activity, you get targeted, on-demand whitening reactions.  That’s a big conceptual shift.

Here’s what makes this especially intriguing to me.  In lab studies, teeth stained with coffee and tea showed:

1. Visible whitening after about 4 hours of brushing
2. Up to 50% more whitening after 12 hours compared to controls

These *very* preliminary studies show efficacy.  However this system also requires time.  I haven't seen the definition of "visible" that they used to determine whitening.  I'm guessing that there was some scientific value measurement, but I'm not sure.

Also, if you do that math on 4 hours of brushing,  that is 240 minutes.  If you break that down into 2 sessions of 2 minutes each, that is 60 days to achieve the effect.  Are people willing to wait that long? Especially if, at the end of that time you have "visible" whitening?  The 50% improvement is pretty impressive, but once again, 50% compared to what?  And then factor in that 50% occurred after 12 hours of brushing.  That is 180 days to get the effect.  That's a pretty long time in a world where you can get delivery of almost anything overnight.

Current tray based chemistries provide significant change in as little as 2 weeks.  In office solutions can provide a similar effect in 2-3 hours.  So the time doesn't seem overly appealing, however, there's something else to factor in here.  What is different is what happened in the next finding.

Simultaneous Enamel Repair

While the powder is generating whitening activity, it’s also releasing calcium and strontium ions.  And those ions don’t just sit there.

They actively:

• Deposit into enamel and dentin
• Promote remineralization
• Help rebuild damaged tooth structure

So instead of potentially weakening the tooth or causing sensitivity during whitening, this system may potentially be reinforcing it.  Let me say that again, because it’s worth emphasizing:  This is a whitening system that may improve tooth structure while it whitens.  I feel this may actually be the real benefit.  If the chemistry can cause remineralization, that's terrific.  The whitening is an added benefit.

Bonus: Microbiome Effects

And it doesn’t stop there.  In animal studies, this same material:

• Reduced harmful bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis
• Lowered inflammation
• Helped rebalance the oral microbiome

So now we’re not just talking about whitening and remineralization—we’re potentially looking at a system that supports overall oral health.  I like to say "everything works in the lab", which is an overstatement but we all know it doesn't matter what results are achieved in an controlled environment.  No, the real answers are what happens in the mouth in real life.  However, this system has the potential to provide:

• Whitening
• Repair
• Microbial balance

Why This Matters Clinically

Even if whitening is considered a "side effect" of its use, if this works in real world applications we have a great potential for mineral repair and microbiome balance.  Remineralization therapy is gaining interest in the profession.  Obviously, nothing is better for tooth structure than nature's own structures.  Reinforcing those structures or repairing them through remineralization would be a first choice for many situations.  This would be especially beneficial if it were used before any breakdown occurs.  It's always harder to stop caries after it starts, but being able to have the tooth undergo repair twice a day every day, could potentially keep things from starting in the first place.

Imagine a daily-use product that has the potential to:

• Removes stains
• Strengthens enamel
• Supports microbiome health

But Let’s Pump the Brakes (Just a Bit)

Now, before we all start asking when will this be available…  This is still early-early-stage research.  Most of the data so far comes from: laboratory testing on extracted teeth and animal studies (rats).

We are nowhere near the point of:

• Long-term human clinical trials
• Real-world compliance data
• Information on formulation in commercial products

So while the concept is incredibly promising, it’s not ready for chairside adoption and it may be a long, long time before that ever happens.  IF it happens.

My Take

This is one of those innovations that checks a lot of boxes for me as a tech loving dental practitioner:

• It uses smart physics (piezoelectricity)
• It improves on an existing products (potentially)
• It adds real biological benefit (remineralization + microbiome support)

And maybe most importantly—it aligns with where dentistry is heading which is less damage, more biology and potentially better outcomes.   If this technology holds up in clinical trials, it could represent a genuine evolution in how we think about toothpastes—not just brighter teeth, but healthier ones.  Even if we continue our use of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide for whitening, this system would be worth use just for the remin and microbiome effects.  Of course, that all hinges on IF it is safe and effective.

From what I've read on this, the excitement seems to be about the whitening.  I don't see it that way.  I suppose that for people who aren't as involved in dentistry as I am, whitening grabs the attention.  For me it's more about the remineralization and microbiome effects.  I can see whitening the teeth the traditional way and then using a substance like this to keep the teeth beautiful while also getting the other benefits.  Whitening toothpastes are a huge part of the consumer market, but whitening that provides these other benefits is what really piques my interest.

Dental Intelligence Suffers Outage - and Explains Why

 

As a tech guy and tech lover, huge pieces of my life are dependent on technology.  My life is frequently centered around screens, LEDs, beeps, and clicks.  Probably more than most, some type of service outage can wreak havoc on what I do and my way of life.

However, I also know that we live in an imperfect world.  There is no way a life cannot be interrupted by an unexpected change or problem.  I recently dislocated the fifth finger on my right had and have been going to physical therapy a lot lately.  Earlier this week I arrived for my appointment at the clinic, only  to find that "our system is down' and none of the employees knew what patients were scheduled or when they would arrive.  I've suffered a similar outage in my own office twice and it can be never wracking.  Many of you who read this blog are probably clients of Dental Intelligence.  In the company's own words:

 "Dental Intelligence is the only end-to-end practice performance solution in the dental market. We help practices increase production, number of visits, and collections while decreasing overhead using actionable insights and automation."

Dental Intelligence is massively important to many practices.  The system takes all of the numbers of a practice and gives amazingly detailed analytics.  Most users become quickly hooked on those analytics and come to depend on it.  Those same offices often use DI during "morning huddles" as they organize their scheduled day.   Yesterday, there was an outage of Dental Intelligence, and today they took responsibility, owned the problem, and explained what happened:

Yesterday morning, you may have experienced a disruption to your Engagement tools. We understand how important those morning hours are to your practice, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience a service interruption must have caused.  

Our team resolved the issue within a few hours, but you deserve an explanation as to what occurred, and what we’re doing to prevent it from happening again. Here’s the short version: 

Early on the morning of March 18th, we experienced an unexpected spike in system activity due to a high volume of data from a third-party integration. This unprecedented demand placed excessive load on a portion of our system responsible for processing Engagement activity.  

In response, our team quickly identified the issue, redirected every Engineer to the problem, and restored functionality to all affected system components by 10:25 UTC.  

All systems are now fully operational. If you would like a more detailed technical explanation, visit the status page by clicking this link.  

Moving forward, we’re committing to the following: 

We’re investing in additional monitoring systems to proactively prohibit outages and ensure faster detection 

We’re enhancing our communication processes to keep you better informed, faster 

We’re adding more technical resources and systems to solve issues at greater speed 

Thank you for your understanding. If you’re still experiencing problems, reach out to support@dentalintel.com. 

Sincerely, 

The Dental Intelligence Team 

In my opinion, this is the right way to handle a problem.  Admit the problem, find the solution, put things in place so that it doesn't happen again.  I salute Dental Intelligence for the way they handled this.  I wish more companies had this attitude. 

Getting a Grip on Composite: My Take on VOCO GrandioSO 4U

 

Let me tell you something that hasn’t changed in dentistry—no matter how much technology evolves, no matter how digital we get—we still spend a lot of time placing composite.  And because of that, I’m always on the lookout for materials that make that process more predictable, less stressful, and a little more enjoyable.

Recently, I’ve been spending time with VOCO’s GrandioSO 4U, and I want to share some thoughts—not from a brochure, but from the perspective of someone who places composite day in and day out.

First Impressions Matter (And So Does Handling)

You know how it goes. You pick up a new composite and within about 30 seconds you already have a feeling about it.

• Too sticky?
• Too slumpy?
• Does it go where you want it or does hang it on the instrument as you're trying to shape it?

With GrandioSO 4U, the first thing I noticed was control.

It has that nice balance—not overly tacky, not overly soft—where you can sculpt it without fighting it. It stays where you put it, which is one of those things that sounds simple… but makes a huge difference when you’re trying to build anatomy efficiently.

And let’s be honest—anything that reduces “composite wrestling” is a win in my book.  It hate it when I'm sculpting a composite and every time I lift the instrument away, the material is hanging on the end of the instrument.  It's frustrating.  GrandioSO for you does NOT do that.  The handling is a dream.

The “4U” Concept—More Than Just Marketing

VOCO designed this material around a simplified shade system—hence the “4U.”  Now, I’ve seen a lot of “simplified” systems over the years. Some work. Some… not so much.  What I appreciate here is that this isn’t simplification at the expense of results or over promising the aesthetic outcome.  Instead, it’s about:

• Reducing decision fatigue
• Streamlining your workflow
• Still delivering highly acceptable esthetics

In a busy practice, that matters. When you’re moving from operatory to operatory, you don’t always want to spend time overthinking shade selection, especially in the aesthetic zone.  GrandioSO 4U lets you be efficient without feeling like you’re cutting corners or "getting close" on the shade.

Esthetics That Hold Up in the Real World

Here’s the thing—most composites look good when they’re first placed.  The real question is:  How do they look a week later? A month later?  At 6 month recare?

What I’ve seen with GrandioSO 4U is nice polishability and color integration. It blends well, especially in those everyday restorations where you want things to look natural without turning it into a 20-minute (or longer) layering exercise.  It’s not about chasing perfection on every case—it’s about delivering consistently good results efficiently.  And that’s what most of us need most of the time.  The material gives you just enough shade choices to provide great results without having to go through eye and brain gymnastics trying to find "just the right shade".

The '5 cluster shades' give stunning results.  I'm always amazed that it is translucent as you place it and then turns opaque as it's cured.  The material science behind this blows me away.

I like simple, but I also like choices.  GradioSO 4U gives me both.

Strength Where It Counts

VOCO has a long track record with high filler load composites, and GrandioSO 4U continues that trend.  What that means clinically:

• Good wear resistance
• Solid durability
• Confidence in posterior applications

I’m a big believer that materials should earn their keep in the mouth, not just on paper. So far, this one checks that box.  The 91% filler content means that the material closely matches the physical properties of natural tooth structure.  The idea of matching the physical properties of natural tooth structure also applies to volumetric shrinkage.  This material has a 1.44% volumetric shrinkage factor.  That means less physical stress on the tooth during polymerization and less pulling at the margins.

Why This Matters in 2026 Dentistry

The current environment in clinical practice isn't all rainbows and unicorns.  We’re practicing in a time where:

• Patients expect esthetics 
• Schedules are tighter than ever 
• Efficiency isn’t optional—it’s essential

Materials like GrandioSO 4U fit into that reality.  It’s not about reinventing composite—it’s about making it work better for the way we actually practice today.  This is especially true with a its 4mm depth of cure in only 10 seconds.  That means fewer increments which translates to more efficient placement.

Anything that increases efficiency during placement is a huge plus for me.  The enemy of adhesive dentistry is contamination.  The moment you start the bonding procedure... the moment you etch, starts a game of "beat the clock" in keeping contamination at bay.  The less time you spend in placement, the better your odds of controlling the field and ensuring clinical success.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, I judge materials by a pretty simple standard:  Do they make my life easier while still delivering great care for my patients?  With VOCO GrandioSO 4U, I’d say the answer is a resounding yes.

Simply put that is because this material is:

• Easy to handle
• Efficient to use
• Esthetically reliable
• Clinically solid

And sometimes, that’s exactly what you’re looking for—a material that just works.

If you’re like me and always evaluating what earns a place in your operatory, this one is definitely worth a look.  VOCO GrandioSO 4U is *highly recommended*.

Personify Group Doubles Down on Non-Invasive Dentistry: Names Pediatric Dentistry Innovator Dr. Adam Silevitch to Advisory Board

 Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist and Columbia University Faculty Member Brings Expertise in Minimally Invasive Dentistry and Emerging Clinical Technologies

Personify Group, a strategic branding, communications, and growth advisory firm serving the dental industry, announced today that Dr. Adam Silevitch, DMD, a board-certified pediatric dentist and clinical faculty member at Columbia University, has joined the company’s advisory board.

Dr. Silevitch brings a forward-thinking clinician’s perspective to Personify Group’s advisory team, with expertise spanning pediatric dentistry, minimally invasive treatment protocols, and emerging diagnostic technologies.

A practicing pediatric dentist, Dr. Silevitch is the founder of the Innovative Enamel Repair Protocol (IPERP), a clinical framework designed to promote proactive dental care through early diagnosis, remineralization strategies, and conservative treatment approaches. His work emphasizes early intervention and the use of advanced diagnostic technologies to identify enamel demineralization before cavitation occurs.

“Dr. Silevitch represents a new generation of clinical leadership in dentistry. one that prioritizes prevention, patient-centered care, and the intelligent use of emerging technologies,” said Michael Ventriello, Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer of Personify Group. “His insights will help ensure that the companies and innovations we support remain grounded in real-world clinical workflows and positive patient outcomes.”

In addition to his New York private practice and academic role at Columbia University, Dr. Silevitch is a frequent speaker and educator on minimally invasive dentistry and modern clinical protocols. He collaborates with dental technology companies and industry organizations to help translate scientific innovation into practical solutions for everyday dental practice.

“Dentistry is undergoing a paradigm shift toward earlier diagnosis, preventive care, and technology-enabled clinical decision making,” Dr. Silevitch said. “I’m excited to work with Personify Group to help bridge the gap between innovation and everyday clinical practice.”

Through his advisory role, Dr. Silevitch will help Personify Group evaluate emerging dental technologies, support product development strategies, and contribute to educational initiatives designed to accelerate the adoption of preventive and minimally invasive care models.

According Personify Group Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer, Mark Ross, “Dr. Silevitch brings the rare combination of clinical credibility, forward-thinking innovation, and entrepreneurial insight that enables Personify Group to help shape solutions that truly resonate with clinicians and deliver better outcomes for their patients.”

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.

Planet DDS 2026 Dental Outlook Shows More New Patients, Fewer No-Shows Across the Industry

 

Annual benchmark data points to healthier operations in 2026

Planet DDS, a leading provider of cloud-based, enterprise-grade dental software solutions, today announced the release of its 2026 Dental Industry Outlook, an annual benchmark report designed to help dental organizations measure performance and spot operational opportunities. 

 The report tracks changes across core practice metrics and shows improvements in treatment follow-through, patient reliability, and daily production. 

2026 Dental Industry Outlook Key Findings

The report points to three trends shaping how dental practices are performing and where the industry is headed: 

Completion rates are climbing and signaling a stronger 2026: Practices are doing a better job of converting planned care into completed care. Case completion rose from 42 percent to 47 percent year-over-year, a meaningful gain that points to healthier revenue and more predictable production heading into 2026.

Patient engagement is becoming the biggest competitive advantage: The practices pulling ahead aren't just seeing more patients; they're keeping them. Cancellations dropped 17 percent, and no-show rates continued to fall, reflecting a shift toward proactive communication and scheduling systems that make it easier for patients to follow through.

Technology is enabling a new standard for operations: Behind these gains is something less visible but equally important: repeatable, technology-driven workflows that reduce manual effort and human error. Practices that have moved away from fragmented patient data and legacy tools are seeing the results in their day-to-day numbers.

 “Dental leaders are looking for signals they can trust, and the strongest ones are in the day-to-day operational metrics,” said Mike Huffaker, Chief Revenue Officer of Planet DDS. “The goal of the industry outlook is to give DSOs a clear baseline so they can prioritize the workflows that drive real results. By comparing their own performance against industry averages, leaders can quickly see where they’re ahead, where they’re falling behind, and where focused changes will have the biggest impact.”

Download the full 2026 Dental Industry Outlook report to explore benchmarks, comparisons, and where the industry is headed. 

 Resources

Download the 2026 Dental Industry Outlook.

Learn more about Denticon.

Learn more about Cloud 9.

 Methodology

Planet DDS analysis of more than 15,000 practices on Denticon includes general dentistry, specialty dentistry, emergency dental clinics, and mobile dentistry clinics. Individual practice results are influenced by their patient, provider, and payer mix. For some analyses, the sample size may differ from the total number of practices listed above, as in the YoY growth analysis.

 About Planet DDS: 

Dental software is broken. We aim to fix it. As a partner in growth for DSOs and dental groups outgrowing legacy systems and fragmented tools, Planet DDS delivers a cloud-based AI platform designed to scale alongside growing organizations. Powered by DentalOS™ with AI, Planet DDS is built on connection—connecting people, partners, and technology across an open ecosystem that includes Denticon Practice Management, Cloud 9 Ortho Practice Management, and Apteryx Cloud Imaging. Trusted by leading DSOs and emerging dental groups nationwide, Planet DDS supports more 100+ location DSOs than any other cloud-based dental practice management provider, enabling 14,500 practices and 175,000 users to move beyond outdated legacy software with seamless integrations, optimized workflows, and scalable technology built for growth.

American Dental Association Announces New Executive Director

 If you follow the dental industry news, you probably remember that last year (February 2025) the ADA Executive Director resigned.  The resignation was "effective immediately" and the reasons were never given, which means people had to draw their own conclusions. In the midst of a serious re-working of ADA management that was already taking  place, it was a blow to the organization from a public relations perspective.

However, rather than filling the position quickly to give the appearance of "nothing to see here", the organization instead spent almost a year to find the best candidate available.  That approach seems to have been a good one.

Yesterday the ADA announced the name of the new Executive Director, Nader A. Nadershahi, D.D.S., M.B.A., Ed.D.  This looks like a solid choice.  The organization found a leader who was already on the inside of the ADA.  He is currently the ADA’s senior vice president of education and professional affairs and has been with the ADA since June 2025.  That means he has a feel for the organization and how it works.  That should help him get up to speed fairly quickly.

He also served as dean of the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco.  Having run a large institution like the UOP dental school should give him a great skillset to apply to his new position.

As I've said here previously, the ADA is undergoing a serious revamping of their processes and expenditures.  It seems to me that Dr. Nadershahi has been "on the inside" of the ADA long enough to understand how it works, but not so long that he will be entrenched into the previous way the organization was run.  Also, with the experience he gained as a dean, he will be well familiar with the problems facing the younger generation of dentists.  Many younger dentists don't join the organization right out of school as happened in previous generations.  When I graduated, it was almost expected that everyone joined.  It seemed like a right of passage and acceptance.  However, that may have given the group a sense of invincibility which translated into a failure to embrace change.

Membership numbers have been dropping the last few years and that has forced the ADA to re-evaluate their services and expenditures.  The organization is now, finally, pivoting and embracing change.  The last decade of doctors, and their expectations of what a professional organization should provide, has been a disruptor.  I give the ADA kudos for embracing change and moving to modernize the way they provide and speak for the profession.  I think Dr. Nadershahi is a solid choice.

You can read the information about the announcement here.  

 

I haven't had to deal with many cleft cases in my career, but the subject is an important one.  For the simple reason that it isn't incredibly common, the knowledge clinicians need to help these patients is limited.  Schools don't have the time to provide extensive training on the subject, leaving that to residency programs or specialty degree programs.  However, when a doctor or hygienist needs that knowledge, you truly *need* it.  

The most severe case I've dealt with was a family who had a son born with bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate.  Fortunately for me, the KC area has Children's Mercy Hospital that focuses on pediatrics.  The cleft team at the hospital did a tremendous job with the multiple surgeries over the years.  Their follow-up and communication with me as the long term care provider was fantastic.  They provided me with any and all information I needed to care for the patient as treatment progressed over the years.  I combined their communication with a lot of online searching to help me.  

However, not every area has a facility like Children's Mercy Hospital which can provide that level of care and communication.  If you are the provider for a patient with a cleft situation or if you simply want to be better informed about dentistry's long term role in caring for these patients, here is information on a webinar you should attend.  It is being provided by the charity Smile Train.

Smile Train is the largest cleft-focused organization with a model of true sustainability — providing training, funding, and resources to empower local medical professionals in 75+ countries to provide 100%-free cleft surgery and other forms of essential cleft care in their own communities.

In recognition of World Oral Health Day, Smile Train is hosting a global webinar, “Oral Health in Cleft Care: Moving from Vision to Reality,” on March 19. The event will bring together leading experts to discuss the critical role of oral healthcare in comprehensive cleft treatment and how strengthening prevention and access can improve outcomes for children worldwide.

Speakers include Dr. Mónica Domínguez (Smile Train), Prof. Peter Mossey (University of Dundee / WHO Collaborating Centre for Craniofacial Anomalies), Dr. Daisy Masis (pediatric dentist and Smile Train partner), and Dr. Bieke L. Kreps (NYU College of Dentistry / Ghent University Hospital).

You can register for the *free* webinar here.