AEGIS Dental Network Launches as Independent Dental Media Company

 

Back on September 10, I made a post about the return of AEGIS Dental Network.  In my time as Chief Dental Editor & Technology Editor of Dental Products Report I got the opportunity to work with a lot of really great people in the publishing side of the dental industry.  Some of those people had worked at AEGIS previously, while some of them left DPR to work with AEGIS.  I say that because I want you to know I've got personal relationships with a lot of those people and I think very highly of them.

Like a lot of industries in the US today, there has been a lot of consolidation of different businesses as larger corporations bought up smaller ones.  While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, for publishing it meant that a lot of dental publishing ended up under large corporate leadership.  In some cases it meant those small dental publications lost a lot of their autonomy which was a large part of what made them special.  Unfortunately that meant that some of those companies lost the ability to really do what they did best.

So I'm really excited to let you know that some of my friends have "put the band back together".  AEGIS is now back as a standalone independent, dedicated media and publishing company focused exclusively on the dental market.  As someone who has spent a lot their career as a part of that industry, I'm really excited about this.   The company officially opened for business on Thursday, October 1st.  The email I received from them is below:  

AEGIS Dental Network Launches as Independent Dental Media Company

AEGIS Dental Network (https://www.aegisdental.com/) officially launches today as an independent, dedicated media and publishing company focused exclusively on the dental market. 

Led by an experienced team with deep roots in dental publishing, education, content, marketing, and commercial strategy, AEGIS enters this next chapter with a continued commitment to its customers, advertisers, contributors, and industry partners.

AEGIS will continue building on its established portfolio of trusted brands, including Compendium, Inside Dentistry, Inside Dental Hygiene, Inside Dental Technology, and CDEWorld, while continuing its existing advertising, content, education, editorial, and marketing programs. 

With this sharper focus on dental, AEGIS is positioned to be more responsive, entrepreneurial, and collaborative as it creates new opportunities for dental professionals and industry partners.

The name is returning. The team is here. The relationships continue. We look forward to partnering with you! 

Please reach out directly or let's connect: https://www.aegisdental.com/partner-with-us.html

  

With Fusion™ Denture Family, Dandy Sets a New Standard of Care

 

The progression of digital dentistry in the industry continues non-stop.   I think the digital advantages for most doctors can be summed up in two words: "speed" and "control".  In the past, analog processes were developed that certainly provided lots of control, but unfortunately analog processes, while precise, were slow.  That meant patients had to wait longer for the final product.  The integration of digital dental workflows have now brought both speed and control to the industry.

As The Technology Evangelist, I've been all in for digital workflows for my entire career.  I'm big on 3D printing for even faster turnaround, but I'll be the first to admit that not every doctor wants to go that far into digital processes.  Some doctors want to embrace the speed and control without bringing everything in house... and I get that.

For doctors looking for the efficiency and accuracy that comes with digital, but want to maintain more of a "traditional" approach, there are lots of options.  A doctor can send all of their digital clinical information to a digital lab.  That will, of course add the time of shipping the final product to the office, but you'll still get the speed and accuracy of digital fabrication.  The data to the lab moves at the speed of light.  The only delay is the physical shipping.

I'm continually impressed with what Dandy is doing.  They are working hard to bring all of the digital processes to doctors who want the speed and accuracy of digital dentistry without needing to bring all fabrication processes into their office.  Dandy's most recent announcement is their Fusion Dentures.  Below are all the details.

First-of-its-kind manufacturing process delivers the handcrafted aesthetics of traditional dentures with the precision of digital design 

Dandy, the fully digital dental lab, today launched the Fusion™ denture line, a revolutionary new product that combines digital precision with hand-finished craftsmanship, creating a new baseline for excellence—one only Dandy can deliver.

Until now, with dentures, clinicians had to choose between precision, quality, and accessible pricing. With Dandy Fusion™ Dentures, they get all three.

The secret is a proprietary new manufacturing method that combines a digitally engineered base with a hand-crafted acrylic finish. Each restoration begins with a digital impression captured chairside with the Dandy Vision intraoral scanner. Dandy technicians work with the dentist to finalize and approve the design in Dandy's online visual workspace. Dandy then manufactures the base at one of its advanced production facilities, using robotics and AI to ensure accuracy and consistency. Finally, Dandy adds hand-poured acrylic to create a single, seamless restoration engineered for strength, fit, and retention while capturing the depth, warmth, and translucency of natural tissue with a degree of fidelity automation alone can't achieve.

The result is a premium denture like none other, featuring an ultra-precise fit and true-to-life gingiva with coloring that is tailored to each patient. Unlike 3D-only dentures, which break easily and are impossible to service, Dandy Fusion™ dentures are built for relines and repairs. The use of traditional acrylic ensures extraordinary longevity, while the digital scan with Dandy Vision creates a permanent digital record, making reorders effortless.

“We've evolved beyond 3D,” said Dandy head of engineering Cong Yu.  “Dandy Fusion™ offers durability and realism that other methods can't match. It completely changes what clinicians and patients can expect from a denture.”

The Dandy Fusion™ family offers different types of dentures customized to the patient's needs:

• Full Denture: Customized and made-from-scratch removable prosthetics
• Flexible Partial: Flexible, gum-colored made from trusted Valplast® and Duraflex® material without any visible clasps—the ultimate comfort option
• Overdentures: Fit over retained tooth roots of implants, helping preserve bone and delivering better stability than traditional dentures; can be removable or implant-retained
• Metal Mesh: Additional strength enhancement to full dentures (available Q4 2026)

Dandy's all-digital workflow and automation produce customized, fitted dentures with just two appointments and a five-day turnaround (six days for partials), meaning less chairtime for patients and more appointment slots for clinicians.

“The strength and the aesthetics of Dandy Fusion™ come through in a way 3D-printed never did. I'm not burning time on minor adjustments anymore because the fit comes in so precise," said Dr. Chrislyn Fite, Brighten Dental.“I'm so comfortable with Dandy Fusion™ now that I'm making substantially more dentures, and other dentists send me their frustrated denture patients because I'll take them on.”

The launch of Dandy Fusion™ comes on the heels of Dandy's Polychromatic Shade™, a robotic technique that stains and glazes teeth with micron-level accuracy, producing lifelike zirconia crowns at a quarter of the cost of hand-painted porcelain. Like Polychromatic Shade, Fusion™ uses technology exclusive to Dandy to make top-quality dental products affordable and accessible.

“Our mission is to make the premium standard of dental care the default standard,” said Dandy cofounder Daniel Hanover.  “Dandy Fusion™ is the first denture to deliver affordability without compromise. For the vast majority of cases, there's no reason to choose 3D anymore. Fusion™ is the clinically superior way to give patients dignity, confidence, and trust in the fit.”

Availability

Dandy Fusion™ dentures are available now through Dandy's Chairside platform, with pricing starting at $259. The Dandy Vision scanner with Chairside is available for free with a monthly lab minimum. For more information, visit the Dandy Fusion Denture website here.

About Dandy

Dandy, the first fully digital dental lab, is building the modern operating system for dentistry.  Dandy partners with dental practices to transform their business with state-of-the-art intraoral scanners, always-on expert guidance, and precision manufacturing accelerated by AI, 3D printing, and other state-of-the-art technologies seamlessly orchestrated by Dandy's proprietary software. Dandy empowers dentists with technology, innovation, and world-class support to achieve more for their practice, their people, and their patients. With unparalleled quality, efficiency, and experience, Dandy makes the business of dentistry pain-free. To learn more, visit meetdandy.com or our LinkedIn page, www.linkedin.com/company/dandyofficial/.  

Dongguk University Researchers Develop Battery-Free Flexible Device for Neuromorphic Sensing

 

Sometimes I stumble onto some really cool things to tell you about.  Today is one of those times.  Today's post might have the potential to really shake things up in both healthcare and our lives in general.  In the last few years, medical sensors have become more common.  Patients can wear devices that sense and record data that can be evaluated by their healthcare team.  The problem with any kind of electronic device is power.  Sensors and the systems that run them need batteries.

Recently researchers in South Korea have developed tiny neuromorphic sensors that can generate their own power.  They mimic the way the human body powers the sense of touch.  This could lead to an entire new class of devices.  The press release is below:

Researchers have developed a new self-powered, flexible neuromorphic sensing platform

Wearable neuromorphic devices could enable low-power sensing and health-monitoring technologies, but many existing architectures rely on external power sources. Researchers have developed a flexible, self-powered neuromorphic device that combines a triboelectric nanogenerator with an ion-gel-gated transistor to convert mechanical movement into electrical spikes that regulate synaptic behavior. The device reproduces hierarchical memory and spike-rate-dependent learning, highlighting its potential for future wearable neuromorphic applications.

Neuromorphic devices, which are designed to emulate aspects of biological neural networks, are promising candidates for developing low-power and intelligent sensing technologies, including wearable applications. Among the device architectures explored for neuromorphic computing, graphene-channel ion-gel-gated transistors (g-IGTs) are attractive because of their electronic properties, flexibility, and ability to modulate synaptic weights. Their low-voltage operation and ability to modulate synaptic weights make them attractive for mimicking the behavior of biological synapses. However, most current g-IGTs still rely on external power supplies, limiting practical use in wearable neuromorphic systems.  Addressing this challenge, a research team led by Professor Sejoon Lee from the Department of System Semiconductor at Dongguk University in South Korea has developed a battery-free, self-powered and flexible g-IGT device driven by a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). TENGs convert mechanical stimuli, such as body movement, touch, or vibration, into electrical signals.  Their study was made available online on March 09, 2026, and published in Volume 38, Issue 37 of Advanced Materials on July 02, 2026.

Explaining their inspiration, Prof. Lee says, “In human tactile perception mechanoreceptors sense even minute mechanical disturbances and convert them into neural spikes. To replicate this process electronically, we integrated a triboelectric nanogenerator with a g-IGT that converts mechanical stimuli into electrical signals that directly regulate artificial synaptic behavior without requiring external power.”

In the human arm, mechanoreceptors convert skin deformation into electrical signals that are transmitted through neurons and processed at synapses. Mimicking this process, the proposed device employs two TENGs connected to a single g-IGT. The TENG connected to the g-IGT gate supplies pre-synaptic spikes, while the drain-side TENG provides post-synaptic spikes. When TENGs sense mechanical stimuli such as touch, they produce voltage pulses that drive the synaptic response of the g-IGT. This circuit operates entirely without an external power source, harvesting energy directly from mechanical stimuli.

Importantly, the researchers demonstrated that the device can exhibit hierarchical memory processes, similar to biological neural networks. Specifically, the device can exhibit sensory memory with a decay time of about 70 milliseconds and short-term memory (STM) with decay times of 0.2–0.45 seconds. In addition, repeated stimulation can transition short-term memory toward long-term memory, with a decay time exceeding 2 seconds.

The researchers also demonstrated spike-rate-dependent plasticity (SRDP), a fundamental learning and memory mechanism, enabling synaptic strength to change according to the frequency of incoming spikes. This SRDP functionality remained stable even under bending.

Furthermore, the researchers evaluated the device’s learning capability by implementing its experimentally measured synaptic behavior in a single-layer artificial neural network for human activity recognition. Using publicly available human-motion data, the system classified six human activities: walking, sitting, standing, lying, walking upstairs and walking downstairs, with 88.05% accuracy using TENG-driven synaptic behavior under bending. Under high-noise conditions, the system maintained more than 75% accuracy, although performance decreased under extreme signal distortion.

Potential applications of this technology include self-powered wearable health-monitoring devices, electronic skin, smart prosthetics, human–machine interfaces, and intelligent motion-monitoring systems.

Looking ahead, Prof. Lee says, “Our research could contribute to a new generation of wearable artificial intelligence systems that operate with minimal reliance on batteries or external computing resources. More broadly, our work points toward self-powered neuromorphic electronics with integrated sensing, memory, learning, and information processing in a single flexible platform.”

Ask Not What Dentistry can do for You...

 

As regular readers know, I'm a supporter of organized dentistry.  When I was just getting started, I questioned the value.  Money was so tight, could I afford to pay the dues?  Was it really worth the money?  The reason I paid those dues in the early days wasn't because I felt obligated, I did it because of the influence from some people I respected.

My era of dental school was more about students being browbeat by the instructors.  I often felt like the least qualified student on the planet and unfortunately almost everyone in my class felt the same way.  However, there were a few of the instructors who were collegial and supportive.  It was that tiny group of doctors, the ones who made me feel like I could succeed, that told me "Be sure to join the ADA.  Being a member is important and it's something that is the right thing to do.  Dentists who believe in the benefits of the profession are the ones who are members."  They also told me that after I was established in the profession, that being a member would make more sense to me.

I trusted those doctors.  They believed in me, and the way I could show their influence was by being a member as well.  The wise advice they gave me turned out to be remarkably true.

I think one of the reasons I'm such a supporter of the ADA is not because I wanted to be in the House of Delegates or to be a Trustee.  I joined because people I trusted said it was valuable and important.  They said as I got a bit of perspective, I'd understand.  They were right.  There were several years as I was getting started that I thought about not paying the dues, but I did.  If I had left, I would regret it terribly today.  I was *wrong* in thinking there wasn't enough value, and I think when an individual's thinking shifts 180 degrees they become passionate about not letting others make the same mistake.  There is tremendous value in organized dentistry... even if all you do is pay your dues.

A recent article in ADA News summed up my feelings incredibly well.  If you are not a member or are thinking of not renewing your membership, read this My View column.  I think it answers the question of "why join"perfectly.  We are better together!

From eAssist: Important Security Notice for Former eAssist Customers

 

Last week, I posted about a cyber security incident that recently happened to eAssist Dental Solutions.  

Our office had been a client of eAssist a couple of years ago.  Due to that relationship, the company included me in a follow-up email.  I think, from a business and customer service standpoint, this is a smart move.  Incidents like this need to be handled in the best way possible and contacting customers, even former customers, shows that they are trying to handle this by owning the problem.  No company or customer ever wants to deal with the fallout from any type of hack, but unfortunately these things happen.  Obviously, the best thing would be to eliminate these types of situations, however if they happen, they need to be dealt with in a trasparent manner.

On the rare chance that you are a former or current customer and haven't yet seen this email, I've got it in its entirety below.

 

 

Hello, 

We are reaching out because your office previously worked with eAssist Dental Solutions.

eAssist recently became aware of a potential information security incident involving our systems. We immediately engaged third-party cybersecurity and forensic experts to assist with our investigation and response, and we have taken steps to contain the incident.

As part of our ongoing investigation, we determined that the data potentially involved may have included usernames and passwords used by eAssist team members to access customer systems. Consequently, we strongly recommend that former eAssist customers take the following steps:

Change all active passwords for any credentials that were assigned to or shared with eAssist, including, as applicable, credentials related to practice management systems, clearinghouses, claim software, payer portals, desktop logins, email accounts, and office-managed VPNs.

Remove any old or inactive eAssist user accounts that may still be active in those systems.

If any credentials or other sensitive information were contained in a shared document or spreadsheet that your office created and provided to eAssist, these shared documents should be deleted.

These recommendations are precautionary measures intended to help safeguard your systems and information.

If you have questions regarding this notice, please contact Amy Spaulding, Sr. Director of Operations, at clientcare@eassist.me.

Sincerely,

eAssist Dental Solutions

ShinyHunters Claims to Have Hacked the FBI: If They Can Get In There, What About Your Dental Practice?

 

I've been following cybersecurity for quite a while now, and every so often a story comes along that really gets my attention.  This is definitely one of those stories.

The hacking group known as ShinyHunters is claiming to have breached the FBI and stolen sensitive information about thousands of FBI agents, employees, and job applicants.  Yes, you read that correctly. The FBI.  The same organization that investigates cybercrime and helps protect the rest of us from hackers is now investigating a possible breach of its own systems.  And while this story is still developing, I think there are some important lessons here for all of us in dentistry.

What Happened?

On September 22, ShinyHunters announced that it had compromised FBI systems and obtained sensitive personal information about current and former employees, as well as individuals who had applied for jobs with the agency.

The group reportedly provided journalists with a sample of approximately 5,000 records containing information such as names, home addresses, telephone numbers, and details about family members.

The FBI has acknowledged that it is investigating claims of unauthorized activity involving its FBIjobs.gov website. However, the full extent of the alleged breach has not been independently established.

The hackers also claim that the attack was retaliation for an FBI cybersecurity warning issued earlier this year that described the group's activities and tactics.  Rather than demanding money, ShinyHunters has reportedly demanded that the FBI retract or correct that warning.  That's certainly an unusual twist on a cybersecurity story!

What Does This Have to Do With Dentistry?

You might be wondering why I'm discussing an FBI cybersecurity incident on the blog today.

Here's why.

If an organization with the resources and cybersecurity expertise of the FBI can potentially experience a significant breach, what does that tell us about the risks facing the average dental practice?  Think about everything connected to your practice network.  Your practice management software, digital radiography systems, intraoral scanners, insurance billing services, cloud storage, and even your email.

Every one of those systems represents another potential entry point for someone attempting to access your network or patient information.  And the risk doesn't necessarily stop at your office walls.

As we've recently seen with the reported eAssist cybersecurity incident, companies that provide services to dental practices can also become targets.  You may have excellent security in your office, but what about the companies that have access to your systems and patient records?  That's something every dentist needs to consider.

What Can We Do?

I'm certainly not suggesting that we abandon technology. Anyone who knows me understands that I believe technology has made dentistry better in countless ways.  However, we need to take cybersecurity just as seriously as we take infection control.

That means working with knowledgeable IT professionals, keeping software updated, using multifactor authentication, maintaining secure backups, and making sure our teams understand how to recognize suspicious emails and other potential threats.

It also means asking the companies we work with some important questions about how they're protecting our information.

We don't need to become cybersecurity experts, but we do need to understand that protecting patient information is part of our responsibility as healthcare providers.

The Bottom Line

The FBI incident is still being investigated, and we'll undoubtedly learn more about what happened in the coming days.  But regardless of the final outcome, the message for dentistry is clear.  Cybersecurity is no longer something we can afford to think about only when something goes wrong.  We spend a tremendous amount of time and effort protecting our patients clinically. We need to apply that same commitment to protecting their personal information.  Because at the end of the day, our patients trust us with more than just their oral health.

And that trust deserves to be protected.

AMD Lasers Fall "Flash Sale" for Incredible Discounts - Up to 45% Off!

Who doesn't love a good deal?  When I see good sales, I try to pass them along to all of you because dentistry is a tightrope between how much you produce versus how much you spend.  Obviously saving money is a good thing.

Along those lines, soft tissue lasers are also a good thing.  I've been using soft tissue lasers since the late 1990s and they are one of those tech items that once you learn how to use it, you never want to be without one.  You can do some amazing things with soft tissue lasers.  If someone came into the office and stole all of mine, I'd be reordering several immediately.  They've become that important to how I practice.

Some doctors have the misconception that diode lasers are only useful in the hygiene department and I want to make sure I emphasize, that's not true.  Diode lasers *are great tools for hygiene, but they can do much, much more for the doctor!*  That includes things like troughing of crown margins, cosmetic recontouring with incredibly predictable results, biopsies, frenectomies, removal of hyper-plastic tissue, and more.

One of the other great things about diode soft tissue lasers is their price.  They are not something that requires you to take out a loan or worrying about how to finance.  They definitely provide a good return on your investment.  But hey, if you can get a great laser for a lower price, why not take advantage of it?

I'm a fan of AMD Lasers and their Picasso line of diode soft tissue lasers.  I've used them a lot over my career and can tell you from personal experience they are well made and deliver great results.  Today, it's even better because AMD is offering a Fall Flash sale on their Picasso line.  You've only got until the end of the month to take advantage of this, so if you're interested, get on this one today.

Here's the offer:

45% Off Picasso Lasers!

The fall Picasso flash sale is here! Save 45% on our classic Picasso+, Picasso Lite+, and Picasso Clario soft tissue diode laser lineup.

That means:

• Save over $1,700 on the Picasso Clario hygiene laser, the first laser designed specifically for dental hygienists
• Save over $2,400 on the all-around practice workhorse Picasso Lite+ diode laser
• Save over $3,600 on the Picasso+ diode laser, offering laser-assisted teeth whitening and photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy
• This event only runs through September 30th, so don’t miss this chance for a major practice upgrade your patients will love.

Disclosure:  I don't receive any compensation for any sales by the company, but if you place an order, please tell them you read about it here.  Lasers can change the way you practice.