Time Off for the Holidays...

Blogging is hard work!

So I'm taking some time off over the holidays to rest up and refresh.  I'll be back in January...

Thanks for reading & for your understanding.  See ya soon!

DentalEZ® Integrated Solutions Offers Virtual Operatory Designer

Online Operatory Designer Allows Dental Professionals to 

Visualize and Design the Ideal Operatory

Malvern, PA (December 15, 2015) – DentalEZ^® Integrated Solutions, a supplier of integrated products and services for dental health professionals worldwide, is pleased to offer dental professionals an online Operatory Designer. The Operatory Designer is an online resource that allows users to visualize and personally configure operatories to perfectly match workspace requirements and style preferences.

Dental professionals can log on to operatory.dentalez.com and view numerous color and style configurations for each operatory component. The Operatory Designer resource allows the dental professional to customize the entire dental operatory:

• Chairs and Stools–available choices include numerous DentalEZ chair and stool selections and upholstery types with over 40 color possibilities. Dental professionals can choose between Ultraleather^™, Ultraleather^™ Fusion, Naugahyde^®, and NaugaSoft colors.

• Cabinet Countertops–solid surface countertop designs include twelve different color patterns such as Baja Melange, Crystal Mint, and Bedrock. 

• Cabinet Laminates–options include a wide assortment of hues to coordinate with your countertops and office palette.  

• Floor and Walls–for the backdrop and floor of the operatory, dental professionals can choose from six wall, and eleven wood or tile floor shades that set the stage for a pleasant operatory experience. 

Users of the Operatory Designer begin with a blank operatory canvas and have the option to personalize each and every operatory component. Moreover, operatory designs can be saved, downloaded, printed, or emailed to share with colleagues or a personal DentalEZ territory sales member to make the virtual operatory a reality. 

“We wanted to take the apprehension and guesswork out of operatory design and bring back the excitement of it for the dental professional,” remarked Aggie Pennington, Senior Equipment Product Manager for DentalEZ.  “Planning the design and colors for the operatory can truly be a hit or miss situation and instead of simply imagining what it will look like, we wanted to provide a precise image of the endless possibilities that DentalEZ offers for the ideal operatory. It’s a fun yet very resourceful tool.”  

To try the new Operatory Designer, please visit operatory.dentalez.com.  

About DentalEZ^® 

DentalEZ^® is committed to advancing the practice of dentistry through fully integrated products and services. Encompassing five distinct product categories—StarDental^®, DentalEZ^®, RAMVAC^®, NevinLabs^™, and Columbia Dentoform^®—DentalEZ^® manufactures everything in the operatory, from handpieces to chairs to vacuum systems to dental simulation models, creating a complete line of products to elevate the health, comfort, and efficiency of the dental operatory. For more information, please visit www.dentalez.com. 

I've Been Ranked One of the Top 20 Dentist Blogs!

A short post today as it seems that the exploding hoverboard story has nothing new...

Seriously, I was very honored when notified that this blog was chosen as one of the Top 20 Dentist Blogs by E-Dentists USA.

It's nice to know that all of this typing & research hasn't gone un-noticed.

If you'd like to see the entire list, here is the link.

Amazon Pulls Hoverboards Amidst "Explosion" Controversy

Wow, that was quick.  I guess that if I was the egotistical type (hopefully I'm not, but if you *think* you're not egotistical... what does that really mean?) I'd be thinking that this blog is an all powerful game changer.  Alas, I know it's not.  At least not when it comes to the global marketing/selling juggernaut that is Amazon.

However, Jeff Beezos (the genius behind Amazon) is no fool and selling products that radomly catch fire is foolish... big time.  Therefore it goes to show how controversial this whole hoverboards catching fire thing is.

This story on CNN.com gives you all the details, but suffice it to say you won't be getting your hoverboard from Amazon any time soon. ..  

Why Do Hoverboards Keep Blowing Up?

Christmas is coming, and with it brings a whole slate new toys for parents... and kids to choose from.

In case you've been in a cave somewhat, you've probably heard of the must have toy for this year, the hoverboard.

While they don't really "hover" they are pretty amazing devices.

The problem has become, these hot toys are catching fire at an alarming rate.  It seems that less than high quality Lithium Ion batteries are actually rupturing and catching fire.

What to do & how do you  know you are safe?  Take a look at this article for the proper precautions.  

America’s New Female Combatants Are Getting Custom Gear

A short post today, but an interesting one.  Now that female members of the armed forces can be in any role including front line combat, the issue of female body armor is taking on a major role.

I saw this story on Wired and thought I'd share it with you.

Take a look at the story on Wired.com  It's an interesting read.

Dentist Ranked #1 Job In America By U.S. News & World Report

I've always wanted to be a dentist.  To some that may seem strange, but it's true.  At the age of 3 I extracted one of my sister's baby teeth and I've been on the journey ever since.   I even have the story on my website.

Obviously, I didn't get into it for the money.  I got into it for all of the better things about it like helping people, being my own boss, and improving patient's lives.

A lot of people get into the profession for a lot of different reasons.  However, I didn't know how popular the idea of being a dentist is until I saw a post from U.S. News & World Report that ranked dentistry as the #1 job in America.

While I've always loved my job, I never dreamed that others would have the same feeling as I do.

To read the article, here is the link.  However, the best advice I can give someone when it comes to choosing a profession is to do what you truly love.  If you do that, you will never ever work a day in your life.

Ransomeware is Coming and You Need to Make Sure You are Prepared...

ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

When something like this hits the news, you know it is either big... or going to be big.  In the case of ransomware, it will be both.

Basically the virus like software grabs your system & installs itself on your hard drive.  This allows the program to run in the background & it encrypts your hard drive.  When you reboot, come back from a screen saver, etc, the system tells you it has been locked.  However it also gives you instructions on how to get your data back.  Normally this involves going to a nefarious website and inputting your credit card number (how safe do you think that is?).  Supposedly then the hackers will give you a password that will un-encrypt your system.

The thing is, if it is getting on ABC News, you it is out there and it is only going to get worse.  This is a crime that is growing exponentially.  It will be even worse if you are a business.

If you are a dental office, check out DDS Rescue (a service that I use and recommend) to help by providing hourly backups of your system.

A few months ago, I was beta testing a Personal Cloud Backup System that had a security flaw (hey, that's why you beta test).  The system was online about 96 hours before it was ransomeware hacked.  It wasn't something I did... the hackers broke into the system over the Internet and installed the software themselves.

If you want to know more about this subject, checkout a quick search I did on Google.

And if you want to find out how to help prevent it, take a look at DDSRescue.

KaVo Kerr Group Provides Product and Volunteers to ADA 2015 Mission of Mercy Event

First Mission of Mercy event in Washington, DC serves 700+ patients.
WASHINGTON, DC — (November 30, 2015) A cross-section of impressive imaging-related technologies from KaVo Kerr Group were put to use by hundreds of dental professionals who volunteered with the Mission of Mercy event hosted by the American Dental Association in cooperation with the District of Columbia Dental Society. Headquartered in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as part of ADA 2015 — America’s Dental Meeting, this was the first Mission of Mercy event to take place in Washington, DC.
Held Nov. 8, 2015, the free one-day dental clinic employed hundreds of volunteers to serve more than 700 patients in providing approximately $460,000 in care. KaVo Kerr Group supported the clinic with intra-oral X-ray, pan and caries detection products provided by DEXISTM, Instrumentarium DentalTM and NOMADTM. Teams of volunteers from DEXIS and Instrumentarium also donated their time and expertise to the event.
“The solutions provided by KaVo Kerr Group allow us to serve 99% of dental practices around the world. It is meaningful for those of us who are part of KaVo Kerr Group to participate in events like Mission of Mercy in order to see the individual faces of that 99% and, more importantly, the patients who benefit from our products,” said Candy Ross, KaVo Kerr Group’s Director of Industry and Professional Relations for Dental Technologies, North America. “We talk a lot about trust as a core value in our company. It is trust in the products themselves, and trust in our organization to show up for events like this so that smart innovation makes it into the hands of compassionate dental professionals committed to doing good.” 

i-Cat FLX and All It Can Do for You...

One of the important things about tech, is not only knowing how to use it, but knowing  when to use it.  For instance, it does you no good to have the latest and greatest of something unless you know the proper time to "pull the trigger".  Otherwise it's just a really expensive paper weight.

Today's post is going to deal with CBCT or "cone beam computed tomography".  This is technology that allows the doctor to see the patient's skull in 3D and helps that doctor see all the underlying structures before beginning a surgical case.  The amazing part of this technology is being able to to see everything before the first surgical step is taken.  The amount of data accumulated before treatment is started can mean the difference between simple and complicated on one end or wishing there was a better option on the other.

The smart minds at i-Cat have now created a 3D Cone Beam system that will allow doctors to take a 3D Cone Beam scan that creates an image utilizing less radiation than a traditional 2D panoramic radiograph.  That means that a low resolution 3D scan can be created with less radiation exposure than traditional 2 dimensional panoramic radiographs.  It's simply amazing.

Will this change the world of dentistry?  It's still too early to tell, but the door is starting to swing open.

Find out more at at the i-Cat website.

GoGo Inflight Wireless Service Upgrades to Next Generation in 2016

As most of you who read this blog on a regular basis know... I spend a good deal of my time on planes and in airports.  The travel is a sometimes not so fun part of what I do as Technology Evangelist, but hey, I've got to get lectures & meetings somehow... right?

One of the things that can definitely make the travel a bit more tolerable is if you have access to the Internet; especially in the air.  Most airports nowadays are providing free WiFi, but once the cabin door closes and the dreaded "airplane mode" is accessed on your device, you enter the great wasteland of being disconnected.

Fortunately it seems that most planes these days are running some type of wireless service on all but their either smallest or oldest planes.  On a recent United flight between Chicago O'hare and KCI I noticed that United provided its own United branded service, but on most other flights the service is provided by Gogo.

As long as it's been available, I've had a Gogo account and I've fallen in love with the productivity it has given me.  The only problem is the age old problem we all fight whenever we have an Internet connection.  That is... we want greater speed, more bandwidth, the fat pipe.

Well, the wheels of progress are always turning and wireless satellite bandwidth is no different.  Starting in January of 2016 Gogo will begin rolling out their next generation product.  Dubbed 2Ku, the improved service is looking at speeds much greater than we have now.

For an interview on the new & improved service follow this link to read the interview from Engadget.  

Kerr TotalCare Partners with OSAP to Promote the Safest Dental VisitTM

Program educates stakeholders throughout the dental industry on the importance of infection control.
November 23, 2015. Kerr TotalCare is proud to announce its support for The Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) and its Safest Dental VisitTM program. The Safest Dental Visit is a collaborative effort to support an increased commitment to infection control and safety in dentistry. Dental professionals, thought leaders and key influencers across the industry are joining forces to help ensure that every visit is the safest dental visit for patients and providers.
Each stakeholder — clinicians, educators, consultants and dental trade – each have resources specifically tailored to support their role in this vital program.
“Infection control is a critically important topic that touches every dental professional and patient,” said Phil Prentice, Vice President, North American Marketing, Kerr. “The Kerr TotalCare team is proud of our highly effective suite of Infection Prevention products, and this partnership with OSAP allows us to support not only innovation, but education.”
“Kerr TotalCare has been a dedicated OSAP member for nearly two decades,” added Therese Long, Executive Director. “Kerr’s support, which is now at the Super Sponsor level, is particularly vital as we expand the reach of the Safest Dental Visit, our comprehensive program designed to increase commitment to infection control and safety in dentistry. Kerr’s ongoing support of OSAP demonstrates the level of commitment from Kerr TotalCare to infection prevention and to our mutual goal of ensuring that every visit is the safest dental visit for patients and providers.”
For more information about Kerr TotalCare, visit http://www.kerrdental.com/kerr-totalcare. 

American Academy of Periodontology Installs New President, Officers in Orlando

New Jersey Periodontist Wayne A. Aldredge, DMD, Takes Helm at 101^st Annual Meeting

ORLANDO – November 17, 2015 – Wayne A. Aldredge, DMD, a periodontist from Holmdel, New Jersey, has been installed as the American Academy of Periodontology’s (AAP’s) President during its 101^st Annual Meeting, held Nov. 14-17, 2015, in Orlando. Other newly installed AAP leaders include President-elect Terrence J. Griffin, DMD, of Boston; Vice President Steven R. Daniel, DDS, of Murfreesboro, TN, and Secretary/Treasurer Richard T. Kao, DDS, PhD, of Cupertino, CA. Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH, of Los Angeles, will serve as the Academy’s Immediate Past President.

A member of the AAP since 1995, Dr. Aldredge has nearly 20 years of professional dentistry experience, first honing his general dentistry skills as an army captain at the US Military Academy at West Point. In addition to maintaining a private practice, Dr. Aldredge is a clinical assistant professor at Stony Brook University’s Department of Periodontics and Dental Implantology. A diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, he received his dental degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and his post-graduate degree in periodontology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Dr. Aldredge is also a sought-after lecturer and well-respected researcher whose interests include guided bone regeneration, dental implants and surgical technique, localized delivery of chemotherapeutic agents, and connective tissue grafting. 

About Other Installed Officers:

Terrence J. Griffin, DMD, President-elect: Dr. Griffin has served on twelve AAP committees since becoming a member. He maintains a private practice in Boston and has served as the Chair and Director of Tufts University’s periodontology program for 15 years. Dr. Griffin received his dental degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and went on to serve in the US Navy where he completed a one-year fellowship in periodontics at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. After completing his two-year tour of duty, he rejoined Tufts University as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Periodontology, earning his certificate of advanced graduate studies in periodontology immediately after graduation.

Steven R. Daniel, DDS, Vice President: A Knoxville, TN, native, Dr. Daniel has been a practicing periodontist in Murfreesboro, TN for more than 32 years. He earned his dental degree and Certificate in Periodontics from the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry. Dr. Daniel became a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology in 2005. In addition to his service with the AAP, Dr. Daniel has served as a trustee for the Tennessee Society of Periodontists and the Southern Academy of Periodontology. 

Richard T. Kao, DDS, PhD, Secretary/Treasurer: Dr. Kao, who maintains a private practice in Cupertino, CA, is an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Periodontology at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and a Clinical Professor in the Department of Orofacial Sciences at the University of California San Francisco, where he earned his dental degree, periodontal certificate, and doctorate in experimental pathology. Dr. Kao has previously served as a Trustee of the California Dental Association and the AAP, and is a Past President of the California Society of Periodontists.

Dr. Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH, Immediate Past President: In addition to maintaining a private periodontal practice in Los Angeles, Dr. Otomo-Corgel is a faculty member at the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare Center. She is an associate clinical professor in the Department of Periodontics at the University of California Los Angeles’ (UCLA) School of Dentistry, where she earned her dental degree. Dr. Otomo-Corgel completed her Postdoctoral Periodontal Residency at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center and completed a Masters of Public Health program at the UCLA School of Public Health. An AAP member since 1977, Dr. Otomo-Corgel has served on the boards of trustees for the AAP and the AAP Foundation.

Newly installed AAP officers will serve a term ending with the appointment of a new slate of officers at the AAP’s 102^nd Annual Meeting in San Diego, to be held Sept. 10-13, 2016.

American Academy of Periodontology Recognizes Member Achievements

Periodontists Awarded during AAP’s 101^st Annual Meeting for Contributions to the Dental Specialty

ORLANDO – November 17, 2015 – The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) issued nine special recognitions to members for their contributions to the periodontal specialty. The awardees were honored at a ceremony held during the AAP’s 101^st Annual Meeting, held Nov. 14-17 in Orlando. 

“The Academy is proud to recognize those who have made an indelible impact on the practice and study of periodontics,” said Dr. Joan Otomo-Corgel, the Academy’s immediate past president. “It is because of these individuals’ unwavering commitment that our specialty continues to make notable strides into the future.” 

Gold Medal Award: First conferred in 1967, the Gold Medal is the highest honor of the Academy. It is presented each year to a periodontist who has made outstanding contributions to the specialty through service and an understanding of the study, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal diseases. This year’s Gold Medal recipient is Dr. Vincent J. Iacono. Dr. Iacono is the Distinguished Service Professor, Tarrson Family Professor of Periodontology, Director of Postdoctoral Education, and Chair of the Department of Periodontology at Stony Brook University’s School of Dental Medicine in Stony Brook, New York. A Past President of the AAP, Dr. Iacono has also served as the Periodontics Commissioner for the Commission on Dental Accreditation; on the editorial board of the Journal of Periodontology; as vice president of the AAP Foundation; director of the American Board of Periodontology; and past president of the Northeastern Society of Periodontists, the Academy of Osseointegration, and the International Academy of Periodontology. He received the AAP’s presidential award in 2006 and has been awarded many other citations and honors throughout his career. He is the author of more than 100 journal articles, 95 abstracts, and five book chapters, with research interests that include implants, biomimetics, tissue engineering, and periodontal medicine. 

Master Clinician Award: Dr. Paul S. Rosen is the recipient of the Master Clinician Award, which is bestowed annually to a member who has demonstrated consistent clinical excellence in periodontology and who continually expresses a willingness to share that clinical experience with others. A private practitioner and clinical professor of periodontics at the University of Maryland Dental School, Dr. Rosen is a sought-after international lecturer, who shares his prescription for success in regeneration and treatment planning. He chaired the task force that authored the whitepaper “Peri-implant Mucositis and Peri-implantitis: A Current Understanding of Their Diagnoses and Clinical Implications,” published in the Journal of Periodontology in 2013. He has authored or co-authored more than 50 articles and five textbook chapters. He has served as chair and longtime consultant for the AAP’s Continuing Education and Oversight Committee and is a founding editorial board member of the AAP’s digital journal Clinical Advances in Periodontics. Dr. Rosen also serves on the editorial boards of several dental journals, including the Journal of Periodontology, the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry, and the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry. He was among the first group of examiners appointed to the American Board of Periodontology, a position he still holds. He maintains a private practice in Yardley, PA. The Master Clinician Award is sponsored by Hu-Friedy.

Distinguished Scientist Award: For her significant contributions to the basic and clinical science of periodontology, the AAP recognizes Dr. Laurie K. McCauley with the Distinguished Scientist Award.
Dr. McCauley is the dean and the William K. and Mary Anne Najjar Professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Dentistry. She is also a professor in the University of Michigan Medical School’s Department of Pathology. Dr. McCauley’s research has focused on the mechanisms of regulating bone metabolism associated with osteoporosis, osteonecrosis, periodontal diseases, and metastatic cancers. She is well respected for her ability to recognize the significance of a basic science discovery toward informing clinical practice. The Distinguished Scientist Award is sponsored by OraPharma.

Special Citation Award: For his service as the parliamentarian of the AAP Board of Trustees,
Dr. Charles Cobb is the recipient of the Special Citation award, which is presented to a member who has made a noteworthy impact on an Academy committee or project. As a 40-year veteran practitioner and educator, Dr. Cobb is a respected colleague and researcher in the periodontal community. He is the Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Department of Periodontics and author of nearly 200 published works. Affectionately known as “The Encyclopedia” by students, Dr. Cobb has long respected by mentees and colleagues alike. In addition to his service to the AAP, Dr. Cobb is also a member of the Midwest Society of Periodontology, the Missouri Dental Association, and the American Dental Education Association. He is a retired founding member of the American Association of Oral Biologists.

Outstanding Periodontal Educator Award: For his exemplary work as a periodontal educator whose career inspires students and demonstrates excellence, the AAP recognizes Dr. Michael P. Mills as the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Periodontal Educator Award. Dr. Mills, a distinguished Air Force veteran, is a clinical associate professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, where he also maintains a provide practice in periodontics and dental implants. In addition to his roles as a former director and chair of the American Board of Periodontology (where he continues to serve as an examiner), Dr. Mills has authored or co-authored 30 scientific articles, abstracts, and textbook chapters. He is a member of the Texas Dental Association, Southwest Society of Periodontists, and the San Antonio District Dental Society. The Outstanding Periodontal Educator Award is sponsored by Hu-Friedy.

Honorary Membership Award: Professor and Chair of the Department of Periodontology at the Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany, Dr. Joerg Meyle is the 2015 recipient of the AAP Honorary Membership Award. He is the treasurer of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP), which comprises 29 national societies of periodontology. He is a two-term past president of the German Society of Periodontology and has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Periodontology, Journal of Periodontal Research, and Journal of Clinical Periodontology. He has been a contributor to five joint consensus papers from the EFP and AAP, having co-authored a 2008 consensus report on peri-implant diseases that has been cited more than 450 times.

William J. Gies Award: Dr. Michael K. McGuire, who maintains a full time private practice in Houston, is the 2015 recipient of the William J. Gies Award. Presented by the American Dental Education Association’s William J. Gies Foundation for the Advancement of Dentistry, this award is bestowed to those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of periodontology. Dr. McGuire is the author of more than 50 scientific articles and textbook chapters, and he serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Periodontology and the International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry. His research is a two-time recipient of both the AAP’s Robinson Regeneration and the Clinical Research Award. Dr. McGuire is a sought-after speaker with more than 200 lectures to his credit. He is also the 2007 recipient of the AAP’s Master Clinician Award and in 2009, the Academy’s Gold Medal Award. Dr McGuire is the founder and chairman of the McGuire Institute, a not-for-profit practice-based clinical research network.

Clinical Research Award: This award is presented to an outstanding recently-published scientific article with direct clinical relevance in periodontics. The 2015 recipients of this award, authors of “An Evidence-Based Scoring Index to Determine the Periodontal Prognosis on Molars,” which was published in the February 2014 Journal of Periodontology, are as follows: Drs. Preston D. Miller, Jr., Mark L. McEntire, Nicole M. Marlow, and Robert G. Gellin. The Clinical Research Award is sponsored by Quintessence Publishing.

R. Earl Robinson Periodontal Regeneration Award: This award recognizes an outstanding recent scientific article about periodontal regeneration in the basic and clinical sciences. Authors of “Intrabony Defects, Open-Flap Debridement, and Decortication: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” which was published in the Journal of Periodontology in January 2014, are as follows: Drs. Alessandro Crea, Giorgio Deli, Cristiano Littarru, Carlo Lajolo, Gianluca Vittorini Orgeas, and Dimitris N. Tatakis. The R. Earl Robinson Periodontal Regeneration Award is sponsored by the AAP Foundation.

Holy Sirona Party, Batman! Sirona Announces 2016 CMW SIROWORLD Party

Sirona Set to Host Superheroes of Dentistry Party at the House of Blues on Friday evening of the 2016 Chicago Dental Society Meeting
Charlotte, NC (Nov. 17, 2015) ‐ It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s ... Sirona hosting yet another epic event!
Sirona Dental, Inc., the leading manufacturer of innovative dental technology, is hosting a superhero‐themed party at the House of Blues on Feb. 26, 2016, in Chicago during the 2016 Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting. This party is a membership benefit of SIROWORLD, Sirona’s new event‐based community.
After saving the day, attendees are encouraged to emulate their favorite superheroes by dressing up in tights, capes and masks to celebrate into the night at Sirona’s Superheroes of Dentistry party.
“Sirona is known for throwing incredible parties and this party will be no different,” said Sirona Dental, Inc. President Michael Augins. “At the CEREC 30TH Anniversary Celebration in Las Vegas, Sirona hosted the Party Like a Rock Star event in which attendees arrived in their best rock star attire to a club filled with 10 foot laser robots and acrobats swinging from the ceiling! At the Superheroes of Dentistry event we will have more surprises in store for our SIROWORLD community members as our Dental Superheroes party the night away at one of Chicago’s most famous venues, The House of Blues."
All SIROWORLD members are invited to join in on this epic night of superhero action. Membership into SIROWORLD includes access to parties like this; along with SIROWORLD’s educational events held at major U.S. trade shows like the Greater New York dental meeting and the CDA South meeting in Anaheim, California. The highlight of SIROWORLD membership is our Inaugural SIROWORLD Celebration in Orlando, Florida where entertainment and education collide at digital dentistry’s premiere event.
During these educational events, members can speak to leading experts in the field of digital dentistry and compare stories with fellow members about the technologies that have helped integrate his/her practice into the digital age.
A wise (spider)man once said, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” It’s in Sirona’s power to continue throwing legendary events, and it’s your responsibility to join us in the festivity!
Pricing for SIROWORLD is now available at $1,995 a year for a membership and $2,995 a year for VIP membership and include entrance into all of the celebration events planned at the trade shows and the annual event in Orlando. Total Office membership packages are currently available for $5,995, for a total savings of $4,000 off list price, and include SIROWORLD membership for up to six people.

For more information on SIROWORLD membership and events, please visit www.SIROWORLD.com or call 844.422.3226. 

Danaher Corporation Awards Scholarships to Three Children of Dental Platform Associates

It's always nice to see a company reward hard work by students.  Trust me when I say that the amount of debt incurred by students going into dentistry is not at a small level.  Young people have to really *want* to go into dentistry these days.  Being a doctor is a very rewarding profession, but the amount of student loan debt that young people end up with is more than what many consider when they enter the educational process.  With that in mind, it's always nice to see companies that are willing to help with educational expenses.  My hat is off to the good people at Danaher for  helping to make dental education more affordable for deserving candidates.

$225,000 in scholarship funds made available to 36 university-bound students.
(November 16, 2015) — The 2015 Danaher Scholarship Program is honored to present a total of $225,000 to students this year. A record 403 students applied to the program this year. Of the 36 university-bound women and men selected, three are children of Danaher dental platform associates:

• Ida Alfano – child of Kerr Dental associate Francesco Alfano. Ida will attend University of Naples Federico II.
  
• Nicholas Do – child of KaVo Kerr Group associate Nguyen Do. Nicholas will attend University of California: Irvine, majoring in Biological Sciences.
  
• Alice Miller – Child of Nobel Biocare associate John Miller. Alice will attend University of La Verne, majoring in Biology.
  The application process was quite rigorous, with recipients selected based on a combination of academic achievement, extracurricular activity involvement and moral character. Administered by Scholarship Management Services on behalf of Danaher, each student will receive between $5,000 and $8,000 to put toward tuition.
  Since its inception more than a decade ago, the Danaher Scholarship Program has awarded more than $2 million in scholarship dollars to deserving students. Among Fortune 500 companies, the Danaher scholarship program stands out: It ranks in the top 25% of companies for its total distribution and in the top 10% for individual award amounts.
  ###
  About KaVo Kerr Group
  KaVo Kerr Group is a global portfolio of leading dental brands that share common values of Trust, Experience, Choices, Quality and Smart Innovation. Brands include KaVoTM, KerrTM, i-CATTM, GendexTM, NOMADTM, DEXISTM, Instrumentarium DentalTM, SOREDEXTM, OrascopticTM, Pelton & CraneTM, MarusTM, PentronTM, OrmcoTM and Implant DirectTM. With over 500 years of combined experience and proven solutions, KaVo Kerr Group uniquely serves 99% of all dental practices. Visit www.kavokerrgroup.com for more information.
  
  

Crosstex DentaPure Wins Best of Class Technology Award

Behold DentaPure from Crosstex!

Developed by NASA for use on the Space Shuttle as well as the International Space Station, the truly is *Rocket Science* for your dental operatory.

As we all know, keeping our dental unit water lines clean is a very big deal in clinical dentistry.  We have tried all kinds of things in the profession, but it seems there is no one perfect system... until now.

The DentaPure system is a filter that plugs into the water line inside our self contained water bottle system and filters the water using advanced science.  Imagine installing a cartridge & not having to do another darn thing for a whole year!!!  That is the magic that DentaPure brings to the operatory.

We've been using the product for 2 years now and have been thrilled with the results.

However, rather than listen to me drone on and on about it, take a look at the webpage created by the company and see the science they have there.  Then get on the phone and order DentaPure.  I consider it a "must have" for my office and I think after trying it, you'll consider it a "must have" as well.

Greater New York Dental Meeting Organizers Hosting First International Oral Cancer Symposium

Well, after I discussed my blog plans in yesterday's post, I received some info which I think deserves to be read and will push the blog updates discussed yesterday, back one day.

For those of you who are regular readers, you know how passionate I am about oral cancer and about how I feel that our careers as "head and neck specialists" means that we should do all we can to screen for any type of neoplastic lesions.

Today I received an email from my good friend Michael Ventriello who is helping to spread the word about the First International Oral Cancer Symposium to be held at the 2015 Greater New York Dental Meeting.  Here are all the details:

Taking place on Saturday, November 28^th, The Full Day Academic Session is Officially Named “The Science and Practice of 

Treating Head and Neck Cancer”

New York, NY – November 09, 2015 – During the 91st annual Greater New York Dental Meeting, the event’s organizers will be hosting the first International Oral Cancer Symposium on Saturday November 28^th for all registered Greater New York Dental Meeting attendees.

The all-day event, entitled “The Science and Practice of Treating Head and Neck Cancer,” provides a comprehensive overview of the current surgical and medical management of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. Diagnostic criteria and rehabilitative medicine as well as guidelines for oral cancer management will be discussed by leading experts in Otolaryngology, Pathology, Craniofacial Surgery, Oncology and Maxillofacial Prosthetics.

According to Dr. Ian M. Lerner, general chairman of the Greater New York Dental Meeting, “Oral Cancer still remains the sixth leading form of cancer, despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer. We hope this international symposium will help dental professionals connect the dots between the latest research and what they can be implementing in their day-to-day practices to reduce the mortality rates of this deadly disease.”  

The Oral Cancer Symposium will cover the following areas:

• The guidelines for oral cancer management and the role of the community dentists and otolaryngologists in the management regimen

• Diagnostic criteria of potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions and understanding how to apply the criteria to standard-of-care in community practice

• The rehabilitation concerns of oral cancer patients and understanding the role of rehabilitative medicine              

        

• How community dentists and otolaryngologists can partner with cancer specialists in the overall care of oral cancer patients

The International Oral Cancer Symposium, in conjunction with Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, has assembled an impressive roster of oral cancer experts from the fields of medicine and dentistry. Here is the list of presenters and their topics:

• Sewanti Limaye, MD / “Personalized Medicine & Genomics and Head and Neck Cancer”

• Alexander E. Pazoki, DDS, MD / "Guidelines in the Management of Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer“

• Jack L. Martin, BA, MD and Neil Gottehrer, D.D.S. / “Clinical Application of Salivary Markers for the Early Detection of OSCC”

• Salvatore M. Caruana, MD /  "Lumps and Bumps"

• M. Abraham Kuriakose, MD, DDS  / “Implant Borne Dental Rehabilitation” 

• Candice Zemnick, DMD / “Prosthetic Reconstruction: Intraoral and Extraoral”

• Billy Ballard, MD, DDS / "A Pathology Review of Head and Neck Lesions"

This event takes place on Saturday, November 28^th from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on 655 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001. The course # is 2020 and cost to attend is $175.00 with 7 CEUs and lunch provided. For full details, visit http://www.gnydm.com/uploads/files/2015-Program-Pages_22-Swk.pdf. To register, visit https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowNYD151/

The International Oral Cancer Symposium, officially entitled “The Science and Practice of 

Treating Head and Neck Cancer” is sponsored by PeriRx, LLC and the Benco Family Foundation, along with the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Meharry Medical College Department of Pathology, the Hispanic Dental Association and the National Dental Association.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Unfortunately, I will be unable to be in New York this year.  However, I feel that the $175.00 cost of  the seminar as well as the 7 CEUs is well worth it.  We all (doctors and hygienists) need to be doing all that we can to help screen for and eradicate this horrible disease and the suffering it causes for both patients and their families.

I sincerely hope many of you can attend.

I'm Back and Once again Ready to Roll!

Or perhaps the graphic above should say "Re-Start"...

Welcome back to the old blog... as you all know (and if you don't, you've been living in a cave) my beloved KC Royals are now the champions of the world.  I've taken some time off to go to the games, and now I'm back refreshed  and ready to give you my perspective on baseball and technology in general.

We've come a long way, and recently I was looking at the statistics for the blog over the years, I've been closing in on one million blog views.  I originally started this blog so I could see the responses  to my topics and also get immediate feedback to what I had written rather than waiting for emails or, in the good ol' days, wait for the responses via snail mail.  Obviously that doesn't happen any more.

Now, I can check the stats on a daily basis and see *exactly* what y'all   liked yesterday so with that in mind, I've tried to better tailor the topics.  That way I can better provide you, the readers info that better suits you.

So... I just returned from Washington DC where I gave 4 presentations over 3 days about leading edge technologies.  These included Digital Caries Detection, The Pride Technology Award Winners that I use every day, 3D Cone Beam CBCT from a general dentist's perspective, and a very interesting presentation with my good friends Dr. Paul Feuerstein and Dr. Marty Jablow on "Ask the Experts any question about Technology".

The last one was perhaps the best one I was involved with this year.  Paul, Marty, and I literally showed up with no *official* presentation prepared.  We walked into the room with no slides and 3 laptops.  We had a microphone that we could pass around in the audience and attendees could simply ask us any question they wanted to.

It was a really fun and enjoyable way to spend the afternoon

So... I've decided to do something similar here.

I'm going to do a series of posts based on  questions on what we were asked as well as covering the topics I and products covered in the Pride lecture as well.

As always, I *love* questions so make sure to ask in the comments section.

I will start with the Pride piece tomorrow and we may well go into December and we work through this.  Also please remember that this could stretch into heaven knows how long.  Consequently as current technology news breaks, we may jump out to cover that and then try to circle back to cover we will see how this all goes as time passes.

Thanks to all of you who put up with my ramblings here.  Without any of you reading my thoughts here, this blog would not exist, but thanks to all of you, this is, according to the stats one of the highest ranking healthcare technology blogs on the 'net.

So, tune back in tomorrow and let's get this started.

This should be fun!!!

Blog on Hold Until After the World Series...

I love tech, but I love baseball even more.

With my beloved Kansas City Royals in the Series, I won't be blogging until the games are over.

Thanks for your understanding!

Netflix Puts its Movie on the Internet and in Theaters

This past spring I did away with cable TV in my office.  Time Warner was requiring a cable box in every operatory which would have been a nightmare to install and control.  To still provide patient entertainment on the over the chair monitor, we got a subscription to Netflix.

Now, no matter what the appointment time is, patients can view a show from the beginning.  Something they could never do with cable.  We've had zero complaints to this point, just happy patients.

I recently read about Netflix now offering one of their own "made for Netflix" movies to be seen in theaters as well as online.  Some theater owners feel that the movie Beasts of No Nation will not draw well as folks can just stay home & watch it instead of paying a theater for a ticket.

It's an interesting business model.  Some think they are doing it just to get an Oscar nomination because that requires the picture to be shown in theaters.

Whatever the reason, it is an interesting way to do business...

European Crooks Beat "Chip Enabled" Credit Cards

If you have gotten a new credit card or received a replacement card in the U.S. recently, you may have noticed a small chip embedded in the card.  These "chip cards"  have been in use in Europe for some time now, but just came to the States recently.

One of the primary functions of the chip is to verify your PIN.  When you swipe the card & enter your PIN, the card reader communicates with the chip to make sure the PIN on the chip matches the one entered by the individual.  Pretty safe, right?

Well it is unless you're a crook.  It seems some European scam artists glued another chip on top of the real one and then had it coded to intercept the real chip & then allow *any* PIN number entered to be considered legitimate.

It goes to show you, as my grandfather used to say, "Locks are to keep honest people honest."

If you are a diehard geek like me, you'll want to read the paper written by French digital forensic specialists that explains how they did it.

The Advantages of the Ultradent Valo Curing Light.

There are a lot of fine curing lights on the market today.  However, in my opinion one stands a bit taller than all the rest.  That one is the Ultradent Valo curing light.

The Valo is a standout unit for a number of reasons and that is why, year after year, it has won The Best of Class Technology Award, or which I am a voting panel member.

I recently received a nice follow-up and overview of the Valo directly from Ultradent and I thought I would share it with you here.  Rather than "reinventing the wheel" in this post, I thought I'd let you get pertinent info direct from the source.  Here is what the smart folks at Ultradent had to say:

The Power of 3 Seconds

With the VALO LED broadband curing light, all you need is 3 seconds to get a complete, uniform cure. In Xtra Power mode, a 3-second cure gives you 3200mW/cm—the same amount of power provided by a conventional 10–20-second cure from other curing lights.1–2 So how does the VALO curing light give you so much power in so little time?  Accessibility: The VALO curing light's low-profile head allows for easy and direct access to any restoration site, which means that the light can reach all aspects of the preparation.  Power: The optimally collimated beam ensures that the VALO curing light maintains its power density and cures uniformly over a range of surfaces and working distances. The VALO curing light can polymerize any resin from up to 10mm from the restoration site. Versatility: The custom, multiwavelength LEDs produce high-intensity light at 395–480nm, which is capable of polymerizing all light-cured dental materials no matter the proprietary product used. The VALO curing light also operates in Standard Power and High Power modes. In Standard Power mode, a 10-second cure provides 1000mW/ cm.2 A 4-second cure in High Power provides 1400mW/cm2 and should only be used for tacking. So, what does this mean for your office? Dr. Gordon Christensen has found that a typical dental practice can save over $26,000 per year just by switching from a low-intensity light to a high-intensity light.2 Who knew three seconds could be worth so much?

UCLA Scientists Think They Have Found a Saliva Test that Indicates Sexual Preference...

Here is an interesting bit of news that I recently stumbled upon.

It seems that two genetic scientists at UCLA believe they may have discovered a saliva test to determine if a man is gay.

Researchers in dentistry has been working on several saliva tests in the past few years to indicate all kinds of predictive genetic traits and to also screen for the likelihood of developing cavities. However, up until this point, the tests are for disease & genetic problems.

I'm not sure what to think of this news.  The sample size is pretty small and the study has not been published in a peer reviewed journal (although that isn't the end all be all of accurate research).

However, if you're interested in the study here is the link from Foxnews.com

‘Follow Bob’ wrapping up at ADA 2015 - News from the ADA

Drs. Joseph Massad and David Little will lead a three-hour Education in the Round course on Nov. 7 wrapping up an 18-month journey of a full-mouth reconstruction procedure on Robert “Bob” Hartman (course 7402). Learning objectives of the course include understanding and recording the esthetic and functional space before extractions and implant placement; making an accurate full-mouth implant impression in 20 minutes; understanding why verification jigs are important to success; and delivering a mandibular/maxillary implant prosthesis with accuracy. The previous treatments over the last 18 months have all been documented in the ‘Follow Bob’ series. Visit ADA.org/meeting to register for the ADA 2015 annual meeting and register for the course today. Fees increase today at 5 p.m. CDT. This also marks the ADA 2015 housing deadline. A limited number of hotels may have availability beyond this date.

Samsung Announces 16 TB Hard Drive

Samsung has announced what is being hailed as the world's largest hard drive.

This SSD (solid state drive) has no spinning platters and a 16 terabyte capacity.  That's just stunning.

No word on the price yet, but this thing will not be cheap.  Of course as time  passes we will be fondly remembering the days when we thought this thing was a monster.

I still remember back in the 90's being so impressed that I could buy 16 MEGABYTES of RAM for only $600...

The only guarantee is change...

KaVo Kerr Group Supports NYU College of Dentistry in Ghana-based Research Project

Dr. Stuart M. Hirsch leads team to study prevalence of periodontal disease in diabetic patients.

Dr. Stuart M. Hirsch, Vice Dean of International Initiatives, Development & Students at the New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry, first visited Ghana approximately five years ago. NYU had students studying in Ghana, and was looking for joint opportunities with the University of Ghana to expand its presence.

Dr. Hirsch and the NYU team — Rachel Hill, Dr. Peter Loomer and Hannah Coakley — and the doctors and staff at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Dental School were interested in finding out the prevalence of periodontal disease in diabetic patients at the hospital. Type II diabetes is increasing around the world and there is mounting data that suggests an oral-systemic link.

“We wanted to find out the prevalence of periodontal disease in diabetic patients. Previously, we’d conducted a qualitative analysis of periodontal health and diabetes, assessing the knowledge base people have; what they know about diabetes and what they’re doing about it,” Dr. Hirsch explained. “In putting together this new quantitative study, we hope to lay the groundwork for implementation on how to better control periodontal disease in developing countries or impoverished areas. This is a very big deal, as access to care in these environments is limited.”

What does limited mean, in real terms? Consider first, that in the United States, the ratio of patients to dentists is 2,500 to 1. In the developing world, that number is as high as 180,000 to 1. The hardship is great, as is the need for realistic solutions.

This study in Ghana looks at a 220-person patient group. Each individual had a health history taken, as well as Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurement and a panoramic radiograph to assess the percentage of bone loss around individual’s teeth.

“HbA1c is a way to measure sugar glucose in the blood; the goal for people with diabetes is a level less than 7%, but we saw were as high as 13%,” Dr. Hirsch shared. “We worked with a diabetes clinic in Accra — Ghana’s capital. We would take the HbA1c measurements right before the panoramic digital pan. This is where the OP200D panoramic imaging system provided by Instrumentarium DentalTM was essential. In my opinion, without this equipment to tell us the bone levels, this prevalence study would not have occurred. In my experience, bone levels are important because they never improve, only worsen. My team can use these acquired images and through our analysis and experience, we can determine the extent of periodontal disease for such a patient population.”

Barbara Nordquist, the VP for Academic Sales & Professional Relations at KaVo Kerr Group, was instrumental in making the donation possible, in coordination with Brian Broncatti, Senior Regional Sales Manager for Instrumentarium. Having worked with Nordquist for a number of years, and recently at NYU on choosing Pelton & CraneTM equipment for a clinic renovation, Dr. Hirsch turned to her for help on the Ghana project.
In addition to providing the necessary imaging equipment, KaVo Kerr Group provided on-site training for the team in Ghana, facilitated by David Bangert, VP/GM of Special Markets for KaVo Kerr Group, who traveled to the country himself. In addition to setting up the team for success, he made himself available for ongoing support during the study.

“Our partnership with KaVo Kerr Group is an example of how educators and the dental industry need one another. There is — or there needs to be — a relationship in order to move forward ideas and desires on both ends,” Dr. Hirsch shared. “We cannot exist in isolation.”

At this point, the data collection in Ghana is complete. Dr. Hirsch intends to have a small group of post-doctoral students help analyze the data — primarily reading the digital panoramic radiographs — with a targeted completion date of Fall 2015. Dr. Hirsch believes that there will be strong correlations between diabetes and periodontal disease, demonstrated by loss of bone as well as soft tissue.

With that analysis in hand, the real work can begin.

“Hopefully, what we get from this is data to support firm decisions on how to best implement preventive care since we can’t offer surgical care in these areas,” Dr. Hirsch said. “This is a very difficult thing. Even patients in a private office struggle to brush and floss consistently; how much more so, then, in areas like Ghana?”

This is why the dual work of helping patients understand the connections between diabetes and periodontal disease is the first phase; it can help create the motivation necessary for preventive care. The second is to figure out what simple, sustainable, preventive care measures can be employed. 

Thanks to the Texas Academy of General Dentistry

God bless Texas!

I wanted to take this opportunity to give a big "thank you" to my friends in Texas for the invitation to speak at the Texas AGD annual meeting.

Last week I had the good fortune of heading down to Austin, Tx to spend some time lecturing and socializing with a great group of Texas dentists.  Many of the doctors in Texas are very involved with organized dentistry and over the years I've gotten to be pretty good friends with quite a few of them.

I commented on Friday that it was almost like giving a lecture in the Kansas City area since looking out into the audience gave me the feeling of talking in front of a large group of my friends.

It was a great meeting and Austin (it was my first visit to the city) is a beautiful place.

If you ever get the chance to attend this meeting, you won't be disappointed.

COLTENE Enters the CAD/CAM Market

More and more companies are getting into the CAD/CAM game and the smart folks at Coltene are no exception.  I'm impressed with what the Coltene R&D people are coming up with and now comes word that the company will be making CEREC blocks in the not too distant future.  Read on for all the details...

COLTENE, a global manufacturer of dental consumables, becomes a new material partner for SIRONA’s leading CAD/CAM system CEREC. Under the brand name BRILLIANT Crios, the new "Reinforced Composite Blocs" for chairside manufactured permanent inlays, onlays, full anatomical crowns and veneers will be launched in Q1 2016. COLTENE is placing special emphasis on composite as a versatile, high-performance material suited to computer-assisted processing directly in the dental practice.

Jeffrey Slovin, CEO SIRONA: “COLTENE is globally recognized as an established and reliable supplier to the dental industry. We are happy to welcome COLTENE as an official material partner to our CEREC system at CEREC’s 30th anniversary. Expanding our range of materials expands the application of digital dentistry and that, of course, is a tremendous benefit to our CEREC customers.”

Symbiosis of two worlds

This autumn, CEREC, the successful CAD/CAM system from Sirona, celebrates its 30th anniversary. CEREC restorations have proven themselves millions of times worldwide and the system is recognized as the pioneer of digital chairside manufacturing. COLTENE is internationally known for over three decades as a pioneer in the field of adhesive restorative therapy. Modern composite materials are an integral part of today’s dental practice. They allow minimal invasive restorations efficiently in only one session, providing excellent aesthetic results. Dental materials such as MIRIS, SYNERGY, BRILLIANT or COMPONEER - the innovative direct composite veneering system - are examples of COLTENE's development competence. CEREC users might already know A.R.T.-Bond or One Coat 7 Universal*. These bonds, the dual-curing cements SoloCem*/DuoCem and COLTENE’s composite materials build a safe and proven luting system for all ceramic and composite based restorations.

SIRONA and COLTENE are going to cooperate in order to further exploit the potentials of digital dentistry with modern composite materials.

Martin Schaufelberger, CEO COLTENE: "COLTENE stands for composite materials. As a pioneer for decades, we have been instrumental in advancing and defining the development of composites. Today there is no other restoration material whose properties come as close to the natural tooth like composite."

BRILLIANT Crios - Reinforced Composite Blocs for Permanent Restorations

Starting 1st quarter of 2016, the new BRILLIANT Crios “Reinforced Composite Blocs” will be sold to the dental market. They combine all advantages of an innovative submicron hybrid composite material for the CEREC chairside manufacturing process to achieve a reliable, aesthetic and fast restoration without an additional burning process.

For CEREC users, the question arises: Why composite? And there are good reasons why. The innovative composite formulation for BRILLIANT Crios merges the best properties of MIRIS and the brand new BRILLIANT EverGlow* composite material. Thanks to the outstanding flexural strength and elasticity close to that of dentin, the restoration material is tougher and less brittle than ceramic. This clearly reduces the risk of chipping and cracking, both in manufacturing as well as in situ. It also has a shock-absorbing effect, ideal for implant restorations, which also has a positive influence on the patient's bite experience.

Moreover, the BRILLIANT Crios restoration material is extraordinarily wear resistant, offers long-luster and yet is very kind to the antagonist teeth. The performance is reflected in the improved service life of the CEREC burs, as compared with glass ceramic. The CAD/CAM blocks are offered in nine low and four high translucency levels. Shade individualizations or repairs are also easy to realize with the help of composites, e.g. BRILLIANT EverGlow.

Medical Records Exposed Over the Cloud!!!

I'm a guy who loves being digital.  It's just who I am.  I'll be the first to admit that.  Being digital, brings tons of advantages to the whole concept of efficiency.

However, I'm also not the type of guy who is going to sit here and tell you that being digital is not without its risks and/or problems.  And... probably the biggest of these problems is the security of a patient's data.

The security of this data is not something that can be taken lightly.  In the case of small healthcare providers such as myself or a huge healthcare conglomerate that owns multiple hospitals, every employee needs to take responsibility for the security of data.  It only takes one slip up to create a breach.

Last week it was a clerical type of error that left 1.5 million records exposed.  The data came from Systema Software, a small company that manages insurance claims.  The company somehow managed to leave a huge batch of data readily available for download.

So now it seems that the i nsurance industry also needs to have employee that take responsibility for the security of  your data.

For all the details, you can read the story on Gizmodo or by clicking here. 

DENTSPLY and Sirona enter into definitive merger agreement

DENTSPLY International Inc. (“DENTSPLY”) and Sirona Dental Systems, Inc. (“Sirona”) announced today that Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement which will result in the world’s leading manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies. The combination will create a combined company with the largest sales and service infrastructure in dental with 15,000 employees globally.

Salzburg, Austria and York, PA; September 15th, 2015: “This is an exciting day for both companies, for the dental community and for patients around the globe. We are bringing together two world class companies that share a culture of innovation and will foster the development of differentiated, integrated solutions for general practitioners and specialists, particularly in the highest growth segments of the dental industry,” said Jeffrey T. Slovin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sirona. “Combining Sirona’s proven digital solutions and equipment with DENTSPLY’s leading consumables platform creates the most comprehensive dental solutions offering available to meet customer demand in every key segment. I look forward to leading the talented teams of both Sirona and DENTSPLY as we drive the global digitization of dentistry, offer superior solutions to customers and patients, and create The Dental Solutions Company.”

The combined company, supported by its leading platforms in consumables, equipment and technology, will offer a powerful set of complementary offerings and end-to-end solutions to enhance patient care. Dental professionals across the globe will be supported by the largest sales and service infrastructure in the industry, supported by leading distributors, to deliver an optimized product range that will meet the increasing global demand for digital dentistry and integrated solutions. 

“We are excited about bringing together two industry leaders,” said Bret W. Wise, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DENTSPLY. “DENTSPLY SIRONA will offer a comprehensive line of solutions to more effectively meet the needs of dental professionals all over the world and advance patient care. With a strong financial profile, comprehensive product offerings and integrated solutions, DENTSPLY SIRONA will be uniquely positioned to deliver attractive returns to our shareholders and make dentistry better, faster and safer around the world. I look forward to working with Jeff and the combined management team to deliver on this mission.” 

The combined company will be called DENTSPLY SIRONA and trade on the NASDAQ under the symbol XRAY. DENTSPLY SIRONA’s Global headquarters will be located in York, PA, the location of DENTSPLY’s current headquarters, while the International headquarters will be located in Salzburg, Austria.

Upon closing of the transaction, Jeffrey T. Slovin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sirona, will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and will be a member of the Board of Directors. Bret W. Wise, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DENTSPLY, will serve as Executive Chairman of the combined company. The Executive Chairman will work in collaboration with the CEO to execute the corporate strategy and to integrate the companies and cultures. From DENTSPLY, Christopher T. Clark and James G. Mosch will serve as President and Chief Operating Officer, Technologies and President and Chief Operating Officer, Dental and Healthcare Consumables, respectively. From Sirona, Ulrich Michel will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The Board of Directors will consist of 11 members, six of which (including Mr. Wise) are current DENTSPLY directors and five of which (including Mr. Slovin) are current Sirona directors. Additional senior leadership positions at DENTSPLY SIRONA will be named at a later date consisting of representatives from both companies. The transaction, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2016, is subject to the receipt of certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and approvals.

Facts & Figures at a glance

The proposed transaction will create the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies with scale and breadth across all major geographies and competitive offerings in each of the major dental categories. Specific benefits include: 

• Increased Scale and Product Breadth: The combination will result in a company with net revenue of approximately $3.8 billion and adjusted EBITDA of more than $900 million, excluding the incremental benefit of synergies. The combined company will have the industry’s largest sales and service infrastructure, supported by leading distributors. 

• Total Solutions Provider: With consumables, equipment and technology under one roof, the new company will be able to deliver digital technologies and integrated solutions and workflows to enhance efficiency and patient care for general practitioners and specialists. 

• Strong Commitment to Innovation: The combined company will have an enhanced commitment to innovation in consumables, equipment and technology. By leveraging both companies’ significant R&D capabilities across DENTSPLY’s world-class materials science expertise and Sirona’s industry-leading technology platform, the broadened product offering will support the combined company’s position as a leading innovator in the dental market. DENTSPLY SIRONA will have over 600 scientists and R&D staff working to accelerate the development of new, better, safer and more efficient dental solutions and procedures.    

• Experienced Management Team: The combined company will be led by the most experienced management team in the dental industry, with strong track records of growth and leadership in developing differentiated global product offerings. The DENTSPLY and Sirona teams have a successful history collaborating in a number of product categories. 

About DENTSPLY

DENTSPLY International Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of dental and other consumable medical device products.  The Company believes it is the world's largest manufacturer of consumable dental products for the professional dental market.  For over a century, DENTSPLY's commitment to innovation and professional collaboration has enhanced its portfolio of branded consumables and small equipment.  Headquartered in the United States, the Company has global operations with sales in more than 120 countries.  Visit www.DENTSPLY.com for more information about DENTSPLY and its products.

About Sirona

Sirona is the global market and technology leader in the dental industry and has been a worldwide partner for specialty traders, dental practices, clinics, and dental laboratories for more than 130 years. Sirona develops and produces the complete spectrum of dental equipment products, including CAD/CAM systems for computer-assisted ceramic restorations (CEREC), digital imaging systems for intraoral and panoramic x-rays, as well as volume tomography (3D), treatment centers, instruments and hygiene devices. Sirona’s largest development and production site is in Bensheim, Germany. The company has more than 3,300 employees around the world and has been listed on the NASDAQ since 2006 (symbol: SIRO). www.sirona.com