Envista Obtains FDA Clearance for Assisted Intelligence Mandibular Nerve Tracing

 We are seeing more and more artificial intelligence systems enter into the healthcare space and dentistry in general.  Envista is a large player in the dental space, owning several companies under the "umbrella" of Envista.

Many of the companies that are owned by Envista have products in the tech sphere and the company works hard with research & development to expand the use of its technologies across its portfolio.

Now comes word that the company has received FDA clearance for mapping of the inferior alveolar nerve.  The process, which has been referred to as "nerve tracing" for years has, until now, required manual input from the doctor. 

Before this discovery, it was necessary for the office to take a CBCT scan and then manually trace points along the mandibular canal.  When completed, the software would plot a line through all of the points to indicate the location of the canal throughout the mandible.

Now... that process has been automated.  I recently made a post about the dental A.I. company Pearl and how that company's FDA clearance was a watershed moment in dentistry.  Now we've reached another A.I. milestone in the profession.  This announcement is groundbreaking and these types of A.I. assisted procedures are only going to become more commonplace.

The profession has shown the FDA that these types of systems work reliably and this is only the beginning.  Here is full announcement from Envista:

Envista announced today the 510(k) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of its Assisted Intelligence (AI) mandibular nerve tracing feature in its image acquisition and diagnostic software platform DTX Studio Clinic.

The tracing of the mandibular nerve in modern dentistry is of high significance as it influences the available therapeutic options for the patient. The proper visualization of the nerve can prevent complications. When done manually, it is a task that can be both time-consuming and error prone. DTX's AI capabilities supports clinicians as they perform this important task.

This clearance complements a series of AI-powered functionality in DTX Studio Clinic. In 2017, Envista obtained FDA clearance for its AI-driven 3D virtual tooth setup algorithm. In 2020, a further clearance was received for automatic tooth position identification and automated sorting of full-mouth x-ray series. On March 25, the FDA cleared the third AI-focused 510(k) for the fully automated mandibular nerve tracing on CBCT scans.

Amir Aghdaei, Envista CEO, said, "This clearance is another important step towards our digital strategy of expanding the capabilities of our powerful, unified, and open dental diagnostic software platform DTX Studio Clinic. With its combination of a user-friendly interface and AI-driven functionality, DTX Studio Clinic reduces the time clinicians spend on time-consuming tasks, while simultaneously helping prevent complications and enabling increased focus on the patient. We are particularly proud of our fully automated mandibular nerve tracing functionality with its high clinical relevance for dental implant-based patient rehabilitations."

About Envista Holdings Corporation

Envista is a global family of more than 30 trusted dental brands, including Nobel Biocare, Ormco, DEXIS, and Kerr united by a shared purpose: to partner with professionals to improve lives. Envista helps its customers deliver the best possible patient care through industry-leading dental consumables, solutions, technology, and services. Our comprehensive portfolio, including dental implants and treatment options, orthodontics, and digital imaging technologies, covers a broad range of dentists' clinical needs for diagnosing, treating, and preventing dental conditions as well as improving the aesthetics of the human smile. With a foundation comprised of the proven Envista Business System (EBS) methodology, an experienced leadership team, and a strong culture grounded in continuous improvement, commitment to innovation, and deep customer focus, Envista is well equipped to meet the end-to-end needs of dental professionals worldwide. Envista is one of the largest global dental products companies, with significant market positions in some of the most attractive segments of the dental products industry. For more information, please visit www.envistaco.com.

It Is More Expensive Than Ever Before to Receive a Dental Education

 I've been at this for a few years now, so my stories of "back in the day" were quite a few days back.

Perspective: My fist semester in college (which was in the 80s) cost me $600 tuition... seriously.  Classes were $50 per credit hour and once you attained full-time student status by enrolling in 12 hours, anything over 12 was FREE.

I took 14 hours my first semester and 16 hours the second semester.  Tuition for the full year?  $1200

I did four years of undergraduate study and then I started dental school.  I truly don't remember what my tuition was, but I know it was significantly more than undergraduate.  However, significantly more may have been around $3000.  I think it was in that neighborhood.

How times have changed!  Today is another short post, because all of the info is in the link.  The ADA has created a page with all kinds of statistics dealing with dental education "Then & Now".

Patients sometimes wonder why dentistry is do expensive.  Even if you are not in the profession or considering the profession as you life's calling, you should still take a look at the info the ADA has provided.  The amount of money it takes to be trained is now staggering.  Students come out with a severe amount of debt.

When you then consider that a new dentist wanting to open their own office must go to a bank and accrue even MORE debt... well it's scary, very scary.  The numbers are massive.

Take a look at the ADA page and I think you'll see what I mean...  

Midmark Announces Complimentary Design Consultations as Diamond Level Sponsor at THRIVELIVE 2022

 

As a guy who has been practicing dentistry for a while, I've got nothing but good things to say about MidMark.  The company made a big name for itself with autoclaves, especially the M-11 model for dental offices, but the company is much, much more than just sterilization equipment.

When I built my free standing office a few years back, the cabinetry was done by Midmark and has performed just as I expected... which is to say, perfectly.  

Now comes the announcement that Midmark is providign complimentary design consultations at the upcoming THRIVELIVE event.  Read on for all of the details...

Midmark Corp., a leading dental solutions provider focused on the design of the clinical environment to improve the delivery of care, is proud to be a Diamond-level sponsor of the upcoming THRIVELIVE dentistry event. As a premier sponsor, Midmark is pleased to offer complimentary in-booth design consultations with experts Jeff Carter, DDS, and Pat Carter, IIDA, of Practice Design Group. Dental professionals can also meet with Midmark’s 3D layout designer Jennifer Litten to see their floorplan, equipment selections and finishes come to life in a 3D rendering of their space.

“At Midmark, we believe that better care starts with a better-designed care environment,” says Stephanie Woeste, director of dental marketing for Midmark. “But planning a remodel or new construction can be overwhelming. How do you know your new floorplan will optimize your workflow? How can you be sure to choose the right equipment and finishes to complement your space? It’s difficult. That’s why we are pleased to offer free design consultations right in our booth. Doctors can get input and advice on their floorplans and selections from experienced dental practice designers.” 

“We are committed to helping dentists bring their dream practice into reality—no matter how expansive or seemingly modest,” says Dr. Jeff Carter. “From our 60-plus years of combined dental practice design experience, Pat and I know well how to avoid typical inefficiencies and help create a better workflow for a better overall patient and clinician experience.”

Visitors to the Midmark booth can also explore two new Midmark solutions. First, they can check out the new Midmark and Bien-Air electric delivery solutions that combine Bien-Air’s renowned electric handpiece solutions with Midmark’s industry-leading delivery equipment for a single delivery care solution.  Second, they can preview the new Midmark Extraoral Imaging System (EOIS). This new EOIS 3D X-ray solution is designed for general dentistry with easy-to-use controls and software, clear, consistent image quality, and the training and installation support needed to help ensure better patient care. 

THRIVELIVE is presented by Henry Schein Dental on April 7–9, 2022, at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. This first-of-its-kind educational event will deliver a unique opportunity for clinicians and their teams to learn from thought leaders about clinical applications of dental technology and the business side of dentistry, network with like-minded, technology-driven peers, and enjoy amazing entertainment.

Doctors attending THRIVELIVE are encouraged to schedule their design appointment with Midmark in advance. Send an email to midmarkdentalupdates@midmark.com to coordinate your appointment.

About Midmark—Dental

Midmark helps dental professionals deliver exceptional care by harmonizing design, technology, and workflows. Quality, high-performance solutions provide integrated ergonomic support, keeping the principles of safety for patients and practice teammates at the center of design. Midmark is a single-source leader for planning, equipping, and developing better utilization of operatory, imaging, instrument processing, dental cabinetry and mechanical room solutions. Learn more at midmark.com/dental.

About Midmark 

Midmark Corporation is the only clinical environmental design company that enables a better care experience for the medical, dental, and animal health markets. With more than 2,200 teammates worldwide, Midmark focuses on harmonizing space, technology, and workflows, creating a better experience for caregivers and patients at the point of care. Founded in 1915 and headquartered in the greater Dayton, Ohio, area, Midmark maintains production facilities, administrative offices, and the Midmark Experience and Technology Centers in Versailles, Ohio, with nine additional locations in the United States as well as subsidiaries in India and Italy. To learn more about Midmark, visit midmark.com.

Beginning Evaluation of Sonicare 9900 Prestige Powered Toothbrush

 

I have been using a powered brush for so long now, I cannot reliably tell you what year I switched over.

One thing I do know for sure is that about 10 years ago I was coming back from a lecture I'd done and I missed my connection home from O'Hare by one minute.  This forced me to spend the night at a nearby hotel and I had to ask for a toothbrush and other items at the front desk.  The brush they gave me was a flimsy manual brush and I could not believe that people actually used those things.  It was at that moment that I realized how much I loved powered brushes.

Anyway, I'm a spoiled brusher in that regard, but the good news is that anyone that has the budget can be a "spoiled brusher" too.

And that segues into today's post.  For the next month or so I will be using and evaluating the newest Sonicare unit the 9900 Prestige powered toothbrush.  As you can see from the photo above it not only comes with a charger base, but also with a travel case.  The cool thing about the case is that you can plug the charging cord into it and charge the brush in the case or the charging base depending on your preference and your location.  Being on the road with the ability to charge your brush is pretty nice.  Sonicare has had this feature in some of their other offerings for a while now, but it is nice to see it continue.  Once you start to use a power brush you will NOT want to go back, so a charging option becomes mandatory for travel.

While I'm really excited about the 9900 Prestige in general, something else I'm fired up about is the app.  The brush interfaces with an app that is available from both Google Play and the Apple App Store.  The brush settings are controlled via the app plus the app also tracks your brushing.  And when I say tracks I mean tracks.  The brush has a built in accelerometer.  This is the same device that is in your mobile phone that lets it react to tipping or rotating and changing the screen accordingly.  Because of this technology, the brush can tell how it is turned and consequently where it is in the mouth.

This lets the brush know how it is moving and how much time you spend in designated areas of your mouth.  This will allow the brush and app, working together, to offer suggestions to the user on their brushing habits to help improve home care.  As a dentist, I'm excited about the idea of a "virtual toothbrush coach" that can help the user every time they brush.

In case you can't tell, I'm excited to get started with this one.  I'll be posting again after I have some experience.  Definitely stay tuned for this one.

CDC DentalCheck Mobile APP

This is interesting and I'm glad to see my tax dollars at work in this manner.  The CDC has released an APP that "Dental health care personnel can use the mobile application, CDC DentalCheck, to periodically assess practices in their facility and ensure they are meeting the minimum expectations for safe care."

The app is free to download for both Adroid via Google Play store and Apple via the App Store.

The full story with links is available from the CDC website.  Give it a look.  

The TeleDent™ Teledentistry Platform by MouthWatch Now Integrates with Henry Schein’s Dentrix G6 and G7 Practice Management Software

The healthcare industry has been on a steady progression toward tele-health  for a few years now.  Covid-19 pushed it more to the forefront of discussions due to its lack of direct contact between provider and patient.  Now as both patients and providers become more adjusted and accepting of the concept, the dental industry is seeing more and more companies supporting the idea.

The latest industry move in the tele-dentistry arena is with practice management software.  As most of you probably know, MouthWatch, LLC makes the incredibly popular MouthWatch intraoral camera.  However, they also are the parent company behind TeleDent, a tele-health company with a focus on dentistry.  

Now, the TeleDent platform can be integrated into Dentrix, the most popular practice management system.  If you are an office that is using either Dentrix G6 or Dentrix G7, you can enjoy TeleDent directly inside the system.

One of the biggest hinderances to acceptance of technology evolution is the lack of integration of new products into existing platforms.  Ease of use is important.  Multiple clicks to bring information into your existing informatics is a hassle.  Here is what MouthWatch is doing now:

MouthWatch, LLC recently announced the integration of its award-winning, market leading TeleDent teledentistry platform with Henry Schein’s Dentrix G6 and G7 practice management software. 

According to MouthWatch LLC founder and CEO Brant Herman. “Deploying teledentistry is now easier for Dentrix G6 and G7 users. TeleDent’s comprehensive, convenient, and secure virtual care platform is able to scale across the full spectrum of Dentrix G6 and G7 clients, from individual private practices to DSOs with hundreds of locations.” 

TeleDent provides Dentrix G6 and G7 users with real-time two-way video conferencing along with HIPAA-secure patient and provider messaging that can be used on desktop and mobile devices, so practitioners can conduct emergency triages, consultations, pre-visit screenings, post-op visits, and virtual case presentations either synchronously or asynchronously. 

Dental practices using these latest versions of Dentrix can now clinically integrate virtual consults with video recordings, patient records, and intraoral photos within the platform to ensure effective and thorough virtual dental care. What’s more, the patient-facing messaging included in the TeleDent platform enables practitioners to communicate directly with patients, and also seamlessly collaborate and share diagnostic information with their dental teams and specialists, in a cloud-based portal. 

TeleDent/Dentrix G6 / G7 integration is now available for new and current TeleDent users. For more information, please contact Jay Martorelli, MouthWatch Director of Sales at sales@mouthwatch.com.

About TeleDent:

TeleDent, the all-in-one teledentistry solution from MouthWatch, LLC was designed to  help dental teams  connect with their patients and collaborate with their colleagues. The recent introduction of new features such as an intuitive, mobile-friendly patient portal, text messaging, and online patient intake, make it easier to connect with patients in the safe and convenient way they now expect. For example, new patient consults, post-op evaluations, home care instructions, specialist referrals and emergency triage can all be conducted with the highest degree of simplicity, security, and safety. TeleDent’s professional grade technology can serve as the backbone of key virtual clinical workflows to increase 

efficiency and profitability. In recent years, TeleDent has received several prestigious industry awards, such as The 2020 and 2021 Cellerant Best of Class Award. In 2021, TeleDent also won Dentistry Today’s  Top Innovative Products, and Top 25 Aesthetic and Restorative Products awards. For more information visit www.TeleDent.com.

About MouthWatch, LLC:

Founded in 2012, MouthWatch, LLC is a leader in innovative teledentistry solutions, digital case presentation tools and intraoral imaging devices. Since its formation, the company has pioneered the integration of digital imaging and communications technology in the field of oral health. This experience makes it possible for MouthWatch to take the lead in introducing the benefits of telemedicine to the world of dentistry. For more information, visit www.MouthWatch.com.

Possible Link Between COVID-19 Severity and Periodontal Health

 The mouth is connected to the rest of the body.  While that probably seems a bit silly to read, sometimes people miss that fact.  Dentistry, being a separate profession from medicine sometimes leads to confusion in that arena.

However, things in the body can definitely affect the mouth while diseases of the mouth can most certainly cause problems in the rest of the body.  As just a small example of this, be sure to watch this video from the Dental Products Report Mastermind Series where Dr. Jeff Rode and I discuss this very subject.

Now comes information from a new study that indicates periodontal health, or lack thereof, can lead to adverse COVID-19 outcomes.  When you think about it logically, if a person is suffering from severe untreated periodontal disease, they have a chronic infection that their body is constantly working to contain.  This means that the body is putting constant resources to work trying to fight off a constant invasion of harmful bacteria.  These pathogens form on the plaque on the teeth and enter the bloodstream through the inflamed gums.  The body is working on fighting these germs 24/7.  This constant influx of pathogens take energy to fight off.  The body is always working to ward off these bad bugs.  

It makes sense that if the body is using energy to fight chronic p periodontal disease it has less energy to help fight off some other infection, such as SARS-CoV-2. 

The study is titled: 

Poor oral health status and adverse COVID-19 outcomes: a preliminary study in hospitalized patients

Key findings: : The present clinical study revealed that poor oral-health conditions, especially periodontitis, are associated with serious COVID-19 outcomes, bringing benefits for the comprehension about which risk factors affects the SARS-CoV-2 infection course and elucidating the needs of oral health care and the dental team in the prevention and handling of COVID-19 complications.

This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record.

If you would like to read the article (which I recommend), follow this link.  

Jarvis Analytics is Now Available for Private Practices & My Test Drive is Starting Soon

 Understanding the numbers of a practice is absolutely critical.  People go into healthcare so that they can help their fellow human beings, not because they are fascinated by the math.  However, the numbers are critical to running a successful business and if you are not turning  profit, you don't stay in business very long.

Dental practice management systems have greatly changed how a practice functions, unfortunately though those systems don't really have a heavy business focus.  In order to truly understand the numbers a practice is generating it's necessary to have some type of outside source to provide the numbers that can aid in decision making.  Most dentists are trained to provide exceptional care, but dental eduction programs don't have the a business focus.  Graduates are well trained to provide dentistry, but are poorly trained to run a business.

The good news is that the industry is now seeing systems that can analyze the numeric data from a practice and provide actionable information with that data.  One of those systems is Jarvis Analytics available through Henry Schein One.

Jarvis was previously *only* available for DSOs, but is now available for private dental practices as well. And I am proud to report that within the next couple of weeks, I'll be doing a Test Drive of the system using data from my practice.  I should be able to see exactly how well Jarvis handles things as well as being able to see what I can learn from a first hand experience with their data analytics.

You can learn about the system by following this link.  If you'd like more info the system as well as the move to private practices, there is a short article at Dental Products Report.  

What is Behind the CPAP Shortage?

 Today's post is a short one because the link will provide more info than I could hope to provide.

There has been a CPAP shortage for about 6 months or more now.  It seems that Philips had a design defect in the Dream Station devices and they had to issue a product recall.  This took products off the warehouse shelves as well as forced a demand for every Dream Station user.

Now it seems the supply chain issues that are affecting every industry have also come to roost in the CPAP supply chain as a chip shortage is making things even worse.

While dental appliances can help the majority of sleep apnea cases, there are some folks who truly NEED a CPAP.

Take a look at this article for a great read on WHY this has all happened.  

Oryx Dental Partners with Vyne Dental to Provide Seamless Cloud Based Communications Between Dental Practices and Insurers

Oryx, an AI cloud-based dental practice management software company today announced a new partnership with Vyne Dental. The partnership will elevate the already advanced technology to provide dental practices with a seamless AI cloud-based platform that communicates with insurers in real-time. 

The new partnership between Oryx and Vyne Dental provides dental professionals and their practices with an easy-to-use technology solution that will provide them with an all-in-one business management and patient engagement platform that is easily integrated into their practice, while also simplifying and processing insurance reviews, claims, approvals and reimbursements in real time.

“As the CEO of Oryx and a practicing dentist, I am very excited about our new partnership with Vyne Dental. Today’s dental practice has a greater need to increase the efficiency and management of their practice, patient engagements and insurance claims faster and more efficiently than ever before,” said Rania Saleh, Founder & CEO of Oryx Dental.  “A combination of Oryx’s AI and cloud-based management software partnering with Vyne Dental’s easy-to-use technology is a game-changer for dental practices.”

“Vyne Dental is committed to automating and integrating revenue cycle management technology for the dental community. Our partnership with Oryx leverages our clearinghouse services and expansive payer connectivity to provide an integrated end-to-end solution to reduce the complexities of dental billing,” said Steve Roberts, President of Vyne Dental.

Oryx and Vyne Dental, two of the fastest growing technology and software companies serving the dental industry, will begin providing dentists and their practices with these shared integrated software solutions immediately.

ABOUT ORYX DENTAL: Founded in 2016, Oryx Dental is the only AI cloud-based dental practice management software created by Dentists for Dentists. It is an evidence-based platform that takes a systematic approach to patient care and practice management. Software features include but are not limited to: comprehensive clinical exams within 7-10 minutes; an advanced patient portal with interactive communications that is HIPAA compliant; real time billing and insurance interaction between practices, patient and insurer; cloud imaging; and autogenerated patient risk assessment and personalized reports.

ABOUT VYNE DENTAL: Vyne Dental continues to advance the dental industry by providing technology that improves workflow, reduces administrative costs, and streamlines reimbursements. For more information visit www.vynedental.com.

DentaQuest Opens Nominations for 2022 Health Equity Heroes

 The search for the 2022 Health Equity Heroes is underway

 For the past seven years, the DentaQuest Health Equity Hero awards have recognized individuals and organizations responsible for extraordinary work that champions equitable access to health care (medical, oral health, behavioral health) and overall health outcomes. In 2021, our 12 heroes showcased the resiliency and dedication of health professionals to provide their communities with access to quality care. This year, DentaQuest is searching for disruptors directly or indirectly improving health outcomes — forward-thinking individuals or organizations taking action to transform existing health systems in an effort to remedy disparities and be more welcoming to all.  

“We’ve collectively faced enormous challenges and changes in the past year. Our annual call for Health Equity Heroes is an opportunity to highlight the phenomenal work of individuals and organizations thinking outside the box and setting the groundwork for true health equity,” said Steve Pollock, president and CEO of DentaQuest. “These Heroes are inventive leaders whose approaches and actions embolden us to work harder and uplift underserved communities. We want to hear about the Hero in your world — the people disrupting existing systems to transform health and eliminate disparities.” 

Nominees can come from any sector, including dental care, health care, family support, legal aid, schools, community programs and more.  

Anyone can nominate a Hero. Have someone in mind? Fill out and submit this form before April 29. DentaQuest will announce this year’s 12 Heroes on Health Equity Hero Day, July 13.  

Each will receive:  

• a commemorative plaque highlighting their accomplishments; 

• a $5,000 donation made in the Hero’s name to a qualified nonprofit — of the Hero’s choosing — that is committed to promoting health equity; and 

• recognition in DentaQuest outreach and communication materials throughout the year. 

Think about the people or teams who are working to enable more equitable access to health services and a better quality of life for individuals. To inspire you, learn more about DentaQuest’s 2021 Health Equity Heroes and their incredible work here or on DentaQuest’s blog.     

VOCO Retraction Paste – Astringent Retraction Paste with Extra-long and Fine Tip that Fits Directly into the Sulcus.

For those of you "in the trenches" of clinical dentistry, here's a product that you should be aware of that just hit the market.  It's VOCO's new Retraction Paste.

For fixed prosthetics and also for subgingival Class V restorations, many of us reach for retraction cord.  I'll be the first to say retraction cord works... but it's not the most efficient way to do things.  Heck, walking works too, but if I need to get to the west coast, I'm flying.

That's why I'm excited the VOCO has this new product now available.  I've been working with it for about a month now and I have had good experiences with the product.  It is easy to place, works well for retraction, and rinses away easily.  This is definitely one of those products you need to have in your toolkit to make things easier and help you provide better outcomes for your patients.

Here is the full press release from VOCO:

 Introducing VOCO Retraction Paste, an astringent paste with aluminum chloride that effectively widens and dries the gingival sulcus, creating the ideal conditions for accurate and successful digital or conventional impressions. VOCO engineered a special unit dose capsule with two goals in mind: first, to make application easy and precise and second, to avoid injury to the gingiva. Therefore, VOCO opted to create an extra-long, fine tip made of soft plastic instead of metal. This ensures that the opening of the tip does not have any sharp edges. The special rheology of the capsule design allows for the reduction of the force required to extrude the paste. Each unit dose capsule is packaged in a single-dose ISO blister pack, reducing hygiene concerns. At 0.3 g per cap, there is enough material for up to three sulci.

A two-phase consistency makes for simple application. First, the paste easily flows under low pressure for precise application. Afterwards, it increases its viscosity to remain stable in the sulcus, stops bleeding, displaces moisture, and leads to effective temporary widening. VOCO Retraction paste comes in a bright turquoise blue color, providing high contrast to tooth structure and gingiva, ensuring that the paste is visible and can be easily rinsed off after only 1 – 2 minutes.

VOCO Retraction Paste can save up to 50% of the practitioner’s procedural time compared to other methods and brands, and it can be used as a replacement for, or in combination with a retraction cord.

Catalog Description:

Fast, easy, and effective aluminum chloride-based astringent retraction paste in a unit-dose capsule with extra-long and fine tip that fits directly into the sulcus. Highly visible turquoise blue color, rinseable for easy clean-up. Hygienic single-dose blister pack. 

Indications:

• For temporary retraction of the marginal gingiva to provide a dry gingival sulcus when the periodontium is healthy

• Analog or digital impressions

• Cementation of temporary and permanent restorations

• Preparation of class II and V restorations

Advantages:

• Aluminum chloride-based – for a clean and dry sulcus

• Unit dose with extra-long, thin and flexible tip – for hygienic, simple and precise application into the sulcus

• 2-Stage Viscosity – initially flowable for easy, low-force application, then stabilizes for optimal retraction

• Turquoise blue color – contrasts well with the gingiva

• Easily rinseable – for quick clean-up

• Up to 50% faster - compared to just cord

FDA Clears World’s First AI Software to Read Dental X-Rays

This is one of those moments that, if you are in the dental industry, you should take note of.  For the past 5 years or so, I've been lucky enough to work with some different companies and different systems that are using artificial intelligence to study and evaluate radiographs (x-rays).  The systems have all evolved and gotten better over time.  That, after all, is the idea behind A.I... the system learns and makes better decisions as it accumulates more and more data.

The reason I feel this is a watershed moment in the industry is due to three letters... FDA.  The agency simply doesn't give clearance to products willy nilly.  No, in order to receive FDA clearance, a company has to be subjected to strenuous and arduous processes.  It is a long process and efficacy must be proven.  Over my career I've helped companies on trying to receive FDA clearance and from personal experience I can tell you the people at the FDA are dedicated and their priority is safety of the American public.

I salute the folks at Pearl for going through this process.  Achieving FDA clearance is something to be proud of.  Those of you reading this are witnessing a tipping point in healthcare.  Since I first had a chance to view A.I. aiding in radiographic interpretation, I've felt that the profession could benefit greatly from having a "virtual second opinion".  Now that benefit has arrived.  Below is the press release from Pearl:

Pearl, the leader in dental AI solutions, today announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its AI-powered, real-time pathology detection solution Second Opinion® to help dentists accurately identify a broad range of common dental conditions in patient x-rays.

Pearl’s announcement marks an important step forward for technology-assisted dental care. Second Opinion® becomes the first AI-driven solution cleared to detect numerous conditions in dental x-rays, and the first to add US FDA clearance to European CE, Canadian MDEL, UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, Australian TGA and New Zealand MEDSAFE clearances. Second Opinion® is now the only AI-driven computer-aided clinical radiology solution available to dentists throughout North America, Europe, Australia and many other parts of the world.

“This clearance is a major milestone not only for our team and for the many dentists, advisors and partners who have contributed to Second Opinion’s development, but also for dentistry itself,” said Ophir Tanz, CEO and founder of Pearl. “AI is a paradigm-shifting technology that will add value across the entire healthcare continuum. Because x-rays are a regular part of every dental patient’s experience, the first place most people will encounter the power of medical AI technology will be in their dentist’s chair. Second Opinion®’s FDA clearance has made that possible.”

Pearl’s system supports dental professionals in their review of radiographs by applying computer vision to identify and highlight key pathologic and nonpathologic findings, including dental caries, discrepancies at the margin of existing restorations, calculus, periapical radiolucency, crowns, fillings, root canals, bridges and implants. When x-rays are captured in a dental office, Second Opinion® immediately displays the images and any detected conditions on monitors in the operatory, giving dentists sharper vision into their patients’ oral health and giving patients greater understanding of their dentist’s findings.

“The benefit that Pearl’s AI brings to patient communication in the dental operatory – and the trust that follows – cannot be overstated, and it is in that area that Second Opinion®’s impact will be most immediately felt,” said Professor Dr. Markus Blatz, DMD, a leading authority in restorative dentistry and digital innovation. “Its long-term impact on the field of clinical dentistry may be more important, however. We endeavor to establish a standard of care through instruction at dental school, but at some point our instruction stops. Second Opinion® will help us maintain that standard and, over time, establish a more consistently rewarding patient experience.”

Second Opinion® exceeded the FDA’s stringent efficacy requirements across four separate clinical studies, each featuring a radiographic dataset of over 2,000 images and a reader group of 86 expert dentists and dental radiologists. The tests showed clear advantages for readers using Second Opinion®, including finding that study participants reading x-rays with the assistance of Pearl’s AI system accurately identified 36% more lesions than those without AI assistance did.

“Second Opinion® now joins a family of FDA cleared CADe medical systems already in use for radiologically-driven tasks such as lung nodule detection and mammography interpretation,” Pearl’s Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, Cambron Carter, said. “State of the art algorithms that currently assist in the detection of cancerous lesions can now be applied to detect many more frequently occurring dental diseases. The standard of care in dentistry is about to level up.”

Pearl's AI driven software is already in daily use by radiograph manufacturers, dentists and dental service organizations across Europe, Canada, Australiasia, South America and the Middle East. US dentists and dental offices can begin implementing Second Opinion® today by visiting: www.hellopearl.com/products/second-opinion.

About Pearl

Pearl is shaping the future of dental care by delivering AI and computer vision solutions that advance efficiency, accuracy, transparency and patient care. Founded in 2019 by Ophir Tanz, Pearl is backed by Craft Ventures and other leading venture capital firms. For more information or to request a demonstration, please visit https://www.hellopearl.com.

Flex Dental Announces Integration with Dentrix

The Dentrix Community Gets a Seamless Modern Upgrade to Patient Engagement

Flex Dental, the emerging leader in patient engagement solutions for dental practices, took another major leap forward today by announcing a new release offering full and seamless integration with Dentrix G6 and G7.

“Over the last three years Flex Dental has been among the fastest-growing patient engagement solutions in dentistry,” said company founder and CEO Brennan Dean. Until now, Flex’s growth has been fueled exclusively by its integration with the Open Dental practice management platform and has been widely embraced by the Open Dental user community. Dean continues, “Integration with Dentrix allows tens of thousands of additional dental practices to experience a more modern, intuitive, and cost-efficient approach to patient engagement.”

Dentrix customers can use Flex’s innovative and highly automated communication tools to engage with customers and increase revenue opportunities. Benefits for Dentrix users include:

● Seamless patient communication including two-way, real-time texts and email.

● Automated patient reminders, which have been proven to reduce no-shows.

● Digital patient forms that instantly update in Dentrix, eliminating paper and manual data entry

for staff.

● Compelling treatment plan presentations that increase acceptance and patient recall.

● A streamlined and simplified process for requesting patient feedback and positive reviews

that link directly to popular social media platforms.

Dean founded Flex in 2018, to support his wife Jen, who struggled with the limitations of existing patient engagement offerings when starting her own practice shortly after graduating from dental school. “We started Flex with creating the ideal staff and patient experience in mind. Practices have embraced the Flex patient engagement platform for its comprehensive features, ease of use, and same-day onboarding. Flex’s streamlined workflows and efficient patient communications are proving more valuable than ever for dental offices challenged by staffing shortages created by The Great Resignation,” said Dean

While solving critical staff needs for efficiency and automation, Flex is also built to provide the modern customer experience that patients expect. “Today’s patients want to be part of their care plan and value open communication with their healthcare providers,” said Dean. “Flex enables that level and depth of engagement with fast, convenient, and intuitive user interfaces that look, feel, and act like best practice e-commerce or social media platforms. We’re excited about introducing the Flex patient engagement system and approach to the many practices within the Dentrix user community.”

For more information on Flex's integration with Dentrix, click here.  

Medit Announces a Distribution Agreement in North America with Henry Schein Dental

Medit, makers of the award-winning i700 scanner, announced a distribution agreement in North America with Henry Schein Dental, a global solutions provider of dental products and services, to help optimize workflows and improve operational success and clinical outcomes of dental practices. 

“Medit is pleased to collaborate with Henry Schein, as doing so helps align our company and products with a tremendous community of like-minded manufacturers and distributors in the dental industry,” said Brian Connolly, VP of Business Development for Medit USA. “Our open-platform Medit i700 scanner, much like Henry Schein’s software solutions, helps dentists streamline workflows to minimize chair time and maximize patient care, as well as help enhance overall practice productivity.” 

Featured at the Henry Schein booth during the 2022 Chicago Midwinter Dental meeting, the Medit i700 scanner is powered by a super-fast camera that captures up to 70 frames per second. This means more data with each pass, resulting in a smooth and quick scanning experience with realistic colors and a crisp image. 

The camera and other internal components have been reduced in size creating a new handpiece that is smaller and lighter, weighing just 245g (8.64oz). The tips have been redesigned and are now reversible and autoclavable 100 times, increasing comfort of use and ease of maintenance. The Medit i700 scanner can be directly connected to a personal computer using a power delivery cable, helping improve the consultation experience and enhancing communication with dental labs through a real-time cloud-based system. 

“We at Henry Schein are dedicated to helping dental practice owners harness the power of digital technology,” said AJ Caffentzis, President, US Dental Distribution, Henry Schein. “We’re pleased to now offer the Medit i700 scanner as part of our portfolio, and look forward to helping our customers seamlessly implement this technology into their practices.”

More information about the Medit i700 scanner can be found at www.medit.com. 



About MEDIT Corporation:

MEDIT is a global provider of 3D measurement solutions for dental clinics and labs, including intraoral scanners, based on its own patented state-of-the-art technology. The company also develops platform solutions for digital dentistry, supporting collaborative workflows. The company’s goal is to provide innovative technology and the highest quality products to ensure mutual growth for all partners. 

MEDIT is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea since its inception in 2000. The company also has representatives located in the Americas and Europe and boasts a global network of distributors in over 70 countries. 

For detailed information about MEDIT products and software, please visit the MEDIT official website (www.medit.com/), and for other various content, please refer to the MEDIT official YouTube (youtube.com/user/meditcompany) and other social media channels (instagram.com/meditcompany/)

About Henry Schein, Inc.

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a solutions company for healthcare professionals powered by a network of people and technology. With more than 21,600 Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company’s network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that help improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively. These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional healthcare clinics, as well as other alternate care sites. 

Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 120,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 180,000 additional products available as special-order items. 

A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® index, Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, NY, and has operations or affiliates in 32 countries and territories. The Company’s sales reached $12.4 billion in 2021, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 12.5 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995. 

For more information, visit Henry Schein at www.henryschein.com, Facebook.com/HenrySchein, Instagram.com/HenrySchein, and Twitter.com/HenrySchein.

The Top 20 Most Used Passwords of 2021

 

Today's  post covers a couple of bases for me.  The fist thing I want to accomplish today is to remind everyone that passwords are really, really important and should be treated as such.  I realize that to  a lot of you, that is probably one of the silliest things you've read today.  However, I bring that simple fact up because, also in this post, I'm going to provide you the list of 2021's most common passwords and I think when you see the list, those of you who understand the importance of a password will collectively roll your eyes.

Backups are only as good as the last one you did and passwords are only as good as the number of people who know them. They need to be unique for each place they are used and they need to be impossible to guess.

That brings me to the second part of what I want this post to accomplish.  That part is my love of password manager programs and my personal favorite, Sticky Password.  Over the years I've fallen in love with Sticky Password for a variety of reasons.  I won't list them all here, but I will list a few of my fave features.

• Security - the program stores all of my information encrypted in the cloud.  I have one incredibly complicated password that opens Sticky and gives me access to everything.
• Availability - they have a version that pretty much runs on everything
• Ease of use - it integrates with the browser and if you choose, it can fill in personal info on websites for you
• Updates - the program receives frequent updates and continues to evolve
• Manatees - with every premium license sold, a portion of the payment goes to saving manatees

There is one other feature that I want to mention outside of the bullet point list.  That is a random character password generator.  The easiest way to come up with complicated passwords is to use an algorithm to create them.  Anytime I need a new password, I just click the button and a new random generated password is created.  Then, of course, it is synchronized to the cloud where all of my devices can access by inputting my master password.  I don't have to worry about creating a really good password, the program does the heavy lifting for me.

The peace of mind I receive with Sticky Password is well worth  the $29.99 per year fee.  I love the program and it is *highly recommended*!!!

Now on to the list of the most common 20 passwords!

• 123456
• 123456789
• Qwerty
• Password
• 12345
• 12345678
• 111111
• 1234567
• 123123
• Qwerty123
• 1q2w3e
• 1234567890
• DEFAULT
• 0
• Abc123
• 654321
• 123321
• Qwertyuiop
• Iloveyou
• 666666

Gemini EVO™ Laser: The Next Evolution in Laser Dentistry

 Ultradent Products, Inc. has released the Gemini EVO™ Laser, which is said to combine the benefits of higher 100-watt power with the versatility of dual-wavelength design. The Gemini EVO’s 100 watts of super-pulsed power provide faster cutting, less heat, and clean incisions in soft tissue.

The 2 wavelengths—810 nm and 980 nm—can be used individually or together, offering 3 wavelength modes. Select 810 nm for optimal coagulation, 980 nm for optimal ablation, or the dual-wavelength mode for optimal combination.

The Gemini EVO laser features 16 preset procedures divided into 3 categories for efficient, intuitive use. Built-in WiFI connectivity makes it easy to update software or obtain technician support, allowing the laser to sync with the Dashboard to provide valuable data about the machine and procedures. The guided touch interface with voice confirmation helps you make the proper selection with ease.

Users can now perform photobiomodulation therapy treatments (PBMT) with the Gemini EVO’s added category of PBM procedures. The laser makes PBMTs simple and easy by presetting the proper energy density for each PBM adaptor. It also features a PBMT calculator on the mobile dashboard to help determine proper treatment time. Three PBM adaptors are included with the EVO:

• 3 mm PBM—highly targeted for small treatment areas such as around the lips

• 7 mm PBM—ideal for localized spot treatment such as for aphthous and herpetic ulcers

• 25 mm PBM—designed for efficient treatment of large spots such as the area around the TMJ