Ultradent Announces New Leadership

 

I have worked with Ultradent a lot over the years.  It's an amazing company that employs amazing people.  The man who founded Ultradent, Dr. Dan Fischer, is not only someone that I consider a friend, but is truly one of the"nice guys" in dentistry.  He built a company in his own image and they make amazing products.

Because of my work with them and also because of multiple site visits over my career, I've gotten to know a lot of the people that work in their headquarters.  This is an announcement on some changes at the company.  The good news is that I know both of these individuals and I know they will continue to drive Ultradent to greater heights.

The sad part of this post is that Karen Phillips is retiring.  Karen has been a part of Ultradent for as long as I've been dealing with the company.  She's a smart lady and I've enjoyed working with her over the years.  Karen I wish you the best!

Here is the press release from Ultradent:

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah April 27, 2023. Ultradent Products, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of high-tech dental materials, is announcing leadership changes in sales and marketing. 

Steve Clark is now the General Manager of North America and Sean Kennedy is the Senior Vice President of Marketing. 

Steve Clark 

Steve has been with Ultradent for 20 years, most recently serving as Director of U.S. Sales. Steve has successfully led and developed a very large sales team with significant achievements over the last several years. “Steve’s knowledge and passion will no doubt continue to serve the company well in this new role,” says Ultradent President and CEO, Dirk Jeffs. In addition to U.S. sales responsibilities, Steve will also lead consumer retail sales and client relations teams. 

Sean Kennedy 

Sean has grown tremendously over his more than fifteen-year career in marketing at Ultradent. During his time as Senior Director of U.S. Marketing, he was instrumental in the many positive changes that have taken place within our marketing team. “We are confident the marketing function at Ultradent will continue to develop under Sean’s leadership,” Jeffs says. 

These changes come as former VP of Sales and Marketing, Karen Phillips, announces her retirement. 

About Ultradent Products, Inc. 

Ultradent Products, Inc., is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-tech dental materials, devices, and instruments worldwide. Ultradent’s vision is to improve oral health globally. Ultradent also works to improve the quality of life and health of individuals through financial and charitable programs. For more information about Ultradent, call 800.552.5512 or visit ultradent.com or find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Designing Dental Restorations with Artificial Intelligence

 Today’s post won’t be very long, but that’s because I’m going to provide a link that will be much more informative on the subject than I can currently deliver.  As many of you know, my January 2023 “Technology Evangelist” column in Dental Products Report declared 2023 as the “Year of AI in Dentistry”.  Sometimes you get lucky with a prediction and I’m feeling this happened to me in January.  That’s because, while I was confident AI would make some serious in-roads in the profession this year, there has been even more progress than I hoped for.

Hence we have today’s post.  One of the big ways we are going to see AI rapidly improve the profession is in the design of restorations.  The past 10 years have seen tremendous advancements in what software can do to drive 3D printers and mills.  However, all of those advancements have also required a human to power the software as the “brain”.

Now we are seeing AI driven programs that can learn from the patient’s intraoral scan and then design phenomenal restorations through machine learning.  There are already programs that can do this and we are going to see more in the near future.  Add in the fact that these systems are only going to get better and we are poised at the edge of an incredible advancement for in office milling.  I can hardly wait to mill a crown on our DGSHAPE DWX-42W mill that no human hand or brain has come in contact with.

If you want to see and learn more about where this is all headed, follow this link to a great article from Glidewell.

Just in Time for National Volunteer Month, Newly-Added Cloud Dentistry Feature Powers Its “Engage for Change” Program

 

Dental Professionals Can Now Search for Local Community Outreach Opportunities and Register to Volunteer Within the Cloud Dentistry App

Cloud Dentistry, the company that perfected the process of hiring full-time and temporary dental professionals, recently enhanced its platform and simultaneously introduced its “Engage for Change Program” to connect socially conscious dental professionals with public health and non-profit programs in their communities. 

 “We’re simplifying the process of connecting dental professionals, who want to donate their time and services, to local public health programs for underserved residents of their communities,” said Cloud Dentistry CEO Trey Tepichin. “This will have an enormous grass roots effect on the health and prosperity of communities across the country.” 

Here are the details about how Engage for Change works on the Cloud Dentistry dental job marketplace platform

• The “Engage for Change” program is free for dental hygienists, dental assistants, dentists and in some cases, depending on the event, the front desk staff as well. 

• Dental Professionals can browse the community outreach events in their area and sign up for those that pique their interest. 

• Posting community outreach event listings is free for event organizers via this link: https://try.clouddentistry.com/engage-for-change

• On the Cloud Dentistry platform, dental professionals can sign up for events that interest them right through their dashboard under the “Upcoming Events” tab. 

• Cloud Dentistry will be offering thousands of dollars in rewards to frequently participating dental professionals. 

To learn more about Engage for Change, download the FAQs and Features and Benefits documents or contact Community Outreach Manager, Amber D’Andrea at amber@clouddentistry.com. For more information about Cloud Dentistry, visit www.CloudDentistry.com, email to Service@CloudDentistry.com, or call (844) 643-3128.

About Cloud Dentistry:

Headquartered in Boston and founded in 2014, Cloud Dentistry’s namesake product is a digital employment app that connects dental offices with dental professionals via its on-demand booking and messaging features. Cloud Dentistry is free for dental professionals seeking either temporary or permanent full-time employment. Dental offices looking to fill temporary or permanent full-time positions pay a nominal subscription fee comparable to a gym membership. Cloud Dentistry is the ultimate hiring solution for private practice offices and DSOs alike because it is a fraction of the cost, quicker, and more reliable than traditional recruitment methods such as job sites, staffing agencies or recruiters. For more information, visit www.CloudDentistry.com or call (844) 643-3128.

Blue Sky Bio Releases AI Driven Automatic Implant Placement to Improve Implant Placement and Raise the Standard of Care

I've known the folks at BlueSkyBio for a few years now and I've always been impressed with them.  The company came to prominence as the usage of CBCT exploded in dentistry.  They created a free CBCT reading software that was available for both Windows & Mac.  The software could be downloaded free of charge.  The idea was to make the software free and then to simplify the designing of surgical guides, occlusal guards, and other intraoral appliances.  The company then charges a fee when the user downloads the design.  It's a terrific business model as the end user only pays for what they use.

I've always been impressed with the software, the people, and their business model.  Now comes an announcement that I think you'll all be impressed with.  Read on for all the details...

 

Blue Sky Bio LLC, a global leader in dental implant solutions, has announced that its latest software version, BlueSkyPlan 4.11, now includes an automatic implant placement feature for single implant cases. This innovative new technology is being offered to all users of the software at no additional charge. Designed to increase accuracy and reduce planning time, the automatic implant placement feature utilizes advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence to place implants in the optimal position, ensuring precise placement, minimal invasiveness, and improved implant stability.

Blue Sky Bio, is a global leader in Dental AI Technology and is committed to providing dental professionals with innovative tools that enhance patient outcomes and streamline workflows. In addition to the automatic implant placement feature, the company has recently released additional cutting-edge AI functionality and will be announcing additional AI improvements soon.

 BlueSkyPlan is a leading global software for digital dental treatment planning software, empowering dental professionals worldwide to provide better care for their patients. With the introduction of the automatic implant placement feature, the software further solidifies Blue Sky Bio's position as a leading provider of dental implant solutions.

“We are excited to offer this cutting-edge technology to all users of BlueSkyPlan at no additional charge,” said Dr. Lerner.

“At Blue Sky Bio, we are dedicated to advancing digital dental planning through innovation and technology. The automatic implant placement feature is just one example of how we are making implant planning easier and more accurate for dental professionals.”

BlueSkyPlan 4.11 with automatic implant placement for single implant cases is available now at BlueSkyBio.com. For more information, please visit our website or contact our customer support team.

About Blue Sky Bio LLC

Blue Sky Bio is a global provider of dental implant solutions, offering innovative products and services that empower dental professionals to provide better care for their patients. With a commitment to innovation, education, and patient-centric care, Blue Sky Bio is dedicated to improving the lives of dental patients and the standard of clinical care.

New Materials, New Mills, and New Workflows: Same Day Dentistry 2023

 

Dental In-Office Milling Using CAD/CAM from DGShape

Join me tonight for this webinar on the amazing benefits of milling your restorations in house with a mill from DGShape!

Dental in-office milling is a revolutionary new technology that allows dentists to create crowns, bridges, and other dental restorations in-office, on the same day as the appointment. This eliminates the need for patients to make multiple trips to the dentist's office, and it can save them both time and money.

In this webinar, I will discuss the benefits of dental in-office milling, and I will show you how to use the DGShape CAD/CAM system to create your own dental restorations.

Benefits of Dental In-Office Milling:

• Increased patient convenience: Patients no longer have to make multiple trips to the dentist's office. They can have their dental restorations created in-office, on the same day as the appointment.
• Reduced cost: Dental in-office milling can save  money. Offices no longer have to pay for the cost of laboratory fees.
• Improved patient outcomes: Dental in-office milling can lead to improved patient outcomes. Patients are more likely to be satisfied with their dental restorations when they are created in-office, on the same day as the appointment.

The DGShape CAD/CAM system is a powerful and easy-to-use system that allows dentists to create dental restorations in-office. The system requires a scanner, a milling machine, and a software program.

The scanner is used to create a digital replica of the patient's tooth. The milling machine is used to create the dental restoration from a block of material. The software program is used to design the dental restoration.

Dental in-office milling is a revolutionary new technology that can offer many benefits to patients. If you are a dentist, I encourage you to learn more about this technology and to consider investing in a CAD/CAM system.

Click here to register for the event presented on Viva Learning.  

The new material SprintRay Crown™ for permanent restorations takes dental 3D printing to the next level

 

SprintRay is thrilled to announce SprintRay Crown™, a 3D printing resin poised to help improve the quality of restorative care in digital dentistry.

SprintRay Crown™ is a materials collaboration between the two companies, that allows dental professionals to 3D print crowns and other restorations in their offices for a fraction of the cost of other methods. With high accuracy and a print time of fewer than 60 minutes, SprintRay Crown™ is poised to improve the accessibility of custom dental care. 

"With this new material introduction, SprintRay continues to shape the future of the dental industry, widening the reach and scope of digital technology.", remarked Sumeet Jain, Vice President of Materials at SprintRay. "By reducing the cost and lead times associated with restorative procedures, we're enhancing dentistry for patients and doctors." 

SprintRay Crown™ at a glance:

• Class IIa medical product

• Outstanding marginal integrity

• Easy to handle, easy to polish

• Formulated for radiographic visibility

"Dental 3D printing solutions, especially for durable restorations, are becoming increasingly important. In addition to the excellent material properties and good esthetics, are the low material costs, the speed in production and the customizability of the dental objects that make SprintRay Crown™ future-proof," said Thomas Kwiedor, Head of Business Development 3D Printing for BEGO. "The expansion of the partnership with SprintRay and the introduction of SprintRay Crown will further accelerate this trend."

SprintRay Crown™ is a ceramic-filled hybrid material for 3D printing permanent single crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers. It delivers an excellent fit and reproducible results, allowing dental professionals to provide budget-friendly custom restorations confidently. 

About SprintRay

SprintRay is a dental technology company, that builds end-to-end 3D printing ecosystems for dental professionals. SprintRay designs and manufactures user-friendly and cutting-edge manufacturing solutions, including dental 3D printers, 3D printing software, curing technology, washing systems, and innovative materials. Dental care providers can deliver best-in-class care by leveraging SprintRay's highly-specialized, affordable technologies. For more information, visit www.sprintray.com.

About BEGO

The BEGO Group is a global leading specialist in the field of prosthodontics and implant dentistry. Founded in 1890, the traditional German company provides dental technicians and dentists with innovative devices, instruments, materials, implants, services and methods for the production and processing of dental restorations. BEGO as an owner-managed company, now run in its fifth generation by Managing Partner Christoph Weiss, employs a global workforce of approx. 500 – and this number continues to grow. In 2015, BEGO was also the first company in the dental industry to market a 3D printing system ("Varseo"), developed inhouse both with and for dental laboratories, for the fabrication of a wide range of dental restorations made from high-performance resins. BEGO has been a pioneer in dental 3D printing with the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) for over 20 years. For more information, please visit: https://www.bego.com

Join Paul, Marty, and I this Friday for a Lecture in Philadelphia

This Friday, April 21st, Dr. Paul Feuerstein, Dr. Marty Jablow, and myself will be co-presenting an event on the latest and greatest technologies in dentistry.  If you are interested in attending, you can follow this link to register.  

We are living in a changing world and things are only continuing to advance.  To demonstrate that point, the rest of this post was created using my Beta account with Google's Bard, which is Google's answer to the system ChatGPT.  The text below was created by the Bard system and I provided a couple minor tweaks to make it a bit more focused on the Friday program...

Dental technology is constantly evolving, and the field is only going to become more advanced in the years to come. New technologies are being developed all the time that can help dentists provide better care for their patients.

Here are just a few of the exciting dental technologies that are on the horizon:

• 3D printing: 3D printing is already being used in dentistry to create custom dental crowns, bridges, and implants. This technology is only going to become more sophisticated in the future, and it could eventually be used to create entire sets of teeth.

• Artificial intelligence: Artificial intelligence is being used in dentistry to develop new diagnostic tools and treatment plans. AI can help dentists to identify problems early on and develop personalized treatment plans that are tailored to each patient's individual needs.

These are just a few of the exciting dental technologies that are on the horizon. As these technologies continue to develop, they will have a profound impact on the field of dentistry. Patients can expect to receive better care than ever before, with shorter treatment times, less pain, and more predictable results.

If you are interested in learning more about dental technology, I encourage you to attend this Friday. We will be discussing the latest advances in the field and how they are changing the way we practice dentistry. I hope to see you there!

MouthWatch Offers Comfort Soft™ by Armor Dental to Enhance its Teledentistry and Intraoral Imaging Solutions

 

MouthWatch, LLC, recognized as a dental industry leader in teledentistry and intraoral imaging solutions, is now offering the Comfort Soft™ under a new agreement with Armor Dental, the manufacturer of patented, soft-retraction dental instruments.

Comfort Soft is a dual-purpose soft tissue retractor designed to provide a clearer view of the patient’s mouth while delivering a more comfortable chairside patient experience. The product also offers patients easier access, visibility, and focus when brushing at home to help improve hygiene between visits. 

“Capturing clear, unobstructed images is essential to effective dental care,” says Brant Herman, Founder and CEO of MouthWatch and Dentistry.One. “Comfort Soft is an ideal aid for in-office intraoral imaging, virtual dental care visits, or post-procedure home hygiene care to help patients isolate teeth that require special attention. Comfort Soft can also be especially helpful for improving the oral health of physically compromised patients or other vulnerable populations.”

Comfort Soft is now available as an accessory for award-winning MouthWatch  intraoral cameras and teledentistry solutions.

“We couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with MouthWatch to strengthen the care connection between clinicians, caregivers, and patients,” said Cherie Le 

Penske, CEO, Armor Dental. “Comfort Soft, the newest instrument in our soft retraction portfolio, which is now being offered by MouthWatch, enables clinicians and caregivers to improve intraoral camera imaging, teledentistry exams and patients’ hygiene.”         

Clinicians using the MouthWatch Intraoral Camera in tandem with the ComfortSoft retraction device are reporting a positive experience. According to Dr. Brooke Fukuoka, who practices in Twin Falls, Idaho. "These products are game changers in special care and geriatrics. The quality of my in-person and TeleDent exams have improved significantly since our team started using the MouthWatch camera and the Comfort Soft retractor together. It’s amazing how much I can now see that I struggled to see before.” 

To purchase MouthWatch intraoral cameras, teledentistry solutions, and the Comfort Soft dual-purpose soft tissue retractor, visit  https://www.mouthwatch.com/shop/ 

About MouthWatch, LLC

MouthWatch, LLC, is a leader in developing digital technology solutions that drive success for dental professionals, improve oral health care, and enhance the overall patient experience. 

Headquartered in Metuchen, New Jersey, MouthWatch is widely known for its intraoral cameras that help engage patients in treatment planning through high quality, affordable imaging technology, and its TeleDent software that provides practices and organizations with a teledentistry option to engage patients with providers remotely. The company recently introduced Dentistry.One, LLC, a virtual-first care company.

MouthWatch hardware and software is in use at over 40,000 practices, over 30 leading Dental Service Organizations (DSOs), and over 100 dental schools. The company has been recognized three times in the Inc. 5000. For more information, visit MouthWatch.com.

About Armor Dental Corporation
Armor Dental develops and manufactures a patented portfolio of soft-retraction dental instruments, which are revolutionizing both the provider and patient experience not only chairside but are also improving the connected health loop between clinicians and patients, so long-term oral health is maintained. Armor Dental has amassed a growing I.P. portfolio with 10 utility patents globally has developed the entirely new concept of soft retraction instruments in dentistry with Scan Mate®, Mouth Mate®, Tongue Guide™ and Comfort Soft™, which are available today through major global distribution partners. Armor Dental has also partnered with The Ohio State University and The Delta Dental Foundation Michigan to conduct studies and pilot programs, placing modern soft retraction instruments into the hands of our future clinicians, patients, and caregivers.

Benco Dental and Matthews Specialty Vehicles Join Forces To Offer The Industry's Most Advanced Mobile Dental Coach

Benco Dental, the nation's largest independent distributor of oral healthcare technology and supplies, was the first company of its kind to offer practice space planning starting in 1978. Matthews Specialty Vehicles has been building America's premier mobile healthcare coaches since 1992, including alternative fuel and electric models. Starting now, Benco and Matthews are merging their unequaled 75+ years of combined experience in these areas to offer customers one expert resource for custom, turnkey mobile dental coaches that are crafted without compromise. 

Aimed at CHCs, schools, institutions and progressive for-profit dental practices, the Benco Dental Mobile Dental Coach is a cohesively designed platform that integrates dependability, longevity, and easy drivability with Benco Dental's state-of-the-art practice planning expertise. Interior outfitting is executed by a team of cross-country, full-time design and installation professionals situated at Benco's industry-leading CenterPoint design centers in Southern California, Texas, and Pennsylvania. 

"This is the first time we're aware of that two teams with such deep and demonstrated experience are collaborating to create mobile healthcare environments specifically for dentistry," said Julie Radzyminski, Benco Dental's Vice President of Business Development. "We understand that today's customers are demanding more than just a dental office on wheels. That's why the Benco and Matthews teams have developed a unique workflow for co-concepting, creating and delivering mobile clinics that combine all of the practical necessities of traveling to patients with the ergonomics and technology doctors and team members rely on to deliver care." 

"We are excited to be partnering with Benco, the largest independent distributor of oral healthcare products," said Michelle Shupe, Director of Sales and Marketing for Matthews Specialty Vehicles. "This partnership will provide tremendous opportunities to revolutionize access to delivery and access to mobile dental services." 

Equipment comes from innovative providers like DCI, ASI and SciCan. Customers also have the added option of working with Benco Dental's in-house Build Your Brand team of award-winning graphic artists to craft the vehicle's exterior and interior visual identity, from colors to logo. 

Prospective buyers can go hands-on by scheduling a VIP trip with Benco Dental and Matthews Specialty Vehicles. Existing Benco Dental customers should contact their Friendly Benco Reps to make arrangements. New customers, call 1-800-GO-BENCO. 

Amber Mill Direct is Continuing to Impress

 We are doing more and more in-office milling cases with Amber Mill Direct and we are continuing to see really good results.

The material is a lithium disilicate but it *Tooth Shade* with NO need to fire in an oven!  Basically what that means is that we can place an Amber Mill Direct block into our DGShape DWX-42W mill and in 20-25 minutes we have a milled crown.

Once milled, we are polishing with standard porcelain polishing wheels and points.  The finished crowns are smooth, glossy, fit well, and look great.  We have enough of these in the mouth now that I am comfortable saying that these blocks are *highly recommended*!!!

The material is a bit harder than standard materials so we are using diamond burs in the mill that are more coarse and the milling time is a slight bit longer... but well worth it.  If you are doing in-office milling or are thinking about getting into it, I highly recommend these blocks!

How to Prevent Knit Lines in Your Composite

 As most of you know, I have two full time jobs.  The first is being a general dentist.  I see patients four days per week about 8 hours per day.

My second job is Chief Dental Editor & Technology Editor for Dental Products Report.  My second job gives me the opportunity to see a lot of really great emerging technologies and clinical breakthroughs.  

One of the really incredible things that I love about my "second" job is the fact that I get to meet and become friends with some really amazing people.  My post today is going to be short, because the meat of this post is going to be in the link to the video below.

One of the people that I have been fortunate to meet in my career is Dr. Richard Price.  I had heard his name a lot before I had a chance to meet him.  He is a world renowned expert in curing lights, curing light technologies, and the physics of bonded dental materials.  A few years back we happened to bump into each other at a meeting and we struck up a friendship.  This lead to us swapping emails and I'm lucky enough that Richard gives me insights into his work from time to time.  Richard is an expert and when he talks I have found that it is important to listen.

Today's post is about how to eliminate "knit" lines in composites.  This is great info for any dentist that is doing adhesive composite dentistry.  Head over to YouTube and see what Richard has for you.  It is less than a 4 minute video, but it will make a lot of difference to your restorations.

Cerebral - A Telehealth Startup Company Announces a "Breach" from Sharing Patient Data with Advertisers

 Most of us are aware that our online lives are tracked by advertising companies and that those companies use that information in attempts to affect our purchasing decisions.  However, many of us are opposed to that type of thing not wanting to have our lives so closely tracked.  There is even more opposition to the concept of companies sharing your data with other companies.

Now comes an announcement from telehealth company Cerebral, that they shared personal data with companies like Facebook, Google, TikTok, and others.  The data included names, phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, IP addresses and other demographics, as well as data collected from Cerebral’s online mental health self-assessment, which may have also included the services that the patient selected, assessment responses and other associated health information.

Let's be clear about this.  Cerebral is a health organization.  That means that HIPAA applies to them.  Imagine if a hospital admitted they were sharing their data with the above mentioned companies.  This is a situation that I have a hard time even wrapping my head around.  Anyone involved in healthcare should be aware of and abiding by the HIPAA laws.  This is insane.  I can't believe that a company involved in people's  health would even consider doing something as insane as this.  The situation is not a data breach it was a deliberate and willful violation not to mention the lack of ethics involved.

There is a great article with tons of information available at TechCrunch

Here is the statement from Cerebral:

Notice of HIPAA Privacy Breach

 Cerebral, Inc. is issuing a notice about a recently discovered issue related to inadvertent information sharing and the steps Cerebral has taken to address it. This notice was drafted in accordance with HIPAA disclosure requirements. 

What Happened? 

Like others in many industries, including health systems, traditional brick and mortar providers, and other telehealth companies, Cerebral has used what are called “pixels” and similar common technologies (“Tracking Technologies”), such as those made available by Google, Meta (Facebook), TikTok, and other third parties (“Third-Party Platforms”), on Cerebral’s Platforms. Cerebral has used Tracking Technologies since beginning operations on October 12, 2019. Cerebral recently initiated a review of its use of Tracking Technologies and data sharing practices involving Subcontractors. On January 3, 2023, Cerebral determined that it had disclosed certain information that may be regulated as protected health information (“PHI”) under HIPAA to certain Third-Party Platforms and some Subcontractors without having obtained HIPAA-required assurances. 

What Information Was Disclosed? 

The information disclosed varied depending on what actions individuals took on Cerebral’s Platforms, the nature of the services provided by the Subcontractors, the configuration of Tracking Technologies when the individual used our services, the data capture configurations of the Third-Party Platforms, how individuals configured their devices and browser, and other factors. 

If an individual created a Cerebral account, the information disclosed may have included name, phone number, email address, date of birth, IP address, Cerebral client ID number, and other demographic or information. If, in addition to creating a Cerebral account, an individual also completed any portion of Cerebral’s online mental health self-assessment, the information disclosed may also have included the service the individual selected, assessment responses, and certain associated health information. If, in addition to creating a Cerebral account and completing Cerebral’s online mental health self-assessment, an individual also purchased a subscription plan from Cerebral, the information disclosed may also have included subscription plan type, appointment dates and other booking information, treatment, and other clinical information, health insurance/ pharmacy benefit information (for example, plan name and group/ member numbers), and insurance co-pay amount. 

Out of an abundance of caution, we are notifying anyone who fell into any of these categories, even if they did not become a Cerebral patient or provide any information beyond what was necessary to create a Cerebral account. No matter how an individual interacted with Cerebral’s Platforms, the disclosed information did not include Social Security number, credit card information, or bank account information.

What We’ve Done and Are Doing. 

Upon learning of this issue, Cerebral promptly disabled, reconfigured, and/or removed the Tracking Technologies on Cerebral’s Platforms to prevent any such disclosures in the future and discontinued or disabled data sharing with any Subcontractors not able to meet all HIPAA requirements. In addition, we have enhanced our information security practices and technology vetting processes to further mitigate the risk of sharing such information in the future. 

What Affected Individuals Can Do. 

We are not aware of any misuse of PHI arising from this incident. However, individuals can prevent the use of Tracking Technologies by blocking or deleting cookies or using browsers that support privacy-protecting operations, such as “incognito” mode. Individuals can also adjust privacy settings in Facebook, Google, and other platforms. Individuals may also wish to change their Cerebral user account password (and the use of that password for any other site if used a common password). It is also a best practice to monitor explanation of benefits, insurance member portal and other communications from health insurance providers to confirm that all charges are appropriate. Out of an abundance of caution, we are providing free credit monitoring and encourage individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud and review their account statements. Affected individuals are being provided with instructions to take advantage of the free credit monitoring and additional guidance to help them protect their information.

For More Information. 

Contact us at 800.785.8435 (toll-free) Monday through Friday from 8 am to 10 pm Central, or Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm Central (excluding major U.S. holidays).

EHPC identifies lack of targeted funding for interprofessional health care team

Interesting Info from Canada...

The Extended Healthcare Professionals Coalition (EHPC) is encouraged by federal investments that are a step in the right direction to deliver equitable, accessible healthcare services to Canadians. These investments will support healthcare workers who have been stretched beyond capacity and have been experiencing high rates of burnout; many of whom have left, or are leaving, their healthcare professions.

However, EHPC is extremely disappointed to see $45.9 million allocated for the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Program Expansion for only doctors and nurses. Canada’s healthcare system is much broader than this narrow approach to access to care. Our members are essential to ensuring the health of rural and remote Canadians. EHPC encourages the government to include our members under the proposed expansion of this program.

Detailed health human resources data is essential to ensuring we have the full picture of our Canadian health professional's landscape. We need to understand whom, where, and how our health professionals are practicing. It is vital that the $505 million towards the collection of health data includes all members of the Canadian health workforce. Transformative solutions cannot be achieved without involving a broad spectrum of healthcare professionals in health care action plans, including those that provide care in both the private and public domains. Team-based care that includes regulated health professionals working to their full scope of practice is integral to improving primary care for Canadians.

Dedicated, transparent, and accountable funding measures are critical in delivering much needed services and care. However, the absence of a dedicated Mental Health Transfer that would bring targeted mental health and substance use services into the community is a disappointing gap in today’s budget announcement.

“EHPC applauds the government’s investments in public health, but disappointed that it didn’t include a broader interprofessional approach to ensure improved access to health care by the right provider, in the right place, at the right time.” says Ondina Love, EHPC Chair.

EHPC welcomes future opportunities to collaborate with all levels of government on robust solutions to address the challenges facing the healthcare system, in order to continue building a healthcare system that Canadians are proud of.

The EHPC represents over 100,000 of Canada’s regulated healthcare professionals and we speak with a common voice to ensure that health services provided in the public and private sectors are fully recognized and valued by stakeholders and decision makers. Our members are vital to the health and wellbeing of Canadians through preventative and diagnostic care.

New Scanning Station from Planmeca Communicates Results and Impresses Patients

 

For quite a few years now, the Planmeca Emerald system has been available with a laptop that offices could move around the office as needed.  However, other systems offered a cart type station that rolled around the office and some practices preferred that type of mobility solution.  Listening to the customer, Planmeca has now introduced a cart type system that allows users to not only roll their Emerald system to where it is needed, but they've also designed it so that it can be positioned in a way patients can easily see the screen.

As someone that has been doing digital impressions and full arch scanning for close to two decades, I can tell you without a moment's hesitation that patients *love* the scanning technologies and they also love being able to see the scan being done as it is happening.  It not only is a great way to educate, but it also includes the patient in the process.  Better informed patients make better decisions for themselves and this is one more way to help bring them the information they need.

Here is what Planmeca has to say about their new Scanning Station:

The Planmeca Imprex™, Planmeca’s new mobile scanning station to support dental professionals in intraoral scanning and patient communication, is designed to fit any clinical setup. The mobile scanning station allows dental professionals to impress their patients with high-quality digital impressions.

First presented at the recent IDS 2023 in Cologne, Germany, the portable scanning station with a 15’’ touch screen can be moved freely close to any dental unit, giving patients the chance to view their intraoral scans and treatment plans together with their dentist while sitting comfortably in the patient chair.

Planmeca Imprex has an integrated high-performance PC with a pre-installed Planmeca Romexis® suite, which is immediately ready for use with the Planmeca Emerald® S intraoral scanner for capturing digital impressions–just plug and scan. Thanks to the built-in LAN and Wi-Fi connection, the intraoral scans captured on the station are stored to Romexis database and immediately available for further use on any workstation in the same network. The scans can also be sent to external partners or laboratories directly from the station.

The touch screen of the scanning station is located on a 50 cm monitor arm and can be moved to an optimal angle to suit different working positions for the clinician. The scanner holder can be positioned on either side of the screen to suit both right- and left-handed users. Additionally, the clinician’s foot fits comfortably under the tripod leg.

The sleek and slim scanning station has been designed to fit any clinical environment, and the tripod construction is said to make it easy to use in any clinical setup, as the station can be moved around and rotated freely. The medical-grade device is optimally suited for treatment rooms and can be disinfected with wipes.

“Each dental professional using an intraoral scanner is different. With Planmeca Imprex, we can cater to an even wider range of user needs. While some prefer using a laptop or desktop computer in the treatment room, some want to use the scanner plugged into a Planmeca dental unit, and some prefer a cart,” says Jukka Kanerva, Senior Vice President at Planmeca. “Planmeca Imprex can be moved close to [the] dental unit–regardless of the brand. It is a great tool for dental professionals for engaging their patients in the treatment process as it helps visualize oral health conditions and treatment plans.”

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