Planet DDS and DentalXChange Announce Enhanced RCM Workflow to Transform Dental Insurance Management and Increase Cash Flow

 This is the second post here in as many days that deals with increasing cash flow for practices.  Things seem to come in waves and it appears that revenue management has been the wave that is currently in play.  Planet DDS is one of the larger practice management platforms in the industry and anything that simplifies the business side of dentistry can have tremendous impacts.  Today's announcement is aimed more at group and multi-location practices, but these types of innovations have a nice tendency to also be able to impact smaller offices as well.  Here's the news...

Planet DDS, a leading provider of cloud-based dental practice management solutions, is announcing a significant upcoming enhancement to its Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) workflow, leveraging the new XConnect APIs from its long-time partner, DentalXChange. This development marks a new milestone in the nearly 20-year partnership between the two companies, further optimizing data access across the dental insurance journey for DSOs and group practices.

The enhanced RCM workflow will integrate DentalXChange’s XConnect APIs directly into Denticon, the flagship practice management solution of Planet DDS. This integration streamlines critical insurance transactions, including eligibility verification, claims processing, claims management, and payment posting, ensuring that DSOs and dental groups can operate with more clarity, efficiency, and accuracy. By allowing once fragmented tools to now talk to each other, the result is a unified, cloud-based solution.

“Our enhanced RCM workflow with DentalXChange’s XConnect APIs represents a significant step forward in optimizing the dental insurance process,” said Eric Giesecke, CEO of Planet DDS. “This open ecosystem approach allows DSOs and group practices to leverage diverse technologies to strengthen their capabilities and competitiveness and build their own tech stack to customize workflows as they choose for their needs and growth plans.”

Planet DDS and DentalXChange have been partners since 2005, continually innovating to bring new products and services to dental practices, groups, and DSOs. Planet DDS is the first partner to leverage DentalXChange's XConnect APIs for claims, eligibility, and electronic remittance advice (ERA).

“At DentalXChange, we are proud to strengthen our nearly 20-year partnership with Planet DDS through our fully integrated RCM workflow that leverages new APIs. This deeper integration optimizes insurance transactions, including eligibility verification, claims processing, claims management, and payment posting, providing our mutual clients with enhanced efficiency and accuracy in their RCM process while keeping the entire client experience in Denticon,” shared Paul Kaiser, CEO of DentalXChange.

The enhanced RCM workflow eliminates inefficiencies, reduces manual errors, and accelerates payments. This integration ensures real-time, accurate data and automated workflows that drive financial health and operational efficiency for DSOs and group practices. Along with Denticon Pay, which makes payment acceptance more seamless and secure, the enhanced workflow with DentalXChange ensures a fully integrated revenue cycle management experience.

To learn more about how the enhanced RCM workflow in Denticon can improve efficiency and accelerate payments for your DSO or group practice, visit: planetdds.com.

About Planet DDS:

Planet DDS is the leading provider of cloud-enabled dental software solutions, serving over 13,000 practices in the United States and having over 118,000 users. The company delivers a complete platform of solutions for dental practices, including Denticon Practice Management, Apteryx Cloud Imaging, Cloud 9 Ortho Practice Management, and Legwork Practice Marketing. Planet DDS is committed to creating value for its dental practice clients by solving the most urgent challenges facing today’s dental practices nationwide. To learn more, visit: planetdds.com.

About DentalXChange:

Since 1989, DentalXChange has been on the forefront of modernizing and innovating dental claims creating dental RCM solutions that bring ease to the payments process. Today, it has grown to support a current client base approaching 200,000 dental providers and connectivity to over 1,050 payers. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, through its own clearinghouse, state of art technology consisting of modern APIs, and secure Web portals, DentalXChange processes over 1B EDI transactions, consisting of more than 300MM dental claims annually.

Weave Enhances Payment Product Suite with Payment Reminders

 

Keeping in contact with your patients is *important*.  Dentists realize that.  In the last decade most professionals, including those of us in dentistry, have gone to electronic patient communication systems like Weave.  The majority of people (myself included) don't really pay that much attention to voice mail reminders... plus due to that, those mailboxes are frequently full.  Being able to communicate via text is just easier, more reliable, and *most importantly* patients read them.

Weave is one of the companies in the forefront of this space and the system works really well.  The company has now announced an update/upgrade to their system.  Office administrators and their fellow team members can now send payment collection requests via Weave.  It's a great option to take advantage of.  Read on for the full announcement from Weave.

New Weave feature enhances seamless integration of payment requests into practice workflows

— Weave (NYSE: WEAV), a leading all-in-one experience platform for small and medium-sized healthcare practices, announced Payment Reminders, an enhancement designed to help improve revenue cycle management. This new feature allows practices to continue to collect more outstanding balances, but now with less effort by enabling practices to turn each Weave payment invoice or Text to Pay request into a “set-it-and-forget-it” collection campaign.

“We’re very excited to introduce Payment Reminders to our payments product suite,” said Branden Neish, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Weave. “With 63% of patients preferring text payment options, Weave streamlines the process, saving offices time and effort each day.”

Payment Reminders automate payment requests once a Weave invoice or Text to Pay request has been created, encouraging customers to pay their outstanding balances online. 

Weave Payments is a full processing solution that empowers healthcare practices to bill and collect more efficiently using their existing communication workflows and patient-preferred payment methods:

• Send payment requests via text with Text to Pay
• Accept payments with credit card or through ACH Direct Debit
• Accept payments online or in person with Online Bill Pay, Scan to Pay, and Mobile Tap to Pay
• Keep a payment method on file
• Offer flexibility with Buy Now, Pay-over-time and Payment Plans

All payment requests through Weave come from the practice’s phone number, so patients have confidence that the request is coming from a trusted source. To learn more about Weave billing and payments solutions, visit https://www.getweave.com/weave-payments/.

AAO Voices Concerns with New Invisalign Marketing of Palatal Expanders

 

I am impressed with the American Association of Orthodontist (AAO)  as well as their president Dr. John Callahan.  The organization recently sent a letter to Invisalign and I don't know if I have ever seen someone send a letter of disagreement that was more polite.

Recently Invisalign has come up with a palatal expander system that is designed differently than traditional appliances.  To market the new system, Invisalign created an ad that has been running on Facebook (and perhaps other places as well).  

The AAO has concerns about the ad and the way it portrays the traditional palatal expanders that many dentists and orthodontists prescribe and use.  To sum it up, the traditional appliances are portrayed as barbaric in their use.  Due to that, many doctors who have used those appliances for decades have felt a bit put in a bad spot and among those are many orthodontists.

So, in order to make their feelings heard, those orthodontists turned to their professional association the AAO to help deliver their message from a united front.   This is an example of why I really believe in professional organizations.  Dentistry and orthodontics should have someone speak for them to promote and explain the position of the profession and I feel one of the best ways to do that is from an organization that represents those professionals.

So we come to the most important part of this story.  Dr. John Callahan, who is the president of AAO, wrote a letter to the folks at Align Technologies (parent company of Invisalign) to express the views of orthodontists.  This letter should be taught at the university level in classes teaching how to get the point across that you are unhappy with a situation while being positive, honest, and honorable.

I happen to agree with the AAO on this situation, but even if I didn't I'd still be telling folks to read this letter.  It is a masterpiece of presenting his case while not insulting or angering the recipient.

Head over to the AAO website to read what Dr. Callahan has to say.

Buckle Up! 3D Printing is Poised to Change Dentistry for the Better

 

3D printing in dentistry has been around for a few years now.  I can even remember there was a push to 3D print frames for masks and 'ear savers' during the initial Covid outbreak when supplies were short.  My point is that this isn't necessarily *new* to dentistry.  So why, many are asking, is this going to be dentistry's 'next big thing'?

I think it's taking off for three reasons:

1. Accuracy:  3D printers have always been accurate, but through continuing development they are becoming more so.  Most 3D printers on the market now have accuracy up to 50 microns, which is totally acceptable for the profession... especially for removable projects like clear retainers, occlusal guards, bleaching trays, and transitional partial dentures.
2. Materials:  When the tech first hit the profession, there were limited choices for resins.  Doctors couldn't' always find the ideal material for a certain application.  That has completely changed with a huge variety of resins.  Basically if you want to print something, there is a material made for that and those materials are first rate.
3. Design:  In years past, I feel the real impediment has been in designing things.  The design process has become much easier and much more streamlined.  It used to be that in order to design things, it required a separate piece of software.  Those programs were another added cost, sometimes significant, and some were difficult to learn and use.  Now costs have dropped, design has improved, and some companies even offer cloud design software as part of the printer system purchase.  AI has also improved things with many design programs incorporating it into their systems.  Smart design software means doctors only need to make minor changes, if any, before sending it to the printer.

As an example of simplicity, I recently created an hard occlusal splint.  It was designed in The Cloud with a few mouse clicks and the design software sent the completed design file directly to the printer.  All I had to do was select the file on the printer and press 'print'.  In about 20 minutes I had the project printed.

Being able to provide services using accurate and faster systems are a benefit to doctors and patients.  Why should a patient wait 2-3 weeks for something when it can be fabricated in the office and delivered the same day or next day?

There are more reasons to take a close look at this technology than I'm providing in a short blog post.  The September issue of Dental Products Report is featuring 3D Printing as our cover story and I hope many of you will give it a read.  I've spent a large part of 2024 immersed in working with and evaluating this tech and I truly feel it is now ready for prime time applications.  The next 12-18 months is going to be seeing a lot of focus and interest in this area.  Get ready now, the time is here.

Join Me on Friday in Huntsville, Alabama!

 

If you happen to be in the Huntsville, Alabama area today & tomorrow, there's still time to register for a CE event I'm doing courtesy of Atlanta Dental.

The event is being help at Lake Guntersville, which is about 45-60 minutes outside Huntsville proper and is a gorgeous site.  You can attend on Friday and spend the weekend at The Lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park.  Learning and relaxing has never been easier!

There are 2 programs in the morning and following lunch I'll be presenting from 12:00-3:00.  I promise it *won't* be boring!  I'm going to cover things like cameras, artificial intelligence, how to help prevent caries at margin restorations, the advantages of electric handpieces, and intraoral scanning.

Atlanta Dental and AIDA have done a great job is setting up this course.  There aren't many courses being done at great destinations these days, but Lake Guntersville is supposed to be incredible.  I've been looking forward to doing this lecture for months and I hope many of you in the area can attend.

If you have interest, you can follow this link to register.  

Or if you'd like more info on the event and courses, that can be found here.  

This will be fun, informative, and a great chance to kickback in a great location!!!

Ultradent Announces Majority Stake in i-dental

 

I've used Ultradent products for years and I've been fortunate enough to lecture about their products many times.  The company founder, Dr. Dan Fischer is a visionary and truly one of 'the good guys' in dentistry.  I respect him and I'm honored to call him a friend.  Ultradent is always on the leading edge of dentistry and their products are first class.  Their mission is "Improving Oral Health Globally" and I can personally attest to the fact that they are doing just that.

Today's post is about a recent acquisition of a well known dental manufacturer.

Ultradent Products, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of high-tech dental materials, is announcing acquisition of Medicinos Linija UAB, known globally as "i-dental," a renowned manufacturer and distributer of dental products headquartered in Siauliai, Lithuania.

The addition of i-dental’s network and infrastructure will assist Ultradent’s ability to better serve dentists throughout the world. With i-dental as the company’s most recent acquisition, Ultradent now has offices and subsidiaries in 12 countries.

 “With the help of the talented team members of i-dental, Ultradent will be able to empower more clinicians to provide better care for their patients,” says Ultradent President and CEO Dirk Jeffs. “Ultradent has a longstanding connection with i-dental and founder Gintaras Dapkus, whom we met 25 years ago when he attended one of our educational events. Both companies are driven by a shared mission—the mutual admiration, innovative spirit, and vision between Ultradent and i-dental make this a seamless partnership that will benefit oral health globally.”

 Founded in 1992 by Gintaras Dapkus, i-dental began as a dental supply company and transitioned into a manufacturer of dental materials—top products include composites, glass ionomers, etchants, liners, and prophy paste. i-dental is ISO certified and has recently passed an MDR audit. Dapkus will remain minority owner and active i-dental management. “I am thrilled about this new chapter for i-dental, Ultradent, and oral health care providers around the world" says Dapkus. "This partnership opens up incredible opportunities for innovation, growth, and improving patient care.”

 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, visit ultradent.com or find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. 

About i-dental

i-dental, founded in 1992 in Šiauliai, Lithuania, is a leading manufacturer of innovative medical devices, dental materials, and cosmetics, recognized for its ISO 13485 certified quality management system and CE marked products. The company exports to over 80 countries, prioritizing high-quality, user-friendly products that meet international standards and customer needs. Learn more at www.i-dental.lt.

AI Robot now Patrolling Parking Lot in Kansas City Area

 

Something not dentally related, but since Artificial Intelligence is showing up in so many ways in our world, I thought this deserved a mention.

I read with interest recently abut a Kansas City area strip mall with a crime problem.  They were suffering from smash & grabs in the parking lot as well as businesses having windows broken and thefts.  In a normal situation like that, a landlord would hire a private security firm to provide people to keep an eye on things.

Unfortunately the landlord had little success with private security.  The company found that option to be expensive and unreliable, with some guards simply not showing up for work.  So instead of more human beings, the landlord decided to try security from another angle and the purchased a Knightscope K5 outdoor security robot.

  This little guy is always on the job and only takes breaks to recharge the batteries.  It has some amazing capabilities including:

• LIDAR
• 4 cameras
• Live audio
• Sonar
• Works in low or no light conditions

It is self propelled and the cameras it carries are always on and recording.  It also has the ability to read license plates and record the IP addresses of nearby connected devices, such as cell phones.  The landlord states that since bringing the security robot onto the property their crime has been reduced significantly.

We're going to see more and more devices like this.  Last summer I was in a restaurant that had a robot bringing drinks to customers.

Digital Health Hub Foundation - Digital Health Awards at HLTH Debut First-of-a-Kind Dental Health Award

It's that time of year again!  Every year the Digital Health Hub Foundation holds a gala event in Las Vegas that honors their award winners.  Currently the process is judging the quarterfinalists of entrants.

If you'd like to learn more about the event and the organization, here is a press release the group recently sent me:

The Digital Health Hub Foundation, in partnership with HLTH, is proud to introduce the inaugural Dental Health Award, dedicated to recognizing innovation in oral systemic health. 

The Digital Health Awards, hosted by the Digital Health Hub Foundation, seek to highlight the most impactful digital health companies worldwide. The Grand Finale, held during HLTH2024, the largest global digital health convention, will celebrate both market leaders and promising startups.

Winning the Dental Health Award offers a unique value proposition to participants, including $500,000 in grant money and unparalleled access to healthcare and oral health investors, as well as the vibrant HLTH and Digital Health Hub Foundation community. This initiative aims to spotlight the critical importance of oral health to both the economy and overall health.

"Investing in dental health innovation is investing in the future of comprehensive healthcare," said Mariya Filipova, Dental Health Award Champion and Systemic Health Investor. "We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on innovators who are driving significant advancements in this essential part of health"

Mark H. Goldstein, Founder and Chairman of The Digital Health Hub Foundation and Digital Health Awards, added, "This year, for the first time in our history, we are celebrating Dental Health innovators at the 6th Annual Digital Health Hub Foundation Awards at HLTH2024. This award underscores our commitment to fostering innovation across all facets of health and wellness."

"Dental health is often overlooked in the broader healthcare landscape, yet it plays a crucial role in overall health," said Dr. Lou Shuman, CEO at Cellerant Consulting. "We are excited to see this new award bring much-needed attention and investment to the field."

The significance of the Dental Health Award cannot be overstated. Studies have shown that poor oral health can lead to severe economic consequences, including lost productivity and increased healthcare costs, amounting to billions of dollars annually. Additionally, the links between oral health and systemic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions highlight the vital role dental health plays in overall health management.

 The Digital Health Hub Foundation Awards have a strong track record of recognizing and advancing innovative healthcare solutions. With the addition of the Dental Health Award, the event continues to expand its influence, encouraging groundbreaking developments in oral systemic health.

Call to Action: Apply now to be recognized as Best in Class or a Rising Star in Dental Health at the largest healthcare awards event. This is your chance to gain recognition, connect with key investors, and secure a substantial grant that could propel your next big breakthrough.

For more information and to apply, visit Digital Health Hub Foundation Awards. The application deadline is August 19th, 2024.

About the Digital Health Hub Foundation: The Digital Health Hub Foundation is dedicated to identifying and recognizing the most innovative digital health solutions globally. By fostering connections between startups, investors, and industry leaders, the foundation aims to accelerate the development and adoption of technologies that improve health outcomes.

About HLTH: HLTH is the leading event for healthcare innovation, bringing together senior leaders from across the health ecosystem to solve the industry's most pressing challenges and realize the most promising opportunities to improve health. HLTH creates a unique marketplace for health tech and innovation through its annual conference, showcasing the latest trends and technologies in healthcare.

About Cellerant Consulting: Cellerant Consulting is a premier consultancy firm specializing in dental and healthcare innovation. Founded by Lou Shuman, the company provides strategic guidance and support to organizations looking to advance their technologies and services in the dental industry. Cellerant Consulting is committed to driving growth and excellence in healthcare.

Press Contact:

Melissa Faukner 
 VP of Marketing
 831-578-1299 (cell) 
 melissa@digitalhealthhub.org

 

Interested in 3D Printing & What it can do for YOUR Practice? Join me Tonight!

 

Join me tonight for Utilizing 3D Printing to Improve Efficiency and Generate Better Clinical Outcomes

Tonight at 5:00 Eastern (6:00 Central) I'll be doing a webinar on how the world of 3D is changing the profession and what that means to all of us.  The good folks at DMG America have been kind of enough to sponsor the event and I'll be discussing the overall aspects of 3D tech while digging a bit deeper into the solutions that DMG America offers in that category.

Over the last decade, our profession has seen major changes in the treatment planning and delivering of services made possible through 3D.  I incorporated CBCT tech into my office in 2008 and I was amazed to see how much that knowledge and information changed the way I treatment plan.  Since that point dentistry has witnessed an explosion of 3D tech.  What was once considered almost something from a science fiction story has become reality.  The next big thing in dentistry will be 3D printing.

Between CBCT, intraoral scanners, mills, and 3D printers the profession now has a chance to move to a total and complete digital workflow.  The term 'digital workflow' has been bouncing around in dentistry for quite a few years now... and with good reason.  However, until just recently that hasn't been 100% possible.  We're now at a point where all the necessary data can be achieved with only 1s and 0s.  That means that lots of things can be created and used that, until physically created, exist only in the computer.

Speed, efficiency, cost, and quality are all crucial to the 'why' that these systems are poised to make a major impact in dentistry.  I'll be covering ways to use 3D printing in practical and reliable applications.

The webinar is free and I'd be honored to have you attend.  If you're interested in attending, follow this link to the Viva Learning website and sign up.

Canadian Dental Hygienists Celebrate the Power of Partnerships

 

As The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) annually celebrates its long-standing partnerships with dental industry. These meaningful collaborations have been instrumental in moving the dental hygiene profession forward and in building awareness across Canada of the importance of oral health and its impact on our overall health.

 The ongoing support that CDHA receives from its dental industry partners strengthens the association’s vital advocacy initiatives and its robust professional development offerings. “CDHA knows the importance of partnering with highly regarded and impactful industry leaders as it enables us as an organization to provide the highest level of service to our membership, while continuing to promote the essential role that dental hygienists play in everyone’s oral health care,” says Francine Trudeau, CDHA president. “We are excited for the continued partnerships with our dedicated Partner Circle members, who are committed to the betterment of CDHA, our members and the profession of dental hygiene.”

To honour these dental industry partners who understand and appreciate the significant role that dental hygienists play on the oral health care team, CDHA established the CDHA Partners’ Circle. Earlier this year, the association welcomed eight respected dental industry leaders into the circle, with sponsorship investment levels ranging from bronze to elite. The elite-level members are Haleon and Waterpik; Kenvue is our gold-level member; the silver-level members are Colgate, PHILIPS, and Dentsply Sirona; and HuFriedyGroup and Sunstar are the bronze-level members. CDHA proudly recognizes these devoted dental industry partners as members of the 2024 Partners’ Circle. 

About the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA):

CDHA is the national voice of dental hygienists in Canada. Representing over 31,000 dental hygienists across the country, CDHA advocates for the advancement and promotion of the dental hygiene profession while maintaining a commitment to the public's oral health. Dental hygiene is the sixth largest regulated health profession in Canada with professionals working in a variety of settings, including independent dental hygiene practice, with people of all ages, addressing issues related to oral health. For more information on oral health, visit dentalhygienecanada.ca. For more information on the work of CDHA, visit cdha.ca.  

AI is Coming to Professionally Made Video Content - Brace Yourselves

 

In the profession of dentistry, AI has already become an incredible tool.  We happen to use Pearl's Second Opinion system in the office and it has become really critical to what we do.  

There are basically two types of AI, narrow & broad.  The narrow type is what we use in dentistry.  It's NOT the Terminator.  Instead it's really good at looking at the pixels in a radiograph and identifying areas of low density where they shouldn't be.  That means it can, in the blink of an eye, analyze an x-ray and point areas that have less density in an area that should have *high* density.  It's a pretty simple concept and it works incredibly well.

The one that people are concerned about, and rightly so, is the broad type.  This is the type that does lots of things, not just some specific task.  As a diehard geek, I try to keep up to date with as much tech info as possible.  In order to accomplish that I do a lot of reading and one of my favorite publications is MIT Technology Review.

Recently I got a chance to read an article on the publication's website that talked about the coming wave of using AI to create videos of real people.  We've had this type of CGI ability for while.  We've all seen major motion pictures where actors are created digitally in certain situations.  In the last Indiana Jones movie Harrison Ford was digitally edited to appear as a younger Indiana Jones in some scenes.  It was a cool effect, but if you looked closely you could tell the CGI Ford from the real one.

Now the technology has evolved to the point where AI can be used to create avatars of real people that are almost impossible to distinguish from the real individual.  It's soon going to be possible to create completely synthetic people that can say or do anything with near perfection.  We're having a hard enough time trying to figure our fact from fiction nowadays.  Being able to put words or gestures into videos of real individuals is going to change things.

I found the article fascinating... and a little scary.  If you're interested, here is a link.  

Health Plan of San Mateo Selects Dentistry.One to Provide Virtual Dental Care

 

Here's an announcement from Dentistry.One that is pretty impressive.  They are owned by MouthWatch which many of you know has turned the intraoral camera market into a much more affordable space for dentists.  Their virtual system is starting to take off with a pretty big announcement.  Here is the press release:

Dentistry.One, a virtual-first dental care solution introduced by MouthWatch, LLC, has been selected by Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM), San Mateo County's largest non-profit Medicare/Medicaid public health plan, to provide virtual dental care for its nearly 150,000 Medi-Cal and dual eligible members. This benefit will be a valuable complement to HPSM Dental, California's first and only dental plan for Medi-Cal members that is fully integrated with medical and mental health care benefits.

Under the new agreement, HPSM members will have access to Dentistry.One's virtual dental care network of experienced, highly trained dentists and Care Advisors. These experts in dental hygiene provide personalized oral health care advice and patient care coordination. Available anytime, from anywhere, Dentistry.One addresses a broad range of dental issues, including:

• Emergency tooth pain.

• Starting the journey to healthier teeth and gums.

• Understanding available dental benefits.

• Arranging in-person appointments with local providers in the HPSM Dental network.

• Selecting the best products for specific dental needs.

• Answering questions about treatment options.

HPSM members will enjoy the simplicity and convenience of selecting a Dentistry.One appointment that works best for their schedule. Appointments can include live video consultations and uploading photos so a dentist can diagnose the member's condition. Dentistry.One then sends a personalized Oral Health Report with recommended next steps to the member within 24 hours of a visit.

With nearly 2% of emergency department (ED) visits being dental-related, Dentistry.One also provides a less time-consuming, more cost-effective alternative to expensive ED trips.

Furthermore, nearly 70 million Americans live in areas with a shortage of dental health professionals. San Mateo County is one of these "dental deserts," according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"Dentistry.One shares Health Plan of San Mateo's deep commitment to help residents of San Mateo County with limited income and resources live their healthiest lives," said Brant Herman, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of MouthWatch and Dentistry.One. "We look forward to offering HPSM members an innovative virtual dental care benefit that eliminates barriers to care, increases utilization, and drives better health outcomes. Virtual services are especially important for those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or pregnancy where better dental care has been proven to improve overall health."

Studies show that people living with certain chronic conditions more often have untreated oral diseases or conditions. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), gum disease can worsen glycemic control (blood sugar level) in people living with diabetes.

"Partnering with Dentistry.One exemplifies our 35-year commitment to the vision that Healthy is for everyone, which extends beyond solely addressing medical needs by integrating dental care," said Carolyn Brown, DDS, Health Plan of San Mateo Dental Director. "Offering our members access to Dentistry.One virtual dental services underscores our recognition that oral health is vital to overall well-being. The service will provide a tangible solution for increasing access to the oral health care our members need and deserve."

HPSM members can start using Dentistry.One online through a co-branded Dentistry.One and HPSM webpage.

Dentistry.One's national network of dentists and Care Advisors is available to individuals, health plans, and other organizations focused on patient health. If you are an organization and want to learn more about how to seamlessly integrate Dentistry.One into an existing benefits portfolio or add it as an affordable stand-alone option, visit dentistry.one to schedule an introduction.

Health Plan of San Mateo (HPSM)

HPSM is a local, non-profit County Organized Health System (COHS) founded in 1987. HPSM's mission is to ensure that San Mateo County's residents with limited income and resources have access to high-quality care, services, and support so they can live the healthiest lives possible. With more than 150,000 members or participants, HPSM serves all of the County's Medi-Cal eligible residents, nearly 9,000 members eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal, as well as families, seniors, people with disabilities, and children with complex medical conditions. HPSM also sponsors special programs that address the complex social issues that some eligible members face from home-based health care to affordable housing for the homeless. Learn more at www.hpsm.org.About MouthWatch, LLC

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.

MouthWatch recently launched Dentistry.One, a virtual-first care network that addresses the expectations of today's modern healthcare consumers, the need for greater efficiency in healthcare, and the proven connection between good oral health and total health.

Dentistry.One features on-demand dental consultations, personalized care coordination, and oral health coaching for prioritizing oral health.

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 or dentistry.one.

Data Security is a Need - Not a Want

 

In May, my Technology Evangelist column in DPR focused on what I referred to as The Low Price of Office Data Security.  If you're interested in my take on that subject, you can follow the link and read it.  The one nice thing about DPR putting my columns online as well as print is that sometimes the original has to be edited down to fit the layout of the printed issue.  The columns that are posted online are the complete article I submitted.  That means the digital version usually has more info.

Today though, I'd like to focus on something that has come to my attention since that column appeared.  I recently had a meeting with Black Talon Security to learn more about their solution to help protect health care offices and dental offices in particular.  I came away from that meeting very impressed.  I won't go into great detail about them here.  However, in the not too distant future I'm planning on a post to give you more info about them.  At this point, suffice it to say I feel that if you don't have your office data security buttoned up *really* well, you should look at what they offer.  It's pretty amazing.

However, my meeting with them brought something to light that I think every dentist needs to be aware of.  As we all know RansomWare is a huge and increasing threat.  Not having your data can bring a practice to a screeching halt.  And of course, loss of business continuity is just the tip of the iceberg.  That was the real premise of my May column.  There are huge costs to dealing with a breach... but now there is another cost that could add massively to that.

RansomWare and the people who spread it have changed tactics.  Now, in addition to encrypting your data and holding it for ransom, they also steal your data.  Basically all that information is copied and put on the criminals' servers before they start encrypting on your end.  Then that data is frequently either posted on the dark web or sold to other criminals to use in ID theft and other types of crimes.

So how is that expensive?  Well, it turns out that by posting or selling that data, the office is now not only facing investigations and massive fines due to HIPAA violations, but the legal field has entered the fray.  By failing to secure the data, the office can now face class action lawsuits.  By having their data placed online without their consent, patients can engage attorneys who will prove damage to the patients involved.  

That little twist is something I hadn't heard before.  Now in addition to all of the other problems and expenses I outlined in my column, you may also be facing class action lawsuits from patients harmed by the theft.  I'd also like to emphasize that this isn't some 'worst case scenario' that I am tossing out here.  This is already happening in dentistry and at least one unfortunate doctor is now embroiled in one of the actions.

I realize that my focus on security is something some of you may not be  thinking about or feel that I dwell on it too much, but I think it is my job here to try and keep my peers and followers informed and prepared.  The best mentor I ever had once told me, "Flucke, if you prepare for an emergency, it ceases to be one."  That one little nugget has made a tremendous impact on my life.  Now by passing it along, I hope it can have a similar impact on all of you who are kind enough to read the blog on a routine basis.  The best way to prevent a breach is to act like it's going to happen.  Unfortunately it *does* happen... every day.  Also, the stats I've seen recently put healthcare at the very top of industries that are being targeted.  Like it or not, the bad guys have us in their sights.  Do all you can to prevent this.

Align Technology Introduces iTero Design Suite

 Sometimes things in dentistry are upended by a new technology that seems to come out of nowhere.  Usually this happens when a single company releases a new product.  Think of something like to Kavo Diagnodent from the early 2000s.  There was nothing like it and no one really knew detecting decay with a laser was even possible.  Yet, it took a while for that technology to become mainstream.  It's harder for a single company to create wholesale changes in an industry.

Sometimes though, a tech breakthrough comes along that is brought to market by several companies and that creates an incredible *wave* of change throughout the industry quickly.  Think about Artificial Intelligence in dentistry.  Several companies had been working on it simultaneously and under the radar of the general knowledge of practicing dentists.  It seemed like suddenly in 2023, AI came out of nowhere and created a huge change for doctors... almost overnight.

Mark my words... this is about to happen again.  This time it will happen with 3D printing done in the dental office.  I realize that many of you reading this are well aware of 3D printing.  Companies have been marketing their solutions to dentists for the last several years.  I'm sure that most of you can probably name at least one of those companies and some of you can probably list several.  However, there a couple of reasons this tech is going to really take off in the next 12-18 months.

The 2 biggest reasons are:

1. Market penetration of intraoral scanners.  According to the industry stats we did at Dental Products Report, these devices are currently in at least 30% of offices and over 20% of offices that currently don't own one told us they are planning to purchase one in the next 12 months.
2. Design software is becoming *much* easier to use.  The printers themselves have been ready for primetime for a while now.  The problem has always been creating the appliances you want to print.  Having a great printer is only one part of the equation.  Up until recently design software has been difficult to figure out and use.  That... is about to change!

In the last few months, the printer companies as well as some independent software companies have created design software that makes the process easy and straight forward.  My opinion is that this is the piece that's been missing.  Now that scanners are plentiful, accurate, and more affordable *and* the design process has been simplified, this tech is poised to take off in a big way.

That leads me to today's post.  iTero has just announced the Itero Design Suite which is one of the new systems that will make 3D design simple and easy for the majority of practices.

New software suite enables design capabilities for in-practice 3D printing

Align Technology, Inc. (“Align”) (Nasdaq: ALGN), a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells the Invisalign® system of clear aligners, iTero™ intraoral scanners, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software for restorative dentistry, today introduced the iTero™ Design Suite, offering doctors an intuitive way to facilitate designs for 3D printing of models, bite splints, and restorations in-practice.

The latest software innovation is designed to help doctors boost their practice efficiency and elevate patient experiences by shortening time to treatment through an intuitive way to design for in-practice 3D printing. The iTero Design Suite enhances the Align™ Digital Platform, which provides an innovative portfolio of customer-focused technologies that enable seamless end-to-end workflows for dental professionals.

“I'm excited to be working with the iTero Design Suite. I was looking for an in-practice design software that my team and I could use. The workflow is fast and efficient. We can easily design restorations, hard splints, models, and mockups to show patients the possibilities of cosmetic dentistry,” said Dr. Steven Glassman, a cosmetic dentist based in New York City and a speaker for Align Technology who participated in the limited market release.

“We have seen growing interest in 3D printing technology from our customers, and bringing the iTero™ Design Suite to market reflects our commitment to offering our customers the digital transformation solutions they need to enhance practice efficiency and patient experiences through powerful technology,” said Karim Boussebaa, Align Technology executive vice president and managing director, iTero scanner and services business.

Tillmann Steinbrecher, CEO of exocad added: “With the iTero Design Suite, doctors will benefit from a flexible solution that enables seamless workflows for in-practice production using exocad’s innovative software.”

iTero™ Design Suite is now available through an early access program. Doctors using an iTero scanner can submit their interest via their scanner or the MyiTero™ portal. The software is expected to be available later this year.*

*Available in selected markets

About Align Technology, Inc.

Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® system, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, iTero™ intraoral scanners and services, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for over 266 thousand doctor customers and is key to accessing Align’s 600 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Over the past 27 years, Align has helped doctors treat over 18.2 million patients with the Invisalign system and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align™ Digital Platform, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.

For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about the iTero digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com. For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit www.exocad.com.

Heartland Dental and Concorde Career Colleges Announce Partnership to Develop Co-Branded Campus

 

I saw this come across recently and felt it was newsworthy enough to post.  Since the pandemic, dentistry has had a difficult time in finding dental assistants as well as dental hygienists.  The shortage of these highly critical employees has hit the industry hard.  This is especially true for dental hygienists as these are highly trained people that are licensed by the individual state where they practice.  Without these important staff members, dental offices can see fewer patients and obviously help fewer people.

Based on this current staffing shortage, Heartland Dental a DSO with 1750 locations across the United States has partnered with Concorde Career Colleges to help meet the demand.  While the current plan is for one facility in Florida, my hope is that the companies expand this program to help the staffing shortage in other areas of the U.S. that are feeling the stress of fewer employees than needed.  The full press release is below:

New campus in Florida will train up to 190 dental hygienists and dental assistants annually

 Concorde Career Colleges, the healthcare education division of Universal Technical Institute, Inc., and Heartland Dental today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to develop a co-branded campus for dental hygiene and dental assistant programs. Heartland Dental is one of the largest dental support organizations in the nation, with more than 23,000 employees at more than 1,750 supported dental offices. 

The partnership is designed to help address Heartland Dental-supported practices' significant demand for dental hygienists and dental assistants in specific markets. The first campus, scheduled to open in fall 2025 in Fort Myers, Fla., will train up to 120 dental hygienists and 72 dental assistants annually using Concorde's curriculum, instructors and student support services. Heartland Dental is funding the total cost of the construction, including durable equipment and initial supplies. The company will also provide scholarships to students.

"In all my years in the dental field and at Heartland Dental, our investment in education and commitment to making opportunities available for individuals to grow their skills has been at the heart of who we are. Our partnership with Concorde has supported this commitment and our culture of education for many years. We know there is a strong need in the communities we serve for dental care, and the opportunity to establish a co-branded campus with Concorde to help meet this need with skilled dental hygienists and dental assistants is remarkable. We knew Concorde was the right partner for this venture given their deep expertise and strong curriculum in these areas," shared Pat Bauer, Heartland Dental President and CEO.

"This groundbreaking partnership builds upon the alliance of two organizations that are committed to increasing access to dental services across the United States," said Kevin Prehn, President of Concorde Career Colleges. "Through our existing partnership with Heartland, we have seen how they are invested in their employees and are continually innovating to ensure the success of their supported practices. And, as one of the leading educators of dental hygienists and dental assistants in the nation, Concorde is uniquely positioned to help meet workforce needs in Heartland-supported practices while creating pathways to employment for our graduates."

Nationwide, employment of dental hygienists and dental assistants is projected to grow 7% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.1 In states where Concorde has multiple campuses, the demand is significantly higher. In Florida, dental hygienists and dental assistants have a 15.8% and 15.7% projected job growth, respectively, between 2023 and 2031.2

Concorde currently has more than 1,900 students in its dental hygiene and dental assisting programs, which are offered at 14 and 16 of Concorde's 17 campus locations, respectively. The institution's dental hygiene curriculum blends online and on-ground coursework with in-person lab instruction and clinical experience to prepare students to enter the dental industry in as few as 17 months.3 The institution's dental assistant diploma curriculum combines foundational concepts of dental care and front office operations with an externship to prepare students for the profession in as few as eight months.4

Heartland Dental has collaborated with Concorde for several years to address its need for dental hygienists, including student scholarships, company-sponsored dental hygiene labs on campus and graduate pinning ceremonies. The company also supports Concorde's pediatric community events that offer free dental services. To date, Heartland has hired 325 Concorde dental hygiene graduates.

For more information about Heartland Dental, visit World-Class Dental Support Organization | Heartland Dental. To learn more about Concorde's dental programs, visit Dental Programs | Concorde Career Colleges.

1Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook for Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants nationally, 2022-2032, viewed July 30, 2024.

2Source: Florida Department of Commerce, Employment Projections for Dental Hygienists and Dental Assistants in Florida 2023-2031, viewed July 30, 2024.

3,4Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course schedule. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, employment, or salary.

About Concorde Career Colleges

Concorde Career Colleges, the healthcare division of Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI), operates 17 healthcare focused campuses across eight states under the brands Concorde Career College and Concorde Career Institute, preparing America's next generation of health care and dental professionals for rewarding careers. The Concorde blended education model combines online coursework with in-person lab classes and clinical settings. Concorde's 25 student-focused academic programs and personalized support prepares graduates for in-demand careers in nursing, dental, respiratory, diagnostic, and other healthcare roles. Concorde schools are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and the Council on Occupational Education (COE). For more information, visit concorde.edu or uti.edu or, or visit us on LinkedIn at @Concorde Career Colleges and @UniversalTechnicalInstitute or on X (formerly Twitter) at @ConcordeCareer or @news_UTI.

About Heartland Dental

Heartland Dental is the nation's largest dental support organization providing non-clinical, administrative support services. What started from the entrepreneurial spirit of Rick Workman, DMD, with his single dental practice, has evolved into affiliating with over 2,800 doctors in over 1,750 locations across 39 states and the District of Columbia. The company is majority owned by KKR, a leading global investment firm. For additional information, please visit heartland.com.

Overjet Loses Legal Battle Against VideaHealth

A short post today, but this one could have big ramifications to the dental AI industry as it moves forward.  As regular readers know, I'm a big fan of AI in the dental space.  I've been involved with several companies over the years in helping development of their AI systems.  The one thing I've learned is that once a doctor starts to use the tech and begins to see what it can do for them, there is quickly no going back.  This is one of those changes in the industry that quickly goes from luxury to necessity once you get used to it.

For those of you who didn't know, there has been an ongoing lawsuit between Overjet AI and VideaHealth.  I've tried to keep up with it and the courtroom battle is finally over.

In a significant legal setback, Overjet, a leading dental AI company, has lost its bid to block VideaHealth from marketing and selling its dental AI products. The case, which centered on allegations of patent infringement and unfair competition, has implications for the broader dental technology landscape.

The court's decision to dismiss Overjet's claims has cleared the way for VideaHealth to continue its operations, potentially intensifying competition in the dental AI market. This outcome underscores the complexities of intellectual property law in the rapidly evolving tech industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Competitive Landscape: The dental AI market is becoming increasingly competitive with multiple players vying for market share.
• IP Challenges: The case highlights the difficulties companies face in protecting their intellectual property in a fast-paced industry.
• Patient Benefits: Ultimately, the increased competition could lead to more innovative products and services, benefiting patients.  I've always felt competition is good... let's see where this leads us.

It remains to be seen how this legal battle will shape the future of dental AI. As the technology continues to advance, we can expect further developments and potential legal challenges in the industry.

Dental Care Alliance Leverages AI by Bringing Overjet AI into Practices

 

Dental Care Alliance (DCA) is leading the charge in dental innovation by partnering with Overjet, one of the bigger companies in the dental AI space. This collaboration aims to enhance patient care, improve diagnostic accuracy, and streamline dental practices across DCA's network of over 400 affiliated practices.

Overjet's AI-powered platform is one of the better known names in the dental industry. Trained on millions of X-rays and continuously refined by using dentists, the technology can detect, outline, and quantify oral diseases with computer precision. By integrating Overjet's AI into their practices, DCA dentists and their patients can benefit from:

• Enhanced Diagnostic Accuracy: AI-powered analysis can help identify potential issues that might be overlooked, leading to earlier detection and treatment of dental problems.
• Improved Treatment Planning: Detailed insights provided by Overjet can assist dentists in developing comprehensive and effective treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique needs.
• Enhanced Patient Education: Overjet's visual overlays can help patients understand their oral health conditions better, fostering trust and improving treatment acceptance.  I'm a huge fan of visually communicating with patients.. That aspect is critical to being able to let patients actually SEE pathology, which let's them make more informed decisions about their treatment options.
• Streamlined Workflow: By automating routine tasks like X-ray analysis, dentists can focus more time on patient interaction and complex procedures.

DCA's commitment to bringing in this technology demonstrates their dedication to providing quality of care to their patients. By embracing AI, DCA is also validating the success of the technology for other professionals and paving the way for a future where technology and human expertise work together to optimize oral health outcomes.

While my office does not use Overjet AI (we use Pearl's Second Opinion), I am a big believer in the technology as a whole and have come to depend on it.  Once an office integrates an AI solution into their practice, they quickly learn (as I did) that they cannot practice without it.

If you'd like to read further about this news, we have a nice article about the partnership on the Dental Products Report website.