Heartland Dental, Concorde Career Colleges break ground on co-branded campus

Heartland Dental and Concorde Career Colleges have broken ground on their first co-branded dental training campus in Fort Myers, Fla.

Concorde Career Colleges launched a partnership with the DSO to open campuses for hygienists and dental assistants in August. As part of the deal, Heartland Dental is funding the construction and providing scholarships to students. 

The Fort Myers campus will train up to 190 hygienists and dental assistants each year.
Concorde Career Colleges announced the groundbreaking in an April 8 LinkedIn post. The campus is expected to open later this year.

 

Announcing Three 2025 Continuing Education Lectures / Hands-on Workshops Presented by Corky Willhite , DDS, FAGD, FAACD 

If you would like to join Dr. Willhite for his popular Ultimate Esthetics Course, we invite you to join us at the Center for Esthetic Excellence in Chicago this May 15th & 16th for his 2-day lecture and hands-on workshop called “Ultimate Esthetics with Composite: The Basics of Layering to Advanced Techniques." There are a few spots left, and this course will be a deep dive into how to achieve more natural results with composite resin. You will learn a practical and predictable layering technique that you can incorporate into your daily practice to make your composite restorations look natural and beautiful. 

 Dr. Willhite will also be teaching a few more courses at the Center of Esthetic Excellence in 2025: “Composite Bonding for Smile Makeovers: Designed for Accreditation Case Type 5” on September 24-26, 2025 & “A Simple, Predictable Technique to Open VDO, Change Occlusion, & Build Long Lasting Cosmetic Restorations” on November 13-14, 2025. 
 To learn more details about what will be covered in each course or to register, you can use the links below: 

1. • “Ultimate Esthetics with Composite: The Basics of Layering to Advanced Techniques,” on May 15-16, 2025 Master Anterior Composite Restorations - Cosmedent 
2. • “Composite Bonding for Smile Makeovers: Designed for Accreditation Case Type 5” on September 24-26, 2025: https://www.cosmedent.com/product/composite-bonding-for-smile-makeovers-designed-for-accreditation-case-type-5-1/ 
3. • “A Simple, Predictable Technique to Open VDO, Change Occlusion, & Build Long Lasting Cosmetic Restorations” on November 13-14, 2025.  https://www.cosmedent.com/product/a-simple-predictable-technique-to-open-vdo-change-occlusion-and-build-long-lasting-cosmetic-restorations-1/

 If you have any questions, please contact Erika Heier at either erika@cosmedent.com or 
1-800-837-2321

Delta Dental of Washington and Dentistry.One Partnership Offers Virtual Dental Care

 

New Service Helps Address Barriers to Care; Provides 24/7 Service for Dental Emergencies

A new partnership between Delta Dental of Washington and Dentistry.One, a virtual-first dental care solution introduced by MouthWatch, LLC provides a virtual dental care option for more than 4 million Delta Dental of Washington members. 

Through this partnership, Delta Dental of Washington members gain 24/7 access to Dentistry.One’s suite of virtual care services, including live video consultations, asynchronous photo reviews, and AI-powered SmileScan™, which utilizes artificial intelligence to track a patient’s oral health. 

Members also benefit from a nationwide network of expert dentists, including eight dentists located in Washington state, and dental hygienist care advisors, offering tailored advice and seamless coordination of in-person care when needed, including evening and weekend appointments for dental emergencies. 

After a virtual care appointment, Dentistry.One will share the member’s oral health report directly with the member’s preferred dentist, if they have one. For those without a dentist, Dentistry.One can assist with identifying a nearby dentist and with scheduling in-person appointments as needed.

"Our partnership with Delta Dental of Washington represents the future of oral healthcare – seamless, accessible, and patient-centered," said Brant Herman, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of MouthWatch and Dentistry.One. "We’re excited to offer Delta Dental of Washington members an innovative benefit which makes accessing care easier than ever, enhancing member engagement, and keeping members healthy. Dentistry.One is designed to meet the evolving needs and goals of oral health, by delivering a new standard that improves member experience and outcomes while connecting more members to care." 

“This partnership amplifies Delta Dental of Washington's decades-long commitment to innovation and dental care equity,” said Diane Oakes, Chief Mission Officer of Delta Dental of Washington. “Partnerships like this move us closer to our goal that everyone can enjoy good oral health with no one left behind – including many rural communities where dental care resources are scarce.”

By combining Delta Dental of Washington’s mission to remove barriers to health care and improve overall health with Dentistry.One's virtual technology and ecosystem of services, the collaboration provides new access to care. For patients managing chronic health conditions, this means easier access to dental services which can significantly improve their overall health outcomes. 

“Through our virtual consultations, we can identify potential oral health issues before they become serious, offer immediate triage, and coordinate in-person care, when necessary,” said Dr. Derek Weigand, a dentist at Dentistry.One. “For populations like diabetic patients or expectant mothers, this proactive approach can be truly life changing." 

To learn more about the partnership and see if you are eligible, visit https://www.deltadentalwa.com/virtual-dental-care.

About Delta Dental of Washington
Founded 70 years ago by Seattle area dentists who set out to revolutionize oral health care, an innovative program was developed to provide longshoremen’s children access to dental care – and the concept of dental benefits was born. Today Delta Dental of Washington, a not-for-profit, is the state’s leading dental benefits provider covering nearly 4 million people statewide and beyond.

Through corporate philanthropy, oral health advocacy, and funding the Arcora Foundation, Delta Dental of Washington plays a vital role in making dental care more equitable and accessible, increasing dental health education with an emphasis on youth, and expanding diversity at all levels within the dental profession. These collective efforts aim to improve oral health care in Washington so all people can enjoy good oral and overall health with no one left behind. Delta Dental of Washington is part of the Delta Dental Plans Association, consisting of 39 independent, affiliated member companies. For more information, visit: www.deltadentalwa.com. 

About Dentistry.One 
Dentistry.One was created to break down the barriers that prevent millions of people from accessing the dental care they need. Our vision is to make dental health accessible to everyone, unlocking the significant health and cost-saving benefits that come with a healthy mouth. Through telehealth, Dentistry.One provides dental care to the 60% of the population who don’t regularly visit a dentist. Offering anxiety-free online consultations, personalized care coordination, and seamless care coordination, Dentistry.One empowers patients to take control of their oral and overall health. To learn more, visit https://dentistry.one/. 

The Technology Evangelist Podcast is coming Soon!

 

In my first post here of 2025, I mentioned that I was thinking about starting a podcast.  Well, since that post I've been hard at work.  There's a lot that goes into putting a podcast together.  A lot of the work is on the 'backend' post-production.  For me, talking is easy... sometimes too easy... but my point is that, for me, content is easy to create.  The time consuming and sometimes difficult part is creating the content.  It's the backend part that will be more difficult.

That's why I'm grateful that I'm partnering with Medidenta Digital on this.  They have the experts and the expertise to put this all together into a digestible form for the audience.

We've just about got the whole process ready to go.  In the not too distant future I'm going to start interviewing guests and then getting that content out to all of you.  I know the graphic for this post says "Register here to Watch or Listen for free", but our content isn't live yet, so there's no link to follow.

However, the moment it *does* go live, I'll let you know.  There will be a post about it here and I'll also push it out on my social media channels.  That way no matter where you follow me, you'll know when you can subscribe.  I'm super excited to be wrapping up the planning and details stage and moving forward to letting you watch and listen.  So be patient just a big longer and then I'll get you all the details.  I promise to bust my backside to give you pertinent, interesting, and fun info.  Let the games begin!

CareQuest Institute Reacts to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and EPA Secretary Lee Zeldin’s Statements on Fluoride

So, once again a post on the fluoride controversy.  Sometimes I plan a theme for a few posts, but this week that wasn't the intention.  It's a simple matter of the news being the news and since this is an issue that really impacts the profession, I reordered the queue of posts to make sure these were going to be seen.  Unfortunately, I don't know how much longer this issue will carry mainstream news interest, but I hope it doesn't fade quietly away.  I worry about lower income folks not seeing the benefit of fluoride.  However, as I've stated previously, I believe in democracy and the concept of majority rule.
 

    April 8, 2025 (Boston, MA) – CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, a leading national nonprofit focused on creating a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system today issued a statement regarding U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plans to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide and EPA Secretary Lee Zeldin’s announcement that the EPA, which oversees water quality, will also “take action”. 

CareQuest Institute Senior Director of Policy Melissa Burroughs issued the following statement:  

“Decades of research have proven that at safe and optimal levels, fluoride is safe and plays a critical role in preventing tooth decay and promoting good oral health. Efforts to remove it from public water systems–like those recently proposed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and already enacted in Utah–ignore this well-established science and risk worsening our nation’s oral health crisis.  

 “These actions come at a time when 70 million Americans lack dental insurance, 23 million face potential cuts to Medicaid dental coverage, and recent HHS layoffs have scaled back vital oral health programs at the federal level. As a result, our nation is at risk of losing critical layers of protection for basic oral health access. Without these programs and infrastructure, the US could see a sharp rise in not just dental disease, but also preventable conditions linked to poor oral health — including diabetes, hypertension, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. As this administration works to make America healthier, we need solutions on oral health that continue to make improvements and address challenges posed by recent changes.” 

RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water

 

It's sometimes strange how the news cycle works.  This is the second post this week about fluoride and adding it to municipal water systems.  This post is short, because all of the real information is in the lnked story at the bottom, but it for sure is something you need to be aware of.  

My post this past Monday was on the ongoing fluoride controversy and my feelings on that.  However today's post is about a news item.  Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr had a press conference on Monday.  He was in Salt Lake City celebrating the recent law passed in Utah that bans fluoridation in any municipal system in the state.

While there, he announced that he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide.  It was also announced Monday that the EPA is reviewing the potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water.

You can read all of the info on a pretty informative article on the Associated Press website.  

Dandy Launches The 3-Appointment Smile Makeover — A Breakthrough in Digital Aesthetic Dentistry

Some interesting info today from Dandy.  This definitely bears checking out... 

Dentistry’s first all-digital workflow delivers predictable, patient-approved results, while saving dentists’ valuable time

Dandy, the leading fully digital dental lab, has launched dentistry’s first end-to-end aesthetic digital workflow, “The 3-Appointment Smile Makeover”. The new offering enables dentists to deliver predictable aesthetic outcomes without the inefficiencies of traditional labs.  

Aesthetic cases, such as veneers and anterior crowns, can be high-pressure. Dentists need to ensure that patients are confident in the process and delighted with the outcome. Given their complexity, these cases require constant two-way communication and data transfer between the dentist and the lab. Today, no dental lab offers a streamlined workflow for aesthetic, multi-appointment cases, and much of this communication is done via email, phone or text messages, leading to disorganization, lost files, and unpredictable results. 

Dandy’s 3-Appointment Smile Makeover offers a novel solution to an industry-wide problem. It enables dentists to go from temporaries to final restorations in one connected, predictable workflow. Dentists can scan, order, and communicate with the lab, all within Dandy’s fully-integrated software. There’s no need to reference previous smile designs, scans, prescriptions, or shades, as all patient and case data is in one place. 

Dentists can also allow patients to test-drive their new smile with lab-designed provisionals and then perform a Temp-Reference Scan, capturing the approved temporaries with any adjustments that Dandy will use as the blueprint for the final design. This important feature ensures the final restoration fits, functions and looks exactly as the patient expected.

The 3-Appointment Smile Makeover has three simple steps:1. 

1. Consultation 

Order a Physical Wax-Up + Matrix for the next appointment.
Digitally modify and approve the wax-up design before production. 

2. Smile Test Drive

With the Matrix, temporize the patient using lab-designed, aesthetic provisionals.

Perform a Temp-Reference Scan with any chairside adjustments for a precise digital blueprint of the finals.

Approve the final design with Dandy’s seamless Design Preview.

3. Deliver the Perfect Final Restoration

Predictable fit, function, and aesthetics—no surprises.

Streamlined workflow eliminates errors and unnecessary lab back-and-forth.

Give patients the confidence of a truly life-changing smile.

The 3-Appointment Smile Makeover is just the latest innovation from Dandy, which is committed to delivering exceptional quality dental lab services and practice experiences at affordable prices, through digitization.

“For too long, dentists have had to deal with inefficient lab workflows, constant design revisions, and unpredictable results,” said Ben Licht, Anterior Crown and Bridge Product Owner at Dandy. “The 3-Appointment Smile Makeover changes everything. Now, every dentist can confidently deliver life-changing aesthetics with a simple, fully digital workflow—without the frustration of endless lab back-and-forth. This is the future of cosmetic dentistry.”

“This workflow provides such a huge level of ease and predictability that any dentist can now deliver stunning anterior cosmetic dentistry,” said Dr. David Sherberg of Bayway Dental in St. Petersburg, Florida. “Amazingly, it’s all embedded in the Chairside software we already know and use.”
Dentists can adopt the 3-Appointment Smile Makeover digital workflow in their practice by visiting meetdandy.com/get-started and signing up today.

About Dandy
Dandy is building the modern operating system for the North American dental office. Dental practices partner with Dandy to work with a state-of-the-art intraoral scanner, always-on expert guidance, and the industry’s only fully digital dental labs, all operating seamlessly together through Dandy’s proprietary portal. Dandy empowers dentists with technology, innovation, and world-class support to achieve more for their practice, their people, and their patients. With unparalleled quality, efficiency, and experience, Dandy makes the business of dentistry pain-free. To learn more, visit meetdandy.com or follow along on Instagram @meet.dandy.

The Ongoing Fluoride Controversy

 

I feel compelled to make a statement on municipal water fluoridation.  In the past couple of weeks, the news has had stories about the state of Utah banning water fluoridation and that was followed by a unanimous vote by the Lakeland, Florida City Council that has done the same thing.

I've tried to make this post as neutral as possible.  If anything here sounds argumentative, please understand that isn't what I'm trying to do.  I don't think arguing over something is the way to solve problems.  I'd much rather have a rational discussion and sometimes people need to respectfully agree to disagree.  I'm not trying to stand on a soapbox and shout my opinion.  I'm trying to be as factual about this and as middle of the road as I can.  If this post upsets anyone, I apologize.  That isn't my intent.  

Here's my take.  This is America, a country where we normally expect majority rule.  If a majority is opposed to something, we don't do it.  It's pretty simple.  That's apparently what has happened in Utah and Lakeland, Florida.  Personally I'm fine with that.  I have access to all the fluoride toothpaste and varnish that I need to keep my teeth healthy.

In fact, this is one of the few public health subjects that doesn't directly affect others.  Let me explain.  Opposition to vaccines has caused outbreaks of disease.  That can affect others.  No vaccine that I'm aware of is 100% effective.  There are rare instances of people contracting a disease they were vaccinated against.  However, if no one else has the disease, anyone's chance of catching it is pretty rare.  When lots of people are running around unvaccinated and shedding pathogens like my cat sheds fur, that's a problem... and it can affect others.

Fluoride isn't like that.  It really only affects one person... and that's the person who isn't receiving fluoridation.  It's especially true for children.  As children consume fluoridated water, it is passed into the permanent teeth developing in the jaws.  That uptake of fluoride means that the enamel develops stronger and when those teeth finally erupt into the mouth, the fluoride that has been deposited into their developing enamel makes that enamel less prone to decay.

What I want the lay public to understand is this: every decision has consequences.  There is an upside and a downside to everything.  By removing fluoride from drinking water, you are more or less trading a very unlikely outcome for a bad one.  Teeth that haven't developed with fluoride 'built into them' are much more prone to dental decay.  No fluoride in the enamel pretty much guarantees that your children are going to suffer more decay... not just in their primary (baby) teeth, but in their permanent teeth and that means it's a lifelong problem.  If you are comfortable with that decision (and the potential risk), then go ahead and remove fluoride nationwide.  However, just remember what you are asking for.  Your kids are going to grow into adults and throughout their life, they are going to have to deal with this decision.  Every parent I know wants their children to have a life that is better than their parents had.  This is going in exactly the opposite direction.  I know that some people have concerns, but I feel the science for safety is pretty convincing.

I always want people to know dentistry wanting fluoridation like is not some kind of a conspiracy.  In reality, no fluoride in the drinking water is going to make dentistry a lot busier and dentists will financially benefit from it.  The reason we, as a profession, are so pro fluoride is that we don't enjoy seeing people suffer with problems.  Dentists are busy enough.  We don't *need* to be busier.  There are enough dental problems right now to keep us busy.  Community water fluoridation has been touted as the most important public health measure in history and I don't know that I can argue against that.

So as longs as everyone understands the repercussions of this decision, I'm good either way.  What I don't want is a situation I heard in an old joke someone once told me about a cowboy.  The cowboy goes into the saloon and drinks an entire bottle of whiskey.  On his way home he takes off all his clothes and jumps on a cactus.  The next day, as the town doctor is pulling hundreds of thorns out of him he asks the cowboy, "What were you thinking?"  The cowboy replies, "Well it seemed like a great idea at the time."

What I want is for people to make an informed decision. I hope I've presented some good information here.

Introducing Young® ClearDefense™ Silver Fluoride – a Breakthrough in Sensitivity Protection from Young® Specialties

 

Here's some interesting news about a new product from Young® that just became available on April 1st.  It's a sliver fluoride containing solution that can be applied to help decrease or eliminate sensitivity.  Silver containing products have always had the risk of discoloration to the areas where it's applied, but Clear Defense™ has greatly decreased that risk.

The press release from Young® is below...

ALGONQUIN, ILL., April 1, 2025 – Young Specialties is transforming dental care with the launch of ClearDefense Silver Fluoride, a cutting-edge solution designed to provide relief from dental hypersensitivity while significantly reducing the risk of tooth discoloration.

"ClearDefense Silver Fluoride is the future of patient care," said Kenneth Serota, CEO of Young Innovations. "This noninvasive solution for dental sensitivity not only provides effective relief, but also minimizes the risk of discoloration, enabling clinicians to offer a better treatment experience while prioritizing patient comfort."

"At Young, we are committed to improving patient care while empowering clinicians to practice at the top of their license,” said John Frymark, Vice President of U.S. Direct, Marketing, and Analytics at Young Specialties. “ClearDefense Silver Fluoride exemplifies this mission — providing an effective, easy-to-use treatment that enhances both patient comfort and clinical outcomes. We are thrilled to bring this innovation forward and continue driving meaningful progress across the oral healthcare industry.”

Video:  Introducing Young® ClearDefense™ Silver Fluoride



Breakthrough sensitivity protection
ClearDefense Silver Fluoride treats dentinal hypersensitivity by occluding dentin tubules. Its unique formulation of 0.2% nanosilver, 3% sodium fluoride and vegetal chitosan offers noninvasive relief from sensitivity. 

Minimized discoloration risk
Unlike traditional silver fluoride treatments, ClearDefense is formulated with only 0.2% nanosilver, significantly lowering the risk of discoloration while maintaining its powerful protective benefits.

Designed for patient comfort
ClearDefense Silver Fluoride offers a gluten-free, water-based formula with no ammonia, low odor, and a non-irritating application, ensuring a more pleasant experience for patients.

Simple, one-step application
With an easy-to-use single-step application requiring no rinsing or posttreatment restrictions, ClearDefense seamlessly integrates into dental practice treatment protocols, enhancing efficiency without compromising effectiveness.

ClearDefense Silver Fluoride is now available for purchase through Young Specialties. Clinicians can register for CE courses to learn more here. For more information, visit clear-defense.com or contact support@youngspecialties.com.

Henry Schein’s THRIVELIVE Returns to Las Vegas

 

I apologize for the short notice on this announcement.  However, in my defense, the folks at Thrive Alive, just sent this to me and I created this the moment I got it.  They are in the final push to get the word out and I'm happy to provide this info to you.  Probably most of you who are aware of Thrive Alive have registered already, but if you haven't here's all the info and a link to the registration page.  Henry Schein does an amazing job with this event.  They created Thrive Alive as a showcase for the state of the art products they have in their inventory and if you are thinking of upgrading your practice, it's one of the premier events to attend.  It's always packed with terrific speakers where you can rest assured you'll learn a ton about the best products in dentistry.

Premier Dental Industry Event Offers Dental Teams Education and Networking  MELVILLE, N.Y. – March 31, 2025 – 

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) fourth annual THRIVELIVE® returns to Las Vegas from April 30 to May 3, offering dental teams a unique educational experience. Held at Resorts World Las Vegas, the three-day event features more than 100 courses and speakers, with insights from influential thought leaders on clinical applications of technology, the business of dentistry, team development, practice design, and software solutions. Interactive product demonstrations of the latest dental technologies and the Company’s suite of services will also be available.

“THRIVELIVE demonstrates our commitment and deep investment into the success of our customers,” said Mark Hillebrandt, Chief Digital Revenue Officer of Henry Schein. “This event was created to empower all dental team members to achieve their full potential. We are thrilled to continue the tradition of bringing community, connection, and lifelong learning to the dental profession with THRIVELIVE.” 

Several THRIVELIVE registration promotions are available, including:  

• ·       A 10 percent volume discount for groups of 10 or more. Contact thriveliveevent@henryschein.com for more details. 
• ·       Exclusive benefits and savings on THRIVELIVE tickets, as well as business management services, merchandise, equipment, shipping, and more from Henry Schein's Thrive Signature Program.
• ·       A doctor and team member bundle, where team member registrations (dental assistants, hygienists, front office, C-suite members, and non-doctor owners) are $999 each when added to a full-price doctor registration.

Also included in attendees’ ticket prices is a performance by this year's headliner, comedian Kevin James, best known for his role in “The King of Queens.” Attendees will have additional opportunities to connect with peers between educational sessions through engaging activities, including pickleball, morning yoga, and a Kentucky Derby brunch.

For THRIVELIVE attendees interested in volunteer opportunities, this year’s event will support the American Dental Association Foundation’s Give Kids a Smile and Give Veterans A Smile programs. These ADAF programs, which Henry Schein supports year-round, provide underserved children and veterans with free oral health care and assistance in finding a dental home.

For more information and to register for THRIVELIVE, please visit https://thrivelive2025.com/.
 About Henry Schein, Inc. 

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a solutions company for health care professionals powered by a network of people and technology. With approximately 25,000 Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company's network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that help improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively. These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, as well as other alternate care sites.  

  
 Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 300,000 branded products and Henry Schein corporate brand products in our distribution centers.  

 A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® index, Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has operations or affiliates in 33 countries and territories. The Company's sales reached $12.7 billion in 2024 and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 11.2 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995.  
 For more information, visit Henry Schein at 
www.henryschein.com, Facebook.com/HenrySchein, Instagram.com/HenrySchein, LinkedIn.com/Company/HenrySchein, and @HenrySchein on X.    

Compex HD™ an Amazing Heated Composite Dispenser

 

As regular readers know, I'm a huge fan of heated composite.  The benefits are numerous as far as clinical results and long term outcomes.  Over 60 studies have shown the benefits of heating composite prior to placement.  However, those benefits are a bonus for me compared to how easy warm composite is to place.  I love placing warm composite!  There really isn't a single change to your restorative protocol that can have a bigger impact on the clinical results.  Normally to achieve great results, the effort is worth it, but effort is required.  This is one of those amazing things that can give you better results and actually make your efforts easier.

Along those lines, I'm also a huge fan of AdDent.  The company makes several impactful, high-quality products *and* they are one of the leading companies when it comes to products that can heat your composite to achieve great results.  I recently published a post about their Calset composite warming system... and it works great.  Today's post is about another one of their 'better mousetraps' to help with that.

The Compex HD is a composite dispensing gun that heats composite and allows you deliver it directly into the prep.  There is a small heating element in the barrel of the Compex HD that warms the compule before delivery and then allows you to smoothly and easily dispense it with the pull of the trigger.  The barrel is incredibly well insulated so there is not concern about the barrel making contact with soft tissues.

It warms the material to 155°F (68°C) in 40 seconds.  My normal protocol is finish the preparation and then we turn the Compex HD on.   While we're isolating the field, the composite is warming.  By the time we've isolated and have the prep ready for delivery, the device is ready to go.  At that point the material is delivered in the same manner as always.  That means no real change to your clinical protocol other than to push the 'on' button on the device.  No matter what technique you use or material you choose, the Compex HD can be integrated easily.

The device is cordless and the rechargeable battery can heat 100 compules before needing to be charged.  It's incredibly light weight and can be moved from operatory to operatory easily.  Of course, I feel that once you've used it, you'll find you need one in every restorative operatory in your office.  I should also state that the device fits well in the doctor's hand.  Whether you're like me and have fairly large fans or you're a female doctor with smaller hands, the Compex HD is easy to hold and use.

The device also has a small tab on the barrel that ejects the compule when pushed so changing and reloading is fast and efficient.  Once the barrel is fully warmed, the next compule heats fast so there is no concern about using Compex HD in quadrant cases where multiple compules would be used.  Of course pairing the device with AdDent's Calset device means that your composites are always warm and placement is even easier.

Compex HD is a winner and I feel if you try it, you'll feel the same way.  The benefits are amazing.

Chord Specialty Dental Partners Announces Massive Data Breach

 

Despite today being April Fools Day, today's post is true.  Quite honestly I wish it wasn't.

As you regular readers know, I'm constantly screaming about data security from the mountaintop.  However, I don't normally identify offices affected by a breach by name.  This one is different.  This breach is newsworthy because of the number of patients affected.  DSOs are prime targets for data breaches as they have interconnected systems that allow criminals to get *more* data than they could grab from a single office.  This particular breach has the potential to affect 173,000 patients and because of that, I think it's important to know about.

I want to make clear that this post is not meant to embarrass or demean the DSO.  This post is to remind all of us that security is a hugely important topic.  Taking your eyes off target can result in your practice being affected by something like this.  Incidents like this are hard to stop by the efforts of a private practice's IT contractor.  To get the best protection possible, an office needs security professionals.  There are several companies out there that can help make you as secure as possible.  My current favorite is Black Talon Security.  Also, to help you to be able to restore your info without paying the ransom, having solid and verified backups is critical.  That's why I trust DDS Rescue to provide backup services to my practice.

I'd also like to commend Chord Specialty Dental Partners for following the letter of the law.  HIPAA requires specific reporting and it looks like they are doing all they can to meet those reporting requirements.  These incidents are stressful and difficult on everyone involved and it appears that Chord is doing everything they can.  Below is their breach announcement as required by HIPAA.

NOTIFICATION OF DATA SECURITY INCIDENT

March 14, 2025 – On or around September 11, 2024, CDHA Management, LLC and Spark DSO, LLC dba Chord Specialty Dental Partners (“Chord”) discovered suspicious activity related to an employee’s email account. Upon discovery, we took immediate action to secure the account and engaged a team of third-party specialists to assist with determining the full nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized individual had gained access to several accounts for a limited time between August 19, 2024, to September 25, 2024. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive review of the information potentially affected. The type of information varies by individual and may include name and one or more of the following: address, Social Security number, driver’s license, bank account information, payment card information, date of birth, medical information, and health insurance information.

At this time, Chord is not aware of any evidence to suggest that any information has been or will be fraudulently misused. However, we were unable to rule out the possibility that the information could have been accessed. Therefore, in an abundance of caution, we are notifying potentially impacted individuals of this incident.

In response to this incident, we immediately began an investigation and reviewed our policies and procedures related to data security. We are also providing potentially affected individuals access to credit monitoring and identity protection services as an added precaution. If you have questions about this incident or would like to enroll in the credit monitoring and identity protection services, please call 1-833-998-6327, Monday through Friday, between 8 AM and 8 PM ET, excluding holidays. You may also write to us at 1801 West End Ave., Suite 410, Nashville, TN 37203.

In general, we encourage potentially affected individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing credit reports/account statements and explanation of benefits forms for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Under U.S. law, individuals are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

Individuals have the right to place an initial or extended fraud alert on a credit file at no cost. If individuals are a victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert lasting seven years. As an alternative to a fraud alert, they have the right to place a credit freeze on a credit report. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved without consent. Pursuant to federal law, individuals cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. 

Should individuals wish to place a fraud alert or credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

TransUnion                           Experian                                Equifax
1-800-680-7289                      1-888-397-3742                      1-888-298-0045
www.transunion.com              www.experian.com                 www.equifax.com

Individuals can further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps to protect their personal information by contacting the credit reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or their state Attorney General. The FTC also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. The FTC may be reached at 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement, the state Attorney General, and the FTC.