Promising DMG Treatment for MIH Presented at AAPD 2026

 

Leading MIH researcher presents treatment being used successfully in Europe

A standing-room-only audience at the recent annual conference of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in Las Vegas was treated to an illuminating and encouraging presentation about the documented ability of DMG Icon® resin infiltration to treat Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization, or MIH. The presentation was given by Dr. Katrin Bekes, Professor and Head of Pediatric Dentistry at the Medical University of Vienna. Dr. Bekes is a world-renowned expert on MIH and a long-time supporter of the efforts of DMG researchers to find an effective and efficient treatment for a disease that afflicts one-in-seven children worldwide.

Icon is already indicated for use as an MIH treatment in the European Union and other countries.  DMG is currently working to secure the Federal Drug Administration’s clearance for Icon as an indication for MIH, as well as for trauma and enamel porosities, in the United States.  The AAPD 2026 conference afforded DMG an opportunity to increase awareness of several new Icon protocols, including transillumination, bleaching pre-treatment with 3D-printed bleaching trays for discolored opacities, micro- or air-abrasion for tougher and deeper lesions, and extended infiltration time. Dr. Carla Cohn, Dr. Bilyana Daskalova, Dr. Alyssa Delgado also gave lectures about their use of Icon for various approved indications. It also allowed the company to make pediatric dentists aware that Icon may soon be indicated for treatment of MIH.

However, as Dr. Bekes pointed out, treating MIH requires a totally different approach from treating carious lesions and white spot lesions. The condition is sometimes referred to as “chalky teeth” due to yellowish/brownish discoloration, large opacities, unstable molar structure, and enamel defects such as decavitation. Little is currently known about the multivariate causes of MIH, in part because the disease starts to build in the teeth years before it is diagnosed. But what is known that the condition can cause hypersensitivity and even chronic pain to children.  And, according to Dr. Bekes, an even more damaging effect can be the psychological trauma and embarrassment caused by teasing peers that lead some children with MIH to avoid smiling or speaking.

DMG researchers in Germany recently announced the first evidence-based, validated treatment concept for MIH lesions worldwide. The treatment protocol, developed by the DMG clinical research team in collaboration with Dr. Bekes and other leading MIH experts, offers a minimally invasive approach that removes discoloration and stabilizes the teeth. As Dr. Bekes explained, the first step in the protocol is bleaching to remove the brown discoloration composed of proteins. While bleaching agents for whitening purposes are not widely approved for use withchildren, DMG’s Flairesse Bleaching Gel is approved for use in the pediatric treatment of MIH in many countries due to its status as a medical device approved for the treatment of enamel opacities. (It will be launched as a 510K-exempt Class I medical device in the U.S. in the second half of 2026.) The bleaching takes place at home using DMG bleaching trays specially designed to prevent the bleaching agent from coming into contact with the gingiva. Once this step is completed, the teeth are conditioned and ready for the application of the Icon Caries Infiltrant in the dental practice. The protocol’s outcomes have been very well received by practitioners, patients and parents alike.

"With one in seven children globally impacted by MIH, it’s no wonder MIH was one of the hottest topics at AAPD 2026,” said John Scott, Clinical Affairs Director at DMG America. “In fact, because Dr. Bekes’s talk drew so many attendees, the AAPD has asked us to submit a proposal for a follow-up presentation on treating MIH on the main stage of AAPD 2027.”  For more about bleaching and MIH, visit https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jerd.70056.

For more about transillumination and MIH, visit

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ipd.70064.

About DMG

DMG manufactures and distributes a full range of market-leading dental materials and equipment that are internationally recognized for their quality and innovation. Known for its breakthrough dental technology – including flagship products like Luxatemp® and LuxaCore® Z Dual, the revolutionary Icon® caries infiltrant, LuxaCrown® long-term crown and bridge material, and new additions such as Ecosite restorative composites, and DentaMile® 3D printing solution, complete with software, hardware and resins – DMG is committed to helping provide holistic solutions and streamlined workflows for dental and lab professionals to meet their needs through innovation, collaboration, and dedication. 

For more information about DMG products, or to find a sales representative, please visit online at www.dmg-america.com, or call 800-662-6383.

Dr. Brian Novy Joins Personify Group Advisory Board, Reinforcing the Firm’s Commitment to Prevention, Oral-Systemic Health, and the Future of Evidence-Based Dentistry

Nationally Recognized Cariology Leader to Help Advance Strategic Initiatives Focused on Disease Prevention, Value-Based Care, and Medical-Dental Integration

Personify Group, a strategic branding, communications, and commercialization advisory firm serving the dental and oral health industries, announced today that Dr. Brian Novy, one of the profession's most respected authorities on cariology, preventive dentistry, and evidence-based oral healthcare, has been named the company’s Cariology and Preventive Dentistry Advisor.

The appointment reflects Personify Group's growing commitment to supporting organizations that are redefining oral healthcare through prevention, disease management, oral-systemic health awareness, and healthcare innovation. Dr. Novy's expertise will help guide the firm's work at the intersection of science, clinical practice, patient outcomes, and commercialization.

Widely regarded as one of dentistry's leading voices in caries management and disease prevention, Dr. Novy also serves as president of the National CAMBRA Coalition and holds faculty appointments at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and other leading institutions. He has served on the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs and as a consumer representative to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Dental Products Panel.  Throughout his career, Dr. Novy has been a leading advocate for transforming dentistry from a procedure-centered model into one focused on disease prevention, risk assessment, and long-term health outcomes. His influence extends across academia, private practice, organized dentistry, industry, and public health, helping clinicians and healthcare organizations adopt evidence-based strategies that preserve natural tooth structure and improve patient wellness.

"For decades, dentistry has excelled at repairing the consequences of disease. Dr. Novy's work has been focused on preventing disease before irreversible damage occurs,” said Michael Ventriello, Co-Founder and Chief Communications Officer of Personify Group. “His leadership in preventive dentistry aligns perfectly with our vision of helping innovative organizations improve both oral health and overall health outcomes."

According to Mark Ross, Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer of Personify Group, "The future of dentistry will be defined by prevention, personalization, and integration within the broader healthcare ecosystem. Dr. Novy’s perspective will help ensure that the companies, technologies, and thought leaders we support are contributing to meaningful improvements in patient health while advancing the profession itself."

Dr. Novy said he was attracted to Personify Group's commitment to helping innovative organizations communicate scientific advancements in ways that create meaningful impact.

"I believe the future belongs to organizations that can effectively communicate evidence-based solutions and help accelerate the adoption of preventive care models,” said Dr. Novy. Personify Group understands the importance of bridging science, education, innovation, and communication, and I'm excited to contribute to that mission."

Dr. Novy's appointment is part of Personify Group's broader effort to assemble a  multidisciplinary advisory team capable of helping clients navigate some of the most significant and complex trends shaping healthcare today, including preventive dentistry, oral-systemic health, minimally invasive treatment approaches, healthcare consumerism, artificial intelligence, and medical-dental integration.

About Personify Group

Personify Group is a strategic branding, communications, and commercialization advisory firm serving the dental and oral health industries. The firm partners with emerging innovators, established manufacturers, healthcare organizations, and industry leaders to accelerate market adoption, strengthen thought leadership, and build brands that advance the future of oral healthcare.

Guided by a growing network of clinical, scientific, and business advisors, Personify Group is particularly focused on helping organizations champion prevention, oral-systemic health, evidence-based care, early caries solutions, and innovations that improve patient outcomes while strengthening the connection between dentistry and overall healthcare.

Pearl and Seattle Study Club Partner to Advance AI Education in Dentistry

My office began using Pearl's radiographic system Second Opinion in January 2023 and have never looked back.  Starting back in 2016 I had been working with a few different companies that were developing radiographic AI platforms and I was pretty quickly convinced of their value in clinical dentistry.  Those early systems were clunky and required the user to jump through several hoops before actually seeing the AI interpretation, but even with all of the steps they required, the value was obvious.  

I still remember the disappointment I felt when the first company I was working with ran out of funds and had to cease operations.  Even though it took several steps to get a bitewing into their system, I had grown to depend on it.  The confidence of having an objective third party helping me to evaluate radiographs was powerful.  I didn't want to go back to the "old way".  Fortunately a week or two later I was approached by another startup and began helping them in product development.  Now as I look back at how far we've come, it's amazing.

Today's post is about a recent announcement from Pearl and the Seattle Study Club.  They are partnering to help deliver cutting edge info to the profession.  The details of the partnership are below.

New partnership will expand clinician access to practical AI education designed to help practices improve care delivery, patient communication, operational efficiency, and financial predictability

Pearl, the global leader in dental AI solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Seattle Study Club, one of the nation’s most respected dental education networks, to help accelerate clinician education around the practical application of AI across the modern dental practice. As a Gold Tier partner, Pearl will collaborate with Seattle Study Club through educational programming, conference participation, and clinical content initiatives designed to help dentists understand not only what AI can do, but how to deploy it effectively throughout the dental workflow from examinations and patient communication to scheduling, documentation, insurance workflows, and practice operations.

The partnership reflects a shared belief between the organizations: that the future of dentistry will not be defined by technology alone, but by how effectively clinicians are educated on how to integrate new technologies into patient care.

While AI adoption in dentistry continues to accelerate, many practices still lack practical guidance around implementation, workflow integration, and clinical best practices. Pearl and Seattle Study Club aim to close that gap by providing educational experiences grounded in real-world application, clinical excellence, and operational outcomes.

“At Seattle Study Club, we believe exceptional dentistry starts with continuous learning,” said Gary Dickenson, CEO of Seattle Study Club. “AI is becoming an increasingly important part of modern practice, dentistry needs meaningful education around how these technologies support better care, stronger patient communication, and more efficient practice operations. Pearl brings both the technological leadership and the practical perspective to help make that education valuable for our members.”

Originally recognized for pioneering real-time AI radiologic analysis in dentistry, Pearl has evolved into a broader AI platform designed to reduce friction across the dental workflow. Today, Pearl’s technologies support clinical decision-making, patient understanding, imaging quality assurance, insurance preparation, documentation workflows, operational intelligence, and other systems that help practices operate more consistently and predictably.

By embedding AI directly into everyday workflows, Pearl helps practices improve diagnostic confidence, standardize communication, reduce administrative burden, and create a more connected experience for both clinicians and patients.

“Dentistry reaches its highest standard when great clinicians are equipped with both powerful tools and the education to use them well,” said Ophir Tanz. “Seattle Study Club has built one of the most trusted educational communities in dentistry, and we’re excited to work together to help clinicians better understand how AI can elevate every aspect of practice, not just diagnostics, but the broader systems that support exceptional patient care.”

Through the partnership, Pearl and Seattle Study Club will deliver educational initiatives throughout the year focused on helping dental professionals navigate the rapidly evolving role of AI in dentistry while maintaining a strong emphasis on clinical judgment, patient trust, and real-world implementation.

About Pearl

Pearl is a dental AI company committed to enhancing how patient care is delivered. Founded in 2019 by a team with decades of experience developing successful, enterprise-grade computer vision solutions, Pearl introduced the first-ever FDA-cleared AI capable of reading and instantly identifying diseases in dental x-rays. With regulatory clearance in 120 countries, Pearl's AI assists dentists in making precise clinical decisions and effectively communicating with patients, thereby transforming the dental care experience worldwide. As dentistry’s global AI leader, Pearl is committed to the ongoing innovation of robust, accessible AI tools that improve patient health outcomes and build greater trust in dental medicine. To request a demo, please visit hellopearl.com/demo

About Seattle Study Club

Seattle Study Club is the nation’s leading dental education network, empowering professionals to connect, learn, and achieve clinical excellence in a collaborative community. Founded in 1992 by Dr. Michael Cohen, it has grown into a global network offering hands-on learning, case discussions, and access to world-renowned speakers. Learn more at www.seattlestudyclub.com. 

Toothbrush Bristles Harbor Bacteria - *Lots* of Bacteria

 

An interesting study in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene examined the way patients clean their toothbrushes after use and the bacteria found in the bristles.  The title of the study is Knowledge Evaluation and Assessment of Bacterial Contamination of Toothbrushes.

The human mouth contains billions of microscopic organisms and those are easily transferred to anything that comes in contact with the mouth or saliva.  Probably the most common object that goes into the mouth and than back out is the toothbrush.  Most people replace their toothbrush every 90-180 days, but over that time bacteria are transferred from the mouth to the brush and then back to the mouth.

If you think about that analytically... most people brush their teeth at least twice a day.  The recommended time for brushing is 2 minutes.  That means for roughly 4 minutes a day toothbrush bristles are in contact wtih teeth.  In 90 days of 4 minutes per day contact, the bristles have been in contact with the teeth for 90x4=360 minutes.  During that time a lot of microorganisms are transferred to the bristles.

After use most people rinse the brush under running water and some will even then tap their brush against the sink to remove excess water from the bristles, but that's about as much cleaning as most people do.  The bristles are left moist and then placed in some type of holder until the next use.

The study analyzed cleaning methods used by the study subjects and then monitored the brushes used to see what bacteria was present and how it grew.  It's an interesting read and it can be a little disconcerting when you think about it.  Lots of bugs are growing on those bristles as they sit in the bathroom waiting for the next use.

For years I've used a UV toothbrush sanitizer.   There are a lot of them on the market and most can be purchased for under $50.  In basic terms, it's a small LED that uses UV-C light focused on the bristles that kill the germs growing there.  I started using one when they first came on the market thinking it was probably "a good idea", but not out of any real concern.  However, more and more research is showing how much bacteria is present in those bristles so I'm glad I was an early adopter.

The study makes for some fascinating reading and you can find it with this link.  This is also a subject that professionals should be discussing with our patients.  Most people don't really think about things like this, but it's definitely something patient should be aware of.  This is especially true for patients that are immunocompromised.  Anything that reduces exposure to pathogens for those patients is important.

UAB Dental Specialists Restore Bird's Beak at Birmingham Zoo

 

Under the supervision of a veterinarian, dentists can treat and help animals.  I've known a few dentists with big hearts that have worked with their local zoo to help provide needed care to the animals.  

Today's post is about a situation that developed with Beauregard, a green aracari bird at the Birmingham Zoo.  It seems the poor little guy fractured about 1/2 the length of his upper beak and needed to have it replaced.  He was only 3 months old at the time and being so badly injured, it looked like he might not survive.

To try to help him, the Birmingham Zoo called their local dental school The University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Dentistry and asked if they might be able to do something.  What those doctors managed to do is pretty amazing.  Not only did they figure out a way to save Beauregard, but he's now thriving.

The specialists included an oral & maxillofacial surgeon, a prosthetist, and a maxillofacial prosthodontist.  That team created a permanent repair for Beauregard's beak.  The amazing part is that, not only did they restore his function, but they managed to fabricate the prosthesis to the same weight as the original so that he can still fly normally.  If the prosthesis had been lighter or heavier than the original, it would have affected the bird's stability in flight.

This is a heart warming story and the video of what they did is pretty incredible.  I love outside the box thinking and this story is definitely an example of that.  How they figured out how to accomplish all of this is beyond me, but I thought everyone would get a kick out of learning about it.  

The story and accompanying video can be found here.  I highly recommend you check it out.  It's one of those things that will bring a smile to your face and give you that warm fuzzy feeling.  

Ottimate Becomes First AP Platform to Launch MCP Integration, Further Strengthens Conversational AP Offerings

 In the past few years we've seen a lot of artificial intelligence move into the dental industry.  Things started out clinically and then moved into the administrative realm fairly quickly.  Most offices begin the AI journey with systems to help analyze radiographs.  Once a radiographic system proves itself, offices often look for other ways to improve workflows with AI.  Things like AI phone assistants, AI schedulers, and AI insurance verification are really starting to take root in many offices.

However, one of the areas where AI hasn't made much of an impact yet is in financial management and accounting in offices.  The good news is... that's about to change... drastically.  Ottimate today is announcing  an AI system that will help with AP in ways we haven't seen before.  As I frequently say, dentistry as a business is a high wire act as the office balances between revenue coming in and revenue going out.  Having as much data as possible on AP makes that balancing act much easier and Ottimate promises to make that data management easier and faster.  The company helps several industries in this realm of financial management and dentistry is just one of them.

All the details are below.

Ottimate introduces MCP support, giving finance leaders direct access to AP data within the LLM of their choice.

Ottimate, the leading AI-powered Accounts Payable (AP) automation platform, today announced the first Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration in the market, enabling finance leaders to bring AP data directly into Large Language Models (LLMs) for comprehensive financial insights. The announcement is part of Ottimate's 2026 Summer Release, which also includes enhancements to Ottimate Copilot and a new wave of AI capabilities designed to protect profit margins.  

CFOs and finance leaders increasingly rely on AI assistants like Claude and ChatGPT to ask questions, synthesize data, and drive strategy but AP data has remained siloed, forcing finance teams to spend 11+ hours a week running reports. With a simple prompt, users can now get critical insights on financial health, cash flow exposure, and payment trends in seconds, a process that historically took days, weeks, or a third-party consultant.

"CFOs shouldn't have to spend hours pulling together information from different sources, " said Shawn Lane, CEO of Ottimate.  "By being first to market with an MCP integration, we're giving finance leaders the full picture they need to make confident decisions fast."

Ottimate Copilot, the industry's first conversational AP tool, also receives significant upgrades in this release: statement reconciliation support, deeper spend analytics, and a redesigned interface surfacing the metrics customers care about most.  

Rounding out the Summer Release are two features targeting the most repetitive, error-prone tasks in AP. Risk-based spend approvals automatically flag low-risk transactions, letting approvers focus attention where it matters and accelerate reimbursements. Autosuggested GL coding for expense submissions cuts manual effort and helps accounting teams close faster with fewer corrections, moving teams closer to truly touchless operations.

"Every release we ship helps lean teams move quickly, stay focused on high-value work, and never become a bottleneck, " said Don Dittmar, Chief Product Officer of Ottimate.  "This summer's release delivers that across the entire platform."

To learn more, visit ottimate.com.

About Ottimate

Ottimate is an AI-powered Accounts Payable (AP) automation platform that empowers finance teams to reduce costs, prevent overpayments, detect fraud, and enforce policy compliance across the entire invoice-to-payment lifecycle. Designed for companies that process complex invoices at scale, Ottimate automates over 90% of the payables accounting process, reducing manual errors, saving time, and even monetizing the payment process. Ottimate’s AI goes beyond traditional automation by applying human-like intelligence refined by over a decade of real-world use and powered by state-of-the-art deep learning. For more information, visit ottimate.com.

Join Me for a Webinar on Intraoral Scanning June 17th

 

Intraoral scanning is mainstream and only getting better!  In an industry survey I saw not too long ago, answers indicated if an office didn't yet own a scanner, it was the #1 tech the doctor expected to purchase next.

I actually started digital scanning way back when with a CEREC 2.  For those of you who don't know, that little machine booted with *a floppy disc*!!!  Basically all that means is that I've been scanning for well over two decades now and I've seen changes that have blown my mind.  Scanning is no longer a "cool to have" technology, it's a "must have".  

However, like any piece of technology it needs to be used the right way.  Add to that, there are tons of things you can do with scanning and those scans.  Intraoral scanners are a gateway technology to a totally digital workflow.  So if you're scanning and want to know some tips & tricks, join me on June 17th.  If you don't yet own a scanner and are trying to decide exactly how to proceed, join in as well.

The great folks at Medidenta have asked me to tell you about my experiences and what I've learned. I can't imagine practicing without this tech and I'm excited to share what I know with all of you.  Follow this link to register.  

Clinical Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Mixed Reality-Based Dynamic Navigation for Implant Placement in the Anterior Maxilla

 Today's post dovetails well with a discussion I recently had on The Technology Evangelist Podcast with Dr. Mark Whitefield.  

Mark is an incredibly smart, outside the box thinker and the developer of the "Flex-on-X" implant retained denture system.  He's working on using a combination of AI and AR (Augmented Reality) vision to help during implant placement surgeries.  The concept is to use digital surgical glasses combined with magnification to superimpose CBCT and other digital info directly over the surgical site during treatment to simplify the procedure.  Imagine being able to see under the tissue live while you create the osteotomy!  Live and dynamically updating info throughout the surgical process is on the near horizon.  It's a fascinating discussion!

It also goes well with a recent study published in The Journal of Dentistry regarding using similar systems in a study based environment to evaluate the benefits or drawbacks to using this type of system in implant placement.  In a nutshell, the study found:

Results

The clinical integration of AI and MR-DN allowed accurate and time-efficient guided implant placement in the anterior maxilla.

However, there's a lot more to it than just the results achieved.  You can find the article here to get a really deep dive into how they performed the procedure and how they evaluated the results.  

The development of technologies that allow multiple datasets to be merged and projected over the surgical field through vision systems holds an incredible promise for surgery.  The potential benefits to both medicine and dentistry and massive.  My gut tells me that we are standing right on the edge of an incredible leap forward in how all surgeries are performed.  Information is powerful.  Simply put, the more data that a doctor has access to, the more potential for improvements we have.  Being able to take this clinical data and provide it directly into the doctor's eyes could change things incredibly.  

Be sure to watch the Dr. Mark Whitefield episode and then spend some time reading the study to see what the future of surgery holds.  

The podcast is available almost anywhere you get your podcasts.  To get links that will take you to your favorite platform follow this link to the Medidenta page that has all the info.  

California Attorney General Bonta Announces Settlement with Aspen Dental Over Corporate Practice of Dentistry and False Advertising

 

Today's post is a recent press release from the Office of the Attorney General for the State of California.  The state has been in litigation with Aspen Dental and the info below is on the settlement agreed to by both parties.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced reaching a settlement with Aspen Dental Management, Inc. (Aspen Dental) for allegedly violating California’s ban on the corporate practice of dentistry and engaging in false and misleading advertising. Owned by private equity firms, Aspen Dental describes itself as a dental support organization that provides business management and administrative services to dental offices, each of which operates under the “Aspen Dental” name and branding. However, the company is alleged to have exceeded that role by, among other things, interfering with and unlawfully directing the practice, ownership, and management of dentistry in California. The settlement, which remains subject to court approval, includes unprecedented injunctive terms to protect California consumers and clinical staff, $2 million in penalties, and $300,000 in restitution funds for certain patients.  

“As Americans face an affordability crisis, there is no room for unlawful business practices that can increase healthcare costs or harm consumers. We allege that Aspen Dental went beyond providing business support services and became involved in managing dental operations, while also using advertising that misrepresented services to consumers,” said Attorney General Bonta. “With this settlement, my office is making clear that patient care must remain in the hands of licensed professionals. If you believe you are a victim of false or misleading advertising, please report it to oag.ca.gov/report.” 

Since its founding in 1998, Aspen Dental has expanded to more than a thousand offices nationwide. It entered California in 2019 and has since opened 19 offices and served tens of thousands of patients. As part of this expansion, it is alleged that Aspen Dental did not contract with existing dental offices, but rather selected, purchased, staffed, and advertised its offices without clearly identifying an independent dentist-owner. For example, Aspen Dental designed, built out, and furnished all of its offices and made detailed decisions about each location, down to the artwork in bathrooms. It also selected, purchased, and installed all dental equipment across offices.

Aspen Dental also encouraged the sale of particular products and services through direct incentives to practices’ clinical employees. For example, Aspen Dental developed and implemented an incentive program for hygienists to encourage the sale of clear aligners. The program offered hygienists $50 per sale to new patients or $100 per sale to existing patients. Business practices of this kind limited dentist-owners, restricted staff, misguided patients, and purportedly violated California’s ban on the corporate practice of dentistry and California’s Unfair Competition Law. 

Further, many advertisements that Aspen Dental created contained misleading and/or false representations, including misleading testimonials, ambiguity, misleading cost claims, and inexact pricing language. Some Aspen Dental advertisements represented that its offices worked with all insurance or no insurance. However, Aspen Dental offices did not accept state or federally funded insurance programs. Other advertisements described low prices for certain products or procedures without clearly disclosing the factors that affect the price or what’s provided.

As a part of the settlement, Aspen Dental has agreed to $2 million in penalties, $300,000 in restitution funds, and injunctive terms, including:

• Not replacing any practice owner with another dentist of its choosing.
• Not requiring practice owners to effectively give up ownership of any dental practices if they decide to terminate their contractual relationship with Aspen Dental.
• Not owning the property for any practice. 
• Not practicing dentistry, including but not limited to owning or managing any dental office.
• Not basing service fees on revenue, sales, or profits.
• Not suggesting, directing, or encouraging any licensed clinician, other than a practice owner, to sell or increase revenue for any service or product.
• Not compensating any of its employees based on the sales or revenue of practices.
• Not paying any practice employees incentives based on practice sales, revenue, or profit, including the sale of a particular service or product.
• Discontinuing the use of and not enforcing any existing contractual provision that restricts where any licensed clinician may practice or be employed. 
• Providing a written fee schedule for products and laboratory services.
• Registering with the Dental Board of California as a Dental Group Advertising and Referral Service. 
• Clearly and conspicuously identifying the practice owners name when creating, publishing, or disseminating advertisements.

AMD Picasso Pro Laser Available for Pre-Order

I've always enjoyed endodontics and anytime something new and exciting in the field comes along, I always look at it with interest.  As a tech guy, I'm always looking for the latest and greatest, but I *really* perk up when I see something that just might make endo easier and/or provide better results.

Along those lines, I recently made a post about AMD Lasers and their new LEAP endo system that uses their newest laser, the Picasso Pro.

Today I'd like to pass along some more info for those of you who are interested in this new system.  I recently was notified by AMD that this new system is available for pre-order that includes a $600 savings.  

Personally, I think the value here is that this isn't an "endo specific" system.  The Picasso Pro is a fully functional diode laser that allows you to use it in a variety of clinical applications.  The big plus is that it also gives you a new way to perform endo for your patients.

I've been using soft tissue lasers in my clinical practice since around 1998 and I can tell you from personal experience that soft tissue lasers will change the way you think and treat.  The predictability of lasers allows you to do some amazing things.  As an example, I'll use gingival recontouring in aesthetic cases.  Properly used, a soft tissue laser can allow you to perform gingival recontouring as well as preparation for aesthetic dentistry at the same appointment.

A laser can allow you to gently ablate tissue that doesn't shrink as it heals.  That means the gingival margin stays exactly as you contoured it.  When the crowns or veneers are seated, the tissue is right where you left it.  This means patients get their cosmetic treatment faster with more predictable results.

Of course that's just one example of the benefits of laser dentistry.  You can also perform biopsies, tissue retraction for fixed prosthetics, frenectomies, and much, much more.  I've got several soft tissue lasers in the office and if someone came in and stole them, I'd be on the phone the next day ordering a new one.  Their effect on my treatment is that profound.  

Adding endodontics to the procedural list is the icing on the cake.  AMD has been working on developing the LEAP system since at least 2019 and they have done a lot of research and testing to fine tune this to get it just right. 

Here's what AMD has to say about the Picasso Pro and the new LEAP endo system...

A New Frontier in Laser Dentistry

The new Picasso Pro isn’t just another diode laser system; it’s a complete practice tool chest allowing you to deploy the power of lasers in ways you never imagined.  

Root Canal Disinfection

Developed exclusively for the Picasso Pro, the LEAP Laser Endodontic Ablation Procedure is a generational breakthrough in interior tooth dentistry. Achieve 99.999% canal disinfection in just a few seconds while reducing pain and retreatment risk. Stop referring out simple endo cases!

Pain-Free Injections

The Picasso Pro also features the LAPA Laser-Assisted Pain Alleviation protocol. Use photobiomodulation (PBM) and specially designed disposable tips to deliver chemical-free painless anesthetic injections. Say goodbye to flinching patients!

Bang for Your Buck

The Picasso Pro was created to elevate more aspects of your practice than ever before: hygiene, periodontics, smile aesthetics, restorative dentistry, endodontics, you name it. And at less than $10,000, its value is unbeatable. Preorder now and receive over $600 in free specialty tips and other goodies!

Pearl RCM Launches to Improve Insurance Workflows and Claim Outcomes in Dentistry

AI companies continue to expand their offerings and menus of services to the industry.  The competition in this segment of the market is fierce and AI service providers are constantly pushing their R&D teams for more features and smoother workflows.  Here's the latest info from Pearl on their new features and even a mention of what's coming in the not too distant future:
 

New Pearl product embeds AI insurance intelligence into daily practice and clinical operations, streamlining benefits verification, reducing patient billing surprises, and helping practices submit cleaner claims faster

Pearl, the global leader in dental AI solutions, today announced Pearl RCM, a revenue cycle management platform that embeds insurance intelligence throughout the dental workflow. By connecting eligibility verification, imaging quality assurance, clinical documentation, and clean claim preparation, Pearl RCM helps practices create and submit cleaner claims, reduce reimbursement delays, and improve revenue predictability.

Dental practices struggle to maintain predictable revenue cycles and expend considerable staff resources navigating the complex, fragmented patient insurance claim process. Often patient insurance is verified in one system (or manually across many), clinical documentation and imaging is loaded in another, and claim creation and submission is completed in a third. Staff piece claims together manually by switching between insurance portals and software platforms. This disconnected workflow frequently leads to errors: Claims are filed for treatments that are not covered by a patient’s insurance, required documentation is left out, clinical evidence doesn’t meet carrier requirements, etc. The result: Claims are subject to processing delays, downcodes, and denials. These are major pain points for dental practice owners, who ranked insurance-related issues, including delayed or denied payments and low reimbursement rates, among the top concerns for dental practices heading into 2026. Across U.S. healthcare more broadly, claim denials cost providers close to $30 billion annually. The impact of insurance friction extends to patients as well: Unexpected out-of-pocket costs are a key factor contributing to dentistry’s patient trust gap.

Unlike traditional dental RCM systems that operate downstream after treatment has already been completed, Pearl RCM embeds insurance intelligence upstream – during scheduling, imaging, diagnosis, and treatment planning – when issues can still be identified and corrected before they delay, downcode, or compromise a claim. This unique approach ensures that every clinical interaction is claim-ready, eliminating a major source of administrative overhead in dental practice management and revenue operations. With Pearl RCM, insurance eligibility verification and claim optimization integrate directly with daily clinical and operational workflows by surfacing coverage data, missing prerequisites, and claim-readiness status in high visibility touchpoints within Pearl’s dental AI platform.

Critically, Pearl RCM is built on a foundation of FDA-cleared radiologic AI that powers key capabilities including real-time x-ray quality assessment at the point of capture, automated selection of clinically relevant AI-annotated images for claim attachments, and AI-generated narratives grounded in what the imaging actually shows.

“Dental practices lose enormous time and revenue navigating disconnected insurance workflows,” said Ophir Tanz, founder and CEO of Pearl. “Pearl RCM addresses claim issues proactively, before they become denials. Moving insurance verification and claim readiness to the point of care gives practices clarity and predictability that they've never had, and patients get a billing experience that finally matches the quality of their clinical care.”

Customers can already see the impact:

“Pearl saves our team hours daily by both auto-verifying insurance and making coverage details clear and easy to find,” said Christine Marcin of Ballard Dental Partners. “The new RCM toolset goes a big step further, ensuring we have the right evidence, codes, and documentation to clear claims without insurance back and forth.”

In early deployments across select practices, Pearl RCM has helped teams achieve:

• Up to 35 staff hours per week saved on eligibility verification and claim creation
• Up to 80% fewer downcodes and denial related to missing, incomplete or non-compliant supporting documentation.
• Up to 2X improvement in first-pass clean claim submission rates

The platform's core features deliver clarity and efficiency across the entire revenue cycle:

• Precheck™: Confirms eligibility and code-level benefits automatically from four clearinghouses and over 300 carrier portals. Coverage data, including remaining benefits and frequency limits, is surfaced directly in the appointment card and schedule view, reducing time spent calling payers and helping to eliminate patient billing surprises.
• Claim Actions: Proactive, in-schedule alerts guide the team by flagging missing X-rays, outdated imaging, quality issues, or coverage gaps ahead of the visit, connecting clinical need, image quality, and insurance requirements in one view.
• Imagecheck™: Reduces avoidable denials due to non-diagnostic x-ray evidence by flagging x-ray issues at the point of capture, detecting quality defects like cone cuts, poor exposure, or missing apices before they reach a claim.
• Clean Claim (coming soon): Helps teams build stronger claims through automation, including Auto-Attach, which automatically selects and attaches the most clinically relevant, AI-annotated images, and Auto-Remark, which generates tailored clinical narratives and remarks for each procedure code and payer.
• Claim Insights (coming soon): Offers retrospective analytics on claim outcomes across the practice, surfacing actionable patterns by procedure, payer, provider, and location to help fix the root cause of lost revenue.

For practices, this suite of capabilities power an end-to-end approach to revenue cycle automation that enables a highest standard of revenue cycle efficiency in the dental industry. Pearl RCM is available now to dental practices across the United States. To learn more, visit hellopearl.com/products/rcm.

About Pearl

Pearl is a dental AI company committed to enhancing how patient care is delivered. Founded in 2019 by a team with decades of experience developing successful, enterprise-grade computer vision solutions, Pearl introduced the first-ever FDA-cleared AI capable of reading and instantly identifying diseases in dental x-rays. With regulatory clearance in 120 countries, Pearl's AI assists dentists in making precise clinical decisions and effectively communicating with patients, thereby transforming the dental care experience worldwide. As dentistry’s global AI leader, Pearl is committed to the ongoing innovation of robust, accessible AI tools that improve patient health outcomes and build greater trust in dental medicine. To request a demo, please visit hellopearl.com/demo.

Ambitious Program Launched to Advance Research and Promote Gum Health as the Link Between Oral and Overall Health

 

Promoted by the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation, with SEPA Playing a Leading Role Through the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative

• One of the most significant global efforts to strengthen dentistry’s contribution to overall health and to raise awareness among health care professionals and the general public about the strong association between periodontal diseases and systemic conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease
• The Levi-Richman Integration Initiative is currently funded at $2.5 million, and its scope is expected to expand in the coming years
• The SEPA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Spanish Society of Periodontology and Osseointegration, is playing a particularly prominent role as a strategic partner and recipient of a $200,000 philanthropic gift, which is expected to grow to $500,000, to implement the Working Together initiative.
• “Our goal is to reconnect the mouth to the body,” says Dr. Paul Levi Jr., who has highlighted SEPA’s important role in advancing periodontal health.
• The American Academy of Periodontology Foundation (AAP Foundation) has launched an ambitious initiative to deepen understanding of the relationship between oral health and systemic health. The effort is part of the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative, which will mobilize more than $2.5 million in existing and new investments to highlight the role of periodontal health as a critical link between oral and overall health.
• A new program developed under the umbrella of the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative is called Working Together, and the SEPA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Spanish Society of Periodontology and Osseointegration, will play a central role in its implementation. As explained by Dr. Paula Matesanz, President of SEPA, “The goal is to foster collaboration between oral health professionals and key public health stakeholders in alignment with global health priorities.” 

An Extraordinary Philanthropic Gift

The Levi-Richman Integration Initiative, named in honor of its founding donors Patty and Paul Levi and Dr. Colin Richman, is supported by major philanthropic contributions totaling approximately $2 million to date, including a $1 million gift made by Dr. Richman in 2020 and more than $250,000 previously contributed by the Levis and other donors. Patty and Paul Levi have now committed additional previously undisclosed funds and have also established a planned gift to further increase their support in the future.

Specifically, a $200,000 philanthropic contribution has been awarded, through an endowment model (permanent donation), to the SEPA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Spanish Society of Periodontology, to support implementation of the Working Together program. The AAP Foundation has committed to sustaining this effort over the next five years and is actively seeking additional funding to expand the initiative further, with the goal of reaching $500,000.

According to President Paula Matesanz, “The collaboration between the SEPA Foundation and the AAP Foundation, made possible through Professor Levi’s extraordinary generosity, represents a shared global effort to place oral health and the professionals who work in this field at the forefront of addressing major modifiable risk factors for diseases such as periodontitis, which also have important implications for overall health.”

Reconnecting Oral Health and Overall Health

“My family and I are proud to support this ambitious project,” said Dr. Colin Richman, “and to advance understanding of the bidirectional relationship between oral health and systemic health. Our existing Periodontics-Orthodontics (Perio-Ortho) grants have already sought to strengthen collaboration between periodontists and orthodontists. With this new initiative, we are extending that same spirit of integration to our colleagues in systemic health and addressing another subject that is deeply important to me: the oral-systemic connection.”

“Our goal is to reconnect the mouth to the body,” added Dr. Paul Levi Jr., quoting the late Dr. Bruce Donoff, a dentist and physician who served as Dean of Harvard School of Dental Medicine for 28 years. “For many years, evidence has continued to accumulate demonstrating the strong association between periodontal diseases and systemic conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. More recently, emerging research has linked oral health to an expanding list of conditions ranging from Alzheimer disease to erectile dysfunction. Although these relationships are well known among periodontists, they remain largely unfamiliar to the general public and to many physicians, including cardiologists, pulmonologists, and endocrinologists, whose patients may be in urgent need of periodontal care.”

“Periodontal and peri-implant diseases, as well as the dysbiosis and inflammation associated with these conditions, have been linked to the development and progression of numerous systemic diseases,” said Dr. Mia Geisinger, Past President of the American Academy of Periodontology and Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative. Although these associations do not necessarily establish causation, patients with systemic conditions are known to be at increased risk for periodontal disease and should be evaluated for periodontal treatment, particularly when they present with one or more warning signs of periodontal disease.

In this regard, Dr. Geisinger noted that greater medical-dental integration, including the widespread adoption of electronic health records, could significantly improve assessment of the bidirectional effects of periodontal and systemic diseases. “Future longitudinal and epidemiologic studies may help further clarify best practices to improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes.” In response to this need, the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative will fund research exploring causal links between periodontal disease and systemic conditions and will help disseminate those findings through education and advocacy.

Planned Activities

The Levi-Richman Integration Initiative will support new research, disseminate knowledge through educational programs for dentists, physicians, and allied health professionals, and raise awareness about periodontal and peri-implant diseases, the importance of their treatment, and the specialists who are uniquely qualified to provide this care.

Programs supported by the Initiative will include:

• A new and ambitious research grants program focused on interdisciplinary investigation of the relationship between oral health and systemic health.
• The existing Richman Family Foundation Perio-Ortho Grants, established in 2021 through Dr. Richman’s generous support.
• Expanded Patty and Paul Levi Research Awards, originally created in 2016 to recognize prevention-related research conducted by predoctoral dental students and funded by contributions from the Levi family and more than 100 donors. These awards will now include a second prize for postgraduate residents in periodontology.
• Educational programs for dentists, physicians, and allied health professionals.
• Funding for key initiatives within the American Academy of Periodontology, including the upcoming Best Evidence Consensus on the prevention of peri-implant diseases.
• Collaborations with the SEPA Foundation, Europe’s leading charitable organization dedicated to periodontology, including:
• A biennial global online symposium on prevention, beginning in 2027.
• International expansion of the AAP Foundation’s PerioDash 5K run/walk.
• A series of educational webinars for dentists and physicians held in conjunction with observances such as World No Tobacco Day and World Diabetes Day.

The SEPA Foundation: A Key Strategic Partner

One example of this outreach effort is PerioDash, the AAP Foundation’s annual 5K run/walk designed to raise awareness about periodontal diseases, the importance of treatment, and the specialists who can help. Now incorporated into the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative, PerioDash will expand to Europe through a partnership with the SEPA Foundation.

With financial support from the Initiative, the SEPA Foundation will also develop educational programs open to oral health and systemic health professionals worldwide, in collaboration with the AAP Foundation and other organizations. These efforts will begin in 2026 with a series of webinars held in conjunction with international health awareness observances, including World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and World Diabetes Day (November 14). The programs will include both global and local components, enabling periodontists to connect with physicians in their communities, broaden understanding of the oral-systemic relationship, and strengthen referral networks.

This Initiative marks an important new chapter for the AAP Foundation, which in 2025 celebrated surpassing $10 million in cumulative grants, scholarships, and financial awards over its 35-year history, including support for programs of the American Academy of Periodontology and the American Board of Periodontology. “The AAP Foundation is proud to continue its longstanding commitment to academic periodontics,” said its President, Dr. Christopher R. Richardson, “and now complements that core mission with this ambitious initiative, which is designed to directly support clinicians in private practice and improve both periodontal and overall health.”

About the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation

Founded in 1990, the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation (AAP Foundation) advances the specialty of periodontics and dental implant surgery through advocacy, research, and education. Over the past 35 years, more than 350 dental students, periodontology residents, faculty members, and practicing clinicians have received educational and research awards from the AAP Foundation, totaling more than $10 million. These awards have been made possible through support from more than 150 corporate and organizational donors, as well as nearly 5,000 individual professionals.

About the SEPA Foundation

The SEPA Foundation is the charitable arm of one of the world’s leading scientific societies in periodontology and implant therapy. It is widely recognized nationally and internationally for its role in promoting periodontal and peri-implant health through education, research, and scientific outreach. The Foundation is governed by a distinguished Board of Trustees that reflects the spirit of an open, collaborative institution committed to society and to improving people’s health by advancing initiatives that connect scientific knowledge with clinical practice and the broader community.

About Colin Richman

Born in Johannesburg, Dr. Colin Richman studied in South Africa and England before earning his certificate in periodontics from the University of Connecticut. A highly respected periodontist based in Georgia, Dr. Richman has extensive training and experience in periodontics and has delivered more than 350 lectures throughout the United States and internationally. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Emory University School of Dentistry and as a Clinical Instructor at the University of Connecticut. He is currently a professor at the Medical College of Georgia.

About Patty and Paul Levi

Patty and Paul Levi Jr. have been married for nearly 60 years, with Patty playing an essential role in supporting Dr. Levi throughout his teaching and professional career in periodontics. After completing his postgraduate training in periodontics at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Levi established his private practice in Burlington and taught at the University of Vermont School of Dental Hygiene for 27 years. He later began commuting to Boston to teach part-time at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where he currently serves as a faculty member. Patty and Paul share a deep commitment to prevention. Their connection with the Spanish periodontal community began when Dr. Levi taught in Barcelona for one academic year. Since then, he has maintained close ties with SEPA and has been a frequent speaker at its congresses.

Analysis of Endodontic Obturation Techniques

 

A short post today, because the real info is in the study.  I happen to love endodontics.  It's one of my favorite procedures.  Like anything in the profession, there are lots of schools of thought and lots of debate about different techniques.  The knowledge base is always growing.

A recent study was done to systemically compare the outcomes of different techniques of obturation through a systemic review and meta-analysis.  They looked at results from both initial treatment as well as retreatment.  Of course, instrumentation is probably the primary concern.  If a canal isn't properly decontaminated/instrumented, the type of obturation won't matter much.

Yet, I found the info in the study interesting and I hope those of you who are performing endo will find it interesting as well.  The study was published in Scientific Reports  and you can read the study by following this link:  Effect of root canal filling techniques and materials on endodontic treatment outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis 

Also, as an aside to this post.  I try to honor copyrights, so I asked an AI system to "Create image of x-ray of endodontically treated human lower first molar."  That image is the one at the top of this post.  It appears the system created a graphic of a film radiograph.  I found that a little humorous.  I haven't used film since around the year 2000.

Solventum Foundation and America’s ToothFairy Launch National Effort to Expand Access to Preventive Dental Care

 

Two years ago, 3M's dental division changed their name to Solventum.  Even though it's been a bit over two years now, I find that a lot of dentists aren't aware of the switch.  The company makes a lot of popular products like 3M Filtek Supreme XTE Restorative, but if an office doesn't happen to order a lot of their products, that name change may have gone unnoticed.  However, the only thing that has changed with their products is the name.  It's all still the same great products inside the package.

There has been a recent announcement that the Solventum Foundation has partnered wtih America's ToothFairy to provide oral health screenings, education, and fluoride treatments to more than 100,000 children and caregivers over the next year. The oral health of children is critically important.  I'm proud of what both of these organizations are doing to help improve the lives of kids.

Solventum Foundation and America’s ToothFairy Launch National Effort to Expand Access to Preventive Dental Care

• Expands access to much needed dental care for underserved communities
• Supports safety-net dental clinics, increased screenings and preventive services and broader distribution of educational materials for children and families
• Advances meaningful societal impact through Solventum Foundation philanthropy aligned to the company’s core focus areas

The Solventum Foundation today announced a $350,000 grant to America’s ToothFairy to expand access to oral health screenings, dental education and fluoride treatment for more than 100,000 children and caregivers in underserved communities over the next year.

In addition to the Foundation's grant, Solventum's dental business will donate 60,000 applications of 3M™ Clinpro™ Clear Fluoride Treatment to support the initiative. Together, these contributions underscore Solventum’s commitment to enabling better, smarter, safer healthcare to improve lives by addressing critical gaps in oral health access.

“I am incredibly proud to see how the Solventum Foundation is working to improve lives and advance access to care in communities where we live and work around the world,” said Bryan Hanson, chief executive officer, Solventum. “This grant will help America’s ToothFairy provide essential resources so more children can build a foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.”

This initiative addresses significant barriers that many families face in accessing dental care, including financial hardship, lack of transportation and a shortage of dental providers. The grant enables America’s ToothFairy to support safety-net dental clinics and community organizations in delivering fluoride applications and oral health education in trusted settings like schools and mobile units.

Key components of the initiative include:

• Expanded access: Adding five new safety-net dental clinics to the America’s ToothFairy Dental Resource Program, providing them with valuable resources to increase access to care in communities near Solventum facilities.
• Direct care grants: Awarding grants to support oral health screenings and urgent dental care for children who lack insurance coverage.
• Education: Distributing educational materials to 25,000 children and caregivers to reinforce healthy habits at home and the importance of fluoride in preventing tooth decay.

“At America’s ToothFairy, we see every day how difficult it can be for families to get the dental care their children need,” said Jill Malmgren, executive director of America’s ToothFairy. “This generous support from the Solventum Foundation will help us reach more children with preventive care, connect more families to trusted resources and give more kids the chance to grow up healthy and pain free.”

Solventum employees will also play a vital role in the initiative by hosting Smile Drives to collect essential hygiene products for families in need, volunteering to assemble oral health kits and delivering donated products to local clinics.

This is the Solventum Foundation’s first large-scale grant since its formation in 2025. The Foundation intends to make additional grants across Solventum’s core business areas.

About the Solventum Foundation

The Solventum Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation that is funded and supported by Solventum. At the Foundation, we are dedicated to improving lives and advancing access to care for those who need it most. We focus our charitable efforts on three core pillars: supporting our employees in times of need, strengthening our communities and responding to global crises. The Foundation is a separate legal entity, guided by its own board of directors, that works in partnership with Solventum to create meaningful societal impact.

About Solventum

At Solventum, we enable better, smarter, safer healthcare to improve lives. As a new company with a long legacy of creating breakthrough solutions for our customers’ toughest challenges, we pioneer game-changing innovations at the intersection of health, material and data science that change patients' lives for the better — while empowering healthcare professionals to perform at their best. See how at Solventum.com.

About America’s ToothFairy

America’s ToothFairy is celebrating 20 years of increasing access to oral healthcare. The organization supports nonprofit clinics and community partners who deliver education, prevention and treatment services for underserved children. America’s ToothFairy has helped more than 16 million children and caregivers across America access oral health services. For more information, visit America’sToothFairy.org.

The Technology Evangelist Podcast Episode 42 - Dr. Adam Hodges on Composite Veneer Technology and Digital Dentistry

Not too long ago I got a chance to have a great conversation with Dr. Adam Hodges about his passion for excellence and his dedication to the profession.  I was impressed with a lot of the things he said and the topics he covered, however the one that I really loved was his thoughts on mentorship.  I've said it a lot over the years, but at the time I started my practice, communication with other doctors was a lot more difficult.  I had limited resources available to me and I was often forced to figure things out myself.  Now with the ability to communicate with experienced clinicians, young doctors can learn from mentors at an amazing speed.

If you are a young doctor, don't hesitate to reach out to others.  There are a lot of clinicians like Dr. Hodges that enjoy helping others learn more about the profession.

Below is a summary of our conversation:

Composite veneer technology has transformed what general dentists can deliver for patients — and few clinicians know that story better than Dr. Adam Hodges. On this episode of The Technology Evangelist Podcast, host Dr. John Flucke sits down with Dr. Hodges, a Solventum KOL, Dental Advisor clinical ambassador, and 24-year veteran of a family dental practice in Asheville, North Carolina, to talk about how digital workflows are making composite veneers more predictable, more profitable, and more accessible than ever. This conversation is brought to you by Medidenta Digital Solutions, whose support makes this podcast possible.

Key Insights on Composite Veneer Technology and Generational Dentistry:

• A Generational Practice Built on Mentorship: Dr. Hodges is a 2000 graduate of the Medical College of Georgia who completed a general practice residency at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital focused on surgical and cosmetic dentistry. He went on to join his father in practice and now runs Hodges and Hodges Comprehensive Dental Medicine alongside his brother. He credits his father’s analytical, military-trained mindset with quietly programming him to think like a dentist long before he ever set foot in dental school — a foundation he says shaped his clinical precision and his ability to communicate calmly under pressure.
• How the Solventum Filtek Matrix Changed His Approach to Composite Veneers: As the initial clinical user of the Solventum Filtek Matrix, Dr. Hodges describes a personal turning point. Despite genuinely enjoying composite veneers as a concept, he had largely stopped doing them because he lacked confidence in consistently delivering a beautiful esthetic result. The Filtek Matrix — which uses a digital scan and design to create a case that the dentist injects composite into directly — changed that. What once took him four and a half hours now takes roughly ninety minutes, with results that are more predictable and patient-approved every time. Composite veneer technology, he says, went from being a pain point to a true practice differentiator.
• The Business Case for Affordable Esthetics: Dr. Hodges makes a compelling argument for composite veneers as a practice builder. Because the procedure is significantly less expensive than porcelain veneers, patients who complete treatment often become word-of-mouth referrals almost immediately. He also notes that when specialists in the area — orthodontists, pediatric dentists — learned he was offering this service reliably, he became a referral destination for cases that those offices could not handle themselves. The financial efficiency of completing six composite veneers in a single hour, he adds, makes this one of the most profitable procedures in his day.
• Choosing the Right Entry Point into Digital Dentistry: Both Dr. Hodges and I stress that digital dentistry does not require an all-or-nothing commitment. A practice that already has a digital scanner can take advantage of composite veneer technology without designing cases from scratch — Solventum’s portal handles the design work, and the clinician simply works from the resulting case. Dr. Hodges compares this to using water wings before swimming independently: start with the supported workflow, build confidence over a handful of cases, and add more self-directed digital capability only when it makes practical sense.
• The Role of Advanced Education in Clinical Confidence: Dr. Hodges began pursuing continuing education almost immediately after residency, even when he could barely afford it. He studied at Pankey and Spear, completed the LSU Cosmetic Continuum, and credits those experiences with building the clinical foundation that allowed him to take full advantage of new composite veneer technology and other digital tools when they arrived. He warns that many dentists wait too long to pursue advanced training, leaving themselves with less career horizon to apply what they learn.
• When to Pause on New Materials and Technology: Having been burned twice by adopting restorative materials that later failed at scale — including one that resulted in a manufacturer recall mid-use — Dr. Hodges advises particular caution with newer 3D-printed crown materials. He notes that while 3D printing produces remarkable anatomy, the materials’ long-term durability in the mouth is still in its early stages. He recommends relying on organizations like Dental Advisor and CR for independent testing data before adopting new materials, rather than letting compelling marketing drive clinical decisions.
• Patient Communication as a Clinical Skill: A recurring theme throughout the episode is the importance of tailoring communication to the individual patient. Dr. Hodges describes developing internal scripts — specific, tested language for everything from bite checks to treatment presentations — and refining them the same way a performer refines a stage act: if he is not getting the result he wants, he changes the delivery. He and Dr. Flucke also discuss the value of keeping chairside conversation focused on dentistry, noting that an endless, enthusiastic discussion of teeth is the one topic that will never alienate a patient or create controversy in today’s charged environment.
• Mentoring the Next Generation: Dr. Hodges currently mentors six dental residents, taking them to dinner, presenting cases, and deliberately trying to spark the curiosity that will drive them toward lifelong learning. He pushes back on experienced dentists who criticize younger clinicians without actively helping them — arguing that the obligation of seasoned practitioners is to help the next generation understand not just how to do things, but why, so they can apply that reasoning to tools and techniques that do not yet exist.

Dr. Adam Hodges brings a rare combination of clinical depth, industry involvement, and genuine enthusiasm for the future of dentistry to every conversation. Whether you are a new graduate trying to figure out where composite veneer technology fits in your practice, or an experienced dentist looking to revisit a procedure you have been avoiding, his insights offer a practical and encouraging roadmap.   

The Technology Evangelist Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts.  Please "Like", "Subscribe", and "Comment" as that helps more people find us and helps keep the algorithm happy.  To see this discussion with Dr. Adam Hodges, click here.  

 

Have a Great Memorial Day - and Remember the Fallen

The photo above is a gorgeous shot of Arlington National Cemetery taken by Duane Lempke.  He has generously dedicated this work to the public domain by waiving all rights to it.  I think that it's a great way to start this post. 

According to Wikipedia, "Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces".  Here's a bit of trivia... the holiday was originally called Decoration Day and was so named to encourage placing flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers.  I can still remember my grandma wanting to go to a cemetery on "Decoration Day" to place flowers.  It's one of those childhood memories that warms my heart.

The holiday started out as a way to honor Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War and has since morphed into a remembrance of all fallen soldiers and military personnel.  

From a personal point of view, it seems to me that over the years the real reason for the holiday has become a bit lost.  I feel a lot of people look upon it more as the beginning of summer and a day to relax and grill in the backyard.  While I'm certainly not opposed to bonding over a backyard burger, I wanted to take today's post and remind everyone of "the why" behind the day.

Sacrifice for the common good is honorable and we should all take a moment today to pause and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for others.  Enjoy the day and remember the fallen who cannot be there with you.

3D Printing Waste - How Do We Handle It?

 

As regular readers will know, I am all in on 3D printing.  This area of dentistry is really starting to take root and continues to grow.  The profession is rapidly moving to delivery of common "bread and butter" removable appliances and crowns to in-office.  The design process has gotten much easier as AI is integrated more and more into the workflow.  More 3D printing in being done in dental offices and even more is being done in dental labs.  The dental lab industry was quick to see the benefit of digital dentistry and incorporating 3D printing into their workflows has given labs increased speed while cutting costs.

This product category is growing, yet there is one area of this change that we all need to think about.  3D printing does create some excess cured resin and how can that be recycled in an environmentally friendly way?  As the image above shows, when a device is 3D printed, it's necessary to create supports.  These small pieces literally 'support' the project while it is being printed.  These supports are then trimmed off, the project is polished, and the supports are normally tossed in the trash.  Obviously we're all trying to reduce the amount of plastics that end up in landfills and despite my love of 3D printing, I think we need to think about this.

The good new is, now there's a way to recycle this excess cured resin.  You read that right, recycle.  DRNA  (Dental Recycling North America) is now offering a way to dispose of the pieces without sending them to a landfill.  

Back when amalgam disposal was still a minor concern in the industry, DRNA began selling amalgam separators that removed amalgam from dental suction.  Their system is a canister that connects to the suction unit and removes the amalgam dust and particles before they go into the municipal sewer lines.  Amalgam separators are new required in dental offices, but back when I had one installed, I did it simply because I thought it was environmentally responsible.  I've been using their product ever since.

Recently the company came out with a system to recycle 3D printed resins and, again, I think it's a great idea for the environment.  As we are all aware, taking care of the planet is something we should all be concerned with and this is great idea to help with that.  The company can safely dispose of both cured and uncured (liquid) resin.

The process is simple.  You simply purchase a 2.5 gallon bucket from the company, place the cured resin pieces into it, and when the bucket is full it is shipped back to DRNA who then recycles the material.  It's a simple, turnkey solution, that simplifies the process of recycling the cured resin leftovers.  Occasionally a 3D printer will make a mistake and misprint something.  It isn't common, but it happens and you can recycle those as well.  I like the idea because it makes recycling consistent, easier, and provides paperwork to the office that the materials have been responsibly disposed of.

The idea came to the folks at DRNA when the SprintRay Midas 3D printer came to market.  The Midas uses the same concept as the Keurig Coffee Pod.  It uses a small cartridge that contains enough resin to print a single crown.  It cuts waste by reducing the amount of resin used and streamlines the workflow for offices that are 3D printing crowns.  However, in addition to the left over resin, there is also the pod to consider as far as waste.  The folks at DRNA decided to create a solution that was easy and environmentally friendly to make recycling easier.  Yet you don't need to be a Midas user to recycle.  Now DRNA has brought 3D recycling to any office using a 3D printer.  As the 3D printing market expands and printers evolve, there will also be other 'pod' type solutions on the market and getting started with recycling now is a good thing for everyone.

You can find all of the info on DRNA's system here.  

During AAPD 2026: CaviSense™ Showcasing its 10-Second Chairside Test for Active Demineralization in Pediatric Patients

At the Yankee Dental Congress this past January I got a chance to see the CaviSense™ system in action and I also got a chance to actually have it used on me.  This is a unique idea that moves the profession further into the prevention model by helping to identifying demineralization at its earliest stages.  This may allow doctors to then be able to provide remineralization therapy or resin infiltration.

The big news here is that the company will have a booth at the upcoming AAPD meeting in Las Vegas this weekend.  If you are planning on attending, be sure to stop by Booth #104 and tell them I said hello!  Read on for the details...

Company Will Also Provide an Early Preview  of its Full-Mouth Active Demineralization Detection Tray System

Leading Pediatric Dentist, Adam Silevitch, DMD will explain his success with CaviSense, Saturday 11:00AM, May 23rd, in CaviSense Booth #104

CaviSense Inc., a Harvard/Tufts spin-out and developer of a radiation-free diagnostic technology for active tooth demineralization. CaviSense will be returning as an exhibitor to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) Annual Session, May 21–24 in Las Vegas.

At Booth #104, CaviSense will be providing live chairside demonstrations of its 10-second diagnostic sensor designed to identify interproximal active demineralization before lesions become radiographically apparent.

In addition, the company will be previewing its new and revolutionary tray system designed to provide comprehensive screening for localized active tooth demineralization of the entire dentition in 30 seconds. 

According to Dr. Gili Naveh, founder of CaviSense. “Today with our CaviSense single point sensor and our upcoming, full mouth tray system,  we’re rapidly 

shifting the caries management paradigm. We’re enabling detection to extend beyond the four walls of the dental office and into home testing. Clinicians can now detect the early stages of caries and intervene earlier, when minimally invasive treatments are most effective.”

The CaviSense single point sensor and full mouth tray system both integrate seamlessly into the  pediatric office workflow, with no radiation exposure and without invasive procedures - important considerations for both clinicians and parents.


“Anything we introduce into our pediatric operatories has to be fast, kid friendly, and clinically meaningful,” said Dr. Adam Silevitch, DMD, pediatric dentist and early CaviSense adopter. “This technology checks all three boxes. It enables me to identify active acid challenges in specific areas, and have a much more precise, visual conversation with parents and their children.”

Dr. Silevitch will be making a special appearance at CaviSense booth #104 on Saturday, May 23rd, at 11AM to explain how CaviSense transformed his pediatric practice and enabled him to boost revenue by increasing case acceptance and positive outcomes of minimally invasive treatments.

During the AAPD Annual Session, CaviSense will also promote its Lunch & Learn program, inviting pediatric practices to schedule post-meeting, virtual lunch & learn sessions designed to educate the entire team on the benefits of early caries detection with CaviSense. Schedule a Lunch & Learn here: https://bit.ly/CaviSenseLearning

About CaviSense

CaviSense develops advanced diagnostic technologies to improve the early detection and management of dental caries. Its patented chairside sensor and upcoming full mouth tray system identify localized cariogenic conditions and active tooth demineralization in seconds, enabling clinicians to intervene earlier and deliver minimally invasive care.

References:
1. CDC Oral Health Surveillance Report
2. NIDCR Dental Caries Data