Quieter Dental Drills may be on the Horizon

 

It's interesting to me how people perceive the dental profession.  I haven't used air turbine driven handpieces in least fifteen years, possibly longer.  What I prefer to use in the handpiece in the image above, which is the Bien Air Nova which is an electric handpiece.  That handpiece has completely changed the way I practice.  I've written about it since its release and I also shot a series of videos for the Bien Air Academy that show me putting it through some of the amazing things it's capable of.

Because of that, I don't even pick up an air driven handpiece anymore.  However, the patient perception of whining high speed handpieces driven by an air turbine persist.  Today's post is to let you know about a recent article in Popular Science that talks about research into making air driven handpieces quieter.  A lot of study is going into changing the turbine blade shape and other things in attempts to make the sound less piercing.

I'm all for research and perhaps for a doctor on a very limited budget, air driven handpieces might be a good choice, to get by until upgrading to electric.  However with the things electric handpieces can do *without* the associated noise, I wonder if this concept will find its way to the market.  I didn't change to electric because of the noise, although it *is* a nice benefit.  No, I made the move to electric because of all of the performance and efficiency benefits electric handpieces provide.

My Bien Air Novas aren't just 'replacements" for my old air driven systems, they are a much, much better alternative.  Since you can change the RPM of the handpiece with the push of a button, it eliminates the need to have a slow speed for practically any restorative procedure.  Slow speed caries removal?  Check!  High speed smooth prepping for crowns?  Check!  Cutting through zirconia?  Double check because the Nova does NOT stall, meaning I can perform zirconia crown removal, faster and easier than is possible with an air turbine.

My advice is that if you haven't ever tried a Bien Air handpiece, you don't know what you're missing.  The moment you do a demo, the benefit is obvious.  I highly recommend giving the 
Bien Air Nova a try in your own hands.  Most likely the only question you'll have is "when can it be delivered?"  The difference is that profound.  Check out their website here.

ADEX Completes First Dental Licensure Examination in Saudi Arabia

There has been a fair amount of news about licensure lately, especially here in the U.S.  Standardizing licensure would make things much easier for established practitioners to move from one state to another.  ADEX has been working to make that easier.  Now comes news about ADEX bringing their examination to Saudi Arabia.  This should also help graduates of King Abdulaziz University get licensed in the US if they choose to practice here.

First exam culminates three years of strategic collaboration with King Abdulaziz University and the Saudi Health Commission

The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX), a leading dental testing organization, has completed the inaugural administration of the ADEX Dental Examination in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone by making the American standard for clinical assessments available in the eastern hemisphere.

The examination was conducted during the first week of January 2026, at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) in Jeddah. KAU is one of only two Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-recognized dental education programs operating outside of United States, positioning it as a highly qualified international exam site for delivery of the ADEX examination.

“This examination represents the culmination of nearly three years of planning, collaboration, and shared commitment to excellence,” said Dr. Benjamin Wall, Director of Examinations for ADEX. “The facilities, faculty support, and operational readiness at King Abdulaziz University met the rigorous standards required for the ADEX examination.”

The Saudi Arabia exam administration reflected significant coordinated planning between ADEX and King Abdulaziz University, including multiple site visits, infrastructure validation, examiner preparation, and operational testing to ensure the examination was delivered in accordance with established psychometric, clinical, and security standards.

"We are deeply grateful to the leaders at KAU for their dedication and collaboration in bringing the ADEX examination to Saudi Arabia," said Dr. Mark Armstrong, Chair of ADEX. "This expansion represents a meaningful step forward in furthering our mission  and contributing to international dental competency standards that may ultimately protect public health and safety worldwide."

While the ADEX Dental Examination is not required for licensure within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, many candidates pursue the exam for the professional distinction it represents and for its acceptance by U.S. licensing jurisdictions. The successful completion of this administration further reinforces the ADEX examination’s role as a trusted, internationally recognized measure of clinical competency.

Saudi Arabia now joins a growing list of international locations where the ADEX Dental Examination is administered, including Canada, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Mexico. ADEX continues to work with academic institutions, regulators, and examiners to uphold consistent standards while responsibly expanding global access to high-quality licensure assessments.

About the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) 

The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) is a not-or-profit organization dedicated to supporting dental boards in their mission to protect the public through the licensure of qualified oral health professionals. Established in 1969, ADEX administers independent competency examinations developed and approved by representatives of state dental boards. ADEX examinations are accepted or required by law in 51 U.S. jurisdictions and serve as the initial licensure pathway for 98% of dental and 85% of dental hygiene candidates nationwide. Through ongoing collaboration with dental boards and educators, ADEX continues to advance innovative, evidence-based assessment methods that uphold the highest standards of fairness, clinical competence, and public protection. Learn more at adextesting.org.

 

 

A short post today, but it's important and if you're a practicing doctor you need to be aware of it.  From the ADA website:

The ADA updated its sample Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, Notice of Privacy Practices to reflect new federal requirements regarding the use and disclosure of certain substance use disorder treatment information. Beginning Feb. 16, HIPAA-covered practices must include information in their Notice of Privacy Practices describing how substance use disorder records protected under title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 2 may be used and disclosed. The new federal requirements are the result of a final rule modifying the Part 2 rules published Feb. 16, 2024. 

So head on over to the ADA to changes to the HIPAA, Notice of Privacy Practices.  As we all know, compliance to federal law is important.   Also, this is another plug from me on the benefits of membership in organized dentistry.  Without a source for this kind of information, it would be up to each of us to keep track of things like this individually... and we all know how difficult that would.  As I've said before, organized dentistry does a lot for us behind the scenes that many are not aware of.  This is just another example of when someone asks, "What does the ADA do for me?"  I'd answer... "things like this."

I don't want anyone to think that I'm frequently bringing this up because I'm heavily involved with the ADA.  I'm a member, but that's the extent of it.  However, I'm a big believer in what they do.   Like any large organization, there are things I don't agree with, but the benefits more than weigh out the negatives.  I highly encourage every doctor to be a member.

Colgate-Palmolive and WHO Foundation Announce Global Partnership on Oral Health

 

A big announcement today from Colgate.  This is a major news story and I'm glad to help get the info out to my peers.  The WHO and the WHO Foundation are helping promote health around the globe and oral health is key to their goals.  Those of us in the profession know how critical the oral-systemic link is to overall health and it's great to see companies that can afford to help making such a big commitment.
 

Multi-year funding will advance oral health, as oral diseases are among the most prevalent and overlooked noncommunicable diseases impacting 3.7 billion people globally.

 

Today, Colgate-Palmolive announced a new multi-year collaboration with the WHO Foundation to support the World Health Organization's work on oral health. The four-year funding commitment will help expand oral health education, support integration of oral health into national health systems, and raise awareness of oral health as a public health priority. This initiative builds on Colgate’s commitment to providing communities with oral health education and resources. The Company recently announced that the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® program has reached approximately two billion children and their families around the world since 1991 with oral health education.

 

“At Colgate-Palmolive, we are driven by our purpose to reimagine a healthier future for all – and to make more smiles. We’re launching this collaboration with the WHO Foundation given its unique position to support global health challenges and Colgate’s leadership position in oral health as the brand that’s in more homes than any other,” said Ram Raghavan, President, Enterprise Oral Care, Colgate-Palmolive. “Oral health is a critical – and too often overlooked – part of the global health agenda. We are committed to elevating oral health as a public health priority by scaling prevention and education and supporting evidence-based solutions that help strengthen health systems and improve lives across communities around the world.”

 

Oral health is foundational to overall health and wellbeing, yet remains underprioritized in many health systems. This neglect is exacerbated by factors such as economic status, education, health literacy, and access to healthcare.1 For children in particular, the consequences of poor oral health can lead to physical pain, emotional issues and challenges in education, including concentration difficulties and increased absenteeism.3-5 Through this collaboration, Colgate, part of the Colgate-Palmolive family of brands, and the WHO Foundation are supporting the World Health Organization to address persistent barriers affecting approximately half the world’s population, supporting efforts to integrate oral health into broader public health agendas and systems.

 

“The WHO Foundation supports WHO’s mission by mobilizing private funding in support of public health priorities,” said Anil Soni, Chief Executive Officer of the WHO Foundation. “Oral health plays an essential role in overall health, and progress depends on long-term investment in prevention, trusted guidance, and strong health systems. Support like this helps enable WHO’s work to advance oral health and improve health outcomes for communities around the world.”

 

A Shared Focus on System-Level Impact

The partnership aims to accelerate progress by elevating oral health as a foundational public health priority, guided by three strategic areas of action:

• Scaling Oral Health Education: Helping to integrate core prevention and education principles into established government health infrastructure – such as school health systems – in designated regions.
• Supporting Policy and Guidance: Supporting essential research to help Ministries of Health develop evidence-based, cost-effective recommendations for integrating oral health interventions into national health systems.
• Increasing Prioritization: Supporting awareness through strategic, global, and cross-sector engagement to raise the profile of oral health and showcase the impact and outcomes of this partnership.

 

Colgate and the WHO Foundation are launching this partnership at a time when collaboration between public and private sectors is crucial to deliver progress against global health goals. At the recent Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting, oral health was recognized and included as a public health priority in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, with Member States supporting and calling for action. By focusing on preventive oral health measures, evidence-based policy, and broader public awareness about the link between oral health and overall health and wellbeing, this partnership seeks to improve lives around the world.

 

About Colgate-Palmolive Company

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition, we sell our products in more than 200 countries and territories under brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, hello, meridol, Sorriso, Tom’s of Maine, EltaMD, Filorga, Irish Spring, Lady Speed Stick, PCA SKIN, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Speed Stick, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Murphy, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet and Prime100. We are recognized for our leadership and innovation in promoting sustainability and community wellbeing, including our achievements in decreasing plastic waste and promoting recyclability, saving water, conserving natural resources and improving children’s oral health through the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, which has reached approximately 2 billion children and their families since 1991. For more information about Colgate’s global business and how we are building a future to smile about, visitwww.colgatepalmolive.com.

 

About the WHO Foundation

The WHO Foundation is an independent organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, created in 2020 to support the mission of the World Health Organization. It mobilizes philanthropic capital and builds catalytic partnerships to advance health equity, respond to urgent health challenges, and strengthen systems that save lives. By connecting partners and practitioners, the Foundation helps scale trusted solutions, fund life-saving responses, and drive lasting change toward Health for All. who.foundation

 

Buffalo Dental Manufacturing's New V35E Enclosed Handpiece Ensures Safer, More Efficient 3D Printed Oral Appliance Finishing

 

In dental offices, many of us are familiar with sand blaster/micro etcher type devices.  The dust generated by those devices is vacuumed out and filtered.  Now Buffalo Dental Manufacturing has created a similar device for cutting and smoothing 3D printed projects.  It pairs a terrific lab handpiece with a vacuum and filtration system.  Any small particles created during the finishing process are captured and filtered.  As someone who knows a bit about 3D printing, I think this is a great idea.  Read on for all the details...

Buffalo Dental Manufacturing (BDM), a leading dental company with the industry's widest range of handpieces, lab products, lab equipment, and vacuum forming materials and accessories, recently launched the V35E , an enclosed micromotor handpiece designed to improve safety and efficiency when finishing 3D-printed dental prosthetics, and models.

The V35E addresses a growing concern in dental labs and dental practices: Exposure to harmful particles, volatile compounds, and residual toxins released during grinding, trimming, and adjusting 3D-printed oral appliances.

The unit's fully-enclosed system effectively captures debris and circulates it through an integrated filtration system, helping to protect dental technicians and clinicians while maintaining a cleaner workspace.

The V35E is built for today's labs and dental offices where speed, precision, and safety must go hand in hand. This versatile innovation gives technicians and clinicians the confidence to work efficiently with 3D prosthetics without compromising on health, safety, or performance.

Key benefits of the V3SE include:

• Safer work environment: Advanced containment captures dust, fumes, and toxins before they reach open air.
• Greater efficiency: High-torque performance with precise speed control enables faster workflows.
• Ergonomic comfort: Compact, easy-to-use design reduces operator fatigue.
• Long-lasting reliability: Built for durability to support busy dental lab environments.

Buffalo Dental Manufacturing products are available exclusively through authorized dealers and distribution partners. To learn more about the V35E, download the official product brochure or e-mail sales@mailBDM.com    Distributor inquiries are welcome, and interested partners may contact Buffalo Dental using the contact information above.

About Buffalo Dental Manufacturing

Headquartered in Syosset, NY, Buffalo Dental Manufacturing (BDM) supplies the dental profession worldwide with an extensive range of handpieces, lab products, equipment, and accessories. Proudly manufacturing most of its products in the United States, BDM is committed to delivering quality, safety, and value close to home. Learn more at www.buffalodental.com.

YDC: 2026: Revere Partners Showcases Dental Innovations for the 5th Straight Year

The 2026 Yankee Dental Conference is rapidly approaching.  If you plan on attending, here's an announcement from Revere Partners... 

This Year’s “Future of Dentistry Pavilion” Theme is “Liquid Gold” – Salivary Diagnostics and Regeneration Technologies

Revere Partners, the institutional venture capital fund focused on investing at the intersection of health and oral health technology, announced today its return to the Yankee Dental Congress with its fifth consecutive “Future of Dentistry Pavilion”, highlighting emerging technologies that are shaping the evolution of dental care and medical-dental integration.

Located at Booth #2034, the 2026 Revere Innovation Pavilion will center on the theme “Liquid Gold,” spotlighting saliva as a critical diagnostic and biological driver of overall health and regenerative technologies. The pavilion will feature a curated group of early- and growth-stage companies approaching the saliva opportunity from diverse clinical, scientific, workflow, and business perspectives.

“It’s an honor to collaborate once again with the Yankee Dental Congress, as we share a strong mutual interest in accelerating the adoption of dental technology,” said Dr. Jeremy Krell, founder of Revere Partners.”  

The 2026 Future of Dentistry Pavilion will feature companies utilizing saliva to advance continuous health monitoring, oral cancer diagnostics, regenerative therapies, and implant stabilization technologies, reinforcing Revere Partners’ mission to support innovations that improve patient outcomes and provider experiences. The dental innovators will include:

• HysensBio: Develops regenerative technologies for dentin and periodontal tissues to support biologically driven healing.
• Lura Health: Develops saliva-based diagnostics and continuous monitoring technologies designed to identify disease risk earlier and enable proactive, personalized care.
• OrisDx: Advances diagnostic solutions for early detection of oral cancer using biomarker-driven science.
• RevBio: Develops Tetranite®, a synthetic bone adhesive designed to stabilize dental implants and craniofacial bone structures.

Over the past five years, Revere Partners’ presence at the Yankee Dental Congress has provided exposure to dozens of innovative startups, connecting founders with clinicians, industry leaders, and strategic partners seeking next-generation solutions in oral and systemic health. “Our goal has always been to provide meaningful exposure to companies driving patient-centered care, solving critical provider care gaps, and propelling medical-dental integration and whole-person care,” added Krell.

About Revere Partners:

Revere Partners is the first institutional venture capital fund focused on oral and systemic health, identifying groundbreaking opportunities for investors and providing capital for cutting-edge innovations. Revere Partners’ aligns startups with strategic capital alongside unrivaled industry resources and growth opportunities. Founded by Dr. Jeremy Krell, Revere Partners fosters strategic partnerships that enhance care delivery while maximizing value for investors. Learn more at www.reverepartnersvc.com or on LinkedIn.

Tech Experts Urge People to Stay Vigilant Following Surge in AI Voice Scams

 

My good friend Dr. Marty Jablow likes to say about AI, "Don't check your brain at the door."  I couldn't agree more with him.  As a matter of fact, I wish I had come up with that.

That quote really applies to today's post.  It seems that AI voice scams are on the rise.  I highly advise people to come up with 'code words' that readily identify themselves.  It should be an unusual word that can't be guessed and will readily identify yourself to loved ones.  For instance, the person might call and say, 'Hi mom.  I need you to send me some money.  ORANGE PEEL".  And then continue the conversation.  No one is going to say orange peel in the middle of a call, yet if you've setup that protocol, the mother in the example will immediately know it's their child on the phone.  Why am I bringing this up?  Because I recently got some info from the AI Ad Generator Bestever that I'd like to share...

The CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, recently declared the risk of an impending “AI fraud crisis.” Already, we have seen more sophisticated scams coming into play thanks to the evolution of AI, which has sparked a national sense of concern.  

This is why experts have issued an urgent warning over the AI voice scam that’s causing people to lose thousands. Apoorva Govind, an expert at the AI ad generator site, Bestever, has issued some urgent guidance on how to keep an eye out for this latest scam.  

In this elaborate new scam type, fraudsters are using AI technology to impersonate another person’s voice, whether this be the voice of a celebrity or even work colleagues.  

Apoorva Govind commented: “One of the most concerning uses of AI voice scams is fraudsters utilizing technology to impersonate the voice of a family member, often faking an urgent emergency that requires funds to be sent over as soon as possible.  

“Scammers can now impersonate family members’ voices by gathering samples from publicly available video clips, such as those that have been shared on social media.  

“After using AI technology to generate realistic audio, scammers will then initiate a call to ask for funds to be transferred as soon as possible.” 

In one recent case, a woman was scammed out of $15,000 due to an AI-cloned audio of her daughter’s voice. The scammer used AI technology to pretend that her daughter had been in a car crash, before urgently asking for money to be transferred over.  

By setting up these extreme situations, scammers intend for their victims’ sense of reason to be abandoned when they hear a “family member” in need, which is why this scam type is becoming so prevalent in recent weeks.  

How do I prevent falling for these scams?  

If you believe that you’ve received a suspicious call from someone claiming to be a “family member,” then hang up immediately before calling back using a legitimate number.  

Often, scammers will pretend that they’ve “lost their phone,” which is why they’re calling on an unknown number, but it’s always crucial to verify this long before sending any money over. A quick text or call to the family member in question can often be enough to identify these “emergency” calls as scams.  

Apoorva Govind commented: “Criminals rely on creating a false sense of urgency to prevent you from taking this simple verification step, but don’t let this sway you from quickly calling back using a known number.”  

“It’s also important to watch out for any unusual payment requests. Scammers typically ask for actions that legitimate callers would not, such as requesting immediate payments through gift cards or cryptocurrency. Any unusual payment method should immediately raise concerns. 

“Question the legitimate urgency behind any rushed financial requests, and consider ‘Would an actual family member place this much pressure on me to send money over?’  

“It is also becoming increasingly prevalent for scammers to impersonate the voices of company bosses and CEOs. This is why every organization should have a protocol in place to prevent employees from falling for this type of scam.  

“Ensure that all staff members are aware that managers and CEOs would only make contact through a known and secure channel, such as company messaging services, rather than calling from an unknown number.  

“As scams continue to get more sophisticated, it’s important to keep family members in the loop. Reach out to your family and let them know about any new scams circulating to prevent scammers from targeting older relatives who may be less familiar with technology.  

“Taking time to set up a ‘safe phrase’ with family members can also add an additional level of reassurance when receiving an unexpected phone call. This can be an emergency code that’s something only you and your loved ones know about.”  

Scammers tend to use social media as their first port of call when it comes to cloning voices. This is why it’s so important that you’re being mindful of what you share on your social media accounts.  

While you may believe that you wouldn’t fall for one of these AI-voice scams, limiting the content you share publicly can ultimately protect your family members from this type of scam in the future.  

This is why setting your social media accounts to private can prevent fraudsters from being able to obtain personal video clips that can then be used maliciously against family members.  

Apoorva Govind, the Founder and CEO at Bestever, commented on the threat of rising AI voice scams:  

“Recent statistics have shown that there has been an increase in AI voice cloning attacks, particularly targeting vulnerable people who are less familiar with technology.  

"The technology to create these convincing voice clones is now widely available, with some apps costing as little as $5-10 per month and others being completely free.

“Having an awareness of these scams is often the first line of defense. Ensure that you’re keeping your family members in the loop and ensure that you’re being mindful of the content you share on social media to prevent personal information from being used maliciously by criminals.” 

This information was provided by the AI Ad Generator, Bestever.  

 

 

American Board of Dental Examiners Donates $25,000 to Mission of Mercy Texas

Contribution demonstrates dental professionals' commitment to expanding access to quality care

• ADEX members and Summit attendees unite to fund essential dental services for underserved communities
• Donation directly advances ADEX's public protection mission through improved access to care
• Initiative builds on organization's two-year, $50,000 commitment to community health programs

The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX), a leading dental testing organization, has contributed $25,000 to Mission of Mercy Texas, a nonprofit providing free healthcare services to disadvantaged communities. This member-driven initiative expands access to essential dental care for uninsured individuals across South Texas who lack financial resources for treatment.

The $25,000 contribution combines individual donations from ADEX examiners and attendees of the Dental Testing & Regulatory Summit, which took place outside of Dallas, Texas, this year, with additional matching funds from ADEX. This collaborative effort will fund Mission of Mercy's dental clinic, equipment upgrades, and specialized care programs throughout South Texas communities where dental services remain inaccessible to many residents.

"ADEX's contribution arrives at a critical time when dental care remains out of reach for thousands of Texans. This funding will directly translate to pain relief, restored smiles, and improved health for patients who've gone years without seeing a dentist,” said Sherry Bowers, Executive Director of Mission of Mercy. “The dental professionals at ADEX are changing lives through their tangible support.”

Since 2007, Mission of Mercy has provided over 80,000 free patient visits, served more than 9,200 established patients, and dispensed over 52,000 free prescriptions. The organization's Dental Clinic provides preventive and restorative dental care to uninsured individuals who would otherwise lack access to dental care.

"Our members recognize that ensuring quality dental care reaches all communities is essential to public health and safety,” said Alex Vandiver, CEO of ADEX. “When we support organizations like Mission of Mercy, we're extending our commitment to public protection beyond licensure exams." 

The donation reflects the active participation of dental professionals who attended the Dental Testing & Regulatory Summit and Educators Conference, which brings together three major dental organizations annually: the American Association of Dental Administrators (AADA), ADEX, and the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB). Throughout the five-day event, attendees work to advance licensure standards nationwide.

At last year's Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, ADEX members and attendees raised $25,000 for Kosair for Kids, demonstrating the organization's ongoing commitment to community health initiatives nationwide.

 About the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) 

The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting dental boards in their mission to protect the public through the licensure of qualified oral health professionals. Established in 1969, ADEX administers independent competency examinations developed and approved by representatives of state dental boards. ADEX examinations are accepted or required by law in 51 U.S. jurisdictions and serve as the initial licensure pathway for 98% of dental and 85% of dental hygiene candidates nationwide. Through ongoing collaboration with dental boards and educators, ADEX continues to advance innovative, evidence-based assessment methods that uphold the highest standards of fairness, clinical competence, and public protection. Learn more at adextesting.org.

Planet DDS Launches MyTooth, a Native Denticon Patient Experience Layer for DSOs

MyTooth modernizes online scheduling and digital forms through a mobile-first, Denticon-connected experience that keeps staff workflows unchanged.

Planet DDS today announced the launch of MyTooth, a new patient experience layer built natively for Denticon that delivers mobile-first online scheduling and digital forms without adding new systems, syncing delays, or dual workflows for dental organizations. 

Designed for DSOs and multi-location dental groups, MyTooth extends Denticon directly to patients via a clean, mobile-friendly URL. Patients can book appointments, verify their identity, complete packets, and upload documents from any device, while staff continue working in Denticon exactly as they do today. All updates are written back to Denticon’s live data model instantly, eliminating manual data entry and reducing the risk of mismatched records. 

Solving Fragmented Patient Intake and Scheduling

Most patient experience tools operate as separate systems that must sync data into the practice management platform. This often creates workflow friction, failed updates, and duplicate entries, especially for DSOs managing multiple locations and brands. 

MyTooth changes the model by functioning as a first-party extension of Denticon instead of a separate engagement platform. Key capabilities include: 

• Forms & Scheduling Management – A centralized dashboard for building, assigning, and tracking digital forms and booking workflows across multiple locations, with role-based access to support enterprise teams.
• Digital Forms – Patients can complete, sign, and submit customized intake and consent forms from any device, with real-time updates to demographics, medical history, dental history, and documents in Denticon.
• Online Booking – Patients can schedule and confirm appointments online, synced instantly with Denticon provider calendars to keep availability accurate and reduce front-desk call volume.
• Mobile-First Experience – A modern, responsive design optimized for phones, tablets, and desktops, branded to each organization’s look and feel to reinforce trust and recognition.

"Dental organizations have long been forced to choose between great patient-facing tools and operational simplicity,” said Eric Giesecke, CEO of Planet DDS. “MyTooth gives Denticon customers a modern, mobile-first patient experience built directly on live practice data in Denticon, so they can standardize workflows, trust their records, and deliver a consistent patient experience across every practice, while managing patient engagement and core workflows in one place."

Built with DSOs in Mind  

MyTooth was developed to support multi-location organizations that need consistent, branded experiences and reliable data across hundreds of practices. Forms, packets, and workflows can be configured once and then deployed across locations, with the flexibility to tailor branding and forms at the DSO or practice level. 

Etta Bourne, VP of System Integrations at Dental365, an early MyTooth adopter, has already seen operational and patient-facing benefits.

“MyTooth genuinely elevates the patient experience. For a DSO with multiple brands, the ability to bring each practice’s branding forward while streamlining workflows has been a huge win. So much is automated now that our front desk teams can stay patient-focused instead of tied to the phone, and patients consistently praise how simple the online experience is. Implementation was quick, support was exceptional, and I’d absolutely recommend MyTooth to any DSO looking to save time and deliver a more modern, seamless patient journey,” shared Bourne. 

In summary, by aligning patient interactions with Denticon’s live data, MyTooth helps DSOs improve satisfaction, conversion, and retention while reducing front-office workload and supporting consistent, scalable operations. 

To learn more, visit https://www.planetdds.com/lp-mytooth/. 

About Planet DDS

Dental software is broken. We aim to fix it. As a partner in growth for DSOs and dental groups, Planet DDS delivers a cloud-based AI platform designed to scale alongside growing organizations. Powered by DentalOS™ with AI, Planet DDS is built on connection—connecting people, partners, and technology across an open ecosystem that includes Denticon Practice Management, Cloud 9 Ortho Practice Management, and Apteryx Cloud Imaging. Trusted by leading DSOs and emerging dental groups nationwide, Planet DDS enables 13,000+ practices and 118,000 users to move beyond outdated legacy software with seamless integrations, optimized workflows, and scalable technology built for growth.

Imagoworks Announces DentBird AI System now Designs Better than Entry-level Technicians

Happy New Year!  I hope you had a great holiday season and that your 2026 is off to a great start.

If you have participated in one of my in-person lectures or webinars on 3D in the last eighteen months or so, you probably remember me discussing 3D design systems.  One of them I've been mentioning is DentBird.  The company has created a Cloud based 3D design system for crowns that, from its very beginnings, has featured a ton of AI features.

I've tinkered with the platform quite a bit and I have been impressed with the system.  You upload the stil files from your intraoral scan and the system pretty much does the rest for you.  The AI allows it to automatically identify the prep, find the margin, and design the crown... all with minimal user input.

The system does a very nice job of design, but if you don't like something, every step allows for easy editing so that whoever is doing the design gets *exactly* what they want in the end.  As I write this, the system only creates crowns, but focusing on just one thing has allowed them to create something that does that job well.

The financial model is also one I like.  Creating an account and tinkering with it is free.  You only pay when you want to download a completed design file.  That means you can try it and see if it's for you without any out of pocket expenses.

I recently received an end of year thank you email from the company and it contained an interesting tidbit of info which I'd like to share.  According to the company:

Posterior crowns produced with Dentbird consistently reach a level that surpasses the output of an entry-level dental technician. This is no longer just a promise for the future, but a proven production standard for both labs and clinics.

Now how they determined that fact is not indicated, however I'd like to think they didn't just pull it out of thin air.  My point is that AI is here.  It's changing our workflows and it's only going to get better.  There will still be a need for lab technicians.  Difficult or aesthetic cases will require a human mind and a human eye.  I love tech, but the one thing AI has shown me so far is that a machine cannot do things that require a human soul.  Computers are great with numbers and memory, but something that requires a true artist, isn't going to be done by a machine for a while... if ever.

However, the industry is going to see a shift.  In-office fabrication is going to see some decent growth.  The ability of mills like the DGSHAPE DWX-43W (that I use in my office) can create amazing crowns, but those amazing results require amazing designs.  Utilizing AI to create those designs will make the process easier.  Mills and 3D printers are going to allow offices to create bread and butter cases in-house, which is going to change things and drive growth.

Here is the email I received from DentBird:

Dear Dentbird Family,

As we come to the close of this year, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the warm support you have shown Imagoworks. The valuable feedback you’ve shared while using Dentbird in your daily practice has been the most important foundation for our growth.

Today, a new ground rule has been established. Posterior crowns produced with Dentbird consistently reach a level that surpasses the output of an entry-level dental technician. This is no longer just a promise for the future, but a proven production standard for both labs and clinics.

Over the past year, our focus has been on strengthening that standard through stability and automation. By reinforcing product reliability and enabling automatic model generation within crown workflows, we aimed to deliver consistent, high-quality results at scale, with less dependency on manual effort or specialized training.

AI is rapidly transforming dentistry. At Imagoworks, our commitment is to keep Dentbird at the forefront of this transformation, empowering you not just to adapt, but to lead with AI.

We will continue to listen closely to your voices and strive to deliver an even more seamless and refined experience in the coming year. Thank you for being part of our journey. I wish you and your teams a restful year-end and a successful start to the year ahead.

Warm regards,

Youngjun Kevin Kim

CEO, Imagoworks