Sunstar GUM® Partners with Dentistry.One to Bring AI Oral Health Scans to Consumers and Patients Nationwide

 

The power of holding a mobile phone is that you have the entire sum of human knowledge in the palm of your hand.  We're beginning to see more and more ways to integrate the things seen by the camera in that phone and turning them into fast accessible solutions.  Here's a pretty impressive one...

New partnership offers AI-powered dental scans and 24/7 access to virtual care.

Sunstar Americas, Inc., a global oral health leader behind the GUM® brand, and Dentistry.One, a virtual-first dental care solution introduced by MouthWatch, Inc., have announced a new partnership called GUM™ Virtual Care. This new offering provides consumers across the United States with a platform to access AI-powered oral health scans and 24/7 virtual dental care.

Through this partnership, patients and consumers can use their smartphone to access SmileScan™, Dentistry.One’s AI-powered dental screening tool. Access is available by scanning a QR code received during a dental visit or included with the purchase of select GUM® products. In less than a minute, SmileScan™ analyzes user-submitted photos and delivers a report flagging potential signs of common dental concerns, such as plaque, inflammation, and crowding. Users are then guided to personalized next steps—including the option to schedule a live or asynchronous consultation with a licensed dentist or get connected to a local dentist.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to advancing whole body health through healthy oral care routines,” said Matt Maurer, General Manager, Sunstar Americas, Inc. “By connecting GUM® products with virtual oral care options, we’re empowering patients to take control of their oral health between dental visits, supporting prevention, early action, and better overall wellness. It’s one more way we’re fulfilling our mission to help people everywhere lead healthier, better lives.”

In addition to SmileScan™, GUM® customers will have access to Dentistry.One’s full suite of virtual dental care services, including live video consultations, asynchronous photo reviews, personalized oral health coaching, and care coordination for in-person care. These services are designed to complement – not replace – routine preventive care dental visits.

“Our partnership with Sunstar enhances what’s possible in at-home oral care by pairing trusted GUM® products with seamless access to a nationwide network of dentists and services that make getting dental care easier than ever before,” said Brant Herman, Founder and CEO of MouthWatch and Dentistry.One. “Together, we’re expanding access, driving innovation, and helping more people build habits that lead to better oral and overall health.”

This collaboration reflects a shared belief that oral care should be proactive, accessible, and connected to overall wellness. By turning daily routines into opportunities for early detection and expert guidance, the partnership empowers people to take meaningful steps toward better health starting right at home.

To learn more about the partnership and try SmileScan™ for free, visit: https://page.sunstargum.com/gum-virtual-care.html

SmileScan™, solely provided by Dentistry.One®, is not a medical or diagnostic tool and does not diagnose specific conditions. SmileScan™ does not provide any medical advice and the results are not evaluated by a dental provider.

About Sunstar Americas, Inc.
Sunstar Americas, Inc. is a leader in developing high-quality, research-based oral care solutions for better overall patient health. By partnering with dental and medical clinicians, academics and researchers, Sunstar continues to innovate and provide daily oral care, advanced gum care and chairside products under the GUM® brand. Sunstar Americas is a member of the Sunstar Group of companies, a global organization headquartered in Switzerland that serves oral healthcare professionals, patients and consumers in 90 countries around the world. To learn more visit https://www.sunstar.com/

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

Five GuruNanda Advanced Oral Care Formulas to Make Debut in 300 Ulta Beauty Stores

GuruNanda is a company that is making a pretty big splash in the oral healthcare market.  I've seen them in some major retailers.  I've tried some of their products and I like them.  Today, GuruNanda is announcing a major new retailer for their products...

Ayurvedic-Inspired Oral Care Meets Modern Beauty Retail

GuruNanda, the wellness-forward brand revolutionizing oral care with Ayurvedic wisdom and clean ingredients, is proud to announce its launch into The Wellness Shop within select Ulta Beauty stores nationwide this July.

This milestone partnership brings five of GuruNanda’s best-selling oral care innovations—rooted in natural ingredients, essential oils, and science-backed formulas—into one of the country’s most influential beauty retail destinations.

Ulta Beauty guests browsing on ulta.com and in select stores will now have access to:

• GuruNanda Whitening Strips – 7 Day Treatment: Dry-strip technology powered by hydrogen peroxide and coconut oil for gentle yet effective whitening—even for sensitive teeth.
•  Dual Barrel Whitening Mouthwash: A fluoride- and alcohol-free brightening rinse featuring a unique dual-chamber system with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and essential oils.
•  Fluoride-Free Hydroxyapatite Whitening Toothpaste: Remineralizes and brightens with the power of hydroxyapatite, a clean, enamel-safe fluoride alternative.
• ·CocoMint Oil Pulling: A TikTok-favorite blend of coconut oil and essential oils, inspired by Ayurvedic rituals, designed to cleanse, detoxify, and support whole-mouth health.
•  GuruNanda Whitening Gel Pens (2ct): Convenient and easy-to-use whitening gel pens that offer up to 20 uses per pen, featuring a soft application brush and a fresh mint flavor for a gentle, on-the-go whitening experience.

“As a brand rooted in holistic wellness, partnering with Ulta Beauty is a natural next step,” said Puneet Nanda, CEO and Founder of GuruNanda. “Our mission has always been to bridge ancient wisdom with modern science, and we’re excited to introduce a new kind of oral care to Ulta’s community—where beauty begins with a healthy smile.”

“At Ulta Beauty, we’re committed to expanding what wellness means for our guests—inside and out,” said Laura Beres, VP of Wellness Merchandising at Ulta Beauty. “Oral care is an important part of that journey, and we’re thrilled to welcome GuruNanda’s innovative, Ayurvedic-rooted formulas into our growing wellness assortment. Their oil pulling blend has seen incredible viral success on social media, and we’re excited to meet our guests where their curiosity and self-care rituals are trending. With this launch, we’re proud to offer even more effective and feel-good solutions that align with how beauty and wellness continue to evolve.”

For more information, visit www.GuruNanda.com or www.ulta.com/brand/gurunanda.

vVARDIS Secures $50 Million in New Funding - Totaling $85 Million in Financing from Global Healthcare Investor OrbiMed – to Expand Rollout of Curodont™

 

I've been following vVARDIS for a while now and I'm intrigued by their Curodont product.  I think it holds pretty significant chance of becoming one of the best tools in he conservative dentistry toolbox.  Today's post shows that some other folks are similarly excited about it.  Funding is important for any company as they come up to speed.  This is really good news for dentistry. Read on for the details...

Its Drill-Free Early Tooth Decay Treatment

vVARDIS, a Swiss high growth dental company, and OrbiMed, a leading healthcare investment firm, announced the closing of a $50 million funding round, building on OrbiMed's initial $35 million investment, which closed in February. The total capital of $85 million will be used to refinance existing facilities and support the company's growth initiatives and continued global commercial expansion of innovative dental products under the Curodont™ brand, vVARDIS' groundbreaking drill-free treatment for early tooth decay.

vVARDIS currently is the fastest-growing dental manufacturer in its category , with more than one million teeth treated in the United States since January 2024 . Last year's rapid expansion of sales in the U.S. has already driven nearly 10 percent of dental practices to purchase the product and treat more than 400,000 patients since 2024.

Today, tooth decay remains the number one non-communicable disease in the world, according to the World Health Organization. The partnership between OrbiMed and vVARDIS is based on the shared vision of addressing the global tooth decay epidemic by building a U.S. and global leader in innovative dental products. With the market shifting from invasive to non-invasive care combined with the accelerated adoption of AI-detection of early tooth decay, vVARDIS products are well-timed to meet market demand while addressing the global tooth decay crisis. These innovative products allow dental practices to treat early tooth decay within minutes, drill-free and needle-free, saving dental professionals and patients chair time.

"After our initial investment, we've seen firsthand the momentum vVARDIS is building in the dental market with its Curodont™ products," said Matthew Rizzo, General Partner, OrbiMed. "We came in at a pivotal moment-just as the product began gaining real traction-and the company's rapid progress and the market's response have since reinforced our belief in the significant opportunities ahead. That's why we're excited to deepen our commitment and expand our investment to support vVARDIS in its next phase of growth."

Drs. Haley and Goly Abivardi, founders and co-CEOs of vVARDIS, said: "We are thrilled to expand our partnership with OrbiMed as we enter this next phase of growth. With Curodont™ now offered in nearly 10 percent of U.S. dental offices 4 , it's clear dental professionals are embracing our solution for early decay. This additional funding, combined with OrbiMed's strategic expertise, will accelerate our ability to serve dental professionals and patients globally. As dentists, we are delighted to bring forward a drill-free treatment for early decay that promises to elevate the standard of care for patients around the world."

William Blair & Company acted as the exclusive financial advisor to vVARDIS and McGuireWoods LLP and Rüd Winkler Partner AG acted as legal counsel.

AboutCurodont™

Using a proprietary biomimetic formulation, Curodont™ is a groundbreaking treatment for early tooth decay that is clinically proven to help arrest the progression of and repair early tooth decay without the need of a drill. It replicates and builds on the body's natural defences, working together with minerals in the saliva to repair the damage done to the tooth in the early stages of tooth decay. Curodont™ is a non-invasive, drill-free solution: once the formula is applied, it diffuses through the enamel and repairs the missing parts of the tooth (lesions), working with minerals from saliva and mimicking the way nature created teeth (biomimetic). The beauty of this product is that Curodont™ helps patients save the natural tooth structure without artificial filling materials.

About vVARDIS AG

vVARDIS is a disruptive Swiss healthcare company located in Zug, Switzerland that offers groundbreaking biomimetic, non-invasive solutions for dental professionals under the Curodont™ brand. Founded by Drs. Haley and Goly Abivardi, DMDs, sisters, Swiss dentists, innovators and awarded entrepreneurs, vVARDIS is the result of more than 25 years of research, paired with the commitment of its founders to make an impact on people's lives, especially the underserved.

vVARDIS' mission is to expand access to novel approaches to the standard of care in dentistry with the purpose of improving oral health - the foundation for overall health. vVARDIS science is backed by 25 years of research and more than 230 scientific publications, including meta-analysis, peer-reviewed clinical studies and a long-term peer-reviewed real-world evidence study, demonstrating a success rate above 90%. It has been in clinical practice for more than 10 years. Curodont™ is already in the lectures of renowned universities as standard of care for the treatment of early decay.

For more information, visit vVARDIS at www.vVARDIS.com and www.linkedin.com/company/vvardis .

About OrbiMed

OrbiMed is a leading healthcare investment firm, with approximately $17 billion in assets under management. OrbiMed invests globally across the healthcare industry, from start-ups to large multinational corporations, through private equity funds, public equity funds, and royalty/credit funds. OrbiMed seeks to be a capital provider of choice, providing tailored financing solutions and extensive global team resources to help build world-class healthcare companies. OrbiMed's team of over 100 professionals is based in New York City, London, San Francisco, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Herzliya, and other key global markets.

For more information, visit OrbiMed at www.OrbiMed.com .

Oral Biolife Assembles World-Class Scientific Advisory Board to Accelerate Development of Ambrilux Dental Gel

 

Oral Biolife (OBL), a pioneering biotechnology company advancing innovative dental treatments for both humans and companion animals, finalized the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The board brings together nationally recognized leaders in periodontology, dental innovation, regenerative medicine, and veterinary medicine.

The SAB will provide strategic scientific guidance to support the development and clinical advancement of Ambrilux Dental Gel® – a novel, light-activated, gel-based device designed to promote bone regeneration and transform the management of periodontal disease in both humans and animals.

Oral Biolife’s SAB includes:

• Dr. Ronaldo Santana, DMD, Chair of the Department of Periodontology and Oral Implantology at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry; expert in regenerative medicine and grant development
• Dr. Ed Zuckerberg, DDS, FAGD, Digital dentistry pioneer and advocate for the oral-systemic health connection with a patient-centered approach to innovation.
• Dr. Pascal Kunz, MD, DMD, Entrepreneur and global leader in digital dental technologies, diagnostics, and guided robotic surgery, with dual expertise in medicine and dentistry.
• Dr. Lisa Stehno-Bittel, PhD, Founder and President of Likarda; authority in hydrogel-based cell therapies and therapeutic delivery.
• Dr. Shervin Molayem, DDS, Periodontist, implant surgeon, and researcher specialized in the intersection of oral health and systemic disease.
• Dr. Tanya Kameneva, DVM, Veterinary Key Opinion Leader (KOL) instrumental in shaping Oral Biolife’s companion animal strategy and preclinical development.

“This marks a major milestone for Oral Biolife,” said Dr. Stella Vnook, Founder & President of Oral Biolife. “We are honored to have the support of such a distinguished group of experts. Their insights and experience will be essential as we advance Ambrilux Dental Gel® toward clinical use and commercialization. Our SAB reflects Oral Biolife’s commitment to scientific rigor and real-world impact.”

About Oral Biolife Inc.

Oral Biolife is an innovative biotechnology company headquartered in Bethlehem, PA that utilizes the unique properties of biotechnology materials to develop groundbreaking, first-to-market products. Their lead asset, Ambrilux Dental Gel, via its unique ability to regenerate bone lost due to periodontal disease and represents a potential breakthrough for treating periodontal disease.

For more information, please visit https://www.oralbiolife.com and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/oralbiolife-inc.

Measles Outbreak is at a 33 Year High Point

 

Someone has to yell, 'The emperor has no clothes!" and I think nothing screams that louder than cold hard statistics.  For years now the anti-vax movement has made all kinds of debunked claims about the dangers of vaccines.  Everyone of them has been proven statistically inaccurate or flat out wrong.  However many well meaning folks have been lead astray by these claims.

When I was a young child, the measles vaccine was introduced.  Over my time since then, I've never known a person to come down with the disease.  It had become so rare in the U.S. that many began to say it was irradicated.

Then along came the anti-vax claims.  Many of those terrified parents of young children who thought they were doing the right thing for their children by refusing the vaccine.  Due to that, there's a fair amount of people who no longer have immunity to measles.  That leads us to where we are today.  Fear is a powerful motivator.  When I was young it was the fear of their child catching measles that drove parents to get their kids vaccinated.  Today the debunked buy loudly shouted fears of problems caused by vaccines has, in some areas, driven fear in the other direction.

Measles (also called rubeola) is caused by the morbillivirus virus and is highly infectious.  It spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or even speaks.  Statistics say that if a person is not immune, 90% of those exposed to the virus will contract it.  That's 9 out of 10.  The odds are not in an unvaccinated person's favor.

The benefit of vaccines is that even if a person should contract a disease by some strange twist of fate, the odds of passing it to others is greatly reduced due to herd immunity.  However, in an area where few people are immune, the disease spreads like wildfire.  Measles is especially an example of this.  The other unfortunate thing is that symptoms don't start to show immediately.  It takes somewhere between one to three weeks before symptoms develop and that entire time, the person is spreading the virus to everyone they come in contact with.  90% of the people they come in contact with will then develop the disease... if they are unvaccinated.

Measles can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death.  Those are grave consequences.  Hopefully this puts things into perspective.  From a dental perspective, measles can also affect the mouth.  The oral symptoms are an early diagnostic tool as they normally present before the characteristic skin rash appears on other parts of the body.  Due to these early oral lesions, dentists can become key in helping fight the spread of the disease by identifying it and advising the patient to see a physician  and avoid contact with others.

The CDC keeps statistics on these types of things and they update them regularly.  The current "Measles Cases and Outbreaks" page on the CDC website is updated every Wednesday and contains some fascinating information.  Since 2015 more and more infections, cases and outbreaks have been reported in the U.S.  The outbreaks this year are large.  Since 2010, the largest number of cases was in 2019.  In that year there were 1,274 cases reported.  Through July 1 of 2025 there are 1,267 confirmed cases.  That means we've already surpassed the largest reported number of cases in the last 10 years... and the year is only a bit more than half over.

Simply put, the numbers don't lie.  If you'd like more info, I highly recommend visiting the CDC Measles Cases and Outbreaks page.  It not only gives you numbers, but there also links to resources you can use.

Louisiana Joins Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact

 

Here is some great news for dental professionals.  For decades physicians have been able to easily obtain licensure in other states and practice in those areas.  The concept of 'licensure by credentials' has been in that profession for a long time.  However, dentistry has lagged behind our colleagues in medicine.  Most states require a dental professional, sometimes with decades of experience, to go through a lengthy licensing process, including clinical competency exams.

I remember when I was taking my clinical boards there was a gentleman in an operatory near mine who was probably in his late 40s.  When I asked him why he was taking the exam he explained that he was an oral surgeon who wanted to practice in Colorado.  He hadn't cut a prep (a daily process for general dentists) in decades, but he was required to take a dental hands-on competency exam in order to get that license.  Even then I thought that was draconian and incredibly impractical.  Over the years I've only become more a fan of credentials.

So the info below marks a new era for dental licensure.  Congratulations to Louisiana for their legislators being so forward thinking.

First state adopts dental licensure reform, enshrining high standards for patient care

Louisiana has become the first state to join the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure (IDDHL) Compact. HB543, sponsored by Representative Wayne McMahen, is now law after it passed the legislature with no opposition. The IDDHL Compact, developed by the American Association of Dental Boards, aims to streamline the licensing process for dentists and dental hygienists who want to practice in multiple states. This compact offers a voluntary, expedited pathway to licensure for qualified dental professionals while maintaining high standards of patient safety and care.

 “The Compact facilitates a more efficient licensure process allowing practitioners to begin working in new states more quickly after meeting eligibility requirements,” said Representative Wayne McMahen during the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs hearing on May 7, 2025. “Joining the Compact could significantly benefit Louisiana by expanding the dental workforce, improving access to care, and streamlining licensure process for dental professionals.”

The IDDHL Compact, modeled after the medical licensure compact, preserves state authority over dental licensing while simplifying the process for qualified professionals to practice across state lines. It requires graduates from Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-approved schools to pass the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) licensure exam or have five years of practice after passing a regional licensing examination.

"This is a great step forward for dental care in Louisiana and the U.S., marking a significant milestone in dental care accessibility and professional mobility," said Dr. Art Jee, President of the AADB's Board of Directors. "Louisiana's adoption of the compact creates new opportunities for dental professionals to serve communities across state lines."
 

Key benefits of the compact include: 

• Expedited licensure process for qualified dental professionals

• Enhanced professional mobility for dentists and dental hygienists

• Maintained high standards of patient safety through uniform competency requirements

• Cost-effective implementation for participating states

The compact will also provide access to an AADB Licensure Repository, a centralized portal for verifying licensure documents and sharing disciplinary information among member states.

"By joining the IDDHL Compact, Louisiana demonstrates its commitment to meeting the needs of providers while protecting public health," added Dr. Jee. "We anticipate other states will follow Louisiana's lead, creating a nationwide network that benefits both dental professionals and patients."

The IDDHL Compact has been introduced in a total of nine states so far. It is actively being considered by legislatures in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The IDDHL Compact was also passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives and both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature while making progress in other states where it has been introduced.

For more information about the Interstate Dental & Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, visit aadbcompact.org.

 About the American Association of Dental Boards (AADB)

The American Association of Dental Boards, founded in 1883, is a national organization that promotes high standards in dental education, licensure, and regulation. AADB membership includes state dental boards, specialty boards, and dental educators from across the United States and its territories.

ADA Raises Concerns over Dental Insurer’s Acquisition of Dental Practices

 

Here's another post about why ADA membership is so critically important to private practice dentistry. I realize this is the second post this week about the ADA, but this one is really critical for you to read.  As I've stated here many times, dentistry needs a unified voice.  A single voice is easy to ignore or to not be heard, but a large number of voices bring the message and make it much  more clear.  

This can be not only with issues of standards and/or safety, but also when it comes to speaking a clear position to legislative bodies.  An agile group that can respond and convey a message is important.

Sometimes a voice is needed for something that has never even crossed the radar before.  Something that you may not have even considered and certainly not planned for.  That's one of those times where you really need that unified voice plus the resources to provide an immediate response.  I recently received an email from the organization to bring to my attention something I hadn't heard about...

What could a situation like that look like?  It looks like this... last week the ADA learned that Delta Dental of Wisconsin purchased a group of dental practices in the state.  You read that right.  An insurance company has purchased a group dental practice in Wisconsin.

Personally, I didn't even know this was legal.  I happen to practice in Missouri and the last time I checked only a licensed dentist could own a practice in the state. I've always figured that the rule was made to help prevent undue pressures being exerted on doctors.

And that brings me to my concern with this news.  Ask anyone is dentistry and they'll tell you that insurance companies focus on profits not patients.  I could go on and on about that point, but I'll save everyone the rant.  If you're a dentist, you know what I'm talking about.  The most important takeaway is that insurance companies push for the least expensive option practically every time... and sometimes the  least expensive option is to deny paying anything at all.

So what will happen when a business that doesn't want to spend money begins to make the total decision from start to finish?  By owning the practices the decision won't just be about treatment.  It will also affect things like the quality of products that the office uses.  Why purchase expensive supplies from reputable companies when the cheapest products available will mean greater profits?  Why order lab cases from well known and reputable labs when money can be saved by sending cases to foreign countries with no oversight from US authorities on things like infection control?  Those are just a couple of things I thought about, the list of questions could be much, much longer.

To wrap up today's post, this is why I'm glad the ADA exists.  If the ADA wasn't there keeping an eye out for the profession, this probably wouldn't have been much of a story.  This probably wouldn't make it onto people's news feeds.  However the ADA keeps track of happenings in the industry and when they see something they let members know.  We need a unified voice!