Pearl’s Second Opinion® Receives Clearance in Brazil, Paving the Way for AI-Assisted Dental Radiology in the World’s Third-Largest Dental Market

 Pearl, the leader in dental AI solutions, today announced that its Second Opinion® chairside clinical AI software has received clearance from the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa), opening the door to AI-enabled dental care for dentists and patients across Brazil – the world’s third-largest dental market. Second Opinion® is the first and only chairside, FDA-cleared AI radiologic detection aid that can help dentists identify numerous common dental conditions across a broad range of patients, including tooth decay, calculus, and root abscesses.

In addition to the Brazilian clearance announced today and FDA clearance early this year, Second Opinion® has received European CE Mark, Canadian MDEL, UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, Australian TGA, Saudi Food & Drug Authority, and New Zealand MEDSAFE clearances. With revenue from Brazil’s oral healthcare market totaling over $2B in 2022 and an expected annual growth of 6.91% expected through 2026, the introduction of Second Opinion® to the Brazilian dental market marks another major step toward Pearl’s goal to elevate the standard of dental care worldwide.

Second Opinion® supports dental professionals in their review of radiographs by applying computer vision AI technology to identify and highlight key pathologic and nonpathologic findings, including dental caries (cavities), bone loss, root abscesses, calculus (tartar), faulty restorations, impactions, crowns, fillings, root canals, implants and more. The AI delivers its findings in real-time for patient-facing display in the dental operatory, helping dentists ensure the accuracy of their x-ray evaluations and enabling them to better communicate diagnoses to patients. Because x-rays are a fundamental feature of everyday preventive dentistry, Pearl’s automatic x-ray reading software is one of the first medical applications of AI most people will encounter in their healthcare experience.

"We look forward to expanding Second Opinion’s reach in Brazil to ensure even more patients benefit from the improved diagnostic consistency that AI brings to dentistry,” said Ophir Tanz, CEO and founder of Pearl. "The size and reach of the Brazilian dental market will ensure that a large percentage of global dental patients get to experience this innovation, and we’re excited that on the heels of our recent FDA clearance, Second Opinion continues to gain traction around the world.”

Dentists in Brazil and other approved country's can begin using Pearl’s Second Opinion® today by visiting www.hellopearl.com/products/second-opinion.

About Pearl

Pearl is shaping the future of dental care by delivering AI and computer vision solutions that advance efficiency, accuracy, transparency and patient care. Founded in 2019 by Ophir Tanz, Pearl is backed by Craft Ventures and other leading venture capital firms. For more information or to request a demonstration, please visit https://www.hellopearl.com.

Bien Air Test Drive

Late last year I took the Bien Air Nova electric handpiece for a Test Drive.  As part of my evaluation, I pushed this device as hard as possible in both clinical and non-clinical applications.  I came away *very impressed* with the Nova.

Now the good folks at Bien Air are giving you, the customer, a chance to take the Nova for your very own Test Drive.

This handpiece is *Highly Recommended* so believe me when I tell you, this thing is one of the best handpieces on the market.  So, what are waiting for?  Follow this link to schedule a test drive in your office!!!  

Sonicare 9900 Prestige Evaluation is Complete - Get One!

 

Back in March, I told you I would begin doing an evaluation of the Sonicare 9900 Prestige powered toothbrush.  It's been a bit over two months of usage now, and I am incredibly happy with the device.  The category of powered brushes is starting to get a tad crowded, although they all work.  In fact I see more and more patients taking the plunge and spending the extra money for one every week.

However, the 9900 has some nice features that help set it apart from the competition.  It comes with 2 chargers.  One is the standard "sits on your counter" type and that's what most of us will use.  However, it also comes with a travel case (seen above) that can be connected to a USB micro charging cable and charged with an AC adapter or even your laptop!

What I have been most impressed with is the app which you use to monitor and adjust the brush.  The app is downloaded for your preferred app store and connects your phone to the Prestige 9900.  Open the app, take the unit off the charger, and the app opens with a brushing guide that guides you through you 2 minute brushing routine.  It shows where you are brushing and when to advance to the next area in your mouth.  It also allows you to change settings for how the brush vibrates and the app also offers tips and videos.

The brush head is also connected.  It contains a RFID chip that keeps track of the number of times the brush has been used and it alerts you when it is time to replace it.  The easiest part of that is when it IS time to replace, you can buy the replacements straight from the app.  Simple!

Up to this point, I haven't been too impressed with "connected" toothbrushes.  Having an app seemed like a solution looking for a problem.  However, the Sonicare 9900 Prestige has changed my opinion.  This brush delivers a nice clean & healthy smile while also providing info to your phone that you can actually use!

This device is *highly recommended*!  

Oracle Completes Acquisition of Cerner

 As a Kansas City native, I take a great deal of pride in my hometown.  KC is a great place to live, a great place to raise a family, and a really great place to practice dentistry.

We also have some pretty amazing home grown businesses.  I'm talking about things like Charlie Hustle (shirts & active wear), Boulevard Brewing, and even Hallmark Cards.  Over the years we've even had a few really big and important companies in the healthcare space grow up in the KC area.  One of them was Marion Labs which eventually became Marion-Merril-Dow and another *really* big one named Cerner.

If you are in healthcare, especially dealing with, or working in, hospitals, you're familiar with Cerner.  The electronic health record company started here in Kansas City in the early 1980s.  The started out, as most companies do, as a small operation with fewer than 50 people.  My family owned a small commercial printing company and they worked closely with Cerner in their early years.  The instruction manuals that came with the software were printed by the family business... and some of them actually printed by ME!  Whenever I had a break from school, while my friends were going to exotic locations, I was printing instruction manuals for Cerner products and delivering to their office, sometimes multiple times per day.

Things have changed a little since then.  Cerner grew exponentially.  They employed tons of KC workers.  They built office towers all over the metro KC area.  For a few years it seemed as if there were buildings constantly under construction with the Cerner logo on them.  A decent percentage of my patients were employed there.  Cerner became a powerhouse.  

Now comes word of Cerner being acquired by Oracle.  Here are the details...

Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) announced that a majority of the outstanding shares (the “Shares”) of Cerner Corporation (Nasdaq: CERN) were validly tendered, and the other conditions to the tender offer have been satisfied or waived. The deal will close on June 8, 2022. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, the depositary for the tender offer, has indicated that as of 12:00 midnight, Eastern time, at the end of the day on June 6, 2022, approximately 204,280,589 Shares, or 69.2% of the total Shares, have been validly tendered.

Larry Ellison, Oracle’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer, will outline Oracle’s strategy to redefine the future of healthcare at a virtual event on June 9, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. CT. Register for the event.  

A Water Bottle That Improves Airway Health - REMastered Sleep Expanding to Canada

Here is some info I received from a company called REMastered Sleep.  I've reached out to the company to see about getting an evaluation unit, but I haven't heard back from the them on that yet.  If I do, I will update this post.

The company is selling a water bottle that they claim will help strengthen the muscles of the mouth, head, face, and neck which can result in decreased symptoms of snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

I want to state that I have had NO hands-on experience with this product.  I decided to post this for informational purposes only.

If you would like more info you can go to the company website.  

WHO:

REMastered Sleep, a Minnesota-based company that created the world’s first water bottle that helps improve airway health by exercising mouth and throat muscles as you drink, is expanding its shipping operations to Canada.

The company, founded in 2019 by Anders Olmanson, will start selling its REMplenishTM steel, straw, and bottle kits across Canada on June 1st. 

“We’re excited to sell our REMplenish water bottles and straws that have a proven track record of improving airway health to our next-door neighbors in Canada,” Olmanson said. “REMplenish bottles are the only product on the market that allows you to build upper airway strength and improve tongue posture simply by drinking water each day. We know Canadians are conscious about their health and this product gives them another tool to live healthy, restful lives.”

WHAT: 

• REMastered Sleep’s water bottle is simple: You fill it up with water and drink 1-2 full bottles each day. REMplenish helps to promote healthy airway practices in an easy-to-use exercise device – take care of your airway just by drinking water.

• The company has done two user studies with 93% of people reporting improvements in snoring from upper airway exercise and 34% reported feeling less tired.

• 30% of REMplenish sales are to healthcare professionals and REMastered Sleep is actively reaching out to healthcare professionals in Canada about its product. 

WHEN: June 1st

WHERE: REMastered Sleep’s bottles are available to be shipped anywhere in Canada from its website, REMasteredsleep.com

WHY: Having a healthy airway means better sleep for you and your partner, reducing the risk of airway vibration and collapsibility (snoring and OSA), and other health conditions that can be caused by lack of quality sleep such as chronic fatigue, excess weight gain, heart problems, and more.

HOW: 

By strengthening the muscles that support breathing, keeping your tongue in the proper posture to put those muscles in a position of strength, and reinforcing nasal breathing. 

Kuraray Noritake Announces New PANAVIA™ Veneer LC Cement

 I recently received the information below and thought it would be beneficial to my readers.  I know that there are a lot of fans of Panavia out there and any update to the material would be welcomed by the profession.  Kuraray is a company with a number of really great products and for many of you, Panavia is a "go to" for veneer cases.

So give this a read and get ready to order the latest and greatest from Kuraray.

From the innovators of dental adhesive and nanocluster filler technology—Kuraray Noritake Dental—comes a simplified light-cure cement for highly aesthetic veneers.

PANAVIA™ Veneer LC is an advanced light-cure resin cement with excellent color stability, high wear resistance, provides ample working time, and offers fast and easy cleanup. It is indicated for permanent cementation of aesthetic veneers and can also be used for inlays and onlays less than 2mm thick.

Offering an ideal consistency for easy and secure application across the intaglio surface, PANAVIA™ Veneer LC does not stick to the application tip due to its unique nanocluster filler technology. This technology consists of spherical silica fillers in the cement to provide stability and control, while simultaneously promoting flow when the veneer is seated on the tooth, thereby allowing easy veneer placement without drifting or sagging.

PANAVIA™ Veneer LC is available in four highly aesthetic shades, all featuring great polishability and an excellent gloss retention to support aesthetic margins over time. Matching try-in pastes (PANAVIA™ V5 Try-In Paste) allow for a simulation of the final appearance prior to final cementation.

“Kuraray Noritake is committed to providing dental professionals with innovative solutions that help them provide better care to their patients,” says Dr. Dinesh Sinha, Senior Technical and Marketing Manager at Kuraray Noritake. “As an extension of our top-performing PANAVIA™ line of cements, PANAVIA™ Veneer LC is an essential addition to the adhesive armamentarium of any dentist looking for a veneer cement with the ideal properties of high bond strength, excellent aesthetics, controlled application and easy cleanup.”

To learn more about Kuraray’s new PANAVIA™ Veneer LC Cement, go to panaviacements.com.

X-Guide Dynamic Navigation Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance To Aid in Minimally Invasive Endodontic Procedures

As 3D burrows more and more into the every day practice of dentistry, we are seeing more and more application development that can combine 3D with procedures that become streamlined with the ability to "see everything".  In the last year or so, I've heard rumblings of using CBCT scan to help create the ideal access for endodontic treatments both in traditional endodontics as well as root end type procedures.  While not every case would benefit from this, I can certainly see cases where this would provide a tremendous advantage and benefit.  Here is a press release for a recently FDA 510(k) approved endodontic guide system.

 

X-Nav Technologies, LLC, a leading creator of image-guided and robot-assisted surgical products, announced that is has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expand the use of its X-Guide® Dynamic Surgical Navigation system to aid dentists in delivering minimally invasive endodontic procedures.

With X-Guide dynamic navigation, patients and dentists can now benefit from more precise and minimally invasive access to tooth structures needing endodontic treatment – specifically, access to calcified canals and apicoectomies of affected teeth.

"X-Guide dynamic navigation is an extremely accurate solution to a common endodontic challenge: calcified root canal systems," according to L. Stephen Buchanan, DDS, FICD, FACD of Santa Barbara, CA. "With X-Guide, I can perform minimally invasive root canal therapy (RCT) with much more predictability and less stress."

Using the X-Guide system's patented X-Point™ technology, the dentist gains a live view of the patient's 3D anatomy and a digital handpiece to guide drill movements during surgery. This allows the dentist to precisely navigate their drill to an exact access location for more efficient endodontic procedures. Tools in the X-Guide software help make navigation easy to integrate into the endodontic workflow, like the virtual Prep feature for planning and following an ideal drill path, X-Mark™ virtual registration for using small, medium and large field of view CBCTs, and integration with high-speed handpieces.

Combining 3D imaging with X-Guide navigation allows dentists to locate and access endodontic tooth structures more precisely, which is useful to:

• achieve less invasive access and prep of calcified and hidden canals

• perform minimally invasive apicoectomy and root-end access

• minimize damage to anatomical structures

• preserve tooth structure

• save time and potentially reduce intra-operative imaging

"In teeth with calcification, X-Guide dynamic guidance can be used to reduce structural weakening through minimally-invasive endodontic procedures," stated Dr. Charles Maupin, DDS of Lubbock, TX.

According to studies, "The dynamic navigation system was more accurate and more efficient in root-end resection in a cadaver model than the freehand technique. The dynamic navigation system has the potential to be a safe and reliable technological addition to endodontic microsurgery."1

Dr. Frederico Martinho, DDS, M.Sc., PhD, and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, shared that "Our recent studies with X-Guide focused on minimally invasive access cavity, post removal, locating calcified canals, and endodontic microsurgery. It has the potential to improve accuracy, reduce surgical time, and operator mishaps. Both the endodontic residents and I were able to quickly master the technology – the learning curve was not steep for novel or experienced endodontists."

The X-Guide system has gained global recognition for giving dental surgeons the ability to perform more accurate and precise dental implant procedures, compared to freehand surgery. Over 175,000 dental implants have been surgically placed using the X-Guide system around the world.

"As X-Guide surgical navigation became an integral part of dental implant surgery, it also became clear that expanding access to our technology for endodontic procedures would improve provider capabilities and patient experiences. I'm proud of our talented team of clinical and engineering masterminds for being able to deliver the benefits of surgical navigation to more dental professionals," said Edward Marandola, President, CEO, and Co-Founder of X-Nav Technologies.     

To read more about the benefits of X-Guide® Dynamic Surgical Navigation for single implants, full arch reconstruction and endodontics, please visit www.X-NavTech.com.         

About X-Nav Technologies
X-Nav Technologies is a medical device company that develops surgical products for the dental market that advance patient care while improving doctor productivity.

1Accuracy and efficiency of guided root-end resection using a dynamic navigation system: a human cadaver study. O Dianat, A Nosrat, B Mostoufi, JB Price, S Gupta, FC Martinho. PMID 33368371, DOI:10.1111/iej.13466