vVARDIS Announces Partnership with CareQuest Innovation Partners


vVARDIS has announced a partnership with CareQuest Innovation Partners. This partnership is said to expand access of vVARDIS’s technologies to the Medicaid population, according to a press release from both companies.

vVARDIS and CareQuest Innovation Partners will team up in order to develop low-cost treatments for state Medicaid programs. They will begin this partnership by researching professional quality treatment in dental practices affiliated with CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. On top of this study, there will also be the formation of a variety of educational and philanthropic programs for both patients and dental professionals. Founder of vVARDIS Haleh and Golnar Abivardi said this partnership came from a desire to providing higher quality oral care to those in need.

“The soul of vVARDIS is service and ensuring the world has access to the highest quality oral care. Good oral health is critical to overall health and wellbeing and far too many low-income families and children lack access to quality oral care, much less the cutting-edge technology to keep their mouths and bodies healthy,” they said in the press release. “We are proud to partner with CareQuest Innovation Partners to help improve oral health care and outcomes for the Medicaid population, which currently includes more than 37 million children.”

This partnership will use the same core technology used in vVARDIS Professional Curodont Repair Fluoride Plus treatment, which will be brought to patients in the Untied States. It is a mouth rinse that, when applied, is designed to be an anti-cavity treatment for initial tooth decay or white spots lesions. Fluoride and calcium in saliva will then penetrate the enamel and boost the mineralization process. This type of therapy is called Guided Enamel Remineralization.

In the future, vVARDIS and CareQuest Institute will be looking for more partners to care for underserved populations in the United States through preventative oral health care.

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This partnership between vVARDIS and CareQuest aims to help bolster oral health care in the Medicaid population

vVARDIS Announces Partnership with CareQuest Innovation Partners

Align Technology Introduces Professional Whitening System

Manufacturer of Invisalign, Align, has announced an agreement with Ultradent to create a professional whitening system that can be utilized with Align’s Invisalign aligners and Vivera retainers. In this partnership, Invisalign-trained dentists will be offered a professional whitening system with Opalescence PF whitening formula from Ultradent.

This formula is optimized for Invisalign clear aligners and will be called the “Invisalign Professional Whitening System – powered by Opalescence.” It is said to have optimal whitening outcomes, according to a press release from Align. Align Technology chief product and marketing officer Raj Pudipeddi said that this innovation comes from the patients’ desire to whiten teeth during Invisalign treatment.

“We believe that by providing an all-in-one solution that combines a leading teeth-whitening system with the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, we enable Invisalign trained doctors to enhance their patients’ treatment experience with a seamless workflow that also enables practice efficiency and growth,” Pudipeddi said in the press release. “We’re very excited to partner with Ultradent to offer the first professional whitening system optimized for use with Invisalign clear aligners and Vivera retainers. Invisalign system trained doctors can use Opalescence PF for in-office teeth whitening treatment and for doctor supervised at-home whitening.”

This whitening formula can be used for both Invisalign clear aligners and Vivera retainers for patients who wish to whiten their teeth as they straighten their smile. The Invisalign Professional Whitening System is said to be easy to use whether in the office or at home supervised by a doctor. It will be commercially available starting in 2022.

Align will introduce the Invisalign Professional Whitening System through its agreement with Ultradent. 

Align Technology Introduces Invisalign Professional Whitening System

New Alternative to Dental Insurance PayDent Enters the Market

Said to be an innovative new alternative to dental insurance, PayDent is a new model for patients to cover treatment. PayDent was designed by Kevin Patterson, DDS, and engineer entrepreneur Steve Valentor.

It functions through a mobile app on either the patient’s iPhone or Android. Patients deposit funds into their account that will allow them to pay for future treatment. These payments can either be contributed on a monthly basis, or as a lump sum all at once. Patients can also use PayDent to cover what their pre-existing insurance can’t. Cutting out the middleman of insurance was Dr Patterson’s main goal in co-creating PayDent, according to a press release from the company.

“Having cared for thousands of patients throughout my career, I saw firsthand that the existing model for paying for dental work just didn’t make sense anymore,” Dr Patterson said in the press release. “So, we set out to develop something that better serves consumers and dental practices alike. The result is PayDent, which replaces low-value dental insurance plans with a tool that helps patients build funds to pay for inevitable dental expenses and streamlines the process for dentists to get paid.”

Dental practices can utilize PayDent to accept payment from the patient for treatment. It is free to download. Post-treatment, dentists can request the payment transfer as soon as they are finished, making this a potential solution for practices looking to become more efficient. Payments can be received at 80% of the American Dental Association’s (ADA) fee survey, meaning specialized dental practices can bill their patients directly for the difference between their fee and the ADA pricing that PayDent pays.

PayDent has gone through a year of testing with the assistance of advisers and dentists and is said to be fully operational. It is available now for practices and patients.

PayDent is a brand new way for patients and practices to pay for treatments without the need for insurance. 

Freedom Technologies Group (FTG) will be the U.S. distributor for Athlos Oy’s DC-Air™ intraoral x-ray imaging sensor. Athlos Oy received 510(k) acceptance in July, which cleared the way for FTG to begin accepting pre-orders online for the new sensor.

The DC-Air is is a true wireless x-ray sensor that utilizes direct conversion technology for greater native sharpness. It’s said to be the only sensor on the market that to adopt the latest Bluetooth™ technology standards for rapid and reliable image transmission, eliminating the number one point of failure associated with other sensors: the wire.

DC-Air is constructed with homogenous internal components that make it significantly more durable. It has IP67 rating and will withstand the rigors of daily use.

In addition, DC-Air holders incorporate a patent-pending design that is said not to add any bulk to the sensor’s profile in the mouth. Coupled with the senor’s thin profile, it’s designed to offer patient comfort and easy positioning.


Wireless DC-Air X-Ray Sensor Available for Pre-Order

Mastermind - Episode 7 - Adjusting to a "New Normal" for Dental Conferences

Videos

Host Lisa Newburger is joined by John Flucke, DDS, Chad DuPlantis, DDS, Tina Clarke, RDA, MEd, Rick Adelstein, DDS, and Jeff Rohde, DDS, to discuss how we might approach this "new normal" at practices and beyond. 

Kerr Celebrates 130 Years in the Dental Industry

Industry leader Kerr has celebrated its 130th year in the dental community. Founded in 1891, Kerr has been manufacturing dental products on a global scale for 130 years. Vice President and General Manager of Kerr Restoratives and Endodontics Lina Li, PhD, commented on Kerr’s growth in the industry in a press release from the company.

"Over the 130 years that we have been expanding and growing, Kerr has always placed a priority on attracting top scientists and investing in research and development," Dr Li said in the press release. "We've also collaborated closely with our industry's key opinion leaders to make sure we're responding to the needs of doctors, practices and their patients."

Kerr has a wide range of products for endodontic and restorative cases, implemented with the help of clinicians during the research and development phases. Kerr also touts a number of infection prevention products that have been developed to meet the needs of the dental community, according to the press release.

Kerr joined the Envista team in 2019, further expanding its ability to reach a wide variety of dental professionals. As part of the 130th birthday, Kerr will have special offers for its customers.

"We have had 130 years to refine and advance our products," Dr Li said in the press release. "Now we're looking forward to continuing our collaboration with doctors and opinion leaders as we innovate the next generation of products to meet the needs of the dental community and patients."

Dental products manufacturer Kerr celebrates its 130th anniversary. 

Bruce Bryen is a certified public accountant with over 45 years of experience and is a part of Baratz & Associates CPAs. He specializes in deferred compensation, such as retirement planning design; income and estate tax planning; determination of the proper organizational business structure; asset protection and structuring loan packages for presentation to financial institutions. He is experienced in providing litigation support services to dentists with Valuation and Expert Witness testimony in matrimonial and partnership dispute cases. He is also a financial writer for several dental journals. You may contact him at 609-502-0691 or at 

When it comes to the growth, state of the art technology and hiring of the best personnel, the owner of the dental practice is typically trying to make his or her office the foremost in the community. The money spent on the enhancement of the practice is almost always at the top of the list for the dentist to prepare the office for the expertise in the professional skill level, layout and comfort for the staff and the patients.

This is to keep aggravation at a minimum and to promote employee morale and patient stability as well as potential referral sources. To other professionals in contact with the dentist, it sometimes appears that he or she is not so diligent in preparing for potential problems on a personal level. One of those areas of non-compliance and lack of preparation is when a divorce is on the horizon and the question of the dental practice valuation arises. The dental CPA or less likely, the attorney that the dentist may know or may be referred to by a colleague, is a source for finding a qualified dental practice evaluator with the skills and experience to go ahead and prepare for the mediator or court date. Of course, it is up to the dentist going through the situation to hire the best available practice valuation expert that he or she can find. Just like the dental office wanting to be the top of the line, it makes sense for the dentist to get the best to assist in protecting those personal assets outside the office but most importantly, the dental practice itself. The practice is arguably the most valuable item that is owned since it probably offers the highest consistent income source plus the most probable growth asset that is available to the dentist.

and deciding on the dental practice evaluator

The first step is to find an experienced dental practice evaluator who will probably be referred by the dental CPA who has had experience with the review of dental practice valuations. Sometimes the dental practice equipment and supply representative has more information about this type of contact than the professional financial people that the dentist knows since that person sees this type of situation much more frequently. He or she also usually has the trust of the dentist since the contact with the equipment and supply representative is on a very frequent basis.

Its important for the dentist to understand that the valuation for a divorce is different than that of a dental practice being ready to be put on the market for a transition. The knowledgeable evaluator understands this and can offer the dental CPA and client the number of divorce valuations that he or she has prepared, the number of times he or she has appeared in the court room and also in what geographic areas of the country the valuations have occurred.Someone who has prepared a few valuations for dentists who are experiencing divorce should not be a good amount to feel comfortable with in a representation that may involve hundreds of thousands of dollars. Like the practice itself, the dentist must think of the adage of “pay me now or pay me later,” in that this evaluator with few experiences is probably much cheaper than the evaluator who has prepared hundreds of valuations for divorce. The more expensive valuation expert typically can present some concepts in the expertise needed as to what he or she knows and how to present that information.

Comparing the cost today for the valuation to the amount that it may cost later because of the lack of knowledge of the evaluator will certainly be a “pay me more later,” approach with additional charges that may be hundreds of thousands of dollars after the settlement of the dispute or opinion from the court. The more expensive dental practice evaluator who has many hundreds of experiences with presenting valuations for dentists going through divorce will most likely be more expensive now but will save thousands and thousands of dollars later. The “later,” is normally when the dentist is getting his or her life back together and overcoming the problems of the divorce to build a new personal life along with a more viable economic look at the practice. This may be when the “later,” really hurts as the practice is just starting to come back to life and concentrating on its resurgence is interrupted by the “on again,” drama of problems from the cheaper, less experienced evaluator’s presentation.

Surviving the divorce and flourishing at the practice after the end of the drama:

What the dentist does not need is a recurrence of effort staving off repeated attempts to draw more funds from the practice to overcome the effects of the less experienced and cheaper evaluator who prepared the dental practice valuation. The long term economic effects of paying off the divorce many times means borrowing enough money to do so as well as the time taken to present information to lenders for the ability to borrow. This has the unfortunate result in casting an aura of lower morale at the office, a somewhat less than cheerful approach to employees and the overall feeling that flows through to the patients as they can understand what is occurring, at least in the atmosphere at the office.

Starting again with the effort to finally finish this problem may take another valuation from an expert who can satisfy the adversarial approach from the former spouse. The ability to move ahead with office plans, possible expansion and other concepts to enhance the dental practice may have to be put on hold until this problem is resolved. Paying for another valuation is such a shame as the entire situation could have been settled with the first valuation. Now the cost of the new one and the time needed to complete the gathering of information to complete it is a severe awakening to understand the difference between the “pay me less now or more later,” adage.

The hope is that the particular dentist involved with this situation has learned and will keep the idea of what expertise costs in mind when it comes to any step ready to be taken at the dental practice. This could be from the potential acquisition of another dental practice, the integration with a DSO or any other area where the dentist does not have the expertise on his or her own to complete the mission without experienced professional help.

Dentists need to smart about paying for divorce and hiring the best available practice valuation expert should be a strong consideration.

Paying Less Now May Cost More Later With a Divorce

DenMat Partners with Burkhart Dental Supply

The dental products manufacturer DenMat has announced a partnership with Burkhart Dental Supply.

This partnership will allow practices in the United States are now eligible to purchase an OrthoClear starter kit from a Burkhart Account Manager at a reduced rate. This starter kit includes a patient demonstration model, patient education materials, and a voucher to cover the cost of a basic OrthoClear case.

CEO of DenMat David Casper said that this will allow for an expansion on affordable clear aligners.

“OrthoClear Aligners represent a high-quality, affordable clear aligner solution for clinicians throughout North America,” Casper said in a press release from the company. “Burkhart’s commitment to excellent customer service makes them an ideal partner to expand our reach and help more dentists expand their services in this high-growth area of dentistry.”

Burkhart Dental Supply provides a variety of services for dental practices. This partnership with DenMat further solidifies its strength as a Dental Supply service, according to the press release.

DenMat will partner with Burkhart Dental Supply to provide various goods and services to the market. 

Park Dental Research Announces Acquisition of Orchestrate 3D

Park Dental Research has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Orchestrate, a 3D printing company that manufactures orthodontic software.

As clear aligners and dental implants become standard care in treating patients, Park Dental and Orchestrate have teamed up to offer best orthodontic treatment outcomes for patients. Known for its orthodontic treatment and planning software, Orchestrate will now act underneath Park Dental’s umbrella of solutions. President and CEO of Park Dental Ronald Bulard says that this acquisition will expand Park Dental’s ability to serve.

"Our combined digital products and expertise will enable a digital vertical integration approach with more options than ever, including Park Dental 3D printers and software, Orchestrate 3D tooth movement and treatment planning software, and Park Dental Implants and 3D surgical guide solutions to the digital workflow," Bulard said in a press release from the company. "Together, we will have an end-to-end digital solution, making the process easier, faster and better for dentists everywhere.In addition, allowing for the most competitive pricing and quality in the clear orthodontic OEM manufacturing space in North America."

Park Dental will utilize its worldwide network to manufacture and market 3D solutions from Orchestrate in the hopes that these dental and orthodontic services can be used to improve oral health.

This acquisition will make implant and orthodontic solutions easier and more efficient for dentists across North America. 

Kellie Nock is the assistant editor for Dental Products Report. She graduated from Kent State University in 2018 with a Bachelor's in Journalism. Kellie enjoys multimedia content creation with a focus on audio and video storytelling. 

5 Ways that COVID-19 Has Changed the Future of Dentistry

Slideshows

We take a look at some of the ways that the future of dentistry has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Clinicians can take a positive step for the environment today with Premier Dental Product Co’s new BioGREEN™ biodegradable micro-applicators. With strength and durability, BioGREEN micro-applicators are described as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic micro-applicators.

Made from a food production straw-byproduct, they are biodegradable and compostable.

Available in regular, fine and super-fine sizes

Recyclable packaging made from sustainable materials

Requires less energy to produce vs. petroleum plastics

Source plants reduce CO2 (greenhouse gasses) through photosynthesis

Their bendable shape makes them flexible for easy use and the brush tips are gluten-free and lint-free.

Applicators are compostable, come in recyclable packaging made from sustainable materials, and require less energy to produce than petroleum plastics.

Premier Dental Products Co. Releases BioGREEN Biodegradable Micro-Applicators 

Designed to be used with DGSHAPE’s DWX-42W wet dental mill, the DESS Material Attachment Adapter is the latest addition to the AK-1 Abutment Kit which allows the mill to be used for the production of custom titanium implant abutments.

The new adapter allows dental laboratories and practices to use DESS titanium abutment blanks, according to a press release. Available as an add-on to the DWX-42W mill, the AK-1 Abutment Kit includes a set of milling tools designed for use with titanium blanks, a special purpose filter tray, a torque screwdriver, a hexagonal wrench, and a receptacle tray. The new DESS adapter joins previously released adapters for materials from NT Trading, Medentika, and GeoMedi.

“The added DESS compatibility for the AK-1 Abutment Kit makes it simple and cost-effective to mill custom titanium pre-milled blanks from DESS,” said Roland DGA’s Dental Solutions Product Manager, Lisa Aguirre in a press release. “Now, whether you want to work with materials from NT-Trading, Medentika, or DESS, we can provide a manufacturer-specific attachment that’s perfect for the job.”

The DESS Material Attachment Adapter and DGHAPE’s AK-1 Abutment Kit can be used with MillBox software version 2021 and newer.

The new expansion to the AK-1 Kit for fabricating custom titanium abutments adds compatibility with blanks from DESS.

DGSHAPE Expands DWX-42W Mill Capabilities With DESS Material Attachment Adapter 

American Association of Orthodontics Unveils State Advocacy Toolkit

The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) has announced the development of a toolkit designed to report concerns about direct-to-consumer (DTC) orthodontic treatment. These communications will assess risk to patient health and wellbeing.

The AAO’s DTC resources centerpiece is a position paper that highlights various concerns with certain DTC treatment. These concerns include failing to perform in-person exams as well as failing to take X-rays, among others. The AAO assures that these concerns are not new, but the paper is meant to support these concerns through credible peer-reviewed evidence, according to a press release from the company. AAO President Dr Kevin Dillehay said that this message was vital for orthodontics patients and clinicians.

“We are excited to combine the AAO’s advocacy messaging with the strength of the AAO’s scientific and academic resources,” Dr Dillehay said in the press release. “For the first time, we have a resource that clearly shows that the AAO’s advocacy positions on teledentistry and DTC are supported by strong scientific evidence, which demonstrates why the law should include these patient protections.”

This toolkit also includes one-page summaries of the AAO’s position on in-person exams and radiographic exams, a testimony by a former DTC-treating doctor, concerns related to informed consent, and public policy arguments made by the American Teledentistry Association.

Each of these resources have been collated to communicate to both boards and state legislatures on ways to best protect orthodontic patients. The webpage containing the toolkit will be accessible to the general public for informative purposes.

The American Association of Orthodontics has compiled resources to report and monitor concerns about direct-to-consumer orthodontic treatment. 

Lisa Newburger, a master's level social worker supervisor, helps audiences find humor in talking about tough topics. Her "in-your-face" style of presentations and writing will make you smile or just shock you into taking some action. Either way, she is very effective at empowering others to reach their goals and feel better about themselves. Her entertaining workshops are available for national and international audiences. Writing for the dental industry since 2010, she uses an alterego (Diana Directive) to illustrate her points in a sarcastic but effective way. Presentations can be scheduled by contacting Lisa at www.discussdirectives.com/dental.html.

Newbie in the Dental Office. Photo courtesy of bnenin / stock.adobe.com. 

It was my first day of work in dentist office. I thought "What have I gotten myself into?" I was hired to be the front office staff person and recruiter to fill a couple positions. I thought, “Sure. No problem. The staff is awesome!” You see, I am a patient of the practice and there was a need for someone to answer the phones and schedule appointments. So, I offered to help for 2 months.

What a nightmare! I realized on day 1 that I had bitten off more than I could chew. When I was in high school, I worked the front desk for an ophthalmologist. I thought this would be an easy job with me just answering phones and reading a book in between. I was so wrong. Everything is computerized now, and while I am fluent with the workings of computers and programs, this was something I never expected. I was expected to know the computer programs without any onboarding. To schedule an appointment, I needed to know what the purpose of the appointment was and the fee that would be charged. Somehow, I was supposed to go to the treatment plan and figure out what these codes meant with no training and no cheat sheet. It was impossible. Here is a perfect example, I didn’t even know that I wasn’t signing in correctly for the time sheets. It wasn’t until the 3rd pay period that I was shown a screen I had never seen before and taught how to log in for my time. All I could do is laugh. In a nutshell, that was the crystal-clear example of how chaotic everything was. Yep, they didn’t even show me how to get paid correctly.

Don’t get me wrong. There was just no time for them to train me. I saw a lot of the dentist’s frustrations and to be honest, this changed how I felt about him. I knew that because I was there only as a temporary hire for 2 months, I would not be going back to him as my dentist. How could I? His stress was off the charts. He somehow saw me as a cross between his office manager and a therapist. I can’t tell you how much I disliked working there. The people were great, but the stress was keeping me up at night. I worried whether this practice would go under.

I made mistakes. Who doesn’t? It got to a point that I would take notes by hand and then have the dentist sit down with me at the end of every day to go over and make sure I was scheduling people correctly. He was showing me things on the treatment plan, telling me to delete things that weren’t current. How was I supposed to do that? He somehow was confused that because I write for the dental industry, I should know everything about everything. It doesn’t quite work that way.

This experience made me think about other dental professionals just starting out. The first day they are excited and nervous like I was. Hopefully, they had someone take them under their wing and show them the ropes. If not, they might leave and not come back. Did I contemplate that? No, but my mother did for me. She didn’t understand why I would work in this difficult situation.

What made it tolerable was 1 of the dental hygienists. She helped me with the computer whenever I had a problem. She didn’t always teach me the correct way to do something, but she truly tried. I think that the other thing that kept me working there was knowing that I couldn’t be fired. He needed me more than I needed him. It was a great day when I hired my replacement and gave notice.

Think about the new person in your practice. With this staff shortage, it is a huge deal to find someone to bring on, but, once they show up, you need to work even harder to keep them. That means not throwing them into the fire with inadequate training and onboarding. It means taking them out to eat and getting to know them. That includes helping them to learn how to do the job and being supportive when they are struggling with their stress and frustration. If I hadn’t had that dental hygienist work with me, I can guarantee I would have quit sooner. After all, retention is critical once you find that employee. Make sure you don’t blow it.

 if you have ever had challenges as a new employee. I would like to hear how you handled it.

Starting a job in a new dental office can come with a unique set of challenges. What are the best ways to handle these challenges?

Newbie in the Dental Office

American Dental Association Announces 2022 CDT Code Books


The American Dental Association (ADA) has announced its 2022 CDT Code Books bundled as the 

. These books are designed to keep dental teams in the know about when and why codes change.

The 2022 edition changes include 16 new codes, 14 revisions, and 6 deletions. These new codes cover patient screenings, sleep apnea appliance fabrication and repair, immediate partial dentures, intra- and extra-coronal splints, rebasing hybrid protheses, and removal of temporary anchorage devices.

The bundle includes two books and a mobile app that will inform practices on up-to-date codes and descriptors. It is said to improve accurate insurance claims by reducing the rate of rejected claims.

CDT is the only HIPAA-recognized code set for dentistry, therefore making it essential for practices. The 2022 CDT codes go into effect on January 1st, 2022.

The CDT Code Book bundle will keep practices ahead of the game when it comes to code changes and improving claims accuracy. 