Described as the only kids’ mouthwash scientifically proven to eliminate and prevent bad breath for 24 hours with just 2 rinses per day, SmartMouth Kids is the latest in SmartMouth’s line of innovative oral-care products.

SmartMouth Kids is available in a 10-ounce dual-chamber bottle on 

and Amazon at a suggested retail price of $6.99.Dentist-recommended, the rinse is designed to encourage sound oral-hygiene practices and help kids maintain a healthier mouth. SmartMouth Kids’ zinc-activated formula promotes oral health and boosts immunity, and its grape flavor was designed with kids in mind to help encourage regular oral-hygiene habits.

“No one likes bad breath, and that includes kids. But let’s face it – kids don’t always have the best oral-hygiene habits. That’s why we created SmartMouth Kids,” said SmartMouth CEO Jim Scheetz. “SmartMouth Kids eliminates and prevents bad breath just like our original activated mouthwash, but with a flavor that kids love and are more likely to use every day. And doing so will help kids maintain a healthier mouth.”

Similar to other products in the company’s activated mouthwash line, SmartMouth Kids employs 2 powerful liquids to fight bad breath. Its Sulfur Eliminating Solution destroys the root cause of bad breath: sulfur gases in the mouth. When added to its zinc ion Activating Solution, the combined solution instantly activates to release billions of zinc ions that bond to the germs in the mouth, stopping the return of bad breath for 24 hours with just 2 rinses a day.

A leading innovator in the long-term prevention of bad breath, SmartMouth also has developed a mild Zinc Ion Toothpaste kids love, a Clinical Activated Oral Rinse combining zinc ion technology with anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis benefits to prevent bleeding gums for optimal oral health, a Mouth Sore Rinse which helps alleviate oral pain and irritation, and a Dry Mouth Mouthwash designed to relieve dry mouth while preventing bad breath. SmartMouth also offers Dry Mouth Dual-Action Mints with zinc and xylitol to provide additional dry mouth relief throughout the day.

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SmartMouth Kids formulated to eliminate and prevent bad breath for 24 hours with just 2 rinses a day and features a kid-friendly grape flavor to encourage good hygiene among children.

SmartMouth’s New Activated Mouthwash Formulated for Kids

uLab Systems™ Announces uAssist™ Treatment Planning Service for Ortho


has announced that they will be adding a new concierge treatment planning assistance service to its uSmile

 treatment planning software. This will allow orthodontists and dentists to communicate and assist in aligner treatment plans, according to a press release from the company. The uAssist service allows orthodontists to review case designs, make adjustments, return it for changes, or to order the final clear aligner. These adjustments are made within 2 review sessions per case, and are said to be returned in less than 3 days.

This streamlined system is designed to make orthodontic practice quicker and more efficient without compromising on quality, according to founder and chief technology officer at uLab Charlie Wen.

“We understand orthodontists need to have a balance of efficiency and control in order to provide the best care to their patients,” Wen said in the press release. “While some orthodontists will choose to plan their own treatments, we are providing a planning assistance option that has not been available in the market before; the best of both options in one aligner platform. If orthodontists encounter higher volumes, staffing challenges or an unusually complex case, our team is just a button away.”

All treatment plans done through uAssist must be reviewed and approved by the treating orthodontists.

This concierge treatment planning service from uLab Systems will let orthodontists and dentists efficiently and effectively send design and create clear aligners in 3 business days. 

uLab Systems™ Announces uAssist™ Treatment Planning Service for Ortho 

Robert Elsenpeter is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Dental Products Report and Dental Lab Products. He is also the author of 18 technology books, including the award-winning Green IT: Reduce Your Information System's Environmental Impact While Adding to the Bottom Line. As such, he’s particularly interested in the technological side of dentistry.

Somethings are just so simple, so basic that an explanation doesn’t seem necessary, but sometimes the details are essential. Case in point: surface disinfection. How hard can it be? You wipe on the chemical and then wipe it dry. The fact of the matter is that it’s not so simple. Surface disinfection is an important cog in the infection control machine and one that, regrettably, is often taken for granted.

It starts with the disinfectant chemicals, which are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“Disinfectant chemicals are unique,” Jackie Dorst, RDH, BS, observes. Dorst is an infection prevention consultant and speaker. “Disinfectants are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, and they come under the category of pesticides. These chemicals have a toxicity to be able to kill the microorganisms. And, of course, we want a chemical to use in healthcare that kills any pathogenic microorganisms in the categories of bacteria, fungus, or viruses. So, EPA regulates and approves disinfectants in different categories of efficacy.”

Those disinfectant categories come with varying levels of toxicity.

“Low-level disinfectants are more those janitorial-type chemicals that you would use in any public place during the pandemic,” Dorst says. “We all saw, even at the grocery store and at retail stores, that the carts that you pick up were wiped down with the disinfectant before you used it. Those were mostly low-level disinfectants, not the higher EPA List E disinfectants that are approved for healthcare and will kill those pathogenic microorganisms or disease-causing microorganisms. Healthcare disinfectants would be in an intermediate level category.

“There are also some disinfectants referred to as a high-level disinfectants, commonly called – in dental practices – ‘cold sterilization’,” she continues. “A high-level disinfectant will kill all vegetative microorganisms, but it doesn’t normally kill spores, and it’s very toxic. You can imagine, if it’s going to kill everything and it’s a liquid that we soak items in, then it’s got to be extremely toxic and very hazardous for the person using it.”

The appropriate chemicals for healthcare settings are included in a specific list.

“EPA has a list and it’s called the List E, which is for healthcare disinfectants,” Dorst says. “Any dental practice that wants to verify the disinfectant that they’re using is approved for healthcare and is it going to kill those pathogenic microorganisms, they need to search on the label or on the safety data sheet and locate the EPA registration number. They’ll use that registration number to search this EPA List E.”

It may seem that common sense dictates how to simply open a container of disinfectant wipes or spray on a disinfectant and wipe it dry. However, each disinfectant has its own usage rules, and those are laid out by the manufacturer.

“I think that people often don’t read the manufacturer’s instructions or the label on the actual product that they’re using,” Karen Gregory, RN, Director of Compliance and Education for Total Medical Compliance, observes. “And they may not make sure that the contaminated surface stays wet for the appointed contact time. Only when that contact time is met can you have the assurance that there has been adequate disinfection of that surface.”

“Contact time” is the magic phrase governing a disinfectant’s use.

“That’s the phrase that they’re looking for,” Dorst adds. “How long is it? It can be anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 minute. You don’t want just the shortest kill time that it says to kill a few microorganisms such as polio virus. There may be 5 different microorganisms that are listed on the front of the label, and it says, ‘Kills these in 30 seconds’. But then when you turn the label around and read the detailed instructions for effective disinfection in a healthcare environment, the manufacturer’s IFU may say, ‘But to kill all pathogens, leave wet for 5 minutes.’ That’s back to basics. What are the best practices for using a disinfectant?”

Regrettably, even the most seasoned professionals fall into bad habits.

“I had a clinician contact me within the past year, and she didn’t realize that the wiping portion of the spray – wipe – spray process was wiping with a paper towel,” Gregory says. “Her comment was, ‘I just didn’t read the directions’. I think, as adults, a lot of times we don’t read the directions. We also get so focused on turnover of that operatory because that next patient is waiting, that the appropriate time is not spent on the cleaning and disinfection process. This also may link back to, ‘I know how to do this. I’ve been in dentistry long enough’.”

Rudimentary as it may sound, team members must also keep an eye on the clock when disinfecting.

“When it comes to contact time, I feel like people don’t really understand how long 1 minute is or 3 minutes is,” Gregory says. “Contact time is equal to kill time. That surface has to be in contact with that disinfectant for the appropriate contact time to kill any contaminates that may be on that surface.”

Also, it’s important that staff take appropriate measures to protect themselves while using disinfectants.

“People may not realize how often they are coming in contact with these surface disinfection chemicals,” Gregory observes. “They may not protect themselves adequately. Over the course of 1 year workers could be exposed to this chemical thousands of times. I still have managers say to me, ‘I had a worker that was doing surface cleaning and disinfection, and they weren’t wearing any gloves’. So, knowing that this is a chemical and that they should be protecting themselves when they’re using the chemical, I think is something that needs to be stressed.”

How a product is applied is another important consideration with surface disinfection.

“A surface must be clean before you can disinfect it,” Dorst reminds. “Then the next step is to apply the disinfectant, and everybody’s heard this phrase, ‘Leave it wet for the contact time to kill all the microorganisms’. And that’s the important piece of information that is going to be on those detailed manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU) on the back of that label.”

How the chemical is delivered matters, as well. That is, is the chemical used to spray onto the surface or applied using a premoistened wipe? Each has its own method of application.

“Most offices, for convenience, have gone to using disinfectant wipes,” Dorst says. “Not all wipes are the same. Some of them are a smaller size. Some are a larger size. Some of the disinfectant wipe containers contain more of the chemical. And those wipes are what I refer to as ‘juicier’. You really want a juicy wipe. When an assistant or a hygienist pulls that wipe out, it goes through a little sweeping process that wipes off the excess. You don’t want it to be dripping chemical all over every surface, but when you pull that wipe out, it should be wet enough that if you squeezed it in your hand, you could get a few drops of chemical out. If it’s not juicy and when you pull that wipe out and you squeeze it in your hand and nothing comes out, then that wipe is too dry. It doesn’t have enough chemical in it to leave the surface wet for the contact time to kill all the pathogens.”

Team members must also be mindful of how they are applying the surface disinfectant, being careful to be thorough.

“What is your technique for wiping down those surfaces?” Dorst asks. “Because a quick swipe over could miss some critical surfaces. It only takes a few viral particles of the norovirus to transmit a disease or a few viral particles of measles. Or as we have learned, if someone’s coughing with a COVID infection, and those aerosol droplets are on the surface –and we don’t get them clean – then touch that surface with our gloves on as we’re treating the patient there is a risk of infecting the patient (cross contamination).”

Surface contaminants are hard – impossible, really – to see. The right product and a good technique is, of course, necessary to eliminate those contaminants.

To underscore just how hard it is to see contamination, the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) produced a video called “If Saliva Were Red”. The video graphically depicts how patients’ saliva is left all over the operatory – including on team members.

“I would encourage people to see that video,” Dorst says. “It allowed us, with a dye, to see where the red splashes were in an operatory and why we need to wear PPE and what surfaces needed to be cleaned and disinfected.”

“The “If Saliva Were Red” video shows all the contamination that occurs in dentistry through the delivery of care,” Gregory adds. “If you could see where it was, you would be really surprised. There may be a contaminated surface that, because you can’t see the contamination, you might not clean it as well as you should. The takeaway is that that surface cleaning and disinfection is critically important, because there may be areas that are contaminated and you can’t see the blood on it. Just think about everywhere your hands may have touched or where you may have put a contaminated instrument, and make sure that those surfaces are taken care of appropriately.”

Dorst recommends using a product called Highlight, which is an additive that colorizes bleach spray so team members can visualize where bleach has been applied.

“Something like Highlight that can be added to the disinfectants is another visual that will prove to be a training benefit for many dental practices,” she says. “As we have new team members join the office – and as a refresher for us experienced infection preventionists – we need to be thorough with our cleaning and disinfection, so we don’t have any of those missed surfaces that could inadvertently transmit a disease.”

Surface disinfection may seem like an easy, rote task. However, taking the process for granted is the first step down the path toward a terrible mistake.

Best practices for surface disinfection in dental practices.

Surface Disinfection 101

Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, is a dental and leadership industry educator, and helps organizations reach goals through understanding employees and behavioral drivers. She works with all sizes and types of organizations, including dental organizations to strategically align people with outcomes and improve the psychological ownership of organizational goals. At a micro level, she helps individuals become high-performance leaders by developing emotional intelligence which directly affects their impact as leaders and as members of an organization and teams. 

Talk Techy to Me: Incorporating Technologies into Your Dental Hygiene. Photo courtesy of natali_mis/stock.adobe.com. 


One of my favorite aspects of being a dental hygienist is learning about new technology that helps to make my day easier, helps me take care of my patients, and gives patients the desire to return to the practice. I think of technology as a team member that helps me achieve my goals for the patient and the care I deliver. Technology supports my procedure by helping me assess, diagnose, treat, educate, and implement my care plan. I want to share information about the technology that has personally changed how I care for my patients and has improved patient satisfaction and health outcomes.

As a dental hygiene educator, one of the courses I taught for 9 years was radiology. How many of you remember taking X-rays on a Dexter manakin? I don't remember loving radiology class as much as I love teaching radiology now. I remember how difficult it was, not just as a student but also as a clinician, to find all the possible pathology and bone levels that the next person could or couldn’t see. This led me to Pearl's Second Opinion® chairside, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which has changed how I practice. Second Opinion works as simple as taking the patient’s X-ray, pulling it up on screen, and allowing the software to indicate potential areas of pathology. Second Opinion is intelligent enough to recognize natural dentition and restorations, so there is no more guessing if you caught anything incorrectly. This technology doesn't take the place of a practitioner's diagnosis, but it spots abnormalities to say, “Hey Kelly! Look over here at this!” 

There are a few AI software with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to detect caries, but Second Opinion is the only AI approved to also catch other common issues like subgingival calculus or overhanging restorations before we see a patient, especially for hygiene. Additionally, Second Opinion is also cleared to use with patients 12+ years of age and for bitewing & periapical X-rays. Beyond diagnosis and treatment planning, I have also found that using this software to educate patients is a way to build trust and establish the health status of hard and soft tissues. It also tells the patient that you are cutting edge by investing in the best technology for them.

Speaking of X-rays, how many of you have a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scanner in your practice? The CBCT scanner is also called a "cone beam scanner" by many practitioners. Typically, the doctor uses CBCT scanning to evaluate bone levels, anatomical landmarks, and potential pathology. CBCT scanners are not currently part of a typical hygiene workflow; however, I think this will change within the next 2 years. Although the CBCT does not take the place of bitewings, the device can image pathology and bone levels in a way that no other device can. 

On a CBCT, the contour and height of the bone can help you tell the story to the patient about how periodontal disease and malocclusion are affecting their oral and overall health. Visualization of periapical abscesses is effortless because of the contrast in the imagery, which also helps to improve the accuracy of diagnosis to correctly recommend treatment before the patient experiences pain or more expensive procedures.

Have you ever heard the story of a person going into the emergency room with appendicitis, and the imaging they take shows a tumor that the patient would have otherwise not found? 

Another benefit of taking a CBCT scan is that in the image, there is hard and soft tissue imaged from the skull and spinal column (depending on the field of exposure in the CBCT) that can show dental professionals valuable information. As with any type of radiograph, sometimes the pathology is more prominent, but what about what you aren't trained to see, such as cancer and vascular canals that may be blocked in the image? How would you even know what to look for? The good news is you don't have to be the expert. 

DentalRay is a subscription-based service that sends your CBCT to a medical radiologist, interprets the radiograph, and sends you back a pathology report of all imaged structures within 48 hours. You are already taking the image on the patient, so why not take advantage of the opportunity to clear your patients of any other abnormalities. Again, this service is positioning you as the provider connecting their oral and overall health and potentially saving their life. Additionally, DentalRay assumes the liability of the interpretation, and the interpretation is also eligible for medical reimbursement. Now it becomes, "Wow, you saved my life."

One of the most significant differences I have experienced in patient communication has been utilizing my iTero Element 5D Plus 3D scanner. Regardless of the brand of 3D scanner you have in your practice, you need to use a digital scanner to educate. The scan connects the patients to their mouths in a unique way, and your patients will think you are a rockstar. When I create a digital health scan with my iTero, I can show the patient gingival inflammation, interproximal caries, cracking, wearing, occlusal wear, and many other issues. I can track these changes over time. I can press "play" on the screen and show the patient the changes in their tooth structure from 6 months ago, a year ago, or whenever I want to choose the point in time based on the images gathered in the system. Not only can they see where they are currently, but they can also see where they have been and the consequences if their teeth are not treated. 

The iTero has single-handedly helped me compress time in my hygiene appointments while allowing me to leverage the information I have scanned to develop trust and answer questions they may have about their care.

Next up is clear aligners. We know about products such as Invisalign, Spark, OraFit, and OrthoFX, but we didn't learn anything in hygiene school about how clear aligners work, their materials, or how to tell patients to take care of them. I am a nerd about orthodontics. When I was 23, my dentist enrolled the team and me in 100 hours of continuing education across the United States to learn about functional orthodontics. I learned that malocclusion is a big deal. If the teeth aren't aligned, it puts them at risk for trauma, premature enamel, and tooth loss. Malocclusion is 1 of the 4 ways that we can lose our teeth: periodontal disease, caries, malocclusion, and trauma. Malocclusion is treatable and clear aligners make it so easy with advanced technology. 

Here is a fun fact. Did you know that orthodontic brackets have different prescriptions built into the brackets based on the type of bracket chosen? You may not have known that, but what is important to know is that 75% of the population has some form of malocclusion. The hygienist needs to be a part of the discussion, because of tooth loss and how malocclusion affects the progression of periodontal disease. Malocclusion is linked to the function of the teeth, airways, sleep apnea, oral systemic disease, and overall health. Again, it’s a big deal.

Clear aligners are now offered in many general practices, and now that you know how important it is to assess and discuss malocclusion, you can take the next step to discuss clear aligners. Clear aligners are made of a polymer and have differing technology. It's not just about the tooth being moved over in increments. It's also about how predictable the polymers are because of the technology built into them. 

The number one issue with clear aligners is patient compliance, so it is essential to reinforce and motivate patients to wear them as frequently as possible. One of the reasons why I find patients do not wear them is because they feel like the device has a bad taste or smell. Patients should not be brushing their clear aligners with a toothbrush because it causes scratching on the surface of many clear aligners on the market. Why does scratching matter? For the same reason why pitting of the aligner matters. Pitting is caused by denture cleaners and other home remedies and pitting and scratching cause biofilm adhesion to the aligner. I always get the question: "there is biofilm in my trays?" Yes. And the trays also contain other bacteria, yeast, and fungus. Dawn dishwashing soap with a toothbrush should be avoided. Some products, such as Steraligner, kill 99% of bacteria, yeast, and mold. Steraligner, which I also consider a technology, is designed to disinfect, and whiten the trays in 3 minutes while your patients brush their teeth. Much like your smartphone, once you use Steraligner, you cannot imagine life without it. Recommend it to your patients, try it yourself, and you will be hooked.

The next technology is a Piezo scaler. Yes, we love how the Cavitron busts off the calculus, and I understand the wide-eyed look and excitement when it happens. Many hygienists wonder if the Piezo is working because of its gentle nature. The Piezo removes the calculus more gently, almost disintegrating the calculus into a sand pile. What I love most about a Piezo is the patient comfort and the choice I get to have with tips. I love the Acteon’s Newtron for a lot of reasons, like the minimal water spray, the LED light built into the handpiece, an interchangeable reservoir (between water and medicament of your choice), and I have many tips choices. Piezo scalers can also be used around titanium implants because the lower vibration setting provides additional versatility. Acteon also has pure titanium Piezo tips (Implant Protect Titanium tips) that can be used around the implant to remove cement, biofilm, and calculus. As I write this, these are the only pure titanium tips on the market.

I must also include my favorite toothbrush—the Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean. I have been using Sonicare since 1994--I even have a picture of my first edition--and it provides the best predictable results for patients. Patients can change the amplitude, the brush heads include a microchip that tells them when to change their brush head, and of course, after every use, you feel like you came from the hygiene chair. Regardless of what you recommend to your patients for electronic toothbrushes, electric is better than a manual toothbrush, and the studies tell us this (regardless of manufacturer) over time that this is the case. Sonicare happens to reduce pocket depths 26x more than a manual toothbrush. Seventy percent of a patient's oral health success occurs at home. We need to help them establish a routine that works into what they are already doing at home and for them to know that the time they spend on any behavior modification is valuable. Your patients probably don’t use a flip phone anymore, so bring your patients into the era where technology makes their life easier and makes what they are already doing considerably more effective.

I would like to mention a new fluoride varnish I discovered, FluroCal. Not all fluoride varnish is created equal, and you may not have thought about your varnish for a while. In a fluoride varnish, we want what will work and what is pleasing to the patients, right? Do you know BISCO? BISCO is an adhesives company, and guess what varnish is? You guessed it! BISCO is known for its dental products and is a favorite among many dentists, including Gordon Christenson. FluroCal has many attributes: xylitol, 24-hour substantivity and release, immediate sensitivity relief, high fluoride uptake, and tri-calcium phosphate. All of the things required to check the boxes that you like in a varnish. Here is what I love. It's not sticky—it's not separated when you open it---it's not like a can of paint; you mix it with the end---its smooth and white. Patients love the subtle taste, and there are more flavors to be revealed soon. I call that technology.

Be encouraged that everything I have mentioned has helped my workflow and efficiency. I know it can seem overwhelming when we think of new products and technology and how and when to use them. Think about your why and how any of these technologies can serve your why and your patients. I encourage you to remain open to new opportunities that will benefit you and your patient by trying something different.

There is a wide variety of technology that can be implemented in everyday, dental hygiene practice, and here are just a few to get started. 

Talk Techy to Me: Incorporating Technologies into Your Dental Hygiene

Dental artificial intelligence (AI) company Pearl has formally announced a partnership with nonprofit organization Women in DSO

. Pearl will participate in Women in DSO networking, mentorship, and educational events, according to a press release from Pearl. This will support Women in DSO’s mission to enhance women leadership in the dental space by way of AI education, according to Pearl’s director of strategic accounts and Women in DSO board member Nikki Dean.

“Women in DSO has quickly established itself as a powerful force in the DSO community and I’m thrilled to be working with so many talented peers to support its mission of advancing the role and voice of women in our field,” Dean said in the press release. “Through my role on the board, I look forward to educating members about the most advanced AI technology in the dental space, helping to position them at the forefront when it comes to implementing the industry’s latest technological advancements.”

Pearl aims to harness AI technology to create stronger diagnoses, especially with the help of its Second Opinion

 chairside software. This AI platform gives clinicians a second opinion, detecting pathologies, restorations, and natural dentition in patient X-rays. Pearl will partner with Women in DSO to make space in the dental industry for women leaders, according to founder and CEO of Pearl, Ophir Tanz.

“Pearl’s mission is to improve the efficiency, accuracy, quality, and consistency of dental care while advancing the dental space in any way we can, which includes prioritizing the inclusion and recognition of women leaders in the industry,” Tanz said in the press release. “We are thrilled to be joining this revolutionary initiative as a founding member. By partnering with Women in DSO, we are doing our part to help transform the dental space for women and shape the future of dentistry for the next generation of practitioners.”

Dental artificial intelligence company Pearl will partner with nonprofit Women in DSO to join networking, events, and education, for women leadership in dentistry. 

Pearl Partners with Women in DSO®

Exocad to Host CAD/CAM Conference in Spain


Exocad has announced its “Insights 2022” CAD/CAM conference will be taking place October 3rd through the 4th, 2022, at Palma de Mallorca, Spain. This conference will feature speakers, learning sessions, and an exhibition, according to a press release from exocad. The motto for this year, “Learn. Connect. Enjoy,” is meant to demonstrate the company’s commitment to connectivity, according to CEO Tillmann Steinbrecher.

“Connection is one of our top priorities at exocad: connecting with our community, connecting through technology, and connecting to learn and educate about the latest advancements in digital dentistry,” Steinbrecher said in the press release. “Insights is our main event to strengthen those connections, offer a platform for exchange and a vision of the future.”

Guest speakers will include Steven Campbell, Dr Christian Coachman, Dr Gulshan Murgai, Professor Dr Guilherme Saavedra, MDT Sascha Hein, Dr Diana Tadros, Dr Lori Trost, and Waldo Zarco Nosti. Sessions will be held in English with translations in German, Italian, and Spanish, and an evening event is planned for networking and fun.

The focus of Insights 2022 will be open software and digital dentistry, including exocad’s newly released DentalCAD 

. Continuing education will be available in select countries, which can be viewed and registered through 

Exocad’s “Insights 2022” conference in Mallorca de Palma, Spain, will host renowned speakers with a focus on education for open software CAD/CAM. 

Exocad to Host CAD/CAM Conference in Spain

Polaris Healthcare Partners to Host “Scaling from Clinician to CEO” Conference with Dental Success Institute


Polaris Healthcare Partners has announced a joint conference in Denver, Colorado, with the Dental Success Institute. This conference will be focused on helping dental entrepreneurs receive the education and resources to build group practices, according to a press release from the companies.

The conference, titled “Scaling from Clinician to CEO,” will host a variety of experts for over 13 hours of education, including material on finances, marketing, legal, and other aspects of group practice ownership.

Co-founder of the Dental Success Institute, Dr Mark Costes, assures that this information will be valuable for aspiring entrepreneurs and experienced industry leaders.

“Perrin, Diwaker, and the Polaris team provide the most in-depth, comprehensive strategy training and support when it comes to growing and scaling a group practice and DSO that I’ve encountered in the profession,” Dr Costes said in the press release. “The Dental Success Companies are thrilled to collaborate with this world-class organization. The real-world tactical information provided at this event will aceelearte the timeline of anyone wishing to build an elite-level business.”

Co-founder of Polaris, Perrin DesPortes, says that this conference will offer an education experience unlike others.

“There are so many industry conferences that are ‘death by panel’ or ‘death by PowerPoint’ where people talk in theory, but there’s nothing to apply when you get home on Monday morning,” DesPortes said in the press release. “I promise you this Summit will be anything but that. Every attendee will have a lot to think about and apply when they get home.”

Scaling from Clinician to CEO will take place at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel from October 5th through the 7th, 2022. Registration is open now.

This summit from Polaris and the Dental Success Institute aims to help aspiring dental entrepreneurs in starting a group practice. 

Polaris Healthcare Partners to Host “Scaling from Clinician to CEO” Conference with Dental Success Institute

Videos

The Asiga MAX UV is perfectly suited for every dental clinic and laboratory that requires a repeatable, accurate, and fast desktop 3D printer with the capability to use any material on the market. [1 minute]

5Ws* Video - Asiga MAX UV

Cloud-based dental software provider Planet DDS has announced the launch of Denticon Patient Engagement.

This patient communication tool is a new capability incorporated in its Denticon practice management software.

This tool, dental practices and organizations can automate appointment reminders, create marketing campaigns, customize patient messages, and communicate important information.

It's also natively built into Denticon, allowing clinicians to begin use right away.

This new patient communication capability is available through Denticon now.

Ortek Therapeutics, inc. will be expanding its BasicBites® product line with the addition of BasicBites SynergyPlus™ soft chew.

This product combines Ortek’s microbiome oral care technology with nutrients to help support tooth enamel and maintain healthy bones and immune and cardiovascular systems, according to the company.

The company’s patent pending formula is said to include (

) bicarbonate and calcium carbonate, which work together to create a healthy, balanced oral pH environment that protects teeth from harm caused by dry mouth and sugary foods and drinks. Arginine is an amino acid that is said to promote the beneficial pH-raising bacteria discovered in plaque, resulting in a buffering effect on tooth surfaces that helps neutralize harmful plaque. The calcium carbonate encourages healthy tooth enamel and bones, per the company’s statement.

BasicBites SynergyPlus soft chews are also formulated with K2VITAL®, which the company describes as a K2 MK-7 formula designed to transport calcium into bones and teeth; and Vitamin D3, which helps the body absorb calcium into the bloodstream and maintains strong teeth and bones.

Admetec has made updates to its Orchid Series of LED Headlights for Loupes

2 of the company’s LED headlights for loupes—the Orchid and Orchid F—have received an upgrade in maximum brightness from 60,000 lux to 80,000 lux.

Additionally, the Orchid, Orchid F and Orchid E have been redesigned for a more ergonomically correct user experience.

The Orchid series features trimmed-down headlights and battery packs—a rare combination of increased performance and reduced weight.

Additionally, the headlights’ control buttons have been repositioned to facilitate a more comfortable and natural hand positioning while using the controls.

The headlights will remain at the same price point despite the improvements, according to the company.

Podcasts

This week, we cover new products from Planet DDS, Ortek Therapeutics, & Admetec.

ProductBites Episode 19

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 

With the stock market crashing on occasion and the outlook for the future not so bright, many dentists are wondering whether they are going to have to work additional years to catch up on their retirement savings. If you are still earning substantial monies and want a method to invest large amounts of money into the retirement plan, get big tax write-offs and have a chance to retire when you want to do so, follow this plan that will be laid out in this article.

Right now most dentists have a 401k profit sharing plan for various reasons, one of which is that they can’t afford to make contributions that would be on the higher side for the rank and file employees. They also are upset about the cost to adopt a more sophisticated retirement plan since it is much more complex than the 401k profit sharing plan and its annual costs to compute the contributions are much higher. However, let’s take a look at this sophisticated plan, commonly known as a defined benefit plan or a cash balance plan to see if it can get you to retire when you want to do so. I know that it can.

The defined benefit plan or cash balance plan.


Many of the high earning dentists have done away with this type of plan if they originally adopted it because of costs to continue it and the contributions for the employees. In today’s market place, it may not be a bad idea to look at it again since the contribution level is amazingly high. Discrimination testing can be used by adding a 401k to the plan and segregating employees by job classification and age so that the younger personnel will be in the 401k profit sharing plan and the owner and key older employees will be in the defined benefit or cash balance plan. For those who have never utilized this type of retirement plan for contributions, you may be surprised that a tax deductible contribution of $150,000 or more can be paid into this type of retirement plan.

It is sophisticated and uses the funds distributed to the participants as the goal and not whatever is in the retirement plan such as the 401k profit sharing plan, which is known as a defined contribution plan. With the defined contribution plan, the amount to contribute to the retirement plan is fixed as an amount that can’t go above a certain level. The defined benefit plan or cash balance plan contribution is not fixed. It is based on the age of the participant, the compensation of the participant and the earnings or losses in the retirement plan. It forces a much higher contribution to the retirement plan than the 401k profit sharing. This contribution will allow the defined benefit or cash balance plan to be funded much more quickly than a 401k profit sharing plan as the tax deductible contributions can exceed the $150,000 level suggested in this article.

The ins and outs of planning and implementation of the defined benefit cash balance plan.


There are many nuances to the adoption of the defined benefit cash balance plans in getting it up and running. As long as the dentist’s income is reasonably good and he or she is around 50 years old or older, this type of retirement plan is a must for the dentist to initiate and to talk to a dental CPA or actuary who knows what they are doing.

Without the ability to use legal discrimination, the plan won’t work. Adopting another 401k profit sharing plan may be a critical point to consider. Also, those in the know will have other ideas that can keep the costs of the annual contributions for the employees on the lower side. It is more expensive than defined contribution plans, but it also gives much larger deductions as well as allowing the investments to be made by the trustee of the plan, who can be the owner of the dental practice. This is unlike the 401k profit sharing plan where you must use mutual funds for the investments.

When you compare the adoption fees of the 401k profit sharing plan at about $4000-$5000 and then look at the defined benefit plan and cash balance plan at $7500 or more, there certainly is a big difference. There is also a big difference between the annual contributions to the plans where a 401k profit sharing may be in the $50,000-$60,000 range while the defined benefit cash balance plan may be well in excess of $150,000. This writer urges those who are extending their retirement dates, wondering how much longer they are going to have to work and also wondering how much they will have to live on when they do retire to have a consultation with an expert dental CPA who understands retirement plans such as the defined benefit plan.

The annual administrative costs are much higher as well. In 5 years, though, you can have almost $1,000,000 accumulated in the defined benefit cash balance plan and you can take care of the investments on your own, which will also save you a lot in administrative fees.

Don’t’ say no without a conference with an expert.


The experts in this type of planning can show you where you will be in 5 years with the tax savings you will incur so you can make the contributions without a change in your current life style and with the investments that you will be making. You will be acquiring stocks and bonds at today’s low end pricing rather than what you paid when your market values have shrunk so substantially over these past years since you paid so much more when the stocks were selling at higher prices. Your retirement does not have to be postponed with some good planning and using expert advice.

Is your retirement plan losing substantially and you don’t know how to fix it? Are you worried about extending your time as a practicing dentist when you can retire comfortably?