It’s Friday, so that means another new episode of ProductBites from Dental Products Report!  If you’re not already, make sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and leave us a review! Plus, you can find DPR on Twitter, IG, Facebook, and LI, so go follow us there as well!

This week, we have 5 brand new dental products and services to share, so let’s get to it!

Amann Girrbach’s 4.2 Upgrade of the Ceramill Mind and Ceramill Match software

Amann Girrbach is offering dentists and dental technicians entirely new opportunities for the in-house fabrication of restorations—including the ability to process titanium materials, with an upgrade to the company’s Ceramill Mind and Match 4.2 software

With the Ceramill Mind and Ceramill Match 4.2 software, users are able to provide their customers with next-generation in-house fabrication while significantly reducing costs.

Now, titanium materials can be processed in-house with the Ceramill Matik, which in turn results in external cost savings of up to 40%, according to the manufacturer.

Another new feature is the innovative speedlining mode, which with the aid of specifically developed tools, enables users of the Ceramill Matik, Ceramill Motion 3 and Ceramill Motion 2 can "cut-grind" hard block materials at full speed.

Additionally, users can now plan dentures directly on the implant and complete them without an abutment.

The upgrade also offers numerous other CAD/CAM functions, including the AI-assisted design of bridges using the "Instant Anatomic Morphing" feature or the implementation of the Smile Creator Report in PDF format.

In parallel with the release of this update,  Amann Girrbach is offering users free online training.

Owandy Adds New Updates to QuickVision CBCT Software

Owandy Radiology Inc. has recently upgraded its QuickVision 3D Implant Planning software.

The software will now include Artificial Intelligence (AI) functions and an expanded dental implant library.

With this new AI functionality, QuickVision 3D is able to auto-match .dicom and .STL files to easily create customized surgical guides,

In addition, Owandy has been expanding the number of implant manufacturer libraries within the QuickVision 3D software, which now includes brandings such as Bicon, Dentsply Sirona, Nobel Biocare, and others.

Toothio Staffing Platform Designed to Match Practitioner and Practice

A new staffing service called Toothio aims to create permanent hiring solutions for dental practices by matching them up with vetted dental professionals.

Dental practices can create an office profile outlining their staffing needs, shift, and pay rate.

Toothio will do the rest, matching the dental practice with the right dental professional to suit their needs.

At the end of the shift, the dental practice can rate the professional based on performance and can then add them to be considered for future shifts.

uLab Systems™ Announces uAssist™ Treatment Planning Service for Ortho

uLab Systems™ has announced that they will be adding a new concierge treatment planning assistance service to its uSmile™ clear aligner system and uDesign® treatment planning software.

This will allow orthodontists and dentists to communicate and assist in aligner treatment plans, according to the company.

he uAssist service allows orthodontists to review case designs, make adjustments, return them for changes, or 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.

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

Elevate Oral Care Introduces Allday Dry Mouth Gel

Elevate Oral Care has expanded its moisturizing product line with the addition of Allday® Dry Mouth Gel.

Allday gel is designed to combat dry mouth with a patented formula that includes a mucoadhesive hydrogel, which works with xylitol to relieve dry mouth.

The gel is manufactured to a neutral pH of ~7.0 and is saturated with 44% xylitol.

Its unique hydrogel holds xylitol in the mouth for an extended period, prolonging its bacteriostatic benefits.

Podcasts

This week, we feature products and update Amann Girrbach, Owandy Radiology, and Elevate Oral Care.

ProductBites Episode 20

: Have you ever found that in a dental practice people, patients, sometimes your colleagues, your subordinates, are dealing with anxiety and frustration, and it is becoming an unpleasant situation at times? We had an applicant for a position a dental assistant recently, at one of the practices that I worked for, who reached out Clyde, when he applied, I called him. And he said to me that he had already called the office and had already scheduled an interview with the Office leader.

You know, I touch base with them, everything's good, they went ahead with the interview, they get back to me and say, you know, Lisa, this isn't the right person for our practice. He came across a little bit aggressive, and they were uncomfortable and didn't think he'd be a good member of the team. So, I pleasantly call and let people know that they're not moving forward, and another candidate is being moved forward. And think that's the end of it.

This applicant has now applied 10 times. And it's getting to a point where we're concerned for safety. You know, in a lot of these dental practices, it's predominately female. And if he is a sort of enough to bypass usual methods and come to the office, what happens if he shows up? And, you know, that was one of the issues that I brought up with the practice is how exactly are you dealing with security? How are you dealing with an angry patient, or in this case, an angry applicant or employee that you've may have had to let go? 

So, the conversation today that I'd love to have with Rick, is the whole issue about it. Are there security plans? Or is there anything in the office in a dental practice that has been set up to address issues like this?

In your experience, Rick, is there anything that you have been trained or your practice is set up? If you would get a very angry or hostile patient? Or in this case, it was an applicant to come and join that practice?

I've never, like had a conversation with any of my, you know, colleagues and the three study clubs I'm in, we've never had this conversation, I think it's a great one to have. I think just the way that I am, I hate confrontation. I really tried to defuse things, even if it means just giving everything the patient wants if anyone were to get upset. 

I think, you know, most dentists really try to stand behind the work they do. So, speaking for patients first, and then staff. Second, I think that no one likes for the most part coming to the dentist, it's never the most pleasant experience. There are many other places They'd rather go. So, they we understand that it's not a place where people are going to feel like happy about being, so we've been trained to, to try to make them feel at ease as much as possible. 

And even for the extreme patients that are, you know, much more outspoken about their, their negative feelings about being there. We really just give in to everything and tell them that you know that we're going to do everything we can to make it as painless and pleasant as possible. And even though they say they hate being there, you know, we just tried to make them feel better when they leave than when they came in. But even that being said, my biggest fear is for an angry patient that you know, for whatever reason, someone that maybe didn't come in with pain and then left like after the anesthetic wore off and they're in pain. Just my fear is a patient coming in just coming at me and wanting to hurt me and It's never happened yet. I hope it never does. But that is my fear. 

Because I just think that people just dislike coming to the dentist so much. But yet we've never addressed it. So, I think that that's a good thing to, you know, to kind of talk about. And then as far as staff, I mean, we really haven't had any angry staff just leave and, and, you know, I think the first thing that that angry staff will do is they'll call either OSHA or the Dental Board. And that probably is more hurtful and harmful to practices than anyone coming in trying to, like threaten us physically. Because, you know, and I think nowadays, the Dental Board knows, you're probably aware of, of disgruntled staff that leave, and they try to really like to vet the calls are getting before they start coming in and making any accusations. 

But, you know, we don't have any protocols in place. I mean, our building doesn't have security, per se, but there's a maintenance person. And there's other offices that could help. I guess, if there was an issue, if we were free, like a single office where there was no one around, I guess, our only our only thing that we could do would be to just call 911.

But by the time they got there, it could be late. So, I wish I had a better answer. I just it's never a conversation I've had with other with other dentists about that situation.

 But it's an honest answer. And I do believe, and I don't remember how many months ago, there was an incident, not a dentist office. But it was, I believe, maybe orthopedic surgery, it was a patient who had had back pain who came in with a weapon, I don't recollect the details. But it is something that unfortunately, in this day and age with the things that we're facing, there needs to be some kind of instruction for that front office person, you know, because when you think about if an if a patient is irate if they are coming from the outside, versus if they're in a chair, that that receptionist is the first line, to know, I think you'll bring a really good point which is listening and being empathic.

Because when you have someone who's dealing with pain, or is really angry about something, one of the feelings, or one of the things they may say is on how no one's listening to me, and no one is hearing what I'm saying. And sometimes being able to give someone the chance to vent to disclose everything that is upsetting them, because now you have something to work with, as to what can be done.

 I think that's a really good point. I think, for employees, they also need to know at what point do you go and get your supervisor? You know, a lot of times when people get upset, myself included, if I get upset at something, and I feel like I'm not making progress. I am like, can I talk to your supervisor. So sometimes even if it's another person who's coming, again, that person may be feeling like they are being heard, and that they're getting somewhere.

But your point is well taken as far as you know, the fear that something could happen.

And I don't think staff are trained, you know, but I think times are changing a little bit. And I think it is something people need to take a look at. So, well. If something was happening in your office, let's say with one of the dental hygienists and a patient with getting agitated or raising their voice. What would the normal way to try to address it?

: So as soon as it was brought to my attention whether I could hear it because our office is not that large that we could you hear what's going on, you hear the other staff working, I would leave my patient and then come in and just try to you know, help. I wouldn't accuse anyone of anything, I would just stand there and wait and see how the hygienist was, you know, was handling it. And if she looked at me and I and I thought she needed some help, then I would come in and I think the problem is that we are more attuned to sticking up sticking up for the patient.

And our motto is a customer's always right. So, our staff sometimes resents us a little bit when patients are angry on the phone. And it's you know, most of time about a bill or something but they'll call and they'll be angry and then they'll say something and then we'll go to the defense of the patient before our staff but if a patient was threatening the staff or doing something in the office, then we would of course be there to defend our staff and we would come in and just try to defuse it and help you know the staff and then if the patient was just really being unruly, we'll just dismiss them you know, then and not necessary. Just not from the practice, but to dismiss them from their appointment, and then follow up and see what we could do but, but they know that we would always be there and that they always have a safe working environment, and we wouldn't put them in harm's way. And if there's anything that happened, we would get in there before, like, we asked questions, if they felt unsafe, we were coming in and help them.

But just to kind of go back on what you said about being empathic, empathetic, I think it's so important for us to listen, and they don't teach you that in dental school, because there are patients that come in and then had been to other offices, and they feel like no one's listening to them. And they just want someone to listen. And really, like think about what they're saying and not act like they're crazy, because we all have certain ailments and pain. And many times, it's not easily diagnosed. And even if we can't diagnose it immediately, it's listening to them, it's paying attention to everything they're saying, and not dismissing them is really like being crazy.

But you know, we have to really believe what they're saying, and try to help them. And if we can't, it's important to find a specialist that can and just really be attentive to what they're saying, because many times, they feel like no one is listening to them. And they do feel like, we think they're crazy. And then in return, they almost think they're crazy when they really aren't. So, I think that's like so important. And sometimes if it means listening for 30 or 45 minutes, you're not getting anything done with a visit, but listen to them and taking notes, and just documenting everything that they're saying. So that we can really help them or find someone that can help them. I think that's so important.

: So, you know what I love that you said represent, you said that you would come into the room, and you would be standing in the back and kind of following the cues of that dental hygienist or that staff person who's in the middle of it. And, you know, I just think that that sounds like such a great way to handle it.

Because you're right, there are different personalities who would just come in and take over the situation. And the reality is your hygienist may be, you know, effectively handling it. But your kind of assessing the situation by coming in to see what's going on and seeing you know how you can assist. So, I just I really liked that because, you know, different people have different styles of leadership. And you know, that's the kind of a leader that I would want to work for as far as in a dental practice or outside of. But I think, though, in looking at, you know, what are other things people can do? When a situation escalates, you brought up a really good point about documentation twofold.

One is that, you know, we're hearing the story or making sure we're taking it down correctly, so that if we have to go to the dentist or whomever to fill them in, we have the correct information. But also, it's a paper trail. And it's something that will protect the hygienist as well as the practice. And to keep that in mind as well. I do think also, when people have gone through a situation where a patient has escalated, and it's been very unpleasant. Sometimes that staff person when it's resolved, maybe they need to take a 15-minute break, or just to decompress from all of this before coming out working on my math, I would want them to take that break. So that and I think you also pointed out if it does escalate, and it can't be handled, you know, to call 911. 

And to let you know, if someone is not leaving the practice, and it's they need to leave the office is, you know, they're threatening, or they've done something, you know, for people to feel comfortable to call 911 to make sure that they are safe or that they feel safe in that, you know, trying to keep the patient safe as well as for them.

Not easy things for people to wrap their arms around and think it's a dental practice. Why would I possibly have to think about security issues? Right, right. You know, the other side is, and I really haven't thought of a dental practice as a place if I was drug addicted as too well, you might have something and I might come to your office, hypothetically, of course. But I come to your office looking for drugs. And you know, it does. There are so many types of things that can occur that, you know, for some practices, they lock that door between the waiting room, and you know, the back area where you're taking them to the rooms, just as one more step. Those are usually not the thickest of doors, but it's just something as another barrier. But have you ever had an incident where things look like they might

I'd be escalating maybe even with, maybe it wasn't employees, but perhaps, where a patient was getting agitated that it might go south.

 No, I, in all my years of practicing over 25 years, I've not experienced that. But, you know, it's interesting, because, you know, dental office used to be used to be targets of break ins, because we were, we were known to have drugs. And I think this kind of what, what precipitated the opioid epidemic, which is obviously a different topic. But years ago, when I first started practicing, the drug reps would come in and give us samples.

So, all the dental offices, even, especially the surgeons would get dozens of samples of prescription narcotics, very addictive narcotics, we keep them in our office. And when patients had procedures, we'd give them, you know, a box of like, you know, six or whatever, just start them off, and then we give him a prescription, but we'd always keep them in the office. And we've had a couple of breaks in attempts years ago, that we could tell, and, by the way, the door was trying to the door was damaged, but no one actually got in. And, you know, since probably the last 10 years, you know, the reps have never given, you know, they're not giving away any samples anymore, because of what's been going on, which is probably for the best. But we were targets now, you know, the only thing they can break in and get is either, you know, computer equipment or, you know, instruments that they could sell, but they want to drug, and you know, that was a big thing back then it's it. Luckily, it's not happening anymore.

 But it is an interesting thing. I mean, we've gone through this challenging time with the pandemic, and COVID. And then mental health issues, you know, when up, people weren't going to a dentist for a period of time, and they may have myself included had more complications from dental issues, because of the shutdown and how treatments were going. And it seems to me society as a whole seems to be a little bit more wound tighter than it is.

And people are their frustration tolerance. I mean, I remember a man who was angry that there was a delay, to buy a soda pop at a drugstore, then instead of just going buying it from a machine outdoors, just that frustration and tolerance. And I know that a lot of times going to the dentist, if you have anxiety issues or pain issues that you know, kind of can be compounding with just current events and how life is going right now.

 Yeah, it is. Your last thing I like to say about it is with patients that haven't come in, in the last two years because of the pandemic. It's not to blame them and not to, like make it their fault. I mean, they know it is I think we’re; you know, we have to just really explain to them that we understand that they weren't comfortable coming in, and not to make a situation where they might have more things going on. Because of that, you know, don't blame them just say you know, from we can only move forward, we understand you haven't been able to come in, but from now on, let's see what we can do to make things better. And it's so easy to blame a person and to place blame on things. And as long as we make them feel like it's not their fault. And make it seem you know, when they get cavities. They're all upset, we feel bad about it. But it's not you know, even though technically, I guess you can't blame anyone but them. It's just a matter of how you respond and how you act, and let them know that it isn't their fault, even if it is just to move forward and try to help them if that makes sense.

 Yeah, no, I think it's very wise. I think a lot of times, you know, people don't realize that their body language shares something judgmental, or how you're looking or how you're standing or closed off. You know that when things like this happen, and people escalate, you know, to be aware that there's other patients, the doctor, your boss might be overhearing as well. So, there's just so many different variables. But in closing, my challenge to you, Rick, is to next time you're in one of the dental study groups, take this topic to them. Absolutely. I do think that at some point, unfortunately, security may be an issue for a dental practice. And my feelings are always better to be prepared ahead of time than to be like, that was a waste of time, but at least we have a plan. You're right. No, you're absolutely right. That's a great thing to talk about. Okay. Well, thank you for joining me tonight, and I look forward to seeing you next month.

Videos

Join host Lisa Newburger, LISW-S, as she and Rick Adelstein, DDS, discuss conflict resolution and safety in the dental practice, in this month's episode of the Dental Mastermind Series. [20 Minutes]

Mastermind - Episode 19 - Safety and Conflict Resolution

Elevate Oral Care has expanded its moisturizing product line with the addition of Allday® Dry Mouth Gel. Allday gel is designed to combat dry mouth with a patented formula that includes a mucoadhesive hydrogel, which works with xylitol to relieve dry mouth.

Achieving a non-acidic oral environment is crucial for disease prevention in dry mouth patients, according to a press release from Elevate. This is why the gel is manufactured to a neutral pH of ~7.0 and is saturated with 44% xylitol. Its unique hydrogel holds xylitol in the mouth for an extended period, prolonging its bacteriostatic benefits. It’s estimated that 25% of your patients suffer from dry mouth, the statement read. A dry mouth solution may help keep these patients from experiencing pain and discomfort while also providing protection from caries.

Articles

The new gel is designed with a patented formula to combat dry mouth and promote oral health.

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.

Евгений Вершинин /STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Not surprisingly, there are a lot of moving parts in a large machine. What may seem simply implemented in a smaller organization—like a single dental practice—might be more complex in a bigger group practice. The same is true when infection control practices are managed in both organizational sizes. While the result should be the same—safety and compliance—how practices with different organizational structures get to that goal can vary.

It all starts with understanding what a Dental Service Organization (DSO)—or “Group practice”—means. There is no, one standard definition. A group practice could be as small as 2 locations, it could be as large as 1,000. Several locations may be governed—very strictly—by a single management authority, or they could just be a lone practice, taking advantage only of the group name and left to their own devices.

“The key issue here is scale,” Shannon Mills, DDS, observes. Dr Mills is a private healthcare consultant and Chair of the American Dental Association Standards Committee For Dental Products (SCDP) Subcommittee on Dental Infection Prevention and Control. “When you say the phrase ‘group practice’, there are so many different variations on that theme. They’re modeled very differently. Some of them provide a whole range of services for the practice, but they leave the practice management up to the practice, themselves. They may set some franchise rules where you must do this, or you must do that. This can be a good thing, as you have organizations that have very rigorous policies, standardizing infection prevention and control safety practices across the entire enterprise.”

Ultimately, what matters is how those infection control methods are put into practice.

“At the chairside, we have a set of guidelines,” Dr Mills says. “We have a set of principles. It’s imperative that each of these practices have an individual who has the training and the understanding of what they’re doing to manage for infection prevention and safety. Sometimes it’ll be more than 1 person. You have a safety person and an infection prevention person in some larger practices, but you must have someone who’s been properly trained with an understanding of the guidelines, understanding of the legal consequences and the licensure consequences of noncompliance.”

For DSOs and group practices—no matter how they are defined—what’s necessary is that safety practices are the same at each location.

“The biggest thing is consistency,” infection prevention speaker and consultant Karen Daw, “

“ advises. “How do you maintain consistency in your safety protocols and policies across multiple sites? Especially as you’re growing, that can be a huge concern and a challenge. Ask, “How do I make sure that my expectations are being met at Site A the same as Site B?” And that’s where either working with a consultant—or at least having the proper checklists and templates—are going to be helpful, too. I also advise my multi-site locations to have a safety point person assigned to each location. They’re not going to do it all. You may have 1 person that’s in charge of overseeing safety for all the sites, and this person might make sure that they schedule the OSHA training for everyone. However, the point person is the eyes and ears of the individual location reporting upwards about safety concerns or suggestions.”

Consistency is necessary because, left to their own devices, it’s not guaranteed that each location is going to deliver the same results.

“Maybe the lead safety person will coordinate events around infection control and safety and bring in different speakers,” Daw says. “But at the individual sites, there’ll be somebody who’s overseeing the safety program, making sure they all are using the same OSHA manual. I’ve walked into some practices where they acquired 2 new locations, and I see that they’re all using different OSHA manuals and different safety systems. And I ask them, ‘How long ago did you acquire these 2 practices?’ And the response was, ‘Oh, it’s been over a year.’ That tells me they really haven’t done anything as far as reviewing their systems to ensure that they’re using the same manual, the same checklist, the same audit procedures, the same training so that everybody hears the same information and understands the expectations.”

Training is a key part of infection prevention and compliance. That is, rules and regulations may or may not change, but team members can fall into bad habits or forget critical parts of the infection control process. Also, yearly training is an OSHA requirement. As such, having someone per OSHA who is knowledgeable in the subject matter perform the training is necessary. At the end of the day, that person will answer to OSHA about the training during an investigation. Why not have someone who focuses on just that?

“Corporate-owned practices might have a full-time person that oversees it, and then they appoint a point person at each location,” Daw says. “What I’m finding in what I call a ‘mid-tier’ or ‘expanding multi-site locations’, is that they don’t really have a full-time person or have a budget or a structure in place to have a full-time person oversee everything for them. So, having a safety committee would be helpful where you have these point people from each location all get together and discuss how they can streamline safety across all locations. What’s happening at Point A that’s not happening at Point B? What do we need to do to get everybody up to par?”

Sometimes practices rely on video or online trainings. And while those trainings are certainly quick and allow them to check off the box that training was accomplished, Daw observes that those trainings may not provide the same quality that an in-person trainer would.

“I see this many times, when they’re doing safety training, they watch a short video just to check off the box and they’re done,” she says. “And that opens them up to huge liability. Growing multi-site locations are still in a position to do team trainings. They might do it virtually, but everybody’s hearing the same information, and it’s a deeper dive on the safety and infection control topics that they need to be aware of. That’s another challenge that I think much larger organizations face. ‘How do we make sure that our continuing education is above and beyond?’

Not only, she says, does that live-person training provide more quality, but it also shows team members that their safety is important to practice leadership.

“When you look at the messaging that you give to your team, if you let them know, ‘Hey your safety matters so much to us that we’ve invested in top line systems and software, we bring in the expert speakers’,” Daw says. “‘We have full-day events where all we do is talk about compliance and safety and subjects that matter to you.’ I think that speaks volumes about what your organization values.”

While group practices may have someone whose whole job is to oversee training, Daw observes that there may be a little too much responsibility.

“A lot of the corporate practices that I’m aware of have a full-time person that’s overseeing the training,” Daw says. “I spoke with one who used to work at corporate-owned dental practices and left. Her biggest concern was that she was constantly under the pressure to feel like she knew everything. She had to do it all. She had to know it all. So, it wasn’t really a culture that encouraged her to seek outside help, to bring in an advisor, bring in a consultant.”

“I’m going to emphasize and reemphasize getting the right training,” Dr Mills adds. “Also, you’ve got to give that individual sufficient responsibility. Say, you’re the infection prevention and control person in this clinic, but we don’t give any authority and nobody in the clinic pays any attention to them. They just talk and everybody says, ‘I’m just going to do whatever I want, because the doc’s not going to make me.’ Then you’re going to have a failure somewhere along the line. There’ll be a breach, whether it’s a little one or a big one.

When one thinks of infection prevention, the things that come to mind are things like surface disinfection, instrument processing, and PPE, but one of the least sexy aspects is recordkeeping. For compliance sake, it’s necessary to keep track of several processes to prove that that work has been and continues to be performed correctly and consistently. The organizational structure of a DSO can make that process more involved, depending on its corporate requirements.

“If the central authority, the corporate headquarters, wants to take responsibility for auditing and evaluating the quality of infection prevention and safety in the practices, they can do that and they can ask them to provide information,” Dr Mills observes. “Send us documentation. Send us your spore testing results. Send us your water testing results, and we’ll keep that centrally. More likely what they’re going to do is what we did in the military—you’re going to do spot inspections. You’re going to audit them.

“For instance, you’ve got a headquarters in Kansas City, but you’ve got practices all over the country,” he elaborates. “You’re going to send either someone out to audit that practice—in Wyoming or South Dakota or wherever it is—or you’re going to ask them to submit documentation on a spot basis to show that they’re compliant.”

As the world moves to more digital recordkeeping, some places are still paper in nature. Group practices will likely require electronic records—as opposed to paper records—for the sake of consistency and efficiency.

“Single practices, I find, are kind of 50/50,” Daw says. “Some of them have electronic documentation, some of them like to use pen and paper, and that’s absolutely fine. If that system works for them, that’s great. It’s a little bit more difficult to have a paper system in multi-site practices. So, they tend to streamline it by going electronically. And that really does work well, because then if you have 1 person in charge of all the records and making sure all the record keeping is getting done, having a shared network folder that you can access across multiple sites is going to make that infection control coordinator’s job so much easier, from a record-keeping standpoint.”

The end goal for both the single site and multi-site practice is the same—safety for patients and team members, alike. But how they get there can be very different.

The end goal for both the single site and multi-site practice is the same—safety for patients and dental team members, alike. But how they get there can be very different.

Group Practices of All Sizes Need Infection Control Protocols

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.

Building Your Confidence as a Dental Professional. Photo courtesy of Photographee.eu/stock.adobe.com.


You know how it feels when you get your first patient or your first job. You had a mixture of excitement and fear? Fortunately, you had the opportunity to gain experience and practice skills in internships. The first patient was frightening for everyone, and I was afraid I would be found out to be a fraud who does not know anything. Can you relate?

 by Sheryl Sandburg. If you have not, I strongly encourage you to buy it or order it from your library. It may change your life. For those of you who are not familiar with the author, Sheryl Sandburg is an incredibly impressive woman who worked up the chains of Google and Facebook to become a power to be respected. She was the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook.

This immensely successful woman talks about her own fear of being found to be a fraud. How is that even possible? This is an “ah-ha” moment that women of every socioeconomic level have aloud because you realize you are not alone. Many women and men live in fear that we will fail. We tell ourselves we are not smart enough. We worry that our boss will figure it out we do not have a clue how to do something. This can be paralyzing but knowing that other women feel this way is immensely helpful.

When you start out, whether it is graduating from a dental assistant program or from dental school, you may not feel confident to take on the world. Instead, you worry. I am here to tell you that you will make mistakes and screw up. Some of these mistakes may seem colossal, but, for the most part, you will not do permanent damage to your patients.

I can hear you now, “Lisa, we get it, we will make mistakes. We will be scared early in our careers. But will we move past this?”The simple answer is yes. You will build confidence by failing! Do we learn from our successes? To a degree the answer is yes, but we learn more from our failures and stressors. This is where the professional growth comes from. When you fail or make a mistake, learn from it, and make sure it does not happen again.

One’s experience and age factors into the equation. The older you get it is easier to know how to manage tricky situations. I am a social worker. When I went through my training, I was assigned my first suicidal patient while still in graduate school. This terrified me and caused terrible insomnia for weeks. I somehow stumbled my way through the first counseling session being nervous, but I survived it. She also survived me. At 21, I was young and naïve. My supervisor ended up spending numerous sessions processing the experience with me. As overwhelmed as I felt, I learned a lot because I knew I was not alone. I had backup. You have backup. You have a team that will help teach you what you need to know. Just make sure you ask.

The next time I had another suicidal patient, I was still anxious and still sweating bullets. Immediately following that session, I met with my supervisor and hashed that session out as well. It was a little easier on my nerves but still incredibly stressful. Time passed and I had more challenging patients to deal with. I made a lot of mistakes. But I gained increased experience and knowledge. My confidence level grew. It got to the point where I felt that no matter who walked into my office, I could manage whatever they brought. I realized that I may not have the answers, but I know where to get them.

What about you? Have you ever felt like that? Felt that someone would find out you were a fraud? Were terrified when you had your first patient? You are not alone. Did you make mistakes and then learn from them? If so, welcome to the club. Do not beat yourself up over it. Even if the doctor or patient gets angry. You are learning. You are doing the best you can.

Confidence grows with experience and failures. If you just keep trying, are willing to ask for help, and learn from each challenging experience, your confidence will flourish.

We all make mistakes. Do not beat yourself up over it. Learn from it and make sure you do not make the same mistake twice. There are no shortcuts to getting ahead of it. Only experience, guidance, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes will get you over the finish line. You will be someone who may start out with the imposter syndrome and go on to do remarkable things just like Sheryl Sandburg. Just take it 1 mistake at a time.

Share with me your thoughts on the book or how you developed your confidence. 

No one begins their career as a dental professional knowing everything. Learning from mistakes and leaning on peers for help can build your confidence in the field. 

Building Your Confidence as a Dental Professional

MouthWatch Opens Nominations for Annual Teledentistry Innovation Awards


Teledentistry and intraoral imaging group MouthWatch has opened nominations for its 4th annual Teledentistry Innovation Awards, “The Tellies.” The Tellies were created to recognize innovative and unique teledentistry applications as well as the dental providers who implement them, according to a press release from MouthWatch.

There are 4 categories in which practices or practitioners can be nominated: dentists, hygienists, oral health programs, and educational institutions. Candidates can be nominated for multiple categories when appropriate.

The Tellies are a commitment to appreciating telehealth applications regardless of platform, according to MouthWatch CEO and Founder, Brant Herman.

“We’re excited to recognize this year’s pioneers and innovators,” Herman said in the press release. “Our goal is to shine a light on the many benefits of teledentistry, no matter which platform is used—The Tellies are open to all who are using telehealth technology in dental settings to enhance the standard of care, increase access to providers, and improve oral health for the untreated and underserved.

All nominations, including self-nominations, are now open until September 15th, 2022, on 

. Winners will be announced November 25th through the 30th, 2022, at the Greater New York Dental Meeting.

The 4th annual Teledentistry Innovation Awards, known as “The Tellies,” are now accepting nominations for effective and innovative teledentistry implementation. 

MouthWatch Opens Nominations for Annual Teledentistry Innovation Awards

The software will now include Artificial Intelligence functions and an expanded dental implant library.

Owandy Radiology Inc. has recently upgraded its QuickVision 3D Implant Planning software. The software will now include Artificial Intelligence (AI) functions and an expanded dental implant library.

With this new AI functionality, QuickVision 3D is able to auto-match .dicom and .STL files to easily create customized surgical guides, according to a press release from the company. In addition, Owandy has been expanding the number of implant manufacturer libraries within the QuickVision 3D software, which now includes brandings such as Bicon, Dentsply Sirona, Nobel Biocare, and others.

“Owandy’s new intuitive AI platform, extensive implant library, and open architecture enables QuickVision 3D to be used with any 3D intraoral scanner on the market to enhance the digital workflow capabilities and overall efficiency of virtually any modern dental implant practice,” Owandy spokesperson Boris Loyez said, according to the press release.

Owandy Adds New Updates to QuickVision CBCT Software 

With its 4.2 Upgrade of the Ceramill Mind and Ceramill Match software, Amann Girrbach is now offering dentists and dental technicians entirely new opportunities for the in-house fabrication of restorations—including the ability to process titanium materials.

From now on even titanium materials can be processed in-house with the Ceramill Matik, which in turn results in external cost savings of up to 40%, according to the manufacturer. Another highlight is the new speedlining mode, which enables grinding and cutting of block materials in little time. Additionally, users can now plan dentures directly on the implant and complete them without an abutment.

With the Ceramill Mind and Ceramill Match 4.2 software, users are able to provide their customers with next-generation in-house fabrication while significantly reducing costs. The in-house fabrication of titanium-based implant-supported restorations lowers costs dramatically. The entire milling unit is said to be able to be financed in full by even a small number of cases.

Another new feature is the innovative speedlining mode: with the aid of specifically developed tools, users of the Ceramill Matik, Ceramill Motion 3 and Ceramill Motion 2 can "cut-grind" hard block materials at full speed. Dentists and lab technicians thus benefit from almost 50% faster production while maintaining optimal restoration quality and reliability.

Another new feature is that the planning of dentures can now be performed directly on the implant and without abutments—regardless of whether single crowns, multi-part bars and bridges, or full dental arches are involved. This innovative implant solution is the result of a cooperation between Amann Girrbach and Tri Dental Implants. With the matrix, Tri Dental Implants has launched the first approved dental implant specifically designed for digital fabrication technologies such as CAD/CAM milling or 3D printers. With the matrix concept, Amann Girrbach now offers its customers a fully comprehensive CAD/CAM-compatible implant system in both a digital and validated workflow. Implant-based Zolid zirconia crowns can be produced in less than 2 hours in combination with the Therm DRS sintering furnace.

In addition to the fully digital and validated Amann Girrbach workflow for printing implant models and laboratory analogs, the upgrade also offers numerous other CAD/CAM functions. For example, these include the AI-assisted design of bridges using the "Instant Anatomic Morphing" feature or the implementation of the Smile Creator Report in PDF format. This allows patients to see the expected result in advance in a before-and-after comparison and to participate in the planning process if they so wish. In addition, the upgrade also offers quick to perform quality checks with the aid of the new nesting visualization: this makes it possible to repeatedly check whether a restoration can be milled successfully. Additional process reliability can now be created with just a single click. However, as the digitization of production increases, so does the output of milling units and 3D printers. To stay on top of things, the Ceramill System now enables milled and printed restorations to be marked with notes.

"With the upgrade of our Ceramill Mind and Ceramill Match software to Version 4.2, we are yet again focusing on the core principles of in-house fabrication and by doing so, also on the vision of Amann Girrbach. We are delighted to have come a great deal closer to this vision now with the new features, improvements, and functions," explains Nikolaus Johannson, Head of the Global Business Unit Lab CAD/CAM at Amann Girrbach.

The rollout of the software upgrade started at the end of June and was expected to be implemented worldwide by the end of July. In parallel, Amann Girrbach will be offering users free online training.

Titanium machining at highest restoration quality, high-speed processes and innovative denture planning without abutments part of 4.2 upgrade of the Ceramill Mind and Ceramill Match software.

Amann Girrbach’s Software Update Brings Next Generation In-House Dental Fabrication Processes

If the Internet has given us nothing else, we can at least be entertained for the seemingly never ending supply of top 10 lists it provides. Some lists are, of course, better than others.If there’s a topic out there that you’re interested in, you can be reasonably certain that there is a top 10 list to support it. The best lists have some sort of objectivity – that is, they are not just lists reflecting one person’s opinion. That is what we strive for in our annual top 10 cities for dental lab technicians.

We started by looking at the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’s data which gave us the top-earning cities in America. But the cost of living varies depending where in the country one lives. For instance, things like food, housing, and discretionary spending are more expensive in San Francisco, California than they are inCharleston, West Virginia. As such, we added the AdvisorSmith Cost of Living Index as a factor in the calculations.

However, there is more to life than just making money (nationwide, dental lab technicians earned an average of $39,090 in 2021). That’s when we started adding such factors as overall economy, public safety and so forth.

Cost of Living Index (this is a ratio comparing the cost of living in a certain area to the national average. Some areas are more expensive to live in than others, so the lower the COLI, the less expensive it is to live in an area.)

Stress (including work-related, family-related, money-related and health and safety-related stress)

Included, where available, is information about the total number in that profession for the community. Nationwide, there were a total of75,200 dental lab technicians in 2020.

In addition to BLS, we refined our rankings from personal finance website Wallethub.com, U.S. News & World Reports’s Healthiest Communities study, and data from Centers for Disease Control for life expectancy, by state.

We compiled all the rankings and then honed the list from there. Whoever got the lowest score earned the highest position on the list; whoever got the highest score, well, we talk about them also.

With any top 10 list, there is a natural inclination to ask, “If those are the best places to live and work, where are the worst?” We scrolled to the end of the list to present the following:

Here is the annual list of the top 10 and bottom 5 cities for dental lab techs to live and work in 2022.

The Top 10 (and Bottom 5) Cities for Dental Lab Technicians in 2022

Vivos Therapeutics Will Host 4th Annual Breathing Wellness Conference in Cancún


Sleep experts Vivos Therapeutics has announced its 4th annual Breathing Wellness Conference to take place in Cancún, Mexico, from October 26th through October 29th, 2022. Hosted by the educational branch of Vivos Therapeutics, The Vivos Institute, this wellness conference will focus on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the variety of complications it can cause down the line, including heart disease and dementia.

To hone this focus, the conference will host 16 speakers, including both dentists and medical doctors, to discuss everything from the origins of OSA to leadership in the practice to insomnia. Along with these speakers, registrants will be able to see firsthand dental sleep innovations that can be incorporated in the practice.

This conference will be a place where collaborative learning can bolster dental and medical knowledge on this common issue, according to Chairman and CEO of Vivos, Kirk Huntsman.

“Our annual Breathing Wellness Conference brings together leading clinicians and researchers from a wide range of healthcare disciplines and serves as a platform where we can learn about the causes and serious health consequences of OSA,” Huntsman said in a press release from the company. “And [to learn about] the latest advances in the world of sleep medicine while continuing to spread the message about Vivos’ breakthrough technology.”

The 2022 Breathing Wellness Conference will take place at the Hilton Hotel in Cancún. 

This annual Breathing Wellness Conference will bring together dentists and medical doctors to discuss and learn about obstructive sleep apnea, and how to help patients fight against it. 