Kettenbach Dental has released 2 new additions to its Futar® product line—Futar Easy and Futar Easy Fast. The easy-to-apply bite registration materials are based on A-silicone, which allows for precise capturing of the occlusal relationships, according to a press release from the company.

Futar Easy & Futar Easy Fast can be used for precise registrations and are suitable for applications requiring a hard silicone (Shore-A 90). Both materials are said to be easily trimmed and their low dispensing force makes application easy. The materials can be applied immediately, eliminating waste. Both products are also highly thixotropic so they do not flow away into the interdental spaces but remain stable on the tooth.

Due to the shorter processing time, Futar Easy Fast is especially useful for smaller applications and increases patient comfort. Both products also feature a matching color code—the cartridge cap and shield on the cartridge correspond with the mixing tip by color.

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Futar Easy and Futar Easy Fast allow for precise capturing of the occlusal relationships.

Kettenbach Dental Expands Futar Material Line

Sonendo Rebrands and Launches New Website


Sonendo has announced a new brand campaign and website, reflecting Sonendo’s investment in endodontics and patient care, according to a press release from the company. The new website will frequently feature clinicians using Sonendo’s GentleWave

 System to provide insight directly from the practitioner on how to master this endodontic technology. This was done to provide education in an area that may be challenging for clinicians, according to president and CEO of Sonendo Bjarne Bergheim.

“Root canal therapy is highly complex, and there are challenges beyond the reach of even the most skilled hands. On top of this, many patients are fearful or anxious about root canal treatment due to widespread misconceptions or outdated information about the procedure,” Bergheim says in the press release. “We aim to help doctors navigate these challenges by providing a simpler and more streamlined way to perform the procedure that elevates patient care.”

Sonendo’s new platform affirms a commitment to practitioner education, following initiatives such as its Sound Science

 Academy for peer-to-peer mentorship, and its GentleWave Practice Success Program that provides a variety of trainings for dental professionals.

This new website is designed to be modern and easy-to-navigate, per Sonendo, and it also comes with a new logo for the brand.

Sonendo has rebranded with a new logo and website to further affirm its commitment to educating clinicians on the GentleWave endo system. 

Sonendo Rebrands and Launches New Website 

Geistlich Launches New Allograft Product Vallos


Geistlich has launched a new allograft product called vallos

. These are demineralized allogenic materials that are designed to ensure high osteoinductive properties, per Geistlich. The demineralized bone matrix is said to turn over the natural bone rapidly and regenerate new vital bone after 18-20 weeks. Vallos is the first in Geistlich’s coming line of allograft products, and comes in 2 forms, vallos demineralized allogenic granules, and vallos f demineralized allogenic fibers.

Both forms are said to exhibit all 5 elements of bone formation and promote structural integrity and can deliver osteogenic cells when hydrated with bone marrow aspirate. Additionally, vallos f is said to have enhanced handling for precise graft placement and a 4 times higher osteoinductive potential than particulate DBM. Both vallos and vallos f have a 5-year shelf life.

Vallos and vallos f have been tested and meet or exceed regulatory requirements, and are compatible with existing Geistlich biomaterials. It is available now.

New allograft materials from Geistlich have high osteoinductive properties while promoting structural strength, and are said to regenerate new vital bone after 18-20 weeks. 

Geistlich Launches New Allograft Product Vallos

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Tokuyama Dental has announced the expansion of its OMNICHROMA family by launching OMNICHROMA 

 BULK. The new bulk fill composite complements the company’s OMNICHROMA composite portfolio, offering dentists the same outstanding shade-matching abilities as the previous products, and with strong physical and mechanical properties to meet all their restorative needs. 

With the dentists’ best interests at heart, and featuring Tokuyama Dental’s innovative Smart Chromatic Technology, the company is providing simplified solutions that streamline their workflow, save them time and money, and benefit their entire practice.

BULK is a one-shade bulk fill composite, capable of shade matching any tooth color from A1 to D4. It is a low-viscosity, light-cured material that can be placed in 3.5-mm increments. Utilizing Smart Chromatic Technology and uniformly sized supra-nano spherical fillers, OMNICHROMA 

 BULK esthetically matches every tooth color with a single shade. Its low polymerization shrinkage, compressive strength, high polishability, and cavity line adaptation make it suitable for anterior and posterior restorations.

 BULK offers clinicians the same benefits as the OMNICHROMA composite family, and simplifies inventory management. It gives them the flexibility to choose from the OMNICHROMA composite system to address their additional restorative needs. Tokuyama Dental previously launched OMNICHROMA and OMNICHROMA 

New one-shade bulk fill composite is capable of shade matching any tooth color from A1 to D4.

Tokuyama Expands Its Composite Line With Launch of OMNICHROMA Flow BULK

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.

Work/life balance is a concept that we all strive for, but let’s be honest, it isn’t possible. In my opinion, it was not possible before the pandemic, and it is even less so now.

I know that is a loaded statement. So, let’s unpack it. Prior to Covid in 2020, we had a robust dental workforce. Many years ago, consultants introduced a concept of how we needed balance in our lives between work and our personal lives. The concept was obvious, but the reality of it was always hard to achieve. Companies spent big bucks to try to make it work, but it failed miserably in every industry. Why am I so cynical? Simply put, I was part of the problem by giving presentations to corporations about balancing work and life. The sad truth is that it wasn’t possible then and is impossible now.

Fast forward to post-2020. So many dental professionals left the field after Covid. Some decided to retire, and others were fearful of catching this infection. Some didn’t see the value of staying in the field as they could earn more money in retail. That is sobering.

We are not recruiting and graduating enough dental hygienists, dental assistants, or EFDAs in dental programs. Here in Cleveland, Ohio, one school was only graduating 14 dental hygienists and 12 dental assistants. We are in the middle of a labor shortage that will not end anytime in the near future.

Then you have vultures like me (I mean recruiters.) We are doing a cardinal sin and recruiting from your competition. Whether it is researching the competition and approaching your staff, or just simply matching candidates on Indeed, grabbing employees is the biggest problem we are facing right now in the industry. Every day I get on the computer and reach out to 50-100 dental professionals. This constant barrage of emails, texts, and voicemails is creating a retention challenge. Why stick around when sign-on bonuses entice your staff to leave? In fact, last month I wrote about attacking this staffing shortage by having flexibility due to childcare issues for your staff. So, remember, retention is your problem, not recruitment. If your people are happy, they delete my emails and don’t consider leaving.

This situation is like popcorn. You reach out to candidates and fight the clock trying to have them apply, screen, and interview as soon as possible. Otherwise, they are gone. I bring the staffing issue into this conversation because it goes together with work/life balance. If you are hiring, you need to take calls after hours, and maybe facilitate video interviews vs. coming into the office. I know this infringes on your home life, but these are challenging times with no relief coming down the pike. This staffing cycle can’t be broken if your staff doesn’t want to use their cell phones to call and text candidates. I respect that your office leaders want boundaries between work and family. But that isn’t an option in this current climate. That is one reason why recruiters like me get hired. You don’t have the time or flexibility to screen people at 6 a.m. or 8 p.m. But you really have no choice. If you receive a text from your recruiter that you have a candidate, jump on it. It is not something that can wait for tomorrow because those candidates will be gone.

When I was speaking on work/life balance to corporations, these are the things I shared:

. One that is achievable. You want to go to the casino on Friday night. If you have a goal, you will socialize less with colleagues or skip lunch to get ahead of the paperwork.

. Realize that you can not control certain variables such as the patient coming in late and throwing your schedule off. Push your plans to meet at the casino at 7 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.

 Why leave money on the table? Everyone is expendable. The place will roll without you. Your teams will adapt.

I believe that when you have a goal, you can find more peace. It is amazing how much time is wasted in every industry with nonsense. If people worked smart and complained less, you would have a better balance. But the more I schmooze, the longer it takes for me to get out of there at the end of the day. Instead, stay focused and go after what you want. Make some boundaries but realize you may have to be flexible in trying times like right now.

Email me at diana2@discussdirectives.com and share what you think about work/life balance and if you have one.

Work/life balance is anything but easy in today's labor shortage climate.

The Myth of Work/Life Balance in Dentistry

Featuring more than 40 international speakers, with inspiring main stage presentations, hands-on workshops, and break-out tracks on topics such as esthetics and the digital dentistry ecosystem, Dentsply Sirona’s Implant Solutions World Summit 2023 will take place in Athens, Greece, from June 8 to 10, 2023

Registration is now open for the Implant Solutions World Summit 2023, and implant professionals are now invited to register for the event online and benefit from special early bird congress rates.

The Summit brings together professionals who are passionate about elevating the dental industry and improving the quality of implant treatments and care for patients. Attendees will be able to discover the latest innovations in implant solutions, including the EV Implant Family, digital dentistry, and bone regeneration. The congress will take place at the InterContinental Athenaeum Athens hotel, close to Greece’s famous Acropolis.

The Implant Solutions World Summit will feature presentations from more than 40 world-renowned experts in implant dentistry, who will share best practices, expertise, and insights.

Attendees will learn about managing implant complications, the connections between systemic and oral health, maximizing esthetics, controlling risk factors, maintaining peri-implant health, and more. The program is developed together with the Scientific Chairs – Dr. Tara Aghaloo, USA, and Dr. Michael Norton, UK – and the Program Chairs – Steve Campbell, UK; Dr. Malene Hallund, DK; Dr. Mark Ludlow, USA; Dr. Stijn Vervaeke, Belgium; and Dr. Martin Wanendeya, UK.

“Peer to peer education is vitally important for our Implant Solutions community and we are thrilled to bring implant professionals together from around the world to explore the latest innovations and science transforming implant dentistry” says Tony Susino, Group Vice President, Global Implant Solutions at Dentsply Sirona. “The event promises to be an inspirational opportunity for learning and networking as we glimpse into the future of implant dentistry and optimized patient care.”

Innovative Implant Solutions, Digital Workflows

Attendees will also be able to visit an interactive exhibition and sign up for exciting master class workshops to learn more about Dentsply Sirona’s products, solutions, and workflows, including:

Dentsply Sirona’s premium implant portfolio: DS PrimeTaper Implant System, DS OmniTaper Implant System and Astra Tech Implant System

DS Signature Workflows for single-tooth, partial and full-arch restorations

The cloud-based DS Core platform for improved practice efficiency

Dr. Marco Degidi, inventor of WeldOne and Conometric concepts, will also be leading a session on “Esthetic Excellence Meets Digital Connectivity” using the Ankylos implant system.

“We are excited for the implant community to experience the latest innovations first-hand as we gather in Athens to learn from each other and be inspired by the latest research in implant dentistry,” says Dr Aghaloo, Scientific Chair of the Implant Solutions World Summit and a Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the UCLA School of Dentistry.

“Dentsply Sirona continues to lead the way when it comes to implant dentistry, with state-of-the-art implant systems and seamless workflows,” adds Dr Norton, Scientific Chair of the Implant Solutions World Summit and Adjunct Clinical Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Dental School.

In addition to world-leading clinical education, attendees at the Implant Solutions World Summit also have the chance to network with peers for 2 evening events–an opening night welcome reception, as well as a networking dinner by the Aegean Sea on Friday evening.

Early-bird registration for the Implant Solutions World Summit is available until March 19, 2023.

To find out more and to register for the event, visit: 

Register now open for cutting-edge implant science and innovation event June 8 to 10 in Athens.

Dentsply Sirona’s Implant Solutions World Summit 2023 Set for June in Greece

Teledentistry network company Dentlulu has partnered with artificial intelligence company Pearl. The new partnership will enable Dentulu’s teledentists to achieve a high level of diagnostic performance with Pearl’s Second Opinion® AI-powered software, according to a press release from Pearl.

Dentulu users will now be able to apply the full range of Second Opinion capabilities across the radiographs they capture, upload, and store on Dentulu.

“Dentulu’s mission to provide transparent, innovative, and comprehensive care to our patients aligns with Pearl’s ongoing advancements and contributions within the dental industry, and we are proud to offer this technology to the thousands of patients and providers that utilize our platform across the nation,” Dr Arash Hakhamian, CEO of Dentulu, said according to the press release.

Prior to this partnership, Pearl’s AI technology was only available to brick-and-mortar dentists who utilize its capabilities in real-time as a patient-facing radiologic ad in the operatory.

“AI is a transformative dental technology not only because it elevates the standard of care, but also because it has the potential to democratize access to higher quality dentistry,” said Pearl CEO and founder, Ophir Tanz. “Our partnership with Dentulu represents an important step forward for dental care in the digital era because together we are realizing that democratizing potential by bringing the benefits of AI beyond the dental office to any patient with an internet connection.”

Dentulu has established marketing channels with companies such as Walgreens and LG televisions to provide new ways for patients to experience teledentistry and gain access to dental services. Patients can access Dentulu Teledentists from their smartphones, tablets, computers, and even smart TVs.

The companies expect their partnership to launch in Q1 of 2023.

Dentulu users will now be able to apply the full range of Pearl's Second Opinion capabilities across the radiographs they capture.

Dentlulu, Pearl Partnership Will Bring AI to Teledentistry

Evident Launches Evident Hub Case Ordering Service


Digital dentistry group, Evident has launched its new Evident Hub, a case ordering system that is designed to streamline daily workflows for dental practices by making design easier, according to a press release from Evident. Dental practitioners can outsource CAD designs through Evident Hub to simplify the digital workflow, all through an intuitive ordering process, according to COO of Evident Chloe Gordon.

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve the experience of our customers,” Gordon said in the press release. “The Evident Hub is the perfect tool to help them take control of digital dentistry and grow their businesses.”

Each case receives a comprehensive treatment which dental practitioners can order through an easy-to-understand, clear process. Evident Hub keeps track of preferences to reduce remake rate as well as shorter Rx forms.

This hub launched January 9th, 2023. Existing users will retain the same login details.

This new ordering and case design platform from Evident is designed to optimize digital workflows and save time. 

Evident Launches Evident Hub Case Ordering Service

Directa Dental has acquired the Ceramir® product line from Doxa Dental. Ceramir products are now included in Directa’s range of products, according to a press release from the company.

This is the latest in a line of recent acquisitions made by Directa. Since 2020, the Swedish company has acquired ContactEZ, TrollDental, Rönvig Dental Manufacturing, and Sendoline.

The Ceramir line includes cements and resins that utilize nanotechnology. It is designed to create a unique bond between the material and tooth surface and is said to remineralize tissue.

Ceramir products are now available from Directa Dental. 