Kristin Hohman has served as Associate Editor of Dental Products report since 2019. She has a background in journalism and digital content. Kristin can be reached at khohman@mjhlifesciences.com.

Kristin Hohman

The TRIOS 5’s wireless functionality enables it to be used anywhere in the practice and quickly transferred between operatories. The scanner includes TRIOS Share, which allows clinicians to scan and plan from any PC anywhere in the practice using Wi-Fi.

For precise digital impressions and treatment outcomes

The TRIOS 5 Wireless Intraoral Scanner is designed to make it easier than ever for dentists to operate within a digital workflow. The TRIOS 5 is said to make scanning smoother and faster with ScanAssist intelligent alignment technology, which minimizes misalignment and distortion in 3D models. An LED ring and haptic sensory feedback guide users while they scan to make digital impression-taking simple.

The TRIOS 5 is designed to set a new standard in infection control. The FDA-cleared, closed autoclavable scanner tip is protected by scratch-free sapphire glass and includes thin, near-invisible single-use sleeves to cover the scanner body and minimize the risk of cross-contamination. The scanner is easy to clean because it is hygienically sealed up to its battery inlet with no cracks or crevices that can accumulate contaminants.

Articles

The TRIOS 5 sets a new standard for infection control while its ScanAssist technology is designed to make it simpler to take impressions and treatment plan anywhere. 

5Ws* TRIOS 5 Wireless Intraoral Scanner 

Convenient tools that patients can use to address common issues with braces and aligners and handle emergencies between office visits.

The average practice is said to experience 8 emergency orthodontic visits each day, with each visit costing $104 on average. Each patient is estimated to make an emergency visit to the office 2.5 times during their treatment.

Tweakz for Braces and Tweakz for Aligners are 4-in-1 tools that help patients maintain their appliances at home. They allow patients to fix issues such as broken wires, smooth out rough spots, remove food lodged in hard-to-reach areas, and more, reducing the need for emergency visits.

These simple tools allow patients to maintain their appliances at home or on the go. 

5Ws* Tweakz for Braces and Aligners 

When searching for quick answers on instructions for use (IFUs), clinical applications, and more.

vTail is a mobile application that allows health care professionals to connect with their vendors for product information, education, and support. The mobile app is free and designed to give instant access to the product information you need when you need it. Clinicians can choose how and when to connect with companies, and all communication is done through the app, so there is no sharing of personal information.

Clinicians can manage the companies they have contact with, eliminating the “sales pitch.” On vTail, they can see a digital Rolodex of their assigned reps from all participating companies. They can reach out for immediate information or advice using built-in HIPAA–enabled video calls, audio, chat, and file sharing.

The app is designed as a portal that offers information on thousands of products, including IFUs, product specifications, reimbursement information, educational information, and instructional videos. It also features a news feed, which keeps users up to date on industry news, journal articles, and association posts, all curated to match your interests or specialty.

This new mobile app gives clinicians immediate access to product information, education, and support.


5Ws* vTail app 

Endodontist Emmanuel Ngoh, DMD, has been practicing in Augusta, Georgia for more than 20 years. The Augusta area is very dental savvy, Dr Ngoh says, mainly due to the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University, which is located in the city.

“Because we’re [near] the dental school, people here have a strong knowledge of what it means to take care of their teeth more,” Dr Ngoh says.

As an endodontist, Dr Ngoh says patients are referred to him because they’re in need of immediate care.

“Most of these patients don’t carry cash all the time,” he explains. “And when [a] patient...needs help, that is when CareCredit comes in very handy.”

CareCredit is a credit card designed for health care needs that offers patients a way to pay for the costs of many treatments and procedures by stretching payments out. This has been a game-changer for Dr Ngoh’s patients and his practice, he says.

“I would say about 80% of our patients are [those] who [need immediate care],” Dr Ngoh says. “The challenge that we had initially is that you have a patient who comes in and they need [acute dental] care.”

CareCredit is a health care credit card designed for patients’ health and wellness needs. It’s a way to pay for the costs of many treatments and procedures by allowing patients to make convenient monthly payments. CareCredit is accepted at more than 250,000 providers nationwide for dentistry, vision care, veterinary care, hearing care, and other specialties. CareCredit is now also accepted at select retail locations, including Walgreens, Walmart, and Sam’s Club.

Before adding CareCredit to his practice about 18 years ago, Dr Ngoh would treat these types of cases. The issue that arose was that, once the patient was no longer dealing with a dental issue, they would see no need to come back to the practice for a follow-up.

“Once that motivation...is gone, they don’t come back,” he explains. “It’s not a need anymore. And then the last thing is for them to pay me. So I constantly used to send patients to collections, and the collection agency was hoping that [would] pay me. That was not a good practice module.”

The next patient financing solution Dr Ngoh tried was offered through a local bank. The problem with this option was that the applicant approval rate was low, as was the approval amount, significantly narrowing the pool of patients who were able to pay this way, he says.

“Those are the kinds of challenges that we’d have, and this patient has now been left with the only alternative—either to pull the tooth or find some way to come up with the money to pay for this treatment. And some of them…had to go back and take a second mortgage just to pay for treatment because they needed immediate care,” Dr Ngoh explains. “These are some of the challenges that we had in our practice.”

Whether they do not have coverage or have maxed out their benefits for the year, many patients can fall through the cracks of dental insurance coverage, pressing them to pay for treatment out of pocket. CareCredit, however, is an effective stopgap.

CareCredit can be used for the majority of dental treatments, including 6-month checkups; preventative dentistry, such as endodontics, periodontics, and ceramic fillings; and restorative procedures, such as implants, crowns, and veneers. The company offers shorter-term financing options of 6, 12, 18, or 24 months with promotional financing on purchases of $200 or more when the minimum monthly payments are made and the amount is paid in full by the end of the promotional period. Patients can also use CareCredit in conjunction with their dental insurance.

“With those options now, they can reach out and [accept] the needed treatment. Then I don’t have a cancellation because now I have patients in my chair, and I can provide treatment,” Dr Ngoh says. “It’s a win-win.”

Within a few months of implementing CareCredit, the practice’s accounts receivable have significantly improved, something Dr Ngoh attributes to CareCredit. It’s also provided a morale boost for his staff, who can now offer patients other payment options when discussing treatments.

“When you’re looking at a patient…and say, “Your treatment is this number of thousands of dollars,’ and the patient is like, ‘How am I going to afford this?’, now we can turn around, look at them, and say, “I have good news for you. Within 5 minutes, you can apply for this and if you get approved, [there’s promotional financing] for 12 months.’ And this patient moved from a person who was so dejected, to now one who is so excited. And then to see also how Ashley [Morris], my financial coordinator, how she [is]so happy because she’s able to help this person, Dr Ngoh explains. “With CareCredit, everyone wins.”

How CareCredit helped one practice expand its community reach while improving its accounts receivable.

A Game-changing Patient Financing Solution 

Any office looking to add their very own practice ambassador.

On high-volume days or when looking to create efficiencies around patient education, customer service, stocking, and other small routine tasks.

Zeeno Robot features a suite of behaviors designed to assist in the day-to-day operations of a practice. The unit can interact with patients by showing them the way to the operatory, playing educational videos, and even asking for a review. The robot can assist practice staff with tasks such as carrying instruments that need to be sterilized, retrieving retainers from in-house labs, and more.

Standing just over 3 ft high, Zeeno Robot features a ROBOX™ navigation system with Temi’s human-robot interaction and autonomous navigation. Its operating system is designed to come, hear, speak, see, and understand you while learning to improve its interactions. The unit uses artificial intelligence to connect users to services and to understand and navigate its surroundings. The robot features a multitouch 10-in LCD display that tilts –15º to +55º. It’s designed to last up to 8 hours on a single charge and will autonomously charge its battery when low.

Zeeno is a practice robot that can interact with patients and staff, saving you time and creating a unique experience for patients.

5Ws* Zeeno Robot

Designed for professional-grade at-home whitening.

Results after just 15 minutes of wear time.

The system is designed to deliver advanced brightening results with a formula that is tough on stains, but gentle on enamel. According to clinical data from BURST, participants saw 3.5-plus shades whiter after 7 days and 85% of participants did not experience any tooth sensitivity. Each prefilled, custom-fit feel tray seamlessly molds to teeth for an effective experience that tailors to all smiles, without any guesswork, molding, or impressions.

The trays contain 12.5% hydrogen peroxide plus pH-balancing potassium hydroxide and soothing xylitol for comfortable whitening that delivers professional-grade results in 1 week. The consciously clean, vegan formula was crafted alongside BURST hygienists and dentists and does not contain parabens, phthalates, sulfates, major allergens, artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors.

BURST’s newest whitening product features custom fit trays that mold to teeth for an effective experience that tailors to all smiles. 

5Ws* Teeth Whitening Trays

K2 Mobile Wireless Soft Tissue Diode Laser

Without foot pedals, cords, or wires, the K2 Mobile diode laser is lightweight and portable for use in any operatory.

For soft tissue procedures resulting in minimal bleeding, less swelling, lower chance of infection, and less need for antibiotics or use of topical and injected anesthesia.

The K2 Mobile features the world’s first adjustable fiber length (AFL) system in a diode laser. The patented AFL provides the longest optic fiber available. The aluminum cap, optic fiber, and silicone sleeve are autoclavable, eliminating the need for disposable tips. The K2 Mobile also features an organic light-emitting diode display that automatically flips for left- or right-handed use and includes 22 preset popular procedures with recommended power settings as well as 4 user-definable memory options to load in your favorite emission settings.

The K2 Mobile uses a chip-stacking method developed by Hulaser known as HECoSA technology. This helps increase efficiency as well as longevity. Hulaser’s unique heat dissipation design improves user comfort and product longevity. The K2 Mobile’s patented front aluminum cap features a bendable tip, allowing the optic fiber to be aimed at the precise angle for comfortable use during your procedure. The tip can be bent to nearly 90°.

This diode laser for soft tissue procedures features an adjustable fiber length system with the longest fiber optics available.

5Ws* K2 Mobile Wireless Soft Tissue Diode Laser

Restorative Abrasive and Polishing Kits can be matched to any restorative material for any procedure.

Each of the 6 kits is designed to provide proven quality at a superior value. They contain the perfect assortment of abrasives and polishers to guarantee predictable, esthetic results. This allows for stress-free selection of a polishing kit no matter what the material is.

 The Restorative Abrasive and Polishing Kits include Composite Polishing Kit CA, Porcelain & Enamel Polishing Kit CA, Amalgam & Metal Polishing Kit FG, Amalgam & Metal Polishing Kit CA, Acrylic Polishing Kit HP, and Zirconia Polishing Kit CA. Each kit contains an array of components for better polishing.

Shofu offers clinicians a stress-free selection of polishers and abrasives for any restorative material.

5Ws* Restorative Abrasive and Polishing Kits

Both in the posterior and anterior regions.

For monolithic or minimal buccally reduced dental frameworks made of zirconium dioxide or lithium disilicate. One system allows labs to realize all its Zr and LDS ceramic restorations, micro-layering and painting techniques, and anterior or posterior restorations.

The Initial IQ ONE SQIN is a paintable color-and-form ceramic system that offers esthetic restorations comparable to conventionally layered restorations without the demand of a lab’s time. Based on the GC Initial “IQ philosophy,” the system consists of different ceramic materials adapted to be used together, assuring efficient and esthetically convincing finalization of monolithic and buccally reduced restorations. The system comprises Lustre Pastes ONE, Spectrum Stains, and SQIN.

The Initial IQ ONE SQIN gives lab technicians the choice of micro-layering or painting techniques. The GC Initial IQ Lustre Pastes ONE are used as a color and individualization layer, assuring a perfect connection firing before application of the SQIN powders. In the micro-layering technique, SQIN is easily applied in a layer thickness of 0.1 to 0.6 mm over the painted and fired Lustre Pastes ONE surface. The refined mixture of feldspar-based glasses creates a lifelike 3D effect, resulting in color depth and lifelike translucency. In the painting technique, the Lustre Pastes feldspar-based 3D paint-on ceramic adds color depth and lifelike translucency with a very natural glaze to monolithic restorations.

This ceramic system is a true 1-solution system for ceramic restorations.


5Ws* Initial® IQ ONE SQIN Ceramic System

Craig Spodak, DMD, is a third-generation dentist who joined his father’s practice, Spodak Dental Group in Delray Beach, Florida, in 1998. He took over the practice in 2006 and it has since grown into a 13,000-square-foot facility that houses 18 operatories, 10 general and specialty clinicians, and 54 team members. The practice offers orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial, plastic, and periodontal surgery, as well as other specialty services.

Dr Spodak currently uses both Candid and another clear aligner in his practice. However, he believes that Candid is likely a better starting point for clinicians who haven’t tried orthodontics yet.

“We’re talking about general dentists looking to expand and diversify their portfolio—this is a wonderful thing for them, it really is. And if I had to recommend to the people that are not doing [orthodontics] right now, this is the way I’d recommend them doing it.”

Dr Spodak had heard mention of Candid through colleagues, he says. “A couple of doctors had started talking about it and that there was a more fluid solution for the typical general practitioner who is either not using orthodontics or afraid to move teeth or afraid to start.”

Age inappropriate wear and crowding are affecting many patients, yet their dentists are not speaking to them about occlusion, he continues.

“The best dentistry is [often] no dentistry, in my humble opinion,” Dr Spodak says. “The problem in the marketplace is that there’s not a solution to provide what I consider an orthodontic partner to those most general dentists who are just afraid to do it. So I see Candid as the perfect fit. With the other companies, it just is too steep of a learning curve. It’s too scary for them, they need someone to partner with them. And then from an infrastructure standpoint, they need that as well, and that’s what Candid provides.”

CandidPro is an Orthodontics as a Service solution that lets dental practices treat clear aligner cases with enhanced clinical oversight in as few as 2 office visits. Candid offers 2 suites of tools and support: One for clinicians, which includes treatment planning by a US licensed orthodontist, patient tracking, a doctor portal, and practice support; the other for patients, including remote monitoring, CandidApp, CandidMonitoring, and 7/365 support. Both suites work together to provide optimal outcomes and efficiency. Patients receive affordable, custom-fit, premium orthodontic aligners at home, while still receiving professional-led care.

The plastics used in clear aligners have greatly improved over the last several years, Dr Spodak says. But it’s really the process and the behind-the-scenes support that sets Candid apart from other clear aligner manufacturers.

“It’s about having an orthodontic partner to help you design the cases, having someone in case you feel things may go awry or wrong. And then having the tech support to manage your patients so that you can grow and scale your business…”

Dr Spodak also points to the technology behind Candid as one of his favorite features, including the Scanbox Pro scanner. In addition, he says, Candid creates a halo effect around your practice.

“They mastered the packaging, they have amazing technology, the Scanbox Pro, and it really creates a halo effect for your practice,” he says. “[Patients] get this cool scanner. So [patients] don’t say, ‘Candid is cool.’ [They] say, ‘My dentist is cool. Look what my dentist gave me. Oh, you’re going in for visits, I can scan it.’ There’s a halo effect for that. That’s probably the coolest part.”

Dr Spodak says he would love to see Candid add retail scanning centers, which could make it easier for patients to access care. He also mentioned that he would like to see Candid set up its own in-house payment plans instead of leaving that up to each individual clinician. This isn’t a hurdle for clinicians who understand how third-party financing works. However, for those who are not familiar, their pricing may make patients hesitant to accept treatment.

“The average consumer spends far more on their cable, their cell phone, their haircuts than they would for their teeth. But it’s the manner within which we asked them to pay that makes it so prohibitive for them. We’re scaring patients away,” he says.

A look at why one clinician believes Candid is the perfect entrypoint to offering clear aligner treatment. 