The Standout Dental Technologies Of 2022

What: AIRFLOW® Prophylaxis Master

Who: EMS – ems-dental.com

Where: Practices looking to take dental hygiene treatment to a new level.

When: Every prophy appointment.

Why: To provide patients with a higher level of biofilm removal, thus eliminating the main etiologic factor for caries, periodontal, and peri-implant infections.

How: Using the Guided Biofilm Therapy treatment protocol to refocus preventive treatment around a customized, risk-based biofilm management solution.

Biofilm science dates back to 1979, the relationship between oral health and systemic health has never been more significant, and the prevalence of periodontal disease in the US is abysmal. The AIRFLOW Prophylaxis Master addresses these issues directly, bringing the latest technology into the dental practice while enhancing profitability. A home run!”

– Pam Maragliano-Muniz, DMD

What: Amplify

Who: Simplifeye – simplifeye.co

Where: Online and everywhere

When: 24/7

Why: To make sure your practice never misses an opportunity to turn a website visit into a patient.

How: With live HIPAA-compliant web chat operated by Smile Specialists who customize their interactions to meet the needs of each practice.

An all-in-one solution for engaging patients, Amplify live, AI-powered chat from your website makes acquiring patients easier.”

– Marty Jablow, DMD

What: ChairsideCAD

Who: exocad – exocad.com

Where: Any practice using digital dentistry

When: Whenever a restoration or appliance is being designed.

Why: With a wide range of indications, and multiple expansion modules, ChairsideCAD can help digitize almost any workflow.

How: Compatible with multiple scanners, this open-architecture software platform is highly flexible, allowing a practice to apply digital workflows wherever and however they best fit.

This design software is easy to learn, easy to use, and allows the doctor or lab to create almost anything dental including restorations, surgical implant guides, dentures, bite splints, and more. You can then mill or print things in-house, or send the designs to your favorite lab.”

– John Flucke, DDS

Who: Carestream Dental – carestreamdental.com

Where: Practices looking for enhanced diagnoses and treatment planning to drive better patient outcomes.

When: Cases requiring precise 2D or 3D images, such as implants, periodontic, endodontic and orthodontic cases, and oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Why: The CS 9600 makes capturing accurate images for complex cases more intuitive and less stressful.

How:The intelligent positioning system uses video cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) to capture the right image on the first try.

"The Carestream CS 9600 CBCT combines great images with 14 fields of view to offer the versatility you need, all the while being able to dial in the least amount of radiation exposure to the patient.”

– Marty Jablow, DMD

What: DentalMonitoring / ScanBox ^pro

Who: Dental Monitoring – dental-monitoring.com

Where: Anywhere.

When: Anytime an orthodontic patient needs monitoring or follow-up care.

Why: To optimize your time and improve your patient care via remote image capture and AI-powered image management that can detect and automate a response to more than 130 clinical observations.

How: Whether noting tooth movements or detecting poor aligner fit, the AI image management can help patients and providers track progress and avoid issues.

A hardware and software system designed to be your eyes away from the office. The ScanBox ^pro delivers images for use in monitoring oral issues and orthodontic movement, while AI-powered DentalMonitoring connects with patients and tracks progress. DentalMonitoring is an all-in-one solution for your teledentistry needs.”

– Marty Jablow, DMD

What: DTX Studio™ Suite

Who: DEXIS – dexis.com

Where: Practices using digital imaging solutions.

When: Whenever images need to be accessed and used.

Why: To consolidate all 2D and 3D patient images in a single place with easy access to tools for diagnostics, treatment planning, patient presentation, and communications.

How: With integrations into multiple leading practice management platforms and compatibility with leading imaging systems, DTX Studio is designed to connect everything.

We have all this information that we can gather from a patient, including CBCT, intraoral radiography, intraoral scans, and photography, and DTX Studio creates a space where all this data can live in 1 place, while offering the benefits of treatment planning, design, 3D navigated implant surgery, and providing the highest level of communication with your specialists. This is a huge step forward in digital dentistry!”

– Pam Maragliano-Muniz, DMD

What: Excelsior

Who: PreXion – prexion.com

Where: Practices performing endodontic, periodontic, implant dentistry, and oral surgery applications, plus those wanting optimal diagnostic images.

When: Whenever high-quality images are needed for diagnostics and treatment planning.

Why: Having a system providing the best image quality can lead to better diagnostics and more accurate treatment planning.

How: The 0.5-mm focal spot provides image quality with outstanding clarity and better contrast to maximize diagnostic ability.

PreXion gives me incredible images, which is what everyone wants out of their CBCT. Along with the great images come top notch support and a great warranty.”

– Marty Jablow, DMD

What: EyeSpecial

Who: Shofu – shofu.com

Where: Any practice using photography to document cases.

When: Anytime extraoral photographs can help with a case.

Why: Designed specifically for capturing the images most useful to dental practices, the EyeSpecial makes dental photography a point-and-shoot affair.

How: With multiple shooting modes designed for different dental situations, and water and chemical resistant exterior, this camera has a place in any operatory.

A multiyear Best of Class winner that just keeps on improving on industry-leading features and ease of use. The Shofu EyeSpecial makes acquiring high-resolution images simple.”

– Marty Jablow, DMD

What: FirstPlug®

Who: 35 Newtons – 35newtons.com

Where: Any practice placing or restoring implants.

When: When accessing or sealing the implant screw channel.

Why: This easily placed, biocompatible PTFE material is the first of its kind designed specifically for dental implant screw access channels.

How: The medical grade material is designed to fit implant screw cannels and is easily dispensed, placed, and removed to make implant cases more efficient.

Something so simple can be a solution I didn't know I needed. A Teflon cord that fits perfectly into an access channel for my implant restorations is an elegant solution that makes covering the implant screw easy.

What: i700

Who: Medit – medit.com

Where: Any practice using digital dental workflows.

When: Restorative, implant, aligner, or other cases.

Why: The i700 is an open-architecture scanner designed to quickly and conveniently capture digital impressions.

How: With cutting-edge scanning technology, a light and balanced wand, and other convenient innovations, intraoral scanning is simplified.

Medit entered the marketplace with an excellent intraoral impression scanner at a lower price point. The product has continued to evolve and recently has added a wireless version.”

– Paul Feuerstein, DMD

What: Infinix™

Who: Nobio – nobio.com

Where: Practices using dental composites.

When: Whenever placing a composite restoration.

Why: To reduce the risks of recurrent carries.

How: With Nobio QASi antimicrobial technology integrated into the resin matrix, this composite is designed to help reduce demineralization and secondary caries.

If only there was a way to help prevent recurrent decay from happening. Now there is. Infinix is a new composite that contains an antibacterial molecule built right into the resin matrix. This molecule never needs to be recharged and never wears out. Bacteria that come in contact with it die. It’s just that simple.”

– John Flucke, DDS

What: MiniBio Auto Reader

Who: Terragene – terragene.com

Where: Any dental practice wanting fast, accurate sterilizer testing.

When: Whenever biological indicator testing of a sterilizer is required to ensure instruments undergo proper

sterilization before reusing them on patients.

Why: Testing sterilizer effectiveness in-house streamlines workflows and reduces the risks of contamination while waiting for the results of lab tests.

How: With the ability to quickly test 3 different biological indicators, and a connection to cloud-based software, the MiniBio creates a complete, automatic, and traceable system to avoid human error.

Sterilization monitoring can be troublesome and expensive. Why not keep the process in your office? The MiniBio unit is an incredibly precise incubator and testing device that can provide proof of successful sterilization in just 25 minutes.”

– John Flucke, DDS

What: Nova

Who: Bien-Air – bienair.com

Where: Any practice can use a lightweight electric handpiece designed for safety, performance, and durability.

When: With the smallest head with 4-port water spray, Nova maintains easy access for large and small cases.

Why: Smart Logic® motor technology allows Nova to accomplish high and low speed with a single attachment.

How: Compatible with standard-length burs, the small head enhances visibility, while slim neck and lightweight stainless-steel design make it comfortable to use.

Bien-Air has come up with an incredible next generation electric handpiece. The Nova is the smallest head handpiece that has 4-port water spray, among many cutting edge features. It’s a handpiece that is powerful, dependable, and sleek. This thing is born to run!”

– John Flucke, DDS

What: Pro S

Who: Sprintray – sprintray.com

Where: Any practice ready for additive manufacturing.

When: Whenever guards or models need to be fabricated.

Why: Enhanced optics and design features make printing more efficient and accurate.

How: Designed to be easy to use, the Pro S makes it easier than ever to succeed with 3D printing.

Sprintray is truly Best of Class among additive manufacturing solutions, and the company also makes an entire line of equipment and resins for a variety of 3D printing applications.”

– John Flucke, DDS

What: RE-GEN™ Universal Adhesive

Who: Vista Apex – vistaapex.com

Where: Any practice bonding direct or indirect restorations.

When: Whenever an adhesive is needed.

Why: With its ability to help avoid postoperative sensitivity and increase durability of the marginal integrity of the restorations, RE-GEN Universal Adhesive increases clinical success and improves the patient experience.

How: It has outstanding bond strength, and because it contains Bioglass 45S5, it helps prevent sensitivity and recurrent decay.

Re-Gen is incorporated into many restorative products, and allows you to construct longer lasting restorations for better restorative outcomes.”

– Marty Jablow, DMD

What: Remote Monitoring / The Grin Scope®

Who: Grin – get-grin.com

Where: Technology-forward practices that like to stay at the center of the care loop throughout the life cycle of a patient’s treatment journey.

When: At every stage of the practice’s treatment and follow-up workflow.

Why: Patients want high-quality care delivered conveniently and comfortably.

How: In just 34 seconds, The Grin Scope can provide a comprehensive intraoral scan video that allows the doctor and care team to deliver on demand support and clinical oversight.

For dentists who treat orthodontic cases, one of the costs is the short ‘check’ visit. Grin’s platform allows these visits to be done remotely using AI-guided photos captured on the patient’s cell phone.”

– Paul Feuerstein, DMD

What: Second Opinion

Who: Pearl – hellopearl.com

Where: Practices using radiographs to diagnose caries.

When: When reviewing patient x-rays.

Why: An AI review of patient images flags potential issues including incipient caries or the early signs of a periapical radiolucency.

How: By reviewing every x-ray as it is captured, Second Opinion provides real-time feedback, while also reviewing a practice’s historical x-rays for missed treatment opportunities.

The practitioner taking a quick glance at, for example, routine bitewings on recall, now has a virtual partner to aid in better treatment planning.”

– Paul Feuerstein, DMD

What: TRIOS 4

Who: 3Shape – 3shape.com

Where: Practices looking to digitally connect to labs via 3Shape Unite, or mill and print chairside with a wide range of systems.

When: With accurate edentulous scanning, 3Shape TRIOS is suited for scanning all indications from single crowns and clear aligners to complex denture and implant restorations.

Why: Doctors wanting to go digital need a scanner that is simple to use and supported with high-quality service. As the unprecedented 10-time winner of the Cellerant Award, professionals could not choose and trust a better product.

How: With its ergonomic design, AI, cutting-edge scan engine, and wireless connectivity, TRIOS is easy to use for a wide range of indications.

3Shape is constantly innovating their scanner technology. Scans are fast, accurate, and having a wireless scanner provides so much versatility. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!”

– Pam Maragliano-Muniz, DMD

What: YAPI

Who: YAPI – yappiapp.com

Where: Online/everywhere

When: Whenever a patient interacts with your practice.

Why: In an on-demand world, patients seek convenience like digital dental forms, online scheduling, contactless payments, and easy 2-way texting with their dentist.

How: With customizable tools to meet the unique needs of each practice, YAPI helps optimize the patient experience.

When your front desk is happy, the office is happy. YAPI makes your front and back more efficient.”

– Marty Jablow, DMD

What: YOMI®

Who: Neocis – neocis.com

Where: Practices placing dental implants.

When: Anytime an implant is being placed.

Why: To achieve optimal implant positioning based on the patient specific treatment plan.

How: With a robotic arm that provides feedback and prevents the implant from being placed incorrectly, YOMI provides physical, visual, and audio cues to keep implant placements on plan.

YOMI by Neocis has taken guided surgery to a new level. Using haptic robotic technology, the software literally guides the handpiece to the proper positions, angles, and depth without the need to spend the time or money creating a surgical guide.”

– Paul Feuerstein, DMD

The Best of Class Panel consists of the most prominent technology leaders in dentistry:

John Flucke, DDS – Chief Clinical Editor and Technology Editor of Dental Products Report®

Lou Shuman, DMD, CAGS – CEO of Cellerant Consulting Group and Founder of the Cellerant Best of Class Technology Award

Chris Salierno, DDS – Chief Clinical Officer at Tend

Marty Jablow, DMD – Chief Development Officer of Cellerant Consulting Group & “America’s Dental Technology Coach”

Pam Maragliano-Muniz, DMD – Editor in Chief of Dental Economics

Paul Feuerstein, DMD – Editor in Chief of Dentistry Today