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Neoss, Inc. is celebrating the launch of NeoGenix XP™

-- Carbonate apatite structure similar to natural bone mineral

-- Highly porous - more space available for new bone deposition

-- Rough surface - facilitates cell adhesion and spread for bone ingrowth

-- Osteoconductive

-- Available in a jar or delivery syringe

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the successful and well-received Allograft line, Neoss is excited to announce the addition of NeoGenix XP™ this autumn to our existing product portfolio. NeoGenix XP™ is a safe and clinically proven natural bone substitute, that closer resembles natural bone than those of synthetic materials, such as hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate.

Surface roughness affects cellular response, enhancing cell adhesion and proliferation and possibly other markers of expression of cell phenotype, like production of collagen type I, osteocalcin, extracellular matrix, and mineralized material.

Discover more here 

"Being a strong partner to our customers has always been important and offering more in terms of total package solutions. NeoGenix XP™ is an important addition to this and strengthens not only the bone regeneration portfolio but will allow us to serve our customer even better!" —Dr Robert Gottlander, Neoss CEO

This exciting product line will add new dimensions to Neoss existing Bone Regeneration offering, providing an enhanced offering of Bone materials and membranes.

Neoss maintains its clear focus on innovation and has a continuous plan of new market leading product solutions that will be presented over the next few years. All with the same target of introducing smart products that are intuitively easy to use with Intelligent Simplicity.   

Be sure to stay updated on these exciting releases by signing up to our newsletter here: https://www.neoss.com/en-us/contact

Connect with your local Neoss sales representative or call 866-626-3677 to explore how we best can help you.

About Neoss® 

Founded in 2000, by a professor of prosthodontics and a specialist engineer, Neoss® offers intelligent dental solutions that are intuitively simple to use. The company's products are designed to allow dental professionals to provide reliable and cost-effective treatments to their patients with excellent long-term results.  Leading with innovation and integrity, Neoss® develops smart treatment solutions and works closely with each practice to drive Intelligent Simplicity, making the complex less complicated.  Headquartered in Harrogate, UK, with research and development based in Gothenburg, Sweden, the company has established a global footprint with long-standing presence in key markets. To find out more about visithttps://www.neoss.com/en-us

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LightForce Orthodontics Secures $50 Million Series C Funding Led By Kleiner Perkins

 Investment fuels further development of 3D printing technology as well as expanding service, training and education for customer community 

BURLINGTON, Mass. - Nov. 2, 2021 - LightForce Orthodontics, makers of the world’s only fully customized 3D printed bracket system, today announced that the company raised a $50 million Series C round led by Kleiner Perkins, one of the most prestigious venture capitalist firms in the world. The investment follows on the heels of LightForce posting over a 500% revenue growth rate during the past year in which the company developed two new products and grew their team year over year by 300%. The new funds will further support existing LightForce customers with expanded service, training and education. 

“LightForce was founded to provide fully customized, USA-made treatment options for orthodontists interested in offering modern, digital treatment to their patients,” said LightForce CEO and co-founder Dr. Alfred Griffin III, DMD, PhD, MMSc. “The investment allows us to continue creating mass-customized brackets that enable orthodontists to provide a personalized patient experience within an industry that has not evolved the use of brackets in the last 25 years. In fact, without LightForce, patients today would likely be wearing the same sort of brackets their parents did back when they were teenagers. With these new funds, LightForce will further champion the unmet needs of the modern teen market by complimenting aligner cases and allowing orthodontists to take their practices fully digital. A patient’s teeth are all unique as snowflakes, and now doctors have the technology to account for that individualism in their treatment plan, just as they have with their aligner cases. We are excited to continue implementing 3D printing technology in orthodontics in new and innovative ways to create a new standard of care for all braces patients.” 

Since no set of teeth is the same and 70% of patients require braces instead ofaligners, LightForce’s 3D printing technology enables complete and infinite personalization for each patient. One of LightForce’s biggest differentiators is its ability to 3D print brackets that fit the unique tooth morphology of each patient, customization that would otherwise be unavailable to patients with traditional braces. LightForce’s dynamic and modern technology provides a patient-specific alternative to traditional braces, ensuring that today’s patients will not need to endure the dated “one-size-fits-all” approach to braces that often fails to meet the patient experience and efficient clinical outcomes. As a result, patients and doctors are able to see shorter treatment times, fewer appointments, better outcomes, and an overall more efficient and comfortable experience. In an industry where precision is key, 3D printing allows orthodontists to fine tune each tooth movement down to a micron, one-thousandth of a millimeter, resulting in a balanced bite and smile tailored to each unique patient. 

“LightForce’s innovative approach to an industry that has lacked technological disruptiveness for the past 25 years is what initially attracted us to this investment opportunity,” said Wen Hsieh, partner, Kleiner Perkins. “Having previously-invested in the first digital revolution of orthodontics decades ago through Align Technology, Kleiner Perkins is excited to invest in the second-wave of orthodontics digitization through Lightforce. We’re excited to partner with Co-Founder-CEO Alfred Griffin and the Lightforce team to leverage the latest 3D printing technology to further enhance the doctor and patient experience with bracket-based orthodontics." 

Digital customization with 3D printing offers several key advantages to doctors and patients that work with LightForce, including: 

● Scalable and Efficient Treatments, allowing doctors to reach new levels of efficiency without sacrificing product quality or patient comfort.    

●  Patient-Specific Prescriptions means that treatment plans are designed with proprietary software, combined with advanced 3D printing technology, to create precise and fully custom treatments for every patient. 


●  Digitizing Fixed Appliances bring the planning simplicity, practice consistency and ease of use seen today in direct-to-consumer aligners into the world of fixed appliances.

 In the last year, LightForce has developed additional orthodontic advancements such as the Light Bracket, which is their line of translucent brackets. The Light Bracket is a more aesthetic option that blends in with the color of a patient’s teeth, reducing the visibility of treatment. 

For more information about LightForce Orthodontics, please visit www.lightforceortho.com/. Orthodontists interested in adding LightForce’s technology to their practice should reach out here. For photos and videos, click here. 

About LightForce Orthodontics

LightForce Orthodontics is a digital platform providing orthodontists with fully customized, 3D printed tooth- moving tools. Founded in 2015 by Dr. Alfred Griffin, DMD, PhD, MMSc, along with Dr. Lou Shuman, DMD, CAGS, LightForce is revolutionizing the specialty through advanced manufacturing and technology. After five years of extensive research and development, LightForce launched their first product to the Orthodontic market- the world’s first and only fully customized 3D printed bracket system and digital treatment software. Learn more at www.lightforceortho.com. 

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The Smilist Expands Footprint in Eastern Long Island

GREAT NECK, N.Y., Oct. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Smilist Management, Inc. ("The Smilist") has announced its affiliation with Dr. Gary Rosenfeld, owner of two successful practices, East Islip Dental Care and Island Daily Dental Care, both located in Eastern Long Island. The Smilist is backed by Zenyth Partners ("Zenyth"), an operationally-focused healthcare investment firm.

This affiliation increases the Smilist network to 37 practices and increases patient access to top-quality dental care on Long Island.

East Islip Dental Care and Island Daily Dental operate with the goal of providing personalized and convenient dental care to surrounding communities. Open seven days a week, they are the high-performing, multi-specialty dental practices that employ a team of 17 highly skilled, top-rated providers. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr Rosenfeld and team to The Smilist. These high-quality practices further expand our platform and ability to provide dental care services to Long Island. Our objective is to continue to develop and support the long-term patient and provider relationships built by this exceptionally talented group," says Patricia Mahony, CEO of the Smilist. 

"The Smilist's commitment to patient care and patient satisfaction makes them an exceptional partner. Their deep expertise and best-in-class operational support is evident," says Dr. Gary Rosenfeld. "We look forward to continuing to serve our patients while enjoying the benefits and additional resources that come with working with a market-leading DSO like the Smilist."

About The Smilist The Smilist was founded in 2014 to create a dental organization with a strong consumer brand that offers exceptional patient experiences. Since its founding, The Smilist has rapidly grown to be one of the leading dental support organizations in the New York metro area, having affiliated with nearly 50 dental groups and supporting 37 offices and with over 600 employees in New York and New Jersey.  To learn more, visitwww.thesmilist.com.

About Zenyth PartnersZenyth Partners is an operationally-focused investment firm focused on building leading healthcare organizations. With long-term capital, Zenyth establishes lasting partnerships centered around building sustainable healthcare organizations and ensuring success for all stakeholders: patients, clinicians and administrative staff. Zenyth has been actively building healthcare businesses including The Smilist Management, Schweiger Dermatology Group, ReFocus Eye Health, Renal Care 360 and Helping Hands Family. For more information, visit www.zenythpartners.com

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Biden White House Removes Proposal of Dental Benefit in Medicare from Build Back Better Proposal

 For the last several months, as President Biden has worked toward his major spending package of, among other things, infrastructure and healthcare, there have been concerns in the dental industry of dental benefits being forced through as part of Medicaid.

Since dentistry as a profession is far removed and separate from the practice of medicine, rules and regulations that govern medicine as part of Medicare would be completely unsuited for dentistry.  Basically it would be forcing a square peg (dentistry) into the round hole of Medicare.

The differences between the two professions and the way they practice would mean than many of the regulations set up to govern medicine and its relationship to the federal government payment system would be completely non-feasible for dentistry.

The amount of work it would take from the federal government as well as from dentistry would be extremely difficult to meet with the laws the way they are at the current time.  I am grateful that the American Dental Association has met with the administration and explained the difficulties of implementing the current proposal.  This would have been a disaster for both patients and the doctors that care for them.

I could type several more paragraphs and *possibly* manage to somewhat explain why this plan would not work for all concerned, but the ADA has done a much better job of this than I probably ever could.  If you would like to read the organization's FAQ on the ADA's Medicare Benefit Proposal, follow the link.  

The American Dental Association does an outstanding job of looking out for patients and for the profession of dentistry.  This is another example of why I gladly pay my dues each and every year.

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FirstPlug® Fills the Void in Restoration Screw Channel Barrier Materials

35Newtons® Launches a Medical Grade Solution Optimized for Implant Supported Restorations

Tacoma, WA; October 25, 2021 – The launch of FirstPlug® from 35Newtons®, brings a much- needed upgrade to the clinically sensitive task of filling access channels in screw retained restorations. The patented system consists of a medical grade PTFE barrier material and an instrument set optimized for packing or filling retention screw channels during restorative procedures.

Material selection for covering implant abutment screws is important to limit leakage which has been shown to negatively impact peri-implant tissues. “None of the common materials and techniques in use today were developed specifically for this procedure and all have their drawbacks,” said Dr. Jim Janakievski, a Tacoma area periodontist, and co-founder of 35Newtons. For example, cotton pellets provide an ideal substrate for pathogenic oral flora to flourish, while gutta percha can be difficult to remove. “The ideal barrier material provides a good seal to limit leakage, is pliable, biologically inert, and easily retrievable,” said Dr. Alex Shor, prosthodontist and 35Newtons co-founder.

FirstPlug is made from PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), which at a basic level is similar to the material used to make industrial plumber’s tape. “Many dentists are creative problem solvers and lacking suitable alternatives some have undoubtedly resorted to the local hardware store for an answer,” said Dr. Janakievski. “PTFE is the right material, but we feel strongly that implants and other sensitive dental procedures call for a medical grade solution.” FirstPlug PTFE is made in the USA, providing extra assurance regarding the raw material composition and manufacturing environment.

Every detail of the FirstPlug system has been engineered to fit the clinical application. The large diameter cylindrically shaped cord seats easily in the screw channel without rolling or twisting. The medical grade PTFE has the right compression characteristics for packing and sealing the screw access chamber, as well as sufficient stiffness to support the overlying restorative materials. The accompanying instrument set includes a wide diameter barrier plugger for efficient packing of the PTFE cord, as well as a barrier excavator for easy removal when uncovering the screw to remove temporaries or replace a restoration.

In addition to the optimized physical characteristics of the medical grade PTFE material itself, FirstPlug is manufactured, assembled, and packaged under strict medical device protocols and quality systems. “Of course, FirstPlug users appreciate the added convenience, efficiency, and clinical benefits,” said Dr Shor. “But first and foremost, we hear from our dentists that sealing implant access channels with a medical grade material, made in medical class conditions offers invaluable peace of mind.”

About 35Newtons

35Newtons seeks to find innovative solutions for a better dental implant workflow. Co-founded by dentists, who are educators, speakers, and published authors, the company’s focus and philosophy are rooted in the pursuit of clinical excellence. The patented FirstPlugTM Screw Channel Barrier system, is based on a medical grade PTFE platform that will support a portfolio of products to improve dental implant procedural efficiencies and clinical outcomes.

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Effects of low-level light therapy on dentin hypersensitivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Published: 13 October 2021

Clinical Oral Investigations (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the treatment efficacy of low-level light therapy on dentin hypersensitivity.

Materials and methods

Following the PRISMA guideline, six electronic databases supplemented with bibliographies were searched till December 2020. Two reviewers performed the screenings independently with a reliability assessment. Studies fulfilling the pre-registered eligibility criteria were included for risk-of-bias assessment and data synthesis.

Results

Thirty-five articles ultimately informed this systematic review based on the eligibility criteria and underwent risk-of-bias assessment (ĸ = 0.86). Quantitative results were deduced by meta-analysis of 20 randomised controlled trials: LLLT showed favourable outcomes compared to placebos for immediate (SMD: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.47 to 1.70), interim (SMD: 1.32, 95% CI: 0.41 to 2.23), and persistent efficacies (SMD: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.98 to 3.74). However, substantial heterogeneity existed among included studies (I2: 64–95%). Regarding comparisons with other desensitising strategies, LLLT showed no significant benefits in DH alleviation over others except fluorides for interim efficacy (SMD: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.52) and persistent efficacy (SMD: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.86).

Conclusions

This systematic review shows that LLLT has positive immediate, interim, and persistent DH-treatment efficacies compared with placebo. No superior treatment effects of LLLT were observed except fluoride agent use. Further studies are warranted—RCTs with low risk of bias, consistent technical settings, comprehensive assessments, and long follow-up periods.

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Deep learning for automated detection and numbering of permanent teeth on panoramic images

  Dentomaxillofac Radiol

. 2021 Oct 13;20210296.  Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate an automated detection system to detect and classify permanent teeth on orthopantomogram (OPG) images using convolutional neural networks (CNNs).

Methods: In total, 591 digital OPGs were collected from patients older than 18 years. Three qualified dentists performed individual teeth labelling on images to generate the ground truth annotations. A three-step procedure, relying upon CNNs, was proposed for automated detection and classification of teeth. Firstly, U-Net, a type of CNN, performed preliminary segmentation of tooth regions or detecting regions of interest (ROIs) on panoramic images. Secondly, the Faster R-CNN, an advanced object detection architecture, identified each tooth within the ROI determined by the U-Net. Thirdly, VGG-16 architecture classified each tooth into 32 categories, and a tooth number was assigned. A total of 17,135 teeth cropped from 591 radiographs were used to train and validate the tooth detection and tooth numbering modules. 90% of OPG images were used for training, and the remaining 10% were used for validation. 10-folds cross-validation was performed for measuring the performance. The intersection over union (IoU), F1 score, precision, and recall (i.e. sensitivity) were used as metrics to evaluate the performance of resultant CNNs.

Results: The ROI detection module had an IoU of 0.70. The tooth detection module achieved a recall of 0.99 and a precision of 0.99. The tooth numbering module had a recall, precision and F1 score of 0.98.

Conclusion: The resultant automated method achieved high performance for automated tooth detection and numbering from OPG images. Deep learning can be helpful in the automatic filing of dental charts in general dentistry and forensic medicine.

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FirstPlug® Fills the Void in Restoration Screw Channel Barrier Materials

 One of the things dentistry has needed for a while is a reliable and easy way to fill the screw heads of implants.  Over the years I've seen several different ideas tried.  Some doctors have advocated putting small cotton pellets in the access.  Some have advocated using retraction cord.  The best idea I've seen is to use a small piece of Teflon tape that is packed into the access to protect the implant screw head.

Teflon tape can work, but it is not easy to use isn't in the best form factor for placement.  Now there is a new company in the dental industry that has a product that solves this age old problem.  It is a Teflon material specifically designed for implants.  Read on for the details on 35Newtons®...

The launch of FirstPlug® from 35Newtons®, brings a much- needed upgrade to the clinically sensitive task of filling access channels in screw retained restorations. The patented system consists of a medical grade PTFE barrier material and an instrument set optimized for packing or filling retention screw channels during restorative procedures. 

Material selection for covering implant abutment screws is important to limit leakage which has been shown to negatively impact peri-implant tissues. “None of the common materials and techniques in use today were developed specifically for this procedure and all have their drawbacks,” said Dr. Jim Janakievski, a Tacoma area periodontist, and co-founder of 35Newtons. For example, cotton pellets provide an ideal substrate for pathogenic oral flora to flourish, while gutta percha can be difficult to remove. “The ideal barrier material provides a good seal to limit leakage, is pliable, biologically inert, and easily retrievable,” said Dr. Alex Shor, prosthodontist and 35Newtons co-founder. 

FirstPlug is made from PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), which at a basic level is similar to the material used to make industrial plumber’s tape. “Many dentists are creative problem solvers and lacking suitable alternatives some have undoubtedly resorted to the local hardware store for an answer,” said Dr. Janakievski. “PTFE is the right material, but we feel strongly that implants and other sensitive dental procedures call for a medical grade solution.” FirstPlug PTFE is made in the USA, providing extra assurance regarding the raw material composition and manufacturing environment. 

Every detail of the FirstPlug system has been engineered to fit the clinical application. The large diameter cylindrically shaped cord seats easily in the screw channel without rolling or twisting. The medical grade PTFE has the right compression characteristics for packing and sealing the screw access chamber, as well as sufficient stiffness to support the overlying restorative materials. The accompanying instrument set includes a wide diameter barrier plugger for efficient packing of the PTFE cord, as well as a barrier excavator for easy removal when uncovering the screw to remove temporaries or replace a restoration. 

In addition to the optimized physical characteristics of the medical grade PTFE material itself, FirstPlug is manufactured, assembled, and packaged under strict medical device protocols and quality systems. “Of course, FirstPlug users appreciate the added convenience, efficiency, and clinical benefits,” said Dr Shor. “But first and foremost, we hear from our dentists that sealing implant access channels with a medical grade material, made in medical class conditions offers invaluable peace of mind.” 

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Reliability of radiographic findings in large FOV CBCTs of mandibular third molars as basis for pre-operative patient information

Acta Odontol Scand

. 2021 Oct 15;1-8.

. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relation between radiographic findings in large field of view (FOV) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) exams and clinical findings of mandibular third molars in relation to the pre-operative patient information.

Material and methods: Two hundred and nine mandibular third molars in 134 orthognathic patients examined with CBCT were removed. Three observers assessed tooth- and mandibular canal-related variables in CBCT images, and the findings were correlated to clinical findings during surgery for all observers: tooth angulation, number and morphology of roots and close relationship between the tooth and the mandibular canal. Moreover, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values and positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) likelihood ratios were calculated for the canal-related variables. Inter- and intra-observer reproducibility was expressed as percentage accordance and kappa-statistics.

Results: Generally, there was high correlation between radiographic and clinical tooth-related variables. The opposite was true for the canal-related variables, since the PPV and LR + were low. The highest PPV and LR + were found when the mandibular canal was positioned between the roots of the third molar.

Conclusions: Tooth-related findings in CBCT are reliable, whereas mandibular canal-related findings should not affect the information provided to the patient pre-operatively.

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Unboxing of AMD's Monet Handheld Curing Laser - A Video Review

Curing in dentistry has come a long, long way.  When I started in practice (which was quite a while ago), I remember that curing times for composites were about 60 seconds.

In the late 90s I bought a curing laser!!!  It allowed me to cure composites in 10 seconds!!!  Unfortunately the device was also huge and ran hot.  The laser was about the size of a box of Air Jordan's (you know, the *really* big shoe box).  Needless to say, that laser did NOT move from that treatment area. There were also a couple of large fans that were needed to keep the components cool.  The fans were *really, really* noisy and the electronics ran so hot that if were did 3 or 4 restorations in one appointment, the room we were in would rise in temperature 10 degrees Fahrenheit (and I am NOT kidding about that).  I was glad I had the laser because it made me so much more efficient, but there were some definite problems with the system.  I really loved the laser, but I didn't need all the problems that came with it.

Now those problems are all in the past.  AMD has introduced the Monet handheld curing laser.  It has all of the size and ease of use of an LED curing light, with the power to cure composites in 1 second!

I recently created a video where I unbox the Monet.  My buddies at Dental Products Report have got it edited and posted.  Give it a view and let me know what you think in the comments below.

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SprintRay Launches More Powerful and Faster Speed to Care Solutions for Dental Professionals at 3D Next Summit

SprintRay's new ProCure 2 reduces one week of dental work into a day

Print dental products in under 60 minutes; cure products in under 3 minutes

3D Next Summit convenes dental industry leaders to discuss advancements in digital dental technology

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SprintRay Inc., an industry leader in digital dentistry and 3D printing solutions, today announced the launch of more powerful and faster Speed to Care solutions for dental professionals – including the revolutionary new ProCure 2 – at its 3D Next Summit in Miami, Florida. The Company also introduced the first radio-opaque 3D printer resin for implant-supported hybrid dentures, SprintRay OnX.

SprintRay is the only dental technology company that has designed an ecosystem of 3D printing products that incorporates power, speed, artificial intelligence and a user experience that enables dental professionals to move from scan to placement in less than one hour – delivering a faster, more efficient and less costly chairside experience for patients.

"Leveraging power, speed and AI, SprintRay's Speed to Care ecosystem of innovative 3D printing products is transforming the digital dentistry space. With the new ProCure 2 launched today, dental professionals will be able to compress one week of dental work into one day, delivering a most cost-effective, efficient and improved chairside experience," said SprintRay CEO and Co-Founder Amir Mansouri, Ph.D. "We have convened over 140 dental industry leaders at our inaugural 3D Next Summit on the heels of our two major partnership announcements over the past few days. We hope everyone here and all of our other stakeholders will join us as we continue to build SprintRay and further our commitment to designing and developing innovative technology and products that improve dental care quality and delivery times." 

SprintRay's new ProCure 2 reduces post-curing times by 10x or more, opening the doors to chairside 3D printing in dentistry. With 25x more light power from a custom curing engine, dental professionals can cure a night guard in just 3 minutes - no preheating required. Mated to a user-friendly, cloud-connected touchscreen computer, chairside 3D printing is now as simple as pressing a button.

SprintRay OnX is the first radio-opaque 3D printer resin for implant-supported hybrid dentures. Delivering best-in-class flexural strength, the OnX offers the best balance of strength and modulus for full arch restorations. OnX is a nanoceramic hybrid class II 3D printing resin used for the production of denture teeth and featuring an optimal combination of translucency and opacity to mimic natural dentition. With industry-leading ceramic content, OnX is exceptionally aesthetic and easy to characterize.

On October 15, SprintRay announced its multi-year partnership with eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, who will represent SprintRay as its Global Brand Ambassador. In addition, SprintRay Foundation, in association with Bolt Foundation, will launch Bolt Labs Powered by SprintRay – an initiative with a mission to make world-class digital dental care accessible and affordable to patients across the world, starting with Jamaica.  

About SprintRay  

SprintRay is a dental technology company that builds end-to-end 3D printing ecosystems for dental professionals. SprintRay designs and manufactures user-friendly and cutting-edge manufacturing solutions including dental 3D printers, 3D printing software, curing technology, washing systems, and innovative materials. Dental care providers can deliver best-in-class care by leveraging SprintRay's highly-specialized, affordable technologies. For more information, visit www.sprintray.com. 

MEDIA CONTACTS:  

Media: Melanie Lilly-Buster, [email protected]  

SOURCE SprintRay Inc.

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Counterfeit Nitrile Gloves have made Their Way into the U.S. Supply Chain

 Wherever there is a crisis and whenever human suffering occurs there will always be the lowest of the low working to make a profit from those situations.  In late spring of 2020 I was made aware of several situations where healthcare facilities or groups had made large orders of N-95 equivalent masks from overseas.  When the products arrived, they were in packaging from well known and reputable companies.  However, even though the masks looked legitimate, they were anything but.

Analysis by reputable third party labs in the U.S. revealed the masks to be counterfeit and worthless.  This didn't happen once, no unfortunately it happened many times.  The money paid to the companies that supplied the masks was lost and the legitimate manufacturers whose packaging was forged also suffered from the bad publicity even though they had done nothing wrong.

Now, comes word via an investigation from CNN that a scandal has rocked the nitrite glove market.

A quick primer for any of you reading this who do not have a healthcare background.  Gloves became a required part of PPE protocol for dentistry in the 80s.  From that point until the early 2000s, the most common type of glove was latex.  They were practical, had good dexterity, and were plentiful to obtain.  However, as latex became more and more common in healthcare, more and more people developed allergies to the substance through environmental contact.  As the allergies became more and more common healthcare began to more away from latex and to utilize nitrile instead.

Nitrile is a synthetic rubber that is bit more expensive than latex, but offers the same advantages.  I switched my office from latex to nitrile due to the risk of patients or staff having anaphylactic reactions to latex and also because I felt that nitrile actually provided better tactile sensation.  Then in 2016 the FDA banned powdered latex gloves in healthcare.  This meant that the demand for latex gloves dropped while demand for nitrile increased proportionately.

Fast forward to 2020 and the onslaught of SARS-Cov-2.  The pandemic dramatically increased the demand for gloves and the market struggled under that demand.  There was also the strain put on the supply chain as businesses were shut down due to the pandemic.  I heard stories of some glove factories being temporarily closed due to the pandemic.  So, as we were seeing an increased demand for nitrile gloves the manufacturing piece of the supply chain was not able to meet demand.

This lack of supply and increased demand opened the door for criminals and scammers who were only too happy to try and make money from the situation.  These situations exist in almost all aspects of our society, but there is something really awful about people not only unethically stealing, but also putting the welfare of others at risk at the same time.

CNN is reporting that criminals have setup companies that attempt to clean or color used medical gloves and resell them as new to unsuspecting U.S. distributors.  They try to wash the gloves or re-dye them by trying to use food coloring.  Some U.S. distributors have opened boxes to find gloves that are torn or even stained by blood.  The companies doing this have demanded payment in advance so U.S. distributors are out the money... sometimes millions of dollars.

I would expect this to become a pretty big story, at least in healthcare circles.  You can read the entire story at the CNN link.

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Vivos Therapeutics and Candid Announce Strategic Collaboration to Deliver A Comprehensive Sleep Apnea and Orthodontic Treatment Solution

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo., Oct. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivos Therapeutics, Inc. ("Vivos" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: VVOS), a medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative diagnostic and treatment modalities for patients suffering from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring, and Candid Care Co. ("Candid"), a digital platform for oral healthcare, today announced a new collaboration that will seek to provide patients with a comprehensive, whole-mouth solution to diagnose and treat OSA in adult patients and provide orthodontic treatment from the same provider network.

Vivos and Candid will join forces to explore new research and development opportunities for device development

At the core of this collaboration, Vivos and Candid will market each company's products and areas of expertise to deliver a comprehensive sleep and oral health solution to patients in the United States and Canada. The focus of the collaboration will be Candid's CandidPro clear aligner for straightening teeth and the Vivos System for treating OSA. The two companies will also share educational resources, training, and key opinion leaders to bridge the gap between airway health and orthodontic therapy.

"By teaming with Candid, we are aiming to provide patients with access not only to our highly effective Vivos System, but also simultaneous access to CandidPro's novel orthodontic treatment. We believe the Vivos-Candid collaboration will provide for the first solution that seamlessly integrates sleep and orthodontic therapy to create better patient outcomes for treating OSA and enhance overall health and wellness across the board." said Kirk Huntsman, Vivos Chairman and CEO. "We are hopeful that this joint effort will increase market penetration and accelerate revenue growth for both companies as we each attract and expand our respective North American dental and healthcare networks."

Additionally, under the terms of the agreement, Vivos and Candid will join forces to explore new research and development opportunities for device development and other alliances related to orthodontics, OSA, and snoring. Candid will also conduct specialized training sessions at the Vivos Institute, the Company's new state-of-the-art international training center in Denver, Colorado, as well as semi-annual seminars for both dentists and medical doctors to provide additional learning opportunities.  The parties will act on a non-exclusive basis, although during the term of the agreement, Candid's aligners will become the official  clear aligner of Vivos and Vivos' oral devices and proprietary protocols will become the official sleep apnea therapy program of Candid. 

"Candid was built on a foundation of clinical excellence and has always put patient health first. Since launching Candid in 2017, my co-founders and I have strived to shine a light on the correlation between teeth alignment, oral health, and chronic illnesses, like obstructive sleep apnea. Vivos Therapeutics and Candid are where airway and sleep, oral health, and orthodontic therapy come together for the first time," added Nick Greenfield, Candid Co-Founder and CEO. "By combining Vivos' therapeutic protocol for OSA and its VIP doctor network with Candid's treatment methodology and CandidPro network, together we look forward to offering a full-service solution for patients suffering from OSA."

"As someone who focuses his practice on combining sleep-disordered breathing, orthodontics and comprehensive dentistry, I know how important it is to treat all oral health conditions as part of one comprehensive solution," concluded Dr. Ben Miraglia, DDS, Chief Clinical Consultant of Airway Health Solutions, Vivos Provider and recognized thought leader in sleep-disordered breathing, clear aligner therapy and craniofacial development. "The Vivos-Candid alliance is a true win-win for patients who are looking to improve their sleep, oral health and confidence all at the same time."

About Vivos Therapeutics, Inc.

Vivos Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: VVOS) is a medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative diagnostic and treatment modalities for adult patients suffering from mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Vivos treatment involves customized oral appliances and treatment protocols called the Vivos System. Vivos believes that its Vivos System oral appliance technology represents the first clinically effective non-surgical, non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical and cost-effective solution for adults with mild-to-moderate OSA. Vivos also sells orthodontic appliances for adults and children. Vivos' oral appliances have proven effective in over 19,000 patients treated worldwide by more than 1,250 trained dentists.

Combining proprietary technologies and protocols that alter the size, shape and position of the tissues that comprise a patient's upper airway, the Vivos System opens airway space and may significantly reduce symptoms and conditions associated with mild-to-moderate OSA, such as lowering Apnea Hypopnea Index scores. Vivos also markets and distributes VivosScore, powered by the SleepImage diagnostic technology, for Home Sleep Testing in adults and children. The Vivos Integrated Practice (VIP) program offers dentists training and other value-added services in connection with using the Vivos System.

For more information, visit www.vivoslife.com.

About Candid Care Co.

Candid is a digital platform for oral healthcare. Coupling the expertise and attention of private practice orthodontics with the convenience and affordability of telehealth, Candid delivers the best of both worlds. Our patent-pending approach to treatment planning and our intuitive ecosystem of hardware and software offer superior care and outcomes. Our recently launched professional product, CandidPro, provides enhanced features and services exclusively available for cases started and finished inside the dental practice. We are on a mission to redefine orthodontics and unlock self-expression for all patients across the Candid ecosystem.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and statements of the Company's management made in connection therewith contain "forward-looking statements" (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events, particularly with respect to the public offering described herein. Words such as "aim", "may", "could", "expects", "projects," "intends", "plans", "believes", "predicts", "anticipates", "hopes", "estimates" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon several assumptions and estimates, which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Vivos' control. Actual results (including the anticipated benefits of the Company's collaboration with Candid Care as described herein) may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the risk factors described in Vivos' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Vivos' filings can be obtained free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Except to the extent required by law, Vivos expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Vivos' expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any statement is based.

SOURCE Candid Co.

[alicecpacheco]

Analysis of 100 Most-Viewed YouTube Toothbrushing Videos

  J Dent Hyg

. 2021 Oct;95(5):32-40.

Abstract

Purpose: Parental education regarding the importance of toothbrushing and how to brush children's teeth is a key factor influencing pediatric oral health and You Tube videos have become a popular source of health information. The purpose of this study was to examine the descriptive features of the 100 most frequently viewed English-language YouTube toothbrushing videos and evaluate their usefulness relative to professional guidelines.Methods: A structured YouTube web search identified the 100 most frequently viewed toothbrushing videos during a six-month period (10/1/17 - 4/30/18). Two independent evaluators assessed each video for consistency with professional recommendations using a priori criteria. Each video was also assessed for descriptive characteristics, user engagement, and content. Comparative analyses by video source (health care professionals, commercial, and independent media) were performed, and an exploratory regression model was used to test the relationship between video characteristics and usefulness for parent education.Results: The top 100 YouTube videos were most often posted by independent media outlets (78%), targeted toward children (70%), and less than 2 minutes long (56%). Few videos aligned with professional recommendations regarding toothbrushing frequency (38%), toothbrushing duration (24%), amount of toothpaste (21%), fluoride toothpaste use (19%), post-brushing behavior (10%), toothbrush selection (4%), and toothbrush replacement (3%). A stepwise bidirectional regression model found that videos posted by health care professionals were significantly more likely to contain recommendations consistent with professional recommendations compared with other upload sources.Conclusion: The most frequently viewed toothbrushing videos were not uploaded to the Internet by health care professionals. Videos uploaded by health care professionals contained significantly higher counts of professional recommendations however, they differed in audio and visual format and production style compared to those from commercial and independent media sources.

[alicecpacheco]

Vivos Therapeutics and Candid Announce Strategic Collaboration to Deliver A Comprehensive Sleep Apnea and Orthodontic Treatment Solution

At the recently concluded Smilecon that was held October 11-13, I had a chance to meet and speak with a company that I hadn't heard of before.  It's a clear aligner company called Candid.  One of the things about this company that intrigued me is the way they track progress of patients' treatment.  As part of the procedure, they give the patient a device that attaches to their smartphone and allows the patient to take fairly precise pictures of their teeth.  The patient places lip retractors so that the teeth are clearly visible and then take images of their teeth.  Those images can be evaluated and compared to make sure the case is progressing as planned.

I'm a big fan of clear aligners and as most of you know, I'm also a huge advocate of treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).  I was intrigued to read today that Candid has now partnered with Vivos Therapeutics to allow the companies to combine their expertise in orthodontics and OSA treatment.

Read on for all the details:

Vivos Therapeutics, Inc. ("Vivos" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: VVOS), a medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative diagnostic and treatment modalities for patients suffering from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring, and Candid Care Co. ("Candid"), a digital platform for oral healthcare, today announced a new collaboration that will seek to provide patients with a comprehensive, whole-mouth solution to diagnose and treat OSA in adult patients and provide orthodontic treatment from the same provider network.

At the core of this collaboration, Vivos and Candid will market each company's products and areas of expertise to deliver a comprehensive sleep and oral health solution to patients in the United States and Canada. The focus of the collaboration will be Candid's CandidPro clear aligner for straightening teeth and the Vivos System for treating OSA. The two companies will also share educational resources, training, and key opinion leaders to bridge the gap between airway health and orthodontic therapy.

"By teaming with Candid, we are aiming to provide patients with access not only to our highly effective Vivos System, but also simultaneous access to CandidPro's novel orthodontic treatment. We believe the Vivos-Candid collaboration will provide for the first solution that seamlessly integrates sleep and orthodontic therapy to create better patient outcomes for treating OSA and enhance overall health and wellness across the board." said Kirk Huntsman, Vivos Chairman and CEO. "We are hopeful that this joint effort will increase market penetration and accelerate revenue growth for both companies as we each attract and expand our respective North American dental and healthcare networks."

Additionally, under the terms of the agreement, Vivos and Candid will join forces to explore new research and development opportunities for device development and other alliances related to orthodontics, OSA, and snoring. Candid will also conduct specialized training sessions at the Vivos Institute, the Company's new state-of-the-art international training center in Denver, Colorado, as well as semi-annual seminars for both dentists and medical doctors to provide additional learning opportunities.  The parties will act on a non-exclusive basis, although during the term of the agreement, Candid's aligners will become the official  clear aligner of Vivos and Vivos' oral devices and proprietary protocols will become the official sleep apnea therapy program of Candid. 

"Candid was built on a foundation of clinical excellence and has always put patient health first. Since launching Candid in 2017, my co-founders and I have strived to shine a light on the correlation between teeth alignment, oral health, and chronic illnesses, like obstructive sleep apnea. Vivos Therapeutics and Candid are where airway and sleep, oral health, and orthodontic therapy come together for the first time," added Nick Greenfield, Candid Co-Founder and CEO. "By combining Vivos' therapeutic protocol for OSA and its VIP doctor network with Candid's treatment methodology and CandidPro network, together we look forward to offering a full-service solution for patients suffering from OSA."

"As someone who focuses his practice on combining sleep-disordered breathing, orthodontics and comprehensive dentistry, I know how important it is to treat all oral health conditions as part of one comprehensive solution," concluded Dr. Ben Miraglia, DDS, Chief Clinical Consultant of Airway Health Solutions, Vivos Provider and recognized thought leader in sleep-disordered breathing, clear aligner therapy and craniofacial development. "The Vivos-Candid alliance is a true win-win for patients who are looking to improve their sleep, oral health and confidence all at the same time."

[alicecpacheco]

SprintRay Announces Multi-Year Partnership with World's Fastest Man and Eight-Time Olympic Gold Medalist, Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt signs up as SprintRay's Global Brand Ambassador for the next five years

SprintRay and Usain Bolt set to launch Bolt Labs powered by SprintRay, an initiative focused on expanding global access to dental care in collaboration with the Jamaican Dental Association

Usain Bolt to participate at SprintRay's 3D Next Summit in Miami from October 21-24, 2021

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SprintRay Inc., a global MedTech pioneer and industry leader in digital dentistry and 3D printing solutions, today announced a five-year partnership with eight-time Olympic gold medalist, Usain Bolt. Bolt and SprintRay are also collaborating with the Jamaican Dental Association to invest in the launch of "Bolt Labs, powered by SprintRay" – an initiative with a mission to make world-class digital dental care accessible to Jamaica. The SprintRay Foundation, in partnership with Bolt Foundation, will establish dental clinics, including 3D dental labs and a mobile unit, which will further address the critical dental needs of both adults and children, as well as those located in more remote areas of Jamaica.

"SprintRay is excited to partner with Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man and widely considered to be the greatest Sprinter of all time, to represent our Company and help us expand access to high-quality, digital dental care on a global scale," said SprintRay CEO and Co-Founder Amir Mansouri, Ph.D. "This initiative marks a pivotal step, as SprintRay continues to act on our mission to improve dental care quality and delivery times through technological innovation. Using our ecosystem of dental 3D printing products, dental work can now be completed in a fraction of the time and cost, and without multiple offices visits."

"SprintRay's biggest value proposition is the benefits of time compression afforded to every stakeholder, and there is no one else on this planet like Usain Bolt to inspire us to amplify the impact of speed and time," said Erich Kreidler, SprintRay's President.

"I am proud to represent and partner with SprintRay and fellow 'Sprinters,' as we call ourselves. This is a company that is poised to transform the digital dental industry on a global scale," said Usain Bolt. "This initiative is intended to accelerate a very critical and unmet need for improvements in dental care access across the world, starting with Jamaica, where there is less than one dentist for every 100,000 residents. I look forward to working with SprintRay to give confidence and the best possible smile to every citizen of this planet." 

Usain Bolt will be present in-person with industry leaders and doctors at SprintRay's inaugural 3D Next Summit in Miami, Florida from October 21-24, 2021, as a keynote speaker.

About SprintRay 

SprintRay is a dental technology company that builds end-to-end 3D printing ecosystems for dental professionals. SprintRay designs and manufactures user-friendly and cutting-edge manufacturing solutions including dental 3D printers, 3D printing software, curing technology, washing systems, and innovative materials. Dental care providers can deliver best-in-class care by leveraging SprintRay's highly-specialized, affordable technologies. For more information, visit www.sprintray.com.

[alicecpacheco]

Cesar Sabates, DDS Takes Office as the 158th President of the American Dental Association

  Almost everyone has had the experience of knowing someone who does great things, is incredibly successful, or garners fame and fortune.  At the recent Smilecon last week in Las Vegas, one of my hosts was from Seattle and she told me the story of how a good friend of hers was the person who wrote the code for the original Solitaire game in Microsoft Windows.

I now have one of those stories too.  I went to dental school at the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Dentistry.  My alma mater has a reputation of training outstanding clinical doctors, but we're not known for our leadership skills.  That simple fact means it is even more amazing that I can say with pride that I was, and am, friends with someone who has accomplished a lot in our field and has summited to the pinnacle of leadership.

On Saturday October 16, 2021 my friend Dr. Cesar Sabates was installed as the 158th president of the ADA.  He's not only the president, but he's also the only first president of Cuban-American decent.  His family came to the United States when he was a just a boy, but his family has made the most of the American dream.  They came to the U.S. in 1967 and ended up settling in the Kansas City area so that his father could attend UMKC and receive his dental degree.  Then his son followed in his footsteps.

I met Cesar in the mid-80s when I started at UMKC.  In my last two years of training, he and I were assigned to the same team which placed us in close proximity to each other on a regular basis.  He was a couple of years older than I was, plus he was married while I was single and considerably more prone to, ahem, "social exuberance".  However we struck up a bond and I always enjoyed talking with him.

We graduated and he moved to Miami to celebrate his Cuban heritage while I stayed in the KC area.  We drifted apart, but with the Internet came a chance to reconnect.  Also, we both enjoyed the benefits of organized dentistry and industry meetings.  I'd frequently see Cesar at meetings across the US.  I enjoyed teaching, lecturing, and writing.  Cesar enjoyed the political side of the profession as he worked to move it forward into a new and exciting future.

My friend has had a tremendous impact on dentistry.  He now leads the largest dental professional organization in the United States.  None of his success was given to him.  He has always worked hard.  I am so proud of what Dr. Sabates has accomplished.  He is the first Cuban American to ever lead the ADA and I could not have a greater sense of pride in what he has accomplished.  A little boy came from Cuba and went on to leave a footprint on a profession.  I don't think either of us envisioned how far he would go... but I have a feeling he's not done just yet!