Productive Dentist Academy (PDA), the nation’s leading dental practice management, coaching, and marketing firm, is excited to announce the launch of the Clinical Calibration Institute, a groundbreaking educational program that bridges the gap between academic clinical knowledge and real-world patient care for associate dentists and doctor owners. The inaugural Clinical Calibration Institute will be kicked off at the 20th Anniversary PDA Conference this September 12-14, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency, in Frisco, Texas, and run concurrently with the PDA Conference. Thereafter, the program will run in four-month courses.

The Clinical Calibration Institute aims to transform how dentists, associates, and their teams approach patient engagement and case acceptance. Participants will learn from some of the nation’s most productive dentists and industry experts, compressing years of experience into an efficient and effective interactive program.

“We’ve identified a critical need in the dental profession,” says PDA Co-founder Dr. Bruce B. Baird. “Many associate dentists struggle to translate their clinical skills into successful patient interactions. Our program addresses and solves this challenge head-on by providing practical skills that can double a dentist’s productivity within six-to-12 months.”

Clinical course offerings include: Team Calibration of Diagnostic Tools, Team Calibration to AAP Perio Standards, Advanced Oral-Systemic Certification Courses, Associate Doctor Mentorship Programs and more.

The Clinical Calibration Institute is proudly sponsored by industry leaders committed to advancing dental education and practice: Ripe Global, AcceptCare, Glidewell, CariFree, Overjet, iTero, PerioProtect, Align, and Yomi.

The Clinical Calibration Institute also features an impressive lineup of speakers, including: Dr. Bruce B. Baird; Allison Lacoursiere; Dr. Lincoln Harris; Dr. Wade Kifer; Dr. Eric J. Roman; Machell Hudson-Hoover, RDH; and Dr. Jackson Bean

“Attendees will learn to diagnose by risk factors rather than insurance limitations,” says PDA Co-founder & CEO Dr. Victoria Peterson. “They will also learn how to create genuine patient relationships and significantly increase their productivity.”

For more information or to register, please visit www.productivedentist.com, or call Brent Hogan at 800-757-6077, ext. 135.

About Productive Dentist Academy (PDA)

Productive Dentist Academy (PDA) is an award-winning dental business and marketing consulting firm based in Anacortes, WA. At PDA, we know independent dentists are uncertain about the future of private practice and are concerned there may be no other option than to sell to a dental service organization (DSO). That's why PDA built the Investment Grade Practice™ platform to be the advocate and level the playing field so independent dentists can optimize profitability, improve patient experience, and align teams to the dentist's core vision. Founded in 2004, employee-owned PDA empowers thousands of dentists internationally so they can make confident decisions as a leader, re-engage their passion, and achieve financial and personal satisfaction.

H3D is an Australian PhD research spinout who have been developing their AI CAD technology, AutoDesign, since 2018. AutoDesign is the leading AI CAD solution in the Hearing Aid industry where it is used by iconic brands, such as Logitech, to address CAD technician shortages.

Now, the company is entering the Dental industry, starting with AI CAD for Splints, Models and Trays. "Unlike other AI CAD providers, AutoDesign is purpose-built for labs, not clinics. It’s an industrial solution, and with that comes higher quality standards, powerful customizability, and faster speeds” says Iain Mcleod, CEO.

How It Works

Using AutoDesign is as easy as following 3 steps: (I) upload cases; (II) click the “Automate Design” button; (III) review and download the CAD designs. It has been designed to be simple enough that it can be operated by any lab staff, not just CAD technicians.

Labs can use AutoDesign’s powerful customizability to suit their specific needs. Various CAD settings can be adjusted, such as thickness, undercuts, and offsets. Additionally, when new labs are onboarded, AutoDesign is calibrated to their unique CAD style and artistry. “Our goal is for AutoDesign CAD to be indistinguishable from that made via a lab’s current workflow” says Iain Mcleod, CEO.

Each case takes less than 15 minutes to process. More importantly, multiple cases can be processed in parallel, so it still only takes 15 minutes whether you’re processing 1 case or 100. “Since AutoDesign always return designs in 15 minutes, labs don’t just use AutoDesign at the end of the day for overflow and leftover cases. Instead, it’s their primary CAD workflow, used all day, every day”.

Other time-saving features include Templates and API Integrations. Templates allow labs to save their commonly used CAD settings, removing the need to repetitively enter the same settings. API Integrations enable labs to connect other software systems to AutoDesign (e.g. order management, scanning, CAM), thus automating the need to manually upload-download cases to AutoDesign.

Labs can expect a success rate of >95%. This means that >95% of cases processed with AutoDesign are accepted by customers with no touch-ups required, which is far higher than existing AI CAD solutions. Cases that aren’t accepted are reprocessed using traditional CAD, and labs are not charged for these. “Due to its industrial focus, AutoDesign has the world’s highest AI CAD success rate” says Iain Mcleod, CEO.

AutoDesign for Splints and Models will be released in August 2024, with Custom Trays, Crowns, and Dentures following. Prices are starting at $10/Splint, $1.8/Model and $2.5/Tray.

AutoDesign accepts most major files systems. There is no set-up or license fee involved – you only pay for what you use. To learn more, contact morten@h3d.ai or click here.

H3D Auto Design is a great solution for labs who are held back by the shortage of CAD technicians or for labs that wish to scale up their business responsibly.

Midmark Corp., a leading dental solutions provider focused on the design of the clinical environment to improve the delivery of care, today announced the launch of its next generation Midmark M9 and M11 Steam Sterilizers. The sterilizers have been designed for enhanced durability and ease of use, with integrated features to help care teams gain instrument processing and documentation compliance efficiencies.

“Effective instrument processing starts with dependable equipment and a simple, standardized workflow,” said Michael Couch, marketing director, Midmark Dental. “Next generation Midmark M9 and M11 Steam Sterilizers are designed with dental clinicians in mind, providing durability, automation, and easy-to-use operation to help deliver safe, efficient care.”

Designed to guide care teams through efficient, effective instrument processing, Midmark sterilizers also help build confidence in new staff, reducing training time.

Highlights of the newly released sterilizers:

• Intuitive User Interface: Navigate cycle setup and other user processes with a clear, fingerprint-resistant 5-inch touchscreen you can utilize while wearing gloves. Choose a style—light or dark mode.

• Streamlined Compliance Recordkeeping: Stay audit-ready with device reminders and notifications, user authentication, unlimited storage of routine care events for the life of the sterilizer, and automated cycle recordkeeping.

• Enhanced Durability: Reduce the frequency of required maintenance by users and certified technicians by more than half. Midmark sterilizers have been designed for durability, including an increased device life of 25,000 cycles thanks to a completely reengineered chamber.

• Reduced Cost of Ownership: Save thousands on operating and device care costs compared to competitive models.

• More Cycle Options: Simplify clinical workflow with dynamic-air-removal steam sterilizers that provide unique preset cycles to meet both the CDC and AAMI sterilization cycle recommendations for wrapped instruments.

• Optional Autofill + Auto-Drain: Get fresh water for every cycle without burdening your team.

Every unit is inspected and certified to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code by a third-party, licensed inspector. Additional accessories are available to support optimum performance for instrument processing applications, including a cool hand tool, USB kit, vertical cassette rack, and pouch racks.

The next generation of Midmark Steam Sterilizers is currently available. More information can be found at midmark.com/dental/products/instrument-processing.

About Midmark—Dental

Midmark helps dental professionals deliver exceptional care by harmonizing design, technology and workflow. Quality, high-performance solutions provide integrated ergonomic support, keeping the principles of safety for patients and practice teammates at the center of design. Midmark is a single-source leader for planning, equipping and adeptly utilizing operatory, imaging, instrument processing, dental cabinetry, and mechanical room solutions. Learn more at midmark.com/dental.

About Midmark 

Founded in 1915, Midmark Corporation is the only company transforming healthcare experiences through innovative design within the medical, dental, and animal health environments. With more than 2,100 teammates worldwide, Midmark focuses on harmonizing space, technology, and workflows, creating a better experience for caregivers and patients at the point of care. The Midmark headquarters and innovation hub are located in Versailles, Ohio, which is also home to the Midmark Experience Center, Design Center, Technology Center, and its largest manufacturing facility. Midmark maintains ten additional locations in the United States, including three innovation hubs, and has subsidiaries in the U.S., India, and Italy. To learn more about Midmark, visit midmark.com.

Pictured: Midmark M11 (left) and M9 (right) steam sterilizers. Their integrated features streamline instrument processing for enhanced safety and efficiency.

• For the first time in surgical history, a 3D-printed ceramic subperiosteal jaw implant was placed in a patient as part of the INKplant project.

• Together, the high precision of Lithoz LCM technology and the design freedom of 3D printing made this ceramic jaw implant “under the periosteum” possible in a world first.

• This innovation, which requires only one procedure, is estimated to reduce healing time after such oral surgery by 75%.

• Lithoz once again demonstrates the enormous innovation potential of ceramic 3D printing with this research contribution.

In a major breakthrough for medical applications, a 3D-printed ceramic subperiosteal jaw implant was successfully placed in a patient for the first time ever.

Fabricated in Austria, this innovation marks a significant advancement for medicine and is part of the EU-funded INKplant project made up of 19 interdisciplinary partners, led by Profactor GmbH. The project aims to create 3D-printed patient-specific implants to treat various pathologies affecting the elderly.

Lithoz, one of the partners in the project, has been researching the optimal fusion of various biomaterials with the advantages of 3D printing since 2021. The implant was developed with and built by Austrian ceramic 3D printing specialist Lithoz to address the issue of atrophic jaws, a common problem in older patients. After the loss of teeth, the jawbone disappears as well, resulting in atrophic jaws and rendering the use of dentures impossible. With severe atrophy, conventional dental implants require additional lengthy operations to graft new bone to anchor the implants.

Such operations are difficult for elderly patients who cannot undergo bone grafting due to health issues.

A patient at Kepler University Hospital, who had lost multiple dental implants and bone grafts in the past due to his compromised health, was unable to receive further conventional surgical strategies as a result of significant scarring and thus received the new implant as a compassionate use case.

Made of biocompatible high-strength zirconia using Lithoz LCM technology, the implant did not require any bone augmentation and required only one procedure, reducing healing time by an estimated 75% and avoiding excess trauma for the patient. Thanks to this synergetic innovation in design and material, all the necessary surgical procedures were completed in a single operation.

The surgery, led by DDr. Christoph Staudigl, was a successful world first use of a ceramic subperiosteal jaw implant in a compassionate use case on a patient. Despite some expected wound healing issues after surgery, the superior soft tissue compatibility of zirconia compared to titanium played its role spectacularly. The implant showed clinical stability after 60 days, representing a decisive breakthrough for the treatment of severely atrophic jaws.

The design of the customized implant was pioneered by the Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering at the Medical University of Vienna in collaboration with DDr. Staudigl. During the design process, BTI Biotechnology Institute (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain) and BioMed Centre Innovation GmbH (Bayreuth, Germany) also contributed significantly with their expertise. The implant will be patented and adopted as a medical device by BioMed Centre spin-off Agensmed GmbH and will be manufactured using Lithoz 3D printers. A clinical trial is being prepared to systematically validate its efficacy.

Funding

The project INKplant has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 953134. www.inkplant.eu.

MouthWatch, LLC, a leader in developing digital technology solutions that drive success for dental professionals, improve oral health care, and enhance the overall patient experience, has opened nominations for its 7th annual Teledentistry Innovation Awards. These unique awards, known as “The Tellies,” recognize a broad spectrum of individuals, programs, and organizations, utilizing teledentistry and virtual dental care applications to expand access to care, improve oral health and ultimately enhance overall health and well-being.

“Tellie award winners have mastered the use of teledentistry to improve oral health,” said Brant Herman, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, MouthWatch and Dentistry, One. “We look forward to honoring these dental pioneers for their innovative role in driving the future of virtual care and the success of the teledentistry programs they have implemented to enhance patient engagement and expand reach into the communities they serve.”

The five Tellie nomination categories represent a wide variety of teledentistry applications:

• Dentists & Specialists using teledentistry/virtual care in ways that have improved patient journeys and/or clinical workflows.

• Hygienists implementing teledentistry to expand access to care and improve patient care in any setting, public or private.

• Oral Health Programs, including organizations, public health programs, DSOs and other care delivery settings that use teledentistry/virtual care to transform and enhance clinical care and the patient experience.

• Educational Institutions, such as dental/hygiene schools, universities and other education settings that integrate teledentistry into the curriculum or services they provide.

• Industry Innovators, including any person or organization innovating in the dental space where teledentistry/virtual care plays a key role.

2024 Tellie Award winners will each receive:

• A cash grant of $1,000.00.

• An invitation to be honored at the 2024 Tellie Awards ceremony event in New York City.

• Recognition of their business, practice, or program in a nationally distributed press release, social media posts, and as a special feature story for publication.

“Every year the Tellie Awards become more exciting as the nominations reflect technology advances and the application of teledentistry for improved access to care and patient outcomes becomes more sophisticated – including use of teledentistry to digitally bridge dental and medical care,” added Herman.

Nominations are open until October 1, 2024. Self-nominations are welcome and can be submitted on The Tellie Award website, teledentistryinnovationawards.com. Tellie Award winners will be announced during the 2024 Greater New York Dental Meeting taking place November 29 - December 4, 2024. The location and time of the invitation-only Tellie Awards event will be announced separately. 

About MouthWatch, LLC

MouthWatch, LLC, is a leader in developing digital technology solutions that drive success for dental professionals, improve oral health care, and enhance the overall patient experience.

Headquartered in Metuchen, New Jersey, MouthWatch is widely known for its intraoral cameras that help engage patients in treatment planning through high-quality, affordable imaging technology, and its TeleDent teledentistry software that provides practices and organizations with a teledentistry option to engage patients with providers remotely.

MouthWatch recently launched Dentistry.One, a virtual-first dental care network that addresses the expectations of today’s modern healthcare consumers, the need for greater efficiency in healthcare, and the proven connection between good oral health and total health. Dentistry.One features dental consultations available anytime, from anywhere, personalized care coordination, and oral health coaching for prioritizing oral health.

MouthWatch hardware and software is in use at over 42,000 practices, over 30 leading Dental Service Organizations (DSOs), and over 100 dental schools. The company has been recognized three times in the Inc. 5000.

For more information, visit mouthwatch.com or dentistry.one.

Dental professionals and business leaders invited to nominate teledentistry and virtual dental care pioneers for recognition at the 7th annual “Tellie” Awards in NYC.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), tooth decay affects 90% of adults, and gum disease impacts almost half of adults. Gum disease is a risk factor for nearly 60 health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and heart disease.

Determined to address gaps in dental health care, two California high schoolers, Divij Motwani (17) and Ayush Garg (16), created the OralAI device which locates where cavities will form weeks before they actually do.

The device:

• Captures pictures of your teeth using a camera and mobile app, where an AI model can identify potential areas of cavity growth.

• Helps bridge the gap for individuals who are unable to access a dentist regularly in rural areas or developing countries.

• Recently won a first-place award ($5,000) in the biomedical engineering category at the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition, Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2024.

KaVo, a leading innovator in dental technology, proudly announces the launch of the MASTERmatic LUX M45 L High-Speed Handpiece. This latest addition to the MASTER series collection marks a significant breakthrough in access, visibility, and patient care within the dental industry.

Designed with a commitment to ergonomics and patient safety, the MASTERmatic LUX M45 L sets new benchmarks for precision and efficiency in dental procedures. Key features include:

1. Unique Head/Knee Angle Combination: Combining a 42 degree head angle with 100 degree knee angle facilitates superior access to the posterior region. This unique design differs from other 45 degree attachments where access can be affected by the anterior teeth.

2. CoolHead Technology: KaVo CoolHead technology ensures optimal temperature control, preventing the handpiece from excessive heating even if the push-button is pressed accidentally during treatment. This advancement prioritizes patient safety and enhances clinical outcomes.

3. Optimal Illumination: Leveraging KaVo's glass fiber optic technology, the MASTERmatic LUX M45 L provides exceptional illumination, enabling practitioners to see even the smallest details during treatment. This heightened visibility enhances diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy.

4. Optimized 3-Port Spray: With an optimized 3-port spray, the handpiece wets the entire length of the bur, ensuring an overall cooling effect. This feature enhances operator comfort and prolongs bur life, contributing to cost-effective and sustainable practice.

5. Superior Cutting Performance: Capable of reaching 168,000 rpm, the MASTERmatic LUX M45 L delivers superior cutting performance, making it ideal for the most demanding dental procedures. This speed and efficiency empower practitioners to achieve exceptional results with precision and confidence.

6. Flexible Treatment Options: Engineered to accommodate bur lengths up to 25mm, the handpiece offers flexibility and adaptability for a wide variety of applications. This versatility enhances procedural efficiency and enables practitioners to tailor treatments to individual patient needs.

“The launch of the MASTERmatic LUX M45 L represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in dental technology,” said Brian Sommerhauser, VP of Sales & Marketing at KaVo North America. "We are thrilled to introduce this unique solution that rounds out our MASTER series high- speed collection and provides clinicians with a premium instrument for every indication.”

For more information about the MASTERmatic LUX M45 L High-Speed Handpiece and other innovative products from KaVo, please visit kavo.com or contact KaVo at 800-KAVO-USA.

About KaVo Dental

For over 100 years, KaVo employees have been developing, manufacturing and selling high-quality products that set new market standards in the dental industry. KaVo has built its reputation driving quality, precision, and innovation in a continuous endeavor to achieve “Dental Excellence”. KaVo is one of the world’s leading creators of equipment for dental professionals, including skillfully designed dental instruments. It is passion for excellence that enables KaVo to deliver the premium dental solutions worldwide. 

PDS Health®, a leading dental and medical support organization, proudly marked its 30th anniversary this month, celebrating three decades of driving innovative advancements in health care and an unwavering commitment to patient-centered care. This milestone is further distinguished by the opening of its 1,000th supported practice, a testament to the organization’s expansive growth and influence in the healthcare sector.

Founded as Pacific Dental Services® by Stephen E. Thorne IV on June 9, 1994, PDS Health has grown from its origins in dental support services into a comprehensive healthcare organization, supporting general dentistry, specialized dentistry, and primary care practices nationwide. In addition to remaining focused on clinical excellence, PDS Health has championed the scientifically supported Mouth-Body Connection®, highlighting the critical relationship between oral health and overall health.

Reflecting on this dual milestone, Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO of PDS Health, said, “Our 30-year journey and the opening of our 1,000th practice symbolize our relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in health care. We are committed to providing integrated care that enhances patient outcomes and promotes the importance of oral health to overall health.”

Notable Achievements in its 30-Year History:

• Inc. 5000 Recognition: PDS Health has been named on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America 14 times, showcasing its consistent growth and impact in the industry.

• Advanced, Proven Technologies: PDS Health was the first dental support organization to implement Epic®, the most widely used electronic health records system, into its supported practices. This bold strategic move was a significant step in revolutionizing health care by integrating dental and medical data for a unified health record and holistic patient care. In addition, PDS Health is a leading provider of dental restorations using CEREC® CAD/CAM technology.

• Innovative Care Models: PDS Health has developed integrated dental-medical practices, both independently and through strategic partnerships. Its collaboration with MemorialCare Health System established the first-of-its-kind partnership between a national dental support organization and a regional health system. This partnership uses shared electronic health records on the Epic system, enhancing patient outcomes through coordinated care and comprehensive services.

• Community Impact: PDS Health team members have provided over 650,000 hours of volunteer time and donated over $117 million in dental care to underserved patients in local communities and around the world. Recognized as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America in 2024 by Points of Light, PDS Health annually supports three national non-profits: the Pacific Dental Services Foundation, charity: water, and Special Olympics.

• Educational Initiatives: PDS Health launched lifelong learning through the PDS University – Institute of Dentistry, offering advanced training facilities and over 1,000 free continuing education courses to oral health professionals. The company was also the first in the dental industry to offer full tuition coverage for undergraduate degrees through the PDS College Advancement Program.

PDS Health’s 1,000th practice, Dentists of West Ashley in Charleston, South Carolina, represents another significant achievement in the company’s history. This milestone underscores the effectiveness of PDS Health’s world-class platform, proven technologies and comprehensive services, which support oral health and medical professionals in delivering extraordinary patient care.

Mr. Thorne added, “Our success over the past 30 years is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our clinicians, team members, and partners. We remain committed to driving innovation in dental-medical integration and continuing to elevate the standard of care for patients. I look forward to our sustained growth as we continue helping clinicians thrive and create healthier, happier patients across the nation.”

About PDS Health

PDS Health® continues the journey started by Pacific Dental Services® in 1994, with a vision to redefine health care through the integration of dental and medical services. Its approach, centered on the connection between oral health and overall health, aims to create healthier, happier patients and set new benchmarks in the healthcare industry. As a leading provider of integrated healthcare support, the company delivers a broad spectrum of services to dental, dental specialties, and medical providers, enhancing operations and care delivery for clinicians across the U.S. For more information about PDS Health, visit pdshealth.com.

Pictured: The team at Dentists of West Ashley celebrate their grand opening and becoming the 1,000th practice supported by PDS Health.

By Daniel Alter MSc, MDT, CDT

exocad’s Insights 2024 was held for the second time in beautiful Palma de Mallorca, Spain and this year’s festivities certainly did not disappoint with over 50 partners exhibiting and educating to a sold-out audience of 850 dental professionals traveling from over 25 countries in order to assemble in one location to elevate their knowledge and dental practice. The overall motto to exocad’s recent innovation, as stated by exocad’s Chief Commercial Officer Novica Savic, was, “you need to be innovative to lead!”

The energy of innovation was certainly front and center, as new software product releases were announced and celebrated by all in attendance highlighting exocad’s software sessions focused on state-of-the-art workflows with exocad’s DentalCAD, ChairsideCAD and exoplan. Lectures from renowned international Key Opinion Leaders included a presentation on the power of avatars in dentistry by Dr. Miguel Stanley, smile design insights from Dr. Guilherme Saavedra and Dr. Elaine Halley, and an exciting look at occlusion with Master Dental Technician (MDT) Edris Rasta. Dr. August de Oliveira also lectured on 3D printing and exocad for the general dentist.

The new Elefsina 3.2 release series took center stage, offering bone reduction guides as well as the anticipated and desired stackable guides to perform all-on x guided surgery. Furthermore, collaboration with iTero intraoral scanners was demonstrated to integrate the two capabilities in a singular platform for capturing data through scanning with iTero and enjoying the robust CAD solutions and workflows of exocad with what was termed the iTero-exocad Connector. Ashley Byrne and Dr. Marcos White of the UK presented on communication and the benefits of using the iTero-exocad Connector in their daily practices.

At the close of the event, the UK lab and dentist duo Kristina Vaitelytė and Dr. Eimear O’Connell displayed an innovative team approach to bringing the worlds of restorative and orthodontics closer together: exocad’s A.R.T., Advanced Restorative Treatment. And, as part of exocad’s vision of the future, Artificial Intelligence (AI) was announced as coming soon, with remarkable sneak peeks shared. exocad CEO Tillman Steinbrecher said that for him, “AI is all about efficiency, particularly as the profession grapples with the challenges of skilled talent; as well as increasing patient acceptance with the power of visualization in 3D based approach of photorealistic way to connect with patients emotionally.”

Patients connecting emotionally was profound with the use of realistic video preview, where patients are able to see side by side their current smile side by side with the AI incorporated Smile Creator, all in an organic and fluid motion of video while they speak and interact naturally. Understanding the power of AI was evident and Steinbrecher reinforced their position of AI within the exocad ecosystem that the users will always stay in control, “as AI is automation with full users’ control.”

“This is the most amazing opportunity for global collaboration,” said Beth Collington, President of exocad North America. “The opportunity to educate in tandem about Align Technology’s other innovations while offering tremendous benefits for the dental community, to access best in class CAD software and scanning technologies together. I am looking forward to the future as we continue to support and expand this seamlessly integrated solution that can truly benefit everyone, from clinician to patient.” Similarly, Dr. August de Oliveria, DDS and Director of MOD West in Los Angeles, California shared his excitement for what has been shared at the Insights event. His excitement was based around the concept of the digital human or the digital patient, “where incorporating smile creator, face scans, cone beam and intraoral in one digital dental avatar”, something de Oliveria considers “the holy grail for cosmetic dentistry, whereby ultimately the dental patient is the benefactor.”

exocad Insights 2024 also provided its vision of the future previewing AI-based crown design and advanced visualization within exocad’s Smile Creator. The future is very promising for dentistry with tremendous, continued innovation and something for all members of the dental restorative team to continue to stay abreast of in the coming months, and certainly for the next exocad’s Insights 2026.

In honor of its 100-year anniversary, VITA is celebrating with the VITA EXCELLENCE AWARD 2025. The focus of the 2025 award is outstanding patient cases using the leucite-enhanced, glass-ceramic veneering ceramic VITA LUMEX® AC, a reliable and highly esthetic solution for all. To be considered, patient cases and all required documentation must be submitted by November 15, 2024, to excellenceaward@vita-zahnfabrik.com. A jury will evaluate the patient cases using the following criteria: esthetics, function, documentation and preparation work. The winner will receive an invitation to IDS 2025 in Cologne, Germany, including travel costs, hotel accommodation and breakfast, plus a brand new 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro. The winner will also have the opportunity to present their patient case live at IDS 2025 to a professional audience. Additional information, along with the eligibility requirements are available online at www.vita-excellence-award.com.

VITA is a leading provider of innovative dental products. The company pioneered the field of tooth shade determination with the development of the world-renowned VITA classical® A1-D4 shade guide and its proprietary VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER®, the first and only system of its kind that covers the complete range of natural tooth shades. From premium denture teeth and veneering materials, to digital shade measurement, furnaces and CAD/CAM restorations, VITA helps laboratory technicians and clinicians deliver high quality and esthetic results to patients quickly and efficiently.

For more information, visit www.vitanorthamerica.com or call 800-828-3839.