Founded by a team of industry pioneers, OrthoFX™, announced the new generation of advanced clear aligner polymer, NiTime™ Clear Aligners. NiTime is the first and only clear aligner system explicitly designed for shorter wear time and cleared by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k), and is now available nationwide for doctors to treat all classes of dental malocclusions. OrthoFX will showcase the new breakthrough material at the AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, May 3-6, 2024.

The NiTime Clear Aligner Is Unlike Conventional Aligners in the Market:

• Shorter Wear Time - Designed for 9 to 12 hours of shorter wear time without extended treatment duration versus the standard 22 hours required by leading aligner brands*.

• Greater Movement Efficiency - NiTime outperforms the industry standard of 22 hours wear for almost all orthodontic movements, demonstrating up to 30% greater movement efficiency compared to other leading clear aligners*.

• Predictable Precision - Designed for better predictability and compliance, 92% of NiTime Aligner treatments were completed without refinements*.

• Nearly Eliminates Refinements - Standard leading aligners exhibit a 14% predictability of tooth movement compared to the treatment plan. Whereas, NiTime's AirShell technology demonstrated an astonishing 86% predictability, nearly eliminating the need for refinements throughout the entire treatment plan*.

• Patented & FDA-cleared - The first and only FDA-cleared aligner optimized explicitly for shorter wear time*.

- Patented HyperElastic™ polymer maintains biologically favored force levels, allowing predictable tooth movement with only 9 to 12 hours of wear time.

- The HyperElastic polymer, featuring AirShell™ technology is designed to provide sustained optimal forces delivery, supporting natural bone tissue remodeling at its natural pace to straighten teeth and to compensate against daytime relapse.

- NiTime Aligners are meticulously designed to support favorable cellular physiology, fostering an ideal environment for biological tissue remodeling. This process involves the orchestrated activity of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, the key cells responsible for bone remodeling, ensuring optimal treatment outcomes.

Clear aligners became a mainstream orthodontic modality in the late 1990s, yet patient compliance continues to be a headache for patients due to interference with eating, drinking, and for some patients–speech challenges–throughout their day.

“NiTime Clear Aligners are truly the most advanced innovation the category has seen in polymer science in decades. It’s a testament to our commitment to solving real treatment challenges faced by providers and their patients. OrthoFX is the only aligner manufacturer for this proprietary polymer material compared to leading aligner manufacturers who are using off the shelf materials like Zendura A and Zendura FLX,” said OrthoFX Co-founder, Ren Menon. “Our patented technology behind NiTime Aligners make patient compliance effortless by reducing wear time in half, and nearly eliminating the need for extended treatment time given most cases do not need refinements.”

“OrthoFX has disrupted the orthodontic industry by developing a real solution for lack of patient compliance with their NiTime Clear Aligners,” said Dr. Neil Warshawsky. “Their distinctive and patented method, from polymer formulation to aligner design to manufacturing processes, effectively mitigates drastic drops in appliance pressure. NiTime Clear Aligners are as gentle as NiTi wires commonly used in orthodontics due to its exceptional springiness and working range, meaning high elasticity at a relative constant force. The force levels applied by NiTime's HyperElastic polymer are significantly lower than conventional aligners. As a result, my patients feel almost no discomfort while in treatment. I am seeing outcomes consistent with my treatment plans without the need for multiple refinements.”

OrthoFX will showcase NiTime and their other proprietary polymer innovations, with product demos including OrthoFX Clear and Bright at AAO, booth #1437.

The NiTime Aligner system became available to a limited group of orthodontic practices in 2023, and is now available nationwide for doctors to provide patient treatment. To see how NiTime Aligner technology works, watch the OrthoFX NiTime Explainer Video and for more information about how to become an OrthoFX provider, visit https://www.orthofx.com/aao2024.

About OrthoFX:

OrthoFX™ was founded by a team of clear aligner industry pioneers who played a critical role in innovating and scaling the first and second-generation aligner materials and systems. OrthoFX continues to lead the next-generation advancements in orthodontics aligner treatments through innovations in polymers, software and services. OrthoFX products include NiTime™ Clear Aligners – the first and only FDA-cleared aligner system for shorter wear time, OrthoFX Clear™ Aligners – designed to exert optimal pressure resulting in maximum comfort, and Bright™ Aligners – created to enhance the appearance of your teeth during treatment. To learn more about OrthoFX innovative products and services, visit www.orthofx.com.

For more information about how to become an OrthoFX provider, visit https://www.orthofx.com/aao2024. Connect on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

*Data on file at OrthoFX

SOURCE OrthoFX

3Shape launches Unite 3rd Generation, allowing dental professionals to access and work with their digital impressions and patient cases anywhere, anytime, via any mobile, tablet (Android, iOS), or web device. This update enables seamless and secure cloud storage for all 3Shape TRIOS intraoral scans and patient data.

“3Shape Unite 3rd Generation transforms how dental professionals work with patient data. Having cases and scans up on the cloud with 3Shape means you can manage cases on the go, even from your mobile. Cloud storage also helps to eliminate concerns regarding hard drive storage, server management, or disaster recovery for dentists,” said 3Shape CTO Niclas Blohm.

Unite 3rd Generation comes free with TRIOS scanners. As part of Unite 3rd Generation users can also download the 3Shape Unite Cloud App, which enables professionals to manage and securely access cases and scans in the cloud, track case progress, and communicate with labs from any device. Gone are the days of being physically tied to a PC, as dentists can simply add photos and notes for the lab to patient cases from their mobile while on the go.

3Shape Unite 3rd Generation fulfils HIPAA and GDPR requirements and is ISO 27001 certified to ensure robust security safeguards. All patient data is encrypted, stored, and transmitted securely.

The 3Shape Unite platform seamlessly connects dentists to more than 25,000 dental labs and 100+ treatment partners around the world.

The rollout of Unite 3rd Generation is happening progressively, with 3Shape customers notified when available in their region. Software licenses will transition from dongles to the cloud.

Learn more about 3Shape Unite here: https://www.3shape.com/en/software-updates/unite

Synchrony (NYSE: SYF), a consumer financial services company, today announced a multi-year renewal with Affordable Care, LLC., one of America's leading consumer retail healthcare companies supporting dental practices exclusively focused on tooth replacement solutions. Under the expanded agreement, CareCredit, Synchrony’s health and wellness credit card, will be offered as a payment option at more than 450 affiliated Affordable Dentures & Implants, DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions and Advanced Dental Implant Center dental practices across 43 states, enabling customers to finance dental implants and denture products to transform their smiles and lives.

Good oral health is an important part to having and maintaining overall health and self-confidence, but cost can sometimes get in the way of patients achieving their dental health goals. Synchrony’s Dental Lifetime of Care study found that 58% of respondents believe dental care is not affordable, which may be the reason why the majority of respondents (92%) said they would consider holding off on general dental care because of cost. Financing solutions, such as the CareCredit credit card can help offset the cost burden and empower patients to get the care they need and want.

“The high price of care is prohibitive for many patients, especially for those seeking dental care such as implants and dentures, which often are considered elective,” said Matt Muscolo, SVP and General Manager, Dental Practices, Synchrony. “Our goal is to provide patients with the financing options they need to pursue their health and wellness goals.”

CareCredit, one of the industry’s first health and wellness credit cards, has been helping patients pay for their care for more than 35 years. Endorsed by major names in the dental industry including the American Dental Association (ADA), Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and American Association of Dental Office Management (AADOM), CareCredit is accepted at more than 270,000 healthcare provider and retail locations, including more than 117,000 dental care locations.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Synchrony as we continue to expand patient access to tooth replacement care and financing options offered by over 450 affiliated practices that they can trust,” explains Matt Stringer, Chief Marketing Officer, Affordable Care. “CareCredit makes it possible for more patients to get the care they desperately need and richly deserve.”

Dental patients looking for a modern, flexible way to pay for dental care can see if they prequalify for the CareCredit credit card in a dental practice, online at carecredit.com or on any smart device with no impact to their credit score. A credit decision is made within minutes and if approved, patients can use their card to pay for care without delay. For providers, CareCredit is integrated in the top dental practice management software solutions, making it easy for dental teams to offer it to their patients and for patients to apply.

Additionally, CareCredit offers resources and tools to help educate patients on dental costs and the financing solutions available to plan and pay for care. To find more information about financing solutions to pay for dental care, please visit: www.carecredit.com.

About Affordable Care, LLC.

Affordable Care is America's largest dental support organization (DSO) exclusively focused on tooth replacement services. The DSO supports more than 450 affiliated dental practices, including Affordable Dentures & Implants, DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions and Advanced Dental Implant Center, in 43 states by providing innovative, non-clinical business and administrative support services to assist affiliated dental practices in providing patients with access to high-quality, affordable tooth replacement solutions. More than 8 million patients have received care at an Affordable Care-supported dental practice. Visit affordablecare.com.

About Synchrony

Synchrony is a premier consumer financial services company delivering one of the industry's most complete digitally enabled product suites. Our experience, expertise and scale encompass a broad spectrum of industries including digital, health and wellness, retail, telecommunications, home, auto, outdoor, pet and more. We have an established and diverse group of national and regional retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups, industry associations and healthcare service providers, which we refer to as our “partners.” We connect our partners and consumers through our dynamic financial ecosystem and provide them with a diverse set of financing solutions and innovative digital capabilities to address their specific needs and deliver seamless, omnichannel experiences. We offer the right financing products to customers in their channel of choice. For more information, visit www.synchrony.com and Twitter: @Synchrony.

Medit (www.medit.com), a leading provider of dental 3D scanners and digital dentistry solutions, introduces the Medit i900 intraoral scanner, setting a new standard for speed, accuracy, and comfort.

“The brilliance of the Medit i900 lies in its sleek, unibody design,” said Michael Lee, CTO of Medit. “There is complex innovation within its simplicity. The i900 is light and easy to handle, but offers the most cutting-edge technology to date.”

The Medit i900 redefines the scanning process with the intuitive Touch Band and Touch Pad functionality. The button-free operation offers control from any angle and allows for a comfortable experience for all hand sizes. Other advanced features of the scanner streamline workflow and optimize patient care.

• The i900 boasts a featherlight design, weighing just 165 grams, three tip sizes, and improved ergonomics allowing for absolute control scanning from any position.

• The 3rd-Generation Optical Engine with a 10-bit camera delivers a wider and deeper field of view, improved accuracy, and sharper detail yet smoother scan data. It also ensures flawless capture of challenging conditions including highly reflective metal or bleeding soft tissue.

• Experience real-time haptic and light feedback, navigate effortlessly with the 360° Touch Band, and customize commands via the interactive Touch Pad and Touch Menu.

“The i900 simplifies the scanning journey,” said Han Ryu, CGSO of Medit. “With intuitive 360° Touch Band and Touch Pad controls, practitioners can access our groundbreaking optical engine in just a few taps. We designed the i900 for ultimate convenience and efficiency.”

The Medit i900 is powered by Medit Link, the company's open software platform, providing access to a suite of free dental apps that encourage productivity and enhance patient care. The system provides adaptive software updates to improve smart features, patient consultations, and lab communications.

Order the Medit i900 today and experience the future of digital dentistry: https://www.medit.com/medit-i900-intraoral-scanner/

See the Medit i900 in action at these upcoming events:

• ThriveLive, Las Vegas, NV (May 2-4)

• AAO, New Orleans, LA (May 3-6)

• CDA, Anaheim, CA (May 15-17)

• BDCDS, Birmingham, UK (May 17-18)

• SIDEX, Seoul, KS (June 7-9)

• DDS Berlin, Berlin, DEU (June 28-29)

About Medit

MEDIT is a global provider of 3D intraoral scanners and an all-in-one digital dentistry platform, based on its patented state-of-the-art technology. The company also develops innovative software for digital dentistry, supporting collaborative workflows between dental clinics, technology, and labs.

MEDIT has been headquartered in Seoul, South Korea since its inception in 2000. The company also has representatives in the Americas and Europe and boasts a global network of distributors in over 100 countries. Visit MEDIT official website for detailed information about MEDIT products and software, and MEDIT official YouTube and social media channels for other various content.

Delta Dental released its 2024 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report, a nationwide analysis of consumer opinions and behaviors relating to oral health.

The report reveals a strong consumer understanding of oral health's vital role in overall wellness, with an overwhelming majority of adults (91%) believing that their dental visit is as important as an annual physical.

Further, the report finds a greater awareness among adults of oral health's connection to specific health conditions and diseases such as respiratory illness and diabetes. Younger generations, specifically Gen Z and Millennials, are most likely to appreciate this linkage.

"The findings from this year's report underscore adults' understanding of oral health's relationship to whole person wellness, including its impact on physical, mental, and financial health," said James W. Hutchison, President & CEO, Delta Dental Plans Association. "Delta Dental remains dedicated to continued collaboration across the health care industry to develop solutions that advance oral health and wellness."

Delta Dental commissioned the research of 2,000 U.S. adults and parents of children 12 and under.

Below are additional key findings from the 2024 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report:

Good oral hygiene can support mental health

• More than 9 in 10 (92%) adults believe taking action to protect their oral health allows them to be more confident.

• Over 3 in 4 adults (77%) say oral health is closely connected to mental well-being.

A rise in preventive oral health care pays off

More than 8 in 10 adults (83%) who made a trip to the dentist in 2023 did so for preventive care, increasing from 78% in 2022.

Notably, there is a corresponding decline in unexpected dental visits among adults, decreasing from 41% in 2022 to 36% in 2023.

Teledentistry gains traction

-Nearly half of adults would use teledentistry when seeking oral health care (47%), and over half would trust the care (54%).

-Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to engage in teledentistry and trust the care they receive through these services.

To read the full 2024 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report and learn more about the report's methodology and findings, click here.

About the research

Delta Dental Plans Association commissioned a third-party market research firm, Material Holdings, LLC, to undertake research that formed the basis for this report. Material conducted its research between January 3 and January 17, 2024, using an email invitation and online surveys of two audiences recruited through an opt-in panel:

-1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages 18+

-1,000 parents of children ages 12 and under

Geographic distribution quotas were set to ensure a reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. population of adults and parents with children ages 12 and under. Research in this report has a margin of error of +/- 3%.

About Delta Dental Plans Association

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest dental benefits provider and offers the country's largest dental network with approximately 152,000 participating dentists. Over the last decade, Delta Dental companies and their foundations invested over $1.9 billion to improve the oral and overall health of our communities.

Visit deltadental.com for information on individual dental insurance plans and group dental insurance plans.

SOURCE Delta Dental Plans Association

Glidewell and ProMonitoring™ announced their strategic partnership aimed at offering comprehensive clear aligner solutions tailored to the general dentist. The result is the release of the new Glidewell™ Clear Aligners: Powered by ProMonitoring.

This collaboration addresses the daily requests from thousands of Glidewell customers who are looking to prescribe clear aligners without extensive training or disruption to their practice workflows. Recognizing this demand, Glidewell identified ProMonitoring as the ideal partner, offering an intuitive and easy-to-embrace clear aligner solution.

Utilizing ProMonitoring’s state-of-the-art AI-driven software platform and innovative service model, the new aligners enable dentists to provide precise and predictable orthodontic care to their patients. This collaboration equips dental professionals with the tools to comfortably address a wide range of malocclusions, improving their patients' smiles and oral health with convenience and confidence.

Glidewell and ProMonitoring share a commitment to delivering high-quality innovative products that prioritize patient experience, efficient workflows, and efficacy. Much like the glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution, Glidewell Clear Aligners: Powered by ProMonitoring exemplify Glidewell’s growing service offering that leverages and optimizes digital technology to empower clinicians and expand their patient care.

“Our partnership with ProMonitoring to launch Glidewell Clear Aligners: Powered by ProMonitoring offers our customers an advanced clear aligner system powered by cutting-edge technology and exceptional support,” said Stephenie Goddard, CEO of Glidewell.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Glidewell to bring Glidewell Clear Aligners: Powered by ProMonitoring to dentists nationwide,” said Nick Greenfield, CEO of ProMonitoring. “By combining our clear aligner expertise and comprehensive practice support program with Glidewell’s deep understanding of dental professionals’ needs, we aim to enable more dentists to offer effective and affordable orthodontic treatment options to their patients.”

Glidewell is excited to extend exclusive pricing and benefits to its valued customers. This unique offering is only available to Glidewell customers, so interested parties are encouraged to contact their respective Glidewell or ProMonitoring representatives for further details. For more information or to inquire about availability, visit glidewell.com/solutions/clear-aligners.

About Glidewell

Glidewell, based in Newport Beach, California, is an industry-leading provider of custom laboratory services, innovative technology and continuing education to dental professionals nationwide.

https://glidewell.com

About ProMonitoring

ProMonitoring is an AI-powered clear aligner system that keeps cases on track while saving providers and patients time. Our system facilitates communication, encourages compliance, and delivers reliable analysis—enhancing visibility and control while minimizing chair time. It's time to improve the clear aligner experience with ProMonitoring. See how it works at ProMonitoring.ai.

Midmark Corp., a leading dental solutions provider focused on the design of the clinical environment to improve the delivery of care, has announced a new free goods offer for dental mechanical room solutions. Now through Nov. 27, 2024, dentists and dental facilities may select free mechanical room accessories with qualifying Midmark air compressor and vacuum purchases.

“Midmark mechanical room solutions are designed for reliability and safety,” says Mandy Schlater, dental marketing manager for Midmark. “With better-than-standard filtration, our air compressors deliver the ultimate in clean compressed air. And with their durable construction and reliable suction, our vacuums help safely evacuate aerosols, saliva, and other liquids during procedures. We hope dental facilities take advantage of this opportunity for free accessories to help elevate their mechanical rooms.”

During this promotion, dentists can claim one free accessory—a buck-boost or control panel—when they purchase a single Midmark air compressor or vacuum, or they can claim two free accessories—a buck-boost or control panel and an amalgam separator or water filter bypass—when they purchase a vacuum and air compressor combination.

Important dates for the mechanical room program:

• Promotion order period: May 1, 2024–Nov. 27, 2024.

• Last date to invoice and take shipment of products: Dec. 31, 2024.

For more information about current Midmark promotions, visit midmark.com/dental/promotions.

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 2,200 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 four innovation hubs, and has subsidiaries in the U.S., India, and Italy. To learn more about Midmark, visit midmark.com.

Roland DGA’s DGSHAPE Americas dental business group has announced the addition of the 3DX Dental 3D Printer Bundle, Powered by Roland DGA to its line of dental products and accessories. This bundle offers a reliable, full-service 3D printing solution at one affordable price, along with Roland DGA’s world-renowned customer service and support. Equipped with the 3DX bundle, dental businesses can produce a wide variety of products in-house quickly, easily, and cost-effectively, including dental models, dentures, provisional crowns and bridges, occlusal guards, surgical guides, custom clear retainers, removable die fits, and more.

The 3DX bundle was created exclusively to complement DGSHAPE DWX wet and dry dental milling solutions. Its 3DXPRINT 3D printer incorporates state-of-the-art 4K LCD 3D print technology that provides fast, precise, and uniform production of 3D-printed dental applications, while the small footprint and high-quality output make it the ideal printing solution for dental laboratories and clinical offices of all sizes.

Within its compact housing, the 3DXPRINT features a large 190 x 120 x 180 mm build plate that offers a generous 40-square-inch surface, allowing users to print up to eight full-arches at one time—all with outstanding consistency and precision. Its print speed ranges from 10~50 mm per hour, depending on material layer thickness. In addition, its open-architecture platform is validated for use with resins from over 20 resin manufactures and more than 150 resins.

The 3DXPRINT’s durable, state-of-the-art design was developed through a 5-million-layer test process in real-time dental conditions to ensure the highest level of performance and reliability. Incorporating industrial-grade optical components further ensures an optimal product life cycle. It also features an automated cooling system (ACS) for ideal temperature maintenance.

“We are excited to offer this fast, precise, and affordable 3D printing solution to our customers,” said Roland DGA Dental Marketing Manager Lisa Aguirre. “The 3DX bundle is a complete, advanced, easy-to-use 3D printing solution that perfectly complements our high-performance DWX milling machines. By integrating its capabilities into their workflows, businesses can optimize their production and offer same-day applications with outstanding uniformity and accuracy.”

The 3DX bundle comes complete with the 3DXPRINT 4K LCD 3D printer, 3DXWASH cleaning system, 3DXCURE curing system, and 3DXMODEL resin. In addition, it includes easy-to-use 3DXWORKS CAD design and slicing software, with no maintenance, update, or annual fees. 3DXPRINT is backed by Roland DGA’s unsurpassed one-year trouble-free warranty and support.

To learn more about the new 3DX bundle, visit www.rolanddga.com/3DXPRINT. For more information on the complete line of DGSHAPE dental milling solutions, visit https://www.rolanddga.com/dental.

About Roland DGA Corporation and DGSHAPE Americas

Roland DGA Corporation serves North and South America as the marketing, sales, distribution and service arm for Roland DG Corporation and its subsidiary, DGSHAPE. Founded in 1981 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Roland DG of Hamamatsu, Japan is a worldwide leader in wide-format inkjet printers, engravers, photo impact printers and CNC milling machines. DGSHAPE Americas is the Roland DGA dental business group dedicated to the DGSHAPE line of products, most notable as a market leader in dental milling machines. To learn more about Roland DGA Corporation and DGSHAPE Americas, visit https://www.rolanddga.com/dental.

About Roland DG Corporation

With the purpose of “To Empower Creativity and Excitement Worldwide,” Roland DG Corporation strives to bring new opportunities to society through digital solutions that make it easy for anyone to create things. The company’s inkjet printers and printer/cutters are widely used in a variety of visual communication fields, including signage and interior decoration. In the digital fabrication field, our inkjet printers, cutting machines, and 3D digital fabrication tools enable the personalization and customization of items tailored to individual customer needs. By adopting a high-mix, low-volume, on-demand approach, Roland DG aims to create new applications. Recently, Roland DG has further expanded the digital transformation frontier. The company provides a cloud-based service to enhance customers’ printing operations and profitability and a cloud-based production improvement solution offering the expertise of its proprietary production support system for small and medium-sized manufacturers. To learn more about DGSHAPE Corporation, visit https://www.dgshape.com.

A new High Point University Poll, conducted in honor of Oral Cancer Awareness Month in April and in conjunction with the Workman School of Dental Medicine, finds a majority (60%) of North Carolina residents have not had a dental exam for oral cancer. Another one-third (33%) of poll respondents said that they have been examined.

Three-quarters (75%) of North Carolinians said they were not aware April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, while 20% said they were aware.

The HPU Poll also asked how long it has been since they last visited a dentist or a dental clinic for any reason. Nearly half (49%) said it had been between one to 12 months, another 16% said one to two years, 16% said two to five years and 14% said it had been five or more years.

Conversations with Your Dentist

More than half of North Carolina residents are not having direct conversations with a dental professional about several important oral issues. Most poll respondents said they have not had a conversation with a dentist, a hygienist or another dental professional in the past year about how mouth diseases can include allergies and autoimmune conditions and be related to inflammatory bowel disorders (71%) or that the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection can cause oropharyngeal cancer (71%).

Majorities said they have not had a conversation with a dental professional in the past year about the dental health benefits of checking their blood sugar (70%), how diseases of the teeth, gums and mouth are related to conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease (67%), the benefits of giving up cigarettes or other types of tobacco to improve their dental health (64%), how mouth diseases can be related to underlying nutritional deficiencies and food intolerances (64%), and the importance of examining their mouths for oral cancer (59%).

Oral Cancer Risk Factors

A majority (68%) of poll respondents said they were not aware HPV infection is the main risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer. Only about one-quarter (26%) said they were aware of this risk factor.

Asked if they were aware of any other risk factors for oral cancer, most (81%) said they were aware of tobacco and smokeless tobacco being a risk factor for oral cancer. A majority of these same respondents were also aware that inflammation (57%), alcohol consumption (55%), precancerous lesions (54%) and genetic predisposition (50%) were risk factors for oral cancer. Less than half were aware that HPV infection (48%), oral microbiome (40%) and field cancerization (29%) were risk factors.

Brushing Teeth, Tooth Decay and Toothaches

When asked about using dental floss or other devices to clean between their teeth, about one-quarter (24%) of North Carolinians said they flossed every day, and 19% said they didn’t floss at all in the past week.

When North Carolinians were asked how many of their permanent teeth have been removed because of tooth decay or gum disease, almost half (44%) said none of their teeth had been removed because of tooth decay or gum disease. About one-third (30%) said between one and five teeth have been removed, 12% said six or more but not all and 10% said all of their teeth had been removed.

About one-third (34%) of respondents said in the past year they have never had painful aches anywhere in their mouth. Another one-quarter (27%) said they hardly ever had such pain, while 20% said occasionally and 10% said fairly often. Only 7% said they very often have painful aches anywhere in their mouth in the past year.

“This survey highlights the need for the entire health care community to remove silos and be at the forefront of educating patients on the risk factors associated with oral cancer,” says Dr. Ali Shazib, dean of HPU’s Workman School of Dental Medicine. “A systematic oral cavity examination with proper patient education performed annually would bring us one step closer to early detection and better outcomes. The time is now for us to unite to have those important conversations.”

HPU Poll 102 was fielded by the High Point University Survey Research Center on March 22 through March 30 as an online survey using a panel of respondents recruited and maintained by Dynata. Dynata sent invitations to its panel of N.C. respondents and the SRC collected 1,016 total responses on its Qualtrics platform. The items reported in this release were presented to one-third of the total respondents for an effect sample size of 347. The SRC verified that the demographics of this sub-sample were similar to those of the full sample. The SRC did all data analysis. The online sample is from a panel of respondents, and their participation does not adhere to usual assumptions associated with random selection. Therefore, it is not appropriate to assign a classic margin of sampling error for the results. In this case, the SRC provides a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points to account for a traditional 95% confidence interval for the estimates (plus or minus 3.1 percentage points) and a design effect of 1.2 (based on the weighting). For the sub-sample, the credibility interval is plus or minus 5.8 percentage points (5.3 adjusted to account for a design effect of 1.2 based on the weighting) The data is weighted toward population estimates for age, gender, race, ethnicity, and education based on U.S. Census numbers for North Carolina. Factors such as question wording and other methodological choices in conducting survey research can introduce additional errors into the findings of opinion polls. Percentages may not add to 100 because of rounding.

Further results and methodological details from the most recent survey and past surveys can be found at the Survey Research Center website. The materials online include past press releases as well as memos summarizing the findings (including approval ratings) for each poll since 2010.

The HPU Poll reports methodological details in accordance with the standards set out by AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, and the HPU Survey Research Center is a Charter Member of the Initiative.

You can follow the HPU Poll on X.

Dr. Martin Kifer, chair and associate professor of political science, serves as the director of the HPU Poll, and Brian McDonald is the associate director of the HPU Poll.

A new High Point University Poll, conducted in honor of Oral Cancer Awareness Month in April and in conjunction with the Workman School of Dental Medicine, finds a majority (60%) of North Carolina residents have not had a dental exam for oral cancer. Another one-third (33%) of poll respondents said that they have been examined.

UptimeHealth, a leader in healthcare technology solutions based in Boston, Massachusetts, is proud to announce the successful acquisition of Dental Whale, the leading dental practice solutions and learning provider in North America, including its subsidiaries, Dental Fix, Florida Dental Repair and Front Office Rocks. These expansions enhance UptimeHealth’s offerings and signal the launch of UptimeServices, a new subsidiary focused on expanded service solutions within the healthcare and dental industries.

This acquisition and series of partnerships signify a critical expansion in UptimeHealth’s trajectory, coinciding with the unveiling of UptimeServices. UptimeServices is designed to play a crucial role in our strategy to elevate access to service for providers, improve standards of service, and facilitate education to aspiring technicians across healthcare settings.

Key Highlights of the Acquisition and New Partnerships:

Enhanced Capabilities: The inclusion of Dental Whale, Dental Fix, Florida Dental Repair, and Front Office Rocks significantly broadens our asset management, staff training, and education opportunities, and onsite equipment repair services specifically tailored for the dental market.

Expanded Reach: These strategic expansions extend our reach into thousands of dental practices across North America, bolstering our ability to enhance healthcare delivery through technological innovation and specialized services.

Introduction of UptimeServices: These initiatives are integral to the launch of UptimeServices, a subsidiary designed to focus on specialized healthcare equipment service solutions, reinforcing our mission to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and improve patient outcomes.

Statements from Leadership:

Jinesh Patel, Founder & CEO of UptimeHealth, says, “The acquisition of Dental Whale represents significant advancements towards our vision of enhanced healthcare management. These additions, and the announcement of UptimeServices, demonstrate our commitment to improving our offerings, deepening our industry expertise, and allowing us to deliver unparalleled value to our clients.”

Russ Baker, previously Equipment, Service & Supplies Leader at Dental Whale, states, “This new chapter under UptimeHealth and UptimeServices is an exciting development for us at Dental Whale and Dental Fix. We look forward to a deeper integration with UptimeHealth’s innovative ecosystem and continuing to deliver exceptional services to the dental community.”

For more information on this acquisition, the new partnerships, the upcoming rebranding, or to learn more about UptimeServices and its new subsidiaries, visit uptimehealth.com.

About UptimeHealth

UptimeHealth, headquartered in Boston, specializes in providing user-friendly software solutions for healthcare administrators and operators. Our technologies focus on compliance management, operational efficiencies, and access to a vast network of qualified biomed technicians. UptimeHealth is dedicated to supporting the shift of healthcare to in-home and outpatient settings, thereby enhancing patient care. To learn more, visit uptimehealth.com.

About Dental Whale

With offices in Atlanta, San Antonio, and Ft. Lauderdale, Dental Whale® aims to Simplify the Business of Dentistry. Through its suite of subsidiary companies, Dental Whale helps dentists - in private and group dentistry - operate dental practices more efficiently by saving money on purchases, marketing to new patients, expanding through acquisitions, improving patient experience, and increasing office efficiency. The company aims to improve dental health for everyone by creating breakthroughs in dental practice management through insight and innovation. Delivering solutions developed by dentists and technology experts combined with a leadership team of industry veterans, Dental Whale delivers its members proven cost-effective practice solutions and time-saving results that meet the expectations of even the most demanding patient. Dental Whale employs a diverse team of more than 850 team members, has supported more than 20,000 dentists, and helped serve more than 4 million patients. For more information on Dental Whale, call 855-339-3740 or visit https://www.dentalwhale.com/.