● Acquisition makes quip the first oral care company to connect at-home oral care products with preventative telehealth services and professional dental care.

● Teledental offering will add preventative digital checkups as well as on-demand virtual emergency care to the quip app and ecosystem with the ultimate aim to help shift the dental industry to a value-based care model over time.

● quip's oral care companion aims to improve people's oral health by providing, tracking, guiding, and incentivising better at-home preventative care and connecting to a network of providers for in-practice care.

quip, the modern oral health company with more than 8.5 million users, today announced that it has acquired Toothpic, a leading telehealth company offering teledental services and care to more than 36 million Americans through partnerships with premier dental insurers. The acquisition is part of quip's strategy to improve people's oral health by providing a first-of-its-kind, digital oral care companion that seamlessly manages a 360-degree suite of personal and professional oral care products and services, while guiding and incentivizing good oral health habits.

Access to quality dental care continues to be a challenge that persists within the United States. Teledentistry services can help increase access to quality care in both rural and urban communities, remove barriers to oral health care disparities, and ultimately support better oral health outcomes by taking a more preventative approach to professional care through more regular at-home virtual checkups.

"By embedding Toothpic's teledentistry platform and nationwide network of online dental professionals into our app, we will centralize access to a full suite of connected oral care products and dental services that will drastically alter the way people experience and manage their oral health," said Simon Enever, Co-Founder and CEO of quip. "We are excited to welcome the extremely talented Toothpic team to the quip community to help us continue building this much needed platform for patients and providers."

quip's goal is to help people build and maintain good, long-lasting preventative oral care habits, which goes well beyond just the products they use. By adding virtual, on-demand access to dental professionals, quip has built a singular digital platform where users can track daily oral care habits, monitor oral health changes over time, schedule regular virtual visits to prevent or identify issues early on and book in-person, local dental appointments when required, all from the comfort of their own home.

Once fully integrated, current quip and Toothpic users and partners will have access to a free oral care companion app that guides and rewards good oral health habits such as brushing and having a dental checkup, and helps manage the following comprehensive suite of oral care products and services:

● Personal & Professional Care Products including adult and kids electric toothbrushes. refillable floss pick and string, refillable mouthwash, gum, and their recently launched professional clear aligner service. quip also offers smart brushes that allow the user to automatically track how they are brushing in the app.

● Digital Oral Health Monitoring to further support preventative care between in-person dental visits. Through asynchronous virtual dental professional screenings that analyze photos of users' mouths, users will be able to track their mouth health over time through in-depth reports that can be delivered in as little as 6 hours, as well as product, prescription and treatment recommendations.

● Direct Connection to Local Dental Professionals & Immediate Care through a digital directory and instant booking. Users will be able to find and book in-person dental services from providers in their area or schedule live video consultations with a dentist for an immediate diagnosis and advice.

"We have made incredible strides in making oral health care accessible to individuals and businesses around the country through our web and mobile applications," said Shane Owens, CTO and Co-Founder of Toothpic. "We share a vision for shifting dentistry from a fee-for-service model to a preventative- focused, value-based care one. We can't imagine a better partner than quip as we seek to further our mission to provide innovative oral care solutions that not only improve the lives of patients, but also improve and modernize the delivery of care to our provider networks and lower the cost of care to our partners."

Through the acquisition, the combined platform will connect millions of patients with dentists nationwide through the integration of Toothpic's ecosystem and their partnerships with benefit providers such as Delta Dental of California and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts as well as quip's recently announced partnership with UnitedHealthcare Dental.

For the latest from quip, follow @quip on Instagram or visit getquip.com.  

Powered by the latest MEDIT technology, the all new i700 wireless intraoral scanner is light, fast, accurate, and now – wire-free.

Moving beyond the proven tech and best-selling success of the i700 intraoral scanner, MEDIT announces the release of the i700 wireless – newly designed as a portable wand with the same speed, accuracy, and lightness.

"We're tirelessly listening to our customers to provide them with the utmost customer care, which is at our core to continuously evolve," said GB Ko, CEO of MEDIT. "Our i700 wireless model is a game-changer with its effortless, wire-free capabilities and powerful, long-lasting battery." 

Free from wires, the light, weight-balanced i700 wireless offers a smooth and quick scanning experience utilizing mm wave based next generation wireless communication technology. One battery offers 1 hour of continuous scanning and 8 hours in standby mode. The super-fast camera captures up to 70 frames per second, collecting more data with each pass in realistic color and crisp images. The updated design boasts a reversible tip and wider scanning area allowing for easy, comfortable scanning at any angle with no constraints to movement. To counter COVID-19 concerns, a convenient remote control button means clinicians can check scan data from the scanner, and show patients, without worry of cross-contamination. The self-disinfecting UV-C LED further keeps the unit clean. For a complete, trouble-free experience, the i700 wireless runs on MEDIT Link, MEDIT's software featuring integration with various other CAD/CAM providers as well as MEDIT's own popular apps including Medit Design, Smile Design, Ortho Simulation, Model Builder, Crown Fit, and more.

"Packed with the latest MEDIT technology, the i700 wireless continues our commitment to delivering an amazing digital dentistry experience through better tools and solutions," added GB Ko.

For detailed information about MEDIT products and software, please visit MEDIT official website (www.medit.com/, https://www.i700wireless.com/), and for other various content, please refer to MEDIT official YouTube (youtube.com/user/meditcompany) and other social media channels (instagram.com/meditcompany/)

Perio Protect is excited to highlight Perio GelX™, its newest oral debriding agent and oral wound cleanser, for Perio Tray™ therapy. It features the same 1.7% hydrogen peroxide benefits as the original Perio Gel™ with the addition of xylitol, a naturally occurring alcohol commonly used in sugar-free products. Perio GelX also provides the great side effects of whiter teeth and fresher breath. Hygienists also note reductions in bleeding and pocket depth scores, softened calculus, and easier, more efficient maintenance.

MouthWatch, LLC, recognized throughout the dental industr as a leader in teledentistry solutions and digital imaging devices, recently marked its 10-year anniversary of innovation and growth.

According to the company’s founder and CEO Brant Herman, “MouthWatch wasn’t born in a garage, like many other technology companies, but rather in an unused operatory in my father, Dr. Jerry Herman’s midtown Manhattan dental practice. I often reflect on our good fortune and how far we’ve come.”

Today, the company employs 25 people and is synonymous with teledentistry due to its award-winning, cloud-based TeleDent™ platform and also its MouthWatch award-winning intraoral cameras among dental professionals. About half of those employees work in the company’s warehouse and offices, which are located across the street from each other in Metuchen, New Jersey. The other half work virtually from well-equipped home office locations dispersed throughout the United States.

At first, the virtual workforce was a necessity because the company simply didn’t have the office space. “We had to become comfortable with the virtual workforce model long before other companies were forced to adopt it,” explains company co-founder and COO, Bob Bellhouse. “This enabled us to attract the best and brightest team members, several of them dental hygiene thought leaders, who were instrumental in propelling our growth.”

Already having a virtual workforce in place enabled the company to quickly transition to an almost fully virtual operation during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were fully operational when dentists were prohibited from seeing patients’ with the exception of emergencies, and urgently needed a professional grade teledentistry solution to maintain patient contact.”

The MouthWatch virtual workforce, combined with a superior, secure solution, gave the company a competitive edge in the emerging teledentistry category. It also enabled it to launch the MouthWatch Plus+, a true 1080p intraoral camera that delivered high definition and high quality, at an affordable price.

“Why launch a product during a pandemic?” asks Herman. “We quickly learned that while their offices were closed down, many dental practice owners were using their downtime to assess and upgrade their equipment before their patients returned to the office. What’s more, dentists had been asking us to introduce an affordable HD intraoral camera for several years.”

Herman’s vision for the next 10 years is to enhance and create dental software and devices that will make dentistry more efficient, accessible, and better integrated with physicians and other allied healthcare providers. “Our goal is for MouthWatch to be known as the trusted dental technology company that made intraoral imaging affordable for every dental office, and also spearheaded the adoption of teledentistry to transform the delivery of dental care across every healthcare touchpoint.”

For more details on the remarkable 10-year journey of MouthWatch, read the 10th Anniversary blog post.

Henry Schein Dental released a whitepaper that addresses the topic of access to care in dentistry and Universal Design as a strategic solution. The whitepaper, titled “How Universal Design Can Make Your Practice More Inclusive, Accessible—and Successful,” which is available to download free online, breaks down ways that universal design can be implemented in a dental practice in order to make the practice more accessible for people with disabilities. The following excerpt from the whitepaper explains why universal design is such an important design and business principle:

"Universal design has the potential to help individuals, society and businesses. In a dental practice, it can also advance health equity, enabling dentists to give underserved popu­lations access to much-needed oral health care.

Unequal access to oral health care is the 'number one unmet health need' for Americans with disabilities, according to The Viscardi Center, an organization that empowers people with disabilities. With one in four adults in the U.S. having some type of disability — and approximately 61 million Americans with disabilities in total, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But the population that benefits from universal design is even broader. Even someone considered to be able-bodied could be affected by an injury, an unfamiliarity with a new environment or product, an inherent physical characteristic — or be part of the aging population.

'Solutions that promote accessibility and usability for special populations can lead to greater degrees of inde­pendent living,' explains Laura Seefeldt, design supervisor for Henry Schein’s Integrated Design Studio. 'Universal design can also lead to a more robust participa­tion in society as a whole for those who might otherwise have difficulty accessing spaces and services.'

Ultimately, businesses that implement universal design can increase their market reach, improve customer sat­isfaction and promote a positive public image. Effective universal design can also save money in the long-term if comprehensive user requirements are included as part of the initial design, rather than retrofitted later. Universal design can also attract and engage a wider range of employees and boost employee performance."

Learn more about what Henry Schein Dental is doing to support individuals with disabilities and download the full whitepaper on Universal Design here.

David Fox named to lead new venture

OrVance LLC, a developer of proprietary oral health products, announced an exclusive licensing agreement with DOC Brands. DOC Brands is a Wayne, Pennsylvania based emerging consumer oral care company manufacturing and selling products marketed under the Dentemp® brand. Under the terms of the agreement between the two companies, DOC Brands will manage all operations, marketing, sales, and distribution of the OrVance products while sharing in the costs, expected synergies and profits generated by the partnership.

The partnership also named David Fox to lead the venture. David is a highly experienced Oral Care CPG executive with nearly 20 years of proven success, including as President/CEO of DenTek Oral Care and General Manager/Vice President of Global Oral Care at Church & Dwight.

According to Ron Schutt, OrVance’s CEO, “We are very excited to enter this partnership with DOC Brands not only for their strong retail distribution and brand recognition, but also because of their passion to grow the consumer oral health segment by bringing real innovation and value to the consumer. OrVance’s current and future products deliver meaningful innovation that advances oral health so we are confident this venture with DOC Brands is well poised for success.” Schutt continued, “We are also very fortunate to have such a high caliber oral care CPG executive like David Fox, and the extended DOC Brands team, to champion the growth of our OrVance products.”

David Fox, Commercial Lead of the partnership and Senior Advisor to DOC Brands stated, “This partnership with OrVance really strengthens DOC Brands’ oral care product line and our ability to continue to bring retailers and consumers meaningful advancements in consumer oral health. I’m very impressed by how OrVance has consistently developed proprietary innovation through its consumer research, science, intellectual property, and the engagement of the Dental and Orthodontic professions.”

The partnership strengthens the shared commitment to increase impact on the dental community and patient care

Overjet, a leader in dental artificial intelligence solutions for providers and payers, today announced a partnership with Seattle Study Club (SSC), a recognized leader in continuing dental education with the largest network of dental professionals. Since 1994, Seattle Study Club has equipped its members with industry-leading resources and knowledge to thrive in the rapidly changing dental market and to deliver the best patient care possible.

Seattle Study Club is committed to cultivating excellence in comprehensive dentistry. With more than 260 affiliates worldwide, the international Seattle Study Club network consists of general practitioners, oral surgeons, periodontists, endodontists, orthodontists, pedodontists, lab technicians, hygienists, office team and all dental professionals.

The partnership comes at a key moment when dentistry is in the midst of a foundational transformation. Innovations in advanced technologies such as AI are reshaping many aspects of dental practice, from clinical decision-making to doctor-patient communication.

“There are times in our practice life when it appears a sea change is going to occur and the advancements in artificial intelligence appear to be one of these changes,” said Dr. Parag Kachalia, DDS, Director of Educational Development and Industry Relations for Seattle Study Club. “Artificial intelligence should not be viewed as a threat; rather AI is going to be a virtual colleague that helps our diagnostic ability. Seattle Study Club has always focused on proper diagnosis and Overjet’s innovations greatly aid in this arena. In addition, a key reason Seattle Study Club has decided to partner with Overjet is because the company is creating solutions that allow proper diagnosis in conjunction with appropriate reimbursement for the care clinicians provide.”

Guided by patient-centric AI, Overjet’s FDA-cleared technology integrates with major practice management and imaging systems to guide clinicians to arrive at precise and accurate diagnostic decisions.

“Every single day, Overjet is inspired by the opportunity to work with dentists to enhance the clinical decision-making process to impact patient care,” said Dr. Christopher Balaban, DMD, Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Overjet. “Modern practices are realizing the clinical and operational value of innovative technologies and moving towards smarter operations that leverage AI. Overjet aims to lead the way in assisting clinicians in harnessing innovative approaches in their operations to deliver better patient care. We are thrilled to partner with Seattle Study Club, a juggernaut in cultivating excellence in comprehensive dentistry.”

To learn more about the partnership and how clinicians are using Overjet’s state-of-the-art AI to improve overall practice performance and improve diagnostic decision-making, visit here https://seattlestudyclub.com/partners/overjet/. 

● John Groetelaars Named Interim Chief Executive Officer

● Barbara Bodem Named Interim Chief Financial Officer

● Company Provides Update on Anticipated First Quarter Financial Results

Dentsply Sirona today announced the appointment of John Groetelaars, who serves on Dentsply Sirona’s Board of Directors, as Interim Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Don Casey, who has been terminated as CEO and will cease to serve as a member of the Company’s Board, effective immediately. The Board has initiated a search to identify the Company’s next CEO and has retained a leading executive search firm to support the process.

Eric Brandt, Non-Executive Chairman of the Board stated, “We are pleased to welcome John as Dentsply Sirona’s Interim CEO. John has a strong track record of driving innovative business strategies, and as a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of industry experience, he is uniquely positioned to lead our company during this transition period. John is the right leader to bring continuity and guide Dentsply Sirona’s execution of its key strategic initiatives to create sustainable value for our shareholders. As the Board conducts its search for a permanent CEO, we are focused on finding a candidate with a track record of world-class execution and operational expertise who can position the Company for the future.”

Mr. Groetelaars commented, “I look forward to serving as Interim CEO during this important time for the Company. I joined the Company’s Board because of my deep appreciation for our mission and unwavering commitment to innovation, operational excellence and providing positive outcomes for patients and customers. Dentsply Sirona is situated in attractive, growing dental categories and has a strong foundation in place, built on its portfolio of leading products and differentiated position across key markets. The Board is confident that renewing the Company’s focus on execution will stabilize the business and deliver strong performance despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges. This will be my focus from day one, and I am prepared to leverage my prior executive leadership experience as I work with the rest of the Board and management team to drive the Company’s strategy and advance its vision to transform dentistry and improve oral health globally.”

Mr. Brandt continued, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Don for his many contributions to our company. Don has played a key role in strengthening our foundation and advancing our mission to create innovative solutions for healthy smiles. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

Appointment of Interim CFO

Dentsply Sirona also today announced the appointment of Barbara Bodem as Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective upon Jorge Gomez’s previously announced departure on May 6, 2022. Ms. Bodem will join the Company on April 25, 2022 and work closely with Mr. Gomez to ensure a seamless transition.

Ms. Bodem is an accomplished executive with over two decades of financial leadership experience in the healthcare industry, most recently serving as Senior Vice President and CFO of Hillrom. Previously, Barbara served in senior leadership roles at Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Hospira and Eli Lilly and Company.

Mr. Brandt said, “We are fortunate to welcome Barbara, a proven finance executive, as our interim CFO during this transition period. Barbara brings extensive expertise in healthcare with an international perspective, having served in multiple leadership roles across finance organizations at global companies. As we continue our search for a permanent CFO, we believe that Barbara and our talented financial team will continue to deliver value for our patients, business partners and shareholders.”

Select Preliminary Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2022

Dentsply Sirona today also provided an update on its anticipated financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2022.

On a preliminary basis, the Company expects that net sales will be approximately $965 million (representing an organic sales decline of approximately 1.4% versus prior year). Additionally, GAAP diluted earnings per share will be in the range of $0.26 - $0.30 and adjusted earnings per share will be in the range of $0.48 - $0.52. Relative to last year, these results reflect weaker sales performance in the U.S., global supply chain challenges, and foreign exchange headwinds.

The Company will provide further information on its results and 2022 outlook when it releases its earnings as scheduled on May 5, 2022.

The amounts set forth above are preliminary estimates. The Company is in the process of finalizing its results of operations for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and therefore final results are not yet available.

These preliminary estimates are based solely upon information available to management as of the date of this press release. The Company’s actual results may differ from these estimates due to the completion of its quarter-end closing procedures, final adjustments and developments that may arise or information that may become available between now and the time the Company’s financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 are finalized. The Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 should be consulted once they become available.

About John Groetelaars

John Groetelaars served as President, CEO and a Board member at Hillrom from May 2018 until the company’s acquisition by Baxter International, Inc., in December 2021. At Hillrom, Mr. Groetelaars led a transformation of the business, successfully articulating and launching a new connected-care strategy and vision, growing the portfolio through seven acquisitions and one divestiture, and driving record financial performance. Prior to Hillrom, Mr. Groetelaars served as Executive Vice President and President of the Interventional Segment at Becton, Dickinson and Company following its acquisition of C.R. Bard Inc. He previously served in a variety of progressive roles at C.R. Bard during his 10-year career there, including as a group president from 2015 to 2017. Prior to joining C.R. Bard, Mr. Groetelaars held various international leadership positions in Canada, Denmark and the United Kingdom at Boston Scientific Corporation from 2001 until 2008. Prior to joining Boston Scientific, Mr. Groetelaars held positions in general management, marketing, business development and sales with Guidant Corporation and with Eli Lilly.

Mr. Groetelaars earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

About Barbara Bodem

Barbara Bodem most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Hillrom, where she was responsible for both Financial and Information Technology and oversaw portfolio transformation and performance acceleration. She also served as Interim CIO during the pandemic. Prior to her positions at Hillrom, Ms. Bodem served as Senior Vice President of Finance for Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Vice President of Finance, Global Commercial Operations for Hospira, and at several positions of increasing responsibility at Eli Lilly and Company, culminating in Chief Financial Officer, Lilly Oncology. Ms. Bodem also has extensive Board experience, and currently serves as Audit Committee Chair for Turning Point Therapeutics, as a Director on Syneos’ Board, and as a Director on Enovis Corporation’s Board. She has also previously served as a board member for Invacare Corporation.

Ms. Bodem earned and a Bachelor of Science in Finance with honors and minors in Economics and East Asian Studies, as well as an MBA from Indiana University.

One in four U.S. adults have some type of disability, affecting mobility, cognition, hearing, and/or sight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, those with disabilities are more likely to be obese, smoke, and have heart disease and diabetes, further complicating their healthcare.

To help address the oral health needs of this vulnerable population with more clinicians skilled in treating them, Penn Dental Medicine has developed the Persons with Disabilities Presentation Series -- a free online continuing education program aimed at building competency among practicing clinicians in providing oral healthcare to persons with disabilities.

"We see this Series as an important way to not only build awareness of the barriers to equitable oral healthcare for individuals with disabilities, but also expand the number of dentists treating these individuals," says Dr. Miriam Robbins, Director of Penn Dental Medicine's Care Center for Persons with Disabilities, who helps to develop topics and identify speakers for the Series.

The Series launched last year with support from the Delta Dental Foundation of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina (DDF), which recently renewed its support of the Series with a second $50,000 grant this year.

Since its launch, the lecture topics have ranged from defining disabilities across a lifetime and caring for older adults with cognitive impairments to how the payer system can be strengthened to improve care for persons with disabilities.

Developed and offered through Penn Dental Medicine's Office of Continuing Education, the series is open to oral health professionals at no charge.

Dentists completing 18 or more of the courses within a three-year period will receive a certificate of completion from Penn Dental Medicine as a Disabilities Dentistry Clinician Expert. View the full schedule of upcoming live webinars as well as available online lectures at www.dental.upenn.edu/disabilitiescare.

Penn Dental Medicine offers a depth of live online and hybrid learning opportunities across dental disciplines and health policy as well as a library of self-paced courses that can be accessed at any time through its Penn Dental Medicine Education Portal.

Large Practice Sales (LPS), the premier monetization advisor to large dental practices across the U.S., today announced that it has added five new members to its Advisory Board.

“The primary purpose of the LPS Advisory Board is to provide LPS leadership with a broader dental industry, and world view. The diverse experiences of our Advisors enable us to serve all LPS clients more effectively.” said Chip Fichtner, Principal of LPS. “We welcome their ongoing counsel and advice as we are on pace to complete over $500 million in transactions for great dentists in 2022.”

The new LPS Advisory Board members include:

Dr. Andrew Brown

Dr. Brown is an orthodontist in Orange Park, Florida and immediate past President of the Florida Dental Association. He has held multiple leadership positions in various dental organizations nationally including the American Dental Association. LPS advised him on his partnership with a large IDSO in 2021.

Phil Davidson

Admiral Phil Davidson, USN (Retired), four-star admiral, Adm Davidson retired from the U.S. Navy in 2021 after nearly 39 years of service. In his last assignment, he was the 25th Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command. USINDOPACOM is the nation’s oldest and largest military operating (combatant) command, numbering some 380,000 uniformed and civilian personnel, and operating over more than half the globe.

Dr. Todd Jorgenson

Dr. Jorgenson is one of the leading dental implant surgeons in Arizona and speaks nationally for a variety of dental associations. He is honored to serve as the official team Periodontist for the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks. LPS advised him on his partnership with a Top 5 IDSO in 2019.

Mitch Olan

Mr. Olan joined Dental Care Alliance in 1994, an IDSO with over 370 locations in 21 states. He became Co-Chief Executive Officer in 2012 and now serves as Executive Chairman. Mitch serves on the Executive Committee of the Association of Dental Support Organizations and on the boards of several emerging dental technology companies and a Dental Trifecta focused IDSO.

Bhavik Patel

Mr. Patel currently serves as the CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee for Sandberg Phoenix, a full-service law firm based in St. Louis with multiple offices throughout the Midwest. His practice in tax and estate planning as well as wealth management is nationally renowned. His partners focus on the sale of dental practices throughout the country.

About Large Practice Sales

Large Practice Sales advises larger dental practice owners in partnering with Invisible Dental Support Organizations (IDSO). LPS has completed almost a billion dollars of transactions between 2017 and 2022. LPS is unique in that it represents and is paid only by doctors, achieving win/win transactions for IDSOs and doctors without conflicts of interest.

Dentists interested in understanding their practice value today to an IDSO partner are invited to schedule a confidential, no obligation phone call to learn more about the FREE process. Doctors should contact LPS at 877-437-3353 or visit www.largepracticesales.com