Former Align Executive Joins LightForce as CRO to Accelerate the Orthodontic Industry’s Transition to Fully Digital and Customization

LightForce, makers of the world’s only fully customizable 3D printed braces system, announced that Frank Quinn, former Vice President and General Manager of US Commercial at Align Technology, has joined the LightForce team as their Chief Revenue Officer. Frank brings over 13 years of experience in the orthodontics space, helping to drive growth, revenue, and go-to-market strategies.

“Frank has been a trusted executive in the orthodontics space for over 13 years. He has a long history of growing companies, and most importantly, scaling the customer-focused values that make LightForce special,” said LightForce CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Alfred Griffin, DMD, PhD, MMSc.

Dr. Griffin continues, “Frank’s orthodontics knowledge, go-to-market expertise, and leadership experience will be invaluable to both doctors and the LightForce team as the industry makes the transition to fully digital treatment."

“The industry is shifting to being fully digital and LightForce, with their exponential growth and buzz in the market, is clearly leading the movement. I’ve been especially impressed by their community of doctors who are deeply invested and engaged with the LightForce team. There’s a real shared desire to build something that improves practice efficiency and patient outcomes,” said Mr. Quinn. “I’m excited to roll up my sleeves with this incredible team to help doctors provide their patients with the very best orthodontic experience in the specialty.”

The first and only chairside dental AI technology cleared by the FDA that can both quantify bone levels with periodontal disease, and detect and outline tooth decay for accurate patient care and communication.

Overjet, the leader in dental AI solutions for payers and providers, today announced that it received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Caries Assist, AI-powered dental caries detection and outlining software for chairside aid and patient communication.

This new milestone follows Overjet’s FDA clearance in 2021 of its Dental Assist, the first FDA clearance of its kind for bone level measurement in X-rays with periodontal disease. With Dental Assist and Caries Assist, Overjet is the first and only dental AI company with technology cleared by the FDA, able to address both bone level measurement with periodontal disease and dental caries detection, as well as quantification for bone level and outline with caries.

According to the CDC, periodontal disease and dental caries (bone loss and cavities) are two of the biggest threats to dental health. Tooth decay remains the most prevalent chronic disease in both children and adults, even though it is largely preventable, greatly reducing the quality of life of 2.3 billion people worldwide. Oral health and overall health are inextricably linked. According to a new Delta Dental study, gum disease has a close link to heart disease, diabetes, lung illness, and dementia, among other serious health issues.

“Since our inception in 2018, we have been on a quest to improve oral health by creating a future that is clinically precise, efficient, and patient-centric,” said Dr. Wardah Inam, Co-Founder and CEO of Overjet. “Today, with this landmark clearance we are spearheading the transformation with innovative solutions for an industry that collectively wants better patient outcomes. With our Caries Assist, we are here to make a positive impact on the health of millions of Americans.”

With this commercially available technology, Overjet will support clinicians to be more effective and efficient by presenting them with accurate findings, identifying anatomical structures and common pathologies, and providing instant visualizations while improving patient-dentist communication to support better patient outcomes.

“Our motivation for utilizing an Al solution at Mortenson Dental Partners is to aid in the early diagnosis of dental decay, and periodontal disease and that’s where Overjet excels in assisting our clinicians,” said Dr. Eric Tobler, National Clinical Director of Mortenson Dental Partners, one of the largest dental groups in the US. “We’ve been impressed with Overjet’s ability to help our patients understand and visualize what’s going on in their mouth.”

Overjet Caries Assist enables clinicians to detect caries accurately and reduces the rate of missed lesions (false negatives). To demonstrate the validity of the software, the Company analyzed more than 7,000 tooth surfaces. With the aid of Overjet Caries Assist, dentists were able to detect 32% more tooth surfaces containing caries.

“This milestone is a demonstration of our strong commitment to complying with the highest quality standards and regulatory requirements. I’m very proud of our regulatory team, and growing team of engineers and clinicians. Together, we’ve been able to expand the versatility of our platform with a strong foundation in research,” said Dr. Adam Odeh who leads the regulatory team and the efforts at Overjet. “It’s clear that everyone at Overjet is deeply dedicated to bringing this technology to the tens of thousands of clinicians and millions of patients in the US, and I’m excited to be part of this journey.”

“We’re very excited about this important milestone,” said Dr. Terri Dolan, Chief Dental Officer of Overjet. “This FDA clearance further validates the breadth of our AI platform. Overjet goes beyond specific AI algorithms to act as a chairside, software as a medical device enhancing clinical decision making in dental practices around the country. By bringing both bone level measurement with periodontal disease and dental caries detection, as well as quantification for bone level and outline with caries, we enable comprehensive care to be delivered to the right patient with the right treatment at the right time.”

Overjet’s FDA-cleared Dental Assist, and Claim Intelligence Platforms are already in use by some of the largest dental groups and insurance companies, covering over 75 million Americans.

For more information on Overjet and Caries Assist, please visit overjet.com/oca

Live surgery is back to DS World along with market-leading clinical education, networking, and extraordinary entertainment: Rock legends Journey and comedy star David Spade will be headline acts at Dentsply Sirona World 2022 in Las Vegas.

Dentsply Sirona World 2022 will once again celebrate the ultimate experience in Digital Dentistry – and bring smiles to people’s faces with a line-up of expert clinicians, world-class entertainers, multiple networking opportunities and motivational speakers.

The three-day event at the Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, NV, from September 15 – 17, 2022 will be headlined by Journey, one of the bestselling bands of all time. The multi-award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are best known for their legendary hit Don’t Stop Believin’ and famous album Escape and have released 23 albums and 43 singles, totaling more than 75 million album sales to date. Additionally, stand-up comedian, television host and Saturday Night Live legend David Spade will get personal following his latest Netflix hit “Nothing Personal.”

Dentsply Sirona World – The Ultimate Experience in Digital Dentistry

Dentsply Sirona World 2022 will see the return of the talented Dr. Sameer Puri, Vice President of Education at CDOCS as MC of the event. “I am excited to be part of DS World 2022 again,” said Dr. Puri. “This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with dental experts, gain access to the latest education courses and innovation in dentistry, earn CE credits and enjoy world-class entertainment. It allows dental professionals to be the first to experience the latest systems and equipment, get hands-on with the most cutting-edge technology in the dental industry, and discover how to apply these learnings to grow their practice. Most importantly, it is a celebration of dentistry!”

Early Bird and Bring Your Team Offers

Tickets are now available for purchase with a special early bird pricing of $1,999 through June 30, 2022. Full practices are encouraged to attend with a new “Bring your Team” offer to enable all dental professionals to meet and learn from each other. Additional details can be found on the Dentsply Sirona website. To get the latest information on clinical education courses, Dr. Farhad Boltchi’s live simulcasted surgery, the over 100 expert speakers’ lineup, confirmed top performers like the rock band Journey and comedian David Spade, further exciting announcements, and to register for DS World, visit: https://www.dentsplysirona.com/en-us/ds-world.html

Extending the ultimate digital dentistry experience beyond the US

In its commitment to transforming dentistry to improve oral health and engaging dental professionals all over the world, Dentsply Sirona is extending the ultimate experience in digital dentistry beyond the US. Local DS World events will also be held in Madrid, Spain, from September 16 – 17, 2022, and in Fethiye, Turkey, from October 27 - 29, 2022. 

Productive Dentist Academy (PDA), the leading dental consulting and marketing firm in the nation, announces the addition of Dr. David Porritt as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and Deni Hall, MBA, as Chief People Officer (CPO).

As Chief Strategy Officer, Dr. David Porritt brings more than two decades of strategic dental business experience to PDA. He is also the founder and president of DSP Capital Partners, LLC, a management and capital acquisition consultancy specializing in assisting dental start-ups and growing companies that deliver dental products and services to the market.

“David is a highly regarded educational advocate of dentists,” said Dr. Victoria Peterson, co-founder & CEO of PDA. “His doctorate in business arms PDA with proven insights that support our mission of leveling the playing field for independent dental practice owners. Dr. Porritt’s role as CSO is to support the evolution of PDA’s business platform so dentists can optimize profitability, improve the patient experience, and align their team with the vision of the practice.”

“It is not fair that dentists do not have a level playing field competing with DSOs,” said Porritt. “I have joined with PDA to support private practicing dentists, so they can gain a competitive advantage, make confident decisions as a business leader, re-engage their passion, and build long-term value.”

Dr. Porritt received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Capella University, and his Doctor of Business Administration from Trident University International.

Deni Hall, MBA, serves as PDA’s Chief People Officer. As part of the company since June, 2021, Ms. Hall provides the architecture, and is tasked with aligning talent and culture of the company to support the strategic vision.

“Some leaders ask, ‘Can kindness and accountability thrive within the same company?’ Deni proves that without kindness there is no accountability,” said Peterson. “In a world filled with leadership noise, Deni breaks down barriers through skillful communication and active listening. I’ve never worked with a more graceful, powerful leader.”

In her previous role as Execution Strategist at Lean Forward Leadership Solutions, Ms. Hall developed and implemented a strategy that introduced behaviors necessary to create a consultative selling culture, and she designed an internal coaching methodology for senior leadership to ensure ongoing behavior change. Prior to this role, Ms. Hall worked for Luxottica Retail and Pacific Dental Services.

As CPO, Hall brings award-winning cognitive and behavioral methods and tools utilized by high performance teams in a variety of industries, including dentistry.

“Ms. Hall is tasked with continuing our commitment to providing best-in-class business advisors, team development coaches, and marketing consultants. Working side-by-side with Dr. David Porritt and Chief Communications Officer Regan Robertson, independent dentists now receive cutting-edge methods previously reserved for large corporations,” Peterson said.

“I wanted to work for a company that gives me the space to reach my full potential,” said Hall. “I waited a full year to be hired by PDA because I love the culture.”

Hall continues, “Many independent dentists are uncertain about the future of private practice and are concerned there may be no other option than to sell to a DSO. The reality is, when dentists optimize using PDA methods, they have far more control when it comes to reaching financial freedom on their terms.”

Ms. Hall received her Bachelor of Art in Business Administration and Marketing from University of Colorado, and her Masters in Business Administration from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.  

Terra & Co’s cult-favorite Brilliant Black Oil Pulling, a teeth-whitening, bacteria-fighting oral health product based on the ancient ayurvedic practice of gently swishing oil in the mouth for 2-5 minutes to detox the body and improve overall well-being, garnered a 900-person waitlist after it sold out last year.

Now, they’ve introduced the next generation of mouthwash. Gentle Green Oil Pulling ($40) is supercharged with nHAp mineral, prebiotics and antioxidants to strengthen tooth enamel, repair sensitive teeth and balance your mouth’s pH value while nurturing good bacteria. Packaged in an endlessly recyclable glass bottle, and free of artificial flavors and colors.

Ingredient Spotlight:

nano- hydroxyapatite (nHAp): A non-toxic, biocompatible yet powerful mineral that bonds to the inner tooth surface to stop sensitivity at its source and remineralize microcavities. It isn’t fully beneficial if it’s rinsed off with water (like in a toothpaste), as it doesn’t have long enough contact with teeth.

"I like nano-hydroxyapatite for its ability to remineralize enamel. It has also been shown to reduce sensitivity in teeth and be less abrasive on enamel. Hydroxyapatite's resemblance to natural enamel and dentin have attracted a new focus to this ingredient in oral care products,” said Tiktok sensation (over 1M followers!) & fan of Gentle Green Oil Pulling, Dr. Huzefa Kapadia, DDS.

The acquisition adds Healier's organizational technical software to Enable's operations, helping them grow to be the largest portable, at-home dental service organization in the country. Their combined technology and operational workflow capabilities will advance treatment coordination and propel digitized dentistry.

Enable Dental, the leading provider of portable, at-home dental services, announced it has acquired Healier Inc., a dental software company focused on helping care teams organize work.

The addition of Healier and its staff will significantly improve Enable's service offering, help accelerate its geographic expansion, and deepen its investments in technology to further its teledentistry and digital capabilities while bringing equitable dental care to geriatric and special needs patients across the country.

"Bringing dental services to where people need them requires complex logistics, communications, and data," CEO Paul Langley states. "We're excited to enhance our innovative delivery model by customizing our technology and building new capabilities. This acquisition will allow us to expand our reach and support our partnerships with better tools to provide exceptional dental care wherever it is needed."

"Many seniors and adults with disabilities face major barriers to accessing needed care," said Dr. Nathan Suter, CEO of Healier. "Enable Dental is a patient-centered portable care model equipped to address the oral health needs of these populations. Healier is excited to join Enable Dental and advance our collective mission to improve the oral health of all." 

MouthWatch, LLC, a leader in innovative teledentistry solutions and intraoral imaging devices, recently named Wynnie Zuchowski to the newly-created position of Senior Director of Business Development.

In this role, Zuchowski will be responsible for developing and implementing growth-driving strategies for the company. She will be responsible for launching solutions and strategic relationships that will help improve access to oral health care and enhance synergies between medical and dental technologies. Some of Zuchowski’s specific areas of responsibility include:

● Identifying and forging strategic partnerships, technology integrations and alliances in the dental and medical virtual care spaces.

● Developing go-to-market strategies and driving the commercialization for new MouthWatch innovations in the pipeline.

● Generating and refining teledentistry revenue models across various audiences.

● Establishing differentiating positioning and offerings that reinforce the mission of MouthWatch.

● Partnering with the sales and marketing departments to enhance revenue.

According to MouthWatch CEO and Founder Brant Herman, “As MouthWatch has grown and continues to transform oral health care, we looked for a strategic thinker with a track record of achievement and results. We’re thrilled to have Wynnie join the team and bring her expertise and passion to build upon our pioneering foundation and expand into exciting new solutions.”

Prior to joining MouthWatch, Zuchowski was the Director of Commercial Development, Practice Services for Henry Schein Dental where she was responsible for the Business Solutions business and the development and launch of the Henry Schein Thrive Signature membership program. During her 30-year career, she has also held senior level growth-driving positions in a variety of corporations and advertising agencies.

Zuchowski states, “I was drawn to the mission of MouthWatch, the fantastic team, the offerings we have and what is in the pipeline. We will make a difference in oral healthcare access, and I look forward to helping to make that happen.”

Roland DG Corporation, the Hamamatsu, Japan-based parent company of Roland DGA, has appointed Roland DGA President and CEO Andrew Oransky to its Board of Directors. This appointment is important not only to Roland DG, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers, dental milling machines, and other innovative digital devices, but also to Irvine, California-based Roland DGA, which serves as its parent company’s marketing, sales, distribution, and service arm for North and South America.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Oransky will play a pivotal role in setting strategy and direction globally for Roland DG Corporation. In addition to Roland DGA, Roland DG is the parent company to other business units throughout the world.

“It’s an honor to be appointed to such a significant position,” said Oransky. “I am looking forward to serving as a member of Roland DG’s Board of Directors, having the opportunity to weigh in on key corporate strategies and decisions, and contributing to the ongoing success of the corporation.”

With this Board of Directors appointment, Oransky will also serve as Managing Executive Officer of Global Sales and Marketing for Roland DG, which allows him to have direct oversight of these crucial corporate functions throughout the world. Oransky has served as President of Roland DGA Corporation since 2016 and assumed the expanded role of Roland DGA CEO in 2019.

To learn more about Roland DG Corporation, visit https://www.rolanddg.com/en. For more information on Roland DGA Corporation and the Roland DGA’s complete product line, visit https://www.rolanddga.com. 

Two dental hygienists collaborate to bring fun and education to children in cancer treatment

Two dental hygienists from opposite ends of the US, Carrie Wucinich, RDH, and Jill Meyer-Lippert, RDH, have joined forces to help children with cancer. Now they invite other dental professionals to join them in making a difference.

Based in Nevada, Wucinich is the author of Where the Sugar Bugs Live, a motivational children’s book that educates families on the importance of oral hygiene. The book provides children with the visual they need to understand the importance of taking care of their teeth, and a percentage of the book sales is dedicated to supporting pediatric cancer patients and their families. Meyer-Lippert is based in Wisconsin and is the founder of Side Effect Support, an online resource for cancer patients, family caregivers, and healthcare providers to reduce the harmful oral side effects of cancer treatments.

Their first collaboration involved the creation of a pediatric informational brochure that includes Sugar Bug artwork. The “Cancer Treatments & Oral Health” brochure is available to print in English or Spanish from the Side Effect Support RESOURCES tabs.

Their combined passion for helping children with cancer has now expanded with the creation of Sugar Bug Fun Bundles. The bundles provide children in treatment with a 50-page Where the Sugar Bugs Live Coloring & Activity Workbook, Crayola Crayons, and oral health products and information. According to Meyer-Lippert, “A focus on oral health and oral hygiene during the cancer treatment process can reduce pain and infection risks while positively impacting long-term physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing.”

Wucinich adds, “Bringing some light and fun into such a tough time has always been one of my goals. Being a mom myself, I can’t imagine how tough it is for the kids to sit in a hospital bed around the clock. The Sugar Bug Activity Book gives them the opportunity to take their minds off of cancer and learn a thing or two about dental health.”

Dental professionals are now invited to help provide complimentary Sugar Bug Fun Bundles to children in treatment through sponsorships. Bundles can be sponsored by individuals, businesses, or nonprofit organizations.

To sponsor a Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Sugar Bug Fun Bundle visit

https://sideeffectsupport.com/collections/oral-care-kits/products/childrens-hospital-of-wisconsin-sugar-bug-fun-bundle

To sponsor Sugar Bug Fun Bundles for children in your area, please contact Jill Meyer-Lippert at Jill@SideEffectSupport.com or Carrie Wucinich at wherethesugarbugslive@hotmail.com to learn more.

Keep up with Wucinich and Meyer-Lippert by following them on social media outlets @Where_the_sugar_bugs_live and @SideEffectSupportLLC.

Introducing Preat’s PRISM Powered by Panthera, Delivering the Finest Implant Bars for Customers, Faster and At Greater Manufacturing Capacity

Preat Corporation, a leading provider of dental implant components, attachments, and tools, today announced that they are now working with Quebec-based Panthera Dental to combine the superior quality and precision capabilities of Preat’s PRISM implant design center and services and Panthera’s bar manufacturing capabilities. Preat shifted from its previous milled implant bar provider to Panthera’s top-of-the-line, Canadian-milled bars for use by oral surgeons and periodontists to create PRISM Powered by Panthera.

“The arrangement between our companies brings together two names customers know and trust,” said Chris Bormes, President, Preat Corporation. “Preat’s team will continue to design functional and aesthetic pieces for manufacture by Panthera, ensuring customers receive the high-quality components and frictionless ordering experience they’ve come to expect from us.”

Preat is known for its custom-designed dental implant components, attachments and dental prosthetics. Panthera Dental has a well-earned reputation as the fastest and best, implant bar milling source and non-OEM implant company. The companies have forged the relationship for rapid production at capacity to make these sought-after parts easily accessible to the periodontal market.

“The Panthera Dental team is pleased to be working with Preat on this strategic new opportunity,” said Gabriel Robichaud, CEO of Panthera Dental. “We are bringing together the best of both our worlds with our commitment to rapidly creating flexible, adaptable products for customers.”

Both Preat and Panthera Dental are exhibiting at Lab Day West 2022, May 20-21, at the Hyatt Regency in Garden Grove, Calif., dubbed “the second largest dental laboratory event in America.” For more information, visit Preat at booth #K-2, L-1 and Panthera Dental at booth #F-10, or contact either company directly.