Isolite now available in Canada
Isolite Systems announced today that it will begin offering its dental isolation systems for sale in Canada. This includes the Isolite and Isodry dental isolation systems, and its patented single-use Isolite Mouthpieces that are used with the systems. The announcement is the result of the company having received its Medical Device Establishment License (MDEL) from Health Canada to sell its products in Canada.
"We are proud to be open for business in Canada," stated the company's chief executive officer, Sandi Hirsch. "We want to thank the dentists and dental professionals of Canada for recognizing the benefits of our dental isolation systems for their Canadian patients, and for supporting us during the regulatory process."
Direct sales to Canada have already begun.
NDC announces new members
NDC Dental has announced two new members in Iowa: Optimus Dental Supply and Dental Distributors Inc. Both companies join as full members with access to contract programs with authorized vendors, the Quala private label line, and the NDC warehouse program.
Dental Distributors Inc. was founded in 1983 and has been serving the local Iowa dental market as well as marketing nationally through their Internet presence.
Optimus Dental Supply provides products and services to the lowa market through direct sales representatives and marketing communications such as direct mail, telesales, and Web/social media.
Documentary on dental floss in the works
Who would ever imagine an entire movie about dental floss? The answer? Gary Roma of Iron Frog Productions.
Not only has filmmaker Mr. Roma thought of the idea, he's well into making the feature-length film called, "Hanging by a Thread: A Dental Floss Documentary," and he's having a blast filming it. He's learning more about dental floss than he ever thought possible.
His motivation? Like many people, Roma had a hard time getting himself to floss regularly, as he explains in this interview. But guess what? After learning so many interesing and offbeat facts about floss, he's now a believer who flosses his pearly whites every day.
Meg Kaiser of DentistryIQ.com talked with Roma about his movie. Here is part of the interview.
Kaiser: What do you hope to accomplish with this film?
Roma: I want to demonstrate to viewers that there is more to floss than meets the tooth. By having audiences consider dental floss in a humorous light rather than the common guilt-ridden light, I think there's a better chance that they will be more open to starting to use it. By weaving these fun stories about floss with more educational segments about the vital (literally) importance of flossing, I hope to do an end run around the resistance to flossing. I hope this will then motivate people to be more hopeful about making other changes in their lives as well.
You can read Kaiser's entire interview with Roma on DentistryIQ.com. Just visit the site and search for "Roma."
Milestone Scientific, Aseptico sign exclusive distribution agreement
Milestone Scientific, Inc., and Aseptico, Inc., have signed an exclusive distribution agreement for Milestone's Wand STA device and accessories for the United States and Canada.
"Having served the dental market for over 36 years, Aseptico is an ideal partner for Milestone as they currently market their products to over 150,000 dentists across the United States and Canada and have well established sales channels," said Leonard Osser, chief executive officer of Milestone Scientific. "We see this partnership as a means to rapidly and cost-effectively deepen our penetration of the U.S. and Canadian dental markets. We look forward to working closely with the experienced team at Aseptico as we enter the next phase of our growth."
"We are excited to partner with Milestone and look forward to aggressively expanding sales of the STA System across the United States and Canada," added Glenn Kazen, president of Aseptico. "Overall, we believe the STA System will resonate extremely well with new and existing dental customers and reinforces Aseptico's commitment to providing our customers with exclusive access to the most advanced and clinically effective products on the market."
Current or new Wand STA dealers and users, whether individual doctors or group practices, may contact Aseptico for Wand STA equipment, handpieces, and accessory reorders. The company is offering trade-in incentives on the prior Wand Compudent to give users an opportunity to upgrade their experience.
Freud Dental adds regional branch through merger
Freud Dental Supply continues to expand with the merger of a telemarketing company, Excel Dental Supply, headquartered in Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Ankur Mailk will remain with the telemarketing company under the new name, Freud Excel Dental Supply.
This merger adds a seventh regional branch for Freud Dental.
Oragenics teams with Mexican distributor on pet oral health product
Oragenics, Inc., has entered into a new three-year contract agreement with Pharmacos Exakta, S.A. de C.V. Under the terms of the agreement, Pharmacos Exakta will be the exclusive distributor of Oragenics' oral care probiotics for pets in Mexico under a private label. The pet product will contain ProBiora3, Oragenics' patented proprietary blend of three probiotics specifically designed for oral health.
Pharmacos Exakta S.A. de C.V. manufactures and markets ophthalmic and other pharmaceutical products for government and private markets. The company was founded in 1957 and is based in Guadalajara, Mexico.
"Our strategy is to continue to look for high-quality distributors in regions around the world to sell our innovative pet probiotic either under our Evora brand or as a private label. This contract is another step in fulfilling this strategy" stated Dr. John N. Bonfiglio, president and chief executive officer of Oragenics.
Crosstex acquires SPSmedical
Crosstex International has acquired SPSmedical in a move that unites two of the leading North American providers of sterilization monitoring services and sterility assurance products in dental, acute care, alternate care, and office-based practitioner markets.
According to officials at Crosstex, the addition of SPSmedical strengthens the Crosstex position in the acute care and alternate care markets while broadening the Crosstex sterility assurance product offering.
"SPSmedical is the perfect complement to our ConFirm brand biologic monitoring business and will provide us with the platform to broaden our reach into the acute-care and alternate-care markets," said According to Gary Steinberg, president and chief executive officer of Crosstex. "SPS' strong leadership in defining and establishing sterility assurance standards in healthcare settings is a strong platform upon which Crosstex can expand its global presence as a leader in the healthcare infection prevention and control market."
Holt Dental Supply donates to Marquette
The leadership of Holt Dental Supply, Inc., donated $36,000 to Marquette University School of Dentistry to support the expansion of the existing dental school. As part of the expansion, the University will be able to increase class size from 80 to 100 students, expand faculty practices, designate space for valuable research, and increase existing operatories from six to 13.
"The expanded facilities are vital for improving the quality of patient care," said Paul Holt, president of Holt Dental Supply. "We are very fortunate to have an exceptional dental school in Milwaukee that is committed to excellence in the training and development of dental professionals."
The Marquette University School of Dentistry faculty and students treat patients at seven clinics, see 26,000 patients annually, and serve 64 counties throughout Wisconsin.
Oktoberfest at Harris Discount
Harris Discount, along with Renfert USA and the Illinois Dental Lab Association, recently held an Oktoberfest Open House at the Harris Discount facility in Lake Zurich, Ill.
Ivoclar Vivadent acquires Wieland Dental
Ivoclar Vivadent has announced the acquisition of Wieland Dental. Ivoclar Vivadent will acquire the shares of BWK holding company and of the Wieland founding family. Wieland Dental, which employs 190 staff, achieved a sales volume of around 60 million euros in 2011.
With the takeover of Wieland Dental, Ivoclar Vivadent strengthens its position in the field of all-ceramic product systems.
"Wieland Dental is a leading European manufacturer in the field of dental products with market leading brands and a strong sales team. We are very pleased to have them join the Ivoclar Vivadent Group," said Robert Ganley, chief executive officer of Ivoclar Vivadent.
Wieland Dental has a wide array of products ranging from CAD/CAM materials to dental alloys and veneering ceramics up to electroplating, the company offers individual laboratory concepts and systems solutions.
According to company officials, the products of Wieland Dental will represent an important addition to the product portfolio of Ivoclar Vivadent. Wieland Dental is to continue operations under its existing name and management.
Sirona's Fischer honored with Shils Award
The Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to innovative leadership in health care, recently celebrated a decade of supporting individuals, organizations, and programs that have positively influenced the dental community and public oral health arena.
Shils Award winners are chosen annually and presented with a monetary prize, which is given to the recipient organization of their choice. Jost Fischer, chairman and chief executive officer of Sirona Dental Systems, received the 2012 Special Recognition Award, "for his extraordinary support in helping build capacity for dental clinics through equipment and technology grants worldwide."
"My friend Jost earned this award not only for his true entrepreneurship at Sirona but also for his dedication to support dental care in underserved markets throughout the world," said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman and chief executive officer of Henry Schein (pictured, right), who presented the award.
"Innovation never stops at Sirona and through our continuous efforts we want to make dentistry better and more affordable," Fischer (pictured, above) said. "We also have a deep commitment to providing access to dental care to the ones in need in countries around the world and we are proud to have helped to equip dental clinics. I proudly accept this award on behalf of the Sirona family."
Patterson Dental donates more than $210,000 to Dental Lifeline Network
As in years past, Patterson Dental and business partners raised money in conjunction with the recent Patterson Leadership Summit in Minneapolis to support Dental Lifeline Network (DLN), a national nonprofit organization that works to provide dental care for people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically fragile.
"With most pledged amounts now in, it's official," Paul Guggenheim, president of Patterson Dental, said. "We are excited to announce that 2012 contributions to Dental Lifeline Network programs will exceed $210,000 — making this year our best yet! This tremendous outpouring of support is an important way that we, as a dental industry, can join together to help connect more people with the dental treatment they need and may otherwise not receive."
The Patterson Leadership Summit contribution alone will enable DLN to provide support that volunteer dentists and labs need in the coming year to treat more than 800 people.
Dental Lifeline Network's Donated Dental Services (DDS) program involves more than 15,000 dentists and 3,349 laboratories that volunteer to help patients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Donations from the Leadership Summit support these services, which DLN President Fred Leviton said helped 7,400 individuals with special needs receive $24 million in dental treatment this year.
"Shave the Shore" campaign breaks $20,000 goal to help Sandy victims
Lanmark360's "Shave the Shore™" campaign recently exceeded its fundraising goal by raising more than $20,000 for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, and the agency contributes the majority of its success to donations collected from friends and colleagues throughout the dental industry. All proceeds from the campaign will be donated to the American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts in order to help local families affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Originally, in the first few days following Superstorm Sandy, Howard Klein, president of Lanmark 360, made a pledge on Facebook not to shave until he personally raised at least $10,000 to help Jersey Shore families struck by Sandy's path. On Day 14 of the campaign, Michael Bocian, vice president of sales and marketing at Darby Dental Supply, challenged Klein to raise his goal to $15,000, pledging that Darby Dental Supply would contribute an additional $5,000, bringing the total donation amount to $20,000. Since then, Klein and his team at Lanmark360 have exceeded that goal, and contributions continue to pour in.
"I am so humbled by the amount of support we received for this campaign from the dental industry alone," Klein said. "Following the storm, the amount of support we received from our friends and colleagues has been nothing short of amazing."
Klein and his team at Lanmark360 celebrated the victory with a nice, hot shave at a Frank's Barber Shop, a local business Klein has been frequenting for more than 20 years.
Young Innovations to be acquired by private equity group
Young Innovations (YDNT) has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Linden Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity group, for $39.50 per share.
"Balancing YDNT's history of consistent execution with still-sluggish dental end markets, we believe Linden is paying a fair but full price in this deal. As such, and combined with our sense many strategics have likely ‘kicked the tires' on YDNT in recent years, we'd be surprised if a higher offer for YDNT materialized over coming weeks," said Jeff Johnson, senior analyst for Robert W. Baird & Co., which acted exclusively as a financial advisor to Young Innovations, Inc. to be acquired by Linden Capital Partners.
DenMat to acquire PeriOptix
DenMat has signed a purchase agreement to acquire all outstanding stock of PeriOptix Inc.
"PeriOptix is widely respected for its superior clinical vision solutions," said Steven Semmelmayer, chief executive officer of DenMat. "From high-resolution lightweight loupes to the award-winning high-intensity Solaris LED headlight, PeriOptix empowers clinicians to see things better. Their innovative products are a perfect fit for dentists committed to exceptional restorative and other treatments."
"We are very excited that DenMat has selected us to join in its mission to enhance clinical performance by healthcare professionals through high-quality, innovative and differentiated products," added Keith Tholin, president and co-founder of PeriOptix.
Survey results: What patients like and don't like about the dental office
Treating dentists generate the most positive comments about a dental office among both male and female patients, according to a survey of dental hygienists in RDH eVillage, a sister publication of Proofs. The fees assessed by dental offices prompt the most negative comments by patients of both genders.
Overall, 276 dental professionals participated in the RDH eVillage survey, including 262 dental hygienists.
Male and female patients vary slightly in positive comments on other aspects of a dental office. Male patients will typically praise another staff member, for example, while women comment on the appearance of the office.
Specific perks about dental office appointments that were favored by the opposite sexes included:
Female patients like warm lavender towels at end of appointment, updated decor in operatories, dental technology, and time management.
Male patients like time management, televisions and games in office, and dental technology.
On the flip side, the costs associated with a dental appointment are the most likely to generate negative comments, with a greater percentage of male patients leading the grumbling. A third of the hygienists said female patients comment negatively on another staff member.
A majority (60%) of the respondents said dental staffs are in a "good mood most of the time during office hours." The other 40% did not agree with the "most of the time" evaluation. The survey inquired who is the most likely to be the "dark cloud" hanging over the office's mood. In chronological order, the staff members who are the most likely to be in a bad mood are the office manager, dental assistant, front office staff member, the doctor, another dental hygienist, and the hygienist responding to the survey.
Global Dental Science signs Canadian distribution agreement
Global Dental Science, LLC (GDS), creators of AvaDent Digital Dentures, today announced the signing of a distribution agreement with Clinical Research Dental Supplies & Services Inc. (CRD) of London Ontario, Canada. Under the agreement CRD will handle the sales and distribution of all AvaDent Digital Denture products to dentists throughout Canada.
"We are thrilled to be working with Peter Jordan and the CRD team to bring the world's first and only digital CAD CAM denture and removable platform to the Canadian market," said Tim Thompson, president and chief executive officer of Global Dental Science. "It's an important step in the growth of our company and our ability to service the Canadian market."
Clinical Research Dental is the exclusive Canadian distributor for a number of manufacturers including Clinician's Choice, Ultradent, Cosmedent, Triodent, BioClear, Optident, and Ribbond.
Sirona, Patterson extend and expand technology partnership with PDS
Sirona and Patterson Dental have extended and expanded their technology partnership with Pacific Dental Services, Inc.
Pacific Dental Services, Inc. supports more than 300 dental practices in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, and Texas. As a group, PDS-supported offices have implemented Sirona's CEREC technology system and are the world's largest network of CEREC users having completed more than 500,000 CEREC restorations to date. In addition to facilitating the use of CEREC equipment for its affiliated practices, PDS will recommend that its affiliated practices implement other Sirona technologies including Schick by Sirona intraoral sensors, Sirona Lasers and Sirona extraoral panoramic imaging devices.
Given the significant number of PDS-supported owner-dentists who have chosen to adopt these Sirona technologies for their dental practices to date, combined with the anticipated growth in the number of PDS-supported offices, the parties anticipate that the number of PDS-supported offices utilizing Sirona technologies could exceed 600 during the life of the agreement.
"We are pleased to announce the expansion of our relationship with Pacific Dental Services. PDS' supported owner dentists have embraced Sirona technology as a core differentiator and growth enabler and continues to rapidly grow its footprint, with the plans to affiliate with 60 new practices in 2013," said Jeff Slovin, president of Sirona. "Already more than 100,000 patients per year receive CEREC treatment at PDS-supported dental practices and we anticipate that this will double within the term of our agreement."
Dr. Fresh acquires REACH brand manual toothbrush line
Dr. Fresh LLC has acquired REACH brand manual toothbrushes from the Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. The sale includes rights in the U.S., its territories, the Caribbean, and Canada. The acquisition does not include REACH brand floss or other interdental products.
"REACH is an iconic family brand that is a strong complement to our existing portfolio. At Dr. Fresh, we are capable of moving quickly with brand innovation, resulting in leading edge, high performance products at very affordable prices," said Doug Corbett, president and chief executive officer of Dr. Fresh LLC.
