5 great products we saw at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) meeting in San Francisco

After taking in the sights and sounds of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) annual session in San Francisco, as well as a new favorite restaurant in the Union Square district, I decided to set my sights on the AAO exhibit hall and see what products were grabbing the attendees’ attention.

Here are five products that caught my eye (and the eyes of those who attended the AAO meeting).

Hu-Friedy’s Clear Collection for Clear Aligners

One of our contributors was so excited that she grabbed me and brought me over to the Hu-Friedy booth to show me this line of instruments. What I saw were four instruments that could, simply put, help orthodontics become easier. According to the manufacturer, the Clear Collection consists of innovative instruments designed to accent, individualize, and optimize the biomechanics of the “invisible” aligner experience.

Take a look at the video we shot on the AAO show floor to learn more about Hu-Friedy’s Clear Collection…

RELATED: Hu-Friedy launches sterilization container line

i-CAT’s new 3D treatment planning software

Known for its forward-thinking products, i-CAT seems to have done it again with its new Tx STUDIO 5.4 treatment planning software. From airway analysis to dental implants and from orthodontics to surgical procedures, this new software is said to deliver a host of new and powerful treatment tools for GPs and specialists.

What’s one of the coolest things about this in my mind? The ability to simulate a sinus bone graft in just two clicks while also gaining the approximate graft volume. #MindBlown

Free Webinar from i-CAT: Understanding medical billing and its relationship with 3D scanning

While in San Francisco, I caught up with Dr. Aaron Molen to talk about i-CAT and what it’s done for his practice…

RELATED: Hear more from Dr. Molen about the i-CAT FLX

Also, as an aside, you have to see the “Saving the Canines” promotion that i-CAT held in San Francisco. I have a soft spot for animals and when I saw shelter dogs in the booth and the company raising money for them to have a better life, that was a pretty awesome moment.

3M Unitek’s APC Flash-Free Adhesive Coated Appliance System

When you think of 3M, innovation often comes to mind (there’s a reason why this company has been named the most innovative in the industry year after year after year). The APC Flash-Free System from 3M Unitek continues that legacy of innovation that has helped so many dental practices.

According to the manufacturer, APC Flash-Free lowers bond failure rate and protects enamel under the adhesive. It also reportedly makes debonding and adhesive remnant clean-up easier and improves the patient bonding/debonding experience.

I could elaborate, but you’ll learn much more from the expert at the 3M Unitek booth in San Francisco…

RELATED: 3M Unitek launches online interactive training site

The iTero element intraoral scanner

When you walk up to a booth and a crowd is gathered watching a demonstration, it definitely draws your attention. When I saw the practitioners gathered around looking at this new intraoral scanner, it caught my eye … and so did the new product.

iTero has built a name in the technology ranks and the iTero element is the perfect way to bring this technology into the practice with a smaller footprint. Additionally, it’s been designed to give orthodontists reportedly the best workflow with the Invisalign system and the exclusive Invisalign Outcome Simulator. It’s been said that Invisalign cases that start with an iTero scan have seven times fewer fit issues than those started with traditional impressions. Nice.

To learn more about this new product, check out our exclusive sneak peek below…

RELATED: Using the iTero with ATLANTIS abutments

Carestream's CS 8100SC scanning cephalometric imaging system

We first saw this at the Carestream booth at the California Dental Association spring session in Anaheim. It was definitely worth another look two weeks later.

RELATED: 9 cool products we saw at CDA South and Lab Day West

This new system is built on the award-winning technology of the CS 8100 panoramic system and allows practitioners to add digital cephalometric imaging to their practice for more diagnostic capabilities.

In addition to its compact design, the system reportedly features the fastest scanning times of any cephalometric unit on the market (up to 80 percent faster). Short exposure times reduce patient dose and the risk of motion blur, making it an ideal unit to use with young patients.

Check out our exclusive look at it from the AAO show floor…