Dental Products Report-2015-05-01

Change is inevitable, and it frequently comes painfully to the forefront of our existence.

Every practice is a little different in terms of the role the hygienist plays in the grand scheme of helping deliver good oral health care to patients. Some dental offices have the hygienist performing a higher level of care, while others may have the hygiene staff focus more on cleanings, diagnostics and patient education. 

The insurance aging report is one of the least favorite reports for administrators to run, but is so important for keeping up your practice’s cash flow.

Dental office websites often have financial sections that state, “You are responsible for knowing your insurance benefits, but we will help you file claims” or, “We’re happy to help you with your claims, but you are responsible for knowing your plan details.”

Two dental professionals, Simon Hearne, international vice president of 3M ESPE Dental, and Tim Rogan, vice president of marketing and merchandise for Patterson Dental, speak about gray market dental products.

As the population continues to age, more patients will turn to implants to replace missing teeth rather than ill-fitting dentures or partials. These patients are more educated about implants than ever before, and they’re excited about the possibilities they offer, from a more confident smile to the ability to eat with no pain or discomfort.

Three million people in the United States have implants, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and that number is growing by 500,000 a year. With an implant success rate of 98 percent, the U.S. dental implant and prosthetic market is projected to reach $6.4 billion by 2018.

While his staff members use them on a regular basis, Dr. Thomas Trinkner also likes to use his curing light quite a bit. With a family practice that is dedicated to cosmetics and reconstruction, the cosmetic dentistry pioneer reaches for his Bluephase Style LED curing light all the time and loves that he can count on it for consistent results.

Dr. Howard Listopad, DDS, practices at Listopad & Finder DDS PA in Coral Springs, Fla.

Dental labs accomplish amazing things. 

We asked Dr. Daniel Etheridge and his assistant, Shannon Pace Brinker, CDA, CDD, of Greenbrier Dental Center in Chesapeake, Va., about their use of 3M™ ESPE™ Imprint™ 4 Preliminary Impression Material, 3M™ ESPE™ Imprint™ 4 VPS Impression Material and 3M™ ESPE™ Protemp™ Plus Temporization Material. 

When considering ergonomics, one does not often think of some rather important considerations.