New products, technologies impact 2020 Yankee Dental Congress

This time of year is among the best for dental clinicians looking to get hands-on instruction about new products and techniques, as well as a great opportunity to see up close many of the latest and greatest product offerings.

The Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting returns to McCormick Place West Convention Center from Feb. 20-22. Leading up to Midwinter, however, was last week’s Yankee Dental Congress at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Dental Products Report was among the 400 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of new dental products and technologies-from the latest toothbrushes, toothpastes, mouth rinses, and oral hygiene products for consumers to dental office chairs, lasers, X-ray machines, cameras, and CAD/CAM systems for 3D printing.

But the DPR team was also on hand to check out some of these exciting new product offerings and below we’re sharing just a few of the numerous innovative products we saw at Yankee Dental Congress. Some of these new offerings will be included in our Chicago Midwinter New Products Roundup in the March 2020 issue of Dental Products Report and, as always, you can find new product launches and news on our website at www.dentalproductsreport.com.

Related Reading: Advancing the Vision at Yankee Dental Congress® 2020

MiTi Digital Scanning Bundle
Dentalree, which offers products and technologies for both the dental and dental laboratory industries, sat down with Dental Products Report in Boston to talk about multiple new products, including Dentalree’s MiTi Digital Scanning Bundle which is designed to provide a “Practical Path to Digital” in an easy-to-use, economical solution.

Enjoy the advantages of being fully digital without the costs, fees and frustrations of inter-oral scanning. The unique, patented MiTi Digital Scanning VPS, together with the affordable,Shining 3D Desktop Scanner makes this possible today, according to the company. 

Produce reliable, accurate digital files for immediate email to your lab. Additionally, you can use on your own 3D printer or milling machine. Scanning can be done easily and quickly by your assistant. The emailed file saves the time and cost of model pour-up, shipping and storage. 

Dentalree offers the MiTi Digital Scanning VPS plus Shining Desktop Scanner Autoscan-DS EX Pro bundle for a cost of $6,995. Distributed by Dentalree.com International Inc., more information is available at www.dentalree.com.

The company also offers a wide array of burs, polishers, impressioning systems and recently developed a new open tray to work with the digital scanning solution.

Mouth Kote Remint
Dr. Francis Parnell of Parnell Pharmaceuticals from San Rafael, Calif., was in Boston explaining the benefits of the company’s new remineralizing spray formulated to relieve dry mouth. Mouth Kote Remint is proven to protect against tooth decay, remineralize and restore enamel, and to moisturize and soothe. The dry mouth spray is formulated with bio-available minerals, including calcium and phosphate; refreshing mint flavor and Xylitol; and natural Yerba Santa (moisturizer). For more on the company, you can go to www.parnellpharm.com.

NightLase from Fotona
Sleep dentistry and snoring solutions are big in the industry and laser maker Fotona was at Yankee Dental Congress sharing information on how the LightWalker laser’s Fotona NightLase therapy is designed to provide a patient-friendly laser treatment for increasing the quality of a patient’s sleep. NightLase can reduce the effects of and decrease the amplitude of snoring by means of a gentle laser treatment of the mucosa tissue.

Fotona’s patented laser modality optimizes the length of laser pulses, allowing for the safe penetration of heat into the oral mucosa tissue. It is gentle enough to be used on the sensitive tissue inside the mouth, but strong enough to provide clinically efficacious heating, according to the company.

With proper training NightLase reportedly has a high success rate in producing a positive change in sleep patterns. Research has shown that NightLase can reduce and attenuate snoring and provides an effective, non-invasive way to lessen the effects of snoring.

For more on NightLase as well as the full line of dental laser applications available, visit Fotona.com/us.

CBCT prominent as usual
There were plenty of vendors showcasing cone beam cat scan (CBCT) and other digital imaging systems in Boston, including Dentsply Sirona, Carestream Dental, ACTEON North America, Air Techniques, Planmeca, KaVo Kerr, Video Dental Concepts, NewTom (Cefla), and HDX Will.

NewTom product specialist Jim Norton demonstrated the NewTom GiANO HR system on the trade show floor.

A flexible device integrating innovative technologies and backed by NewTom’s experience and specific expertise, GiANO ensures precise diagnostics in every situation. Equipped with a relocatable sensor, a newly conceived teleradiographic system and three easily upgraded 3D configurations, GiANO is said to meet dentistry’s principal diagnostic requirements.

Jim Norton shows Dental Products Report some of the features of the NewTom GiANO HR 3D imaging system last week in Boston. Photos by Stan Goff.

NNT software provides specific instruments and interfaces for different diagnostic applications: data acquired during scanning is processed in just a few simple steps to produce 3D images.

Low-dose protocols, SafeBeamTM technology and servo-assisted alignment ensure low radiation doses to safeguard patient health. A choice of two different emission levels lets users adjust patient exposure by accounting for the actual diagnostic needs, while the new control panel simplifies workflow.

Timothy Todack of HDX Will explained that one of the things that sets his company’s Dentri a Series aside from competitors is the capability of the system to use artificial intelligence to upgrade algorithms, constantly keeping the system’s software up to date. PrecisonMAR™, an optional algorithm, is said to offer unprecedented clarity around metal. 

Renowned for its crisp, ultra-HD Imagery, the Dentri solutions are designed to become an indispensable part of expanding practices. Powerful yet flexible, the Dentri Classic provides a wide Field of View (CBCT FOV 16X8 cm) and crisp panoramic imaging. This allows the entire dentition to be imaged in one scan. Crystal clear imaging algorithms allow the Dentri to provide exceptional quality images for diagnosis, implant planning, and data transfer.

Magnification
The February issue of Dental Products Report includes a product roundup on dental loupes –“The right dental loupes should have you seeing and feeling great”.

The loupes manufacturer booths in Boston had steady traffic last week, indicating that dentists and hygienists are always looking for ways to perform better and to stay healthy in the process. Properly fitted and selected loupes can reduce eye strain, neck and back pain, and can help clinicians extend their careers in a healthy way.

LumaDent's Jose Gallardo demonstrated some of the new features designed to improve ergonomics and magnification.

LumaDent's Jose Gallardo demonstrated some of the new features designed to improve ergonomics and magnification.

Jose Gallardo of Reno, Nevada-based LumaDent told us his company has some exciting new products in the works and that attendees in Chicago will learn about a new loupes solution that he considers an ergonomic game-changer. 

Hu-Friedy’s Green Room
Chicago-based Hu-Friedy debuted its Green Room at Yankee Dental Congress. The VIP GreenLight experience with its exclusive “Green Room” is dedicated to educating current and potential GreenLight members on elements of the program. Last fall the company announced the release of the GreenLight Dental Compliance Center® by Hu-Friedy, a resource to help dental professionals stay on top of infection prevention guidelines and regulations in order to maintain compliance. 

The Green Room in Boston was set up to serve as a thank you to the program members, as well as to offer an educational opportunity outside the main area of the trade show floor. The space served as a meeting place, educational area where questions could be answered, and Hu-Friedy was demonstrating some of the company’s products, including the biofilm management therapy with AIRFLOW.

East coast regional manager Tom Rimmer said the new program is expected to grow and feature additional space and activities during Chicago Midwinter. The space can be used to shoot videos, demonstrate products and techniques, and most importantly help clinicians stay on top of all of their infection control needs and to maintain compliance.

“A big thing I think is that most offices trying to go digital, and if they’re asked to provide their IFUs, their instructions for use, it’s not always an easy thing to track down,” Rimmer said. “If they’re using a Hu-Friedy product, all of that information is there.”

For additional information on Hu-Friedy and infection control products, click here to read an interview with Ken Serota.