Marty Jablow DMD, Dental News and Technology

SURI Launches New Core 1.0 Electric Toothbrush

2026-09-18T16:34:00.000-04:00

SURI, the design-led oral care brand creating everyday essentials designed for life, has launched SURI Core 1.0, a new sonic electric toothbrush designed to give more people an accessible upgrade from manual brushing while maintaining SURI’s focus on performance, design, and reducing waste.

Credit: SURI

Designed with dentists and informed by consumer feedback and everyday brushing routines, SURI Core 1.0 combines effective sonic cleaning with a streamlined design and alternative materials. The new electric toothbrush features SURI’s signature plant-based brush heads and a lightweight bio-circular handle.

“At SURI, we’ve always believed that exceptional oral care should be experienced by as many people as possible,” says Co-Founder Gyve Safavi. “Core represents an important evolution for us, bringing the same great clean and thoughtfully designed features to a broader audience.”

SURI Core 1.0 joins the company’s SURI Pro 2.0 sonic toothbrush, offering consumers two options for their daily oral care routine. While the Pro 2.0 features a durable aluminum body, matching plant-based brush head, and UV-C Cleaning Travel Case, Core 1.0 is designed around everyday performance, minimal design, and portability.

The SURI Core 1.0 handle is made using more than 90% bio-circular material. Like other SURI toothbrushes, it uses plant-based brush heads that can be returned for recycling through SURI’s mail-back program in the UK and US.

According to SURI, Core 1.0 has been clinically tested to remove 100% more plaque than a manual toothbrush. The sonic electric toothbrush also features a built-in haptic pressure sensor and two-minute brushing timer to support effective daily brushing.

SURI Core 1.0 provides up to four weeks of battery life on a single charge and operates at under 65 dB. A compact wireless charging pebble and magnetic mirror mount are designed to save counter space, while a built-in button lock and plant-based head cover make the toothbrush convenient for travel.

SURI Core 1.0 is available in four colors: Haze (Green), Ember (Orange), Nightfall (Blue), and Moonrise (Gray). The toothbrush is priced at $75 and is available through SURI and Amazon.

Every SURI Core 1.0 toothbrush is covered by the company’s 100-day money-back guarantee.

Available in 4 colors: Haze (Green), Ember (Orange), Nightfall (Blue), and Moonrise (Gray). SURI Core 1.0 is available for $75 at trysuri.com and Amazon.com.

SURI Core 1.0 Key Features

SURI Core 1.0 includes a range of features designed for everyday oral care, including:

Clinically tested to remove 100% more plaque than a manual toothbrush
Haptic pressure sensor and two-minute brushing timer
Up to four weeks of battery life on a single charge
Handle made using more than 90% bio-circular material
Plant-based brush heads with SURI’s mail-back recycling program in the UK and US
Four color options: Haze, Ember, Nightfall, and Moonrise
Quiet sonic cleaning at under 65 dB
Magnetic mirror mount
Button lock and plant-based travel cap
USB-C wireless induction charging pebble

SURI launched its award-winning sonic electric toothbrush in 2022. The company focuses on combining high-performance oral care, thoughtful product design, and materials intended to reduce waste. SURI says its toothbrush has received numerous accolades, including The Dezeen People’s Choice Award for Product Design, FMC’s Dental Brand of the Year, the Red Dot Design Award, the Marie Claire Sustainability Award, and recognition among Fast Company’s Top 10 Consumer Goods Companies of 2025.

Dental Care Alliance Renews Philips Sonicare Partnership

2026-09-17T11:15:00.000-04:00

Dental Care Alliance (DCA), one of the nation’s leading dental support organizations, has renewed its partnership with Philips Oral Healthcare for a second consecutive year. As part of the collaboration, Philips Sonicare has once again been selected as the Official Toothbrush of the 2026 President’s Club, DCA’s premier recognition event honoring its highest-performing affiliated dentists and practice leaders.

The continued partnership reflects a shared commitment to clinical excellence, oral healthcare innovation, patient education, and exceptional patient outcomes.

According to DCA, Philips has been an important partner in supporting clinicians with evidence-based innovation, oral healthcare solutions, educational resources, and patient engagement initiatives. These resources are designed to help reinforce healthy oral care habits both inside and outside the dental practice.

As the Official Toothbrush of President’s Club 2026, Philips Sonicare played a prominent role in celebrating DCA’s top-performing dental professionals. The annual event recognizes affiliated clinicians and practice leaders who demonstrate excellence in patient care, leadership, and practice performance.

Philips Oral Healthcare said the continued collaboration reflects its shared commitment with DCA to helping people achieve better oral health. The company will continue supporting dental professionals with innovative oral healthcare solutions designed to promote preventive care and healthier smiles.

Together, Dental Care Alliance and Philips Oral Healthcare remain focused on empowering dental professionals with trusted clinical technology and educational resources while helping patients establish healthy habits that support lifelong oral health.

About Dental Care Alliance

Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, Dental Care Alliance is a leading dental support organization with a mission to advance the practice of dentistry by partnering with and supporting dental professionals who create a lifetime of healthy smiles. DCA supports more than 400 affiliated dental practices and more than 900 dentists across 24 states.

About Philips Oral Healthcare

Philips Oral Healthcare is dedicated to improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in oral health. Philips Sonicare power toothbrushes are backed by decades of scientific research and are trusted by dental professionals worldwide for delivering clinical results.

SprintRay Introduces Midas Restore™, a New Definitive Restorative Material Engineered for Midas Digital Press

2026-09-16T08:55:00.000-04:00

Glass ceramic and zirconia-filled restorative material combines advanced material science with SprintRay's Midas Digital Press technology for same-visit crowns, inlays, onlays and veneers

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SprintRay, a dental technology company advancing dental 3D printing and digital manufacturing, today announced the commercial launch of SprintRay Midas Restore™, a new FDA-cleared ceramic and zirconia-filled definitive restorative resin engineered specifically for the Midas Digital Press.

SprintRay Midas Restore, a new FDA-cleared glass ceramic and zirconia-filled restorative material combines advanced material science with SprintRay's Midas Digital Press technology for same-visit crowns, inlays, onlays and veneers

Unlike restorative materials engineered primarily around maximum strength, Midas Restore was designed around how a definitive restoration polishes, wears, flexes and functions once adhesively bonded to remaining tooth structure, while maintaining the required clinical strength.

With over 75% filler by weight, Midas Restore brings glass ceramic and zirconia together in a formulation designed around what matters in definitive restorative dentistry: strength where it counts, resistance to occlusal wear, lasting polish and natural aesthetics. The material enables dentists to produce definitive crowns, inlays, onlays and veneers through a streamlined same-visit digital workflow.

"If we could 3D print enamel, this is it."

The statement captures the design philosophy behind Midas Restore: creating a restorative material that balances polish retention, wear resistance, strength, surface hardness, stiffness, and optical performance while working in concert with the natural tooth.

"Traditional dental 3D printing forces a compromise: the material has to be fluid enough to print, which limits how highly filled it can be," said Amir Mansouri, CEO and Founder of SprintRay. "Midas Restore was designed in our material science lab to address that limitation. By pairing a highly filled glass ceramic and zirconia formulation with Midas Digital Press, we can give clinicians access to a new class of definitive restorative materials and bring them into an efficient same-visit workflow."

Designed Around the Bonded Tooth

For decades, restorative materials have been engineered around bulk strength. Glass ceramics and zirconia are brittle, so their primary defense against crack propagation is shear strength — which in turn means more tooth reduction and stiffness well beyond what function requires.

Midas Restore takes a different approach. Its resin matrix is designed to arrest cracks rather than simply resist them, and its flexural modulus sits closer to dentin than to a glass ceramic. Once adhesively bonded to remaining tooth structure, the restoration becomes part of a system in which material and tooth distribute function together, rather than concentrating stress at the interface.

SprintRay laboratory testing demonstrated that Midas Restore retained 98% of its initial gloss after 5,000 simulated toothbrush abrasion cycles, and delivered five times the wear resistance of SprintRay Ceramic Crown over 200,000 cycles — wear performance comparable to a milled hybrid ceramic. In biaxial flexural testing, Midas Restore reached a maximum strength of 215 MPa, the highest of any SprintRay definitive restorative material.¹ The surface hardness was measured to be greater than 80 HV, statistically equivalent to a leading nanofilled direct composite and roughly double that of previous-generation printed restorative resins. Its translucency parameter of 13.5 places it in the same range as milled lithium disilicate HT.²

"We engineered Midas Restore around how a restoration actually behaves once it is bonded to a tooth, not around a single strength number," said Hossein Bassir, Chief Product Officer at SprintRay. "Filler content, polish retention, wear resistance, modulus and optics are not separate features. They are one system, and the tooth is part of it."

Made to Be Pressed

Achieving this combination of properties requires a filler loading that conventional dental 3D printing cannot process. Highly filled formulations are highly viscous, and viscous material does not flow into a print zone on its own.

SprintRay's Digital Press Stereolithography (DPS) technology actively pushes highly viscous material into the print zone from sealed capsules. That is what allows Midas to work with filler loads over 75% by weight — and it is why Midas Restore is engineered exclusively for the Midas Digital Press.

Built for Same-Visit Dentistry

Midas Restore brings definitive restorative material into a streamlined digital workflow spanning scanning and design through pressing, post-curing, polishing and bonding.

Clinicians can press multiple units from a single capsule, post-cure in four minutes, and polish restorations to final with two wheels in under two minutes — with no glaze or oven required. Midas Restore can also be adjusted, added to and repaired intraorally before adhesive cementation, supporting definitive delivery without a provisional, second appointment or lab bill.

Midas Restore builds on the Midas Digital Press platform, introduced in 2024. Since its launch, clinicians across 33 countries have produced more than 100,000 restorations with Midas. Early clinical evaluation of Midas Restore has also demonstrated straightforward finishing and polishability.

"With Midas Restore, I can achieve a beautiful, lasting surface gloss in just two or three quick polishing steps with a standard polishing system," said Andrew C. Johnson, DDS, MDS, CDT, FACP, Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and prosthodontist at OmniSmile Digital Dental Solutions, who participated in the early clinical evaluation of Midas Restore. "That combination of durability, aesthetics and straightforward finishing is what I expect as a clinician from a definitive restorative material. This is an exciting time for digital dentistry."

Availability

Midas Restore will be available beginning September 1, 2026, in the United States in shades A1, A2, A3, B1 and C2. A three-pack of Single-Unit Capsules is $135 and will be available through the SprintRay Store and authorized SprintRay distribution partners.

Midas Restore is validated for use with the SprintRay Midas Digital Press and SprintRay NanoCure. In the United States, it is FDA 510(k) cleared (K260661), Class II, Rx only.

¹ Maximum value. ISO 6872, piston-on-three-balls. Mean 180 MPa. ² Shade A1; other shades may vary.

About SprintRay

SprintRay is a dental technology company specializing in dental 3D printing and digital manufacturing solutions for dental professionals. The SprintRay ecosystem combines dental 3D printers, Digital Press technology, biocompatible dental materials, AI-powered design software and post-processing solutions to help clinicians deliver restorative, prosthetic and appliance-based care in the dental practice.

By developing hardware, software and materials as connected systems, SprintRay is working to make advanced digital dentistry and chairside manufacturing more accessible, efficient and clinically practical at the point of care. For more information, please visit www.SprintRay.com.

DentScribe White Paper Reveals Why Diagnosed Treatment Goes Unscheduled

2026-09-15T10:02:00.000-04:00

New white paper shows Treatment Coordinator Notes can reveal why diagnosed care goes unscheduled and how practices can recover it.

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The dentist diagnosed the treatment. The patient understood the need. The fee was discussed. Then nothing got scheduled.

For most dental practices, that moment disappears.

The central finding is not that coordinators are performing badly. It is that they are performing inconsistently, and that nobody could previously see the pattern. Conversations that covered all five case-acceptance essentials booked at 62%. Conversations that covered three or fewer booked at 10%. The gap is not talent. It is whether a step happened.

DentScribe is making it visible.

DentScribe, the AI platform for dental documentation and production, today released a new white paper showing that the most important production leak in dentistry may not be in the operatory. It may be in the ninety seconds after the doctor leaves the room.

The white paper, "The Last Undocumented Conversation in Dentistry," analyzes structured Treatment Coordinator Notes. These notes document what actually happened after the appointment: whether the treatment plan was reviewed, whether the patient heard a clear financial number, whether payment options were discussed, whether objections were answered, whether scheduling was attempted, and whether next steps were assigned.

The findings are direct:

46% of visits ended with no appointment recorded.
36% never mentioned a way to pay.
Only 21% gave the patient their own out-of-pocket figure.
Complete conversations booked at 6.2× the rate of incomplete conversations.
$65,696 in quoted treatment remained unresolved in the sample.
98 office commitments were made, but none had an owner or due date in the note.

That is the production leak.

Not a bad diagnosis. Not a bad doctor. Not always even a patient refusal.

Often, the conversation simply did not complete.

"Dentistry has excellent systems for recording what was done," said Dr. Vinni K. Singh, DDS, AFAAID, Founder and CEO of DentScribe. "But the decision about whether treatment happens is often made in a conversation that no system records. DentScribe Treatment Coordinator Notes change that."

DentScribe Treatment Coordinator Notes capture the post-appointment conversation and structure it into seven sections: treatment plan review, financial discussion, payment options, objection handling, emotional support, scheduling, and next steps.

That structure is the breakthrough.

A free-text note helps one person remember. A structured note helps the whole practice learn.

With structured TC Notes, a practice owner can ask:

Did we explain the plan?
Did we give the patient the number they actually needed to decide?
Did we offer a way to pay?
Did we ask for a date?
Did we answer the real objection?
Did we promise a callback?
Did anyone own it?

Those questions were previously almost impossible to answer at scale.

DentScribe's white paper shows that complete conversations — those covering the five case-acceptance essentials of plan, financials, payment options, scheduling, and next steps — booked at 62%. Conversations covering three or fewer booked at 10%.

The paper is careful not to treat that as a causal claim. Good conversations are more likely to complete, and completed conversations are more likely to book. But one part of the finding is operationally obvious: a scheduling conversation that never happens cannot produce an appointment.

For DSOs and multi-location groups, the implications are significant. Case acceptance has usually been managed as an outcome metric: measured after the fact, attributed to talent, and addressed with broad training.

DentScribe turns it into a process metric.

Leaders can now see which steps occurred, which steps were skipped, what patients actually objected to, what financial levers were offered, which commitments were made, and which follow-ups are still open.

"You cannot coach what you cannot see," said Dr. Ratinder Paul Singh Ahuja, Ph.D., Board Chair of DentScribe. "DentScribe makes the treatment coordinator conversation visible, measurable, and coachable. That gives DSOs and practice owners a new way to improve production without adding chairs, adding providers, or adding marketing spend."

The white paper found that cost was not always the dominant objection inside the actual TC conversation. In the sample, patients more often asked clinical questions, sought reassurance, or wanted time to think. Fear and discomfort were the least consistently answered category.

That matters because not every objection requires a discount.

Some require clarity.
Some require reassurance.
Some require a phased plan.
Some require financing.
Some require a callback within 72 hours before the diagnosis goes cold.

DentScribe Treatment Coordinator Intelligence helps practices identify those patterns and act on them.

The operating rhythm is simple:

Daily: assign every office commitment from yesterday's notes.
Weekly: work every quoted-but-unbooked case while it is still warm.
Weekly: coach one coordinator on one measurable conversation step.
Monthly: review the top patient friction categories and agree responses.
Quarterly: audit financial clarity: did the patient know what they would pay?

This is not about blaming treatment coordinators. It is about giving them a system.

Treatment coordinators are asked to translate clinical findings into patient decisions. They discuss money, insurance, fear, timing, financing, family input, scheduling, and trust, all while preserving the relationship. DentScribe gives owners and DSOs a constructive way to support that work with real examples, real trends, and real coaching opportunities.

"The goal is not pressure," said Dr. Singh. "The goal is clarity. Patients deserve to understand the care being recommended, the cost, the options, and the next step. Teams deserve feedback based on facts, not guesses."

DentScribe's broader AI platform already helps dental teams generate structured SOAP notes, reduce documentation burden, and turn clinical notes into production insight through CoPilot and GPS. Treatment Coordinator Notes extend that intelligence beyond the operatory and into the business conversation where treatment is either scheduled, delayed, or lost.

The white paper's central argument is simple:

The practice does not lose most of its production in the operatory.
It loses it in the corridor afterwards.

DentScribe is bringing that conversation into the light.

Ready to see the production your practice may be leaving invisible?
Book a demo: https://www.dentscribe.ai/book-a-demo

About DentScribe

DentScribe (SuhaviAI, Inc.) is the AI platform for dental documentation and production. DentScribe automatically generates comprehensive SOAP notes from dentist-patient conversations and publishes them directly into leading practice management systems. With DentScribe CoPilot, those notes become chairside checklists that close care gaps and increase case acceptance. With DentScribe GPS, leaders gain a practice-wide daily brief that turns morning huddles into a reliable engine for production and patient outcomes. Founded by practicing dentist Dr. Vinni K. Singh in Sunnyvale, California, DentScribe helps dentists reclaim time, deliver better care, and grow their practices—without changing how they work. Learn more or book a demo at dentscribe.ai.

Ritter Implant Summit Offers All-Inclusive Training

2026-09-14T08:57:00.000-04:00

Three days. One system. A career-changing shift in how you practice implant dentistry.

The Implant Evolution Summit hits San Antonio January 14–16, 2027. Stay four nights at the historic Gunter Hotel (January 13–17). Breakfast and lunch every day. Cocktail hour every evening. Come to learn. Stay to unwind.

Earn 24 CE credits. Learn from Dr. Joseph Choukroun, Dr. Marcus Abboud, and Dr. Dean Vafiadis. Cover PRF protocols, bone and tissue grafting, CBCT diagnostics, and patient wellness optimization. Get hands-on training and clinical demonstrations.

Walk away certified. Attendees earn Certified Clinician status and become eligible for Ritter’s referral network, which drives targeted marketing and qualified leads within a 20-mile radius of your practice.

This isn’t a lecture series. It’s an all-inclusive experience to sharpen your skills, grow your practice, and push your case success as close to 100% as modern science allows.

Hard Tissue Charting and Natural Voice Perio Added to Overjet Voice

2026-09-11T08:55:00.000-04:00

Dental providers talk through exams naturally while Overjet Voice handles hard tissue findings, perio measurements, and clinical notes directly in the practice management software.

Overjet has announced major enhancements to its Overjet Voice platform: hands-free hard tissue charting and natural voice perio charting. Together, these updates allow providers to conduct an entire exam using natural speech, while Overjet Voice automatically captures periodontal measurements, restorative findings, billing codes, and clinical notes directly into the dental practiceʼs PMS.

“Every dentist wants 2 things: more time focused on the patient, and a chart they can trust when that patient leaves thechair,” Wardah Inam, founder and CEO of Overjet, stated in a press release announcing the updates. “The real unlockwith Overjet Voice has always been that it listens in natural language, however a clinician actually talks, instead offorcing them to learn rigid commands. We already do that for clinical notes and perio. Now we’re doing it for restorativefindings and planned treatment too, so the provider never has to change how they work, the chart just keeps up.”

Hard tissue charting brings the same hands-free approach to restorative exams that Overjet Voice already offers for periocharting and clinical notes. Restorative charting has always been a manual process, providers click through a chart or typenotes mid-exam, or reconstruct it from memory afterward. Now Voice listens throughout the visit, catching findingsmentioned even in passing, and turns what a provider says, decay, existing restorations, missing teeth, planned treatment,into structured odontogram entries the provider reviews on one screen and submits to the PMS with a single click.Practices running Overjet’s Vision AI get a further benefit: when Vision flags a finding on an x-ray, the provider simplyconfirms it out loud and it’s charted the same way, according to Overjet. Hard tissue charting is live today on CareStack,Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Dentrix Core, Dentrix Ascend, and Denticon with more systems to come, included in an existingVoice subscription at no added cost.

“With Overjet, I can focus on what matters most, my patients. I can talk through the exam naturally, listen to their concerns,and give them the attention they deserve

while their chart is documented accurately in real time. It means less time looking at a computer screen and more timehaving a conversation with the patient. Most importantly, it gives me confidence that weʼre capturing the full picture of theiroral health, so we can make informed decisions together and help them feel confident about their care,” said Nasir Sadeghi,DDS, owner, Paladin Dental.

The second update, natural perio charting, removes the rigid, scripted format other AI charting solutions require for periodontal exams. Providers used to call out measurements in a specific sequence using limited commands; anything phrased differently risked being missed. Drawing on insights from hundreds of thousands of periodontal exams and trained across more than 50 million training-token exposures, Overjet Voice now uses an in-house real-time large language model that understands natural phrasing with over 98% accuracy. A hygienist or dentist can talk through a perio exam in their own words and order, the way they always have, and Voice still charts it correctly.

“Natural Voice Perio works great with the newer update. I can even talk to patients while I’m charting now, and it doesn’tmess anything up. It saves me time and makes the whole process so much easier,” stated Carly Burke, CRDH, Northwood Dental.

Hard tissue charting and natural perio charting are available now to every practice on an Overjet Voice subscription, no newhardware, no new workflow to learn. For more information, visit overjet.com.

BioHorizons Introduces New Prolifica Growth Factor

2026-09-10T14:11:00.000-04:00

BioHorizons introduced Prolifica™ allogeneic growth factor to its biomaterials portfolio as a new, advanced option for clinicians to support bone healing and regenerate tissue. A naturally occurring blend of allogeneic growth factors, Prolifica is unique to the dental market because of its preservation of the natural biphasic release of proteins.

In this natural biphasic release process, Prolifica delivers an initial surge of proteins and growth factors to support the initiation of the healing cascade. This is followed by a prolonged, sustained release for continued regenerative support.¹

Prolifica retains a minimum of 16 unique proteins that are known to support different aspects of cell growth, division, and the complex biological processes involved in bone healing and tissue regeneration.^1,2,3,4

Clinicians may use Prolifica in a wide range of applications, including:⁴

Standalone bone grafting procedures
Bone grafting procedures in combination with autologous bone or other forms of allograft bone

“Our customers require an advanced allograft solution to support complex hard tissue regenerative procedures, which are becoming more frequent with the aging population,” said Steve Boggan, president and CEO of BioHorizons. “Prolifica allows us to provide greater peace of mind to surgeons who wish to provide the best possible outcomes for their patients.”

“With Prolifica, we’re able to provide our customers with one of the newest processes on the market,” said Jason Cordell, senior director of biomaterials for BioHorizons. “This solution is processed so that it maintains a high concentration of growth factors.”

Click here for more product details.

About BioHorizons

BioHorizons is one of the largest dental implant companies in the world. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the company has demonstrated its commitment to developing evidence-based and scientifically proven products since 1994.

BioHorizons offers dental implant treatment providers around the world a comprehensive portfolio of solutions based on a strong foundation of science, innovation, and service. This portfolio includes dental implants, prosthetics, biomaterials, and digital solutions—everything a clinician needs to provide tooth replacement therapy. The BioHorizons Digital Ecosystem ensures the company is there to support customers throughout the entire treatment process—from planning and scanning to surgery and through to restoration—all with the support of a highly trained Customer Care team.

BioHorizons helps dental specialists and dentists restore smiles all over the world.

References

Data on file at the legal manufacturer, Xtant Medical, MRK-000049 (B) 8/25.
Toosi S, Behravan J. Osteogenesis and bone remodeling: A focus on growth factors and bioactive peptides. Biofactors. 2020 May;46(3):326-340. doi: 10.1002/biof.1598. Epub 2019 Dec 19. PMID: 31854489.
Xu J, Yu L, Liu F, Wan L, Deng Z. The effect of cytokines on osteoblasts and osteoclasts in bone remodeling in osteoporosis: a review. Front Immunol. 2023 Jul 5;14:1222129. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1222129. PMID: 37475866; PMCID: PMC10355373.
Prolifica’s Instructions for Use (IFU).

Dentsply Sirona Reports Strong PrimeTaper EV Results

2026-09-09T14:10:00.000-04:00

A multicenter post-market clinical study conducted across five international centers demonstrated 98.5% implant survival, progressive increases in implant stability, and minimal marginal bone level changes with the PrimeTaper EV implant system. These findings support predictable early clinical performance and reinforce the strength of Dentsply Sirona’s evidence-based approach to implant design.

Dentsply Sirona announces the results of a new multicenter, prospective, post-market clinical study¹ evaluating the one-year performance of the PrimeTaper EV implant system. Conducted across five centers in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, the United States, and Germany, the open-label, single-arm study followed 136 patients from implant placement through permanent restoration and one year of follow-up after permanent restoration.

The study assessed implant survival, stability (measured by insertion torque and resonance frequency analysis), marginal bone level changes, and safety. One year after permanent restoration, implant survival was 98.5% (134 of 136 implants), with an implant success rate of 95.6%. Machine-driven insertions, representing 94.9% of cases, achieved a mean final insertion torque of 31.2 ± 12.7 Ncm. Implant stability, measured by ISQ, increased from 71.8 ± 11.2 at placement to 79.3 ± 6.9 at permanent restoration. Mean marginal bone level changes were minimal, at -0.16 ± 0.51 mm from placement to one-year post-restoration. No serious adverse device effects were reported during the study period.

“For four decades, Dentsply Sirona has invested in clinical research to ensure that innovation is supported by scientific evidence. These encouraging one-year results demonstrate that the PrimeTaper EV Implant System supports clinicians in delivering predictable performance with excellent survival rates, progressive stability, and minimal marginal bone changes. They further reinforce our commitment to developing solutions that help clinicians achieve predictable treatment outcomes for their patients,” said Rainer Seemann, Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer at Dentsply Sirona.

A Continued Commitment to Scientific Research

The study’s findings further strengthened Dentsply Sirona’s long-standing commitment to evidence-based dentistry and continuous scientific research. The company’s implant portfolio is supported by an extensive body of scientific evidence and clinical publications. Since launching its Company Initiated Study program in 1985, Dentsply Sirona has conducted 64 clinical studies, contributing to a scientific foundation that spans four decades of research and includes outcomes from the first generation of Dentsply Sirona implants, first published in 1992.

Beyond its own research program, Dentsply Sirona supports independent research through its Investigator Initiated Studies (IIS) Program, which helps fund and facilitate clinical, case series, in vitro, and mechanical studies led by clinicians and universities worldwide. Between 2003 and 2025, the program received 1,146 study proposals from investigators in 45 countries. Today, the IIS program supports more than 170 active studies involving over 140 investigators across more than 25 countries.

Together, these programs contribute to Dentsply Sirona’s broader scientific footprint, which includes more than 3,000 peer-reviewed publications involving products across its implant and prosthetic portfolio, as well as data from over 40,000 documented patients and 125,000 documented implants.

Dentsply Sirona Implants Publication List, available at Implants Science | Dentsply Sirona USA.

REFERENCE

Temmerman A, Guljé F, Toia M, Barwacz C, Krebs M. One-Year Clinical Performance and Insertion Torque Pattern of a Contemporary Tapered Implant System: A Multicentre Prospective Post Market Study. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2026 Apr 17;0(0):1-33. doi: 10.11607/jomi.11731. – This study was fully sponsored by Dentsply Sirona.

About Dentsply Sirona

Dentsply Sirona is the world’s largest diversified manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, with over a century of innovation and service to the dental industry and patients worldwide. Dentsply Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets a comprehensive solutions offering, including dental and oral health products as well as other consumable medical devices under a strong portfolio of world-class brands. Dentsply Sirona’s innovative products provide high-quality, effective, and connected solutions to advance patient care and deliver better and safer dental care. Dentsply Sirona is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Company’s shares are listed in the United States on Nasdaq under the symbol XRAY.

Visit www.dentsplysirona.com for more information about Dentsply Sirona and its products.

Sonendo Launches Flex Program to Lower Costs

2026-09-08T14:09:00.000-04:00

Sonendo, Inc. (“Sonendo” or the “Company”), a leading dental technology company and developer of the GentleWave® System, recently announced several key initiatives to support the drive toward cash flow break-even.

First, the Company has fully rolled out a new commercial model, the Flex Program, designed to lower the per-case cost of root canal treatment and reduce the upfront cost of adopting the GentleWave System. Under the program, doctors can acquire a GentleWave console effectively with no equipment cost by committing to ongoing procedure instrument purchases. Flex complements the Company’s growing portfolio of endodontic consumables, providing practices with a more integrated and cost-effective solution.

“Our new commercial strategy allows endodontists to deliver best-in-class endodontic care in a more cost-effective way,” said Bob Guyatt, Senior Vice President, Commercial, of Sonendo. “With Flex, we’ve made it easier for endodontists to adopt the GentleWave System by creating a more flexible, economically attractive path to ownership. The result is fewer financial barriers and broader access to GentleWave Root Canal Therapy.”

Second, the Company has successfully closed a new credit arrangement consisting of a $15.5 million senior secured term loan, with access to an additional $4.5 million of committed capital, along with $5.0 million of subordinated financing. The proceeds from the financing were used to refinance the Company’s existing $13.7 million senior debt facility with Perceptive Credit Holdings III, LP, further strengthening Sonendo’s capital structure and providing additional financial flexibility to support its commercial and strategic initiatives.

“This refinancing marks an important step in strengthening our balance sheet and enhancing our financial flexibility,” said Bjarne Bergheim, Chief Executive Officer of Sonendo. “With a streamlined capital structure and access to additional capital, we are well-positioned to continue executing on our commercial strategy, expand adoption of the GentleWave System, and drive long-term value for our stakeholders.”

Third, the Company has continued to streamline its operations and improve organizational efficiency. These initiatives have resulted in a leaner, more focused organization, increased productivity across the business, and a significantly improved cost structure.

“We remain acutely focused on disciplined operational execution, reducing operating expenses while driving greater efficiency and productivity across the organization,” said John McGaugh, Chief Operating Officer of Sonendo. “We have made significant progress in creating a leaner and more scalable operating model while continuing to execute on our commercial objectives. Combined with continued gross margin improvements, these actions have strengthened the business and accelerated our path toward cash flow breakeven.”

The Company recorded revenues of $14.5 million¹ for the six months ending June 30, 2026. Adjusted EBITDA² loss for the six months ending June 30, 2026, was $2.8 million¹ compared to $6.9 million¹ for the six months ending June 30, 2025, an improvement of $4.1 million, or 60%.

About Sonendo

Sonendo is a commercial-stage medical technology company focused on saving teeth from tooth decay, the most prevalent chronic disease globally. Sonendo develops and manufactures the GentleWave System, an innovative technology platform designed to treat tooth decay by cleaning and disinfecting the microscopic spaces within teeth without the need to remove tooth structure. The system utilizes a proprietary mechanism of action, which combines procedure fluid optimization, broad-spectrum acoustic energy, and advanced fluid dynamics, to debride and disinfect deep regions of the complex root canal system in a less invasive procedure that preserves tooth structure. The clinical benefits of the GentleWave System when compared to conventional methods of root canal therapy include improved clinical outcomes, such as superior cleaning that is independent of root canal complexity and tooth anatomy, high and rapid rates of healing, and minimal to no post-operative pain. In addition, the GentleWave System can improve the workflow and economics of dental practices.

For more information about Sonendo and the GentleWave System, please visit www.sonendo.com.

To find a GentleWave doctor in your area, please visit www.gentlewave.com.

Marram Ventures Launches as Standalone Healthcare Venture Firm

2026-09-04T13:38:00.000-04:00

Scott Lancaster

Mariya Filipova

$25 million deployed in 24 months across portfolio companies backed by Mayo Clinic, a16z and Khosla Ventures

SHERIDAN, WY, UNITED STATES, June 30, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Marram Ventures today announced its establishment as a standalone venture capital firm following the transition of Arcis Fund I and related investment management activities from The 4100 Group. The independent firm manages committed capital through Arcis Fund I and advises on additional venture and healthcare investments at The 4100 Group, representing approximately $80 million in total assets under management or advisement.

Marram is built around a conviction still rare in venture: that the body is one connected system, and the companies worth backing are those treating it that way. The firm invests in whole-person healthcare — across physical, mental and oral health — committing $1–3 million checks in Seed through Series B companies.

Marram is led by Partners Scott Lancaster, MD, MBA, a radiologist turned venture investor whose career bridges clinical practice and institutional capital, and Mariya Filipova, MBA, a healthcare executive with deep roots in Care Convergence — the practice of treating physical, mental, and oral health as one connected system rather than separate silos. Operating from Michigan and Cambridge, Massachusetts, the firm sits at the intersection of its founders’ networks and the country’s densest concentration of clinical and life-science research.

Lancaster began investing at Spectrum Health Ventures, the venture arm of one of Michigan’s largest health systems, where he led investments including Gauss Surgical (acquired by Stryker, $160M exit), Ciitizen (acquired by Invitae, $325M exit), and Vynca, now a multistate palliative care provider. He went on to build and lead the venture platform at The 4100 Group, assembling the portfolio and team that form the foundation of Marram Ventures.

Filipova brings a rare combination — payer, operator, and architect of the investment thesis — to Marram’s mandate. As Vice President of Innovation at Anthem (now Elevance Health), she launched programs translating emerging science into large-scale clinical and business products, following earlier roles as Managing Director at Deloitte and analyst at Barclays Capital.

“As a radiologist, I’ve seen firsthand where care delivery breaks down — and where technology can change outcomes for patients. Establishing Marram Ventures as an independent firm is the natural next step in our growth. With a dedicated structure, a focused mandate and substantial dry powder, we’re better positioned than ever to back exceptional founders and deliver lasting returns for our limited partners.”
— Scott Lancaster, MD, MBA, Partner, Marram Ventures

“Scott and Mariya have built a remarkable portfolio and a clear, differentiated thesis. Establishing them in an independent structure is the right next step for both organizations. We are proud to remain a strategic investor in Marram and to support the team as they build on this strong foundation.”
— Mike Gilmore, CEO, The 4100 Group

“Deploying $25 million in 24 months reflects both the strength of our pipeline and the conviction we have in the founders we back. This new structure deepens our focus on the founders reconnecting a fragmented system and strengthens our commitment to the limited partners who backed the Care Convergence thesis early.”
— Mariya Filipova, MBA, Partner, Marram Ventures

Marram’s current portfolio reflects that momentum. It includes Clarapath, whose pathology-automation robotics drew a $36 million Series B from investors including Mayo Clinic, Northwell Health and Ochsner; oral systemic health innovator Proclaim (Fresh Health), which raised an oversubscribed Series B led by Khosla Ventures; and Root Functional Medicine, which recently raised a Series A led by HealthX Ventures. The firm will continue supporting its existing portfolio while pursuing new investments aligned with its thesis.

ABOUT MARRAM VENTURES
Marram Ventures is a healthcare-focused venture capital firm investing in patient-focused, technology-enabled companies across physical, mental and oral health. Led by physician-investor Scott Lancaster, MD, MBA, and Care Convergence expert Mariya Filipova, MBA, the firm partners with founders building solutions that improve patient outcomes and transform care delivery. Learn more at www.marram.vc.

ABOUT THE 4100 GROUP
The 4100 Group is a permanent capital investment company focused on building and supporting businesses across financial services and healthcare. Backed by long-term institutional capital, it partners with management teams to create sustainable value through strategic investment, operational support, and disciplined capital allocation. Learn more at www.the4100group.com.

Root Canal Treatment vs Implants: Survival and Costs in a National Cohort

2026-09-04T09:43:09.805-04:00

Journal of Dentistry

Available online 25 August 2026, 107000

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate tooth/implant survival and function time, as well as costs of root canal treatment versus extraction and replacement through implant therapy in the management of endodontic disease.

Methods

This retrospective register-based cohort study used data from the Swedish Dental Health Register. Adults (≥20 yrs) diagnosed with endodontic disease (2015–2016) and provided with either root canal therapy (ENDO) or extraction and implant-supported replacement (IMPLANT) were followed until 2023. Survival was assessed in propensity score-matched groups (ENDO: 10,654; IMPLANT: 5,327 individuals) using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Function time was expressed through restricted mean survival time (RMST), truncated at 7 yrs. Cumulative costs (3% annual discount applied) were estimated using mixed-effects regression models, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated as cost per additional yr in function.

Results

9-yr survival was 83.4% for ENDO and 97.9% for IMPLANT. RMST was 5.8 yrs for ENDO and 6.6 yrs for IMPLANT and respective mean cumulative costs were USD 1,243 and USD 2,667. With the exception of mandibular anterior sites, IMPLANT showed longer mean function times. The overall ICER was USD 1,874 per yr gained, ranging from USD 1,352 (maxillary molar sites) to USD 4,836 (maxillary anterior sites).

Conclusions

Overall, survival and function time of implants replacing endodontically diseased teeth was greater than that of teeth following root canal treatment. Cumulative costs were higher for implant therapy. At mandibular anterior sites, however, root canal treatment resulted in higher survival and function time, at lower costs.

Clinical significance

While implant-based tooth replacement provided greater survival and function time than root canal treatment in general, benefits came at considerably higher cumulative costs. Site-specific differences were also evident as root canal treatment at anterior sites in the mandible resulted in both higher survival and lower treatment costs.

Proclaim Health Launches the Proclaim Perio Pathway, Powered By OralDNA® Labs

2026-09-03T13:15:00.000-04:00

A simple, repeatable system that finds the gum bacteria driving disease, manages it at home, and proves it's working.

SAN CARLOS, CA, UNITED STATES, August 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Proclaim Health today launched the Proclaim Perio Pathway, powered by OralDNA^® Labs. It's a simple loop: test, manage at home, retest, adjust. The goal is to catch and calm gum inflammation before it contributes to bigger problems like heart disease, cancer, and kidney disease. The Pathway is available through a network of more than 10,000 provider partners.

“With the Proclaim Perio Pathway, clinicians can finally see what's driving oral inflammation, manage it at home, and measure the improvement. This is how oral health becomes part of whole-person care.” Mariya Filipova, CEO of Proclaim Health

Live with two founding partners
The Proclaim System is already in use at Delta Dental of Colorado and at HPU Health, High Point University's network of dental clinics in North Carolina.

“At HPU Health, care doesn't stop when the patient leaves the chair. The Proclaim System works where our clinicians cannot reach, between visits, which is where the disease progresses. That enables consistent daily control of gum inflammation where oral health carries the most weight: older adults, people with limited hand function, patients managing chronic conditions like diabetes, and those undergoing cancer treatment." Ali Shazib, DMD, Dean, Workman School of Dental Medicine, High Point University

How it works
The Proclaim Perio Pathway starts with a 30-second saliva test, done either at a routine visit or at home, that identifies and quantifies the exact bacteria causing gum disease. At home, a 7-second daily routine keeps that inflammation in check. Periodic retesting, which can also be done at home, shows what's working, and the plan adjusts from there.

This fills a real gap. Gum inflammation is a proven driver of health risk elsewhere in the body, but almost nothing has helped patients manage it between dental visits, which is exactly when daily habits matter most.

In a peer-reviewed clinical trial of 192 patients, Proclaim users saw 82% less gum bleeding and 41% less inflammation after 30 days.
Source: Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, February 2023.

“Personalized, measurable care is the future of oral-systemic health. This pathway lets clinicians track disease activity and get patients engaged in their own care.” Ron McGlennen, MD, President & Medical Director, OralDNA^® Labs

Backed by an independent clinical council
Twenty-nine million Americans see a dentist each year but no other doctor, making the dental chair one of the most overlooked entry points to whole-body health. To keep guidance science-based and not tied to any one product, Proclaim is establishing the Care Convergence Council, an independent group of clinical and scientific leaders. Founding members include experts from the American Heart Association, American Society of Nephrology, PDS Health, Nobel Biocare, and High Point University's Workman School of Dental Medicine, with additional consultative partners including the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

“The dental office is one of the most underused front doors to whole-person health. This pathway gives clinicians a way to act on it.” Daniel Croley, DMD, Chief Dental Officer, Delta Dental of California and Affiliates

Join the network
Bring the Proclaim Perio Pathway to your practice: join the waitlist at https://agodnapdna.typeform.com/proclaim

About Proclaim Health. The Proclaim Oral Health System closes the gap between oral health and whole-body health. Patent-protected, peer-reviewed, and deployed across a nationwide partner network, Proclaim is backed by Fred Moll, MD, the co-founder of Intuitive Surgical known as the father of surgical robotics, and by Khosla Ventures, the venture capital firm founded by Vinod Khosla. Proclaim is led by Mariya Filipova, the healthcare investor and executive who coined the term care convergence.

About OralDNA^® Labs. A leading provider of salivary diagnostic testing for dental and medical professionals. Its flagship test MyPerioPath^®, uses qPCR to detect and quantify 11 periodontal pathogens and is used by thousands of clinicians to guide precision periodontal care and reduce systemic health risk.

LumenStim Launches Peroxide-Free Whitening System

2026-09-02T08:35:00.000-04:00

Kickstarter-approved LumenStim Teeth Whitening System brings peroxide-free whitening into daily brushing as the company advances global patent applications for its oral-care technology.

LumenStim, a beauty and wellness technology company recognized for its home-use phototherapy innovations, recently announced that its highly anticipated peroxide-free at-home teeth whitening system has been approved to launch on Kickstarter. The upcoming campaign introduces a new approach to oral care: seamlessly integrating advanced whitening technology into the daily sonic brushing routine.

Instead of asking consumers to add strips, trays, or extra whitening sessions to their schedules, LumenStim has designed an integrated system that combines up to 42,600 VPM sonic brushing, a dedicated dual-chamber whitening toothpaste, and guided care into a single three-minute daily experience.

The launch represents LumenStim’s expansion into next-generation oral care and is supported by proprietary technologies for which the company is currently pursuing global patent protection. Certain technical details related to pending patent applications are not being disclosed at this stage.

“We believe the next generation of beauty and wellness technology should make everyday routines more intelligent, not more complicated,” said the CEO of LumenStim. “With the LumenStim Teeth Whitening System, we started with a simple question: What if whitening didn’t have to be a separate treatment at all?”

Turning Whitening Into Brushing

At-home teeth whitening has traditionally existed outside the everyday oral-care routine. Consumers brush their teeth and then add another product, whether strips, trays, gels, or other whitening treatments.

LumenStim approached the category differently.

The LumenStim Teeth Whitening System is designed around the idea of whitening built into brushing. Its toothbrush and dedicated dual-chamber toothpaste were developed as one system, bringing cleaning, whitening support, and enamel care together during the same guided session.

The toothbrush delivers up to 42,600 vibrations per minute (VPM) and incorporates 3D sweeping motion designed around gumline-focused brushing. Four sonic modes, White+, Clean, Strengthen, and Polish, allow users to adapt the experience to different daily oral-care needs.

A guided three-minute session keeps the experience within an existing daily habit, eliminating the need to schedule whitening separately.

A Peroxide-Free Whitening System

Another central element of LumenStim’s approach is its 0% peroxide formulation.

Rather than relying on conventional peroxide-based whitening chemistry, the dedicated toothpaste utilizes a specialized technology that keeps two advanced photocatalyst components isolated until use. Upon brushing, these ingredients interact and synergistically boost each other’s efficiency to achieve superior tooth whitening, while nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) is incorporated to support smoother-feeling enamel surfaces.

This reflects LumenStim’s broader approach to product development: Instead of adding a whitening feature to an ordinary electric toothbrush, the company engineered the brush and formula as parts of the same oral-care system.

Together, the system combines up to 42,600 VPM sonic brushing, 3D sweeping motion, four brushing modes, a guided three-minute routine, a peroxide-free whitening formula, and dedicated dual-chamber toothpaste in one daily experience.

Early Data Behind the Approach

The new system builds on findings generated from an earlier-generation LumenStim product.

According to LumenStim’s interpretation of an SGS report for its Gen 1 system, 14 valid subjects with A2 or deeper extrinsic staining followed the specified AM/PM routine for 21 days. After the study period, 71.4% reported noticeably whiter teeth, while instrumental measurements recorded a 7.42% reduction in yellow tone b*.

The data relates to the company’s earlier-generation system. Individual results may vary based on starting shade, staining, diet, oral-care habits, and routine consistency.

For LumenStim, the findings support a broader product-development objective: making whitening easier to integrate into a behavior consumers already perform every day.

From Beauty Technology Experience to an Independent Brand

LumenStim is the next chapter of LumenStim Wellness Limited, whose predecessor was XJS Science Limited. Before establishing LumenStim as an independent brand, the team accumulated operating experience across home medical devices, IPL, RF, light-based beauty technology, and wellness supplementation.

The organization has previously worked on the commercialization and scaling of technologies and products associated with Alpha-Stim, SmoothSkin, P&G’s Opte, and TriPollar, building experience across product evaluation, category education, localization, supply-chain execution, channel development, and consumer insight.

LumenStim was created to bring that experience into an independent beauty and wellness platform built around a more disciplined principle: Products should combine meaningful technology with formats people can realistically integrate into their lives.

Today, that philosophy extends from LumenStim’s home-use phototherapy portfolio to its emerging oral-care technologies and broader Inside-Out approach to beauty and wellness.

Kickstarter Launch Coming Soon

The LumenStim Teeth Whitening System has been approved for launch, with campaign preparations currently underway. Followers of the project will be notified when the campaign goes live and will be among the first to access early-bird opportunities.

About LumenStim

LumenStim is a beauty and wellness technology brand developed by LumenStim Wellness Limited. Built on years of operating experience across home medical devices, light-based beauty technology, IPL, RF, oral care, and precision wellness, LumenStim develops science-led technologies designed to fit naturally into everyday life.

Guided by an Inside-Out philosophy, the company combines external beauty and wellness technologies with solutions supporting foundational wellness from within. LumenStim is currently expanding its proprietary technology portfolio and pursuing global patent protection for innovations across its next generation of products.

Annie Introduces AI Digital Coworker for Dentistry

2026-09-01T13:40:00.000-04:00

Utah-based dental startup Annie launches its Digital Coworker for dental teams: An AI coworker that they can hand repetitive, time-consuming work off to, freeing up time to focus on patients and the work that needs a human.

There’s no shortage of work to do in a dental practice.

Tomorrow’s schedule still needs to be confirmed.
Someone canceled their appointment and needs to reschedule.
Three patients just became overdue for hygiene.
The phone needs to be answered at the same time that a patient is checking in.
Insurance needs to be verified for a newly scheduled appointment in the afternoon.

Somewhere in the middle of all of that, the front office is also supposed to deliver a great patient experience to the patients in-office. None of these tasks is particularly unusual, and that’s exactly the problem. They happen every day.

For the past few years, Annie’s AI receptionist has helped dental practices take some of that work off their teams’ plates. Things like answering calls, communicating with patients, scheduling appointments, and helping capture opportunities that otherwise might be missed.

But now, Annie has released a new version of its technology that goes beyond handling missed calls.

With new capabilities across insurance and benefits verification, recare, appointment confirmation, and cancellation management, Annie is built around a fundamentally different idea: Give the front office a teammate they can hand work to, rather than another tool they have to manage.

From AI Receptionist to Digital Coworker

One of the first waves of AI in the dental front office was largely about handling the workload of the phones. That’s a valuable problem, and Annie will continue solving it. But answering the phone is only one part of the work a dental team needs to do.

There’s an enormous amount of work that happens before and after every patient conversation. For a newly scheduled appointment, insurance needs to be checked, information needs to be gathered, and the appointment will eventually need to be confirmed. After an appointment is completed, the patient then needs to be rescheduled, often for six months in the future, where they become susceptible to cancellations or rescheduling.

Much of that work is repetitive, time-sensitive, and easy to push to tomorrow or forget when the office gets busy. Annie is designed to change that by taking on that repetitive, time-consuming work in the background while the office continues to work on their most important tasks.

Recare Becomes Automatic

Every dental practice knows recare matters. It’s the foundation of a healthy practice. Yet every dental practice also knows what happens to the recare list during a busy week… It gets put on the back burner.

A patient becomes overdue by a month, then three, then six. The recare list starts adding up. First in the hundreds, then in the thousands, making it even harder to catch up. Eventually, someone who would have happily returned to the practice simply falls out of the habit or gets captured by another office’s advertising. This happens not because they chose another dentist or because they had a bad experience. Sometimes, nobody reached them at the right time.

The problem is that recare takes time. Someone has to work the list, dial the patient, wait for an answer, leave a message, follow up, and then repeat. That work is competing for the same time that the team uses to check out a patient, answer the phone, or handle whatever else is happening at the front desk.

With Annie’s digital coworker, recare becomes something that can be delegated. Since Annie is always on and can be in multiple places at once, she will reach out to every single overdue patient right away and keep recare up-to-date as the norm.

Even better, Annie will monitor recare patients before they ever become overdue in the first place. If Annie notices that a patient came in for their cleaning and wasn’t able to schedule their next appointment, she’ll proactively reach out to get them scheduled before they even become overdue.

Marketing gets plenty of attention in dentistry, but often growth can come from keeping the patients you already have. Annie’s digital coworker was designed to protect hygiene production, strengthen patient retention, and keep more patients connected to the practice.

Appointment Confirmations That Go Beyond the Canned Text Message

Dental practices have been sending automated appointment reminders for years, but sending a reminder and managing an appointment aren’t quite the same thing.

A patient receives a text:

“Your appointment is tomorrow at 2 PM.”

Then they reply:

“Sorry, I can’t make it.”

Now the automation ends and the work begins. Someone still needs to respond, and the appointment still needs to be rescheduled. In addition to that, there’s suddenly an opening tomorrow afternoon that somebody needs to try to fill. Annie’s appointment confirmation capabilities are designed to handle both of those tasks end-to-end, without the team’s intervention.

Annie’s digital coworker can not only place confirmation texts and calls but can manage the conversation all the way through if the patient needs to reschedule, has questions, or needs to modify their appointment.

That’s the difference between sending a reminder and actually owning the work. Instead of handing the problem back to the front desk the moment a patient replies, Annie can keep the task moving until the appointment is handled and the schedule is updated. The team gets the outcome, not another notification to chase. That’s what the digital coworker does: sees the work through.

Schedule Management: Because an Empty Chair Isn’t Just an Empty Chair

A full schedule rarely stays full on its own. Patients cancel, appointments move, and openings appear days or weeks in advance. At the same time, there are often patients who would happily come in sooner, have unscheduled treatment, or are overdue for care.

The challenge is connecting those opportunities. Traditionally, that means someone on the team noticing the opening, figuring out who might be a good fit, and working through calls and messages until the spot is filled. Often, the time simply doesn’t exist to do that for every single opening.

Annie’s expanded cancellation management capabilities take on this work. When availability opens up, Annie proactively looks for opportunities to fill it and reaches out to the right patients, without waiting for someone at the front desk to start working a list.

Annie’s goal is to help the practice keep a productive schedule by continually watching for openings and opportunities to fill them.

Insurance Verification Without All the Chasing

Few administrative tasks can eat up a front office’s time quite like insurance verification. For every patient on the schedule, someone may need to check eligibility, dig through payer portals, review plan details, or pick up the phone just to make sure the practice has the information it needs before the appointment.

It’s necessary work, but it’s also repetitive, time-consuming, and easy to fall behind on when the day gets busy.

Annie’s new insurance and benefits verification capabilities are designed to take more of that work off the team’s plate. Instead of someone having to work through the schedule patient by patient, Annie can help identify what needs to be verified, do the work, and get the information back to the practice before the day even starts.

Same Annie, Just Smarter and More Capable

The new capabilities build on what practices already know and love about Annie. Everything Annie does today remains part of her system.

That still includes answering calls, communicating with patients, scheduling appointments, and helping practices capture opportunities they might otherwise miss. They are simply building on that foundation in a way that makes her more proactive and comprehensive.

Insurance verification, recare, appointment confirmation, and cancellation management expand the types of work Annie can take on. And just as importantly, Annie can also initiate more of that work on her own and complete the tasks without the need for human intervention.

Instead of waiting for someone on the team to open a list, start a campaign, or tell her what to do, Annie can keep an eye on the practice in the background. Connected to the practice management system, she can monitor the schedule and patient base, recognize when something needs attention, look for opportunities to help, and take action.

Dental teams are already facing increasing staffing pressures and burnout. With Annie, offices get a digital coworker that can share the workload. She can take on the repetitive, time-consuming tasks that create so much of the day-to-day context switching and burnout, giving the team more time to stay focused on the patients and the work in front of them.

That’s Annie. The Digital Coworker for Dentistry.

Trust AI's $2 Million RCM Hub Gives Solo Practices a DSO Back Office for $299 a Month

2026-09-01T08:54:21.557-04:00

Trust AI

Partnership with the Wehrle Implant Immersion Center adds implant faculty review and live carrier calls to every claim.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Trust AI today announced the RCM Hub, a fully staffed revenue cycle operation built into Isaac PracticeOS, backed by a $2 million commitment and a partnership with the Wehrle Implant Immersion Center.

The RCM Hub gives an independent dental practice the same insurance infrastructure that a 500 location DSO builds for itself. For dentists using Isaac PracticeOS, it comes with a $299 subscription. No additional RCM fee.

A back office that never sleeps — Trust AI's RCM Hub, built right into Isaac PracticeOS.

For two decades, consolidation has rested on a single argument: scale buys back-office infrastructure that a solo practice can never afford. Billing departments. Payer intelligence. People whose only job is refusing to let a denial go. Trust AI built that infrastructure, then made it accessible to solo practices.

AI Precision and Human Expertise on Every Claim

Isaac drafts each claim within about 60 seconds of a completed procedure, coded, with attachments pulled and the clinical narrative written to withstand scrutiny from the specific carrier. Agent swarms run thousands of concurrent processes trained on what each payer rejects, why, and how often.

Then human experts take over. A dentist reviews the claim for accuracy before it leaves the building. US based specialist billers release it. When a claim comes back denied, the Hub's team corrects it, resubmits it, and works with the payer by phone until the claim is paid.

"Nothing gets written off because somebody got busy," said Dr. Bernard Casse, CEO and Co-Founder of Trust AI.

Why the Wehrle Partnership Matters

Trust AI owns and operates the RCM Hub. Its billers are based in the United States. Through the partnership, the Wehrle Implant Immersion Center commits two things Trust AI cannot buy off a shelf.

The first is clinical faculty. The Center's dentists review the clinical narrative on implant and full-arch claims before submission, applying the same surgical judgment they use in the operatory and teach in the course.

The second is live carrier calls. A small share of benefit verifications are never returned electronically by any clearinghouse, and the only way to get them is to put a person on the phone with the carrier. The Center's bilingual call center makes those calls, so the practice has a full picture of a patient's benefits before treatment is planned rather than after a claim is denied.

The Center operates a 30,000 square-foot campus built to U.S. standards in Puebla, Mexico, housing a full-time 12-operatory clinic with general dentists and specialists. It is home to the Wehrle Implant Immersion Course, which puts practicing dentists through 150 to 200 live implant cases per session.

All work runs through the RCM Hub dashboard under Trust AI access controls, governed by a business associate agreement, on HIPAA-compliant infrastructure.

Dr. Michael Wehrle, owner of the Wehrle Implant Immersion Center, is also a lead investor in Trust AI.

One Practice. Real Data. $91,465 Recovered.

One solo implant practice carried $1,088,723 in aged insurance claims, including claims as old as 571 days that were no longer being actively worked. In the ﬁrst 30 days with the RCM Hub, Trust AI recovered $91,465. The practice's cost for the month was $299.

Why we built the RCM Hub

"Solo practices have been told for twenty years that they had two options: consolidate or fall behind," said Dr. Bernard Casse, CEO and Co-Founder of Trust AI. "That was never a clinical argument. It was a staffing argument. A DSO has people whose entire job is fighting carriers, and a solo practice has a front desk doing it between patients. We committed $2 million to erase that gap, and we built it into a $299-a-month platform so any practice can have it. You should not have to sell your practice to compete with the people trying to buy it."

"I have spent my career teaching dentists to do harder, better work, and then watching them get denied for it," said Dr. Michael Wehrle, owner of the Wehrle Implant Immersion Center. "Implant and full-arch cases draw the most carrier scrutiny in dentistry, and most practices do not have the manpower to fight. Our faculty reviews those narratives, and when a carrier will only give up a benefits breakdown over the phone, our team sits on that call. I invested in Trust AI because I saw what this does to a revenue cycle. Then I put our people behind it."

Availability

The RCM Hub is available now and is included with Isaac PracticeOS at $299 per month per practice. More information at www.trustdentistry.ai.

About Trust AI

Trust AI is a San Francisco–based dental artificial intelligence company building Isaac, the AI native operating system for dentistry. Isaac PracticeOS unifies practice management, clinical intelligence, patient communication, and revenue cycle management into a single agentic platform. Isaac OneHealth, the company's clinical AI, is trusted by nearly 10,000 practitioners. Learn more at www.trustdentistry.ai.

About the Wehrle Implant Immersion Center

The Wehrle Implant Immersion Center operates a 30,000 square-foot implant training campus and full-time dental clinic in Puebla, Mexico, delivering full-immersion live-surgery implant training to practicing dentists. More information at wehrleimplantimmersion.com.

SOURCE Trust AI

Planet DDS Expands AI-Powered Dental Software

2026-08-31T16:49:00.000-04:00

Enterprise wins, five new suites, and a growing bench of AI agents signal where dental software is headed

Planet DDS recently shared mid-year results that reflect the market’s growing confidence in its approach. Year-over-year ARR growth for its core solution, Denticon, reached 24.3%, cementing its position as the standard for growth-focused dental organizations.

Momentum was driven in part by significant new enterprise wins, including Coast Dental (88 locations), Jefferson Dental (60 locations), Mosaic Dental Collective (47 locations), and Orthodontic Partners (62 locations).

“Growth like this comes from solving a real problem: DSOs are tired of paying for complexity instead of results. Our job is to give them one platform that scales with them and AI that lightens the load on their teams. These results tell us we’re building the right thing,” said Eric Giesecke, Chief Executive Officer of Planet DDS.

A Growing Suite of AI Agents

Planet DDS continues building out its AI agent suite with the industry’s staffing shortage squarely in mind.

The Confirmation Agent and Recall Agent handle patient confirmations and recall outreach automatically across every location. Earlier in August, Planet DDS launched two additional agents: the Missed Appointment Rescheduling Agent recovers chair time lost to no-shows using an empathetic, non-accusatory outreach approach, and the Cancellation Rescheduling Agent works the cancelled-appointment list to rebook the slot before the chair goes cold.

Introducing DentalOS® Add-On Suites

Alongside its agent expansion, Planet DDS is introducing a new way for practices to access the platform’s growing capabilities. DentalOS ® now serves as the base platform, with five add-on suites practices can pick and choose from based on what they actually need: Agents+, Clinical Voice+, Imaging+, Patient+, and Payments+. A DSO only pays for the suites it uses.

Once a DSO adds a suite, every capability inside it, current and future, comes with it at no additional cost. A practice on Clinical Voice+, for example, gets every clinical documentation tool Planet DDS has released and will release, from AI Voice Perio to AI Voice Restorative Charting, without needing to evaluate and purchase each one separately. This flexible pricing means a group only pays for the suites it uses.

“Customers want the flexibility to invest in the tools that matter most to their DSO, and the confidence that value keeps showing up inside the suites they’ve already chosen,” said Nathan James, Chief Product Officer of Planet DDS.

“DSOs end up managing fragmented systems, disconnected point solutions, and piecemeal pricing right when they’re trying to scale,” said Nathan James, Chief Product Officer at Planet DDS. “We want DSOs to have real control over their investment instead. Suites let every group build a platform that matches what they actually do, and as we keep shipping new features inside each suite, that investment keeps paying off without any extra purchasing decisions on their end.”

Partnerships and Community Growth

Planet DDS’s open ecosystem has grown to more than 80 signed integration partners, giving DSOs the flexibility to connect the tools they already rely on without leaving the platform. Among these, the Planet DDS partnership with Microsoft has become a key piece of how the company supports enterprise IT infrastructure for large DSOs, helping standardize security, identity management, and system reliability across every location on the platform.

In May, Planet DDS co-hosted the inaugural Dental Capital Forum in New York City alongside Aquiline Capital Partners, Dykema, and West Monroe, an invitation-only gathering of dental investors, DSO leaders, and advisors that was well-received enough that the founding partners are already planning to make it an annual event. This February, the company also held Orbit, its annual Leadership & User Summit, drawing more than 500 attendees to Scottsdale, Arizona, for over thirty sessions on RCM, clinical workflows, AI applications, and executive leadership. Orbit returns March 31 to April 3, 2027, with a new executive track, a golf tournament, and expanded content.

Planet DDS also continued building out its education platforms in the first half of the year, including The Dental Economist Show (130+ episodes since 2024), The Morning Grind newsletter (40+ issues since 2025), and its 2026 Mid-Year Dental Industry Outlook Report, released in July.

Recognition

Additionally, Planet DDS’s momentum has been reflected in a run of recent industry recognition:

Inc. Regionals: #68 on the list, reflecting 93% two-year growth
ADSO Innovation Award: won for the second consecutive year, this time recognizing Team Artemis
SaaS Awards Finalist: DentalOS with AI, Best SaaS Product for Healthcare and Life Sciences
Merit Awards: Gold Winner, Best Places to Work
Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence: Silver, Company of the Year, Healthcare Technology
Inc. 5000: Planet DDS was ranked 2,523 on the 2026 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America

What’s Next

As the year continues, Planet DDS will expand its agent suite and platform capabilities with the same goal in mind: making clinicians’ lives easier, streamlining day-to-day operations, and giving DSOs a platform that helps them grow.

To learn more about how Planet DDS can be your partner in growth, visit www.planetdds.com.

Resources

About Planet DDS

Dental software is broken. We aim to fix it. Planet DDS is the leading dental enterprise software company in North America, delivering DentalOS® — the platform built to run the dental enterprise, not just the practice. As the industry enters the dental enterprise era, Planet DDS gives DSO and multi-location group executives the visibility, control, and financial performance to run every location, every specialty, and every dollar as one connected organization.

Built on an open ecosystem with 80+ integration partners, DentalOS connects Denticon Practice Management, Cloud 9 Ortho Practice Management, and Apteryx Cloud Imaging on a single data layer—cloud-native since 2003 and enterprise-proven at scale. More than half of the top 60 DSOs in North America trust Planet DDS with solutions used across 14,500 practices and 175,000 users nationwide.

Scientists Advance Efforts to Regrow Teeth With Enamel-Producing Cells

2026-08-31T10:02:09.124-04:00

Researchers have taken another step toward the possibility of regrowing teeth, developing a method that transforms human stem cells into enamel-producing cells that could eventually be used to regenerate damaged or missing tooth structure.

The study, published in the International Journal of Oral Science, investigated how scientists could guide human stem cells toward becoming ameloblasts, the specialized cells responsible for producing tooth enamel. Unlike most cells in the human body, ameloblasts are not naturally regenerated after tooth development, which makes enamel one of the few tissues the body cannot repair on its own.

Researchers focused on the Notch signaling pathway, which plays an important role in the development and maturation of ameloblasts. The team developed a soluble Notch agonist designed to activate this pathway and found that it could promote the maturation of stem-cell-derived ameloblasts.

The resulting cells demonstrated characteristics associated with mature enamel-producing cells, including increased expression of proteins involved in enamel formation. Researchers also developed organoid models that produced enamel-like mineralized tissue, providing a potential foundation for future approaches to tooth regeneration.

The findings build on previous work by the same research group aimed at developing biological approaches to replace enamel and potentially regenerate teeth. The researchers say the ability to generate functional ameloblasts could ultimately help address a major limitation in regenerative dentistry: the inability of mature teeth to naturally produce new enamel.

Curve Dental Announces $200 Million R&D Investment

2026-08-28T14:05:00.000-04:00

As Curve Approaches $100 Million in Annual Recurring Revenue, Chairman and CEO Dave Cormack Predicts Major Shift in Dental Software Market

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Curve Dental^®, the leader in modern AI-driven all-in-one dental software with an integrated end-to-end cloud platform, today announced a further $200 million investment in its Curve Hero product and comprehensive ecosystem of native best-in-class capabilities.

Record-breaking year-over-year growth since 2018, driven by rapid customer adoption, has enabled Curve to reinvest tens of millions of dollars each year in product development and customer services. The company is rapidly approaching $100 million in annual recurring revenue, almost entirely generated through organic growth.

With around 20% of the cloud dental practice market, Curve is fulfilling its promise to deliver best-in-class native functionality for single-location, small-group, and DSO practices—without requiring customers to contract with and manage multiple software vendors. Recognizing market demand for an open platform, Curve's API capability supports vendor integrations that meet rigorous standards for quality, security, reliability, interoperability and customer experience.

Dave Cormack, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Curve Dental and a 40-year veteran of high-growth software companies, reflected on the company's journey:

"Nine years ago, today's leadership team at Curve, having previously grown Brightree from a startup to the most successful cloud software platform in the homecare market, fell in love with the opportunity to deliver the most compelling solution for the dental industry when we saw that close to 100% of the market was relying on 20- to 30-year-old client-server solutions. No other opportunity in healthcare came close.

"We acquired Curve Dental because it provided an excellent foundation for us to build a fully integrated, end-to-end cloud platform. In my experience, multi-practice software cannot be scaled down for single locations or small-group practices. It must be built natively from the ground up—and that is exactly what we did.

"After $100 million of R&D investment in the last eight years, Curve has continually modernized into a fully native, single sign-on platform for solo practices to small multi-location groups and DSOs, including patient engagement, intelligent phone integration, advanced eligibility, credit card payments, auto payment posting, RCM, membership plans, orthodontics workflow, business intelligence and more. Curve is giving the dental industry a new way to practice and a better way to grow."

Investing for the Long Term

Cormack said Curve's financial position gives practices confidence that the company will continue investing for the long term:

"As a $100 million annual recurring revenue business, we are profitable and growing while reinvesting tens of millions of dollars each year in product development and customer services. As such, the dental market can be confident that we are here for the long term.

"My strong advice to any dental practice considering a move to a cloud system is to make sure that the software vendor is profitable, so it can continue to reinvest, and compare what they plan to spend on research and development against Curve's $200 million commitment."

Reflecting on Curve's extensive R&D commitment and what he believes will be a major consolidation of the dental software market, Cormack said:

"Our leadership has lived this journey many times and, as they say, we've seen this movie before, bought the T-shirt, and we always deliver for our customers.

"With 85% of the roughly 160,000 dental practices in North America still on a legacy client-server system, Curve will focus all its efforts on delivering the most compelling native end-to-end cloud platform in the market—one that meets the needs of practices of all sizes and stages of growth, so that they'll never outgrow Curve.

"We will achieve that by continuing to hire and retain great people who have a passion and desire to delight our customers. It's the only way."

A Market at an Inflection Point

Cormack believes the shift from legacy client-server systems to integrated cloud platforms will also drive significant consolidation across the dental software market over the next several years.

"A dental software death spiral is upon us. As the market rapidly shifts from legacy systems to the cloud, the vendor market across the ecosystem is oversaturated—from core practice-management platforms to add-on solutions for patient engagement, analytics, imaging and more.

"But moving to the cloud is only part of the equation. Practices should look beyond the cloud label to understand how a platform has actually been built and how well its products work together. While Curve has been 100% natively-built, many competitors have acquired a mismatched collection of products that leaves practices with fragmented data, multiple user interfaces, inconsistent workflows and integration complexity. These platforms do anything but operate as one unified system.

"I predict that over 40 percent of practice management software vendors, with an alarming number burning through cash to buy market share at the expense of R&D and customer services, will not exist in 36 to 48 months. The same pressure will affect point solutions that create more complexity than differentiated customer value, as AI-driven cloud platforms increasingly deliver those capabilities natively in a fully integrated manner and at a lower total cost of ownership than practices currently employ through licensing software from five or six different vendors.

Cormack concluded by returning to Curve's commitment to its customers:

"Our customers' success is how we measure our own success. We work to earn their business every single day by listening, responding promptly and continually keeping the Curve Hero platform ahead of our competition.

"If you haven't seen Curve in action recently—or at all—I encourage you to talk with us about the challenges you face and see how we can better serve you."

About Curve Dental

Curve Dental provides an intelligent, cloud-based operating platform designed to help dental practices manage and grow their businesses while giving teams more time to focus on patient care. Curve brings together practice management, clinical workflows, revenue cycle capabilities, payments, patient engagement, artificial intelligence, and an expanding ecosystem of connected solutions in one platform built for modern dentistry. Curve Dental serves dental professionals and practices across the United States and Canada and is privately held, with operations in Provo, Utah; Alpharetta, Georgia; Calgary, Alberta; and Aberdeen, Scotland.

Curve Dental is proud to be named a 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces award winner. Visit www.curvedental.com or call 1-888-910-HERO for more information.

SOURCE Curve Dental

BIOLASE and MegaGen America Expand Waterlase Foundations Training to Three U.S. Education Centers

2026-08-27T14:04:00.000-04:00

Expanded 2026-2027 training schedule increases access to hands-on Waterlase education across the West, Central and East Coasts.

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif., Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- BIOLASE and MegaGen America today announced the expansion of the Waterlase Foundations training program to three education centers across the United States, providing dental professionals with greater access to hands-on clinical education and training.

Beginning in 2026 and continuing through the first quarter of 2027, Waterlase Foundations courses will be offered at strategically located educational centers serving dental professionals across the country, including the BIOLASE Education Center in California, MegaGen America in New Jersey and the MINEC Education Center in Texas.

The expanded training reach is designed to make hands-on Waterlase education more accessible while helping clinicians build the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to incorporate laser dentistry into their everyday practice.

"Bringing a Waterlase into your practice is only the beginning. The real value comes when you have the knowledge and confidence to use it every day to improve clinical outcomes and expand what you can offer your patients," said Dr. Brad Labrecque, Chief Waterlase Educator. "The goal of the Waterlase Foundation is to give clinicians practical, hands-on education that translates directly into their daily clinical protocols. By expanding training locations across the country, we are making high-quality Waterlase education and ongoing support more accessible to help clinicians build confidence, increase utilization, and get the greatest clinical and financial return from their investment."

Expanding Access to Hands-On Waterlase Education

Waterlase Foundations courses are designed to build clinician competency, knowledge and hands-on skills in using Waterlase technology to manage established patient conditions. Through a combination of foundational laser science, device operation, safety, maintenance and hands-on clinical training, participants learn how to navigate through the appropriate laser settings and apply Waterlase technology across a range of hard and soft tissue procedures. The courses also address postoperative management, patient case acceptance and practice integration, helping clinicians develop the confidence and skillset needed to incorporate minimally invasive laser dentistry into everyday patient care.

The expanded program will offer training opportunities from experienced Waterlase educators across three regions:

West Coast: BIOLASE Education Center in Foothill Ranch, CA
Central U.S.: MINEC Education Center in Irving, TX
East Coast: MegaGen America in Fair Lawn, NJ

By establishing a broader geographic education network, BIOLASE and MegaGen aim to reduce barriers to in-person training and give more clinicians the opportunity to learn directly with Waterlase technology.

"Education has always been a fundamental part of the Waterlase experience," said Jeff Selph, Director of Sales, North America. "Hands-on learning can make an important difference when clinicians are building confidence with laser dentistry. Expanding our education footprint allows us to bring that experience closer to more practices across the United States."

Supporting Clinicians Throughout Their Waterlase Journey

The expansion of Waterlase Foundations reflects BIOLASE and MegaGen America's continued commitment to education, clinical support and helping customers maximize their investment in dental laser technology.

The incentive also builds on the growing collaboration between BIOLASE and MegaGen America following BIOLASE's integration into the MegaGen family. By bringing together BIOLASE's expertise in laser technology and education with MegaGen America's expanding U.S. commercial organization and resources, the companies are working to provide dental professionals with enhanced access to products, education, training and support.

2026-2027 Waterlase Foundations Training

Waterlase Foundations courses are scheduled at the three education centers throughout the remainder of 2026 and into the first quarter of 2027. Clinicians interested in participating can view upcoming course dates, locations and registration information at events.biolase.com.

To learn more about BIOLASE Education, including training and other upcoming courses, visit biolase.com/education.

BIOLASE®, Waterlase® and Waterlase iPlus® are registered trademarks of BIOLASE MG LLC.

For updates and information on BIOLASE and laser dentistry, find BIOLASE online at www.biolase.com/, Facebook at www.facebook.com/biolase, Instagram at www.instagram.com/biolase_official, and LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/biolase/.

About BIOLASE
BIOLASE, a MegaGen company, is a medical device company and global leader in dental laser technology. The company develops, manufactures and markets proprietary dental laser systems, including the Waterlase and Epic families of laser technologies, designed to help dental professionals deliver precise, minimally invasive and patient-friendly care.

About MegaGen America
The MegaGen brand is now recognized as a world leader in dental implants. Our innovative products and solutions are acknowledged as a game changer for more successful implant treatments and as the new standard for dental implants and digital dentistry. Started by dentists and driven by dentists, we are continually working for lifetime smiles. Developing technology to realize dreams and designing the future of healthcare. Working ethically and in good faith to become a total healthcare innovator.

Arcato Advances Non-Opioid Oral Pain Treatment

2026-08-26T14:55:00.000-04:00

Arcato Laboratories, Inc. (https://www.arcato-labs.com/) today simultaneously announced successful top line results from its first-in-human Phase 1 study of ARC-001 Gel in patients following third molar (wisdom tooth) extraction surgery, as well as the closing of its first round of financing.

ARC-001 Gel is a novel, proprietary, sustained-release, single-dose gel formulation combining three well-characterized, non-addictive anesthetics: benzocaine, lidocaine, and bupivacaine. The novel formulation of ARC-001 Gel allows for a one-time local administration into the tooth socket following surgical extraction, with a pharmacokinetic profile supporting the potential for pain relief for up to 7 days. ARC-001 Gel does not require an injection or a needle; the gel is easily administered directly into the extraction socket.

The Phase 1 primary endpoint of safety was achieved, supporting further Phase 2/3 development. Exploratory efficacy endpoints suggest pain reduction within the first 24 hours and that a single dose of ARC-001 Gel may provide pain relief for up to one week. Further exploratory analyses demonstrated that patients on placebo self-reported a need for opioids twice as often as those on ARC-001 Gel to manage pain.

“The dental and oral surgery community welcomes the work Arcato is doing to develop a pain treatment specifically for oral health. ARC-001 Gel is a unique approach to local pain management after third molar surgery, combining three well-known anesthetics in a novel formulation. With more than 3 million patients per year in the U.S. having third molar surgery, new pain management options are needed. While progress has been made in reducing postoperative opioid use, there is much work to be done,” said Dr. Thomas E. Van Dyke, DDS, PhD, Vice President of Clinical and Translational Research at the ADA Forsyth Institute.

“Our clinical results demonstrate that ARC-001 Gel is an exciting new approach to managing oral pain. We are actively engaged with the FDA, closely aligned with their May 2026 draft development guidance for non-opioid analgesics. Moreover, I would like to thank the Arcato team, as well as our investors, at this exciting milestone,” said Jeff Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Arcato Laboratories.

Profluorid Varnish + BioMin®

2026-08-26T14:31:25.501-04:00

America's #1 5% Sodium Fluoride Varnish Now Enhanced with BioMin Technology

VOCO announces the launch of Profluorid® Varnish + BioMin, an enhanced version of America's No. 1 5% sodium fluoride varnish that combines the proven benefits of ADA-recommended* 5% sodium fluoride with innovative BioMinbioglass technology. The advanced dual-action formula releases additional calcium and phosphate ions that work synergistically with fluoride to provide enhanced protection against dentin hypersensitivity while strengthening enamel.

BioMin bioglass, developed at Queen Mary University of London, has been successfully used in bioactive oral care products for years. When exposed to saliva, the invisible, flavorless bioglass dissolves, releasing calcium and phosphate ions that enhance the efficiency of the fluoride varnish. These ions contribute to fluorapatite formation on the enamel surface while also supporting long-term protection of tooth structure.

Compared with conventional fluoride varnishes, ProfluoridVarnish + BioMin offers enhanced protection against dentin hypersensitivity. BioMin releases ultra-fine crystals that penetrate deep into dentin tubules, where fluorapatite forms to seal the tubules. Combined with fluorapatite formation on enamel surfaces, this process increases enamel hardness, improves resistance to acid attacks, and provides a long-term desensitizing effect.

The formulation is based on VOCO's Advanced Pro-Colophony technology, allowing the varnish to be applied in a thin, clear layer with superior adhesion to the tooth surface for long-lasting fluoride release. Rapid ion release begins within the first 15 minutes, with efficacy nearly doubling within 60 minutes. Its excellent taste, neutral smell, and smooth feel promote outstanding patient acceptance while making application easy and comfortable for dental hygienists.

Profluorid Varnish + BioMin is available in four patient-friendly flavors: mint, caramel, bubble gum, and cherry. It is offered in both tubes and convenient SingleDose delivery systems to accommodate a variety of clinical workflows.

For more information, visit vocoamerica.com.
* Maguire A. ADA clinical recommendations on topical fluoride for caries prevention. Evid Based Dent. 2014 Jun;15(2). 38-9.

Lumos 3DX Mobile Dental Imaging System Brings Advanced Diagnostics Chairside

2026-08-25T09:28:00.000-04:00

New solution from Valkyrie BioScience delivers chairside Tomosynthesis and Intelligent Imaging to bridge the gap between 2D and CBCT.

Lumos 3DX by Valkyrie BioScience is a high-resolution dental imaging system that brings advanced diagnostics directly to the point of care. With a mobile, cloud-connected design and an intuitive interface, the system helps dental teams work faster, communicate more clearly, and treat with greater confidence.

Lumos 3DX brings advanced diagnostics directly to the point of care. Photo: Valkyrie BioScience.

Lumos 3DX delivers chairside Tomosynthesis and Intelligent Imaging—bridging the gap between 2D and CBCT—so clinicians can visualize anatomy with greater clarity, explain findings with confidence, and plan treatments in real time, according to Valkyrie BioScience.

This is imaging built for how dentistry actually works: fast, flexible, and focused on the patient.

Key Advantages

Chairside imaging, without compromise: Tomosynthesis and Intelligent Imaging at the point of care; delivering 3D layered insights, bridging the gap between traditional 2D imaging and CBCT, and improving clarity, diagnosis and patient communication.

Mobility that moves with the clinician: Engineered for seamless mobility between operatories—keeping your diagnostic workflow continuous and efficient.

Cloud-based flexibility: Secure, streamlined access to images across locations and systems.

Modern, Intuitive Interface: Designed to simplify use, not overwhelm it—so teams can focus on care.

Insight-Ready Platform: Built to support intelligent detection tools under development to enhance diagnostic clarity over time.

Valkyrie BioScience was founded by leaders in dental imaging, with a mission to deliver intuitive, fast, and future-ready tools that bridge the gap between diagnosis and treatment.

Additionally, the system offers high-resolution imaging to reveal anatomical detail with clarity and accuracy to support better clinical decisions; features a compact, elegant design that integrates seamlessly into any operatory; eliminate barriers to access, sharing, and storage — while maintaining HIPAA compliance; and allows clinicians to scan and share instantly, enabling confident clinical discussions in the moment.For more information, visit valkyriebiosci.com/lumos-3dx

Vyne Dental and Zelis Simplify Dental Payments

2026-08-24T11:28:00.000-04:00

Partnership will simplify how more than one-third of U.S. dental practices receive, reconcile, and understand insurance payments.

Vyne Dental, a leading provider of dental revenue technologies and electronic health information exchange solutions, and Zelis, a leading provider of healthcare technology solutions, recently announced a partnership designed to help dental practices move away from paper checks while simplifying workflows and reducing friction across the payment experience. Together, Vyne Dental and Zelis will provide dental practices with faster digital payments, a simpler reconciliation process, built-in visibility into claim performance, and greater clarity and control in managing revenue cycles.

Through the partnership, Vyne Dental providers are able to gain access to ZAPP Edge℠, which delivers electronic payments and embedded payment data and performance insights from 550+ insurance payers in a single, secure portal. Dental teams will also be able to quickly receive and reconcile payments, access more detailed claims insights and reporting, and better manage revenue workflows – helping to optimize revenue cycles and gain a clearer view of what’s driving financial performance.

“Dental practices have lived with paper checks and disconnected payment data for too long,” said Steve Roberts, CEO of Vyne Dental. “Paper is slow, it’s manual, and it leaves office teams chasing money instead of collecting it. The partnership with Zelis changes that. We’re giving practices a direct, electronic path to get paid faster, along with the visibility to understand and account for payment trends. With this partnership, our customers chase less and collect more of every dollar they bill.”

“Modernizing the healthcare financial experience means more than digitizing paper checks. It means eliminating fragmented electronic connections that lead to delays in getting the data providers need,” said Yusuf Qasim, President of Payments Optimization at Zelis. “By connecting ZAPP Edge with Vyne Trellis, Vyne Dental’s revenue cycle management platform, we can bring payments, data, and insights together in a connected experience that helps dental practices simplify reconciliation, understand payment activity, and make more informed financial decisions.”

For participating Vyne Dental customers, electronic payments can reduce the need to receive, process, and deposit paper checks, while ZAPP Edge provides a more connected experience with built-in payment and denials insights to support simpler reconciliation and more informed revenue decisions. Connecting those payments with associated remittance and claims-payment information can help practices manage reconciliation through a more streamlined workflow.

Initial enrollment for practices affiliated with participating payers is expected to begin in the coming months, with broader availability planned for late 2026. Vyne Dental and Zelis will share additional enrollment and implementation details as they become available.

About Vyne Dental

Vyne Dental delivers end-to-end revenue acceleration across payers, providers, and patients through connectivity, revenue cycle automation, claims management, and data exchange. With solutions like Vyne Trellis, Vyne Dental is helping reshape the dental profession’s financial infrastructure – unlocking faster payments, fewer errors, and better experiences. For more information, visit vynedental.c o m.

About Zelis

Zelis is modernizing the healthcare financial experience across payers, providers, and healthcare consumers. We serve more than 725 payers, including the top 5 national health plans, regional health plans, TPAs, and millions of healthcare providers and consumers across our platform of solutions. Zelis sees across the system to identify, optimize, and solve problems holistically with technology built by healthcare experts—driving real, measurable results for clients.

Learn more at Zelis.com.

Larineco Introduces New Daily Enamel Pouches

2026-08-21T14:06:00.000-04:00

First-of-its-kind product delivers daily enamel care via one of the fastest-growing consumer product formats, oral pouches

Larineco today introduced Remineralizing Pouches, a new oral care category designed to support daily enamel care in one of today’s most familiar and convenient product formats. Powered by Larineco’s proprietary Natural RMX50 Complex™, the nicotine-free pouches deliver nano-hydroxyapatite, xylitol, and clean-focus ingredients in a hands-free format that fits naturally into everyday routines, from the office and gym to commuting and travel.

The launch reflects a broader shift in how consumers think about oral health. While brushing remains the foundation of good oral care, people are increasingly looking for products that help support their teeth throughout the day.

At the same time, oral pouch formats have become increasingly familiar to consumers because of their convenience and discreet design. Larineco saw an opportunity to reimagine that format for oral wellness, creating a pouch that offers consumers a healthy benefit.

“Oral health is one of the most overlooked parts of daily wellness, yet it plays a huge role in long-term health and daily confidence,” said Matthew DeWitte, founder of Larineco. “With our proprietary Natural RMX50 Complex™, we’ve built an enamel-support system that can easily be integrated into someone’s lifestyle. It replenishes minerals where enamel loses them and protects the oral environment they depend upon. By combining that science with the familiar pouch experience, we’re giving people a way to keep the routine they enjoy, whether at work, in the gym, or on the go, and turn it into something that actively supports their oral health.”

While Remineralizing Pouches were created for anyone looking to support enamel throughout the day, Larineco believes they’ll also resonate with consumers looking to reduce or eliminate nicotine without giving up the familiar pouch experience. Research shows more than 40 million adults want to quit or reduce nicotine use by 2030. Rather than asking consumers to abandon the ritual altogether, Larineco offers a nicotine-free option that supports daily enamel care in the same familiar format, with the same sensation, all while supporting and replenishing enamel between brushings.

Key ingredients and features include:

Clean focus: L-Theanine 60mg + Alpha GPC 40mg + caffeine 50mg (about half a cup of coffee) for clean cognitive performance without the crash
Daily enamel support: Nano-hydroxyapatite and xylitol, working between brushings to help support stronger, healthier teeth
Natural RMX50 Complex™: Larineco’s proprietary mineral-rich enamel-support system
Nicotine-free, always

“We’ve spent decades thinking about oral care as something that happens twice a day,” continued DeWitte. “We asked ourselves a simple question: What if you could support your teeth throughout the day in the same way people already support their energy, hydration, or nutrition? That’s what inspired Remineralizing Pouches.”

The pouches are available in three flavors: Mint, Cinnamon, and Mango, all made with natural flavors. Recommended use: up to 4 pouches per day.

Larineco™ Remineralizing Pouches are the first nicotine-free pouch designed to support balanced energy, cognitive support, and daily oral health, transforming a familiar habit into a healthier one.

About Larineco

Larineco™ is an oral care innovator committed to making smarter oral care simple, effective, and habit-friendly. Built around hydroxyapatite, the same mineral that makes up 97% of tooth enamel, Larineco develops products that help replenish and protect enamel beyond the twice-daily brushing routine. From remineralizing toothpaste, gum, mints, and pouches, the brand offers convenient, mineral-rich solutions designed to keep mouths feeling cleaner, fresher, and healthier throughout the day.

All products are available at buylarine.com.

Where Legacy Meets Innovation: The 19th MegaGen International Symposium

2026-08-20T15:15:00.000-04:00

An academic alliance with Nobel Biocare, clinical validation by leading global scholars, and the New Toronto Declaration charting the next 50 years of implant dentistry.

Attendees watch MegaGen’s 13 points of the New Toronto Declaration.

The 19th MegaGen International Symposium took place last month and plenty of momentum was generated by the New Toronto Declaration. The spirit of cross-generational collaboration is expected to grow even further in the years ahead. Five key takeaways follow, helping review the past 50 years of implant dentistry and taking a look at the future.

1. Carrying Forward the Legacy of 1982: The Historic Significance of the Toronto Symposium and a New Academic Alliance

In the history of modern dental implantology, the 1982 Toronto Conference stands as the milestone that established the concept of osseointegration and opened a new era. In 2026, leading figures from across the global dental community gathered once again in Toronto—the birthplace of modern implantology—for MegaGen’s 19th International Symposium.

Held under the main theme, “Reviewing the Past 50 Years, Envisioning the Next 50 Years of Implant Dentistry,” the symposium brought together approximately 1,300 clinicians, researchers, and industry experts from around the world to reflect on half a century of achievement and to discuss the clinical standards of the future.

The symposium drew particular attention with the participation of Nobel Biocare, the company that pioneered the early history of dental implants. This collaboration took concrete form through “The Grand Alliance,” an academic partnership established between MegaGen’s academic foundation, MINEC, and Nobel Biocare’s educational foundation, FOR (Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation).

More than a one-time corporate exchange, this partnership embodies a shared commitment to connecting the traditional legacy of dentistry with the digital innovation of the future. United by a common mission to deliver safer, more predictable, and biologically stable treatments to patients worldwide, the 2 organizations have taken a monumental first step toward fusing clinical trust with advanced technology.

2. Validating Clinical Value: A Cross-Generational Lineup of 14 Distinguished Speakers

The scientific sessions featured 14 world-class speakers whose lectures spanned the entire arc of implant dentistry, from its formative years to the current era of digital innovation.

l Pioneers of Implant Dentistry: The program opened with lectures by the legendary scholars who laid the foundations of modern implantology. Prof. Tomas Albrektsson, who conducted research alongside Prof. Brånemark and helped define the modern criteria for implant success, shared his invaluable insights on long-term osseointegration. Prof. Dennis Tarnow, originator of the “5 mm rule” in aesthetic implantology, offered clinical wisdom on preserving interproximal tissue, while Prof. David Garber, whose career has been devoted to long-term aesthetics through comprehensive prosthetic rehabilitation, delivered a featured lecture. In addition, Dr. Izchak Barzilay presented an in-depth scholarly review of the 50 years of development since the 1982 Toronto Conference.

l Leaders of Contemporary Clinical Innovation: The program continued with speakers who are actively expanding the boundaries of clinical practice. Dr. Paulo Maló, developer of the All-on-4 concept that redefined full-arch rehabilitation, discussed the latest parameters of immediate full-arch reconstruction, and Prof. Tomas Linkevičius, founder of the Zero Bone Loss concept, presented evidence-based protocols for maintaining crestal bone stability. Prof. Christian Makary, a leading figure in immediate placement and immediate loading, shared practical strategies for achieving both patient safety and clinical efficiency.

l Architects of the Digital Future: Sessions charting the standards of next-generation digital dentistry also drew strong interest. Prof. Alessandro Pozzi, an authority on prosthetically driven digital implant treatment, and Prof. Francesco Mangano, president of the Digital Dentistry Society (DDS), examined the path toward complete digital standardization. Prof. Clark Stanford (Dean, University of Iowa College of Dentistry), Prof. David Kim (Harvard School of Dental Medicine), and Prof. Kyu-Jin Cho (Seoul National University School of Dentistry) joined as panelists, offering diverse perspectives on integrating advanced tissue management and biological principles into digital clinical practice.

3. A Shift in Clinical Paradigms: The New Toronto Declaration

A Look at the Past and Future of Implants: the MegaGen Symposium packed with 14 renowned experts and over 1,300 dentists.

Building on the scientific validation and reflections of the world’s leading scholars, MegaGen proposed the New Toronto Declaration, setting out a new direction for the future of implant treatment.

True to the theme, “Legacy Meets Innovation,” the significance of this symposium lies in presenting, in a single forum, a rigorous understanding of the past and a patient-centered vision for the future. The core values shared by participating clinicians were as follows:

Recalibrating the Foundations: Scientific evidence was presented for re-examining long-held clinical assumptions—including crestal bone loss, peri-implantitis, and implant surface aging—in light of the latest biological understanding.
A Map of 50 Years of Evolution: The program offered a macroscopic review of the changes in implant design and surgical techniques over the past half-century, weighing their strengths and limitations, and re-illuminating the clinical wisdom demanded by the present era.
Evidence-Based Protocols: Practical, efficient solutions directly relevant to clinical practice were established, covering immediate placement and accelerated loading, All-on-4 full-arch rehabilitation, and single-tooth aesthetic restoration.
A Clinical Philosophy Responsive to Patients: In response to the growing number of elderly patients and those with systemic conditions, the symposium affirmed a patient-centered paradigm oriented toward simpler, minimally invasive treatments.
A View Toward the Future of Dentistry: The program outlined the organic connections between dentistry and adjacent advanced sciences, including artificial intelligence (AI), mixed reality (MR), biomedical convergence technologies, and biomimetic robotics.

At the heart of the declaration are the following key shifts—concrete paradigm changes for patient-centric implantology:

Beyond technological progress, these approaches reflect MegaGen’s clinical philosophy: to honor patient well-being and quality of life through advanced engineering.

4. Visualizing Legacy and Innovation: A New Paradigm for Exhibitions

The exhibition space went beyond conventional product promotion, staged as both a museum of dentistry and a showcase of innovation. At the front of the booth, a special Honorary Zone was dedicated to the research achievements of the pioneers who led the 1982 Toronto Conference—a gesture that beautifully captured MegaGen’s philosophy of pursuing future innovation on established foundations.

”Nice to meet you!” A futuristic medical robot greets visitors with a heart-shaped hand gesture.

Connected to this legacy, MegaGen’s product lineup was also exceptionally well received. The booth featured a Seamless Digital Solution zone in which the entire course of treatment—from the patient’s first visit and consultation through diagnosis, placement, and final restoration—was integrated into a single, unified workflow.

Alongside the digital workflow, the exhibition also gave substantial weight to the fundamentals of implant technology: fixation strength and placement stability. Next-generation implant solutions engineered to achieve reliable primary stability across a wide range of bone quality conditions drew keen interest from clinicians on-site. By intuitively presenting the integration of its next-generation implant lineup with the digital workflow, MegaGen’s booth was highly credited with setting a new standard for the future of implant exhibitions.

5. Toward the Future: The 20th Symposium Awaits in Shanghai

With the conclusion of the Toronto Symposium, the attention of the global dental community now turns to the next chapter of this journey. The momentum generated by the New Toronto Declaration and the spirit of cross-generational collaboration are expected to grow even further in the years ahead.

The 20th MegaGen International Symposium will be officially held on April 16 to April 17, 2027, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC) in Shanghai, China.

For more information, visit megagenamerica.com.