Month: May 2021

Align Technology reaches 10 million milestone with Invisalign

Align Technology has announced that over 10 million patients have begun treatment with the Invisalign system – the most advanced clear aligner system in the world – including 2.6 million teenage patients*. This is a significant milestone for the company and the Invisalign-trained orthodontists and dentists worldwide who trust Invisalign clear aligners to treat adults, teens, and patients as young as 6 years old.

Commenting on the 10 millionth Invisalign patient milestone, Joe Hogan, Align Technology CEO, said, “It’s remarkable to think about the pace of growth and adoption that we are experiencing worldwide, especially when considering it took 10 years to achieve our one millionth Invisalign patient milestone and now we are adding one million new Invisalign patients in less than six months. We are grateful to our doctor partners and their patients, and to our 20,000 employees around the world who have helped us reach this milestone. In recognition of our 10 millionth Invisalign milestone, we have donated $10 million to the Align Foundation donor-advised fund to support organisations whose visions tie closely to our own: transforming smiles and changing lives, supporting and educating teens, and empowering our doctor customers through partnerships with learning institutions and foundations. We are also kicking off a campaign called “10 Million Smiles. 10 Million Thanks” centred around the transformative power of Invisalign treatment through the eyes of Invisalign patients. This is our way to say thank you and inspire others to share their smiles with the world using #10MInvisalignSmiles.”

UK & Ireland celebrates milestone with a consumer competition

To celebrate the 10 millionth milestone in the UK & in Ireland, Align Technology is giving 10 consumers a chance to win up to £1,000/€1175 to cover their Invisalign treatment. The competition runs until June 15, and the consumers need to complete a SmileView smile simulation on the Invisalign UK or Ireland website, as well as enter their details into the form. Align will select 10 winners at random from all valid entries1. The final discount awarded to the winner will depend on what Invisalign product the doctor suggests as part of the winner’s treatment plan.

To join in the global celebration, tag yourself use #10MInvisalignSmiles on social media and share a smile selfie, story or video with the world.

* Data on file at Align Technology, Q1, 2021

1 Full terms and conditions are available on request

Hear from the world’s leading voices in dentistry

Don’t miss out on the chance for your practice to hear from some of the sectors most respected clinical and business experts at the next British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show!

Save the dates for what will be one of the most important conferences for our industry in the post vaccine world as over 200 nationally and internationally renowned speakers host a series of informative and inspirational sessions.
The world-class programme will be delivered over two days and hosted by experts from across the sector and beyond, with each of them bringing their own unique insight and perspective in a series of talks unmatched by any other event.
Don’t miss out on giving your practice the chance to learn from this unrivalled speaker line-up!

 

The next British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show will be held on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th May 2022, Birmingham NEC, co-located with DTS.

For more information, visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270 or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com

Developing the autonomous dental hygienist and therapist

To deliver the highest standard of patient care while enjoying the benefits of the role to the max, it is important for dental hygienists and therapists to be empowered by and confident in their own capabilities. This is a topic that Dr Colin Campbell feels passionately about and will be discussing as part of the Dental Hygienists and Therapists programme at the ITI Congress UK & Ireland 2021 this October. He says:

“Maintenance is key to success with dental implants, so dental hygiene and therapy is critical. Encouraging dental hygienists and therapists to take responsibility for and make treatment and maintenance decisions for their patients is just as vital. They need more autonomy to be able to work collaboratively with dentists for the benefit of the implant patient.

“The challenge for many dental hygienists and therapists will likely be in making the necessary structural changes within their practices to allow this autonomy. Their skills need to be at a certain level and they need to be able to communicate their worth to the principal. There is no need for dentists to be providing maintenance for implant patients – they should be focusing on their surgical and restorative skills and leaving maintenance to the hygiene and therapy experts. Similarly, dental hygienists and therapists are best placed to assess and stabilise a patient’s periodontal condition prior to implant placement. They should have the confidence and the opportunity to work with the dentist to ensure optimal hygiene before surgery takes place. Understanding the value of these team members, which is more than just financial, is key to changing attitudes and successfully restructuring the practice.”

Colin will present a session entitled “Being an Autonomous Clinician”, about which he says:

“I hope to show dental hygienists and therapists attending what is possible. I work very closely with my dental hygienist, Karen Walker, and we have developed our service together over the past 14 years. She is completely autonomous and is a great role model for how others can progress in their career. Every long journey starts with a single step, so I hope to inspire delegates to take those initial steps when they go back to practice.”

The ITI Congress UK & Ireland 2021 will offer various networking and socialising opportunities alongside first-class education. Colin adds:

“The ITI is a stand out organisation, founded in ethics and philosophies designed to benefit the patient. It’s the best community for people interested in optimising patient outcomes with evidence-based implant dentistry. It is also a great place to meet friends – 20+ years into my journey with the ITI and some of best friends at work are here.

“This is an exciting Congress programme. I have always enjoyed speaking to team members as they are so enthusiastic and interested in growing, so I’m looking forward to it. There are some great speakers in the dental hygienists and therapists programme as well, including Ian Dunn who is a real headline act. In addition, the friendly environment and chance to socialise will be much appreciated by all. The world is changing and as things open back up, this will be a fantastic event to attend.”

 

ITI Congress UK & Ireland 2021

Partnered by Straumann

October 1-2 2021, Edinburgh

 For more information, or to register for your place, please visit https://events.iti.org/congressuk-ireland/

ADG: Government must face up to the workforce challenge to stop “dental deserts” in England

Neil Carmichael, Chair of the ADG has responded to the Healthwatch England report on dentistry the debate in the House of Commons on oral health and dentistry in England, both of which took place earlier this week:

“The two debates being held today in the House of Commons demonstrate that MPs from Bedford to Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight to Waveney know from their mailbags that many of their constituents still cannot get access to NHS care in a timely manner. Research by Public Health England and others confirms that these “dental deserts” are often in the most vulnerable and deprived communities.”

It was heartening to see the Opposition spokesman and Minister agree on the need for dental contract reform at pace. Many in the profession recognise that the Minister is committed to reforming the dental contract through flexible commissioning and we are ready to work with her to achieve this.

“However the Government must also face up to the challenge to recruit more dentists including those from overseas. As the minister said in the debate there are “dental deserts” in parts of England, and more practitioners are required with an “army style” recruitment strategy from Government to fill the vacancies in areas of greatest need.”

“I hope Healthwatch England’s report published yesterday will now focus the Government’s mind on the urgent need to reform NHS dentistry and address the recruitment crisis we now see emerging in many parts of the country.”

Healthwatch England’s report is published here.

Public Health England’s report on Inequalities in Oral Health in England is here.

Dentists warn of exodus from service, as access crisis deepens with 30 million appointments missed

The British Dental Association has urged government to set out a clear route map for reform and relaxation of COVID restrictions, as new survey data points to an exodus from the service as the access crisis continues with nearly 30 million appointments lost since the first lockdown.

According to a new survey of dentists in England:

  • Nearly half (47%) of dentists indicate they are now likely to change career or seek early retirement in the next 12 months should current COVID restrictions remain in place. The same proportion state they are likely to reduce their NHS commitment.
  • Working in high level PPE mandated under current infection control procedures is having a devastating impact on dentists’ morale, with nearly 9 in 10 (88%) indicating it is having a high impact on their morale. 78% cite financial uncertainty as having a high impact, and their inability to provide pre-COVID levels of care.  Two thirds cite hitting NHS targets imposed by the Government on 1 January 2021. Since the new year the workforce report the highest levels of stress compared to any point since the onset of the pandemic.
  • Nearly two thirds of NHS dentists estimate they will not meet controversial imposed targets, where they will face penalties for not hitting 60% of pre-COVID activity levels. Those that have made progress have done so unsustainably. 62% say their practice had to invest in new ventilation equipment, without any government support, 41% say they were forced to refocus on routine over urgent appointments, with similar numbers saying they have reduced private work, or reduced or eliminated annual leave.
  • England remains the only UK nation where government has not committed to or embarked on exploratory work to provide capital funding for ventilation systems to enable practices to increase patient numbers while keeping to infection control restrictions. While securing new kit has been the number one strategy deployed by dentists to meet NHS activity targets, nearly 70% of practices say they now face financial barriers to further investment.
  • Nearly half of dentists (47%) lack confidence in terms of the business outlook for their practice should current standard operating procedures remain unchanged.

BDA analysis of Freedom of Information data indicates that nearly 70% of appointments – or 28 million courses of treatment – that would have been delivered in NHS services in England in the year from March 2020 have been missed.  The BDA estimates by now the figure is likely to have exceeded 30 million. While numbers have increased MPs had expressed concern in January that the current interim system of targets would “prioritise volume over need” and indeed urgent treatment delivered has fallen since the new year.

While dentist leaders have welcomed recent government commitments to reform the widely discredited activity-based contract at the heart of NHS dentistry, they have warned needed change could be fatally undermined by further reductions in capacity through colleagues leaving the service or reducing their NHS commitment. The BDA believe contractual and legislative change needs to be in place before 1 April 2022, the beginning of the next NHS financial year.

With the vaccination programme making real headway the BDA has also underlined the need for a clear timetable for revising high intensity infection prevention and control procedures – including heavy duty PPE and maintaining lengthy gaps between appointments – given the huge impact on both productivity and the workforce.

MPs are set to tackle these issues in a Back Bench Business debate led by Bedford MP Mohammad Yasin later today (Tuesday 25 May 2021).

Shawn Charlwood, Chair of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee said: “The pandemic has wiped out access for millions and taken a hammer blow to the workforce, with many now looking for the exit.

“Practices have managed to hit punitive targets but at a terrible cost. Churning through appointments against the clock in heavy-duty PPE now risks an exodus from this service.

“Fixing NHS dentistry will be impossible if dentists are left unwilling to work in it. We need a clear road map that lifts restrictions, provides needed support to all practices and makes a decisive break with a broken contract.”

Michael Copeland at Wesleyan Group, the specialist financial services mutual, said: “The BDA’s findings paint a worrying picture of a frontline service under significant pressure.

“NHS England’s March hike in the UDA levels that dentists need to hit to avoid funding clawback – from 45% to 60% – prompted significant concern from the sector. This research shows that fears of falling short will become the reality for many – putting their finances under further pressure during a critical period for practices’ recovery, and potentially putting the viability of their entire businesses at risk.

“In these conditions, it’s not surprising that many are considering stepping back for good. As well as putting strain on the country’s ability to provide the required volume of dental care, it could also mean that some dentists take the retirement plunge before they are fully ready – feeling as though they have no other option in such an unfavourable environment.

“For those considering early retirement, moving into wholly private practice or changing career, reviewing how it will affect your personal financial situation is an essential first step. Speaking to a professional adviser who understands your circumstances can help put an effective and sustainable plan in place.”

 

What professionals had to say about 3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement

Practice based research continues to be a reliable indicator of how well new dental products are received and how they operate in a working environment. In light of this, 3M Oral Care recently sent out a number of samples of its new RelyX Universal Resin Cement to the Product Research and Evaluation by Practitioners (PREP) Panel.

Formed in 1996, the PREP Panel comprises of 30 dental practitioners across the UK and one in mainland Europe. The panel has completed over 70 projects testing new dental products and techniques, and continues to be a valuable resource for clinical data, especially as treatment outcomes are followed for up to five years.[i]

So what did the PREP Panel have to say about 3M Oral Care’s latest resin cement?

 

A dental cement you can rely on

Resin luting materials are a fairly recent innovation. Indeed, due to the advent of a more minimally invasive approach to care and increased use of natural looking, tooth-coloured restorations, the use of resin luting cements is on the rise among professionals.[ii]

However, there are some perceived disadvantages to using these materials, namely that they can be technique sensitive and excess is difficult to clean up after use.

When asked, the vast majority of the PREP Panel indicated that a simplified workflow using resin cements was very important. They also stated that when it came to dual-cure cements, less waste, more colours and opacities, versatility of use and ease of clean up and handling were the most desirable properties.

In total, 217 restorations were placed using 3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement. On evaluation, the majority of testers were very satisfied with the aesthetic results. Professionals were also unanimous in giving it full marks for ease of use when it came to dispensing and handling the product, also stating that it was very easy to use in conjunction with 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive.

Some of the comments about 3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement include:

“Great self-sealing TINY tips. Clean-up is a breeze.”

“Nice flow to the material, mixing tips excellent. Easy to fit and very little waste.”

100% of the evaluators rated the working time of the cement to be sufficient, and all evaluators ranked the product as having better or the same handling as the product they already used in practice.

Innovative design

The design of and information included with 3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement were also rated highly by evaluators. For example, the instruction booklet for how to use the product scored very well, indicating that it efficiently provides the necessary information that professionals need when using a new product.

Evaluators also rated both the ease of use for the various dispensing tips and the ease of material clear up as excellent, proving that predictability of the product was a huge asset.

Some final comments about the product included:

“One of, if not THE nicest luting materials and dispensing materials I have ever used. Well done 3M.”

“Excellent product, well thought through. Great packaging. Excellent properties and ease of use. One of the best cements I have used.”

“Loved the tips – much less volume of waste.”

“The smaller mixing tip is welcomed and will result in less waste than the resin cement I currently use.”

As you can see, 3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement exceeded expectations, not only by overcoming many of the perceived disadvantages of resin luting materials with easy clean up, simple dispensing and increased versatility for use in a number of indications. All evaluators also said they would buy and recommend the product to colleagues!

So, if you want to find out more about 3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement, please contact the team at 3M today.

 

To book a virtual demonstration today and for more information please visit: www.3M.co.uk/RelyX-Universal.

3M representatives are available via video calling technologies for your convenience.

 

Call 08705 360 036 or visit www.3M.co.uk/Dental

 

 

Author: John Rafelt.

After finishing his PhD in Chemistry in 1999 at York University, John worked as a food analyst at the Government research laboratories and an advisor on research funding working closely with the European Commission. John joined 3M Oral Care in 2002 and is currently Scientific Affairs Manager for the 3M Oral Care UK and Ireland region. John lectures widely on advancements in dental materials and regularly writes articles on the same topic for the dental press.

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3M, RelyX and Scotchbond are trademarks of the 3M Company. – NB to editors: this line must be included at end of editorial when published

 

[i] Burke FJT, Crisp RJ. Twenty years of handling evaluations and practice based research by the PREP Panel. Dent Update 2013: 40: 339–341.

[ii] Burke FJT, Wilson NHF, Brunton PA, Creanor S. Dental practice in the UK in 2015/2016. Part 4: changes since 2002? Br Dent J 2019: 226: 279–285.

The OHC 2021 is coming! 

The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) is excited to announce that its flagship event, the Oral Health Conference (OHC) will be taking place in Glasgow on 26 – 27 November 2021.

The OHC is the perfect opportunity for dental hygienists, dental therapists and students of the profession to network with likeminded individuals, keep up to date with the latest research in the field and expand in their careers.

As always, the show will see a number of exciting lectures, hands-on workshops and product demonstrations, plus offer the chance to catch up with colleagues and meet new people who share your passions and interests.

So, make sure to put the date in your diaries if you don’t want to miss out!

 

 For more information about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk, call 01788 575050 or email enquiries@bsdht.org.uk

The Probe Dental Podcast Presents: Joanne Knox – Pure Dental Hygiene (NSK Podcast Series)

In this episode from the NSK Podcast Series, Joanne Knox, Owner and Principal Hygienist at Pure Dental Hygiene, discusses her journey to become a practice owner and how NSK have helped her fulfil her dreams.

www.puredentalhygieneni.com

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more:

 

For more information on NSK equipment, visit https://mynsk.co.uk/ or call 0800 634 1909.

 
 
 

Glass hybrid restoratives are cheaper and equally as effective as composites, study finds

The international phase-down of dental amalgam through the widely ratified Minamata Convention on Mercury means that it is necessary to identify a suitable alternative. Glass hybrid and composites are currently the leading candidates for the replacement of dental amalgam. A recent study compared the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the two materials and found that glass hybrids showed similar efficacy and greater cost-effectiveness, meaning that the material could be preferable as a replacement for amalgam.

In the first study of its kind, researchers tested a modern glass hybrid material against an established composite for the restoration of two-surface occlusal–proximal cavities in molars in the load-bearing area.

Patients in Croatia, Italy, Serbia and Turkey with two molars in need of restoration participated in the randomised controlled clinical trial. In each patient, one restoration was completed using glass hybrid material and the other was completed using composite material.

The materials were subsequently compared in each of the 180 patients—a total of 360 molars—and patients were followed up for a period of three years and examined by blinded investigators using FDI World Dental Federation criteria.

A total of 21 patients (27 molars) required follow-up treatment owing to complications; however, the two materials were found to have limited differences in complication-free time. When comparing the cost-effectiveness of the two materials, the researchers concluded that composite was more expensive at limited clinical benefit.

“If you want to use composite in these cases, you will need to accept high additional costs”

“Using the data from each country, we can show that the initial treatment costs were much lower for glass hybrids than for composites in three of the four countries,” commented Dr Falk Schwendicke, lead author of the study and Professor and Head of Oral Diagnostics and Health Services at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

“Overall, we concluded that glass hybrid was more cost-effective than composite in this trial and that this was consistent in different settings. If you want to use composite in these cases, you will need to accept high additional costs,” he added.

Schwendicke explained that the researchers had expected that glass hybrids would be less costly; however, they did not expect that the difference in cost-effectiveness—also in the long term—would be so great. “I had expected possible efficacy differences to reduce the cost advantage of glass hybrids. However, this was not the case,” he said.

According to Schwendicke, the findings of the study indicate that glass hybrid is a promising alternative for dental reconstructions. “Glass hybrid seems a good alternative to composites in this indication, at least from a cost-effectiveness perspective,” he explained. “After all, the cost differences reflect the differences in applicability and effort—highly important factors. Dentists and patients should consider glass hybrid for posterior teeth, after evaluating other facts. In any case, the results show that glass hybrid is not to be discounted—the data shows that this is a material to consider, and one that can be counted on.”

The European Union has committed to completely or largely eliminating mercury-containing products such as dental amalgam by 2030. Schwendicke said that, although more data was needed to corroborate the study findings, they may prove helpful in identifying a suitable replacement. “Composites are a good material and have potential; however, they come with high demands when placing them. Glass hybrids are, by default, less technique-sensitive and can, in this way, be seen as more like amalgam. This trial now shows that they are indeed a good alternative to composites, and I am very happy that there is a choice of materials that dentists can use when amalgam is no longer available.”

The study, titled “Cost-effectiveness of glass hybrid versus composite in a multi-country randomized trial”, was published in the April 2021 issue of the Journal of Dentistry[i].

For more information on GC UK’s restorative portfolio, contact GC UK Ltd on 01908 218999, email info.uk@gc.dental or visit https://europe.gc.dental/en-GB/products/restore

[i] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030057122100035X?via%3Dihub

The Straumann Group launches the virtual Digital Experience Centre

Looking to go digital or expand your digital capabilities? Get all the information and inspiration you need in a COVID-safe and super convenient way with the Straumann Group’s virtual Digital Experience Centre!

Among the popular solutions available to browse are the MEDENTiKA® precision-engineered multi-platform abutments and components, the Straumann® P series 3D printers, the Straumann Cares® and Medit scanners and the Straumann® M and D series of wet-dry and dry-milling solutions.

For each product station, watch a short video explaining the key benefits and features of the technology and read about the highlights. You can also ‘like’, ‘save to watchlist’ for later or share videos w and with colleagues.

For a completely tailored and highly convenient learning and research experience, discover the Straumann Group’s virtual Digital Experience Centre for free today!

 

For more information and to visit the Digital experience Centre, please visit https://www.straumann.com/content/digital/gb/en/landing/live-loud.html