The 2022-2023 Global Clinical Case Contest included 260 students from 90 dental schools around the world. They first presented their restorations to a local jury. The winners of the regional competitions then took part in the final in Konstanz in front of an international jury consisting of Dr. Ian Cline, dentist at King’s College (United Kingdom), Prof. Dr. Gaetano Paolone of the University of Milan (Italy) and Dr. Frank Pfefferkorn, Senior Clinical Research Manager at Dentsply Sirona.

Each of the eleven finalists gave a brief presentation of their challenging cases in which they treated patients with restorative materials from Dentsply Sirona to give them a beautiful, radiant smile.

Deserving winners among strong competition

Margherita Feliciotti of the University of Siena, Italy, won the competition. She presented a large anterior tooth restoration for which she used the universal adhesive Prime&Bond active and the composite Ceram.x Spectra ST with SphereTEC filler technology in various opacities and viscosities.

Second place went to Catharina Glose of the University of Göttingen. She presented the case of a patient who requested improved aesthetics with a composite restoration of the anterior teeth from 12 to 22 following orthodontic treatment. The materials used were the Etch&Rinse adhesive Prime&Bond XP, Ceram.x Spectra ST in CLOUD shades and the Ceram.x Spectra ST Effects materials D1 and E1.

Two finalists shared third place: Ahmed Kamal of the October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Egypt, was awarded a prize for an aesthetically challenging restoration for a male patient in the region 14 to 17 using the universal adhesive Prime&Bond Universal, the Palodent V3 matrix system and Spectra ST. Yu-Fang Huang of the National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, China, received the award for a case in which a juvenile incisor was restored. She used Prime&Bond Universal and Spectrum TPH3 in the shades A1 and A3.5.

The finalists of the Global Clinical Case Contest were given attractive prizes in addition to the invitation to Konstanz.

Promoting innovative training programs

“As organizers of the competition for future dentists, we are very pleased about the great interest and high quality of the entries submitted,” said Dr. Frank Pfefferkorn. “Through its extensive cooperation with universities throughout the world, Dentsply Sirona promotes the development of innovative training programs with state-of-the-art materials and technologies. The results are impressive. The goal remains to support future dentists in providing their patients with the best possible treatment. Congratulations to all winners!”

The Dentsply Sirona Global Clinical Case Contest has been taking place since 2004/2005. The competition is aimed at dental students with less than two years of clinical practice. The participants document their case using text and images and are supported by a tutor from their university.

Applications for the GCCC 2023–2024 can now be submitted. Further information on the Dentsply Sirona Global Clinical Case Contest is available here.

Dentsply Sirona’s clinical education programs reached almost half a million dental professionals who participated in a broad range of courses around the globe throughout 2022. This is a five percent increase in pre-pandemic participation levels. Some of the increase in participation comes from the development of a broad portfolio of online and on-demand clinical education programs. Restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic led to a dramatic increase in online education participation. As these restrictions eased throughout 2022, dental professionals were eager to join in-person trainings and get back in the classroom, but online education remains popular once again.

The Company understands the importance of hands-on and in-person education for dental professionals. That’s why Dentsply Sirona has 55 education centers in 33 countries through which professionals can access training on the latest techniques and digital workflows. The Company also continues to expand its flagship DS World clinical education events to new countries and regions.

At the same time, dental professionals with busy work schedules value the convenience of online education. To meet this need, Dentsply Sirona is expanding its library of online clinical education available through Dentsply Sirona Academy. These evidence-based comprehensive courses are self-paced and interactive, developed and taught by leading experts in their respective areas of dentistry, and are designed to expand skillsets and increase confidence. This is particularly helpful as advances in new technology and techniques rapidly impact.

New On-Demand Workflow Curricula

Building on the successful rollout of the Dental Implants Curriculum available on-demand through the Dentsply Sirona Academy, Dentsply Sirona launched a new Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Curriculum and an Endodontics Curriculum which is focused on the entire workflow. The curriculum is grouped into three learning tracks – Foundational, Procedure-Based, and Mastery to address each clinician on their individual learning journey and help advance them to the next level in clinical, technical and practice excellence. The courses are created by a diverse group of globally renowned KOLs and instructional design experts to ensure an engaging experience for participants. Initial feedback is very positive. Dr. Mark A. Latta, DMD, MS, Professor of General Dentistry at Creighton University, Omaha, USA, commented that, “The rapid advances in technology across all the disciplines of dental health care have made it even more essential for clinicians to be committed to life-long learning. Driven by a cadre of global experts, the Dentsply Sirona curriculum provides outstanding opportunities for engaging courses that will provide each learner immediate benefits for the care of their patients.”

First Sustainability Educational Curriculum for Dental Professionals

Additionally, Dentsply Sirona developed and launched the first Sustainability Educational Curriculum for Dentistry through the Dentsply Sirona Academy. The curriculum responds to an international study¹ conducted by Dentsply Sirona in 2022 which revealed that three-quarters of all dentists say that there is a knowledge gap on sustainability and want to learn more about this topic. The curriculum addresses this knowledge gap on sustainable dentistry focusing on building deeper understanding of the industry’s environmental and social challenges and how to take action for more sustainable practices in their offices or labs.

To learn more about the on-demand curricula available through the Dentsply Sirona Academy, click here.

Sustainability is one of the biggest challenges facing society, and every industry – including dentistry. Last year, Dentsply Sirona conducted a global study¹ amongst more than 1,300 dentists from the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America which revealed that three-quarters of the participants believe there is a knowledge gap regarding sustainability in dentistry. To help answer that need and help support dental professionals on their journey to become more sustainable in their practice or lab, Dentsply Sirona has put together a Sustainability in Dentistry Resource Kit – available free of charge on their webpage – and invites everyone to join in the sustainability challenge by taking 1 step today to understand, commit or take action for more sustainable dentistry.

Resources offered

The Sustainability in Dentistry Resource Kit, aimed at helping facilitate dental professionals’ journey toward developing a more sustainable practice, consists of three parts:

• Understanding what sustainability means for dentistry, including why and how dental professionals can have an impact.
  Acting more ecologically and socially responsible in everyday life does not seem so difficult, but where does one start in the dental industry? To clarify this question, Dentsply Sirona has developed a Sustainability Educational Curriculum, as part of our Clinical Educational program, called DS Academy. Continuing Education (CE) credits² are available for each completed course. The courses are led by experienced dentists and sustainability experts who are passionate about making a difference in the dental industry.
• Taking action – Interactive Toolkit for more environmentally friendly dental practices
  Dentsply Sirona is a proud co-founder of FDI World Dental Federation’s “Sustainability in Dentistry” initiative. As a result, an interactive toolkit has been designed to give concrete examples of actions dental professionals can take to reduce the environmental footprint in dental practices. Once registered, dental professionals will discover various sustainability challenges and earn recognition awards for their practice by taking on an active role in making dentistry more sustainable.
• Committing to a more sustainable dentistry – The Pledge
  As another result of the partnership with FDI, a Pledge for Sustainable Dentistry has been published to invite dental professionals to show their support for environmental sustainability within oral healthcare. By signing, dental professionals express their commitment to reducing negative environmental impacts of their practice or lab.

Join the Sustainability Movement with FDI’s Virtual Summit

In addition, the FDI World Dental Federation’s virtual Summit on Sustainability in Dentistry will take place on the World Environment Day, June 5. Following the success of the Sustainability in Dentistry initiative, the Summit delivers captivating case studies, innovative ideas, and research projects dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of dentistry. Attendees can also look forward to a virtual display of poster abstracts and a bursary fund for participants from low-income countries. Register for the Summit here.

Taking action for a brighter world and a more sustainable dentistry

The launch of Dentsply Sirona’s Sustainability in Dentistry Resource Kit marks another milestone in the company’s commitment towards leading the advancement of sustainability in the dental industry.

This initiative is part of its sustainability strategy, BEYOND: Taking Action for a Brighter World. At the heart of BEYOND is the ambition to improve quality of and access to oral health around the world, protect the environment, being a trustworthy corporate citizen and foster a diverse and inclusive environment within the workplace and society. To achieve this, Dentsply Sirona has set itself ambitious sustainability goals, supports industry-wide co-operations and brings to the table the willingness to go above and beyond to achieve real changes for a more sustainable future across the entire dentistry.

References:

¹Global Sustainability in Dentistry Study organized in 2022, Link to Study Report
²Continuing Education (CE) credits valid only for US and Canada 

Emily P. Miner joins Dentsply Sirona as a proven strategic leader with more than 15 years of quality and regulatory experience in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.

Simon Campion, Chief Executive Officer of Dentsply Sirona, said, “Emily is a seasoned executive who has acquired significant quality and regulatory experience during her career in major medical device companies. The most critical interface that our customers and their patients have with our company is through the quality of our products, our hardware and our software. Emily’s appointment to the Management Team at Dentsply Sirona is a reflection of our continued commitment to the quality of the products and services we provide to the global dental community.”

Emily P. Miner, Senior Vice President, Quality and Regulatory, said, “I am honored and excited to join the world’s largest dental company where quality and innovation are core values. I am looking forward to working with the team to advance our quality and regulatory initiatives and ensuring that our products and solutions meet the highest standards for our customers globally.”

About Emily P. Miner

With more than 15 years of experience, Emily P. Miner’s expertise spans all elements of Quality and Regulatory management, including Consent Decree remediation, general quality system remediations, extensive global regulatory inspection preparation and management, stage gate development projects, strategic program management, and global quality operations. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President, Global Quality and Regulatory, at Terumo Cardiovascular since 2018. Prior to Terumo, she was with PwC PRTM Management Consultants, Hospira, and Boston Scientific. Emily holds a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Engineering Management from Duke University.

Dentsply Sirona’s new On-Demand Endodontics Curriculum is designed to build and expand clinicians’ skills through self-paced, user-friendly, interactive online learning. The new endodontics continuing education (CE) courses, now available through the DS Academy, cover diagnosis and the entire endodontic therapy workflow, from fundamental to mastery topics.

The new Endodontics Curriculum provides dentists with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration they need to stay up to date with tuition-free interactive, user-friendly online CE courses. Developed in collaboration with world-renowned clinicians and instructional designers, the comprehensive curriculum showcases current endodontic techniques and procedures. Participants can start with the curriculum at the level that best suits their clinical experience and interests. It is self-paced and interactive, meaning that courses can be taken at the clinician’s convenience, anytime, anywhere.

“The rapid advances in technology across all the disciplines of dental health care have made it even more essential for clinicians to be committed to life-long learning”, says Mark A. Latta, DMD, MS, Professor of General Dentistry at Creighton University, Omaha, USA. “While there are numerous opportunities for on-demand virtual courses, finding high-quality evidenced-based education can be a challenge. Driven by a cadre of global experts, the Dentsply Sirona curriculum will provide each learner immediate benefits for the care of their patients, regardless of where they are on their educational journey.”

The new endodontics curriculum is focused on the entire workflow and is grouped into three learning tracks – Foundational, Procedure-Based, and Mastery. Those new to endodontics should start their learning journey with the foundational learning track which includes four courses concentrating on an introduction to endodontics, including diagnosis. Those with more experience can jump further down the learning pathway to the intermediate, procedure-based level. The three courses of this track primarily discuss endodontic therapy and the factors influencing treatment outcomes. Finally, the mastery courses are ideal for experienced clinicians interested in further refining or expanding their existing skills. The three courses of this advanced level discuss non-surgical retreatment, the management of perforations, and the open apex.

“We are committed to providing high-quality continuing education through our Dentsply Sirona Academy. Our goal is to help dental professionals overcome common challenges and bring out the best in them so they can confidently provide the best possible care for their patients” says Pamela Marklew, Vice President Global Clinical Education at Dentsply Sirona.

The new Endodontics Curriculum is here.

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, Dentsply Sirona has reaffirmed and expanded its longstanding commitment to empowering women worldwide. In line with the day’s 2023 theme of “Embrace Equity,” Dentsply Sirona continues to be a strong advocate for more measures in the dental industry to promote women, ensuring they have the opportunity to experience true equity, while having their voices heard, their expertise recognized, and their achievements celebrated.

Dentsply Sirona has been promoting women in dentistry for years with a range of successful measures and initiatives. The Company has also made diversity, equity and inclusion a key focus of its sustainability strategy “BEYOND: Taking action for a brighter world.”

“Embracing Equity goes beyond equality for women in the workplace,” says Lisa Yankie, Chief Human Resources Officer at Dentsply Sirona. “It is about taking action to ensure a fair opportunity for all women and finding ways in which we can make progress for a better future in this area.”

Company-wide programs drive diversity, equity and inclusion

Internal initiatives at Dentsply Sirona to promote women empowerment include ‘DS Women’, an Employee Resource Group that works to help elevate female talent through professional development, affording women opportunities to ensure lead practices and take center stage in the company. DS Women has grown to include members in 40 countries across eight global regions, and sponsors events throughout the year, including the Chicago Women’s Breakfast – a top event for female dental industry leaders attending the Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting.

“As a leader in the dental industry, we have the opportunity and the obligation to be a leader in the promotion, commitment and actions to drive gender equity,” said Glenn Coleman, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Sponsor of DS Women. “While we recognize and appreciate this is an ongoing journey, I am proud of where we are and in the direction we are going.”

Dentsply Sirona also hosts training and awareness sessions for all employees around the world on how to identify and eliminate unconscious bias, while building inclusivity inside and outside the workplace. In addition to this, and as part of its sustainability program, the Company is a signatory of the Paradigm for Parity commitment, pledging toward the goal of achieving full gender parity by 2030. Dentsply Sirona is working to achieve both gender parity and gender pay parity by 2025. As of this past year, 44 percent of the Dentsply Sirona global workforce is female, including 49 percent of those at or above the Director level. In July 2022, the global gender pay gap across internal professional managerial levels was at 1.3 percent, a drop of nearly four percentage points from the previous year.

Driving change in the industry

Dentsply Sirona also looks beyond its own employees to bring about change in the dental community through several initiatives and actions. Dentsply Sirona sponsors a global speaker development program called FirstTo50 which promotes women dentists, specialists and dental assistants as speakers at industry events and provides structured speaker training for all levels of experience. Two classes and a total of 16 women participated in the FirstTo50 programs in 2021. In 2022 the program expanded from two to five cohorts. Former and recent graduates have spoken at many industry-leading events, including Dentsply Sirona World 2021 and 2022 in Las Vegas and the PEERS (Platform for Exchange of Experience, Research and Science) meeting in the UK.

In addition, Dentsply Sirona is a partner of ‘Women in DSO’, an association that provides mentoring, learning and development programs to women in dental service organizations. To promote diversity in those who enter the dental profession, Dentsply Sirona also recently announced a partnership with the National Dental Association, to help fund NDA programs and support opportunities to provide minority communities with access to excellent dental education, leveraging Dentsply Sirona’s dental technology to educate dentists and student dentists of color.

Fundraising Campaign in favor of “CARE”

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the DACH chapter of DS Women ERG has organized a fundraiser for Dentsply Sirona employees. Running from February 7 to March 31, the objective is to raise 2,000 euros for the German non-profit organization CARE, which helps women and girls in need in their fight for comprehensive and equal human rights around the world through multiple educational, well-being and economic empowerment initiatives.

Dentsply Sirona’s latest Sustainability Report is available for download here: https://www.dentsplysirona.com/sustainability