Being the best can mean a lot of things to different people, but in general it means standing apart from peers and competitors by simply doing what you do more efficiently, more effectively, and more completely. When it comes to dental products this means making it easier to diagnose and treat patients and simplifying and automating practice operations.
It also means setting a standard for others to follow. The 2020 Cellerant Best of Class Technology Award winning products definitely meet this standard. In its 12th year these awards were selected by a panel of dental technology experts who spend a year evaluating innovative features and unique approaches to dental care. The process is rigorous, unbiased, transparent, and nonprofit. They evaluate not just whether a product does something impressive, but whether it sets a new benchmark for the industry.
This year 20 winning products were selected across a wide range of product categories. It’s not just scanners and software, but also materials and services that can open new avenues of patient care. Read on to learn about each of these products that truly are Best of Class.
The Voting Panel:
Lou Shuman, DMD, CAGS
Dr Lou Shuman is the founder and creator of the Cellerant Best of Class Technology Awards and the CEO of Cellerant Consulting Group. He is a venturer-in-residence at Harvard’s i-Lab and co-founder of LightForce Orthodontics.
John Flucke, DDS
Dr John Flucke is in private practice in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. He serves as technology editor and chief dental editor for Dental Products Report® as well as the Missouri State Peer Review chairman. His blog on technology and life can be accessed at blog.denticle.com.
Chris Salierno, DDS
Dr Chris Salierno is a general dentist from Long Island, New York. He has served as the national president of the ASDA, chair of the ADA New Dentist Committee and president of his local dental society and is currently the chief editor of Dental Economics.
Paul Feuerstein, DMD
Dr Paul Feuerstein is in private practice in Massachusetts and is the technology editor of Dentistry Today and an adjunct assistant professor at Tufts University. He was named Clinician of the Year at the 2010 Yankee Dental Congress.
Marty Jablow, DMD
Dr Marty Jablow is in private practice in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He’s known as America’s Dental Technology Coach, and serves on the editorial board of Dental Product Shopper. Dr. Jablow consults with many companies on product development and marketing.
Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD
Dr Maragliano-Muniz is a prosthodontist in private practice in Salem, Massachusetts. She’s a faculty member at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and is the chef editor of DentistryIQ.
Carestream Dental CS 9600
The CS 9600 CBCT system is a highly intelligent piece of technology. Intuitive features give the 5-in-1 system the capability to deliver exceptional image quality for more precise diagnoses while maintaining ease of use and patient comfort. This advanced system combines 2D panoramic technology, CBCT imaging, 3D model/ impression scanning and 3D facial scanning, along with optional cephalometric imaging, to reportedly meet every clinical need.
Carestream Dental | carestreamdental.com
EyeSpecial
Designed exclusively for dentistry, the EyeSpecial captures 12 MP images with simple, one-touch operations. It’s lightweight and features a large LCD touchscreen for viewing images. It can be used with a wireless memory card to seamlessly send images from the camera to a tablet or operatory computer for simple and efficient treatment documentation and case presentation.
Shofu | shofu.com
3Shape TRIOS® 4
The 3Shape TRIOS 4 is a powerful intraoral scanner that now comes as a flexible wired and wireless twoin-one solution. Increased battery life of more than 30% optimizes the wireless experience, and a simple plug-in cord, allows you to smoothly switch to wired anytime you wish. With its instant-heat technology, the scanner is ready to capture an impression in seconds, and combined with the enhanced battery life, this allows the scanner to be used with 2 to 3 times more patients on a single charge.
3Shape | 3shape.com/en
Primescan
Designed to enable more precise scanning, the Primescan uses high-resolution sensors and shortwave light to reportedly capture up to 1 million 3D data points per second. The scanner can capture depths up to 20 mm, making it ideal for use with subgingival or deep preparations.
Dentsply Sirona | dentsplysirona.com
ChairsideCAD
exocad’s ChairsideCAD provides clinicians with the freedom to choose the best hardware and software for single-visit dentistry. Derived from the renowned DentalCAD platform, which has been a signature solution for the dental labs for more than a decade, ChairsideCAD includes dentalshare, a robust, open collaboration tool for doctors and labs. Third party manufacturers’ products, data, libraries, and services are easily integrated. Now, dental practices can easily add an IOS with CAD/CAM and develop expertise at their own pace.
exocad | exocad.com
iOptimaINT
The iOptimaINT electric handpiece system is versatile and enables you to perform all your dental operations—restoration, endodontics, oral surgery, implantology and scaling. Fully integrated into your dental unit, the iOptimaINT system guarantees optimal space savings. It can be controlled either using an iPod touch or an iPad mini. The refined ergonomics and userfriendliness enable you to focus on the patient, while preprogrammed, customizable sequences of the iOptimaINT application make treatments easier.
Bien-Air | dental.bienair.com
SmartMirror
Designed to revolutionize the dental mirror, SmartMirror combines a bright, sapphire mirror lens with LED lights and a video camera to not only provide clinicians with unprecedented intraoral visibility, but to document everything the mirror captures. The SmartMirror connects to a practice computer via Wi-Fi. An integrated microphone allows dictation to be captured along with the video feed, and the videos can be displayed live on-screen to allow patients and other clinicians to view ongoing treatment.
Smart Mirror Dental | info@smartmirror.dental | smartmirror.dental
OMNICHROMA
OMNICHROMA is said to be the first universal composite that matches every patient’s tooth shade, from A1 to D4, with a single shade of composite. Its innovative technology utilizes structural color to match every tooth shade. Its 260 nm fillers are the precise shape and size necessary to generate red-to-yellow structural color as ambient light passes through the composite. The red to- yellow color combines with the reflected color of the patient’s surrounding dentition, reportedly resulting in a perfect match with no added dyes or pigments.
Tokuyama Dental | OMNICHROMA.com
Infinix™ Flowable Composite and Bulk Fill Flow Composite
Infinix advanced dental restoratives—Flowable Composite and Bulk Fill Flow Composite—contain Nobio’s proprietary QASi particle technology, which combines a high concentration of antimicrobial molecules that are covalently bound to a solid core. The materials are formulated to maintain the integrity of the restoration and protect the restoration from degradation by bacteria over time. The Infinix Flowable and Bulk Fill Flow Composites are ideal for posterior restorations.
Nobio | info@nobio.com | infinix.com
PinkWave™
The PinkWave features patent-pending QuadWave Curing Technology that is said to enhance polymerization when compared to other curing lights. The new curing technology reportedly increases composite hardness by more than 20% while also decreasing shrinkage by 15% or more. The light features a large curing area and offers standard, ramp, and boost curing modes. The buttons are ergonomically placed and it’s fabricated with a single-piece aluminum body. The light charges cordlessly and features a replaceable battery pack.
Apex Dental Material | apexdentalmaterials.com
XVWeb®
XVWeb utilizes cloud technology to deliver clinical image storage, optimization, and analysis as a cost-effective subscription service. The new XVWeb 3D module adds support for accessing, viewing, and securely sharing CBCT datasets via any compatible web browser in real time.
Apteryx Imaging | apteryx.com
LumiCare™ Caries Detection Rinse
An aqueous oral rinse featuring proprietary nanoparticles that reportedly illuminate early carious lesions in teeth using a curing light. The rinse is designed to enable early detection and treatment of dental caries and can be used via a simple protocol. Images of detected carious lesions are reportedly easy for patients to understand The product is still waiting FDA 510(k) clearance for sales in the US.
GreenMark Biomedical | greenmark.bio
BruxRelief
Designed to help document the clinical situation for patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of bruxism, BruxRelief is a cloud connected wearable device allowing patients to assess masticatory muscle activity from their own home. Both clinicians and patients can see the assessments right away in the associated app. Data collected by the system makes it easier to prescribe treatment and monitor progress.
Bravrr | bruxrelief.com
Dentulu
Designed to connect patients to practices as well as clinicians to clinicians, Dentulu is a mobile dental app that fosters online communication via an encrypted, HIPAAcompliant network. The app allows patients to schedule appointments, as well connect with a clinician for teledentistry appointments conducted via the platform. It features an intuitive user interface and can be used to view and send photos and other clinical information.
Dentulu | dentulu.com
TeleDent
TeleDent is designed to optimize workflow to make collaboration and communication more efficient. It is designed to support large referral networks and multiple locations. The platform includes an enhanced user interface, teledentistry appointment management, task assignment, optimized synchronization, audio recording, and an API for connectivity and integration with digital imaging, EHR systems, and more.
MouthWatch | mymouthwatch.com
Weave
Weave gives businesses instant access to what they need to know and do for each customer the moment he or she calls, facilitating more meaningful and productive interactions. The VoIP phone system combined with a desktop and mobile app improves scheduling, customer response, online reputation, team workflow, revenue generation, and more.
Weave | getweave.com
YAPI™
Designed to help practices operate in a paperless environment,YAPI is an automated practice efficiency software that incorporates everything from electronic dental forms to automated appointment reminders. The system automates functions to help dental professionals focus on clinical care rather than paperwork and integrates seamlessly with leading practice management platforms. A practice dashboard, online remote access, and intra-office messaging make sure everyone has access to the information they need when and where it’s needed.
YAPI | yapiapp.com
SleepArchiTx™
Designed as a turnkey solution to provide clinicians with the confidence needed to treat sleep breathing disorders, SleepArchiTx offers unique 1:1 doctor-to-doctor clinical consults and medical doctor collaboration to increase clinical knowledge and provide confidence and expertise. 24/7 support for staff drives implementation, while turnkey medical billing and many sleep appliance choices provide a 1-stop shop.
SleepArchiTx | reachus@sleeparchitx.com
Amplify
Designed to help practices connect with prospective patients who visit the practice website, Amplify provides 24/7 live chat services. Amplify’s team of Smile Specialists are trained to help find patients who fit your practice and then schedule them directly into your practice management solution. All information is managed via an encrypted, HIPAA compliant portal. The service can be connected to other Simplifeye solutions to create a comprehensive virtual platform for interacting with patients.
Simplifeye | simplifeye.com
ChairFill
Thinking and running all the time in the background, ChairFill will automatically grow your patient base and achieve your practice production and revenue goals. The software monitors available chair time and mines patient records to identify the right kind of patients at the right time. It can selectively search patient records for the most profitable patients and proactively fill the schedule. ChairFill detects last minute cancellations and fills those openings. It also can manage marketing campaigns and help create a positive brand image for your practice.
MMG Fusion | mmgfusion.com
See last year’s Cellerant Best of Class winners!
