The profession of dentistry is experiencing an unprecedented period of change, driven by emerging technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the delivery of care. Henry Schein Horizons is dedicated to exploring the latest topics, trends, and technologies shaping the future of oral health and the practice of dentistry.
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You're thinking of adding 3D printing to your practice, but you don't know where to start. Let Dr. Sully Sullivan show you the way. In this one-hour webinar, Dr. Sullivan reviews the most common 3D printing applications, how to optimize your workflow, and how 3D translates into a healthier bottom line.
Click here to view the webinar (1 hour)
Hear from Bennett Napier, M.S, CAE, and Chief Staff Executive of the National Association of Dental Laboratories, for NADL's projections about the future of 3D printing in dentistry and more technology insights, in an exclusive conversation with Henry Schein's Andrew Kissin.
Click here to view the video (11 minutes)
April 2021
Molecular diagnostics, additive printing, robotics, customized medicine—these are just some of the exciting advances in endodontics we can expect in the years ahead, says leading endodontic thought-leader Dr. Allen Ali Nasseh.
Click here to view video (18 minutes)
How does the American Rescue Plan help your practice? Watch this video from renowned dental employment attorney Ali Oromchian, who dives deep into everything you need to know about FFCRA extension updates, tax credits, small business relief, and more, courtesy of the new Henry Schein Dental Business Institute On Demand.
Click here to view video (45 minutes)
You've made it through 2020, but 2021 is no walk in the park. The pandemic persists, and the heightened attention paid last year to all things financial remains in place this year. So what should a financially responsible dental practice do? Our partners at U.S. Bank, one of the leading lenders to the dental profession, have provided this handy checklist to help you develop a comprehensive financial approach to 2021.
Click here to view the checklist
Start the year with a Henry Schein Financial Services webinar at 8 pm ET tonight featuring dental practice financial expert Bob Gray. A member of the Academy of Dental CPAs, the National Society of Certified Healthcare Business Consultants, and a Henry Schein Dental Business Institute faculty member, Bob will provide insight into the stimulus payments emerging from the new COVID-19 Economic Relief Bill as well as the second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans to small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Click here to register for Bob's live webinar and replay (1-hour)
Achieving a high standard of care with implants requires excellence in three key categories: Efficient, predictable placements; faster and fewer visits; and effective healing. Henry Schein's BioHorizons team provides their perspective about three key technologies necessary to deliver the care that implant patients expects.
Click here to learn more (3 minute read)
When Brandon Complete Dental Care (Brandon, FL) built a new practice, the team moved from windowless operatories to big windows and bright sunshine. It was one of many improvements 10 years in the making by the father and son duo of Drs. Richard Assing and Brenton Assing.
Watch this video to see how Brandon Complete Dental Care modernized and digitized their practice for the benefit of the staff and their patients. (4.5 minutes)
Watch this 4.5-minute video of the practice's grand opening in Valley City, ND, to see how Drs. Caron Berg and Tessa Lagein created a modern setting that includes a dedicated meeting space for local community organizations. Curious about how others are using design to advance the practice?
Click here to view more Sidekick TV stories.
Since COVID-19 shuttered dental practices in early 2020, dentists have reopened with new protocols and equipment to improve safety and better protect the health of staff and patients. Take a quick look at a reimagined office focused on infection control with Jennifer Rhode, Manager of Design for Henry Schein's Integrated Design Studio, who shares her insights on what a dentist may consider when designing a dental practice for today.
Click here for Jennifer's thoughts on office design (5-minute video)
February 2021
Looking to simplify complex orthodontic cases with a "minimum-touch" approach that can deliver more predictable and reliable results—and shorter treatment times? Check out the following video—"Comprehensive Treatments with Minimum-Touch Technologies and Appliances: A Clinical and Radiographic Perspective"—featuring Dr. Francisco Eraso, a certified orthodontist and oral & maxillofacial radiologist who demonstrates how to standardize and simplify complex cases using a minimum-touch approach.
Click here to watch the video (1 hour)
January 2021
Looking to add new patients? Hoping to turn patients into advocates? Need to enhance patient safety? Check out the video highlights from Henry Schein One's Patient Marketing for Profitability Virtual Event, featuring guest speakers Doug Sligting, Founder and CEO, Ascent Practice Growth Strategies; Dayna Johnson, Founder and CEO, Novonee; and Dr. Anissa Holmes, Founder and CEO, Delivering WOW.
Click here to access the highlights of the event (8 minutes)
May 2021
Ever wonder where your deliveries come from? Here's a two-minute peak inside our Indianapolis distribution center—one of six DCs serving our customers in the United States—brought to you by NBC-affiliate WTHR.
Click here to view video (2 minutes)
As the dental industry embraces the latest digital tools, Milos Markovic, CDT, and Director of CAD/CAM at Aurora Digital Technology Center, shares his insight about the future of dental technology from the perspective of one of the nation's fastest-growing dental laboratory outsourcing and technology centers.
Click here to view the video (12 minutes)
Here's a glimpse of the future from Prof. Dr. Irena Sailer, a prosthodontist with the Swiss Society for Reconstructive Dentistry and the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Prosthodontics. Dr. Sailer was among a group of global dental leaders who recently presented at Dentology 2021, Henry Schein's two-day immersive online experience that gathered technology innovators to discuss the future of digital dentistry and more.
Click here to see Dr. Sailer's full keynote speech and more from Dentology 2021.
Curious about the role artificial intelligence might play in your practice today and in the future? Henry Schein's Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Bruce Lieberthal helps sort out science fiction from fact in this short presentation, providing insights on how AI can contribute to dental practice efficiency and success.
Click here for Bruce's thoughts on AI (10-minute video)
March 2021
In celebration of Women's History Month, let's hear from pioneering dental educator Dr. Linda Niessen, Founding Dean of the Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine, in an exclusive conversation with Henry Schein's Steve Kess.
Click here to view video (23 minutes)
Howard University
"I am most excited about the advancements in technology that continuously evolve the practice of dentistry. I know this will lead to better outcomes and increased patient satisfaction. Another component that excites me is collaboration among different fields in healthcare. Partnering with other providers will lead to healthier patients overall. I am confident about the future of dentistry and I look forward to growing in the profession of dentistry as it is bright."
University of Utah School of Dentistry
"The future of dentistry is placing more emphasis on interprofessional relationships and maintaining communications amongst dentists. Dentistry is a team-based profession, it flourishes when everyone works together for the best interest of the community around them. Whether we connect virtually or we are working in the same building, sharing our knowledge amongst each other and providing channels to grow and learn, dentistry's importance and role in overall health will be more broadly understood and appreciated."
University of Nevada Las Vegas
"The integration of oral health into primary health care. Dental professionals now have a deeper understanding of the many connections between oral health and overall health. There's more opportunity than ever for dentists to collaborate with physicians in providing holistic care. I envision a future where oral health services are included in routine primary care visit, where communication between a patients' physician and dentist routinely occurs in the same office that treatment is being provided. I'm eager to help break down these barriers and be a part of a team that's able to better manage my patients' chronic diseases."
Roseman University
"This past year was filled with unprecedented challenges as the world battled the coronavirus pandemic, racial injustice, and global climate crisis, to name a few. As a young provider entering the field during this turbulent time, I am especially encouraged by recent strides in diversity and inclusion efforts. I believe it's important to recognize early on that our professional demographics should reflect those of our patients across the nation. In particular, the American Student Dental Association has stood in solidarity with students against injustice and furthered its efforts to protect and advance the rights, interests, and welfare of dental students and their communities. I am hopeful that our generation's spirit continues to reduce health disparities through advocating for patients and providers in the coming years."
University of California, Los Angeles
"The continual efforts to increase access to oral healthcare. The notion that oral health influences an individual's overall health is a known fact to us as dentists, but we still have room to grow in our public health policies to reflect this. As dental students, we at UCLA spend countless hours serving our community. Now, so close to graduation, I cannot wait to see how we will serve them at an expanded capacity as dentists. In my case, I will strive to give children a strong foundation in their oral health as an FQHC pediatric dentist."
New York University
"Every year, great advances are made in dentistry and in the way patient care is delivered through innovative research and through developments in technology. The way that dentistry has been perceived over the last decades has been significantly altered through the emergence of technologies such as Virtual Surgical Planning, 3D Printing, and zirconia implants. These advances play a role in altering the patient experience so that dental services are more efficient, comfortable and predictable as when compared to the past. I am honored to be a part of the journey that improves dental care through the development of new technologies."
University of California San Francisco
"Technology has helped evolve every industry on the planet, with dentistry being no exception! With each year, dentistry has transformed to be more accurate and efficient in several ways. But it's not just the technology! Rise in awareness, availability of resources and focus on prevention has shifted people's relationship with their teeth. People have started believing that good oral health resonates with one's systemic health, considered anecdotal for the longest time. It is indeed exciting to see the paradigm shift from pain relief procedures to elective procedures for enhancing the quality of life, that continue to reshape the future of dentistry into a leading and primo profession each day."
University of Iowa
"Throughout my training at the UI College of Dentistry, my faculty have emphasized the significance of providing individualized, quality care by redefining the meaning of comprehensive treatment in comparison to the cookie-cutter approach used in previous generations. Student clinicians are now learning the impact of systemic conditions on oral health and incorporating social factors (i.e., SES, race, lifestyle) into treatment plans to achieve better patient outcomes and satisfaction. I'm excited that the future of dentistry is demanding more specialized care for our patients and is moving in the direction to produce clinically and culturally competent providers."
Temple University
"We can all agree the dental profession is moving faster than ever before. The marriage of technology with dentistry has allowed for certain procedures to become part of the day-to-day of the general practitioner. Procedures such as implant placement, clear aligners, even Botox and fillers, are becoming part of the regular menu of many dental offices. As I enter this amazing profession, what excites me the most is the incredible expansion in the scope of the General Dentist and the possibilities that lie within the new boundaries."
University of North Carolina
"I'm elated at the prospect of my upcoming graduation. Looking ahead, I'm excited that computer-assisted design and manufacture (CADCAM), including 3D printing, are now integrated into dentistry and revolutionizing the profession. Dentures, orthodontic models, surgical guides, aligners and much more can be generated faster and more precisely, resulting in more efficient digital lab option. With time, it will likely become a low-cost option for patients. Teledentistry is gaining popularity consequent to COVID and I am most ecstatic. More people, especially vulnerable children in underserved areas, now have better access to care and cheaper preventive practices. The potential is exceedingly promising."
"If 20 years ago someone said you could go to the dentist completely edentulous, and in the same day leave with 8 implants and new teeth, would you have believed them? With advances in the latest research and newest technologies, same-day dentistry is the future of the profession. Thanks to CAD/CAM, CBCT, 3D printing, and more, dentists can now provide highly efficient, highly esthetic same-day treatment options to their patients not previously possible. I am committed to my learning of these technologies and incorporating them into my practice of dentistry as I begin my career as a same-day dentist."
West Virginia University
"I find it remarkable that discoveries in 3D printing technology and biocompatible materials allow dentists to tailor treatment to our patient's unique needs. This allows dentists to provide quality care and innovations in the field contribute to that moment that every dentist waits for—when the patient smiles! That is what excites me most about dentistry—being in a position to positively impact a patient's self-esteem. Additionally, I am proud to be part of a profession that works in conjunction with other healthcare fields to better a community."
Harvard University
"Despite the impact that the global pandemic has had on the field of dentistry, I find myself—now more than ever—enthusiastic about the future of the dental profession. I am most excited about the recent strides in innovation. Through advances in telecommunication technology and digital diagnostic imaging services, teledentistry is revolutionizing patient care. Virtual dental health clinics allow dentists to provide remote diagnosis and triaging, and patients benefit from reduced fees and wait times. Its application can also benefit those who live in dental health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) and reduce disparities in access to care."
University of Alabama at Birmingham
"Dentistry has made some amazing technical advancements in recent years, and I am most excited to have the ability to see these technologies enter the clinic for the benefit of patients. As these advances become increasingly accessible, I have no doubt they will become the standard of care and help us treat patients better and more efficiently. I am so glad to have trained in an environment that supports future innovation and plan to be an early adopter of what I believe is a bright future."
A.T. Still University
"There is so much that excites me about the dental profession! It is really an honor for me to be graduating into a collaborative, ever-evolving field. Yes, digital dentistry, teledentistry, better treatment, streamlined protocols and improved materials, all certainly stir a sense of joy. However, in this next stage I am most looking forward to an even more simple opportunity. I look forward to being a resource for the fearful and underserved. To help members of my community by compassionately answering questions and concerns, screening for risks associated with overall systemic health, reducing pain and infection, and brightening a smile."
Columbia University
"I am most excited about joining the profession with a foundational set of skills to bring precision dentistry into practice. Learning about advances in imaging and molecular diagnostics coupled with Columbia's intense focus on an inter-professional approach allows for a more precise evidence-based treatment plan. It is exciting to enter the profession at a time when we are learning how to use data and material science to provide tailored treatment to our patients. Data based precision dentistry often produces a better outcome at a faster pace and I am excited to incorporate it into my practice."
Touro College
"As dental technologies evolve and advance, I am excited to see how treatment planning for both simple and complex cases becomes more seamless and allows for more interdisciplinary collaboration. This collaboration will lead to superior patient care and experience. I am excited that as technology advances, the need for a compassionate and clinically proficient provider to afford the treatment of the future will remain as important as it is today. I am thrilled to be part of this technological evolution in dental care at TCDM and look forward to applying it in residency and private practice."
UOP Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
"What most excites me about the future of the dental profession is that dentistry is entering a new era. The pandemic has disrupted the 'normal' way of life for the entire world. Although it has caused many losses, it also has many gains, and most importantly has made room for new thought processes, new methodologies, new innovations. The pandemic has forced reflection and reevaluation of what 'moving forward' will look like. I am hopeful this shift will favor a broader delivery of dental care to more people of all demographic backgrounds, and further advance the dental profession in caring for America's oral health."
University of Florida
"I am most excited about the technological advancements in the future of the dental profession. It seems every day there are new pieces of technology being released in the dental profession to increase efficiency but also to be used as a tool to better communicate with our patients and increase case acceptance. Whether it's printing prostheses, milling crowns, or scanning full arches, technology in dentistry seem to go hand in hand in today's world. I am excited to continue learning about how to greater integrate technology my everyday work life post-graduation."
University of Kentucky
"The future of dentistry is bright with the ever- progressing technology that continues to exceed patients' expectations especially in the areas of implantology, esthetic crowns, and orthodontics. However, for me, the future of the dental profession isn't exciting because of the technology or profitability. It is exciting because I can think of no better way to serve and love people in Christ than by helping them find the confidence to smile where before they felt shame. I am excited to be a part of a profession in which everyday I will have the opportunity to not only be a smile designer, a tooth saver, a pain manager, but I will also be given the chance to be a friend."
Rutgers University
"The potential for expanded access to care and education. There are many underserved patients in areas with few dentists. Encouraging more dentists to serve in such locations would help improve oral health. Distributing accurate information at periodic checkups to our patients can help arrest and prevent dental issues such as caries and gingivitis. Prevention is essential in dentistry, and educating patients is our major responsibility. Combined with modern technologies such as telecommunication, scanning, and bioactive restorative materials, the possibility to preserve teeth through knowledge and education and restore decayed ones is limitless, with fewer boundaries."
Midwestern University
"What an exciting time we live in dentistry! We are blessed almost daily with new techniques and technology. These advancements are improving our patients' oral health and consequently their quality of life. As a brand-new dentist, I am excited about the new smart chromatic resin composite that recently came onto the market. It helps us simplify direct restorations. I am thrilled with the many choices of software available to deliver same-day crowns. How they aid in implant planning and make placement more predictable, efficient, and safe. It's truly incredible and we are lucky to be here and witness today. The future of our careers is wide open and there could not be a better time to be a part of this wonderful profession."
University of Michigan
"To join a field that adapts quickly and effectively to the changes in the world around it. From the past year, it has been encouraging to see the level of safety and care that dental providers hold themselves to for their patients. Dental providers continue to advance the field through work in research, technology, and clinical care, while relying on the foundational roots of the profession. The field is diverse, allowing each provider to find their passion. It is an honor to be a part of this work and join this field."
Texas A&M University
"Dental school orientation, Day 1: I looked around the room in awe of the number of women and range of cultures and ethnicities. I thought 'this is the future of dentistry.' The continued growth of diversity in dentistry is exciting. Diversity in dentistry doesn't just mean providing underserved individuals a dentist who looks or speaks like them. Patients need providers who are culturally competent and inclusive. A socioeconomically and culturally diverse student body and opportunities to learn dentistry in underserved communities positively impact the entire class. Diversity in dentistry prepares more dentists, backgrounds aside, to diminish barriers to quality care. That's exciting!"
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