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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As dental professionals increasingly invest in 3D cone beam technology, the ability to quickly review the scans for normalcy or pathology is more important than ever. To feel confident about what you are seeing (or missing), check out this video with Dr. Heidi Kohltfarber, a leading oral maxillofacial radiologist, as she presents the basics of reviewing 3D images chairside and determining when to treat, refer, or consult for more comprehensive patient care.
Click here to watch Dr. Kohltfarber. (30 minutes)
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)
In the spirit of giving, Dr. Gordon Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhD, ScD, Founder & CEO of Practical Clinical Courses and Co-Founder & CEO for Clinicians Report Foundation, delivers his suggestions on the top seven investments practitioners should consider making next year. The list—spanning from cone beam to curing and laser lights—can help practitioners increase case acceptance, create practice efficiencies, improve patient engagement, and increase profitability.
Click here to view video (3 minutes)
Caroline Crabtree has a front row seat to the purchasing trends of practitioners. As we close out another year, she helps shed light on products, equipment, technology and solutions that helped stabilize, and enhance, practice workflows. Looking back at these trends can help us understand where we are as an industry, and what to watch. Speaking of which...
Click here to view video (2 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)
Todd Strong, Chief Operating Officer, BioHorizons & Chief Technology Officer, Henry Schein's Global Oral Reconstruction Group, says the increased adoption of immediate load therapy has helped clinicians achieve predictable outcomes and faster treatment.
Click here to view the video (3 minutes)
Dr. Zachary Evans, a solo practitioner based in North Carolina, shares digital implant planning strategies, tips and tricks for guided implant surgery, an overview of what's required, and investments to consider.
Click here to view the video (60 minutes)
Recognizing the importance of pre-implant imaging to help improve diagnoses, practitioners are increasingly relying on cone beam computed tomography to achieve optimal implant selection. By using 3D imaging, such as cone beam, practitioners can help ensure implant procedures move forward seamlessly and successfully. To learn more about how to set up patients for success, and ensure proper communications so that treatment plans are understood by patients, peruse the following article (a three-minute read) found in this month's issue of Sidekick magazine.
Click here to read the article (3 minute read)
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)
September 2021
As September comes to an end, so does Dental Infection Control Awareness Month. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't control our standard operating procedures year-round. Watch Dr. Gary Severance, Executive Leader of Professional Services, Henry Schein Dental, chat with leading dental hygienist Michelle Strange about critical infection control protocols. Break the mindset that more time between patients means less productivity. Instead, Michelle advises, control the clock.
Click here to watch the chat (10 minutes)
October 2021
Eliminate numbness, needles, and the drill. With laser solutions, such as the Solea All-Tissue Laser, you can perform many procedures without anesthesia and without bleeding. To learn more about this anxiety-reducing approach, and other opportunities to improve the patient experience, check out Dr. Renee Kurtz's article in Henry Schein's Sidekick magazine, describing how she employed lasers to transform her practice in Cheshire, Connecticut.
Click here to read the article (7-minute read)
June 2021
No needles, no drill, no noise, no complaints. Hear from Dr. Usa Bunnag in this video about the cutting-edge advantages of employing an all-tissue laser for the benefit of her practice and patients.
Click here to view the video (4.5 minutes)
When organizing an office for accessibility, it's all about universal design—a concept that considers the design and composition of an environment, product, or service so that it can be accessed, understood, and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of age, size, or disability. To learn more about this critical concept, check out this 39-minute webinar from Henry Schein's Integrated Design Studio, titled "Universal Design in Dentistry: Blueprint to Achieve an Inclusive and Accessible Dental Practice."
Click here to watch the video. (39 minutes)
If you build it, they will come. Learn how practice owners in New York City gutted and built a new practice from scratch, reinventing not just an old space, but the practice's image in the community. Hudson Dental was designed to achieve an upscale, downtown environment. In addition to esthetics, the practice integrated endodontic, 3D imaging, implant, and periodontic solutions, making it a one-stop shop for patients looking for convenience and high-quality service. Patient flow followed, as did workflow efficiencies. Here's how.
Click here to view the video (12 minutes)
Check out new design approaches for pediatric and orthodontic practices that offer broader lessons to all dental practices committed to a patient-centered experience. By applying a patient-centric design approach, you can create engaging spaces for all to enjoy and streamline workflows, according to Jennifer Rhode and Robyn Connors from the Henry Schein Integrated Design Studio and Henry Schein Dental Equipment Specialist Ben Oliver.
Click here to view the video (9 minutes)
Pediatric dentist Dr. Tyler Hanks provides a behind-the-scenes look at Happy Tooth Pediatric Dentistry, his newly opened practice in Salt Lake City. Watch how Dr. Hanks centered his office design on the patient experience, with a particular emphasis on creating a happy start for every patient visit.
Click here to watch the video. (3 minutes)
When Dr. Robert D. Wood II decided to launch a practice in his new home city of Columbus, he combined his passion for promoting preventive health care with his interest in fine art.
Watch this video to see how Dr. Wood built his 4th Street Dental Studio to blend art with the artistry of dentistry. (11.5 minutes)
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)
Thinking about introducing clear aligners into your practice? Watch this 1-minute video of Dr. Mario Chorak discussing his success treating patients with Reveal® Clear Aligners from Henry Schein Orthodontics. And because patients really care about clarity, check out Broadway actor Kyle Selig asking visitors to New York City's Times Square which aligners they would choose.
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)
Want to be spooked? 10,000,000+ pictures and videos appear when conducting a search for #dentist on Instagram. In a video from Tim Vassilakos, who leads Henry Schein's social media efforts, learn five simple social media tips to help you grow your practice.
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.
Digital technology is racing ahead, raising questions about the role of practitioners in a world of artificial intelligence, 3D, and other technological advances. Drs. Jonathan Levine and Naif Sinada discuss how the human connection between patient and practitioners will always remain paramount and how digital technology actually serves to deepen that connection.
Click here for a 30-second excerpt of Dr. Sinada as well as the full 20-minute conversation between these two leading prosthodontists.
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.
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)
Dr. Carol Gomez Summerhays, Council Member, FDI World Dental Federation, Past President, American Dental Association, and Consultant, Global Professional Relations for Henry Schein, offers her perspective during Women's History Month about the pivotal role women have played in dentistry and addresses the disparities in roles, income, and opportunity. As female representation in the profession increases, what's on the horizon? Watch what Dr. Summerhays has to say.
Click here to view video (5 minutes)
Dr. Aman Kaur, Founder and President of Women in DSO, and Kathleen Titus, Director, Strategic Accounts for Henry Schein, engage in a #ScheinChat discussion about the tools and resources to educate, empower, and elevate women leaders in dentistry. Are women sufficiently availing themselves of these tools? Find out what works and what doesn't.
Click here to view video (11 minutes)
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)
Affordable Dentures & ImplantsCartersville, Georgia
"From owning dental practices, to being presidents of organized dentistry organizations, we are seeing more women in dental specialties that were once male dominated, and more women in leadership roles. As the future of dentistry becomes more female, I believe this a win-win situation for patients and the dental ecosystem.
As we continue to step up and challenge the status quo, step into leadership roles, build expertise, and increase our presence in academia, more females will pave the way to create a more supportive environment for women as a whole, and as early as their first year in dental school. Glass ceilings still exist in dentistry, but we have come a very long way from what it used to be. Female dentists are here to stay, and supporting and developing the qualities they bring to the table will only strengthen the industry. There is strength in numbers and our opinions matter, especially when it comes to issues that women dentists face."
PostureProsAurora, Colorado
"Looking back on the history of dentistry, the progression of women is clearly seen! We have come from having very few female dentists (in 1970 less than 3% of dentists were women) to currently over 35% of practicing dentists being female. In addition, over half of dental students are female. It is hard not to be proud of how far we have come in the last 50 years. I was just at Chicago Midwinter and I was blown away by so many female CEOs! I believe women are well on their way to achieving equal rights, pay, and respect in the field of dentistry. We still have a ways to go but the future looks bright for women in the dental field. I am proud to be a part of the dental community and can't wait to see what the future holds."
Gantos Dental GroupNaperville, Illinois
"Dentistry is an incredible career option for women and it is exciting to see the culture shift as a historically male-predominated profession becomes much more saturated with female providers. Dental schools across the country have a more even 50/50 split between males and female students, helping contribute to this new paradigm. The progress of women in this field has been incredible. We are experiencing greater numbers of female specialists, business owners, and key opinion leaders. As our representation increases in these fields, the disparity in equal representation in dentistry continues to narrow."
Enspire DentalAnn Arbor, Michigan
"I suppose it's all a matter of perspective. I look at the opportunities I have been given as a professional woman and I am grateful. I have attacked the ones that fit me with vigor and am accomplishing my goals. The ones that did not stimulate me, I have chosen to move beyond. I have enjoyed the journey and learned a great deal from the stones along the path. It is also about the people I surround myself with. Over the course of my professional career, I have experienced some of both: those who make you thrive and those who have conflicting goals. The older I get, the easier it is to identify those who push me to be my best. As a woman in the dental profession, I am confident I have miles to go and what I do with the opportunities ahead, is up to me. Relentless hustle!"
Young InnovationsNorfolk, Virginia
"When I entered the dental world at 15, I was one of the dentist's 'girls.' Then I headed off to hygiene school and wore required dresses and pantyhose all while trying to ergonomically see patients. Fast forward a few decades, I find myself in more spaces where I'm a colleague with something valuable to contribute. My gender doesn't relegate me to a stereotype or a helping role. While we still have some strides to make, and some minds to change, I believe that women and the profession of dental hygiene have come a long way. Thank you to those who have helped elevate our place in dentistry, and may we continue the journey."
Dental Radiology DiagnosticsLoma Linda, California
"I personally feel that the dental professional as a whole is doing quite a bit to recruit women dentists, which is paying off with the gender equality we see with admissions to dental schools. However, when we see the obvious gender inequality in the areas of academic positions, promotions and salaries at certain dental schools, along with few women CE speakers, it appears that we do have some miles yet to go."
Yamamoto & AssociatesNewton, Massachusetts
"When I look around, I see many female colleagues, students and specialty residents. They are from different parts of the world with different backgrounds, different cultures, and in different stages of their lives. And yet, they have a common goal of becoming highly educated professionals that could make an impact in our field. It is especially challenging as a female professional to balance motherhood and a highly specialized and competitive career. I find this is rewarding, both in terms of personal growth, and in being a role model to our own children."
Sonic RDHWestcliffe, Colorado
"We are well into the journey of women in dentistry with opportunities expanding well past the operatory or the educational system. So many women now hold positions in the business world of dentistry. Each year, I see the number of women working the convention exhibit floors increasing. So many admirable entrepreneurial women are inventing products and forming their own companies that are ancillary to the practice of dentistry. The advent of teledentistry has expanded direct access to care in the portable/mobile arm of dentistry with many women leading the charge. There is no place for 'burnout' among today's women in dentistry. There are many female mentors available offering a hand up!"
A Tale of Two HygienistsCharleston, South Carolina
"I can happily say that I have seen and can feel the progress for women in dentistry. I hear fewer male dentists refer to their team as 'the girls,' and even patients ask if I am the doctor. This did not happen 20 years ago when I began my career in dentistry. It feels great to see so many women in dental school, becoming leaders in the industry, and at the podium. Though sexism in dentistry is far from gone, I have high hopes that as more women graduate dental school, especially women of color, and enter leadership positions, we will see the scale start to balance. I believe there are still many miles to go towards equality. Still, it is great to hear more people talking about sexism in our industry, standing up for equal pay, representation, and against the microaggressions that have been happening for many decades."
Pearls of DentistryPoway, California
"For me, as a young dentist 27 years ago, there was nothing more exhilarating than seeing your favorite clinician headlining a conference. I would feverishly write down their recommendations for patient treatment and be careful not to miss one step. Most of those headliners were male lecturers, such as Frank Spear, John Kois, or Pete Dawson, all amazing doctors who let you know you were no different from them and 'if they could do it, so could you!' They were right: I could do it! We still find it hard to have a healthy life-work balance, which is so crucial for most women. We want to be there for our spouses, our children, our parents, our family of patients, our invaluable team. More spouses are working from home recently, which helps with managing the kids and their activities. There has also been a surge of at-home fitness equipment, which is necessary for stress relief. Additionally, I am thrilled to see dental societies and dental corporations actively seeking to support women in dentistry and therefore being a trailblazer in a necessary and inevitable cultural and societal evolution."
Hampton Bays Dental AssociatesHampton Bays, New York
"We have made many great strides in dentistry. As a specialist, however, I know we have a long way to go. Only a small percentage of specialists are women. Additionally, we need more women in educational positions, as lecturers and presenters, and most importantly, we need more women in leadership and business owner positions."
Dr. Joy, RDHWashington, DC
"Women have made great strides in dentistry over the past several decades as evidenced by the growing number of women enrolled in dental schools and in the general workforce. What's even more exciting is this trend will continue to move in a positive direction. We do, however, have many miles to go. Hopefully, as many organizations strive towards being more diverse and inclusive, we will see more women in leadership roles across all aspects of dentistry."
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