View this article in the March 2014 digital issue of Proofs
3M ESPE named “Most Innovative” for ninth consecutive year
For the ninth consecutive year, the Anaheim Group, distributor of Dental Fax Weekly, has named 3M ESPE as the most innovative company in the worldwide dental industry. The recognition, published in the 2013 Dental Industry Review, is based on new product approvals and international patents — which numbered 63 for 3M ESPE in 2013.
Among the 63 innovations that pushed 3M ESPE to the top were two FDA 510(k) new product clearances for the U.S. market, 36 U.S. patents, and 25 patents from the European Patent Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Competition was especially tight this year, with two other companies close behind 3M ESPE, with 60 innovations and 59 innovations. In addition to new product clearances and patents, the report noted several product introductions by 3M ESPE in 2013, including 3M ESPE Sof-Lex Spiral Finishing and Polishing Wheels, 3M ESPE Imprint 4 VPS Impression Material, and a software upgrade for the 3M True Definition Scanner.
NDC Dental announces new members
NDC Dental announces two new members — A.B.C. Medical and eMed Healthcare-Dental. A.B.C. Medical began serving the hospital market in 1976, but has since expanded into physician/clinic, dental, nursing home, and veterinary markets as well. A.B.C. Medical is located in and serves customers in Quebec.
Founded in 2004, eMed Healthcare supplies dental and medical products, equipment, and service to health-care professionals. eMed Healthcare’s new dental division will cover their home state of Arkansas. eMed is a family-owned private company focused on providing quality, convenience, and savings for their customers. eMed’s innovation to the dental market includes the management and growth of a large dental group purchasing organization (GPO) and two local distribution centers that provide same-day delivery and service to their customers.
LED Medical Inc. announces distribution agreement with Patterson Dental
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc. is pleased to announce that its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, LED Dental Inc., has entered into a nonexclusive partnership with Patterson Dental for the distribution of the company’s VELscope Vx Enhanced Oral Assessment System and product line within the U.S. and Canadian markets.
“We are pleased to welcome Patterson Dental as our newest U.S. distribution partner for the VELscope Vx family of products,” said Dr. David Gane, CEO of LED Medical.
“The VELscope Vx product line is an important addition to the wide range of products we provide to our customers,” stated Paul Guggenheim, president of Patterson Dental. “With its powerful and proven tissue fluorescence technology, the VELscope Vx device provides important visual information that can help dentists detect oral abnormalities sooner than with the naked eye. We are excited to bring this product to our customers to supplement the high level of oral care they already provide.”
ACTEON Group announces the merger of SOPRO Dental and De Götzen to create ACTEON Imaging Unit
ACTEON Group announced today that they are merging the imaging units of SOPRO Dental and De Götzen to create one ACTEON imaging business unit. This merger consolidates the company’s imaging units, which will improve customer relations, create synergies in marketing and logistics, and increase growth and efficiencies in both manufacturing and R&D.
SOPRO CEO Pierre Montillot will take over as general manager of De Götzen and lead the new ACTEON Imaging management committee.
“This merger is a turning point for our company,” said Gilles Pierson, president and CEO of ACTEON Group. “The new imaging unit will focus on bringing new and exciting products to the market and realize our goal to become the leading dental imaging company in the world.”
With the recent releases of X-Mind Unity and Sopix Inside, the two companies have developed cutting-edge products that have changed dentistry and improved the patient experience. This merger will ensure that there will be many new and innovative products to come from ACTEON.
OSAP adds three more companies to its list of corporate members
Continuing its mission to be the world’s leading advocate for the safe delivery of oral health care, the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) welcomes Burkhart Dental Supply, Clorox Professional Products Company, and Microcopy as members of its growing list of infection control corporate members.
OSAP’s membership program unites a committed community of clinicians, educators, consultants, associations, policymakers, and companies that share the organization’s global vision of safe oral health care for people everywhere.
“We are excited to welcome these three leading dental companies to the OSAP community,” said OSAP Executive Director Therese Long, MBA, CAE. “The timing is terrific, as OSAP celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. We look forward to optimizing our partnerships with them in the fight to ensure safe oral health care throughout the world.”
NDC Dental Forum
The annual NDC Dental Forum was held January 15-17 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. The meeting had 45 independent dealers and 51 vendor companies in attendance. A recap of the past year showed business was strong for the independents in 2013. Estimated purchases grew by 7% for merchandise, while equipment was up 9%.
The awards ceremony recognized dealers and manufacturers for growth and performance in 2013. The top award, Dental Member of the Year, was awarded to Midway Dental (Lakeville, Ind.). Midway Dental exceeded goals in all categories — sales, warehouse purchases, vendor direct purchases, and private brand support. Other dealer recognition went to DDS Dental Supplies for the Warehouse Performance Award, and Goetze Dental for the Quala Brand Award. DMG America received top honors as the Manufacturer of the Year for 2013. Procter & Gamble was awarded the Warehouse Vendor of the Year.
Carestream Dental earns 21 U.S. patents in 2013
Carestream Health and its subsidiaries announced recently that the company was awarded 64 patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2013 for innovations in its radiology imaging, health-care IT, and dental technology products. Of the 64 total patents, 21 were awarded to Carestream Dental for advances in the dental industry.
The new intellectual property now owned by Carestream Dental includes patents for restorative dentistry advancements, extraoral cone-beam-computed tomography (CBCT) equipment, practice management software, imaging software, intraoral cameras, and intraoral X-ray equipment.
Dental practitioners can experience these technological advancements firsthand with Carestream Dental’s new restoration systems that are part of the CS Solutions portfolio, as well as the company’s intraoral cameras, CBCT systems, and practice management software.
“These patents prove that we’re on the cutting edge of technology to strengthen diagnosis and treatment capabilities, and ultimately improve patient care,” said Marc Gordon, general manager of Carestream Dental’s U.S. equipment and software business.
In addition to the U.S. patents awarded in 2013, Carestream Health received another 33 patents from several countries in Europe as well as in Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. To date, Carestream Dental has been issued more than 200 patents worldwide for dental imaging, CAD/CAM, software, and practice management solutions.
Tralongo LLC enters development agreement with dentist in Virginia
Tralongo LLC, an Atlanta-based firm that specializes in dental practice acquisitions, announced recently that it has entered a development agreement with Dr. Glen R. Miller, DDS, for the acquisition of 10 dental offices in the Virginia market — and areas of Maryland and Washington D.C. — over the next three years.
With more than 90 years of combined experience in dental management and acquisitions, Tralongo LLC partners with entrepreneurial dentists who are looking to grow their business by acquiring and operating multiple practices.
Originally from California, Dr. Miller moved to the Commonwealth 15 years ago and currently owns two full-service dental practices. His practices have been servicing the communities of Alexandria and Bridgewater for the past four years with great success, providing a wide scope of oral health-care services, including oral surgery, orthodontic care, and implants.
“Virginia presents great opportunities to operate a profitable practice,” said Dr. Miller. “This is an ideal market for expansion due to its great demand for dental services, growing population, and its positive business climate.”
“Dr. Miller is a perfect example of the growing need among thriving dentists to get out of the chair and take their business to the next level,” added Dr. Ken Tralongo, CEO of Tralongo LLC.
Tralongo LLC created a proven system to identify, operate, and increase profits in dental offices. Achieving great success last year, the firm began 2013 with revenues of about $20 million and is expected to reach $50 million in revenues by the end of the first quarter of 2014.
Jennifer Jackson, founder of Journey Performance Group, joins GoodMouth advisory board
GoodMouth is pleased to announce that Jennifer Jackson, former co-owner and CEO of OMNI Oral Pharmaceuticals and founder of Journey Performance Group, has joined its advisory board.
“Our advisory board exists to bring together the most innovative and resourceful executives to support GoodMouth’s aim of delivering exceptional subscriber experiences. Jennifer is a proven leader in preventive dentistry and has an extraordinary commitment to customer service excellence. We are thrilled to have her as part of our team,” explains Craig Lifschutz, GoodMouth’s founder and CEO.
“It is inspiring to be a part of an innovative company that will enhance oral health, recall rates, and patient retention, all while giving back to those in need. GoodMouth is the future, delivered today,” said Ms. Jackson.
