DENTSPLY SIRONA
Paving the Way for a Healthy Practice & Patient
Dentsply Sirona wins big among Dental Product Shopper evaluators, with products favored in 21 categories of restorative and cosmetic dentistry
Going back more than a century, the milestones for Dentsply Sirona have been as frequent as they’ve been impactful. It wasn’t yet 1900 when one of its originating companies built the first electric-powered dental drill and debuted a commercial x-ray unit. Ultimately, its innovators would unveil technologies from ultrasonic scaling to chairside CAD/CAM, helping to transform modern dentistry throughout the 20th century.
The 2000s have been similarly prolific, with groundbreaking products in restorative materials, implants, endodontics, imaging, handpieces, clear aligners, and more—a portfolio that has advanced composite-based dentistry and brought greater efficiencies and esthetics to the direct and indirect restorative workflows.
Today, along with the many individual product successes, the company’s focus has broadened. Dentsply Sirona is not simply looking to provide the greatest bonding agent or cone-beam system. It wants to help dentists better serve their patients and work more efficiently.
“We want to work with dentists to make their life a little bit easier, where we are improving their workflow and their patient outcomes,” Don Casey, CEO, said during a recent interview. The company seeks to help specialists such as endodontists, orthodontists, and prosthodontists expand their range of services, while providing the general dentist with greater versatility in addressing common challenges— from implant placement to root canal therapy. “We want to help general dentists be able to capture more of their patients’ business and address more of their patients’ needs within their practice.”
"We want to know how you see your practice evolving, and we want to be the company that is going to help you get there."
-Don Casey, CEO
One way Dentsply Sirona is doing just that is through technologies such as the CEREC Primescan—with its ability to provide ultra-precise, full-arch impressions in under a minute—and SureSmile Aligners, the clinician-controlled clear aligner treatment solution unveiled last year. Moreover, it is how solutions like those work together as a seamlessly integrated workflow that has the greatest impact on the practice.
“In our mind, Dentsply Sirona is finally living up to its potential to be the dentist’s indispensable partner,” Casey said. “We want to know how you see your practice evolving, and we want to be the company that is going to help you get there.”
As it turns out, the company has already answered the call of many such dentists, including Dental Product Shopper evaluators, who collectively named Dentsply Sirona products as their top picks in 20 categories that run the clinical gamut. Here, we’ll show how these materials and technologies are helping practices provide greater efficiencies, a better patient experience, and expanded services.
Procedural Efficiencies
For years, Dr. Paul Bookman used the same manufacturer’s restorative products at his general practice in Bryn Mawr, PA. After having repeated issues with debonding and other shortcomings, he began to test out Dentsply Sirona’s restorative materials— a journey that would transform nearly his entire armamentarium. Right off the bat, he appreciated the color matching and polishability of the composite, the handling of the materials, the tighter seal of the bond, and the way the products worked together.
“When I started making the switch, it just progressed from there and I kept adding products from the Dentsply Sirona family,” he said. “I’m a fi rm believer that if the products are coming from the same manufacturer, they’re probably designed chemically and consistency-wise to work better with each other.” Moreover, he said, “Patients just seemed happy with the end result.”
With nearly half of direct restorations involving Class II procedures, Dentsply Sirona has developed a comprehensive approach to achieving more efficient clinical outcomes and bottom-line results. The portfolio includes the Palodent matrix systems for accurate contacts and natural contours, the SmartLite Pro LED curing light with its collimated light beam, and the single-step Enhance finishing system, as well as Prime&Bond elect, TPH Spectra ST and SDR flow+.
As a universal adhesive, Prime&Bond elect offers a low film thickness and a clinically proven technology that chases away water, enabling a strong bond with less sensitivity. The adhesive cures clear, which is one of the qualities Dr. Bookman appreciated when he tried the product. “The bonding agent I had been using was yellowish and a little bit thicker, and once I switched to Dentsply Sirona’s bond, I found I was getting a tighter seal, which in essence, was going to make the restoration last longer and be more esthetic.”
Another material that has been improved to save time and simplify restorations is the TPH Spectra ST universal composite. Its SphereTEC filler technology brings an enhanced chameleon effect and outstanding stain resistance. With high and low viscosity options, handling is optimized to accommodate preference and technique.
When it comes to efficiency, the use of a reliable bulk fill material can save chair time and effort. SDR flow+ is a bulk fill flowable that can be applied in 4-mm increments, and its unique chemistry allows it to adapt easily to the natural contours of the cavity and provide marginal integrity.
Evaluators also voted for Dentsply Sirona Midwest for its reliable high-speed air, low-speed air, and electric handpieces. Dr. Mark Zive uses the company’s electric handpieces at his practice in Westfield, MA, choosing to go with Midwest when he made the transition from air turbines. “I just like them—they work well and I like the control system,” said Dr. Zive. “Dentsply Sirona and its divisions have a reputation they want to keep up, and they do a good job of that.”
Powering the Midwest E Electric System is a motor that weighs just 59 grams and measures 1.25 inches in length. Though one of the smallest, lightest electric motors on the market, it provides the force to tackle even the toughest crown-and-bridge procedures, and manage multiunit cases faster. The Midwest E Plus and Midwest E Pro handpiece attachments are now complemented by the Midwest E mini, designed for increased visibility and deeper access with a shorter head size. The Midwest High-Speed Handpieces are designed as quieter air-driven systems known for uncompromised performance and durability. The Midwest Tradition series, with a fixed backend and knurled grip, provides significant power upgrades without requiring additional air pressure. The Midwest Stylus Plus, with its ceramic bearings and smooth grip, offers up to 30% more power than previous Stylus generations. The Midwest Phoenix line uses Dynamic Speed Control to limit free speed, but does not limit power.
Patient Experience
Every dental professional strives to keep patients as comfortable as possible, but since patients will spend the majority of their time with the hygienist, it is critical that preventive care be delivered smoothly and effectively. With dental anxiety causing approximately 15% of adults to avoid regular dental care, Dentsply Sirona offers a range of preventive products and support to ensure the best patient experience possible while working to prevent oral diseases.
As the longtime leader in ultrasonic scaling, the Cavitron family keeps patient comfort front and center. Providing the ability to quickly and effectively remove even the most tenacious calculus, Cavitron products allow for an easier, more comfortable process than hand scaling, particularly for patients who have neglected their oral hygiene. The latest addition in tabletop units is the Cavitron 300, with a smaller footprint to maximize available counter space and a wireless Tap-On Technology foot pedal to reduce leg and ankle discomfort associated with continued foot pedal usage. “I wanted to try something new and state of the art,” said Candy Long, RDH, “and this is the full package with its excellent debris removal, ease of use, and comfort for practitioner and patient.”
Evaluators favor the polishing experience with the Nupro Freedom Cordless Prophy System and Midwest RDH handpiece, known for their ergonomic and lightweight designs.
The hygiene handpieces are designed to reduce wrist strain, allow enhanced control with a lightweight and balanced design, and keep infection control at the forefront with autoclavable parts. “At one point, I suffered from severe epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, which was treated with a cortisone shot” said Amy Singletary, RDH. “I’ve been using the Nupro Freedom handpiece for almost 5 years now, and have not had a recurrence. I liked it so much that all 3 hygiene operatories have them now.”
Procedural Expansion
Before Dr. Alan Krause began providing same-day dentistry 8 years ago at his practice in Montville, NJ, he often struggled to correct lab work with poor contours and anatomy. “It would just take a really easy visit and make it hard when you were inserting a crown,” he recalled. After investing in the CEREC workflow, he found himself in control of the design process as he produced “super esthetic” crowns that almost never fractured. “I don’t look back at all, and the patients like not having to come back for repeated visits and wear a temporary that they have to be careful with.” Better yet, he added, they tell their friends about single-visit crowns. “That is a great practice builder, for sure.”
Chairside restorations have been made even easier and faster with the recently unveiled CEREC Primemill. The new mill produces impressive restorations with precise margins and smooth surfaces using innovative highspeed, double-spindle strategies. The time required to fabricate a zirconia crown has been reduced by more than half—from around 10–12 minutes to as little as 5 minutes using the new Super Fast mode. Today’s CEREC workflow begins with the CEREC Primescan, which has taken speed, accuracy, and usability to a new level. Its increased field of view allows visualization of larger areas with fewer sweeps and immediate precision. “You can scan much quicker with the Primescan, and the detail is absolutely fabulous,” Dr. Krause said.
Digital impressions open the door to a wide range of applications, and when it comes to practice growth, the use of scan data for clear aligner treatment is a win. Dentsply Sirona’s SureSmile Aligners are planned and produced using a digital impression and x-ray image, and the SureSmile software uses a patient photo to create the ideal smile as part of the digital treatment plan. Dental practitioners control the treatment process at all times.
After switching from another clear aligner brand this year, Dr. Bookman quickly found SureSmile to have a high patient acceptance rate, easier software, and a better patient fit. “It blows [the competitor] away. It’s so much easier to work with, and the trays are clear, so we have better patient compliance all the way around. It really sold itself once we went with Primescan and SureSmile.”
Strength in Innovation
Dentsply Sirona can be relied upon to continue providing the tools and technologies to move the practice forward. As DPS evaluators can attest, the company’s record is one of helping clinicians overcome challenges and offer better treatment in a more efficient practice.
Navigating Your Extraoral Imaging Options
When considering your choices for extraoral imaging, it helps to prioritize the features that will streamline your workflow the most: unparalleled diagnostic image quality, low radiation dose, and easy integration of imaging software. Dentsply Sirona covers these bases with a complete extraoral imaging unit collection, including 2D, 3D, and hybrid models that provide diagnostic clarity and ultimate ease of use.
Digital Images in 2D
While 3D x-rays have rapidly grown in popularity in dental practices, 2D imaging units are still critical for detecting caries, abscesses, and other abnormalities on and in the roots of teeth. Improvements in image quality through the years have ensured the 2D system’s reliability as a diagnostic tool. Dentsply Sirona’s latest 2D unit, Orthophos E, features Csl sensor technology and an easy-to-use interface to ensure reliable diagnostics every time.
Custom-Made Images in 3D
Dentsply Sirona’s tried-and-true 3D x-ray unit, GALILEOS Comfort Plus, offers easy positioning, radiation dose reduction, a large field of view of 15-cm diameter, and optimal software solutions that support the clinician’s workflow. This CBCT system includes an integrated Facescanner, allowing patients to identify themselves more easily than they would with an x-ray image and, therefore, better understand the clinician’s treatment recommendations.
The newest additions to the 3D Orthophos family, Orthophos S and Orthophos SL, are 2D/3D x-ray systems that feature a comprehensive range of services. Equipped for a broad range of clinical tasks, Orthophos S uses a 2D Csl sensor with an autofocus function to achieve sharp images, as well as a Low Dose and HD function for 3D and HD images. Among its multitude of high-tech features, Orthophos SL uses integrated Direct Conversion Sensor (DCS) technology to deliver unique sharpness in panorama imaging, while Sharp Layer technology provides autofocus even in difficult cases.
Flexible Intraoral Imaging
Image clarity and patient acceptance—achieving both while working with intraoral sensors means you’ve chosen the right product for the job. Our DPS evaluators have discovered a reliable, patient-friendly diagnostic solution in Dentsply Sirona’s Schick 33 sensors. These sensors provide flexibility to fit each practice and patient case, with a broad range of sensor sizes and cable lengths. Ensuring outstanding image quality, Dentsply Sirona also guarantees that all platform components are designed for compatibility and easy integration with many practice management software systems, so any necessary updating down the line won’t require you to change your whole system.
