Leading the Charge in Dental Technology and Sustainability
While unveiling new innovations that can streamline processes and procedures in the dental practice, Dentsply Sirona is also paving the way toward a more sustainable planet
As the largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, Dentsply Sirona has long been a pacesetter in its field. Consider, for example, the company’s introduction of chairside CAD/CAM decades ago, its pioneering advancements in imaging, and its role as a forerunner in the areas of preventive and restorative dentistry. Today, having just unveiled a new array of integrated technologies designed to deliver a streamlined workflow, Dentsply Sirona continues to forge ahead in the pursuit of better dentistry, better oral health, and a better overall world.
It’s that legacy and the commitment toward a brighter future that resonated with Andreas Frank, who came to Dentsply Sirona in April as the new Executive Vice President, Product Group, and member of the Executive Leadership Team. Frank had been serving as President, Front Line Care at Baxter and previously spent 10 years at Hillrom.
“One of the big reasons I came to Dentsply Sirona was the mission and the vision, and that starts with transforming dentistry, advancing oral health, and creating healthy smiles.”
- Andreas Frank, Executive Vice President Product Group
“One of the big reasons I came to Dentsply Sirona was the mission and the vision, and that starts with transforming dentistry, advancing oral health, and creating healthy smiles. And it’s hard to think of that and not think about the No. 1 goal, which is patient care—providing better access to dental care for people who don’t have access to care or to the best care that they can get. It means making it easier for the practitioners to provide that care, but also making it easier for them to interact with us. Ultimately, we’re partnering with them to provide better dentistry and more access to dentistry.”
Setting the Stage for Practice Success
During this year’s Dentsply Sirona World in Las Vegas, thousands of dental professionals enjoyed world-class education and entertainment, while celebrating the latest product innovations. Some of the cutting-edge technologies on display included:
• DS Core: The open, cloud-based platform is powered by a collaboration between Dentsply Sirona and Google Cloud, and seamlessly integrates with devices, services, and technologies to improve workflow efficiency
• Primeprint: The highly automated, medical-grade 3D printing solution presents an easy way to add 3D printing to the dental practice
• Axeos: The versatile 2D/3D imaging solution provides a range of fields of views to support various treatments.
“We believe we can impact and elevate the dentist’s everyday life by helping them with their treatments and procedures through connected solutions,” said Erania Brackett, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Dentsply Sirona. “And with the unveiling of technologies like DS Core and these connected systems and technologies, we think we can really help dentists improve the overall patient experience, and enable them to practice efficient, safe, and innovative dentistry.
“We hear dentists say all the time that they need more time back in their day or that it’s just too much and they need to bring on an associate just so they can have some balance in their lives,” Brackett added. “And we have sought to pivot our organization toward the world dentists live in, and to identify and understand their needs and their journey, the gaps in their workflow, and how we can elevate their experience. We believe that we have an advantage with our solutions and that we can enhance their workflows, help them work efficiently and safely, and improve their practice every day.”
“We believe we can impact and elevate the dentist’s everyday life by helping them with their treatments and procedures through connected solutions.”
- Erania Brackett, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Setting the Stage for a Healthier Planet
Dentsply Sirona is not just focused on providing solutions and resources to improve patient care and drive more efficient workflows. Just as it seeks to create healthy smiles and healthy practices, the company is leading the charge in dentistry to create a healthier planet through its sustainability strategy, BEYOND.
Sustainability is a key challenge for the oral healthcare sector, with a large majority of dentists—7 out of 10 participants in a recent study—stating that the dental industry is lagging behind when it comes to sustainability. About 80% of dentists participating in the Global Sustainability in Dentistry Study commissioned by Dentsply Sirona said it is really important for the industry to reduce its environmental impact. The study also revealed that 69% of dentists do not know how to start implementing concrete sustainability actions but were eager to learn more.
To address the knowledge gap among dentists, Dentsply Sirona has launched the first course of its comprehensive Sustainability Educational Curriculum. Delivered online for free through the Dentsply Sirona Academy, each of the 5 interactive courses is led by experienced experts and focuses on a different aspect of sustainability. The curriculum introduces dentists to the biggest challenges and opportunities for the dental industry, industry-wide initiatives, and ideas and resources that dentists can use to help further sustainability in their practices and beyond.
Dentsply Sirona has also become a Founding Partner in the FDI World Dental Federation’s Sustainability in Dentistry initiative with the aim to reduce the collective CO2 footprint of the dental industry. A “Consensus Statement on Environmentally Sustainable Oral Healthcare,” which outlines the status quo for sustainability in dentistry, as well as the challenges and solutions to improve it, was published earlier this year and can be accessed here.
For Brackett, the commitment to drive change toward sustainability is an important part of the partnership between Dentsply Sirona and its customers.
“We know from our study that there is real interest from dentists in making our industry more sustainable, and we share those concerns and that commitment to protecting the planet,” she said. “So, we take this initiative very seriously. We are not only the company that is putting the patient first and meeting the dentist’s need, but we are also doing what’s right to improve the world we live in.”
Learn more about Dentsply Sirona's efforts and how you can get involved by visiting the Sustainability Hub.
