Dental Asia May/June 2020

Giving Back to Society
Helping densts safely return to providing care
(PPE) items; and by accessing resources for remote practice reopening
services plus in-person emergency labour, and online
training and safety protocols.
Reconnect with Patients by receiving best practices for patient
re-engagement through customised email and social media
campaigns; and, for new customers, a three-month subscription
to a patient communication system, plus guidance on setting up a
virtual waiting room process for new or existing patients.
Patient communication tools such as Dentrix G7 help
dentists in re-engaging their patients
To help dentists in the United States prepare for the re-opening
of their practices, Henry Schein launched a practice recovery
programme, centred on three steps.
Prepare to Reopen by receiving a recovery kit that includes
supplemental infection control and personal protective equipment
Leverage Financial Solutions by completing an analysis to get
practice financial health back on track; and using a practice
recovery planner to help identify revenue lost due to the pandemic
and develop customised strategies to recover.
“We are dedicated to doing all we can to ensure that our customers
emerge strong from this difficult situation,” said Jonathan Koch,
chief executive officer of Henry Schein’s Global Dental Group. “We
are here to help customers get back to doing what they do best:
safeguarding the oral health, and overall health, of their patients.” DA
IDDA: Turning interest into acon
In an initiative to improve the production capabilities of medical
services in general to save lives, UK-based International Digital
Dental Academy (IDDA) is coordinating with its community of
over 13,000 digital dentists and technicians who have 3D printing
capabilities to produce parts for the front lines in the fight against
COVID-19.
These 3D printers can print in a wide range of materials - even
biocompatible – to produce ventilators, intubators and general
parts needed. The idea arose when IDDA board member, Prof. Adam
Nulty, realised that the digital dentistry scene has possibly the
largest variety and collection of 3D printers outside of engineers.
Since then, IDDA has received a few hundred responses from
individuals and companies including Asiga, 3D Systems and
Formlabs who have the combined power to run several hundred
printers and print thousands of parts a day. These include the
Venturi valve that has been in great shortage in Europe, ventilator
splitters, masks and visors.
Digital dentists and technicians who wish to offer their help can
find download links and STL files for 3D printing on the initiative’s
webpage. Donations to finance the creation, purchase and shipping
of 3D printed parts to healthcare providers are also welcome. DA
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DENTAL ASIA MAY / JUNE 2020