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HuFriedyGroup Announces New CEO

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 03:33:59 +0000

Date: Tuesday, September 02, 2025

Healthcare Veteran Robert Woolley to Succeed Andy Xilas as CEO

Chicago, IL, September 2, 2025 – HuFriedyGroup, a global leader in dental instrument innovation, infection prevention, and practice optimization solutions, today announced a leadership transition: Chief Executive Officer Andy Xilas will be stepping down, and veteran MedTech executive Robert Woolley has been appointed as his successor.

With over 35 years of experience at HuFriedyGroup, Xilas has served as CEO since January 2021. As CEO, Xilas guided the organization through a pivotal period of transformation, innovation, and growth. Most notably, he led the company through its divestiture from STERIS plc to become a standalone global dental products company. Under Andy's leadership, the company expanded its global footprint, acquired and integrated new dental brands, and strengthened its position as a trusted partner to dental professionals. Xilas will remain involved with the organization and serve as a Senior Advisor to the board.

Incoming CEO Robert Woolley brings two decades of global medical device and dental experience. He brings deep industry knowledge, global expertise, and a track record of growth to lead HuFriedyGroup in its next phase of accelerated growth and innovation. He joins HuFriedyGroup from Sonova Group, where he most recently served as Group Vice President of Hearing Instruments. Previously, he held key executive roles at Straumann Group, including Executive Vice President for North America and Western Europe.

Woolley also held senior positions at Medtronic, Trivascular, and Stryker, earning recognition for driving commercial excellence, portfolio innovation, and operational performance across U.S. and European markets. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Harvard University.

About HuFriedyGroup
HuFriedyGroup is a global Dental Solutions Company and trusted partner to dental professionals worldwide. As a leader in dental instruments, infection prevention, instrument management, and practice efficiency, HuFriedyGroup delivers high-quality products and beyond-the-chair services designed to help clinicians be The Best in Practice.

With a legacy of innovation, a comprehensive portfolio, and deep clinical expertise, HuFriedyGroup plays a vital role in advancing modern dentistry. Founded in 1908 and headquartered in Chicago, the company distributes products in over 100 countries and is supported by over 1,500 employees across more than 20 global manufacturing facilities and offices.

Revolutionary Protocols for Endodontic Access

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:30:33 +0000

With continual advancements in technology, endodontics has made tremendous progress in the treatment of tooth pain, promoting dental health for millions of people around the world. Even root canals, which were previously thought of as a painful process, have become a painless procedure. The cause of all this advancement and innovation? Revolutionary protocols in the industry have allowed for the evolution of endodontic success, all thanks to new technology. Getting a grasp on the latest endodontic protocols will help you practice providing the best care for your patients while staying on top of this ever-changing industry.

Protocol #1: Dynamic Guidance

With the increased use of rotary systems and pneumatic instruments, dynamic guidance has become a necessity to help reduce the risks associated with perforating the canal or damaging surrounding structures. Dynamic guidance provides high-speed imaging and magnification for enhanced visualization of root canals, helping you place your files precisely. With dynamic guidance, you can visualize anatomy that is only visible with magnification and lighting, which makes treatment of difficult cases more successful. With the assistance of dynamic guidance, root canal treatment has become less invasive, resulting in better outcomes for patients.

Protocol #2: Minimally Invasive Procedures

As the field of endodontics has evolved, so have the tools and technology that aid in treatment. One major advancement is minimally invasive procedures. The goal of minimally invasive procedures is to reduce the amount of force and trauma used in order to achieve faster procedural times, less chance for muscular injury, and a more comfortable experience for patients. However, you must understand that minimally invasive techniques require greater surgeon proficiency. Minimally invasive procedures are not suitable for every case and must be performed with awareness of your patient's specific needs. While minimally invasive procedures have been shown to reduce inflammation and promote faster healing, they can also lead to complications such as an increased risk for postoperative pain and periapical pathosis when done improperly.

Protocol #3: Development Of New Endodontic Instruments

Another advancement in endodontics is the development of new instruments. As technology becomes increasingly advanced, so do the tools used to perform root canal treatment. The most common type of instrument used for root canal procedures are nickel titanium (NiTi) files. The use of NiTi rotary systems reduces the time it takes to complete root canal procedures, which translates to less risk of muscular complications and a more comfortable experience for patients. NiTi files are currently used in the majority of root canals, even though non-metallic instruments have been shown to be comparably effective. However, while nonsurgical protocols have emerged over the last ten years, the use of NiTi rotary systems continues to be a necessary standard for endodontic access.

SS White: Preparing For The Future Of Endodontics

Endodontics is one of the most innovative fields in dentistry. Fortunately, advances in protocols and tools have made this field much more tolerable for both patients and clinicians. The future of endodontics looks bright, with SS White Dental, you can prepare your practice for these advances. Contact us today to learn more!

Why is Restoratively Driven Endodontics Important?

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:28:25 +0000

Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that is focused on the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding it. This includes the dental pulp, periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone in a human's mouth. In other words, endodontics is about treating 'inside' the tooth to prevent pain or discomfort. Endodontics is all about saving teeth that would otherwise be lost. This means that an endodontic treatment, more commonly known as a root canal, is really what gives someone the opportunity to keep their natural tooth and maintain it for their entire lives. However, traditional root canal procedures can be very invasive and lead to complications like post-operative pain, potential long-term health problems, and even tooth loss. One solution to preventing these common issues and making root canal procedures more comfortable and effective is restoratively driven endodontics.

What Is RDE?

RDE works with the patient and dentist alike to ensure that teeth can be restored—not just treated—to help reduce or eliminate any discomfort. This treatment method involves finding the root of the problem and determining the best possible solution using minimally invasive techniques. With RDE, endodontics is an art as much as it is a science. It gives patients and dentists the chance to work together to find the best possible solution for every patient's unique situation. By using minimally invasive techniques and restorative materials, treatments can be shortened and/or eliminated, which reduces pain and risk of complications.

What's Involved?

RDE takes into account many factors, including but not limited to:

The patient's health history
Any potential fears or anxiety surrounding dental procedures
The state of the natural tooth
Any signs of wear or deterioration
Whether there are any other teeth that could be affected

Once these factors are considered, the dentist can take the necessary steps to restore the tooth. This may include restorative treatments like a crown, bridge, or veneers.

Why Is It Better Than Current Procedures?

RDE is minimally invasive but still extremely effective at treating tooth pain and preventing further damage. With RDE, there's no need for an exposed tooth to be opened or for a tooth to be removed completely. This more conservative approach is less invasive, puts the patient at lower risk of infection, and makes it far easier for them to get back on their feet quickly. As RDE aims for a holistic approach, it also considers the patient's medical history and overall mental state. This makes it easier for patients to feel comfortable with the process, which also shortens recovery time. Because RDE treats the root of the problem instead of simply cutting it off at its lowest point, there is less risk of infection, pain, and complications after treatment has been completed.

SS White: Keeping Teeth Healthy For Life

At SS White Dental, we understand the importance of restoratively driven endodontics. That's why our team is dedicated to providing you with the best possible tools and equipment for your dental practice. We offer a complete line of restorative products, including crowns, bridges, veneers, and implants. We also carry the latest advances in dental technologies for your office to take advantage of. From our instruments that improve success rates for endodontic treatments to high-quality materials that simplify workflows and reduce costs, check out our wide range of innovative products today!

The Role of the Endodontic Triad

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:25:44 +0000

When it comes to endodontics—the specialization of dental medicine that deals with the tooth's pulp system—focusing on the triad is the key to successful treatment and preserving the tooth's vitality. The main goal of endodontics is to save a compromised tooth by cleaning out the bacteria and debris from within its root system. And according to modern endodontics, shaping canals, 3D cleaning, and filling root canal systems make up the triad necessary for accomplishing this goal. By understanding the tired, endodontists can identify and address weaknesses that lead to failure, and then develop a treatment plan specific for each individual case.

Shaping Canals

The first piece of this endodontics triad is the shaping canal. When planning a root canal procedure, endodontists will first remove everything from within a tooth's pulp system to create a primary canal. That initial step involves taking X-rays and CT scans, as well as using an operating microscope or other magnification tools to identify any irregularities in the canal system. Once the primary canal has been cleaned out, an endodontist will expand its size to create what's called a shaping channel that follows the anatomy of an ideal root canal. When this step is finished, there are no sharp turns or bumps in the canal that could complicate further shaping and cleaning procedures.

3D Cleaning

With the primary canal prepared, an endodontist will next perform a 3D cleaning. This technique requires the use of both rotary and flexible files, along with copious amounts of irrigation fluid (water). Modern endodontic techniques rely on enhanced technology that allows for faster movements across the canal walls to thoroughly remove bacteria and other debris from within the system. When this step is finished, there shouldn't be any fluid or debris left in the canal that could interfere with later steps of treatment.

Filling Root Canal Systems

The final step of the triad is filling the root canal system with gutta percha points and sealer cement to create a barrier against bacteria. These sealer cements are based on epoxy resin technology that allows them to harden into a substance harder than the tooth itself. These materials are capable of taking both heat and pressure, while also preventing any leakage through their hardened surfaces. Using gutta percha points to fill the canal channel provides another added benefit—they seal any cracks and contaminants that might be present, preventing them from seeping into the tooth.

What Happens Next

Once all of these steps have been completed, an endodontist will place a temporary filling and restoration on the tooth in order to protect it over the next few weeks as it heals. Future appointments will monitor its progress before placing a permanent filling. These procedures will help save the tooth, which is now protected for years to come after being treated by an endodontist.

SS White: All You Need To Support The Triad

Whether you're filling root canal systems or restoring damaged teeth, optimal results are only possible when you choose the right endodontic tools. With that in mind, that's why SS White Dental offers an extensive line of products to help dental health professionals achieve the highest levels of success while saving more teeth than ever before. Visit our online store to learn more!

Properly Restoring Endodontically Treated Teeth

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:20:58 +0000

When a tooth has undergone significant trauma or decay, it can be difficult to determine the best treatment option to fully restore it. And in some cases, teeth that have been endodontically treated require a crown to fully restore them. While the options for tooth restoration have increased dramatically over the past few decades, a proper diagnosis and understanding of the condition of a tooth before it is restored is critical to prevent future problems. Either way, it helps to have a basic understanding of what is involved with restoring teeth that have undergone endodontic therapy.

How Endodontic Treatment Effects Teeth

To understand what is involved with restoring endodontically treated teeth, it helps to first understand the procedure itself. Endodontic treatment—also known as a root canal—is performed on a tooth that has experienced significant damage or decay due to bacterial invasion of the pulp. In order to save the tooth, endodontic treatment removes the pulp from the central canal of a tooth and thoroughly cleanses it. The primary goal is to remove as many of the bacteria as possible, as these can cause significant damage if they remain untreated. After an endodontic procedure, a tooth could be left with a thin dentin bridge that connects the main body of the tooth to its root structure. The bridge acts as a barrier between the filled canal and the outside environment, but it makes restoring an endodontically treated tooth more difficult—and even complicated in some cases.

How To Restore A Tooth Post-Endodontic Treatment

Each case is different, but typically when restoring a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy, the dentist must remove the thin dentin bridge to fully restore it. Several steps are involved in this process.

Remove All Decay

Before any type of restoration can be performed, the tooth must be completely cleaned. Decay is removed from the tooth before it can be fully restored. This helps ensure further damage to the tooth does not occur after treatment or during restoration.

Seal The Canal

The canal—the hollow space inside a tooth that houses the nerve and blood vessels—must be sealed to protect it from environmental damage. This is done by placing a filling in the root canal to prevent any bacteria from entering into it. The tooth can then be restored without fear of future damage or infection, which could have been caused if the canal had remained open.

Determine The Restoration Type

And finally, the endodontist must determine the type of restoration that will be used based on the patient's tooth anatomy. The dentist will remove any remaining decay in the tooth before determining which restoration is best for it. Here are some of the most common options:

Composite Resin
Ceramic Veneers
Metal-Ceramic Crowns
All-Ceramic Crowns

While the process of restoring an endodontically treated tooth can be time-consuming, having a basic understanding of what is involved in this procedure can make the entire process easier to understand.

SS White: Helping You Provide The Best Care For Your Patients

Creating a restoration plan for a tooth that has been endodontically treated can be a complicated undertaking. SS White Dental aims to help simplify this process by providing a range of dentistry tools that are designed to help restore these teeth. Our innovative products are manufactured with patient comfort in mind, allowing you to create beautiful restorations for your patients with the best dental materials on the market. Contact us today to learn more!

Technological Advancements Change the Practice of Endodontics

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:19:05 +0000

While the brand of endodontics has been around since the early 1800s, the profession has evolved into a niche specialty that requires practitioners to be not only well versed in the principles of root canal therapy but also knowledgeable in the latest advancements in dental technology. With early root canal therapies being carried out by hand with files and rotary systems, to the modern-day technological advancements that have allowed for faster cleanings, more accurate canals, and improved patient comfort. Needless to say, endodontic treatment has dramatically changed thanks to advances in technology.

What's The Goal Of Endodontics?

The goal of modern endodontic treatment is to recreate normal pulp vitality by carefully cleaning and shaping the root canal system, disinfecting it with various medicaments, and filling the entire system with one or more appropriate root canal filling materials. This is done so to remove the infection and eliminate any possible future issues with pain, discomfort, or tooth structure loss. Technology and innovative advancements made in equipment used have centralized the goal even further. While it used to be (and to some extent still is) all about cleaning and shaping the root canal, the new goal is to do so by removing as little tooth structure as possible.

Endodontic Technological Advancements

Over the years, endodontic advancements have led to significant changes in shaping and filling canals. Here are just a few of the most popular advancements in endodontic technology.

Cone Beam Computer Technology

Cone beam technology (CBCT) is a much-required tool when creating 3D images for understanding root canal anatomy and accurately carrying out procedures. This type of technology has revolutionized the way clinicians diagnose and plan root canal treatments by providing accurate 3D images that can be rotated, magnified, or reduced in size at any time.

High-Tech Magnification

With magnification being a critical element in endodontics, the latest advancements have been made in instrument design. The goal of this advancement has been to combine maximum magnification with ergonomics and ease of use. By designing instruments that are light in weight with a long working length, clinicians can work confidently at any stage of endodontic treatment.

The Wand

While in years past, the use of small dental instruments have led to hand fatigue and discomfort for endodontists, Wands offer a unique solution that allows for easy 3D insertion into the root canal. With the use of a single hand, clinicians can work in the canal without compromising its final shape.

SS White: Making Innovative Dental Technology Accessible

Since its beginnings, SS White Dental has been on the cutting-edge of technologies that improve endodontic treatment. With our passion for bringing the latest advancements to dental offices everywhere, we offer innovative equipment and instruments adhering to today's highest quality standards. From hand-held rotary instruments that provide high speed and power to our wide selection of wands, SS White Dentla offers a range of products for any size practice. Contact us today to learn more about our current product offerings and how we can help you improve your endodontic treatment.

Endodontics of the Past and the Future

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:17:08 +0000

People have been getting root canals since the 1830s when the first therapy tool was invented by Edwin Maynard. Since its inception, the technology and procedures surrounding this dentistry have evolved dramatically to take into account new knowledge and a better understanding of how the body functions. Endodontic treatment can be a confusing subject for people who don't understand all that it encompasses. So it helps to get a grasp of how this dentistry practice started—and where it's headed.

What Is Endodontics?

The English meaning of the word endodontics is tooth root treatment. This term includes not only treatments for teeth with pathological changes in the dental pulp, but also surgery procedures for normal teeth with pulpal pathosis. While it can be stated that endodontic surgery aims to save any tooth without pain and loss of functions, the most common endodontic procedure is performed is root canal surgery.

Early Endodontics

While the first recorded root canal surgery was in the 1830s, there is evidence that they were performed as early as third-century B.C. A bronze wire was discovered in a skull that historians believe was used to treat an infected root canal. In the 1600s, people would have their pulp chambers drained to relieve toothache and pain. It wasn't until the 20th century where root canal surgery and endodontics became more advanced, not to mention safer. For a long time, the only solution to repairing an infected tooth was to pull it out. However, technological advancements led to other alternatives. Today, root canal surgery is so advanced that it is practically painless, and can save a tooth. It is even possible to replace the tooth's crown with a porcelain one, saving the patient money and providing them with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. In the future, endodontics will grow and expand to take on new challenges. Root canal surgery can seem a bit scary for some people, but it is nothing compared to what was done in the past.

The Future Of Endodontics

We are still in the infancy when it comes to endodontics. What was once only performed on fully erupted teeth, with anesthetics that were very risky, can now be performed at any age without pain or complications. As research continues and more knowledge is gathered about how the body functions, there will certainly be new challenges. Dentists will be able to save teeth and preserve each tooth's foundation thanks to the continuous improvement of endodontic surgery. In the future, we will be able to diagnose and treat dental problems earlier, before they become serious. This way we can save and preserve our patients' natural teeth for a lifetime.

SS White: Here For The Future Of Endodontics

Experts from SS White Dental have been at the forefront of endodontics, providing the best technology and equipment to dentists and dental practices all over the world. With over 175 years of dedication, expertise, and innovation, SS White Dental continues to uphold its promise to provide better products for better dentistry. Check out our line of products today!

Treating the Compromised Tooth vs the Goals of Endodontics

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:15:13 +0000

When it comes to acid injured teeth, there is no time to waste. A tooth's vitality is at risk from the very moment it becomes compromised. While dentists can perform the necessary root canal procedures to treat the compromised tooth, ideally an endodontist should be called upon to make proper restoration decisions. With more and more dental professionals turning to minimally invasive treatment options—especially when it comes to endodontics and root canals—it's important to consider how your treatment plan meets the goals of endodontics.

What Is Endodontics?

Endodontics, or "endo" for short, is a branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the pulp—the soft tissue inside teeth with blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. Root canal therapy is the primary treatment used to eliminate diseased pulp from teeth and prevent or treat potential infections. In a nutshell, an endodontist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect the dental pulp. In a perfect world, a dentist would refer a compromised tooth to an endodontist for a full range of treatments.

The Goal Of Endodontics

The goal of endodontics, at its core, is to protect the dental pulp. If the dental pulp becomes damaged or diseased, endodontists are trained to remove it. After the dental pulp has been removed, an endodontist will access and clean out the canals in order to create a healthy environment for proper tooth restoration. The endodontist will then provide the patient with a proper post and core to ensure that the restored tooth does not fracture or crack. However, sometimes during root canal procedures, the endodontist or dentist will have to remove more of the tooth than just the dental pulp. If too much of the tooth has been removed, then that could lead to more complications for the patient —especially if the tooth has already been compromised.

How To Treat A Compromised Tooth With Endodontics

When it comes to treating a compromised tooth, there are many factors that endodontists take into consideration. For example, an endodontist may choose to treat the compromised tooth by removing more of the internal structure of the tooth in order to ensure proper restoration— especially if the patient has advanced periodontal disease or is missing other teeth. On the other hand, an endodontist could remove just enough of the tooth's internal structure to treat it properly without compromising its integrity. The decision will depend on where the tooth is compromised and how much of it has to be restored. This option is known as Minimally Invasive (MI) dentistry and is a growing trend in endodontic due to its numerous benefits such as:

Preserving tooth structure
Reducing the risk of injury to surrounding teeth
Less pain and discomfort for patients

SS White: Dentists' No. 1 Choice For MI Equipment

SS White Dental makes some of the most technologically advanced and efficient MI equipment used in all forms of endodontic treatment. Whether your practice is dedicated to the principles of MI dentistry or you simply want a versatile Minimally Invasive unit, SS White Dental has a full range of products to meet your needs. Check out our line of products today!

MI and Preservation of Tooth Structure

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:13:08 +0000

The push for minimally invasive dental procedures is constantly evolving. The more we learn about the body and how to provide dental care without harming vital structures, the better for our patients overall. Minimally Invasive (MI) treatments and procedures are better for patients because, when properly selected and performed, they are associated with less pain, shorter recovery time, need for fewer anesthetic drugs, and less bleeding.

What Is MI?

Minimally Invasive Dentistry is a philosophy that focuses on using the least invasive dental procedures possible to restore and maintain optimal oral health. While there are multiple procedures that can be minimally invasive, usually this style means there's less of a need for drilling and filling. As we learn more about the body and how best to work on teeth, we're able to perform treatment that can prevent or stop potential dental disease without causing unnecessary pain and still preserving the structure and foundation of the tooth.

How Does MI Preserve Tooth Structure?

While our industry is still learning about MI procedures, one thing is clear: following MI results in the preservation of the tooth structure. By minimizing the amount of dentin—which is the material layered directly under the tooth enamel— that's removed, dentists can conserve healthy foundations for the teeth and avoid the side effects that come with removing large amounts of tooth structure. Some of those side effects include:

Tooth sensitivity
Damage to the surrounding teeth (which can lead to future dental work needing to be performed, like root canals or crowns)
Increased risk of chapped or cracked teeth

By removing the least amount of dentin possible, MI procedures can help protect healthy tooth structure, keeping the teeth strong and giving patients a better chance at avoiding future dental work.

Types Of MI Procedures

While MI is becoming more and more accessible in all types of dentistry, there are a few common treatments that often fall under MI's umbrella—while still preserving or strengthening tooth structure.

Dental Implant Placement

One of the most popular MI procedures is dental implant placement. Dental implants are metal posts that replace a tooth root and attach to the jawbone, allowing you to regain your smile and chewing function while also saving your natural teeth from causing further damage.

Treatment For Periodontal Disease

Gum disease can be treated by removing plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth, along with infected gum tissue. However, if this is not corrected quickly enough, it can lead to bone loss around your teeth—in some cases causing you to lose them altogether. Ensuring that MI procedures are performed during treatment for periodontal disease (like scaling and root planing) can help preserve the bone and tissues surrounding the teeth, ensuring that your tooth structure is not damaged.

Mini Dental Implants

Similar to dental implant placement, mini dental implants are also an MI procedure that replaces a damaged or missing tooth root. While these implants look like traditional dental implants—with the metal post attachment and titanium abutment—they are much smaller and can be placed in areas that may not allow for a regular implant.

SS White: One-Stop-Shop For MI Dental Equipment

If you're looking for a place to purchase the equipment to perform these procedures, you've come to the right place. SS White Dental is a leading worldwide dental equipment company that's been creating high-quality products for years. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you procure the right MI equipment, as well as provide training and support as your business grows.

No More Hand Fatigue – Procedure to reduce hand file fatigue

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:11:07 +0000

When you work in dentistry, it's inevitable that you're going to have your fair share of hand file fatigue. Long days of technical procedures, re-treatment plans, or performing repetitive movements can leave you with inflammation and pain in your hands or forearms. And over time, this pain can become unbearable. It's important to prevent this from occurring in order to provide excellent patient care and take proper care of yourself. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill to help with this (yet) but if you follow these tips regularly you should be able to minimize it.

Take Frequent Stretching Breaks

Stretching is your best friend when it comes to hand file fatigue. Not only does it alleviate pain, but the added circulation benefits the entire body. Try to take a break at least every 30 to 60 minutes to stretch your hands and forearms. Here are some stretches that will help you get rid of that deep-rooted tension in your forearms, wrists, and hands.

Fist Clench

Hold your hands in front of you with the knuckles facing up. Make a tight fist and hold for 5 seconds. Then relax your hand completely, open it up and stretch it out as much as you can. Do 2 sets of 10 reps to start off, performing this every day if possible on both of your hands.

Finger Lifts

Finger lifts are a great way to focus on your hand and wrist flexors. From a standing or sitting position, flex the muscles in your hands and wrists as hard as you can for 5 seconds at a time, then release. You should feel the tension in between each of your fingers and the top of your palms. Try doing 3 sets of 10 reps for this as well, if possible.

Thumb Circles

Since so much of our hand and wrist actions involve the thumb, it's important to keep this digit flexible. Place your right thumb in your left palm with your fingers wrapped around it. Rotate your thumb clockwise for 5 seconds and then switch to counterclockwise for another 5 seconds before switching hands. Perform 3 sets of 10 reps in each direction. In addition to these exercises, there are also some other methods you can try that will help with the pain from hand file fatigue:

Take a hot shower or use a heating pad before and after work.
Apply some hand cream or lotion to help with the pain from dryness or cracking of your skin.
Massage the muscle tissue in your forearms as well as your hands to keep blood flowing throughout them.
Handle duties for a shorter period of time each day, rather than overworking yourself.

SS White: Providing Dentists With The Tools They Need

At SS White Dental, we want to be your number one choice when it comes to dental and laboratory equipment. Contact us with any questions or concerns about hand file fatigue and check out our full line of equipment to make performing procedures more comfortable for you—and your patients.

MI Endodontics - an Overview

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:08:57 +0000

Root canal procedures are performed in the clinic every day. Endodontic treatment means "treatment within" and is used to indicate all dental procedures involving the pulp of a tooth. As commonplace as they are—with over 15 million being performed every year in the U.S.—root canals are typically surrounded by thoughts of fear and anxiety. Minimally invasive endodontics (also referred to as MI endodontics) aims to lessen that fear and make this often necessary procedure as painless as possible.

What Is MI Endodontics?

MI Endodontics, like all minimally invasive procedures, refers to a root canal procedure that focuses on tooth preservation and thus aims for the minimal amount of tissue removal necessary. In order to reduce the "needle fear" of traditional root canal therapy—often perceived as an uncomfortable, painful, and lengthy procedure that involves high levels of stress—MI endodontics involves both diagnostic evaluation and treatment.

What Role Does MI Endodontics Play In A Root Canal?

During a root canal, there are three phases:

Coronal access preparation
Radicular apical preparation
Flaring the canal that connects the coronal and the radicular apical

During all of these phases, MI endodontic practitioners try to remove the least amount of dentin possible, which is the layer of the tooth that is immediately under its enamel. Some level of denin removal will always be necessary in order to eliminate the microbial and properly disinfect the root canal. However, MI endodontics ensures that the amount of dentin removed is minimized, which helps to reduce postoperative sensitivity and pain.

Benefits Of MI Endodontics

There are several benefits to MI endodontics for both the dentist performing the procedure and the patient receiving it.

Tooth Preservation

Removing as little dentin as possible during a root canal helps to ensure that the tooth is preserved, which reduces the chances of the patient needing an implant or a post and core build-up.

Less Pain

While root canals are usually conducted with the patient under anesthesia, postoperative pain is still common due to the amount of dentin that is removed. MI endodontics helps to reduce this pain by removing only the necessary amount of dentin.

Faster Recovery

The less dentin that is removed, the shorter the recovery time for patients after a root canal will be. By steering clear of aggressive percussion and cutting instruments, MI endodontics helps to cut down on the amount of postoperative pain associated with a root canal procedure.

The Future Of MI Endodontics

These days, every effort is made to make procedures less invasive and more comfortable for patients—and MI Endodontics is a reflection of that. While this particular field of endodontics is still in its early stages, it has great promise for the future.

SS White Dental: Everything Your Practice Needs For MI Procedures

At SS White Dental, we understand how important it is to have the latest technology and equipment available in order to help your patients. We offer a full range of endodontic equipment and tools to help your practice provide the most advanced and painless care possible. If you have any questions about MI endodontics, or if you would like to learn more about our products for this type of procedure, please feel free to contact us today!

What is Minimally Invasive Dentistry

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:05:37 +0000

The dentist's office is not everybody's favorite place. Traditionally terrifying stories of painful procedures and endless drills have scared many people away from the dentist's office. However, an emerging concept gaining widespread acceptance across the industry is that of minimally invasive dentistry (MID). If your dental practice is looking for innovative ways to make procedures more comfortable for patients, consider adding MID services to your offerings.

What Is MID?

Minimally invasive dentistry is a type of dentistry that aims to provide less painful procedures without the use of traditional dental tools, particularly drills. In an effort to improve optimal patient comfort, the mid philosophy advocates the use of high-tech treatment options that minimize pain and damage to healthy teeth. MID techniques reduce the need for drilling and filling, which helps preserve the structure of the patient's tooth. The overall goal of MID is to conserve oral health and use the least amount of invasive treatment possible.

Benefits Of MID

There are many reasons why dentists are beginning to implement MID techniques in their practices. Some of the most common benefits include:

Reduction of pain and discomfort for patients
Decreased stress for patients, which is particularly helpful for patients who experience dental anxiety
Lower cost of procedures, making high-quality dental care more affordable and accessible
Preservation of the patient's tooth structure, appearance and function
Decreased likelihood of repeated repair cycles

MID offers a huge advantage in that it allows dentists to treat many patients without using drills. This innovative treatment option is particularly beneficial for those who have a dental phobia or simply do not want to deal with lengthy or complicated treatment options.

Types Of MID

As advancements in dentistry continue to be made, more and more MID procedures are becoming available. Here are some of the most common types of MID that patients can undergo today.

Fluoride Therapy

Fluoride therapy is one of the most common minimally invasive dental procedures offered by dentists. Using a clear varnish, the dentist applies fluoride to teeth that are at risk for developing cavities or have already developed them. This treatment can be effective in reducing tooth decay and preventing future damage. It's most often used to remineralize teeth.

Onlays And Inlays

An alternative to crowns, onlays and inlays are minimally invasive dental restoration options used to repair tooth decay and cracks. Both procedures begin with a thorough cleaning before the dentist applies composite resin or porcelain material to the tooth. The outer surface of these restorations is shaped like teeth, giving them a natural appearance that blends seamlessly into surrounding teeth.

Bite Splints

Those who suffer from teeth grinding can use bite splints to prevent excessive tooth wear. Traditionally, nightguards are created by grinding down the patient's teeth to make room for a mouth guard worn during sleep. The process of creating this custom mouthpiece is known as the "try-in" phase. It can be incredibly uncomfortable for patients who must bite down on a tray containing their teeth while the dentist makes adjustments. MID can eliminate the try-in phase with a nightguard inserted immediately after teeth are cleaned. These guards are designed to fit over your teeth and prevent your molars from grinding down.

SS White Dental: Making Procedures As Comfortable As Possible

SS White Dental provides dental offices with the latest in comfortable procedures to their patients. Our specialty tools—including these minimally invasive preparation finishing and polishing kits—will help your office to deliver optimal patient comfort while achieving the best possible results! Contact us today to learn more about SS White Dental or any of our specialty products!

A Guide for Graduates: How to Get Your First Dental Job

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 06:51:02 +0000

Stay Positive

It’s easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged with searching for your first dental job. Part of finding the right job is sifting through a lot of wrong ones. Keep a positive attitude, so your frustrations don’t come through when speaking with potential coworkers.

Network as Much as Possible

Networking is going to continue to be an important part of your career, even after you land your first job. Practice with your peers and people within the industry at every opportunity. You never know who might help you advance in your career down the road!

Design an Amazing Resume

If you have a well designed, professional resume with a personal and compelling cover letter, you’re going to stand out among a pile of applicants. Take the time to create a great resume so that your job search leads to more call backs.

Keep an Open Mind

Try to avoid limiting yourself as much as possible when you’re just starting out. Expand your search areas, look into different practice options, and go see as many potential employers in person as you can. It is much easier to tell if you would be a good fit when you are able to physically visit, rather than just search online.

Apply, Apply, Apply

Landing a great first job after dental school is largely a numbers game. Don’t get disappointed if you aren’t getting as many callbacks as you would have liked. The first job out of dental school tends to be the most difficult one to find.

Deliver Your Information in Person as Much as Possible

Going in person to deliver your resume and cover letter not only lets you see the office culture, it allows you the chance to get your information directly into the hands of who needs to view it, rather than hope you make it through the slush pile when applying online.

SS White Dental: Helping You Throughout Your Career

SS White Dental loves helping new dental graduates get a leg up (have you heard about our FREE kits for new dental grads?), but we’ll also continue to be there as you settle into your career. Experienced practitioners and new grads alike love our specialty tools, kits and accessories. Contact us today to find out more, or to locate a distributor!

How to Build a Rapport With Your First Patients: A Dental Graduate’s Guide

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 06:47:24 +0000

After graduating from dental school, finding your first position is an exciting step into your new career. But many new dental grads aren’t sure how they should go about building a rapport with their first patients.

Maintain a Friendly Demeanor

Although you may be nervous during your first appointments, it’s important to maintain a friendly, relaxed demeanor. Pay attention to your body language and posture, keeping a confident stance with your shoulders back. Having a positive, professional manner and appearance helps to alleviate fears, and you may notice nervous patients become more comfortable as their appointment progresses.

Take the Time to Build Trust

While you may be thinking about how much time you have until your next appointment, you want every patient to feel like they are heard and cared for. Take a few minutes to ask questions about their symptoms and relate to them on a personal level. This puts patients at ease and helps to build loyalty to you and your practice.

Adapt to Your Patient

Every patient is different, and going to the dentist can trigger behavior that people don’t generally exhibit. Whether your patient is afraid and needs extra encouragement, or they are matter-of-fact and prefer an efficient and to-the-point consultation, they will appreciate a dentist who adapts to their needs.

SS White Dental: Leading Innovation

SS White Dental has a history of introducing innovative ideas and products in the dental industry. Our products help to improve patient outcomes, encourage efficiency and organization, and have a history of proven practice growth. Our dental kits and accessories are a great way for new dental grads to create their own routines and systems, so you know you have every tool you need for any procedure.

Find a Dental Mentor: A How-To For Dental Grads

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 06:45:26 +0000

While you may have some experience in the industry, and hands-on practice from school, there is no substitute for the insight, tips, experience and feedback a mentor provides. However, finding a dental mentor can be difficult. So, how does a new grad go about finding a dental mentor?

Define Your Goals

Knowing that you want a mentor isn’t enough to narrow your search. You need to determine what your goals are, both in your career and in the mentorship itself. Usually, once you understand what you want the focus of your career to be, it’s easy to figure out what areas you need the most help in. Deciding what you want out of your mentorship also helps in understanding who you may want to reach out to.

Make a List of People Who May be a Good Fit

Keep your options open when it comes to finding a mentor. While some new dental grads get tunnel vision when seeking a mentor, and only want the best in their chosen specialty, many established professionals simply won’t have the time or inclination to take on anything new. Attending industry events, and reaching out to colleagues and potential mentors in person is a great way to open the door to getting to know each other.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Asking someone to be your mentor can be intimidating. Understanding that most people who have achieved a high level of success have had mentors can make it easier to ask for help. Even if your first choice for a mentor is unavailable, they may be open to answering questions via email, and are usually flattered by the request. Once you have someone accept your request, pay close attention to how they work, and ask questions often to get the most out of your relationship.

SS White Dental

Like a great mentorship, SS White Dental blends a rich history in the dental industry with innovation and great new ideas. Our kits and accessories help you to stay organized, and increase efficiency in the workplace.

Work Life Balance & Dentistry: Can it Be Achieved?

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 06:43:28 +0000

Work life balance and dentistry don’t always go hand-in-hand, especially if you own your own practice. However, it can be achieved with the right systems and planning in place. Creating a healthy work life balance leads to better performance at work, and lets you be more engaged in your personal life.

Set Working Hours

One of the most difficult aspects of creating a work life balance for dentists who own their own practice is setting working hours. By scheduling your day, and creating a notable separation of working hours and “off” hours, you help to establish the expectation that you aren’t easily contacted during your off time. This also may make it easier for you to shift out of a mindset that blurs the line between home and work.

Optimize Your Workspace

When you want to create more personal time, optimizing your workspace becomes incredibly important. Creating an efficient environment allows you to get more done during your working hours, so you don’t feel pressured to stay late or continue to work after you get home.

Create a Cohesive Team

Knowing that your team is able to keep your practice up and running while you’re gone is essential when you want to be able to take days off. Delegating tasks that others are able to finish also keeps you focused on the responsibilities that only you can do. This conserves your most important finite resource - your time. When building your team, make sure you choose colleagues who communicate well, and who you feel comfortable assigning tasks and responsibilities when needed.

SS White Dental - Increase Your Efficiency

SS White Dental knows how important efficiency is. That’s why we created our signature kits and accessories , so that you are able to save time and ensure that you have all of the tools you need (and prefer), for any procedure.

Women in Dentistry: Your Guide to Success

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:30:20 +0000

Dentistry has been a “man’s world” for a long time, but recently women have become trailblazers in the dental industry. This is an exciting time for women in dentistry!

Source: Pexels.com

Don’t Feel Pressured to Choose Certain Specialties

Women have been traditionally drawn to pediatric dentistry, but women are needed in all specialties; don’t feel as though you need to conform to gender norms.

No matter what type of specialty you choose, you are able to excel with your unique experiences and perception. Clients also appreciate when they are able to see women specialists in their area, particularly if they have trauma that makes them hesitant to see a male practitioner. Women are also closing the gap on owning their own practices in recent years, which is exciting news for the dental industry.

You CAN Have it All

Women have historically been told that they can’t have both a career and a family. Women in dentistry do a fantastic job of juggling responsibilities at home and their career.

You may find that you hear a lot of comments from people about maintaining a work-life balance, but women in dentistry are able to have an incredible career with regular working hours, and often find family life much more manageable than they would have if they had chosen a different path.

Although it can be difficult to juggle work with any type of working environment, dentistry is one of the more flexible industries when it comes to working hours and maternity leave.

SS White Dental: Supporting Women in Dentistry

At SS White Dental, we’re excited to see the recent increase of women in this industry. We hope that women continue to step into leadership roles, own more practices, and flourish as an important part of the dental community. We offer FREE dental kits for new grads, in addition to our specialty kits and equipment.

We hope that we can help pave the way for the next generation of women in dentistry!

How Do You Find Associateships? Advice for New Grads

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:25:30 +0000

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New dental school graduates often get overwhelmed looking for an associateship. Hearing about the high rate of associateships failing for one reason or another can make the process even more stressful. It doesn’t have to be that way; finding a dental associateship should feel like an exciting new beginning! Here are our top tips for finding the right associateship for you.

Network as Much as Possible

In and out of school, you should be networking within the dental industry as much as possible. While it may feel unnatural at first, many opportunities begin as a simple introduction at a seminar, trade show, or other industry event.

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Make Sure the Practice Is Prepared for a New Associate

Many of the dental associateships that don’t work out can be attributed to the practice being unprepared for hiring a new associate. Before you sign on, check to see how many patients they currently have, how many appointments you would have in a typical week, and stop by to make sure you fit in well with the rest of the staff.

Stay Flexible

Keep an open mind when it comes to locations and the types of practices you’re looking for. You may find the perfect associateship in a place you wouldn’t have considered otherwise. Limiting yourself early in your career makes it much more difficult to advance quickly.

SS White Dental: Maximize Your Potential

At SS White Dental we’re passionate about innovation, and the dental industry. We create products that optimize your workflow, improve patient outcomes, and increase practice growth. We are here to support you, which is why we offer FREE new grad kits, and our staff and distributors are always excited to help you find exactly what you need, so you can advance further in your career, faster. Contact us today to find out more!

3 Ways to Utilize Digital Marketing to Create a Successful Dental Career

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:17:59 +0000

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Digital marketing is becoming increasingly important for all types of careers, but the dental industry has been slow to catch up. Stay ahead of the competition and give your dental career a boost by utilizing our top 3 tips for digital marketing.

1. Build an Online Presence People Trust

Begin by making sure your business pages and profiles all reflect your professionalism, philosophy, and branding. You should be updating your information regularly, so potential patients view you and your business as trustworthy and reliable. You should also be engaging with existing and potential patients as much as possible online by commenting and making posts on social media, so that they are able to feel like they already know you.

2. Produce High-Quality Online Content

Don’t make posts just to have something up online. Post information that your audience is looking for, so that they know you’re a leader in your field. You don’t have to stick to written posts and blogs; videos and photos help you stand out from the crowd.

3. Use Personalized Email Marketing to Generate Leads and Increase Return Visits

Generic email marketing gets treated as spam. Make sure your message is reaching its intended audience by using personalized email marketing to follow up with interested potential patients, remind current patients of upcoming appointments, and send out newsletters that are segmented by patient populations. With relevant, personalized content, more people will actually open and read your emails and newsletters, rather than sending them to their spam folder.

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SS White Dental: We’ve Been Trending for Generations

SS White Dental has been popular for generations, and we’ve spread across the globe. Our specialty equipment, kits and accessories are widely considered to be the best in the industry. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help optimize your workflow and improve patient outcomes!

The New Dentist’s Guide to Networking

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:12:06 +0000

The New Dentist’s Guide to Networking

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Networking can be a difficult skill to master for new dentists. There are so many different platforms, professional trade shows, and industry events that it can quickly get overwhelming. Don’t be discouraged, though, networking can be fun and open up brand new doors for you and your business!

Old School Networking for New Dental Grads: Start with the Basics

Professional networking events are a great way to establish connections with your peers.

Dentists have many opportunities to network, but you should start with designing and creating an eye-catching, professional business card. Industry events such as trade shows are a great place to begin handing them out and introducing yourself to like-minded professionals.

Don’t forget - every connection is an opportunity!

The New Wave of Dental Networking: Social Media

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Many dentists don’t utilize the power of social media for their business, despite most of them being active on their own personal pages.

You should have a professional presence on every major social media platform, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. And hey, some new dentists are even making waves on TikTok - you could be the next big thing!

Social media has a bit of a learning curve, but you can build your reputation and gain a ton of new leads just by remaining active and engaging with your audience.

The more relatable you can be, the better; people tend to have a phobia of dentists that is lessened by humanizing the profession. Have fun, showcase your dance moves (or if that’s not your thing, post some informational videos), and have your staff let loose. Social media is the perfect way to show some personality, in a fun, professional way.

SS White Dental

SS White Dental knows how tough it can be to get your feet wet in the industry as a new graduate.

To do our part in getting you going, we offer FREE kits for new graduates, and would love to see you stop by our booth at a trade show or seminar!

Going Global: The International Student’s Journey to a Well-Paying Job in Dentistry

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:05:41 +0000

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Trying to find a dentistry job in the U.S. is already stressful, but as an international student it can be even more frustrating and difficult, especially as immigration laws seem to be constantly changing. While a dentistry job is often worth the time and sacrifice it requires, international students must go through extra steps to begin working as a licensed dentist in the United States.

Choosing the Right State

Each state has different laws regarding requirements and qualifications for international students. In addition to the different dental schools and programs available in each state, some states also allow international students who have graduated to become licensed after completing an ADA-accredited residency program. These states include:

Connecticut
Illinois
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Oregon
Texas
Wisconsin

It is important to research the requirements, programs and schools available in each state before beginning the application process.

Investing More Time

International students have to be prepared to invest more time into their education than students who are from the U.S. If you have already finished some classes, or if you graduated from a dental program in your home country, you may find the extra time and investment necessary to be frustrating. While it can make it take longer to begin practicing dentistry, you can use this time as an opportunity to network and establish relationships within the industry.

The Language Barrier - A Mixed Blessing

While students who speak English as a second language can have more difficulty through school and sometimes even while networking, being multilingual can give you a huge advantage once you begin working. Patients who also speak the language(s) you are fluent in will be appreciative of your ability to communicate clearly and easily, especially if going to the dentist causes them anxiety.

SS White Dental: Worldwide Distribution

At SS White Dental, we offer innovative dental equipment, lab products, and specialty kits and accessories, designed to improve patient outcomes, optimize workflow, and encourage practice growth. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you succeed!

A Guide for Graduates: How to Get Your First Dental Job

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 07:00:27 +0000

Source: Pexels.com

Stay Positive

Network as Much as Possible

Design an Amazing Resume

Keep an Open Mind

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Apply, Apply, Apply

Deliver Your Information in Person as Much as Possible

SS White Dental: Helping You Throughout Your Career

Tips for Creating a Stand-Out Dental Resume

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 06:36:48 +0000

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Sometime after you choose your dental career path, and before your land your first job (or even get your first interview), you will need to create a dental resume that helps you stand out from the pile of other applicants. So, how do you create a dental resume that gets noticed?

Craft a Moving Cover Letter

Your cover letter should be easy to read and concise, but with a personal message that helps the reader get to know you. You should also try to personalize your cover letter for each job you’re applying for, whenever possible.

Stick to a Single Page

Your actual resume should ideally be just a page long. Most employers quickly scan resumes, so writing multiple paragraphs for each job or experience is not the best way to convey your skills. Bullet points are

Use an Eye-catching, Professional Template

Use a template with professional colors, and don't use hard-to-read fonts, condensed text, or irrelevant information. Since most readers scan resumes, make it easy for them! Use larger headers and fonts, add space between sections, and take advantage of layouts that break your text up into differently sized columns and rows.

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Make the Main Points Stand Out

To grab the attention of readers who skim over your resume without reading each part, make your main points stand out by highlighting them with bold or italic fonts, formatting, or bullet points.

SS White Dental: From Dental School to Dental Practice

SS White Dental focuses on creating innovative products that make your workflow more efficient while improving patient outcomes. Our specialty equipment, kits and accessories are popular with new grads, experienced practitioners, and specialists. Let us help you begin your career with our FREE dental kit for new grads! Contact us today to learn more!

Top Job Searching Tips For Dental Grads

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 06:31:32 +0000

When your dental school graduation date or the end of your residency is right around the corner, job searching becomes a major source of stress. We already covered what to do after graduation, but what should you do when starting your job search?

Consider All Your Options

When you’re looking for your first job after graduation, make sure you consider all of your available opportunities, even if they aren’t your first choice. Sometimes, this opens doors that you wouldn’t have thought of, had you limited your options.

The Suburbs and Rural Areas Have Great Opportunities

If you expand your searches outside of major cities by an hour, you will find many great practices that are interested in finding future partners. Since there is less competition in areas further away from major metropolitan areas, you can often negotiate a larger salary.

Do the Math

Sometimes, new dental grads get caught up in the wrong numbers. If you are comparing multiple compensation packages that include a percentage of collections, don’t just look at the percentage, but also at the average sales numbers. You may make more at a practice with higher sales numbers, despite receiving a lower percentage of collections.

Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate

If you get multiple offers, you may find that none of them are exactly what you’re looking for. It’s okay to make requests and negotiate, so you sign a contract that both parties are happy with. Be prepared to meet in the middle and compromise after making your initial counter offer. You may want to start with asking for slightly more than what you are hoping to end up with.

SS White Dental: Helping You on Your Way to Your New Career

At SS White Dental, we love helping new dental grads begin their new careers. We offer FREE dental kits for new grads, and our specialty equipment, kits and accessories are widely regarded as the best in the industry. Start your career off on the right foot - contact SS White Dental today!

A Whole New World: Adjusting to Professional Life After Dental School

Fri, 21 May 2021 14:25:56 +0000

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Graduating dental school is a huge accomplishment, but adjusting to professional life is sometimes difficult. What do you need to know to settle into your new career (and stay sane)? Here are some tips that new graduates find helpful when just starting out.

Determine Your Path

You have a variety of career options available to you as a new graduate. First, you should research each choice carefully, and determine which one is the right fit for you. Once you’ve started your career, there are some skills that come in handy so that professional life doesn’t seem so daunting.

Time Management is Key

While you and your classmates may have gotten through school by keeping the energy drink industry alive and turning procrastination into a competitive sport, once you transition into a professional role, time management becomes essential.

If you can’t complete your procedures in a timely manner, patients will start getting backed up, causing delays and bad reviews. Try to keep gaps in your schedule for the first few weeks, so you get used to the pace at your new practice.

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Keep Your Cool Under Pressure

Along with managing your time well and working faster, you may notice that you feel the increased pressure of having to work while people are watching you, and evaluating your work in a professional setting. Being able to stay calm and collected, and make quick decisions is a huge part of your success as a dentist. Unexpected situations will come up, and you will need to quickly adapt, without upsetting your patient or causing your staff to feel uncomfortable. Just like with time management, keeping some gaps in your schedule helps to account for any unanticipated situations.

Network, Network, Network

Just because you have a job at a practice doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be networking with your peers at every opportunity. Making it a habit to go to local conferences, and socialize with people in your industry, even if they’re your competition. This will not only create opportunities down the road, but you will also be able to find out where other practices are either excelling or falling short.

Exude Positivity

Sometimes the stress of a new career can cause you to come off as anxious or upset. This is the last thing you want your patients to think, and it can make your colleagues less excited to work with you.

Try to make sure you’re making a positive impact in the workplace, so that coworkers have a good day, and your patients want to come back!

Don’t Forget You Have a Life Outside of Work

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It can be easy to forget about life outside of work as you focus on your new career. Make time for your friends and family so that you are able to avoid burnout. You should be scheduling in time for relaxation, physical activity, and your hobbies, so that you have a healthy work/life balance.

Self care isn’t a luxury; it’s essential to your well being. Time goes by faster than we realize when we spend all of our time at work, and failing to schedule time for yourself will have negative mental and physical effects over time.

Use the Right Tools for the Job

SS Dental has specialty kits and tools available to ensure you are able to work quickly and efficiently, without having to search for what you need. You can keep all of your burs for each procedure in a single autoclavable, brightly colored bur box for easy identification and preparation.

SS Dental - We’re Here for You

SS Dental has been providing innovative, high quality dental equipment for generations. We’ve stuck around because new graduates, experienced practitioners, and specialists all love our tools and our exceptional customer service.

SS Dental offers FREE kits for new graduates, to help you get off to a great start. We want you to be successful as you take your first steps into your new career. Contact us today to learn about our products, or to locate a distributor.

See Graduation Specials

What are the Practice Options for New Dentists?

May 17, 2021

You Just Graduated Dental School - Now What?

May 7, 2021

What are the Practice Options for New Dentists?

Mon, 17 May 2021 23:09:16 +0000

A Pros and Cons Breakdown for Recent Graduates

After you finally graduate from dental school, your next step is to decide where you want to begin your career. There are three basic options for entry level dentists; working for a corporate dental office, taking a job at an already established dental practice, or opening your own dental practice.

Practice Settings for a First Year Dentist

Whether you decide to become a specialist, or stick with general dentistry, choosing where to start your career can be difficult. Each option has significant pros and cons, so you should consider what aspects of each practice option are most important to you. Let’s go over what most new dentists like and dislike about each practice option.

Going into Corporate Dentistry (DSO)

Joining a DSO may pay less when compared to private practices, but they offer numerous other benefits and are becoming increasingly popular for entry-level dentists.

Positives

Great benefits packages - One of the main advantages corporate offices have is their generous benefit packages. Entry-level dentists are often drawn to these incentives that aren’t always available through a private practice.
Flexible time off - Since there are simply more staff members at a corporate office, getting time off to go on vacation and creating a schedule that works for you and your family is much easier to accomplish.
Ample resources - If you like using the coolest, state-of-the-art equipment, corporate offices tend to get the newest tech first.
Reliable income and less liability - Corporate dentistry is a good option if you want to be able to rely on a steady paycheck, and leave work at the office. You won’t have to worry about the cost or liability issues that come up in a private practice setting.

Negatives

Lower salary - Although you usually get a substantial benefit package, corporate dental offices offer lower salaries, limiting the amount of money you can make overall.
Sometimes focus on profits over patients - As with many corporate environments, a corporate dental office can sometimes feel like an assembly line. When you’re not in control of the final decisions, sometimes you might disagree with what call has been made.
No pride in ownership - Corporate environments don’t have the same type of culture as smaller private practices.

Joining an Established Dental Practice

Working at an established practice is the most common choice for new dentists, since it is low-risk, and allows you to gain experience as a recent graduate. However, despite the steady paycheck and existing patients, there are also drawbacks.

Positives

Immediate, reliable pay - One of the most obvious benefits of working for an established dental practice is being able to dive right into a work environment, without having to build up an entire business first.
Less risk involved - The most risk involved at an established dental practice is incurred by the owners. You can rest easy knowing that none of the administrative duties or added costs fall to you.
A great way to gain experience - Working at an established practice gives you the opportunity to learn about what it takes to run a dental office, before you invest your own time and money into creating your own.
Lighter workload - Since you don’t have to do any of the administrative side of the business, find new customers, or hire and manage a full staff, the workload is considerably reduced. If you simply want to show up to work and go home immediately after your last appointment for the day, with more flexibility in your schedule, finding an established dental practice may be the best fit for you.
No need to find patients - Established dental practices have already built up a following of patients. This means you don’t need to spend time and money on marketing, allowing you to focus on your work.

Negatives

Fewer opportunities for growth - Risk is usually proportional to reward; when working for someone else you will have fewer opportunities to make a higher salary. You will also have less of an influence choosing the people on your staff, which can lead to frustration and a lack of pride.
Less control - Not having control over the office style and messaging, as well as services offered and even your own schedule can begin to feel tedious. However, some people enjoy the lack of control as well, since you don’t need to make as many decisions.
May have to use outdated equipment or methodologies - Many established practices have not kept up with modern technology and techniques, which could cause you to create bad habits.

Opening Your Own Dental Practice

If you have sufficient capital and credit, opening your own practice or becoming an associate with a smaller practice on a buy/sell agreement can increase your salary, but you take on a heavier workload, and more risk. Here, too, the positives and negatives are both substantial.

Positives

You get to be your own boss - One of the most common (and important) reasons people choose to open their own practice is to become their own boss. Not having to answer to anyone is an exciting prospect, especially if you recently graduated from dental school.
Higher earning potential - New graduates who open their own dental practice tend to earn significantly more than those working at an established practice. With your own practice, your earning potential skyrockets.
A greater sense of accomplishment - You can’t help but feel a sense of pride when you open your own business, especially once you have a reliable staff in place.
Control over large and small details - When you own your own practice, you get to determine the style, messaging, and treatment options.

Negatives

Requires starting capital - A glaring obstacle between you and your own practice is starting capital. If you have sizable student loans or other debts, this may not be the best option to pursue immediately after graduation.
More financial risk - In addition to requiring capital just to get started, you are also taking on more financial risk as the owner of your own dental practice, rather than choosing to be an employee. You need to have the necessary business acumen to be able to successfully start and run a practice, especially straight out of school.
Longer hours and more responsibilities - As the business owner, you will have much longer hours, and less flexibility with your schedule. In addition to your regular workload and responsibilities, you will need to run the administrative side of your practice. This can be a deciding factor when choosing whether to open your own practice or work for an existing one.
You need to build your own customer base - Without an existing practice, you will be building your customer base from scratch, which can be incredibly difficult. Marketing skills are essential when running your own dental practice.

Cost Benefit Analysis

Most dental students begin with the dream of having their own private practice, but this isn’t always a practical option when you still have student loans to pay off. If you would have to take on an immense amount of debt, it’s probably not worth it. When comparing the risks and rewards of any dental career option, always consider the cost-benefit analysis.

There’s A Reason Why SS White Dental has Been Around for Over a Century

SS White Dental focuses on creating innovative equipment and solutions for all practice models. Both new graduates and long-serving practitioners love our products and procedure kits. If you have a question, concern, or need to find a distributor in your area, contact us. We are happy to help!

Don’t forget to check out our FREE Grad Kits and other special offers. We love helping new graduates kick-start their career.

See Graduation Specials

A Whole New World: Adjusting to Professional Life After Dental School

May 21, 2021

You Just Graduated Dental School - Now What?

May 7, 2021

You Just Graduated Dental School - Now What?

Fri, 07 May 2021 21:15:18 +0000

Completing dental school is a monumental accomplishment, but after the excitement and relief wears off (usually shortly after seeing your student loan bill). You may ask yourself what to do next — and how to start paying off those loans.

Recent dental school graduates earn a median annual salary of $130,000 according to the ADA. Pretty nice, considering the entry level salaries of other jobs with a similar level of education is typically much lower.

Job Title	Entry Level Salary
Dentist	$130,000
Podiatrist	$109,419
Optometrist	$100,914
Physician Assistant	$99,667

After graduating dental school, the next major step in your career is deciding whether to begin practicing as a general dentist, or staying in school to become a specialist.

Dentist Specialties and Career Options

Becoming a specialist requires more education, and that doesn’t come cheap. Many students choose to begin practicing general dentistry immediately after graduation so they can earn money right away. Since even entry-level dentists usually earn six figures, the appeal of being able to finally feel like you belong in Whole Foods can be irresistable.

However, if you have patience and inclination, the lifetime earnings for many specialties are considerably higher than for general dentistry. There are currently 12 dental specialties recognized by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Average Salary $307,999)
One of the highest paid dentist specialties, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are required to complete a rigorous surgical residency. Completing a residency program takes an additional four to six years of training, which is something to think about when you’re trying to work out how long it will take to join a yacht club.

Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (Average Salary $292,662)
Orthodontists make nearly as much, on average, as oral and maxillofacial surgeons, but their residency program is much shorter - about two to three years. If you are looking to maximize your salary in the shortest amount of time, or if you don’t have the steadiest hands (and don’t mind working with kids), orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics might be a good option for you.

Endodontics (Average Salary $289,656)
A brand new option, endodontics was officially recognized as a specialty in April of 2021. Endodontists perform a lot of root canals, and are adept at diagnosing and treating tooth pain. If you are detail-oriented and like solving problems (and using cool specialty equipment, like dental operating microscopes), you may enjoy endodontics.

Periodontics (Average Salary $247,541)
If you enjoy counseling patients, and naturally want to help them feel better about themselves and improve their lives, periodontics should be on your list of options. Since gum disease is typically caused by lifestyle choices such as using tobacco products, hygiene or diet, periodontists need to be understanding and empathetic when interacting with their patients. Another reason why many periodontists choose the profession is due to a special interest in immunology or microbiology.

Dental Anesthesiology (Average Salary $246,617)
Dental anesthesiologists specialize in the anesthesia and pain management of dental procedures. With a relatively short two year residency, dental anesthesiology should only be considered if you are comfortable with interacting with all patients, including children and patients with special needs. Another major perk to dental anesthesiology is if you have a sensitive nose, you will not need to endure as many smells as some other options.

Pediatric Dentistry (Average Salary $241,574)
Pediatric dentistry requires a patient and warm personality. If the thought of having to keep a child calm and still while performing a procedure sounds like a nightmare you would have before a final exam, you may want to consider other specialties.

Prosthodontics (Average Salary $225,023)
Prosthodontists are typically creative, and are able to visualize how a patient will look after a procedure to choose the most aesthetically pleasing option. If you love a good makeover, you would probably enjoy working in prosthodontics.

Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (Average Salary $194,377)
Oral and maxillofacial pathologists typically choose their career path because they are passionate about research and learning more about uncommon conditions. Many oral and maxillofacial pathologists remain in academia for their entire career.

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (Average Salary $158,584)
Oral and maxillofacial radiologists study and interpret radiographic images, which means you would have more of a hands-off role with patients. You might enjoy oral and maxillofacial radiology if you love technology, evaluating X-rays, and problem solving.

Dental Public Health (Average Salary $134,000)
If you are excited about the opportunity to serve your community, you may want to pursue a career in dental public health. If you love to organize activities and outreach, you may find your passion in dental public health.

Oral Medicine (Average Salary $117,146)
Officially recognized as a specialty in September of 2020, oral medicine focuses on the medical needs and oral health of medically complex patients, as well as diagnosis and management of diseases, disorders and conditions related to dentistry.

Orofacial Pain (too new to determine Average Salary)
Another new specialty, orofacial pain dentistry includes the diagnosis, treatment, and pain management of pain disorders relating to dentistry. If you like helping to diagnose difficult cases, and have an interest in the way muscles, nerves, and joints work together, orofacial pain is a specialty that may appeal to you.

Practice Settings for a First Year Dentist

Whether you decide to become a specialist, or stick with general dentistry, you will need to choose where you want to begin your career. There are three basic options for entry-level dentists: taking a job in corporate dentistry (DSO), joining an associateship with an established private practice, or opening your own practice. This can be a difficult decision, with significant pros and cons to each option, so take your time when choosing the best path for you.

Cost Benefit Analysis

Much of your decision on how to proceed with your career may come down to how much you have put away in savings, and how much debt you have. Student loans for dental school can be very expensive, often reaching six figures (or one brand new Porsche), and benefit packages may be more valuable than a higher salary in some cases. It is important to really dig into the details of what each position offers before making a final decision.

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