Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1463220
12 BECKER'S DENTAL + DSO REVIEW // VOL. 2022 NO. 2 CLINICAL CARE New products, partnerships: 5 clear aligner updates By Ariana Portalatin F rom product updates to company partnerships, here are five recent reports on clear aligners in the dental industry: 1. Global orthodontics company Ormco launched new features for its Spark clear aligner system to provide increased flexibility, efficiency and control for orthodontists. 2. Bausch Health and its oral healthcare company OraPharma unveiled OraFit, a custom clear aligner system. 3. New York City-based teledentistry company Candid added Craig Spodak, DMD, as a faculty member to advance use of the company's clear aligners nationwide. 4. Irvine, Calif.-based Pacific Dental Services extended its partnership with Envista and expanded it to include Spark clear aligners. 5. A January Grand View Research report estimated the global clear aligners market is expected to reach a valuation of $30.2 billion by 2030. n Dentist gives himself dental implant with robot By Riz Hatton D avid Yang, DMD, a dentist in Flagstaff, Ariz., gave him- self a dental implant using robot-assisted technology, according to a Feb. 16 azfamily.com report. Dr. Yang used YOMI robotic technology to perform the proce- dure. He had used the robot on other patients. When he used it on himself, two dental assistants were present to supervise the procedure. The YOMI technology uses 3D imaging and a tracking arm that moves with the patient. "Less discomfort, better accuracy," Dr. Yang told azfamily.com. "Those are all the things that as much as I would like to say I'm good at, I could never do exactly what this machine does." n SmileDirectClub starts 2022 with new products, initiatives: 3 updates By Ariana Portalatin N ashville, Tenn.-based teledentistry company SmileDirect- Club has kicked off 2022 with several product launches and initiatives to encourage growth. Three updates: 1. SmileDirectClub has added three products to its oral care line: a stain barrier gel, the Pro Whitening System Plus and dissolving whitening strips. 2. The company announced Jan. 24 that it was halting operations in Mexico, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Hong Kong, Sin- gapore and New Zealand to support growth initiatives that produce the highest return on investment. It will instead focus its efforts on the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, Ireland and the U.K. 3. SmileDirectClub launched partnerships with three celebrity am- bassadors for its Confidence Council to promote the link between oral health and confidence. The ambassadors are Jonathan Van Ness from TV show "Queer Eye," Peleton cycling instructor Tunde Oyeneyin, and "Love Island" host Arielle Vandenberg. n At-home dental services company closes $8.4M funding round By Riz Hatton E nable Dental has closed a series A-2 funding round, including $8.4 million in equity and debt. The round was led by CareQuest Innovation Partners, along with FCA Venture Partners and Live Oak Bank. The funding will allow Enable Dental to expand and invest in technology, according to a Feb. 9 news release. Enable Dental operates in 10 markets across six states. The company offers full-service, at-home dental care for members and residents of senior living facilities, health plans, payers and healthcare organizations. Alongside the funding round, DispatchHealth's for- mer vice president of marketing operations, Susan Lanesey, will join Enable Dental as its new COO. Kirill Zaydenman, CareQuest Innovation Partners' vice president of innovation, will serve on Enable Dental's board. n