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The Industry News section helps keep you informed and up-to-date about what’s happening in the dental profession. If there is information you would like to share in this section, please email your news releases to kyle@farranmedia.com. All material is subject to editing and space availability.
Find Your Orthodontist Launches New Directory Website
Find Your Orthodontist has launched a new website that helps connect consumers to orthodontists in their area. The website, findyourorthodontist.com, includes a search function where users can plug in state and local information to view qualified orthodontists in their specific areas. The site also provides general information about braces, including who needs them and why.

Those searching for a new orthodontist can also visit the company's Twitter profile to learn about any new orthodontists that may be added. Cheryl Edwards, a spokeswoman for the site, says that along with general information, the site also includes an FAQ section that can answer most of the general questions surrounding braces. Topics include how to choose an orthodontist, what patients should look for when choosing, and things to consider before the first appointment.

Orthodontists interested in being listed on the website should visit Find Your Orthodontist or connect with the organization through its Facebook profile. Edwards says that information regarding any newly added dental clinics and orthodontists, as well as some general information about updated advice and posts, will be shared on the company's various social media channels.


Smarter Alloys Granted Patent for Smart Materials Technology
Smarter Alloys, a smart-materials engineering company, has been awarded patents on its Multiple Memory Material technology by the U.S. and Chinese patent offices. The patents cover Smarter Alloys' method for programming more than one "memory" into shape-memory alloys, making it possible to closely control the unique properties of the material.

Shape-memory alloys are special metals that can "remember" their original profile. If they become deformed, heating them will prompt them to spring back into shape. Until recently, however, these alloys have been limited to just one "memory."

Smarter Alloys' Multiple Memory Material technology changes that, which promises to change medical devices such as stents and catheter guidewires. It enables designers to tune the local properties of different sections of a device, offering a new dimension of control.

The first commercial application of the technology is in the orthodontic archwires used for braces. SmartArch wires are programmed to provide biomechanically optimized forces to match the needs of individual teeth, resulting in optimized treatments and fewer visits to the orthodontist.

Beyond orthodontics, Smarter Alloys is developing applications of the technology for other dental devices, medical devices, robotics and automotive applications. Several additional patent applications have been filed and are expected to be granted over the coming years.


American Orthodontics Updates Self-Ligating Bracket System
American Orthodontics has announced an upgrade of Empower, its self-ligating bracket system. Empower metal brackets and molar tubes will now be known as Empower 2, and feature upgrades designed to enhance the bracket's strength and dependability.

Empower 2 metal brackets and molar tubes feature new microetched Maximum Retention bonding pads, which increase bond strength 15–30 percent over non-microetched pads. A new modified clip shape also helps seat wire into the slot during clip closure, and adds a visual cue to confirm that the clip is closed. This enhanced clip is 20 percent thicker and stronger than the previous generation, and increases wire seating force while reducing clip deformation. A chamfered slot entrance also reduces friction from wire binding.

Learn more about Empower 2 at americanortho.com/empower.


G&H Orthodontics' 41st Anniversary Marks Significant Expansion
In honor of its 41st anniversary, G&H Orthodontics announced a variety of expansion measures at this year's American Association of Orthodontists' Annual Session.

G&H Orthodontics Vice President of Operations Brandon Bernacchi says the company has expanded its manufacturing capacity by 60 percent, along with increasing production capabilities for brackets and wires. According to Bernacchi, the company's warehouse management system provided better order traceability, improved quality service levels and faster, more complete shipping to its customers. To date, this has led to a 200 percent improvement in orders shipped on the same or next day.

To better understand customer needs, G&H did extensive research and decided to add customer service staff. At the beginning of 2016, Jim Aycock joined the G&H Orthodontics family as the vice president of sales. Also added were Riccardo Pini in Australia covering Asia Pacific, Elizabeth Young in Hong Kong covering Asia, and Dennis Steward covering Dental Service Organizations in the U.S. Customer specialists Viola Newman, Rudy Olivo and Tana Marshall now serve international distributors and key accounts.

In addition to new staff members, the company restructured its website to include patient cases, videos and a quick reorder feature.

To learn more about G&H Orthodontics, its improvements or its product offerings, visit ghorthodontics.com.


Highland Metals Releases Tooth-Colored Wires
Highland Metals recently an­nounced the worldwide release of its new aesthetic wire. The new archwire features a tooth-colored epoxy coating and is available in Highland Metals' Super Elastic NiTi and regular stainless steel archwires.

Highland Metals' new cosmetic orthodontic wires go through a proprietary process to coat the wires in a tooth-colored epoxy solution, which creates a durable tooth-colored finish. The epoxy coating adds .002" in thickness to the wire dimensions. For example, a .016" coated wire has a .014" base wire with .014" applied forces.

The tooth-colored wires are available in multipacks of round or rectangular natural arch forms, and the company is offering special discounts to celebrate the product launch. For more information, visit highlandmetals.com.



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