Dental Industry News

Carestream Dental and Howard University Announce Partnership

Carestream Dental has partnered with Howard University to provide digital solutions to students at Howard’s College of Dentistry. With an in-kind gift of technology valued at $430,000, the partnership was designed to arm students and fellows with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to deliver the best care through when they start practicing.

Carestream is also supporting Howard University Hospital’s oral and maxillofacial surgery postdoctoral program and general dentistry practice residency program. The new 3D cone beam CT systems will equip the hospital’s dental department with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment imaging capabilities. The company also plans to source Howard business and technical talent through internships in various departments and include students, alumni and professors in product innovation. Both organizations will also support each other by sharing speakers on a wide variety of topics.

Howard University’s College of Dentistry is the fifth-oldest dental school in the United States and graduates approximately 75 students each year. The college serves as a research institution that prides itself on being a national resource for dental leaders.

Three Minority Professional Oral Health Organizations Form Diverse Dental Society

The Diverse Dental Society (DDS) comprises three universally respected and culturally diverse organizations: the Hispanic Dental Association, the National Dental Association and the Society of American Indian Dentists. These groups celebrate their rich and diverse cultures and share a common mission to address unmet needs in underresourced communities and to leverage their collective impact to eliminate disparities and increase health and oral health equity.

DDS promotes interprofessional collaboration and considers the integration of oral health throughout the health care infrastructure as essential for a healthier nation. Its manifesto includes dismantling structural racism and advocating for social justice in the health of traditionally disenfranchised populations. Additionally, DDS has provided insights about the impact of oral health and the importance of dental care during the pandemic.

For more information, visit diversedentalsociety.org.

Avista Capital Partners Completes Solmetex Acquisition

Avista, a private equity firm focused exclusively on health care, has completed its previously announced acquisition of Solmetex, a provider of amalgam separators and other waste compliance products to the U.S. and Canadian dental industries.

For more than 25 years, Solmetex has been an innovator in waste solutions, with a primary focus on ensuring dental practices remain compliant with the ever-changing regulatory landscape.

Avista’s acquisition will enable Solmetex to continue its commitment to deliver environmentally responsible dental waste technologies and programs to its physician partners and the communities they serve, while fueling investment in future expansion and growth of its products and offerings.