Friday, December 21, 2018
As always we wrap up our year in review coverage with our annual list of the 10 most viewed products on Dentalcompare. New products get plenty of attention, but it's the established names that get the most clicks. These are the products you and your colleagues are taking a long look at while considering new possibilities for your practices.
If any trends can be gleaned from this list it is that the future of dentistry will be technologically focused. Only one product on the list doesn't plug in or feature a battery. Yet, it's not one single area of dental technology that is in the focus. The 10 products on the list come from 9 different product categories and nine different manufacturers. This is as diverse a group of products that give a great picture of the technologies important to dental practices today, and the direction we're heading in the future.
Here are the Top 10 Dental Products of 2018:
10. Lensiora HD Intraoral Camera from Lensiora
An eye-catching intraoral camera with high definition imaging capabilities, the Lensiora HD is a great fit for any dental practice. The camera is designed to work with any dental imaging software via native connection or TWAIN support, and it's even designed to work on computers that do not have specialized dental imaging software installed. Intraoral cameras have gone from a nice tool to have, to a necessisity as they can help document cases for insurance purposes and help patients truly see what is happening inside their mouths. The Lensiora HD is truly a universal camera, and that's likely why it's found its way to the 10th spot on this list.
9. Solea Dental Laser from Convergent Dental
Since bringing a new type of CO2 laser to the dental industry a few years ago, the Solea has continued to get better and better as Convergent Dental updates the software, fine tunes the laser patterns, and most recently redesigns the handpiece and swivel. When it launched the laser was capable of making practices more efficient by handling many hard and soft tissue tasks without the need for numbing up the patient. Dentists using the laser say it makes things easier and faster, while exciting patients and letting them leave with their problems fixed and no residual numbness. It's changing the way these practices operate, and that's why it makes sense so many dentists are giving it a look on Dentalcompare.
8. Firefly Cordless Headlight System from Perioptix
Dental loupes are a huge advantage for clinicians both in terms of ergonomics and clinical visibility, but getting light exactly where you are looking with loupes was once a compromise in the ergonomics as lights were heavy, required heavy battery packs and lots of cords. The Firefly Cordless Headlight eliminates all of those problems and keeps the high power LED pointed where it's needed. Lightweight, rechargeable light pods snap into a fitting that rests on the bridge of the loupes' nose to make the Firefly easy to set up, comfortable to wear, and always ready to go as one pod can charge while the other is in use. This light gets plenty of attention because it eliminates all of the downsides to loupe lights without compromising the ability to get the job done. That's likely why so many people gave it a look this past year.
7. EyeSpecial C-III Dental Digital Camera from Shofu
Extraoral imaging is a topic that doesn't always get a lot of attention, but it can be an important part of building a dental practice and growing as a clinician. Lots of camera rigs are available to get the job done, but Shofu's specialized camera is the closest thing to a point-and-shoot option. A high definition camera with integrated flash and dental imaging programs, the EyeSpecial C-III is designed to make it easy to document pre- and post-treatment situations, facial shots for patient records and a wide range of other images that can be useful for both clinical and practice management purposes. Even years after it first hit the scene, plenty of people still take the time to check out this camera.
6. SOL Portable Diode Laser from DenMat
Diode lasers are a common part of many dental practices, and those without a laser now are likely looking at them to find the best fit. The ability to manage soft tissue with limited patient discomfort, bleeding and faster healing times is a great advantage to have in any operatory. While numerous diode lasers get attention in the Product Directory, the SOL is the only one to earn a place on this list. A versatile but straightforward system, the SOL feature four simple settings making it a great option for dentists new to lasers, and it also allows plenty of customization options, making it a great fit for laser experts as well.
5. EyeMag Pro Dental Loupes from Carl Zeiss Meditec
The more you can see the more you can diagnose and treat. This is true when it comes to radiographic imaging, and it's also true when it comes to a clinician's eyes. Loupes give clinicians the superpower of magnified vision with the added benefit of allowing improved posture. This is why loupes is perennially among the more popular categories on Dentalcompare. The EyeMag Pro takes the title of the most popular product in the category, and this makes sense because the powerful flip-up loupes are stylish and available in a wide range of magnifications. There's a version of these loupes that can be set up for any clinician handling any clinical situation.
4. CS 8100 3D Cone Beam Imaging System from Carestream Dental
When they first launched their CS 8100 line of extraoral imaging systems, Carestream Dental set new standards for how slim and compact these systems could be. Then when they upgraded the original 2D version to add 3D cone beam imaging without any significant change to the footprint of the system they really hit one out of the park. A full-size menu of 3D imaging capabilities in a system that could fit in a closet remains a compelling story, and that's what propels this to be the most popular 3D imaging system on Dentalcompare in 2018
3. CS 3600 Intraoral Scanner from Carestream Dental
Simple to use but with almost limitless possibilities, the CS 3600 intraoral scanner from Carestream Dental is at the forefront of digital dentistry. A slim, lightweight wand that is not tethered to a cart, the scanner can handle restorative, orthodontic, and implant cases with fast scanning and highly accurate impressions. Multiple tips are available, making it easy to scan any patient and any area of the mouth. An open-system, the scanner can connect to the CS Solutions CAD/CAM system from Carestream or send files to almost any other CAD software or dental lab accepting digital files.
2. EvoDent DLP 3D Printing System from EvoDent 3D
The most popular new product of the year makes its way to second place on the overall products list, and while 3D printers were a huge part of every other 2018 year-end Top 10 list, the EvoDent DLP is the only printer to make this list. Designed to add efficiency to dental laboratories, as well as extra-busy digital dental practices, this printer quickly produces accurate and detailed parts for more than 10 dental applications. Compatible with a wide range of open-architecture materials, this printer is ready for the printing demands of today, as well as those coming in the future. No wonder it was such an attraction this year.
1. MouthWatch Intraoral Camera from MouthWatch LLC
Claiming the top spot on this list for the first time, the MouthWatch camera has been a mainstay on this list since its debut four years ago. The appeal of the camera is easy to spot, as the MouthWatch is a solid intraoral picture taker at an unbeatable price. It helps that the camera is easy to use, lightweight and connects to easy-to-use software. This camera makes it possible to add intraoral cameras to more operatories, and to take dental examinations out of the operatory to reach a greater number of patients.