Four KaVo Kerr Group Products Win Esteemed Pride Institute “Best of Class” Technology Award

Released at - September 23, 2016

DEXIS CariVu™, Kerr SonicFill™  2, Orascoptic™  EyeZoom™  and Orascoptic Spark™ Recognized for Breakthrough Technology.

Now in its eighth year, the Cellerant “Best of Class” Technology Award (formerly the Pride “Best of Class” Technology Award) continues to lead the profession’s evolving conversation about dental technology through its recognition and education around excellence in dental innovation. KaVo Kerr Group innovations have been honored since the inception of the awards, and KaVo Kerr Group is honored to announce that four of its products are being recognized as part of the 2016-2017 group.

“To be honored as ‘Best of Class’ is a sign that a product has revolutionized, simplified or advanced its category in a distinctive way,” said Dr. Lou Shuman, “Best of Class” founder. “The manufacturers represented here are creating new norms for how dental practices should operate today and will in the future. Our foundation for success in bringing attention to these products remains a simple: technology leadership in dentistry, unbiased, a rigorous and transparent selection process, and not for profit.”

This year features multiple repeat winners from KaVo Kerr Group including the six-time winner, Kerr SonicFill (now in version 2), three-time winner DEXIS CariVu, two-time winners Orascoptic EyeZoom, and new to the winners’ circle, Orascoptic Spark.

“Best of Class” honorees are chosen by a panel comprised of leading voices in dental technology, who come together each year to discuss, debate and decide what products merit recognition. All technology categories are considered, but if there is no clear differentiator that sets a product apart in its category, then no winner is selected. Panelists who receive consulting compensation from dental companies are prevented from voting in that company’s category. Over the years, the panel has developed a rapport that makes space for important conversations about value of different innovations and how evolving categories become more or less valuable to the general dentist. The spirited debate that follows results in a variety of products — obscure and well-known, basic and aspirational — being honored.

“One of the things I appreciate most about being part of the ‘Best of Class’ process is that it represents more than just a thought exercise on what technology should do or what seems cool. We are all dentists still active in clinical practice,” said panelist Dr. Marty Jablow. “When we decide that a product should be honored, it is because we see the value it brings to dentists and patients in a real-world context, and that matters to the dental professionals who use lists such as this one in their research and purchasing decisions.”

The panel consists of five dentists with significant knowledge of and experience in dental technology, including Dr. Shuman; Dr. Flucke, writer, speaker, and Technology Editor for Dental Products Report; Paul Feuerstein, DMD, writer, speaker and Technology Editor for Dentistry Today; Marty Jablow, DMD, technology writer and consultant for Dr. BiCuspid; and Parag Kachalia, DDS, Vice-Chair of Preclinical Education, Research and Technology, University of Pacific School of Dentistry.

For more information on the KaVo Kerr Group products recognized on this year’s list, please access the following links:

  • DEXIS CariVu :: http://www.dexis.com/carivu
    DEXIS CariVu is a compact, portable caries detection device that uses patented transillumination technology to support the identification of occlusal, interproximal and recurrent carious lesions and cracks.
     
  • Kerr SonicFill 2 :: http://www.sonicfill.kerrdental.com/
    SonicFill employs proprietary sonic activation to enable a rapid flow of composite into the cavity for effortless placement and superior adaptation. Dentists can go from placement to a polished restoration in less than 3 minutes on cavities up to 5 mm in depth.
     
  • Orascoptic EyeZoom :: http://www.orascoptic.com/products/loupes/eyezoom
    The first and only adjustable magnification loupe, EyeZoom offers three magnification levels ranging from 3x-5x.
     
  • Orascoptic Spark :: http://www.orascoptic.com/products/headlights/spark
    Patent-pending cordless headlight features a unique design that dispenses weight evenly across the bridge of the frame, minimizing pressure on the clinician's nose. 

“Smart innovation is part of the DNA that connects all the brands within KaVo Kerr Group. To have such a distinguished panel see that and share that with the dental community is an honor,” said Carsten Franke, VP of Creative Services Group and Global Brand Management for KaVo Kerr Group. ”We strive for continuous improvement in every aspect of how we do business, and to have such a wonderful track record with the ‘Best of Class’ awards, across a wide spectrum of products, gives our team the acknowledgment and motivation that is crucial to continuing this good work.”

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About Cellerant Consulting Group

Founded and led by CEO Dr. Lou Shuman, DMD, CAGS Cellerant provides strategic dental market insights, clinical expertise, implementation resources and support to accelerate growth for client dental companies.  Cellerant services include new concept incubation, clinical product evaluation, product development, continuing education program development and CE sponsorship, strategic branding and marketing, online marketing, lead generation and dental media relations management.  As an orthodontist and former owner of a 10-doctor multi-specialty private group practice Dr. Shuman guides clients to develop offerings that connect with and engage dental customers on a relationship level that provides sustained differentiation.  Cellerant operates under a unique model that merges leading voices in clinical product evaluation and strategic partner companies to provide a menu of services from one easily accessible network.

The “Best of Class” Technology awards were launched in 2009 as a new concept to provide an unbiased, non-profit assessment of available technologies in the dental space.  Through print and digital media coverage, the “Best of Class” message reaches the community of 150,000 dentists through multiple touch points—in print and online—educating them about the products. Honoree participation in the “Tech Expo” at the American Dental Association’s Annual Meeting offers face-to-face interaction with the companies as well as technology-centered education provided by members of the panel as well as the esteemed consultants of Pride Institute. Courses at last year’s 2015 meeting sold out. This year’s event will be held Oct. 20-23 in Denver, CO.