AI and Teledentistry

Nashville, Tenn.-based SmileDirectClub has appointed Ted Ward as a director on its board, Yahoo Finance reports.

Teledentistry presents new opportunities for dentists to connect with patients, but its usefulness is limited with current technology.

Los Angeles-based Pearl received a U.S. patent that covers the artificial intelligence company's core technology applied for more efficient restoration fabrication, according to a March 30 news release.

The popularity of custom-fit clear aligners as a teeth-straightening method continues to grow as a more discrete alternative to braces, but there are significant differences between the largest players in the clear aligner space.

An arbitrator has determined Nashville, Tenn.-based SmileDirectClub owes San Jose, Calif.-based Align Technology a $99.7 million award, including $54.2 million already paid, Yahoo Finance reports.

Julia Hallisy, DDS, a San Francisco-based dentist, sees clear advantages of teledentistry for diagnostic purposes, especially for pediatric patients.

Raul Escalante, DDS, a San Marcos, Calif.-based dentist, sees a place for teledentistry in the future focused primarily on providing diagnostic support.

Analytics and workflow automation company Dental Intelligence has acquired Modento, developer of a patient communication and management system.

Teledentistry can be highly beneficial for many reasons, as listed by the American TeleDentistry Association.

The National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs has recommended that the American Association of Orthodontists discontinue advertising that may imply that SmileDirectClub's platform is risky and its retail stores lack on-site medical professionals.