Dental companies, organizations and DSOs collaborated this year to help solve some of the industry's most pressing challenges, advance care and further innovation.
Here are 15 dental partnerships formed this year:
1. Waltham, Mass.-based 42 North Dental and Irvine, Calif.-based Pacific Dental Services partnered with the American Diabetes Association to boost awareness of the link between periodontal disease and diabetes.
2. Zest Dental Solutions and Smile Source launched a line of tooth-whitening products available to Smile Source members.
3.New York City-based teledentistry company Candid and Vivos Therapeutics entered a partnership to offer integrated orthodontic and sleep apnea treatment to patients.
4. Chicago-based Aspen Dental Management began using SprintRay's 3D printing technology at its more than 900 locations nationwide.
5. Marlborough, Mass.-based DSO New England Family Dentistry partnered with Overjet to bring the artificial intelligence company's software to its network of more than 50 dental clinics.
6. Midway Dental Supply Partners began offering Pearl's dental artificial intelligence software to its 15,000 consumers.
7. Teledentistry software company Virtual Dental Care will begin servicing Humana members next year through a partnership between the two companies.
8. Charlotte, N.C.-based dental product supplier Dentsply Sirona entered a partnership with cleft-focused nonprofit Smile Train to advance cleft care worldwide.
9. Tempe, Ariz.-based Align Technology and South Jordan, Utah-based Ultradent Products launched the first professional whitening system for Invisalign aligners and Vivera retainers.
10. Boston-based CareQuest Innovation Partners is partnering with Switzerland-based vVARDIS to bring drill-free dental technology to Medicaid patients and raise awareness on the importance of oral healthcare to the public.
11. The Minnesota Department of Health partnered with more than 200 community stakeholders and dental providers to launch a 10-year plan to improve the oral health of residents in the state.
12. Tampa, Fla.-based HIPAA compliance company Abyde collaborated with the Association of Dental Support Organizations to provide DSOs and group practices with HIPAA compliance solutions.
13. The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation and the Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation established a $4 million grant aimed to improve the oral health of children affected by COVID-19.
14. Dental technology company Arfona teamed up with teledentistry company Dentulu and dental lab company Impress3D to provide patients with greater access to more affordable tooth replacement options.
15. Clear aligner company SmylUSA partnered with the TeleDentists to provide its customers with access to virtual dentists.