As a new regular feature on The Arch: The Ultradent blog, we’re going to share Dr. Fischer’s responses to the frequently asked questions he receives about Ultradent products and dental procedures. In this, our second edition of “Ask Dr. Fischer,” he answers questions about the science behind tooth whitening. He also answers a very frequently asked question about the effects of tooth whitening on enamel. Enjoy!

Utility Think of a diode laser as the Swiss Army Knife of dentistry. There are so many FDA-approved procedures that can be completed with a diode laser—like frenectomies, gingivectomies, implant recoveries, cuspid exposures, and more—that owning one brings an incredible amount of utility to a clinician. Essentially, any soft tissue work that needs to be done can be completed with a diode laser. And they make the work so simple! You only need to grab the laser from the counter, put a new tip on it, and get to work. Utility is the #1 reason dental offices should own at least one diode laser. When most offices purchase a diode laser, they say they intend to use it mostly for troughing, but then they see a patient that has a cold sore and they end up finding more and more reasons to use it. Read about Dr. Tanya Lawhon, who upon purchasing her first diode laser, found that it was in such high demand among her staff and patients that she now owns three!

What is your favorite time of the year and why? My favorite time of the year is spring, and it’s because of all the new life in every form. I love the fresh colors of the new sprouting buds and grasses. It’s that zest of new life. Otherwise, I would choose fall, but with fall you’re always looking down the gun barrel to winter. With spring, you at least have summer ahead, and that’s a much more pleasant thought.

According to a recent Dental Economics article1, the overall cost of impressions is greatly influenced by the time spent taking the impressions themselves. The article’s author, Dr. Ronald D. Perry, says “a close examination reveals the financial impacts of impression-taking involve far more than material costs, and many dentists who seek to cut corners in this area may be costing themselves more in the end.” Thus, it is the quality of the material and time spent on the procedure that determine how much impressions may be costing the average clinician.

What is your name and official title at Ultradent? Ryan White, Campaign Marketing Manager/Media Buyer. What did you do before you came to Ultradent I was really lucky very early on because I got some marketing internships in high school. One was interning in the corporate office of a growing company called Lovesac. I worked as a marketing intern there, and that is when I knew that marketing would be my career choice. What happened next? I got a scholarship to Brigham Young University, even though I’m a Utah fan. From there I started doing email marketing and campaign management with other companies. And then I came here. What are your days like at Ultradent? It really depends on the month. For the most part, I try to start off the day looking at reports that tell me how our customers are interacting with and responding to our campaigns. I do our forecasting, dabble in design for our campaigns, etc.

Dr. Tanya Lawhon, DDS, of Bishop, Texas Dr. Tanya Lawhon says it wasn’t difficult for her to give Ultradent’s new Gemini® 810 + 980 diode laser a try. “I love everything Ultradent makes,” said Dr. Lawhon, who runs her own dentistry practice in Bishop, Texas. “I love their products, and on the rare occasion I do get something I’m not in love with I always give them my honest feedback on what I would change. I’ve never been afraid or shy to do that."

Earlier this year, my wife, Leenie, and I travelled to Europe for various meetings with our wonderful colleagues across the Atlantic. Later we went on to Barcelona, Spain, where we met with our European management team where various colleagues, including myself, presented and shared ideas about the future of Ultradent and its products. Here's a recap of our fabulous trip below:

“With all the people in the world that are in need, it’s easy to feel like you’re not making a difference,” says Dr. Tim Brown, a family practice dentist out of Neenah, Wisconsin. Dr. Brown co-founded a humanitarian dental clinic in Hinche, Haiti, five years ago. He continually reminds himself and the volunteers who travel with him of a famous Mother Teresa quote in order to keep the volunteers’ spirits up.

Ultradent Receives Medal of Honor from French University On January 9, 2017, the University of Montpellier in Dardilly, France presented the Medal of Honor, the university’s highest recognition, to Dr. Dan Fischer, founder and CEO of Ultradent Products, Inc., who received the award on behalf of the company. Since 2009, Ultradent has been involved in the University of Montpellier’s dental program, helping provide practical training to students in tooth whitening adhesions, veneers, and even management and leadership through product support, training, and lecturing.

What would be your ideal way to spend a weekend? It would probably be going to a nice movie and going out to dinner, then maybe staying overnight in a nice hotel with my bride. Dr. Fischer and his wife, Leenie What do you do when you need to recharge your batteries and decompress? The best thing for me to do is to get on my backhoe and start digging. It requires full focus and you just have to push everything out of your brain in order to operate that big hydraulic machine! I love working in my yard!