Editor's note: This blog was written by Ultradent President & CEO Dirk Jeffs as part of the From the Desk of Dirk Jeffs series. Nobody really knows what happens after this life, but I recently saw a clip of an interview between Stephen Colbert and Keanu Reeves that I thought was so poignant—and that sums up what I know…and really, what any of us know about what happens after we die.

When asked about his memories of Ultradent, Dr. Chris Chen remarks, “I have so many wonderful memories from the International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany from each time I’ve visited the Ultradent booth that it’s hard to pick out just one.” Dr. Chen is a restorative esthetic dentist (and long-time Ultradent customer) based in Taipei, Taiwan. He has also attended IDS every other year since he’s graduated from dental school.

In a time when patient safety and infection control are highlighted by a global pandemic, some dentists are still hesitant to use infection control barriers on their curing lights. While using barriers can require adjustments by the clinician (and have drawbacks, such as a dip in light output), proper application helps protect patients while minimizing issues experienced by the clinician.

Endodontically treated teeth can sometimes require special restorative attention. That’s where the UniCore™ Post and Drill system comes in. With drills and posts specifically designed to work together, the UniCore system provides superior strength and esthetic results for all your post and core procedures.

Dear colleagues,

Editor's note: This blog was written by My Social Practice Chief Marketing Officer Adrian Lefler as part of a series of practice management guest posts. Google Maps gets a massive amount of eyeballs in search results. Just think about your search habits when looking for a local business. How often do you find what you're looking for on the map? Or how often do you use the Google Maps app on your phone to find a local business?

Dr. Steven Markham, a cosmetic dentist and the owner of Yucaipa Dental and Orthodontics in Yucaipa, California, has always loved giving back. In fact, he says, “Honestly, I love my work as a dentist, but giving it away is way more fun than being paid for it, and anyone who says otherwise hasn’t experienced it,” he admits with a humble smile.

Eighty percent of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants report neck and shoulder pain every year—and often end the day wondering—"What are the best stretches for dentists that can help me get through this busy week?” And it’s not just head and neck stretches—dentists and dental professionals also have worry about the inherent hand and wrist fatigue that often comes with the job. If left uncared for and unaddressed, these chronic issues can grow from a small nuisance to a real pain in the neck—pun intended—sometimes leading to surgery and even disability or early retirement. But fear not—whether you’re looking for the right head and neck exercises for dentists, or you’re a dentist, assistant, or hygienist looking to ease back, wrist, and hand pain (click here for tips!), we have you covered.

Editor's note: This blog was written by Ultradent President & CEO Dirk Jeffs as part of the From the Desk of Dirk Jeffs series. I still remember my first real watch. By today’s standards, it wasn’t super luxurious, but I knew my parents sacrificed to give it to me for my high school graduation, and it meant a lot. A couple of years later, it was stolen while I was travelling, and honestly, it felt like a piece of me went with it. Not only did I admire its craftsmanship and sentimental value, but I also treasured what it symbolized: the value of time.

As curing light technology improves, dentists are consistently sold on irradiance (mw per cm2) as being the defining factor in beam effectiveness. While there is no doubt irradiance adds value, it does not tell the full story of how well a light will cure various materials. Irradiance tests typically only show the irradiance of a very small portion of the light. Measuring the power distributed over the entire beam tells a more comprehensive story of its curing capabilities.