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Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Dr. Alderman Launches The AI Advantage in Dentistry Book with Intelligent Care Alliance
06/24/2025, New York, NY // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // As artificial intelligence transforms healthcare delivery, dental professionals face a critical question: How do I implement AI in my practice effectively, affordably, and successfully? Dr. Kathryn Alderman's new book, The AI Advantage in Dentistry, provides the definitive answer with a comprehensive, practical guide designed for real practices, real teams, and real growth. This no-fluff book on AI shows dental professionals how to use AI to build smarter, more efficient, and future-ready AI practices without losing the human touch that defines excellent patient care. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in dentistry, business strategy, and AI development, Dr. Alderman addresses the specific challenges dental teams face today, from missed calls and team burnout to low case acceptance and inefficient operations. 'AI won't replace dentists, but dentists who use AI effectively will outperform those who don't,' says Dr. Alderman. 'This book gives you the roadmap to become an AI Advantage Practice, where technology supports your team, simplifies your systems, and fuels sustainable growth.' The AI Advantage in Dentistry book directly addresses the questions dental professionals are asking: How do I choose the right AI tools? What are the best AI applications for dental offices? How can I automate practice tasks effectively with AI tools? Can AI help me attract and retain more patients? How do I train my team to work confidently with AI platforms? The book provides systematic, chapter-by-chapter guidance covering the most sought-after AI solutions in dental practice management, from diagnostic tools and front desk automation to AI-driven marketing and revenue optimization. Unlike theory-heavy guides, The AI Advantage in Dentistry book is built for real-world execution by practitioners, for practitioners. Whether managing a single location or multiple practices, dental professionals will learn to strategically choose the best AI tools by matching specific agents to actual practice problems, from automated phone answering and insurance verification using AI agents to systematic patient follow-up protocols. The book demonstrates how diagnostic AI can build patient trust through clear visual explanations of treatment recommendations, directly addressing one of dentistry's biggest challenges: case acceptance. Dr. Alderman shows practices how to maximize collections by simplifying insurance verification processes, reducing billing delays, and presenting confident, transparent cost discussions that patients appreciate. In an era where AI-powered search is changing how patients discover dental care, the guide provides actionable strategies to optimize websites, content, and local SEO so that AI tools like ChatGPT, Siri, and Google recommend practices first. Perhaps most importantly, the book addresses the human element of AI integration, showing how to roll out new technologies with clarity and purpose so teams feel supported and empowered rather than replaced, ultimately building hybrid teams that combine intelligent systems with human expertise for optimal patient care. The book also introduces XENKEY, the specialized language framework that helps AI agents communicate naturally and build trust with patients and staff. About the Author Dr. Kathryn Alderman is a practicing dentist, entrepreneur, and AI expert with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She holds an MBA and has completed specialized training in AI product design for healthcare at MIT. As founder of Intelligent Care Alliance and creator of Yekaterin, a generative AI telehealth agent, she has helped over 600 healthcare professionals improve patient acquisition, retention, and practice efficiency. Dr. Alderman's expertise spans patient management, transformative support solutions, case acceptance optimization, revenue cycle management, digital branding, team development, and strategic growth. She is also the co-host of the AI in Dentistry: Intelligent Conversations podcast. 'The AI Advantage was inspired by my own experience navigating intense personal and professional challenges,' explains Dr. Alderman. 'During one of the most transformative times in my life, AI became more than a tool; it became my anchor. This book brings together that personal clarity and professional insight to show others how AI can create stability, growth, and freedom in the middle of chaos.' Early praise for the book highlights its practical approach to AI implementation. 'Dr. Kathryn Alderman cuts through AI hype with practical clarity. No fluff. No pedestal. Just systems that work. Her genius? Diagnosing first, prescribing second. If you're asking, 'How do I fix this without creating more chaos?' this is your answer. A roadmap for dentists who want to lead with confidence, not burnout.' Says Dr. Jim Arnold, Founder, Foundation Dental Alliance. The AI Advantage in Dentistry is now available for pre-order with a $30 discount for early buyers. Those who pre-order will receive exclusive access to sample chapters and workflow templates, AI onboarding materials for dental teams, marketing prompts for AI-powered SEO and patient conversion, and additional bonus resources for practice implementation. The book will be available on Amazon following its initial release. Contact Information: Dr. Kathryn Alderman, DDS, MBA Address: Miami, FL Phone: (954) 945-0495 Email: [email protected] Website: Source published by Submit Press Release >> Dr. Alderman Launches The AI Advantage in Dentistry Book with Intelligent Care Alliance
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Add NVST Stock to Your Portfolio Right Now?
Envista Holdings Corp.'s NVST global commercial organization expansion positions it for robust future growth due to deeper penetration across more markets. Additionally, it continuously assesses potential buys that either strategically complement its current portfolio or broaden it into new and lucrative economic sectors. Meanwhile, a strong solvency bodes well. Yet, currency fluctuations raise concerns for Envista's operations. In the past year, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has gained 9.4%, outpacing the industry's and S&P 500 composite growth of 8.4% and 9.2%, respectively, in the same time frame. The leading optical retailer has a market capitalization of $3.12 billion. The company's earnings yield of 5.4% is well ahead of the industry's 0.5%. In the last reported quarter, Envista delivered an earnings surprise of 20%. Focus on International Market Expansion: Outside the United States, Envista has principal markets in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. The company continues to expand clinical training and education infrastructure to enhance patient access to high-quality dental care, reaching over 250,000 dental professionals annually. Through its trusted brands, innovative product offerings, and comprehensive customer service, it has established strong relationship globally with key constituencies, including DSOs, dental specialists, general dentists and dental laboratories. We believe that this increasing penetration across geographies positions Envista well for substantial future growth. In the first quarter of 2025, the company delivered good performance across most geographies, positive growth in North America, Japan and emerging markets, excluding China, and flat growth in Europe. Strategic Acquisitions to Drive Growth: Envista's growth strategy includes future acquisitions, for which it continuously assesses potential buys that either strategically complement its current portfolio or broaden it into new and lucrative economic sectors. In 2024, Envista acquired Osteogenics Biomedical — the developer of innovative regenerative solutions for periodontists, oral & maxillofacial surgeons and clinicians involved in implant dentistry throughout the world. In 2022, the company acquired Carestream Dental's Intraoral Scanner business, now operating as DEXIS under its Envista Equipment and Consumables segment. Favorable Solvency: At the end of the first quarter of 2025, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.08 billion, while current debt was only $116 million. Such underlying financial strength gives Envista strong flexibility amid the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty. Long-term debt totaled $1.30 billion compared with $1.30 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024. The debt-to-capital ratio dropped 0.5% sequentially to 31.7% in the first quarter. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Foreign Exchange Impacting Sales: Significant portions of Envista's sales and costs are exposed to changes in foreign exchange rates. The company's operations use multiple foreign currencies. Changes in those currencies relative to the U.S. dollar will impact its sales, cost of sales and expenses, and consequently, net income. In the first quarter of 2025, currency fluctuations negatively impacted sales by nearly 140 bps year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Envista's 2025 earnings per share (EPS) has moved 3% north to $1.03 in the past 30 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company's 2025 revenues is pegged at $2.55 billion, suggesting a 1.5% increase from the year-ago reported number. Some other top-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Align Technology ALGN, Hims & Hers Health HIMS and Cencora COR. Align Technology has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 11.2% compared with the industry's 9.9%. Its earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 3.4%. Its shares have lost 27.7% compared with the industry's 3.3% decline in the past year. ALGN sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Hims & Hers Health, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2, has an earnings yield of 1.3% against the industry's -10.1%. Shares of the company have surged 129.7% compared with the industry's 35.9% gain. HIMS' earnings surpassed estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, matched on one occasion and missed on another, the average surprise being 2.8%. Cencora, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 at present, has an earnings yield of 5.4% compared with the industry's 3.8%. Shares of the company have rallied 25.9% against the industry's 14.4% decline. COR's earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 6%. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Align Technology, Inc. (ALGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cencora, Inc. (COR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Envista Holdings Corporation (NVST) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (HIMS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What Dental Hygienists Can Tell About You Just By Looking In Your Mouth
You likely think about cavities and gum health when you go to a dental appointment, but the professionals who look inside your mouth can detect a lot more than that. 'You can tell a lot about someone's health and habits just by looking inside their mouth,' registered dental hygienist Tajah Ferjuste told HuffPost. 'The mouth really is a window to overall health. As hygienists, we're trained to recognize signs that point to deeper issues.' The mouth is also considered the 'gateway' to the body, as it may be the source of problems in many different systems. The link between oral wellness and overall wellness extends to heart health, endocrine health, digestion, fertility and more. 'The bacteria in your mouth don't stay in your mouth ― they're connected to your whole body,' said registered dental hygienist and coach Amber Auger. 'Small changes in oral care can have ripple effects on your total health.' So what exactly can a dental hygienist infer about you from the state of your mouth? We asked some professionals to share what they've noticed. 'By examining someone's mouth, I can often tell if they are dehydrated, indicated by a lack of saliva or a dry mouth,' said Martelle Coke, a registered dental hygienist and founder of the All Smiles Matter campaign. 'While dry mouth can also be caused by allergies or certain medications, the oral cavity truly can be a window into a person's overall health.' Dehydration can be an indication of autoimmune diseases and other issues as well. 'Dry mouth can indicate medication side effects or certain health conditions, and it often leads to increased cavity risk,' noted Allison Cuevas, founder of The Bright Bite Dental Hygiene Services. 'By looking at someone's teeth, you can tell if they don't floss just by examining your gums,' said Brittany Glauz, a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice. 'Common signs include bleeding during cleaning, especially in between teeth, which suggests plaque and bacteria have accumulated due to a lack of flossing.' She noted that red, swollen or inflamed gums are also strong indicators of gingivitis stemming from poor interdental cleaning. 'Tartar buildup between the teeth and below the gumline is a clear sign that those areas haven't been regularly cleaned,' Glauz said. 'Bad breath and cavities forming between the teeth can further point to inconsistent or absent flossing habits.' In the same vein, dental hygienists can tell if you're someone who does floss regularly, as they won't show those signs. 'On the other hand, healthy gums are pink and firm, which often reflects good daily hygiene,' Ferjuste said. 'Shortened or flattened front teeth, chips or wear marks usually mean the person grinds their teeth ― especially at night,' said registered dental hygienist Whitney DiFoggio. 'It's a common sign that they might benefit from a night guard and finding out the cause of their habit.' Grinding your teeth overnight can do long-term damage, so it's helpful to identify and address the issue as early as possible. Dental hygienists notice worn teeth, microfractures and more. 'I can see stress in their jaw, whether they clench or grind, thanks to wear facets, chipped teeth or enlarged jaw muscles,' Auger said. 'As a dental hygienist, there are several signs in the mouth that may indicate sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea,' Glauz said. 'These include a scalloped tongue, enlarged tonsils or uvula, a high, narrow palate, frequent mouth breathing or snoring and signs of tooth grinding, [aka] bruxism.' If there's excessive wear on particular surfaces or areas of the teeth, that can reflect certain sleep patterns or issues. 'While a diagnosis must come from a medical provider, these oral indicators can be important clues that prompt further evaluation and help connect patients to the care they need,' Glauz said. 'Tobacco use, whether it's smoking or vaping, shows up in the mouth too,' Ferjuste said. 'Staining, gum recession and a higher risk for oral cancer are all red flags we look for.' Additionally, drug use can have a noticeable impact on the teeth and mouth. Certain drugs, for instance, can cause dry mouth or become very acidic in the mouth, thus eroding tooth enamel. 'Patients that have acidic reflux or suffer from bulimia often have signs of erosion,' said Kari Carter-Cherelus, a registered dental hygienist. 'Basically, the acid eats the enamel off of the back of their teeth, exposing softer layers of tooth structure.' Thin enamel can indicate chronic vomiting, acid reflux or frequent consumption of particularly acidic foods and drinks. 'The back surfaces of the upper front teeth is where stomach acid tends to make contact,' Glauz said. 'This can lead to teeth that appear smooth, shiny or thinner than normal. Patients may also experience increased tooth sensitivity as the protective enamel layer wears down.' People who primarily breathe through their mouths, rather than their noses, are at an increased risk for cavities and gum disease. There are other signs that dental hygienists can see. 'I can tell if someone's a mouth breather by the dry tissues, red, inflamed gums along the upper front teeth, or high plaque accumulation,' Auger said. 'The mouth is a window to the body.' 'Dietary habits leave clues ― think sticky plaque from frequent snacking, or stain patterns from coffee or tea,' Auger said. As previously noted, the state of someone's enamel can also indicate frequent consumption of particularly acidic foods and drinks, like citrus and soda. 'Certain decay patterns might suggest high sugar consumption or frequent snacking,' said registered dental hygienist and health content creator Jasmine Williams. 'Staining patterns tell me about coffee, tea, wine, or tobacco use.' 'It's easy to tell if someone isn't brushing, flossing and tongue scraping regularly ― especially based on plaque levels, gum health, and even how fresh their breath is,' DiFoggio said. 'There's usually a distinctive odor from the bacteria.' Insufficient or inconsistent oral hygiene habits can lead to gingivitis or more advanced gum disease. 'When you look at someone and see signs like heavy plaque buildup, swollen or bleeding gums, bad breath or visible decay, it's usually a sign that their oral ― and perhaps overall ― health isn't being prioritized,' said Emily R., a dental hygienist at Beverly Hills Dental Arts. 'Taking a few minutes each day to care for your teeth isn't just about a nice smile; it's a vital part of maintaining your overall wellbeing.' Dental professionals can recognize the various ways someone's teeth might've been altered over time. 'I can typically identify different dental work someone's had ― whether it's fillings, crowns, implants or orthodontic treatment,' said registered dental hygienist Iman Zayed. 'The quality and age of these restorations tell a story about their dental history.' 'Oral health often reflects systemic health,' Ferjuste said. 'For instance, frequent cavities may point to undiagnosed diabetes.' Underlying stress and inflammation can also come across in the mouth. 'I can get insight into someone's overall inflammation status from the condition of their gums,' Auger said. 'Uncontrolled periodontal inflammation isn't just a gum problem ― it's often tied to systemic health conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease or autoimmune disorders.' Looking beyond the gums, Zayed noted that the condition of the tongue is another potential health indicator. 'Changes in color, texture, or appearance can signal vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune conditions or even early signs of oral cancer,' she said. 'For example, geographic tongue (harmless but distinctive patches), oral thrush (fungal infection) or leukoplakia (white patches that could be precancerous).' 12 Things Dental Hygienists Would Never, Ever Do To Their Teeth The 6 Worst Foods And Drinks For Your Teeth, According To Dentists 6 Signs You're Grinding Your Teeth At Night (And What To Do About It)
