MELVILLE, NEW YORK — June 14, 2012 — Now in its fourth year, the Pride Institute’s Best of Class Technology Award continues to recognize products that demonstrate excellence in their category. In 2012, the Spectra Caries Detection Aid from Air Techniques, Inc., a leading dental equipment manufacturer, is one of those lauded as “Best of Class.”

“We are pleased and flattered that Spectra has once again been honored by the Pride Institute’s prestigious panel of dental technology experts,” said John Scott, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Air Techniques. “When you consider how many innovative, high quality products exist within the dental industry, it speaks volumes about our commitment to delighting our customers that Spectra is only the second product to have ever received this honor for three consecutive years.”

A panel, composed of leading voices in dental technology, comes together each year to discuss, debate and decide what products merit recognition.  Organized by Dr. Lou Shuman, President of Pride Institute, the panel is committed to a selection method that is unbiased and rigorous. While panelists who receive compensation from dental companies are allowed to advocate for products those companies manufacture, they are prevented from voting for those technologies. This facilitates a dynamic process that, year-to-year, honors products both obscure and well-known, basic and aspirational.

“The technology space has exploded in terms of quantity and quality of available products,” said Dr. Lou Shuman, DMD, CAGS, President of Pride Institute. “With the potential for a considerable investment amount, it was important that someone step up and provide the corporate and dental communities with an unbiased selection process, led by technology key opinion leadership, with the sole focus of providing true guidance. That was the vision and it has come to fruition thanks to the support of the panel, ADA, Dental Products Report, and Dental Economics.”

The panel consists of seven dentists with significant knowledge of and experience in dental technology, including Dr. Shuman; John Flucke, DDS, writer, speaker and Technology Editor for Dental Products Report; Paul Feuerstein, DMD, writer, speaker and Technology Editor for Dental Economics; Titus Schleyer, DMD, PhD, Associate Professor and Director, Center for Dental Informatics at the University of Pittsburg, School of Dental Medicine; Marty Jablow, DMD, author, speaker, technology consultant, and columnist for DrBicuspid.com; Parag Kachalia, DDS, Director of New Technology at the University of the Pacific, School of Dentistry; and Larry Emmott, DDS, technology writer, speaker and dental marketing consultant.
“I feel very fortunate that a panel of this magnitude has agreed to contribute to the selection process,” said Dr. Shuman.

Spectra is the only caries detection aid that employs fluorescence technology to indicate the extent of decay with both color and numerical readings.  It eliminates the guesswork for early caries detection, and helps dental professionals increase their focus on restoration and avoid unnecessary excavation. Spectra can also be used during the caries removal process to ensure that all carious dentin is removed, and during the prophy process to ensure that all plaque and calculus are removed. In addition, its information-rich images impress patients and enhance case acceptance, and it enables the practice to store and compare images over time in order to more accurately and efficiently track the effect of treatment.
The Pride Institute Best of Class Technology awards were launched in 2009 as a new concept to provide an unbiased, non-profit assessment of available technologies in the dental space.  Through print and digital media coverage, the “Best of Class” message reaches the community of 150,000 dentists through multiple touchpoints—in print and online—educating them about the products. Honoree participation in the “Tech Expo” at the American Dental Association’s Annual Session offers face-to-face interaction with the companies as well as technology-centered education provided by members of the panel as well as the esteemed consultants of Pride Institute. Courses at last year’s 2011 meeting sold out. This year’s event will be held October 18-21 in San Francisco.