unbiased award system in which all new technologies are considered. Brand-new technologies from small entrepreneurs, not just well-known and established technologies, may receive an award. All are considered.
According to Dr. Lou Shuman, founder and creator of the Best of Class Technology Awards, “One of the reasons the Cellerant Best of Class Technology Award is considered by companies as ‘winning the Oscar’ is the process; it is rigorous, transparent, unbiased, nonprofit, and selected by the leading dental technology experts in the field.”
Cellerant Best of Class Technology Award winners are selected by a committee of the dental industry’s leading technology experts: Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, chief editor, Dental Economics; Chris Salierno, DDS, chief dental officer, Tend; Paul Feuerstein, DMD, editor-in- chief, Dentistry Today; John Flucke, DDS, technology editor, Dental Products Report; Marty Jablow, DMD, America’s Technology Coach; and Lou Shuman, DMD, CAGS.
The selection process
On an annual basis, the Cellerant Best of Class committee discusses, sometimes debates, and ultimately decides the winners. Some of the technologies are discovered by a committee member during a trade show, some are former winners who continually innovate, and others have been nominated for consideration. The meeting is a lengthy labor of love and adjourns only after all the year’s winners have been selected.
The process is unbiased. Committee members who are engaged with a company on a consulting basis are excluded from voting in that category. The selection meeting takes place every February.
To be designated Best of Class, a technology is recognized for having revolutionized, simplified, or advanced the practice of dentistry in a distinctive way. It is an indicator of where dentistry is going in the future, and these contributions are driving continued innovation.
Congratulations to the 2021 Cellerant Best of Class Technology winners:
- 3D Excelsior Pro CBCT, PreXion
- Amplify Live Chat, Simplifeye
- ChairFill & Marketing Tracker, MMG Fusion
- ChairsideCAD, exocad
- CS 9600, Carestream Dental
- Dental Pro, Bellus3D
- Dentulu Teledentistry, Dentulu
- DTX Studio Clinic, Envista
- EyeSpecial, Shofu
- i700, Medit
- Infinix, Nobio Ltd.
- iOptima, Bien-Air
- LumiCare Caries Detection Rinse, Greenmark Biomedical
- PrimeScan, Dentsply Sirona
- Teledent, MouthWatch
- Trios 4, 3Shape
- Umbrella Retractor, Ultradent
- Weave VOIP
- YAPI
- ZentFlex Toothbrush, Zent
Learn more about the Cellerant Best of Class Awards and the 2021 award winners.
Editor's note: This article appeared in the November 2021 print edition of Dental Economics.
Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, DMD, is the chief editor of Dental Economics. Based in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz began her clinical career as a dental hygienist. She went on to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she earned her doctorate in dental medicine. She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dental Medicine, where she became board-certified in prosthodontics. Dr. Maragliano-Muniz owns a private practice, Salem Dental Arts, and lectures on a variety of clinical topics. You may contact her at [email protected].
