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Dear Readers,
changes in dentistry are a frequently discussed topic that
is most often associated with technological advancement.
However, there is another development which is currently
transforming the face of the dental profession: in many
Western European and American countries, an increasing
proportion of women are studying dentistry and becoming
dental practitioners. While in Eastern Europe, dentistry
has always been dominated by females, this situation is
new to many institutions and companies in the West and
requires a rethinking of the current structures.
In this issue of the Espertise Magazine, we will explore the
different roles of women working within dentistry, e.g. in
business, at universities or in private practice. In addition,
the outcome of their work will be discussed in detail,
describing business career paths, presenting novel mate-
rials and providing examples of clinical excellence. Fur-
thermore, we will touch the rising importance of the inter-
net inside and outside dentistry. Last but not least, a new
series of articles is started to shed light into the varying
conditions dentists of different countries are confronted
with, this time reported by two female dentists from the
United Kingdom and Russia.
Enjoy reading!
Gerhard Kultermann, Editor
3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany
E D I T O R I A LInsights into the past and present ............................................................2
Female students taking over in Germany ................................................3
The customer's advocate .........................................................................4
A bonding duel taking place in Nuremberg ..............................................6
A novel flowable composite material in clinical use ................................8
"As often as necessary, as safe as possible" ..........................................9
A challenging project mastered by a strong team .................................10
Following the American example ...........................................................12
Personality counts! .................................................................................14
Dentistry in the United Kingdom ............................................................16
Dentistry in the Russian Federation .......................................................17
Web 2.0: Welcome to endless opportunities! ........................................18
magazine No. 18 | OCT 2010
Espertise™
C O N T E N T
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No. 18 | October 2010
Insights into the past and presentGerhard Kultermann, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany
Women in dentistry
Dental treatment has a long history and has
developed differently in diverse parts of the
world. In ancient times, women already played
a role in dentistry, as reported e.g. in the Tal-
mud, a central text of mainstream Judaism,
and found in Greek and Roman writings as well
as sculptures. In the Middle Ages, women
were often excluded from practicing medicine
or dentistry and were even sentenced to death
if they violated against the regulations. How-
ever, a pioneer of this time was Hildegard von
Bingen (1099-1179), who had acquired broad
knowledge of medical sciences including den-
tistry, which is summarized in her book “Liber
Simplicis Medicinae”. Until the 18th century,
women served dentistry mainly as assistants.
Early times and professionali-zation
During professionalization of dentistry in many
parts of the world, the participation of women as
dentists was limited by law and practice. Never-
theless, women found their own ways of entering
the dental profession, so that e.g. in the United
Kingdom and France, there are reports of female
dentists dating back to the 18th century. While
these few women typically received practical train-
ing but no academic education, the first opportuni-
ties for women to obtain a dental degree were
opened in the United States (US) towards the end
of the 19th century. Lucy Hobbs Taylor was, after
a long struggle, accepted as a dental student at
the Ohio College of Dental Surgery and was the
first certified woman dentist to obtain a DDS
degree in 1866. Since schools abroad were the
only option for women to be offered academic den-
tal education, European women started to migrate
to the US. The first foreign female student – Hen-
riette Hirschfeld from Berlin, Germany – graduated
from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in
1869. Being the country with the most advanced
opportunities for women in dentistry, in 1892, the
first society for female dentists (later: Women’s
Dental Association) was founded in the US. By the
turn of the century, European universities opened
up for female students as well.
Contrasting developments
While the proportion of women practicing den-
tistry remained low in the US and many Western
European countries during the first half of the
20th century, communist countries adopted a
totally different approach. Here, women and
men were granted equal rights very early, and
they all had the opportunity to obtain dental
education. In the Soviet Union, for example,
83% of all dentists were women already
back in 1959. Through birth control and
the increasing acceptance of the society,
the attitudes changed in the West as well. Nowa-
days, at many universities in Western Europe, the
majority of dental students are females. Conse-
quently, associations were set up and journals
launched, like the Women Dentist Journal in the US
in 2003. Also in Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia,
the number of female dentists is increasing. Here,
the first dental school started to accept female stu-
dents in 1978.
Future perspectives
Today, gender discussions in dentistry focus on
diverse topics, such as a rise in part time work, a
special interest of women in particular fields of den-
tistry, a trend towards working as employees
instead of investing in a private practice, etc. In fact,
these are issues to be dealt with, since it is expected
that in many more countries women will dominate
the profession in a few years: In the United King-
dom, for example, statistics indicate that in 2020,
more than 50% of practicing dentists will be women
(as opposed to 37% in 2007).
Throughout the Middle Ages, dentistry was dominated by men.
In many countries, female dentists will soon outnumber their male colleagues.
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Background
Female students taking over in GermanyMartina Wieland, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany
Gender and university
“The most fascinating thing about my profes-
sion is its versatility,” reports Anke Wald. She
is a Research Assistant / Dentist at the Divi-
sion for Prosthetic Dentistry of the University
Hospital in Giessen, Germany. After having
completed her vocational training as a nurse
as well as one and a half years of work in this
occupation, she decided to study dentistry,
just like a currently growing number of
females. According to the Council of Euro-
pean Dentists (CED), the proportion of female
students undergoing basic dental training in
dental schools in the EU / EEA including
Croatia was 52% in 2003, compared to 60%
in 2008. The picture is changing in dental
practices all over Europe as well: in Latvia,
for example, the proportion of active female
dentists already was 88% in 2008.
Attracting women
Anke Wald sees the reason for this development in
Western Europe in the numerous different options
for young women to organize their life: “Being a
dentist is reconcilable with a family, because part
time work is generally possible. A woman can
choose between self-employment in her own office
or a joint practice and can also opt for a job as an
employee in a dental practice or at university.”
Although this trend is also observed in Giessen with
currently 55% of the students of dentistry being
female as opposed to approximately 25% several
years ago, it is striking that in leading positions,
men are still overrepresented: “Most of the research
assistants at the Division for Prosthetic Dentistry in
Giessen – 11 out of 13 – are women. However, 7
out of 8 full professors employed at the dental fac-
ulty are men. Thus, a very low proportion of women
are working in leading positions at the department,
and this situation is common in most European
countries,” says Anke Wald. “This might in part be
due to the age factor: Women who have entered
dentistry during the past years are still too young to
become a professor. I am sure their time will come.”
Neither during her study nor at the work environ-
ment at university has she got the impression that
women are treated differently from men. At the Uni-
versity of Giessen, special support is offered to
encourage career-oriented women.
Special programmes for equal opportunities
Since 2008, three different scholarship pro-
grammes are offered in order to promote equal
opportunities at the University of Giessen: the first
one supports students in the last phase before the
conferral of their doctoral degree. It specifically
aims at providing help for students who have lost
time due to their tasks within the family and want to
complete their doctorate. The second scholarship
offered is a doctoral programme for young female
researchers available for students of certain facul-
ties (including the medical faculty), while the third
one aims at supporting postdoctoral female den-
tists planning to qualify as a professor.
Social norms
“To my mind, it is neither the way women are treated
nor the difference in performance that leads to a
greater proportion of men in leading positions. I
guess that other reasons, such as a more family-
oriented behaviour of women,
might be responsible for the fact
that there are still only very few
women at the top level,” tells the
young research assistant.
Regarding her own career plans,
different options are still open.
Anke Wald lecturing ...
... and treating a patient.
Espertise™
magazine
3
Lifestyle
No. 18 | October 2010
The customer’s advocateGerhard Kultermann, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany
Quality Management at 3M ESPE
Interview with Dr. Petra Schneider, Manager
Regulatory and Quality Europe, Middle East
and Africa (EMEA), 3M Health Care Busi-
nesses.
Dr. Petra Schneider, you have been employed
at ESPE Dental in Seefeld, Germany, since
1981. During the past 30 years, you have
gained experience in many different depart-
ments of the company. Throughout the last
eight years, your work focused on quality
management. Was the acquired knowledge
valuable for your current position?
It is correct that I have seen many different depart-
ments and segments of the company. ESPE
Dental was my first employer after having com-
pleted my PhD in Analytical Chemistry. Through-
out my career, I held management positions in
local anaesthetics production, pharmaceutical
analytics and global quality management and
have been head of different business teams. In
this way, I was able to acquire a broad basis of
knowledge, not only about the organization of the
company, but also about how people in different
functions think and work. I learned that their
behaviour and understanding strongly depends on
the position they are in as well as the task they
perform. For example, a marketing manager will
act differently from the head of production,
because his interest and environment is naturally
a different one. This insight was very important for
the positions I held during the past years.
Where and how did you use this knowledge?
Before becoming Manager Regulatory and Quality
at 3M and 3M ESPE in January 2010, I was Head
of Quality Management for the European part of
3M Medical and 3M ESPE. In order to implement
successful quality management, which is smoothly
integrated into every single step of product devel-
opment and manufacturing at 3M ESPE, it is
essential that all persons involved are aware of its
importance. To make this clear to them, I had to
know and speak their specific language. In addi-
tion, I was able to leverage my experience for
supervision tasks, because I have been responsi-
ble for the monitoring of different operational
processes in the company and had to make sure
that all required measures have been implemented
and all regulations met.
You said that quality management is part of
every step of product development. Please
describe.
The beginning of product development is the voice
of the customer. Results of surveys and feedback
from dentists, for example, are collected as well
as evaluated to find out what the user desires.
These demands have to be correctly translated
into technological specifications, a process that is
controlled by quality management. When the
goals have been identified, a concept is set up
and its feasibility tested. During the actual product
development, numerous quality assurance tests
and reviews are performed as a part of the quality
management process. At regular intervals, user
demands are validated to ensure that the product
in development still conforms to market needs. If
all customer expectations, regulations and stan-
dards are met, scale-up follows and the product is
ready for launch. The manufacturing, marketing
and sales processes are monitored by quality
management as well. To sum up, quality manage-
ment is the advocate of the customer, ensuring
that he or she is provided with the properties
which are really needed!
In January 2010, you have been given a new
position as Manager Regulatory and Quality
for all 3M Health Care Divisions. What was
the reason for this position to be created?
My current position was created in January
2010 with the aim of strengthening the coope-
ration between the Health Care Divisions,
Dr. Petra Schneider in conversation at work.
At 3M ESPE, a close eye is kept on every step in the development
of a product.
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Ask the Expert
including infection prevention, skin protection &
wound care, food safety, orthodontia and, of
course, dental products. An intensified coopera-
tion will be advantageous for the company itself,
since synergies can be leveraged, connections
found, benchmarks identified and processes
(e.g. employee training programmes) standard-
ized. This contributes decisively to process
safety and will accelerate the learning curve.
Users may also benefit from synergies: for
example, 3M ESPE has always been leading in
the evaluation of and taking into account cus-
tomer desires as well as the creation of a strong
scientific network with universities worldwide. If
the knowledge of how to collaborate success-
fully is transferred to other business segments
and the procedures common at 3M ESPE are
implemented there as well, all users of 3M
Health Care products will benefit. This makes
sure that innovations are always optimally tai-
lored to their specific needs.
What do you like best about your new posi-
tion?
My tasks are currently very versatile. As a coordi-
nator of regulatory and compliance activities, I
work with many different people in diverse coun-
tries throughout the world. In discussions with
managers and employees of 3M ESPE, I am able
to pass on the knowledge I have acquired in the
past decades. My experience helps me to create
acceptance and interest for the issues of quality
management. I like to spread my knowledge,
answer many questions and I am happy to see the
progress of individuals as well as teams. Last but
not least, I am proud of the safe and successful
products being launched by 3M ESPE which often
contribute to bringing technical safety into the
dental practice.
Dr. Schneider, you have shed light into the
significance of quality management at 3M
and 3M ESPE. Please give an example of
how quality management can have a posi-
tive impact on a product.
A very interesting example is the extension of the
warranty for 3M™ ESPE™ Lava™ Zirconia restora-
tions. For years, 3M ESPE has granted a five-year
warranty on copings and frameworks made of
Lava Zirconia, provided that the restoration has
been fabricated in strict compliance with approved
indications and instructions for use of the material
as well as the respective CAD/CAM system.
Recently, this warranty has been extended to 15
years, an achievement that was only possible due
to strict quality controls for blank production and
an exact adjustment of all system components. In
vitro as well as in vivo studies have revealed that
restorations made of Lava Zirconia exhibit a high
long-term stability and corrosion resistance. Since
quality management at 3M ESPE does not stop
with the launch of a product, we have been able to
detect the strength of the product and extended
the warranty of the reliable material years after its
introduction in the interest of the user.
Dr. Schneider, thank you for the conversa-
tion.
Quality management is smoothly integrated into all processes.
The warranty for 3M™ ESPE™ Lava™ Zirconia frameworks and copings has been extended to 15 years.
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Espertise™
magazine
5
No. 18 | October 2010
Can you beat 3M ESPE?
A bonding duel taking place in NurembergMiriam Basel, Zirndorf, Germany
Many dentists will know this scene: A training
course offered in the evening after work,
massive amounts of theoretical input are
given and soon, the participants suffer from
an information overload. They will take home
an overview of the current situation on the
market, but will not be able to leverage the
obtained knowledge for their daily work.
As a dentist with a pratice in a small village near
Nuremberg, Germany, I was used to this picture
and had never experienced something different
until March 2010. Then, I received a facsimile
informing about the kickoff of a series of events
organized by 3M ESPE, which promised a strongly
practical focus: With the title “Can you beat
3M ESPE? – Join in the bonding duel”, the com-
pany invited interested dentists to compare the
bond strength of their favourite adhesive with a
product by 3M ESPE directly on the spot using
objective testing methods. Needless to say, I
instantly decided to participate.
Kickoff
The evening event took place in the heart of Nurem-
berg, Germany. It started with an introduction into
the history of adhesives at 3M and the development
of adhesive technology at 3M ESPE. Moreover, the
trend towards self-etch adhesives and the chemical
composition of 3M™ ESPE™ Adper™ Easy Bond
Self-Etch Adhesive were described. At the centre of
the seminar, however, was a bonding duel.
Duelling adhesives
In this competition, the seventh generation bond-
ing agent Adper Easy Bond competed against
other materials brought along by the participants.
For this purpose, the 30 attending dentists bonded
a small amount of
composite material – 3M™ ESPE™ Filtek™ Supreme
XT Universal Restorative – to previously prepared
bovine teeth. Every practitioner was provided with
three enamel and two dentin specimens. Both
adhesives, the one brought along by the dentist and
Adper Easy Bond, were each applied on one dentin
and one enamel specimen, the 3M ESPE material
was additionally bonded to one enamel specimen
using a separate etching step. The whole process
of bonding was demonstrated live by Dr. Armin
Bock, Professional Service Manager at 3M ESPE,
and broadcasted on a huge screen.
Dr. Miriam Basel, Zirndorf.
Firs
t,
the adhesive was applied ...
The participants prepared several specimens.
… and light cured.
Specimen with composite material.
Afterwards, the composite material was added using
mold fixed with a clamp.
6
Backstage Report
a
Afterwards, the specimens were collected by
3M ESPE employees and the bond strengths
determined with a shear bond tester in a stand-
ardized procedure. Anytime, the participants were
allowed to have a look at the proceedings.
Lecture and hands-on session
While the bond strengths of all specimens were
being determined, the dentist Frank Tussing
from Gießen, Germany, gave a lecture on filling
materials and used well-documented cases to
show the benefits resulting from the use of
modern filling materials. His lecture motivated
me to test some steps in my own practice.
Afterwards, all attendees were able to perform a
multi-layer technique in his workshop. The par-
ticipants were provided with a model and the
materials Filtek Supreme XT as well as its suc-
cessor 3M™ ESPE™ Filtek™ Supreme XTE
Universal Restorative, which were applied in dif-
ferent shades under the guidance of Frank Tuss-
ing. For me, it was especially interesting to see
how shades, the play of colours and translu-
cency of natural teeth can be imitated if the cor-
rect technique is chosen. I learned some tricks I
had not been able to perform in everyday clinical
practice before.
Bonding results
After this workshop, the results of the duel were
presented and the winners awarded. 3M ESPE
had announced that those participants who had
achieved the highest strength values either with
their own adhesives or with Adper Easy Bond
should receive a gold medal. All three awardees
had obtained best values – up to 28.6 MPa – with
the seventh generation bonding agent by
3M ESPE!
Personal gain
What attracted my special attention when I
received the invitation to the kickoff event was
the opportunity of testing my preferred adhesive
in an objective procedure. Furthermore, I was
curious if the provocative statement of 3M ESPE
was justified. I brought along a self-priming
bonding agent, which is used in my practice for
standard procedures. Moreover, I utilize three
additional products, one of them being a classi-
cal three-bottle system. Although I am quite
satisfied with the adhesives I am currently using,
I am always open for possible optimizations and
thus wanted to gain experience with a new
product.
The results of the duel really surprised me, espe-
cially the fact that even a classical three-bottle
adhesive system was beat by the 3M ESPE mate-
rial, although the former is often regarded as the
gold standard in adhesive bonding. I am still famil-
iar with the prevalent opinion that the best result
is obtained by separate etching, priming and
bonding and that single-bottle adhesives cannot
achieve the same bond strengths. During the
event, 3M ESPE succeeded in proving the oppo-
site.
Since – in addition to the promising results –
Adper Easy Bond also seems to offer an easy
hand ling and application, I am going to test it in
clinical use and will employ it in the future if the
clinical results convince me as well.
A great concept
To sum up, I have to say that I liked the new
event concept very much. Never before, I have
visited or heard of an event with such a strong
practice orientation. In the beginning, I could not
imagine that 3M ESPE would really face the
direct comparison. I was curious what was going
to happen and astonished that the company kept
its promise.
The bond strengths were measured with a shear bond tester ...
... by Dr. Armin Bock and his colleagues.
Espertise™
magazine
7
No. 18 | October 2010
A novel flowable composite material in clinical useGunnar Reich, Munich, Germany
3M™ ESPE™ Filtek™ Supreme XTE Flowable Restorative
Figure 1: Initial situation. Figure 2: The old amalgam filling was removed and the cavity is ready for filling.
Figure 3: Adper Easy Bond Self-Etch Adhesive is applied after selective enamel etching with phosphoric acid.
Figure 4: The adhesive layer is polymerized for ten seconds utilizing Elipar S10 LED Curing Light.
Figure 5: A layer of Filtek Supreme XTE Flowable Restora-tive is applied at the bottom of the cavity.
Figure 6: After having light-cured the flowable composite for ten seconds, the modelation of the approximal cavity wall follows using Filtek Supreme XTE Universal Restorative. For this step, enamel or body shades should be chosen.
Figure 7: Afterwards, a layer of Filtek Supreme XTE Universal Restorative in a dentin shade is applied.
Figure 8: Each layer is polymerized for ten seconds with Elipar S10 LED Curing Light.
Figure 9: The completed restoration before finishing and polishing.
Figure 10: A highly natural, beautiful result is obtained.
In this clinical case, the following products
by 3M ESPE have been used: Adper™ Easy
Bond Self-Etch Adhesive, Elipar™ S10 LED
Curing Light, Filtek™ Supreme XTE Flowable
Restorative and Filtek™ Supreme XTE
Universal Restorative.
8
Clinical Excellence
Espertise™
magazine
9
“As often as necessary, as safe as possible”Monika Daubländer, Mainz, Germany
Basics of modern pain management
Ask the Expert
The fact that today, 60 % of all procedures in dentistry are carried out
under local anaesthesia shows that pain therapy has become a routine
treatment performed in dental practices around the globe. After more
than 100 years of local anaesthetic use in dentistry, the complication
rate is low and the impact on the patient easily controllable. However,
due to an increasing complexity of treatments, diversity of techniques
and huge patient differences, the concept of a differentiated local
anaesthesia should be applied by the dentist.
Drugs in local anaesthetic solutions
In general, local anaesthetic solutions are differentiated by the drug they con-
tain. The first drug utilized in dentistry was procaine, containing an amino
ester group. In 1944, lidocaine, the first amino amide-type local anaesthetic
drug was developed, which is applied worldwide today. Articaine, first used in
1974, is an amide-type anaesthetic which contains an additional ester group.
Due to this exceptional structure, the drug has a short half life of approxi-
mately 20 minutes and offers a favourable risk-benefit ratio. Articaine is most
widely used in Europe and gaining increasing popularity in other regions of the
world. Mepivacaine, a local anaesthetic of the anilide type, and bupivacaine,
belonging to the amino amide group, are further drugs used in dental pain
therapy.
Vasoconstrictors
Apart from the drug, the local anaesthetic solution usually contains a vaso-
constrictor as well as further additives such as an antioxidant and, if offered
in multi-dose bottles, preserving agents. While preserving agents should be
avoided and an intolerance of an ingredient is always a contraindication, these
additives do not impair the performance of the solution. The adding of a vaso-
constrictor, however, has an impact on the local anaesthetic: it allows for a
higher success rate of local anaesthesia as well as a longer and more inten-
sive period of action and reduces systemic plasma levels as well as local
bleedings. The additive mainly used today is adrenaline (also termed epine-
phrine) – there are no alternatives which are similarly effective and proven.
However, the effects of adrenaline may differ depending on the anaesthetic
drug in use. The strongest effects are achieved in combination with lidocaine
and articaine, while they
are much weaker with
mepivacaine and bupi-
vacaine. Therefore, these
drugs can also be applied
without a vasoconstrictor
and are particularly suited
for cases of adrenaline
intolerance. Another fac-
tor influencing the effect
of adrenaline is the injec-
tion technique, the most
clinically relevant results
being achieved in infiltra-
tion anaesthesia. This technique is the safest and most frequently applied one
for dental pain therapy.
Differentiated approach
The amount of adrenaline in a solution determines the duration of action, and
since higher adrenaline concentrations are more likely to lead to local as well
as systemic complications, the principle “as often as necessary, as safe as
possible” should always be respected. Due to the wide choice of products e.g.
3M ESPE is offering in the adrenaline concentrations 1:100,000, 1:200,000
and 1:400,000, selection criteria such as the complexity of treatment, age and
medical condition of the patient and the injection technique can be taken into
account to contribute to maximally effective and safe procedures in dentistry.
Monika Daubländer, MD, DDS
Monika Daubländer, MD, DDS
Monika Daubländer, MD, DDS is currently Assistant Medical
Director of the Department of Oral Surgery and Lecturer in oral
surgery, local anaesthesia and pain management in dentistry.
She holds the position of Associate Professor at the university
medical center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz,
Germany. She has specialist training in oral and maxillofacial
surgery as well as in special pain management.
No. 18 | October 2010
In September 2010, 3M™ ESPE™ RelyX™
Unicem 2 Automix Self-Adhesive Resin
Cement was launched. This cement is the
successor of the proven 3M™ ESPE™ RelyX™
Unicem Self-Adhesive Universal Resin
Cement, which is available in capsules as
well as the Clicker™ Dispenser. The market
introduction of the new delivery was pre-
ceded by approximately two and a half years
of development work, which began with the
idea of offering a leading product in an
automix syringe as well. The goal behind this
project was to bring even more convenience
into the dental practice.
3M™ ESPE™ RelyX™ Unicem 2 Automix Self-Adhesive Resin Cement.
Product development
Dr. Carolin Wiedig, a biochemist who holds the
position of Scientific Affairs Manager Cementa-
tion at 3M ESPE since 2008, explains the chal-
lenge of launching the self-adhesive cement in a
novel delivery: “In order to allow for automatic
mixing directly in a syringe, the material in ques-
tion has to exhibit special flow properties. In the
new delivery system, the material is stored in two
different tubes as a paste-paste-formulation in
contrast e.g. to a liquid-powder formulation in
capsules. For application, the two pastes are sim-
ply pressed through eight small blades within the
mixing tip. The dispensed material is immediately
ready to use. Two things are important for this
mixing process: firstly, consistent, homogeneous
results have to be ensured and secondly, it should
be possible to dispense the material smoothly
with low force.”
Product modifications
To achieve the known and proven material quality
after automatic mixing, the rheology of the cement
had to be adjusted by adding a new rheology
modifier. In addition, the processing of the filler
particles was optimized for this purpose. The
basic chemical composition including the adhe-
sion monomer, the patented initiator system and
the filler technology leading to Unicem’s unique
neutralization behaviour, remained the same as
for RelyX Unicem. “What has to be taken into
account is that changing one single property of a
material always influences other features as well,
so that each step in product development has to
be reviewed carefully,” says Dr. Wiedig. “Finally,
an even better level of overall performance was
achieved for RelyX Unicem 2 Automix as com-
pared to its predecessor.”
Pre-launch tests
As soon as product development has reached a
stage at which one version of the cement seems
to satisfy all desires, it has to pass approximately
120 different laboratory tests, from the determi-
nation of mechanical and bond strengths to toxi-
cological investigations. If the material is regarded
as safe and suitable, it is applied in the clinical
environment by consultant dentists, who com-
ment on the properties and contribute their ideas.
These are taken into account for further steps in
the development. For RelyX Unicem 2 Automix,
the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Especially the consistency for dispensing and
seating and the easy-to-use automix system have
been praised. External tests at different universi-
ties around the globe completed the testing phase.
The studies at universities prior to the launch of
RelyX Unicem 2 Automix have been initiated by Dr.
Wiedig. “I accompany the whole development
process and the developers keep me informed
about every single step. I collect scientific facts
and product specifications as well as results of
the clinical and technical studies and make rele-
vant information available to dentists through sci-
entific brochures etc. Thus, I work at the interface
3M™ ESPE™ RelyX™ Unicem 2 Automix Self-Adhesive Resin Cement
A challenging project mastered by a strong teamGerhard Kultermann, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany
Laboratory technician busy at 3M ESPE research laborato-ries.
Dr. Carolin Wiedig presenting the novel cement at a scien-tific meeting in Spain.
10
Backstage Report
between science and marketing and combine
both worlds to enable a proper exchange of infor-
mation” explains Dr. Carolin Wiedig.
Product management
When it comes to marketing communication, two
other female employees take a leading role: Kris-
tina Schmidt, New Product Manager for Cementa-
tion and Temporization, who is respon-
sible for product launches worldwide,
and Carina Koppers, European Market-
ing Manager at 3M ESPE, who takes the
responsibility for the marketing strategy
in Europe. “At the beginning of the prod-
uct development phase, I start with the
arrangements for successful product
introduction. My tasks are very versatile
and begin with analyzes of the market
situation, competitive products and
trends in different countries. After eval-
uation of the collected data, strategic
planning follows. The next decisive step
is product positioning, followed by bud-
geting and production planning and
scheduling. While I plan the global mar-
keting communication package I am
dependent on scientific information pro-
vided by Dr. Wiedig as well as the feed-
back on the situation in specific regions
given by marketing managers such as
Carina Koppers,” explains Kristina Schmidt.
European marketing
Carina Koppers started as a Junior Marketing
Manager at 3M ESPE in 2007 and has managed
the portfolios of Temporization, Cementation and
Impressioning for the European region during the
past two years. She is responsible for strategic
portfolio management as well as product launches
in Europe, coordinates the different local market-
ing tactics, e.g. promotions, events, or the crea-
tion of brochures and pools the input coming from
different local subsidiaries of 3M ESPE. Feedback
on products or country-specific demands, for
example, are summarized by her and forwarded to
the global team, in the case of RelyX Unicem 2
Automix, to Kristina Schmidt. “I am in constant
contact with the local sales and marketing teams
and representatives on the one hand and the glo-
bal team on the other. Regular exchange of infor-
mation is necessary to make sure that the devel-
oped product features the properties desired by
the user and that these benefits are also commu-
nicated to the dental practice.” As Carina Koppers
reports, the team work with the other two women
is highly productive: “Within the team, information
is always passed on properly to ensure a smooth
running of all processes and enable adherence to
time schedules. The latter has been the greatest
challenge in the running project and I am proud to
say that everything went through smoothly.”
Hand in hand
“Exchange of knowledge and ideas
both with users of 3M ESPE products
and internal partners is taken seriously
at all levels of the company, and espe-
cially in product development. For the
project of RelyX Unicem 2 Automix, we
all acted in concert to reach our goals,”
explains Kristina Schmidt. “The most
important prerequisites for a product
to become successful are customer-
oriented product development on the
one hand and supportive tools and
services such as hands-on courses,
information materials etc. for dental
practices on the other. Only through
this combination, we can make sure
that dentists benefit from the product
advantages and thus can contribute to
simplified work processes in the den-
tal practice.” While the launch of RelyX Unicem
2 Automix has been highly successful and this
task is almost completed, all three women look
forward to teaming up for the next challenging
project.
Kristina Schmidt and Dr. Carolin Wiedig after a launch event for 3M™ ESPE™ RelyX™ Unicem 2 Automix Self-Adhesive Resin Cement at a scientific meeting in Spain.
Espertise™
magazine
11
No. 18 | October 2010
Balkenprodukt Blindtext
Following the American exampleBettina Richter, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany
Reconciliation of family and career
12
Lifestyle
During the past decades, the institutions of
the European Union have been striving to pro-
vide equal career opportunities for men and
women. They started building up a more
comprehensive infrastructure for childcare
and schooling which enables women to rec-
oncile family and career.
However, due to a societal pressure – which is
based on the opinion that it is impossible to be a
good mother and a successful businesswoman at
the same time – it is still not easy for women in
many European countries to opt for both, children
and full-time work. Women who want to combine
work and children need a high degree of self con-
fidence and motivation to stand up to the con-
cerns of others. During my stay in the United
States, I gained this self confidence since I learned
that the attitude prevailing in Germany is not the
measure of all things.
Beginnings of my career
After having completed my PhD in Chemistry at
the University of Wurzburg, Germany, I applied for
a job as Clinical Research Manager at ESPE
Dental AG in Seefeld, Germany, in 1997. In this
position, I gained initial experience in the dental
field. After the fusion of ESPE Dental and 3M in
the year 2000, I became Global Scientific Affairs
Manager of the Business Segment Prosthodontics
and moved into the position of Global Scientific
Marketing Manager in 2004.
This position was created as a result of the decision
that the divisions Research & Development and
Marketing have to intertwine more intensively to
properly inform the user of 3M ESPE products
about the ongoing activities in research and devel-
opment. Internal as well as external studies which
are conducted to evaluate the performance of a
novel product, for example, have to be translated
into the language of the customer so he
will be provided with relevant, up-to-date
information. For this purpose, we
established the Espertise™ brand. Under its
umbrella, objective information and educa-
tional opportunities are provided for dental
professionals all over the world.
In order to enable the effective and overall
implementation of this new concept, I
moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, in
2004.
Family comes into play
When I came to St. Paul together with my husband,
who is also employed at 3M ESPE and assumed a
new position in the United States, I was pregnant
with my daughter. She was born in an environment
where it is quite common and accepted by the soci-
ety that mothers start to work again three months
after the delivery of their child and where work and
private life are easily reconcilable. This has shaped
my attitude and I decided to adopt this American
way of combining the two wonderful things for my
future life in Germany. I came back to Germany in
2007 to continue my job as Head of Global Scien-
tific Marketing. I gained additional responsibility for
the Customer Information Center in Seefeld. Soon
after my return, I gave birth to my son and started
working again half a year later.
Social network
The reconciliation of family and career has been
facilitated by a combination of personal motivation
and a balanced, well-organized family life. While
my daughter has a place in a kindergarten, my
son visits a home daycare. In addition, we have a
back-up through my mother-in-law, who cares for
her grandchildren whenever it becomes neces-
sary. What is important as well is that both, my
The opinion that family and career are not reconcilable is quite common e.g. in Germany.
A balance has to be achieved between family and profes-sional life.
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Espertise™
magazine
13
husband and I, fill in if required on an equal basis.
Needless to say it involves a lot of management to
care for the children, especially if one of us is on a
business trip e.g. in the United States, but so far,
the challenges have never been too difficult to
overcome. It is decisive to strike a balance
between personal and professional self-fulfillment,
and I am happy to say that we have succeeded in
this regard!
The company
In addition to a strong social network, I benefit
from the attitudes of the US-based company
3M ESPE. Things have changed during the past
decades, and today, 3M ESPE offers its employ-
ees a high degree of flexibility. Apart from part-
time contracts and the option of working from the
home office occasionally, the company offers flex-
ible working hours. In addition, a cooperation with
the Familienservice München, a company provid-
ing care, was established to help 3M ESPE
employees finding a child daycare solution or
other personnel such as geriatric nurses.
This offer gave me a feeling of security, especially
when I returned from the United States. My husband
came back three months earlier, began to work
immediately and tried to organize everything for my
return. After my arrival, I also had only a few days off
and, being pregnant as well as bringing with me our
little daughter, I had to get all things settled within a
very short time. Due to the family-friendly attitude of
3M ESPE, this challenge was much easier to master
than it would have been without the acceptance and
helpfulness of the whole company in general and
the team I work with in particular.
Great Place to Work
I am sure that this strategy of the company’s
human resources policy has been one of the
reasons for 3M ESPE to be awarded by the
Great Place to Work® Institute. In 2010, it
attained the second rank in the competition
“Best Workplaces in Germany” in the category
of companies with 501 to 2,000 employees. In
addition, it was ranked number four of the Best
Workplaces in Europe together with its parent
company 3M. In terms of family policies and
overall work climate, the company is certainly
on the right track and it is my desire that many
other German companies follow suit to help cre-
ate a new consciousness in the German society!
My personal motivation is also to be a role model
for other women who strive for balancing work
and family life. And, since I know that a strong
team is the key to individual success, I will con-
tinue promoting personnel management at
3M ESPE, a subject that has always been a pas-
sion of mine.
Dr. Bettina Richter, Head of Global Scientific Marketing and of the Customer Information Center in Seefeld, Germany.
Together, we have achieved this balance.
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No. 18 | October 2010
Personality counts!Olivia Besten, Dusseldorf, Germany
Women in executive positions
14
Ask the Expert
Interview with Christin Schack, Speaker of the
Executive Board and Head of Business Devel-
opment for Europe, Middle East and Africa
(EMEA) at 3M ESPE in Seefeld, Germany.
Christin Schack, since February 2008, you
are in the position of Head of Business
Development EMEA and have become
Speaker of the Executive Board at 3M ESPE
in January 2010. Please describe your
career path.
After having studied Business Administration with a
focus on Marketing and International Management
in Germany and France, I started my career as a
Trainee and later, Junior Product Manager at ESPE
Dental AG in 1995. In 1999, just before the merger
of the two companies 3M and ESPE Dental, I went
to ESPE America as Product Manager. In 2001, I
assumed the position of International Product Man-
ager and – as I knew well the product range and the
organizational structures of ESPE Dental – was well
involved in the integration of the two global enter-
prises. One year later, I became Business Develop-
ment Manager Latin America before I returned to
Seefeld in 2003, where I soon took over the Mar-
keting Operations Management for Europe. I held
this position until 2008.
Your career profile seems to be highly goal-
oriented and straightforward. What moti-
vated you to assume an executive position?
First of all, I have to recognize that it was not my
ultimate goal to assume a leading position when I
started working at ESPE Dental as a Trainee. Or said
differently, as inexperienced as I was at the begin-
ning, I could not think that far out. I like and always
liked to take responsibility for tasks I am charged
with and have developed an independent work style
very early. For me, the most important precondition
is that I like my job and what I do and the people
around me, which automatically results in my per-
sonal motivation. This was the case in every
stage of my career. Decisive factors are versatil-
ity of a job, the possibility to work independently
and also to work in a strong team around. It is in
my nature that I am constantly looking for new
challenges. What really satisfies me is to master
these challenges autonomously! At 3M ESPE, I was
always entrusted with another new, exciting respon-
sibility when a task was fulfilled. This is probably
how I got to a leading position and why I hold it
today.
What has been the major challenge during
your career?
The greatest challenge, which at the same time
was the one where I gained the most experience,
was the integration of ESPE Dental
and 3M in St. Paul. First, I was
one of two German employees
coming from the ‘ESPE side’
working in the US at that time
and so, the two of us became
the main contacts for our US-
based 3M colleagues for many
integration aspects, particularly
the intercultural ones. Since I
was a Product Manager, these
issues had not belonged to my
usual areas of responsibility,
and thus almost everything I
was involved in was new to me.
However, it was my chance to
Christin Schack
Espertise™
magazine
15gain tremendous insight into change management,
cross-functional business management aspects,
organizational set-up questions as well as the dif-
ferent segments of the company.
At a later stage, I was charged to expand
the integration into Latin America as Busi-
ness Development Manager for this
region. Looking back now, I was extremely
‘junior’ in General Business Management
at that time. However, I threw myself into it.
And this is how you learn.
Mrs. Schack, what are the most important
character traits a leader should possess?
In my opinion, my personal success has been
enabled by my natural curiosity and openness
with regard to persons as well as issues. The per-
sons who work around me in my team as well
as customers and commercial part-
ners of 3M ESPE incite me and direct
interaction with them is highly impor-
tant for my work. You need to rely on
a network, and you have to be able to
delegate tasks, motivate your col-
leagues and work in a team. More-
over, an interest in diverse topics and
a proactive approach to tasks as well
as challenges is needed. A General
Manager cannot be an expert in every
field of responsibility, but he or she
has to be versatile, should know where
to retrieve certain expertise and
should build a strong team around him
or herself. Without openness and curi-
osity, a person will not be able to
acquire these skills.
You have summarized the traits which are
usually important for a leader. Are there dif-
ferences in the general character of women
versus men which lead to distinctions
regarding the management style?
To my mind, these differences clearly exist. You
cannot paint everything in black and white, but in
general, women are more likely to avoid conflicts
because they strive for harmony as well as coher-
ence in a team. Thus, many decisions are reached
collectively and built on compromise rather than on
their own personal opinion. Men, on the other hand,
tend to decide on their own. Both styles have their
advantages and it mainly depends on the distinctive
business question and given circumstances which
one will be more successful. Because of these dis-
tinctions, a management team composed of male
as well as female persons should be the most prom-
ising approach in an enterprise. A team with several
characters which complement each other – this is
what really makes a difference for the company! For
this purpose, however, it would be important that
more women obtain an executive position.
How should this be achieved? Do you think
a quota system would be advantageous?
I do not think so. Women should not be favoured
due to a specific rule. The best fitting and most
successful persons should assume a management
position. ‘Build on Strength’ is a key term here at
3M ESPE. The challenge for the company lies in an
early identification and encouragement of poten-
tials. While men are more likely to attract attention
in the early stages of their career, because of what
described earlier, women tend to achieve a lot with-
out maybe anybody realizing it. Meaning, men are
often more successful in advertising themselves
and therefore, their potentials are more easily
detected and supported as such. This fact has to
be taken into account when special personnel
development programmes are offered. In this way,
equal opportunities are created to enter into execu-
tive positions. But reality is also that women are
more likely in the centre when family planning
starts. Therefore, support in terms of flexible work-
ing times etc. should be offered to avoid that raising
a family becomes an insurmountable obstacle for
career-oriented women.
Overall, we have to raise awareness of the fact
that women act differently from men and should
take this into consideration, also with respect to
our customers.
I think you are referring to the increasing
number of female dentists in many Euro-
pean countries. What does this change
mean for 3M ESPE?
The desires and demands of female dentists are
different to those of their male colleagues, e.g. con-
cerning product handling, a factor that can be
explained by physical distinctions. Also, the ways of
procuring information are dissimilar. And again,
there are differences in balancing professional and
family life. 3M ESPE will detail these diffe rences
and develop a strategy to support women as well as
men in optimizing procedures and solutions in the
dental practice by finding an answer to their spe-
cific needs!
Mrs. Schack, thank you for the conversation!
No. 18 | October 2010
... the United KingdomKate Winstone, New Ash Green, United Kingdom
Dentistry in …
16
Country Insights
The General Dental Council (GDC) has recog-
nized sixteen Dental Schools or Schools of
Medicine and Dentistry in the United Kingdom
where a dental degree can be obtained. Usu-
ally, students attend five years of combined
theoretical and clinical undergraduate study
before obtaining a Bachelor of Dental Surgery
(BDS) degree. After graduating, one year
vocational training is required to receive an
NHS registration. All dentists must register
with the GDC, the organization regulating
dental professionals in the UK, and has to
meet their requirements before being given
permission to practice. For graduated den-
tists, a variety of postgraduate education as
well as specialist training programmes is
available.
Health insurance
In the UK, one distinguishes between the National
Health Service (NHS), which is funded from gen-
eral taxation and provides coverage to residents
in the UK, and private healthcare insurance com-
panies. Dentists in general practice may choose
between running an NHS only practice, having a
mix of NHS and private patients or providing only
private treatments. NHS dentists are paid
according to the number of Units of Dental Activ-
ity (UDA) done in a year. All treatments are
divided into three bands of treatment including
defined services. The charge for the patient and
the number of UDAs earned by the dentist
depend on the band the applied treatment
belongs to. For example, if a treatment involving
crowns is necessary, the patient will pay £ 198
and the dentist earns 12 UDAs, no matter how
many crowns are placed. The actual cash value
of a UDA is set by the local NHS Primary Care
Trust. Every year, an NHS dentist will enter into a
contract with the NHS defining how many UDAs
will be completed.
In the practice I am running together with my hus-
band Huw Winstone in New Ash Green, we opted
for a combined approach. We have a contract with
the NHS covering about one third of our patients,
while another third are covered by Denplan care.
Denplan is a company that arranges personal den-
tal payment plans which are adjusted to the indi-
vidual patients’ needs. For patients paying the
monthly fee, every treatment apart from cosmetic
work and treatment involving laboratory work is
covered by the system. I believe that in this way, I
can retain more independence than under NHS and
my patients benefit from a wider range of services
and predictable payments. Those patients who are
not treated under the umbrella of NHS or Denplan
usually pay privately in my practice.
The dental team
According to the GDC, the number of dentists cur-
rently registered is 37,230, the proportion of
female dentists being 42% (15,800 individuals).
Per dentist, an average number of 1.2 dental
nurses are employed in the UK and overall, 5,758
dental hygienists as well as 7,202 dental techni-
cians are registered at the GDC.
In our three-surgery practice, there are three
female and two male dentists, but only one of
them works full time. The team is made up of two
practice owners (my husband and me), three
associate dentists working independently, five
dental nurses, one hygienist, two receptionists
and one practice manager. We provide all kinds of
dental treatment, like examination, preventative
care, direct as well as indirect restorations and
denture work. Implants and Invisalign treatments
are offered as well and I, like many other dentists
in the UK, now also provide some facial cosmetic
treatments. Orthodontic treatment is referred to
external specialists.
Dr. Kate Winstone, PhD, BDS
BAND KIND OF TREATMENT PATIENT CHARGE UDA
Band 1 Includes examination, diagnosis and preventative care as well as urgent and out of hours care. If necessary, X-rays, scale and polish and planning for further treatment is also included.
£ 16,50 1
Band 2 Includes treatment covered by Band 1 plus ordinary treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment or extractions.
£ 45,60 3
Band 3 Includes treatment covered by Band 1 and 2 plus procedures involving laboratory work, like crowns and bridges or dentures
£ 198 12
Dentistry in …
… the Russian FederationTatyana Snegireva, St. Petersburg, Russia
In the Russian Federation, there are currently
47 dental schools offering a dental degree. All
students have to attend five years of full-time
dental education before obtaining a DDS
degree (Diploma of Doctor Stomatologist).
Afterwards, they have to follow an obligatory
internship for one year, which ends with a
specialization examination. By passing this
exam, they receive a certificate which gives
them the right to practice as a general den-
tist. After completion of the internship, a den-
tist is given the opportunity to continue spe-
cialization. To receive a certificate in a
number of specialties like restorative den-
tistry, prosthetic dentistry or oral surgery,
two to five years of additional training is
required. In fact, most Russian dentists have
a strict specialization and only very few work
as general dental practitioners.
Insurance system
In Russia, the oral health care system is funded
through obligatory medical insurance. The costs
for particular treatments are covered by different
facilities on the local, regional or federal level. For
children and adolescents of up to 16 years as well
as elderly people receiving some kind of social
support, oral health care is free of charge. More-
over, the services provided by the public oral
health system, which usually include restorative
treatments, some prosthetic dental treatments
and oral surgery, are also free to adult patients.
These services are offered by public clinics only,
while treatment obtained from private clinics is not
refunded by the state. The costs for health care
from the private sector can be either covered by a
private insurance or paid privately by the patient.
The fact that 88% of dental clinics in Russia are
private indicates that most patients are involved in
some kind of private dental care.
I am an employed dentist working at two different
private clinics in St. Petersburg. In one clinic, I
have been working since the beginning of my
internship. There, I also offer trainings for young
dentists to teach them how to work according to
international standards. Since it is a private oral
care facility, most patients (about 70%) pay pri-
vately, while approximately 30% of the treatments
are covered by an individual insurance.
Dental workforce and employ-ment structure
According to official statistics in Russia, the
number of dentists is 66,000 in the Russian Fed-
eration. While a high proportion of restorative
dentists are female, many male dentists work as
prosthodontist. Overall, women seem to clearly
outnumber men in the dental profession.
In many Western European countries, most
patients are treated in small dental practices with
one to five dentists who are often self-employed.
In contrast, the picture in Russia is highly diversi-
fied. Here, about half of the oral care facilities are
huge polyclinics with a decentralized structure,
while the smaller practices usually have at least
five to six dentists. In the huge clinics, which typi-
cally have several different departments in one
city, the dentists work as employees. One of the
clinics I am working in has 15 different offices
throughout the city of St. Petersburg, and employs
a total of approximately 170 dentists and 150
dental nurses. In my department, which is a six-
surgery clinic, there are 20 dentists. While the
treatment focus is on restorative dentistry, pros-
thetic dentistry and prosthodontics, patients are
offered all other kinds of dental treatment includ-
ing implantology as well.
Dr. Tatyana Snegireva …
… is an employed dentist working in a clinic in St. Petersburg.
Espertise™
magazine
17
Country Insights
No. 18 | October 2010
The use of the internet today
Web 2.0: Welcome to endless opportunities! Dieter Klasmeier, 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany
Nowadays, the internet and the World Wide
Web have become indispensable for many
people throughout the world. According to
the Internet World Stats, 28.7% of the world’s
population, that is an estimated 1,966,514,816
people, is using the internet today (data for
June 30, 2010). With its versatile functions, it
serves as a communication platform and
information source which is used for private
as well as professional purposes. From its
beginnings in the 1960s, diverse develop-
ments have taken place.
Altering face of the internet
While in 1996, 45 million people have made use
of the web, it has been more than one billion in
2006. And it is not only the number of users, but
also the content that has been subject to funda-
mental change over the past decades.
Initially, e-mail has been the most important func-
tion for internet users. The usual website focused
on mass-oriented, standardized applications,
consuming and one-way communication. The
turning point for the web came in the autumn of
2001, when the dot-com bubble burst. Numerous
novel internet firms, the so-called dot-com com-
panies, were not able to meet the profit expecta-
tions and ultimately disappeared from the pic-
ture.
New architecture
The result was a change in the architecture of the
World Wide Web: novel technologies and applica-
tions were developed by new companies as well
as those in search for a survival strategy. This
trend, which was accompanied by a greater user
involvement, was termed Web 2.0. This term as
well as the concept behind it was developed by
Tim O’Reilly, founder and CEO of O’Reilly Media, a
computer book publisher, and Dale Dougherty,
vice president of the company, in a conference in
2005.
Interactive communication
Applications referred to as Web 2.0 are multi-
sided, but all share some essential characteris-
tics, the most important one being interactivity.
The sites are usually decentralized and provided
as well as created by a number of interconnected
users through an exchange of ideas, knowledge
and information. This is a clear difference to the
web pages of Web 1.0 which usually had a clearly
defined, fixed content originating from one single
source. Thus, with Web 2.0, the internet becomes
a platform that is based on the idea of harnessing
collective intelligence. The principle of providing
access to the knowledge of the community is sim-
ple: users add new content, such as an entry on
Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com), and their infor-
mation is made available for other users visiting
the specific site.
File sharing, blogging and more
Web 2.0 has many faces. Apart from platforms
such as the online encyclopedia Wikipedia men-
tioned before, various forms of social media are
gaining importance. Well-known examples include
e.g. file sharing communities such as Flickr
(www.flickr.com), a service provided by Yahoo
which allows users to post and share their photos,
and YouTube (www.youtube.com), a video data-
base to post and view files. Both services include
a function which allows users to post individual
comments and share the content with friends.
Furthermore, weblogs (or blogs) are becoming
highly popular as well. Blogs are web sites which Nowadays, 28.7% of the world’s population is using the internet.
Flickr is used to post and share photos.
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Lifestyle
maintain an ongoing chronicle of information, their
topics ranging from the personal to the political.
Typical for blogs is their diary-type commentary.
Links to articles, videos and photos on other web-
sites can be included and the focus can be either
on one single topic or a range of different sub-
jects. An example of a blog about dental themes
is available at www.dentalblogs.com/.
Social networks
Another popular type of application is the social
network. On Facebook (www.facebook.com), for
example, registered users can create their own
profiles including personal and professional infor-
mation, photos and videos. A search function
enables users e.g. to find and connect with friends
or colleagues. The start page of a user’s pro-
file informs about recent comments, photos,
clips or other information posted by friends,
so that people can share their thoughts,
impressions and experiences with others via
this network, being independent of time and
space. By joining or building up specific
groups, common interests can be shared and
new contacts established on a global scale.
Users can see if their friends are online and
communication is enabled via a messaging
as well as a chat function. Today, Facebook is
used by 500 million people worldwide.
Not only are these networks leveraged in a private
context, professional questions can be dealt with as
well. This is possible in Facebook by linking up with
other professionals as well as in specific social net-
works, such as the interactive healthcare commu-
nity Townie Central (www.towniecentral.com). This
platform was specifically set up for healthcare pro-
fessionals who want to stay up-to-date with respect
to recent innovations in their field of expertise and
like to share their experience. Here, different func-
tions e.g. enabling communication via forums, par-
ticipation in group treatment planning and enrol-
ment in continuing education programmes are
offered.
Mobility
While initially, access to the World Wide Web was
limited to static internet connections at home or at
work, wireless LAN devices and dynamic connec-
tions have revolutionized internet usage. By now,
people are able to add content to the web with
their smart phones or tablet computers like Apple
iPhone or iPad whenever they want and wherever
they are. By downloading so-called apps, third-
party applications available for smartphones, the
user is provided access to diverse functionalities,
like GPS navigation, films, games and social net-
works. For the iPhone, more than 225,000 apps
are available in the App Store (as of June 7, 2010)
and may be chosen individually. Being equipped
with the required technology, a user standing in
front of the Tower Bridge in London, for example,
can take a photo with his iPhone, post it on face-
book immediately and will be notified if friends
have commented on it.
3M ESPE and Web 2.0
3M ESPE is aware of the endless opportunities
the web provides. Therefore, the company is cur-
rently developing a novel approach to meet the
desires of dentists and dental technicians in the
virtual world as well. More detailed information on
its implementation will be presented in the next
issue of the Espertise Magazine!
At Townie Central, registered users can create their own profile and communicate with others.
Espertise™
magazine
19
Editor:Gerhard Kultermann
Editorial team:Roland Bosch
Nicole Jaganosch
Oliver Kappler
Dieter Klasmeier
Carina Koppers
Bettina Richter
André Rumphorst
Production:www.eberl.de · Immenstadt/Germany
Design and typesetting:Comcord GmbH · Düsseldorf/Germany
We accept no liability for unsolicited manuscripts
or photographs.
Court of Jurisdiction: Munich
3M, ESPE, Adper, Clicker, Elipar, Espertise, Filtek, Lava and RelyX are trademarks of 3M or 3M ESPE AG. Great Place to Work is not a trademark of 3M or 3M ESPE AG.
© 3M ESPE AG 2010. All rights reserved.
3M ESPE AGESPE Platz82229 Seefeld · GermanyE-Mail: [email protected]: www.3mespe.com
Calendar of Events 2010/2011 E D I T O R I A L Information
Published by:3M ESPE AG
ESPE Platz · 82229 Seefeld
E-Mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.3mespe.com
Date Event Location Website
07.10.2010 09.10.2010
38th International Expodental Rome www.expodental.itPromunidi S.r.l.
09.10.2010 12.10.2010
ADA Annual Session Orlando www.ada.orgADA
14.10.2010 16.10.2010
BDTA Dental Showcase 2010 London www.dentalshowcase.comBDTA
02.11.201005.11.2010
DenTech China 2010 Shanghai www.dentech.com.cn/en/main.aspShanghai ShowStar Exhibition Services Co, Ltd.
03.11.201007.11.2010
Expodental AMIC 2010 Internacionall
Mexico www.expopromoter.com/Redirect/lang/en/event_id/75041/Amic Dental
18.11.2010 20.11.2010
Swedental 2010 Stockholm www.swedental.orgStockholmsmässan
23.11.2010 27.11.2010
ADF 2010 Conference and Trade Exhibition
Paris www.adfcongres.comADF
26.11.2010 01.12.2010
2010 Greater New York Den-tal Meeting
New York City
www.gnydm.comGreater New York Dental Meeting
29.01.201101.02.2011
CIOSP 2011 Sao Paulo www.ciosp.com.br/APCD
01.02.201103.02.2011
AEEDC Dubai 2011 Dubai www.aeedc.com/Index Conferences and Exhibitions Est.
24.02.201126.02.2011
146th Midwinter Meeting Chicago www.cds.org/mwm/CDS
02.03.201105.03.2011
Dental South China Guangzhou www.dentalsouthchina.com/en/Guangdong International Science & Technology Exhibition Company
22.03.201126.03.2011
IDS – International Dental Show
Cologne www.ids-cologne.de/GFDI
30.03.201103.04.2011
34th Australian Dental Congress
Brisbane www.adc2011.com/ADA
07.04.201109.04.2011
SCANDEFA Copenhagen www.scandefa.dk/English/Bella Center
25.04.201128.04.2011
Dental Salon 2011 Moscow www.dental-expo.com/eng.htmlDentalexpo Ltd.
Espertise™
magazine
General Information