Dental Excellence Awards 2012 semifinal candidates

Below is a list of semifinal candidates for the third annual DrBicuspid Dental Excellence Awards, DrBicuspid.com's campaign to recognize the best and brightest in dentistry.

Following hundreds of nominations from our members, we have pared down the list of semifinalists to 102 candidates in 12 categories.

Most Influential Dental Researcher
Robin Carden, Glidewell Laboratories
Rella Christensen, CR Foundation
Leslie Fang, DOCS Education
John Flucke, DDS
Vince Kokich Jr., Kokich Orthodontics
Gilles Lavigne, University of Montreal
John Powers, University of Texas
Thomas E. Van Dyke, The Forsyth Institute

Most Effective Dentist Educator
Michael A. Blau, Boston University
Jonathan Bregman, Bregman Consulting
Larry Emmott, Emmott on Technology
Leslie Fang, DOCS Education
Anthony Feck, DOCS Education
Howard Glazer, Glazer Consulting
Lou Graham, VELscope
John Kois, Kois Center
Steven R. Olmos, TMJ and Sleep Therapy Research
Willis Pumphrey, ClearCorrect
Rhonda Savage, Miles Global
Frank Spear, Spear Education
Ryan Swain, Six Month Smiles

Most Effective Dental Hygienist Educator
Nancy Andrews
Linda Boyd, Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene
Wendy Briggs, Hygiene Diamonds and Brilliance Inner Circle
Andy Codding, AndyFutureRDH.com
E. Lynn Goetsch, Madison Area Technical College
Jo-Anne Jones, VELscope
Michelle Klenk, Bridgemont Community and Technical College
Susan Kloosterboer, Madison Area Technical College
Judy Lopez, New Mexico Department of Health
Betsy Reynolds, Dental Hygiene Seminars
Rachel Wall, Inspired Hygiene
Lynda Young, University of Minnesota

Most Effective Dental Assistant Educator
Brittany Ashenfelter, Kaplan College
April Burus, DOCS Education
Aamna Nayyar, Santa Fe Community College
Shannon Pace-Brinker, Dawson Academy
Lorraine Reppucci, Shawsheen Valley Tech High School

Best Practice Management Consultant
Steve Anderson, Total Patient Service Institute
Chris Bowman, Dental Insiders Alliance
Connie Corbin, Dental Solutions
Jameson Management
Sally McKenzie, McKenzie Management
John Meis
Linda Miles, Linda Miles & Associates
Amy Morgan, Pride Institute
Bonnie Pugh, Banta Consulting
Kerry Straine, Straine Dental Consulting
Sunrise Dental Solutions
Jason White, J. White and Associates

Best New Material
Beautiful Flow Plus, Shofu Dental
BruxZir, Glidewell Laboratories
Optibond XTR, Kerr
Scotchbond Universal Adhesive, 3M ESPE
SonicFill, Kerr

Best New Instrument/Device
2pro Total Access Disposable Prophy Angle, Premier Dental
3D Click Implant Guide, Idondivi
Midwest RDH Freedom Cordless Handpiece, Dentsply International
Onset Mixing Pen, Onpharma
Safe Sedate Dental Nasal Mask, Safe Sedate
Simplicity Hygiene Package, DentalEZ
SL3 diode laser, Discus Dental

Best New Diagnostic/Imaging Device
Claris i4D Intraoral Scanner, Sota Imaging
CS 9300, Carestream
GXDP-700, Gendex
iCAT Precise, Imaging Sciences
ProMax 3D ProFace, Planmeca
Trio Intraoral Scanner, 3Shape
Tru-Align, Interactive Diagnostic Imaging
VELscope Vx (new version), LED Dental

Best New Software/Service
Cerec 4.0, Sirona Dental Systems
Curve, Curve Dental
EagleSoft 16.0, Patterson Dental
i-CAT Precise with TxStudio, Imaging Sciences
Patient Activator (updated), 1-800-DENTIST
Sesame 24/7, Sesame Communications
TMnDx, TMnDx Software Solutions
YAPI, Practical Dental Solutions

Best New Consumer Product
Orabloc articaine, Pierrel Research
PerioPatch, MIS Implants
PerioShield, Sunstar Americas
Sonicare AirFloss, Philips
Sparkle V 5%, Crosstex International
Xylishield gum/mints/mouthwash, Ultradent

Most Popular Clinical Procedure
Cone-beam CT
Dental implants
Postextraction socket grafting
Resin cone technique
Sedation dentistry
Six Month Smiles

Most Controversial Topic
Amalgam placement
Bleaching by nondentists
Botox injections from dentists
Dental insurance (required PPO participation)
Dental therapists/midlevel providers
Electronic health record (EHR) mandate
Expanded use of flowable composites
Human papillomavirus (HPV) influence on oral cancer
Occlusion philosophy
Overlap between airways, temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and orthodontics
Sedation dentistry
Too many new dental schools