Dental Excellence Awards 2011 semifinal candidates

Below is a list of semifinal candidates for the second 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 117 candidates in 12 categories.

Most Influential Dental Researcher
Robin Carden, Glidewell Laboratories
Gordon Christensen
Rella Christensen
Michael DiTolla, Glidewell Laboratories
Eli Eliav, New Jersey Dental School
John Featherstone, University of California, San Francisco
Jack Ferracane, University of Oregon
John Kanca, Apex Dental
Mei Lu, Loma Linda University
Michael B. Miller, Reality Research and Publishing
David R. Newkirk
YanFang Ren, University of Rochester Eastman Institute for Oral Health

Most Effective Dentist Educator
Raymond Bertolotti, Fifth Quarter Seminars
Mark Colonna, Laser Dentistry Training Institute
Michael DiTolla, Glidewell Laboratories
Mark Donaldson, Kalispell Regional Medical Center
Lindsay B. Eastman, Eastman Periodontics
Alan Herford, Loma Linda University
Tom Hilton, University of Oregon
Gary Jeffers, University of Detroit Mercy
Lonnie Johnson, University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine
Fred Joyal, 1-800-DENTIST
John Kois, Kois Learning Center
Hal Lippman, Nova Southeastern University
Hans Malmstrom, University of Rochester Eastman Institute for Oral Health
Imtiaz Manji, Scottsdale Center for Dentistry
Mary Ellen McLean, University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Bill Piskorowski, University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Frank Spears, Scottsdale Center for Dentistry
Saunders Steiman, retired United States Public Health Service
Douglas G. Thompson, Kois Center

Most Effective Dental Hygienist Educator
Wendy Briggs, Team Training Institute
Kathleen Jordan D'Ambrisi, Community College of Baltimore County
Barbara Dawidjan, Quinsigamond Community College
Elizabeth Reynolds, Dental Hygiene Seminars
Anastasia Turchetta
Rebecca Wilder, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Patricia Worcester, Mission Possible Hygiene

Most Effective Dental Assistant Educator
Brittany Ashenfelter, Kaplan College
Tina Calloway, Mark E. Hyman, DDS, Cosmetic and Family Dentistry
Brandy Freeman, Paces Dentistry
Janice Harper, Tennessee Technology Center at Memphis
Sobie Smallridge, Loma Linda University
Katrina Ward-Thomas, Anthem College

Best Practice Management Consultant
Randy Bird
Bill Blatchford, Blatchford Solutions
Andrea Clasen, Clasen Consulting
Connie Corbin, Dental Solutions
Mark Doherty, DentaQuest Institute
Jay Geier, Scheduling Institute
Gary Kadi
Roger Levin, Levin Group
Mayer Levitt, Jodena Consulting
Amy Morgan, Pride Institute
Kimberly Robinson, KYR Staffing and Practice Management
Jack Saxonhouse, Doctor's Choice Companies
Ted Schumann
Thomas Snyder, Snyder Group
Weiderman and Associates

Best New Material
Equia, GC America
Filtek Supreme Ultra, 3M ESPE
Identium, Kettenbach
Nuance, Discus Dental
RelyX Unicem 2, 3M ESPE
Surpass self-etch adhesive, Apex Dental Materials
Tuff-Temp resin, Pulpdent
Vertise Flow, Kerr

Best New Instrument/Device
Azenic DHP (disposable dental drill), Azenic
DentalVibe, Bing Innovations
Endo Rescue Kit, Komet USA
Hyflex CM Controlled Memory NiTi Rotary Files, Coltene/Whaledent
Isodry, Isolite
NuTorque Lite, DentalEZ
Picasso Lite, AMD Lasers
SAF (self adjusting file), ReDent Nova
Sharpening Horse, DH Methods of Education
Vibringe sonic irrigation system, Vibringe

Best New Diagnostic/Imaging Device
CarieScan Pro, 3D Diagnostic Imaging
Vidar Dental Film Digitizer, Vidar Systems
EZSensor, Vatech
EVAsoft, Dent-X
GXS-700, Gendex
Planmeca Romexis v2.4 with Mac OS support, Planmeca
X-pod, MyRay

Best New Software/Service
Practice Activator, ActionRun
Curve Hero, Curve Dental
Eaglesoft 16, Patterson
MacPractice iPad Interface, MacPractice
Scheduler, eForms, and eReminder modules, Carestream

Best New Consumer Product
aveoTSD, Glidewell
Chic-Flic TOGO Teeth Whitening and Lip Gloss Plumper Pen, Whiter Image
FlexCare+ toothbrush, Philips
Invisalign G3, Align Technology
NuCalm, Solace
ToothIQ.com, Symbyos
Xyli-Tots, CariFree

Most Popular Clinical Procedure
3D imaging
E4D Whisper Thin Veneers
Implants
NuCalm
PerioLase
PIPS laser-assisted endodontics
Surgically guided implant procedures
Zoom teeth whitening

Most Controversial Topic
All on 4 implant technique
Amalgam
Antibiotic prophylaxis for joint replacement patients
Articaine resulting in transient and permanent anesthesia at a higher incidence than other non-4% solution anesthetics
Botox
Canadian ban on BPA
Fluoride
Midlevel providers
One-day implants
Ozone
PerioLase
Should dentists inform parents that dental sealants contain BPA?