Dentsply Sirona Completes 2026 Ultrasonic Scaling Teaching Institute
Dentsply Sirona welcomed key dental hygiene and periodontal faculty from across the US and Canada to DS Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina, for hands-on training, curriculum development, and digital dentistry education focused on ultrasonic instrumentation and the future of dental hygiene.
Dentsply Sirona has completed its 2026 Ultrasonic Scaling Teaching Institute (USTI), welcoming key dental hygiene and periodontal faculty from across the US and Canada to DS Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina. Participants joined one of two sessions for hands-on training, curriculum development, and digital dentistry education, reinforcing how ultrasonic instrumentation is taught in classrooms and clinics. The sessions underscored the vital role digital dentistry will play in advancing the future of the profession.
The Dentsply Sirona Academy hosted two sessions of USTI this summer, which took place on July 23–26 and July 27–30, respectively. Each session at the Charlotte facility followed the same comprehensive program, with two full days of lectures and hands-on experiences focused on ultrasonic instrumentation and another about the digital dental hygienist, including AI partnerships and digital scanning. Participants included key clinical faculty members from dental, periodontal, and dental hygiene programs who are responsible for ultrasonic instrumentation instruction at their institutions.
Built on evidence-based research supporting periodontal debridement and biofilm removal and disruption, this year’s USTI curriculum combined classroom lectures with extensive hands-on instruction. Across both sessions, participants engaged with:
- The principles and clinical applications of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric ultrasonic technologies
- Hands-on ultrasonic instrumentation technique in both pre-clinical and clinical lab settings
- Incorporating digital dentistry into dental hygiene workflows, as well as its impact on patient communication and education
- Instructional strategies, enhanced curriculum development, and approaches for its implementation
Faculty also took part in breakout sessions on aerosols and ergonomics, clinical scenario discussions, and a guest panel, giving educators the opportunity to exchange perspectives and leave with new instructional strategies to bring back to their own programs.
This year’s institute featured presentations and hands-on instruction from Dani Botbyl, focusing on ultrasonic instrumentation; Marianne Dryer, addressing ergonomics; and Dr. Volinder Dhesi, lead for the digital dental hygiene component of the program, covering digital scanning, DS Core, and the use of AI partnerships with 2D imaging.
Bringing digital dentistry into the dental hygiene curriculum
USTI’s digital dentistry component reflected the growing role of connected technology in dental hygiene practice. Dr. Volinder Dhesi, who led this portion of the program, connected the day-to-day work with digital scanning and digital workflows to a broader shift underway across the profession: “Digital scanning and partnerships for AI-supported workflows aren’t just new tools, they’re part of a larger movement toward connected dentistry, where data flows seamlessly among the entire practice team and also helps engage with the patient,” said Dr. Volinder Dhesi. “Helping educators to bring that perspective into their classrooms means their students graduate ready for where the profession is headed.”
Feedback from participants underscored the value of USTI’s hands-on, applied approach. Dr. Devin Christiansen, a periodontist from the University of Utah, reflected on the impact of the training: “Thanks to the quality and focus of the USTI program, the days in Charlotte gave me a new level of confidence and knowledge that I’m excited to bring back to my own students and other colleagues.”
By equipping faculty with advanced knowledge and hands-on experience, USTI’s 2026 sessions exemplify Dentsply Sirona’s expertise in ultrasonic instrumentation and digital dentistry, as well as the company’s commitment to clinical education.
A program designed for teaching the next generation
Since its inception in 2008, USTI has provided dental hygiene faculty with training, clinical experience, and educational resources needed to teach ultrasonic instrumentation from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Together with opinion leaders, Dentsply Sirona has built and continued to evolve the USTI curriculum to align with the latest science, trends, and clinical needs in education.
Over the years, the program has become an example of the company’s continued investment and support for dental hygienists, reaching over 700 dental hygiene and dental faculty and impacting more than 51,000 dental hygiene and dental students. As the use of ultrasonics in periodontal debridement has grown significantly over the past 25 years, so too has the need for dedicated continuing education resources and faculty support in this area.
“Today, advances in technology and an expanding body of evidence have redefined the role of ultrasonic instrumentation as an essential solution for the disruption and removal of oral biofilm,” said Dani Botbyl, lead subject matter expert for the ultrasonic curriculum component for USTI. “With appropriate instrument selection and clinical technique, modern ultrasonic technology provides a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to periodontal care—a “triple threat” for the disruption and removal of biofilm, calculus, and stain. Ultrasonic Scaling Teaching Institute (USTI) is purposefully designed to accelerate the translation of research into dental hygiene education. As technology and research continue to evolve, educators need accessible opportunities to continually refine their knowledge, skill, and teaching approaches.”
To learn more and access clinical education content for preventive dentistry, visit Dentsply Sirona’s Preventive Dentistry resources.
About Dentsply Sirona
Dentsply Sirona is the world’s largest diversified manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, with over a century of innovation and service to the dental industry and patients worldwide. Dentsply Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets a comprehensive solutions offering including dental and oral health products as well as other consumable medical devices under a strong portfolio of world-class brands.
Dentsply Sirona’s innovative products provide high-quality, effective, and connected solutions to advance patient care and deliver better and safer dental care. Dentsply Sirona is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Company’s shares are listed in the United States on Nasdaq under the symbol XRAY.
Visit www.dentsplysirona.com for more information about Dentsply Sirona and its products.
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