July 30, 2024
The Healthy Bite
On June 20th, Intermountain West SCC hosted the inaugural US edition of Omya’s The Healthy Bite in Salt Lake City, Utah. The event brought together a diverse group of formulators, manufacturers, suppliers, and dental professionals. With nearly 100 people in attendance, The Healthy Bite provided a platform for attendees from various backgrounds to share knowledge, engage in meaningful discussions, and forge new connections. The collaborative environment fostered by the event allowed for the exchange of ideas and experiences, enabling professionals to learn from one another and explore new possibilities in oral care.
The Healthy Bite was conceived by Omya to fill a gap in education and idea exchange between academia and industry in the oral care space. The first Healthy Bite symposium was held in Lucerne, Switzerland in 2019. The event has grown every year, and expanded to the United States in 2024.
This year, the program featured 8 sessions covering a wide array of topics ranging from fundamental to cutting-edge. Dr. Robert Karlinsey kicked off the program with a comprehensive review of fluoride use in oral care, followed by Dr. Edward Wallace who shared a new analytical technique for quantifying fluoride in finished products. Dennis Zhang expounded on dental erosion, Dr. Liliana Miinea explained how mucoadhesive polymers can be incorporated into formulations to extend their benefits, and Luke Stedman closed out the morning by guiding attendees through the art of flavor development.
The afternoon content shifted from chemistry to biology, opening with Registered Dental Hygienist, Anne Rice’s exposition on the connection between oral and systemic health. Dr. Jonathan An shared an overview of aging as it relates to the oral cavity, and provided insights into the research he is currently leading at the University of Washington. The technical program was concluded with microbiologist Dr. Jonathan Dornell’s review of the clinical evidence for pre-, pro-, and post-biotics in oral care.
Throughout the day, attendees visited the Ingredient and Supplier Exposition. The expo featured 10 suppliers highlighting their ingredients for oral care formulations and other service offerings.
At this first US event of its kind, The Healthy Bite set a high standard for future gatherings. By focusing on education, innovation, and collaboration, the event successfully highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to advancing oral health. Attendees left with a wealth of knowledge and new connections, ready to implement the insights gained into their respective fields.
Missed out on this event?
Join us at the NYSCC’s Oral Care Symposium, co-hosted by Omya, on October 15 in New Brunswick, NJ. Stay tuned for the agenda, sponsorship opportunities, and updates at this link.