Dentsply Sirona

www.dentsplysirona.com

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Nathalie Schüller, Dental Tribune International

Fri. 3 October 2025

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During the SureSmile 2025 Global Orthodontics Symposium, which has just taken place in London, Dental Tribune International spoke with Dentsply Sirona’s Jill Uhryniak, who was appointed group vice president of orthodontics and aligner solutions in May. In her new role, she is focusing on innovation and education to improve patient outcomes, such as the SureSmile Global Specialist Educational Webinars, which aim to advance digital workflows supported by science and clinical excellence. In this interview, she talks about Dentsply Sirona’s orthodontic business and how the company is supporting clinicians by going beyond traditional approaches to enable hybrid workflows and a future where artificial intelligence (AI) compliments clinical decisions. She also discusses how the Dentsply Sirona orthodontics team supports clinicians beyond product development.

You quite recently joined Dentsply Sirona. What drew you to your new role and to the world of orthodontics?

It’s an amazing role. I’ve always worked in healthcare across large companies and different industries, but what drew me to dentistry is the combination of clinical expertise and direct patient impact. Orthodontics is deeply personal—it influences how people feel about themselves and their smiles—and that makes the work both meaningful and rewarding. Dentsply Sirona’s orthodontics business has a strong offering, and I was excited to join and help drive its growth.

Visiting customers here in the UK this week reminded me of how unique each practice is. Each reflects the personality of the orthodontist, the needs of the practice’s patient population and the practice’s connection to the community. Orthodontists wear many hats: they are clinicians caring for patients, business owners managing teams and practices, and community members with a sense of responsibility to those around them. It’s impressive how they balance these roles.

That is why listening to customers is so important. Understanding their challenges, opportunities and daily realities gives us essential insight. Their voices need to be part of our strategy from the beginning—influencing what we do in research and development, guiding product development and shaping how we support them. It’s a partnership; our role is to help clinicians succeed so that they can provide the best care for their patients.

How is Dentsply Sirona differentiating its orthodontic solutions from other companies in the aligner market?
We don’t see our orthodontic business as limited to the aligner market. What sets us apart is the flexibility we give orthodontists to choose the right solution for each patient. That may mean aligners, fixed appliances or a hybrid approach—treating upper and lower arches differently or shifting between modalities during treatment. Patient preference plays an important role, and the SureSmile system allows clinicians to tailor treatment to those needs while still meeting clinical requirements. It is the partnership between the orthodontist and the patient that really gives value to the treatment. Patients want to be educated about their treatment.

“The biggest opportunities lie in giving orthodontists more choices to make treatment both streamlined and flexible.”

Another differentiator is our digital ecosystem. Dentsply Sirona supports clinicians across specialties—including orthodontics, restorative dentistry, implantology and endodontics. We integrate orthodontics into the wider dental treatment life cycle—from diagnosis and planning to restoration and then long-term maintenance—offering a unique comprehensive digital solution.

Looking ahead, what are the biggest opportunities for growth in aligner therapy?
The biggest opportunities lie in giving orthodontists more choices to make treatment both streamlined and flexible. Hybrid workflows are one example: if a patient prefers aligners, the clinician can still incorporate wires where needed, using software to plan and coordinate both approaches seamlessly. It’s less about aligners alone and more about the flexibility that a digital system provides.

We also see practices exploring in-house aligner manufacturing. For clinicians, it means greater flexibility in how they deliver care.

AI is transforming orthodontics. How is Dentsply Sirona integrating AI or predictive tools into the SureSmile workflow?
I think of the role of AI in two areas: in workflow and in treatment. On the workflow side, AI has the potential to streamline practice operations and improve communication. It’s important when integrating AI into any situation to consider a balance between automation and control. AI can handle routine steps and provide informed options, but it is the clinician who decides on the treatment plan.

“Listening to customers is so important. Understanding their challenges, opportunities and daily realities gives us essential insight. Their voices need to be part of our strategy from the beginning.”

Clinicians talk about “digital fatigue”. How are you balancing innovation with simplicity and usability in your solutions?
At Dentsply Sirona, we recognise that software complexity can feel overwhelming, especially when many systems need to work together. Within a practice, systems are needed to promote team collaboration and information sharing. Our DS Core cloud-based platform is designed for clinicians to streamline digital workflows. This integration helps improve diagnosis, support treatment planning and enable easier collaboration, ultimately resulting in better outcomes and a smooth patient experience. DS Core is at the heart of our vision for connected dentistry, enabling seamless digital workflows and smarter clinical decisions.

Robotically bent wires are a unique differentiator for SureSmile. How important is proprietary technology like this to your competitive positioning?
SureSmile robotically bent wires are an important part of our portfolio because they give clinicians flexibility in treatment choice. In a retrospective study, SureSmile wires were found to reduce treatment time by 30% compared with conventional treatment.¹What matters is that clinicians have the tools at their disposal to choose the approach that best fits each individual case.

The symposium has emphasised hybrid workflows. What’s the long-term vision for SureSmile as clinicians increasingly blend fixed appliances and aligners?
Our long-term vision is for our orthodontic business to be the trusted partner for clinicians, supporting them regardless of whether they prefer aligners, fixed appliances or a hybrid approach. Some dental professionals focus almost exclusively on aligners, others use robotically bent wires and yet others blend options based on their patient population. Hybrid workflows in our digital ecosystem expand options for patient-centred orthodontics.

How is SureSmile supporting clinician education, onboarding and confidence building beyond product development?
We offer a range of educational opportunities, including webinars, videos and symposiums—like this one. It’s about creating forums where clinicians can come together. Providing spaces to exchange experiences from around the world is a key component of our support. Sharing cases and approaches allows clinicians to discover options or techniques they may not have considered before. Everyone develops his or her own workflow style, and our symposiums create a space where those insights can be shared. These events allow clinicians to share how they are applying the SureSmile platform in practice—often optimising it for their own clinical needs. It’s not a one-way exchange. Being able to present a challenging case and receive feedback from colleagues is invaluable. That, to me, is the real value of SureSmile gatherings: learning from one another and expanding the possibilities of what we can achieve together.

Editorial note:

¹ Alford TJ, Roberts WE, Hartsfield Jr JK, Eckert GJ, Snyder RJ. Clinical outcomes for patients finished with the SureSmile method compared with conventional fixed orthodontic therapy. Angle Orthod. 2011 May;81(3):383-8. doi: 10.2319/071810-413.1. Epub 2011 Jan 24.