Tech Trends: A look into the latest dental and general technology on the market

Pixel Liber RGB Video Light ($66.99, PIXEL)

Portable, versatile and modular equipment has become incredibly appealing to dentists in recent years. It is now common for a single handpiece to be used in multiple dental disciplines or for all the intraoral X-ray units in a practice to be handheld. For equipment that is less often used (like lights for clinical photos), these qualities become paramount. The Pixel Liber is a newly released camera light that boasts qualities of professional equipment, but in a form that fits in the palm of one’s hand at an incredibly competitive price. This product was tested with a Nikon z50 camera with a Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro lens (intraoral images) and a Nikkor 85mm f1.8 lens (extraoral images).

Pixel is a Hong Kong-based company that specializes in camera accessories. It has distilled its experience in this space to produce the Liber, which boasts a softbox diffuser, mobile app control, adjustable color temperatures between 2500k-8500k, 10 flash effects, magnetic mounting and a rechargeable battery with a 90-minute continuous use life. The Liber weighs less than 3 ounces and is no larger than a modern cell phone. The Pixel Link mobile app allows one mobile device to wirelessly control up to eight Liber lights simultaneously. Drawbacks of the device include poor stability with the magnetic mounts, overheating with continuous use of more than 40 minutes, a fragile softbox and an overly focused beam of light despite the softbox. Intraoral images taken with just the Liber are acceptable, though the reflectivity of teeth is accented because of the light’s tightly focused beam. Extraoral images are easier to acquire well than intraoral images. Overall, the Liber is a good choice for practitioners who want to use affordable, portable devices for camera lighting, but it does not serve those seeking all-in-one, plug-and-play options.

— Alexander Lee, DMD

YubiKey 5 Series (starts at $45, Yubico)

The YubiKey 5 Series consists of physical security keys that support modern online account authentication protocols. The series contains different versions to accommodate computer, tablet and phone connections such as USB-A, USB-C, Lightning and NFC. Depending on the protocol supported by the account, these keys can function as a 2FA, MFA or single-factor password-less login. Yubico maintains an extensive online catalog of applications that work with YubiKey along with setup instructions for each account.

For accounts that support password-less authentication, such as Microsoft, users can register one or more keys along with a unique PIN. Whenever users reach an account login prompt or screen, they simply insert their key, tap its touch area and enter their PIN to authenticate. No passwords are required and multiple registered keys can serve as backup in case one is lost or stolen. Users can easily deregister a key that’s no longer in their possession to maintain account security. For other supported accounts that do not accept password-less logins, these keys can serve as the 2FA or MFA after users enter their credentials, where a prompt appears for them to insert and tap the key followed by entering their PIN to authenticate. For accounts that only support the time-based onetime password (TOTP) security protocol, users can store their TOTPs using the Yubico Authenticator app, which requires a physical security key to open. All of these authentication options require users to have a registered physical security key on hand to access supported accounts, which greatly enhances security and decreases the likelihood of malicious account takeovers. The setup, however, is tedious and requires some knowledge and experience in the management of online accounts.

Numerous cybersecurity and identity theft incidents occur daily to average users. It is a constant battle for organizations to educate and protect their users from online attacks. Users can do their part by reviewing their online accounts to ensure all security recommendations are in place. While no single measure is completely effective against malicious threats, a combination of security protocols significantly reduces the chances of account theft. The YubiKey 5 Series is an additional physical tool that further adds to the security of supported online accounts for advanced users.

— Hubert Chan, DDS