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JULY 15th, 2005
Kodak's Dental Systems Group, as part of its imaging and practice
management system operations, now offers USB 2.0 connectivity for its KODAK 1000 Intraoral Video Camera System. The USB connection
offers dentists the capability to easily interface the camera to a wide range of computer peripherals and PCs, simplifying
the installation process and allowing dentists in multi-office environments to share in the costs and benefits of the KODAK
1000 system. According to Paul Tucker, Dental Market Manager at Kodak's dental systems group, "Our improved intraoral video
camera delivers a streamlined, digital option our customers can use to quickly and easily acquire video images and access
them from their desktops. We're pleased to add this new camera system to our growing portfolio of integrated digital imaging
systems."
The KODAK 1000 System, besides not requiring any needed hardware to install, also comes with KODAK
Dental Imaging Software version 6.0.5 to simplify image acquisition and management tasks.
JUNE 13th, 2005
PFG Encourages Dental Care with Epic Dental Products Discounts
The Principal Financial Group (PFG), a provider of employee benefits and considered one of
the fastest growing dental carriers, is enticing customers to take better care of their teeth. The company now offer discounts
on products that it considers will help prevent tooth decay. To that end, In conjunction with Epic Dental, PFG has announced
a program that will give its customers as much as a 50 percent discount on Epic's xylitol products. Xylitol is, according
to Epic a natural sweetener that is not conducive to bacteria growth and reproduction. According to the company, studies have
shown that those that the use of xylitol products can reduce the risk of cavities by as much as 80 percent.
Theresa McConeghey, Dental Product Director for The Principal explained
the reasone behind most cavities, "The culprit behind most of our oral health concerns is the bacteria that live within
our mouths and on the surface of our teeth. Regular brushing and flossing will help reduce these bacteria, but adding the
use of products with xylitol - such as those offered by Epic - to that regimen will further work to eliminate them." She then
elaborated on the company's business model, "As a leader in offering dental care coverage and services, The Principal is dedicated
to going beyond dental insurance by offering services that help our members achieve and maintain good oral health. By providing
these discounts, our hope is that our members become more actively involved with the decisions made about their teeth and
gums - including the steps necessary to mitigate plaque and cavities."
The specific incentive program provides for a 50 percent discount
on an initial order of xylitol and 25 percent off any reorders.
MAY 31st, 2005
Oragenics Enters into $9 Million Financing Agreement -
Probiotic Anti-Decay Technology
Fusion Capital Fund II, LLC, has entered into an agreement to purchase $9 million of Oragenics
stock over a period of up to 30 months, subject to Oragenics’ right to control the times and amount of stock sold.
Chuck Soponis, Oragenics' President commented on the funding strategy,
"Overall, this financing commitment adds flexibility and gives Oragenics the financial resources to fund the initial clinical
development of Replacement Therapy, our investigational treatment against dental decay, currently undergoing Phase I clinical
studies. It also will support the ongoing preclinical development of our novel antibiotic, Mutacin 1140.
Oragenics has developed a new type of oral rinse for the prevention
of tooth decay. In addition the company is developing an antibiotic with, as it states, "broad-spectrum activity against gram-positive
bacteria." There are two major classifications of bacteria that are responsible for a wide range of human diseases,
gram-positive and gram-negative.
MAY 16th, 2005
Oral-B Toothbrush Selected as Most Effective
A study by a non-profit health research group based in Great Britain, Cochrane Collaboration,
has indicated that the Oral-B( Professional Care 8000 is the most effective in the removal of plaque and reducing gingivitis
when compared to other power toothbrushes - including sonic driven tooth brushes. The study included a review of published
studies from 1964 to 2004. Dr. Paul Warren, Vice President of Clinical Research at Oral-B took the moment to underline the
company's toothbrush technology, "This study again conclusively proves that Oral-B's rotation oscillation action power toothbrush
technology is superior in providing protection against gum inflammation and keeping teeth clean."
Power toothbrushes in the study included Oral-B, Philips Sonicare,
Interplak, Rowenta and Ultrasonex. The results can be viewed at Cochrane's web site, www.cochrane.org
MAY 2nd, 2005
NovaMin Technology, Inc., a biomaterials company with tooth remineralization technology, has
received funds from investors to further its plan to eliminate dental bills associated with cavities and other oral health
problems. The company has obtained $4.4 million in a financing round to help commercialize NovaMin, which is NovaMin Technology's
proprietary active material used to stimulate bone growth. Intersouth Partners led the Series B round.
January 26th,
2005
Anti-Biofilm Technology
Licensed for Plaque Prevention Product
Kane Biotech has been
granted exclusive rights to the Competence Stimulating Peptide (CSP) inhibitor technology from the University
of Toronto. The technology is said to inhibit the growth of dental plaque,
a biofilm. The CSP technology has been shown to inhibit the growth of dental plaque biofilms Streptococcus mutans, the notorious
bacteria which thrives in human mouths, and is known to resist acidic environments, is reported to be a direct result of CSP,
which the CSP technology inhibits.
Kane Biotech gave a figure
of $3.7 billion as the size of the 2003 United States oral dental care
market and $70 billion for the total United States
dental market.
FDA Lifts Clinical Ban on GMO Based Dental Technology
Oragenics, Inc. (AMEX:ONI) has announced that its Replacement Therapy
Technology hold by the FDA has been lifted. Oragenics plans to initiate the Phase I safety testing of its Replacement Therapy
in 2005.
The company, which has an unusual approach to dental health, explained
that tooth decay is caused by the formation of lactic acid formed by a microorganism called Streptococcus mutans. Oragenics
therapy uses genetically modified strains of S. mutans which does not emit lactic acid. Once the genetically modified S. mutans
are applied to the teeth, they displace the natural Streptococcus mutans. Because of this, the mouth will be potentially free
of lactic acid and tooth decay forever.
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been hotly contested
throughout the world. One of the reasons is that there is a fear that natural species will be lost as genetically altered
organisms reproduce with natural organisms - with potential devastating consequences to the world's food supply. For example,
one scenario is that genetically modified corn modified to more readily produce combustible fuel, could reproduce with natural
species of corn. This in turn could result in all natural corn becoming tainted. Corn modified for fuel production, in general,
is not meant as food. The complete effects of insect modification, as well as microorganism modification, on the world ecosystem,
is not and may never be completely known. What if bees stings didn't hurt? Would bees still be able to survive as a species?
Or would they evolve back to their previously evolved state? Some evolutionists have examined the subject in historical detail.
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