Dental News Roundup March 2011
BY LAUREN UZDIENSKI, MARCH 31, 2011
M&A
Align Technology announced plans to acquire Cadent Holdings, Inc., a provider of 3D digital scanning solutions for orthodontics and dentistry, for $190.0 million. The company says Cadent "strengthens Align's ability to drive adoption of Invisalign by integrating Invisalign treatment more fully with mainstream tools and procedures in doctors' practices" and that the acquisition will "help accelerate the use of intra-oral scanning in the dental industry." The deal is expected to close in 2Q:11.
Regulatory
Straumann received regulatory approval from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to market their Bone Level dental implants. The company says the Bone Level Implant, which attaches underneath the gum at, or close to, the crest of the jaw bone, comes in three diameters and four lengths and "addresses a broad range of tooth replacement indications."
Product Introduction and Update
ACE Surgical Supply and Henry Schein Dental launched the miniMARK Miniature Dental Implant System. The product features the LOCATOR attachment by Zest Anchors, which is an over-denture attachment.
Keystone Dental launched DynaMatrix Plus, a soft tissue regeneration product designed to serve as an alternative to patient's own tissue for root coverage and tissue bulking procedures. The company says the DynaMatrix technology contains active signaling proteins that enables the material to work with the patient's own tissue to support the natural healing process.
Nobel Biocare introduced several new products and product modifications at the International Dental Show. NobelReplace is now available in two new versions: NobelReplace CC, which features a third-generation internal conical connection, and NobelReplace PS, which offers platform shifting based on the existing tri-channel connection. The company also introduced their NobelClinician Software, which "combines a patient’s detailed clinical information with 3D radiographic data", allowing a physician to control "all parameters associated with the implant treatment approach, system and positioning."
Sirona introduced the SIROBoost, a new high-performance generation of turbines that offers a "high torque, allowing efficient, faster and more comfortable operation."
Clinical
New data found a correlation between maintaining routine dental care and reduced healthcare costs for diabetics. Researchers found that diabetics cost one payor $2,484 more per year if they didn't receive routine dental care and get immediate treatment for periodontitis. Interestingly, when costs were evaluated by sex, male patients saved payors $3,212.36 annually if they got regular periodontal care, while dental care for women saved only $735.27 per patient per year. The study did not evaluate how the savings were generated.
Collaborations
Dental Wings, 3M ESPE and Straumann announced that they are partnering to create an open global standard software platform for use across a range of dental applications. The companies say the initiative is "expected to offer enhanced flexibility, simplicity, and convenience for users, while saving time, costs and investment risk." The press release notes that standardized software is expected to be a main driver of the digital market. In a separate announcement, Straumann and 3M ESPE said that they are collaborating to develop a streamlined digital implant workflow that connects the Lava Chairside Oral Scanner C.O.S., to the Straumann CARES digital platform for prosthetic restoration of Straumann implants.
Miscellaneous
DENTSPLY announced that its stock repurchase program has been broadened to enable the company to maintain up to thirty-four million shares in Treasury, an increase in the repurchase authorization of twelve million shares. The press release notes that company has repurchased just over two million shares thus far in 2011 and currently has twenty-two million shares of Treasury stock, completing its prior authorization level. DENTSPLY has approximately one hundred forty-one million shares of common stock outstanding.
