Bret Dyer, DDS, MS

Eric C. Sung, DDS

Synopsis of publication appearing in the International Association of Dental Research

Periodontitis occurs when bacterial plaque infects the ligaments and bones supporting the teeth, causing them to become loose and fall out.  This disease is usually treated by removing the calcified bacterial deposits and biofilm from the surfaces of the teeth and roots.  While some of these procedures are invasive surgeries, others are minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments yielding improved results.  However, both of these procedures have serious disadvantages including excess pain and healing time and can be difficult to perform because of visual impairments from blood and impractical instruments.  An effective alternative treatment for periodontitis is through utilization of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser or “water laser”.  By employing this method, easy visual access to the affected area is achieved, less bleeding occurs, and healing time and discomfort levels are greatly diminished.  The advantages for patients are gum treatment without scalpels and sutures.  Our research showed repair of the gum tissue without recession.  When compared to common gum surgery, the laser treatment resulted in better outcomes and took about half the time.

I use low level laser therapy (LLLT) after all treatment.  It’s like shining a flashlight on the tissue, patients cannot feel anything.  Yet the wavelength of the laser stimulates the gum and bone to heal faster.  LLLT also reduces swelling.  One study was reported using LLLT to treat osteonecrosis.  I have used LLLT on patients that have been referred to me for this problem.  So far, every site has healed within weeks of treatment.  I anticipate that LLLT may become the first line treatment for osteonecrosis in the jaw. 

Osteonecrosis before treatmentHealing after LLLT

Healing After LLLT

Guess which search terms patients are using to find yours truly.  So far the list I have includes:

gum doctor

gum surgery

gum pocket

bone loss around teeth. 

When I asked patients how the looked for dental implants, they gave me these keyworks:  dental implant cost, teeth implants, replace teeth, same day teeth, same day dentures. 

Surprizingly to me, not one patient used search terms for laser treatment.  Laser treatment is key to minimally invasive procedures.  Rather, patients needing this type of treatment searched for:  painless dentist. 

So after typing in key words and phrases, you see pages and pages of matches.  So what now.  In future posts, we’ll look at asking the right questions.

Smile Shaping

NEWS RELEASE for December 09, 2009

BIOLASE ANNOUNCES FDA 510(K) CLEARANCE OF ITS WATERLASE MD™ LASER FOR REMOVING CALCULUS IN PATIENTS WITH PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Minimally-invasive Treatment for Condition Impacting Over Half of Americans Over 55

IRVINE, CA (December 09, 2009) – BIOLASE Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLTI), the world’s leading dental laser company, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its Waterlase MD™ laser system for removal of subgingival calculi to prevent and treat periodontitis, the greatest cause of tooth loss for adults over 35 and a condition impacting more than half of Americans over the age of 55, per the website of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).

Calculus removal is a critical procedure in successfully managing and treating periodontal disease.  Industry experts estimate the condition effects 25% to 50% of American adults at various levels.  Cleaning the surface of the root is conventionally done by scraping with a hand instrument or using ultrasonics.  However, clinical studies indicate these methods can remove a significant amount of healthy tooth structure in the process.  The YSGG laser energy used by the Waterlase MD gently removes unwanted calculus deposits while preserving healthy tooth structure.  According to experts, this offers long-term benefits for sufferers of periodontal disease, because it controls inflammation and the disease without removing the healthy tissue required for regeneration and healing.  This new application of the Waterlase MD greatly enhances the recently announced Deep Pocket Therapy with New Attachment™ using the BIOLASE-patented Radial Firing Perio Tips™ (RFPT), a minimally invasive alternative to traditional, more invasive periodontal surgical treatment.  Deep Pocket Therapy with New Attachment is the procedure where the Waterlase MD laser is applied to remove inflamed tissue that leads to re-infection, and now removal of calculus deposits to prepare the surface of the tooth for new attachment is possible.  This is the final building block in a Total Periodontal Laser Solution from BIOLASE that is unique in dentistry.

“Deep Pocket Therapy with New Attachment is a whole new paradigm in the treatment of periodontal disease,” said Dr. Bret Dyer, a periodontist in Sugar Land, TX and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Houston’s Department of Periodontology.  Dr. Dyer is the lead author of a soon-to-be-published clinical study supporting the long-term benefits of periodontal therapy with the Waterlase MD.  Data in Dr. Dyer’s study was reviewed by the FDA to provide this latest clearance.  “In the past, periodontics has been focused on slowing the disease process down. With this procedure, we are closer now to reversing the disease than we have ever been.”

Dyer continued, “As periodontal health is maintained over the course of patients’ lives, most will have multiple occurrences of periodontal breakdown.  In the past doctors could only follow those patients until they needed surgery. But now, if they start to have breakdowns, we can perform a laser procedure with root surface calculus removal that reverses the breakdown process so those patients can avoid more invasive periodontal surgery.”

A recent periodontal patient of Dr. Dyer, who had been through several rounds of conventional periodontal surgery before having Deep Pocket Therapy with New Attachment, described his experience, “I had this procedure done about four days before Thanksgiving. I was concerned about recovery time, because I was having people over for the holiday. This procedure was a breeze. I had no problems, no complications. It was a surprise that it took less time to do the procedure and less time to get over it. I had a great Thanksgiving dinner.  I didn’t have any pain whatsoever, and I’m kind of squeamish about dental appointments. I didn’t even use the prescription for pain killers the doctor gave me.  The procedure only took minutes. That was a pleasant surprise in itself.”

Dr. Mark Schlesinger, a periodontist in New York, NY, explained, “This not only enhances results in the hands of a periodontist using the Waterlase MD for regenerative procedures, is also an alternative treatment for the general dentist who is treating mild to moderate periodontal cases.  Patients are also more likely to accept treatment when they hear that it is minimally invasive and patients who have accepted treatment are getting positive results and avoiding the side effects that they have heard about from conventional treatment.”

Dr. Dara Rosenberg, Director, Department of Dentistry for the General Practice Residency, St. Barnabas Hospital, NY said,  “This Therapy changes the environment in the periodontal pocket through removal of inflamed tissue and root surface calculus to promote healthy tissue regeneration.”

BIOLASE Chief Executive Officer David Mulder said, “This represents yet another significant increase in the day-to-day utility of the Waterlase MD in periodontal and generalist offices alike.  Doctors using the Waterlase MD have already been getting more treatment acceptance and more patient referrals for their standard procedures, and for specialists and generalists who want to do more, we offer a growing list of procedures to help their patients and their practices.  Our recent efforts have been very focused on periodontal disease treatment and prevention.  Periodontal disease is a growing problem in an aging population, and is now being linked to greater health concerns including cardiovascular disease.  For an aging population, we are very pleased to assist doctors in providing an efficient, effective, and more comfortable solution for treating periodontitis.”

The Waterlase MD system is marketed, sold and serviced to dental professionals by the Company’s exclusive North American distribution partner and growing international partner Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC).

About BIOLASE Technology, Inc.

BIOLASE Technology, Inc. (http://www.biolase.com), the world’s leading dental laser company, is a medical technology company that develops, manufactures and markets lasers and related products focused on technologies that advance the practice of dentistry and medicine. The Company’s products incorporate patented and patent pending technologies designed to provide clinically superior performance with less pain and faster recovery times. BIOLASE’s principal products are dental laser systems that perform a broad range of dental procedures, including cosmetic and complex surgical applications. Other products under development address ophthalmology and other medical and consumer markets.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provided by the Securities Reform Act of 1995 that are based on the current expectations and estimates by our management. These forward-looking statements can be identified through the use of words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” and variations of these words or similar expressions.  Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current, preliminary expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the statements contained herein, and are described in the Company’s reports it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual and quarterly reports. No undue reliance should be placed on forward-looking statements. Such information is subject to change, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements.

For further information, please contact: Jill Bertotti, of Allen & Caron, +1-949-474-4300.

NEWS RELEASE for October 29, 2009

BIOLASE ANNOUNCES REVOLUTIONARY GUM DISEASE TREATMENT

A Non-Surgical Alternative for the Treatment of Deep Periodontal Pockets

IRVINE, CA (October 29, 2009) – BIOLASE Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLTI) today announced its new Deep Pocket Therapy with New Attachment™ using the Waterlase MD™ and patented Radial Firing Perio Tips™ (RFPT) for a non-surgical alternative treatment for moderate to advanced gum disease.  The newly FDA cleared procedure for the Waterlase MD assists in new attachment, and in most cases provides  deep pocket treatments in a single visit without the use of a scalpel, stitches or the conventional cutting of the gums. 

Traditional periodontal therapy for the treatment of deep pockets involves a surgical procedure where after scaling and root planning of the teeth, the gum tissue is cut with a scalpel and flapped back to expose the teeth and underlying disease which is removed with traditional dental instruments, followed by stitching the gums back into place.  While treating deep pockets is considered critical for overall good health and the preservation of teeth, the invasive nature of the traditional procedure increases the anxiety many patients have for gum treatment.  Many patients diagnosed with moderate to advanced pockets have avoided the procedure all together. 

Dr. Bret Dyer, a periodontist from  Sugar Land, TX, one of the key clinical researchers who has been working with the Waterlase MD for periodontal therapy for many years and lectures and trains on periodontics worldwide states,  “We see patients every day that are seeking laser periodontal treatment.  Both referring dentists and patients want to avoid swelling, pain, and possible gum recession of flap surgery.  In my formal research and in clinical practice, I have found that Deep Pocket Therapy is a highly effective, more aesthetic and more comfortable alternative to traditional surgical procedures for my patients.”

Dr. Larry Nurin, a periodontist from Annapolis, MD, has been involved in the clinical testing and development of the DPT procedure.  He and his team of dentists will provide one of the BIOLASE approved advanced courses on the Deep Pocket Therapy.  He comments, “DPT is easy to understand and a procedure that dentists can take back after training and immediately implement in their practice.  In my practice, I now rarely need to perform traditional periodontal surgery.  My patients who have been treated surgically in the past can’t believe how much more comfortable the procedure is and love not having to have another office visit just to remove the stitches.  Referring dentists are happy because their patients I treated are happy.  It’s incredible.”

BIOLASE Chief Executive Officer David M. Mulder said, “A key part of our new strategy has been to formalize more applications for specialists and general practitioners alike, with a primary focus on periodontal procedures due to the unique all-tissue capabilities of the Waterlase MD.  This new FDA clearance, our patented Radial Firing Perio Tips™, our new Periodontal Package for the Waterlase MD™ and the advanced periodontal training in the Package have greatly expanded our offerings to our doctors and their patients.  We previewed the Waterlase MD™ Perio Package recently at the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) annual meeting in Boston recently and it was very well received.  A recent article about the development of our new patented Radial Firing Perio Tip™ by Dr. John Hendy in the October issue of Dental Town magazine has also started generating many calls.”

Mulder continued, “We and our global partners are proud to be assisting the periodontal community in delivering products and techniques that reduce patient anxiety and encourage patients with moderate to advanced periodontal disease to pursue the treatment they need.”

In North America and many countries around the world, BIOLASE products are available exclusively through Henry Schein Dental (NASDQ: HSIC).

About Henry Schein

Henry Schein, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the NASDAQ 100 Index, is recognized for its excellent customer service and highly competitive prices. The Company’s four business groups — Dental, Medical, International and Technology — serve more than 575,000 customers worldwide, including dental practitioners and laboratories, physician practices and animal health clinics, as well as government and other institutions. The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 200 countries with a comprehensive selection of more than 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 100,000 additional products available as special-order items. Henry Schein also provides exclusive, innovative technology offerings for dental, medical and veterinary professionals, including value-added practice management software and electronic health record solutions.

Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs over 12,500 people and has operations or affiliates in 23 countries. The Company’s net sales reached a record $6.4 billion in 2008. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.

About BIOLASE Technology, Inc.

BIOLASE Technology, Inc. (http://www.biolase.com), the world’s leading dental laser company, develops, manufactures and markets Waterlase technology and lasers and related products that advance the practice of dentistry and medicine.  The Company’s products incorporate patented and patent pending technologies designed to provide clinically superior performance with reduced pain, faster and biological recovery times.  BIOLASE’s principal products are dental laser systems that perform a broad range of dental procedures, including cosmetic and complex surgical applications.  Other products under development address ophthalmology, pain management and other medical and consumer markets.