Technology for early stage detection of tooth decay to support the Ben Massell Dental Clinic

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) has received an award of 19 DIAGNOdent pens from KaVo Dental GmbH. This award is in support of the Georgia Tech’s initiative to deliver state-of-the-art technologies to free and low-cost community clinics in Georgia, which provide important care for thousands of underserved residents. The dental instruments will be used as part of the collaboration between GTRI and Atlanta’s Ben Massell Dental Clinic.

KaVo’s DIAGNOdent Pen is a state-of-the-art handheld device that aids dentists in detecting small amounts of hidden tooth decay. The device is a painless method of locating the hidden decay before it has the chance to destroy the tooth surface. By locating the decay early, the DIAGNOdent Pen allows the dentist to treat the decay sooner and prevent more costly treatments.

Working in collaboration with the health care professionals, Georgia Tech researchers hope to develop low-cost, advanced technologies that are designed specifically for the unique needs of all community clinics. The goal of the program is to provide tools and information technologies to the doctors and staff in these clinics that will enable them to initiate preventative measures reducing the chance of a patient developing disorders that would later require much more expensive treatments. The technologies will be provided at no cost through an open source arrangement so that any clinic in Georgia, or the nation, can have access to the new developments. The community clinic initiative will depend on charitable gifts in order to fulfill its vision.

"Because community clinics have limited staff and budgets, the doctors typically do not have the resources to perform evaluations beyond the needed treatment," said Jeffery J. Sitterle, Ph.D., Chief Scientist and Director of the Dental Technology Center (DenTeC) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. "Rather than focusing on individual patients or specific diseases, we want to provide technologies that allow the doctors to identify potential medical and dental disorders in the early stages and deliver preventative care and patient education."

"We are pleased to be able to help the Ben Massell Clinic in this way and make this important technology accessible to a broader part of the population. The DIAGNOdent technology identifies and helps to treat problems before they become serious – and costly." Said Michael Eidenschink, Business Unit Director KaVo High Tech , "It is a win-win for all: dentists and patients."

"The award of KaVo’s DIAGNOdent Pens is one of the first steps in moving forward our community clinic initiative," said Sitterle. "The ability of these devices to provide early diagnosis of tooth decay directly support our goal of providing technologies to the clinics that will reduce the severity of future patient disorders. The result is that the doctors will have more time available to treat additional patients, improving the access of care for uninsured patients."

The Ben Massell Dental Clinic, which has a 90-year history of treating low-income patients, will open a new 7,500-square-foot, 15-operatory clinic near the Georgia Tech campus in early 2008 — four times the size of its current facility, which last year treated more than 6,000 patients. One of the nation’s few all-volunteer dental clinics, it is operated by the Jewish Family and Career Services. The new facility will support an alliance with Georgia Tech’s Dental Technology Center that will focus on the development of new technologies specifically designed to support oral care in the clinic.

KaVo, headquartered in Biberach/Riss, Germany, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of dental equipment for dental practices and dental laboratories. With the acquisition by Danaher in 2004, KaVo is now part of the Danaher Dental Platform with a wide range of dental equipment and consumables, and annual sales of more than $1.5 billion. The company's product portfolio ranges from extremely precise dental instruments to the fitting out of entire dental practices. KaVo’s dental equipment is comprised of four divisions: instruments, dental equipment, imaging products, High Tech products, and CADAM systems. KaVo has production facilities in Germany and Brazil. Furthermore, the company is represented world wide through its own sales and service companies or through exclusive dealer relationships.

The Georgia Tech Research Institute is the applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology, a leading university specializing in technology-based and biomedical research and education. GTRI employs over 1300 people in six states and Ireland and focuses on technology solutions that are implemented in real-word environments, including clinical settings. GTRIS offers a wealth of applied information technology and informatics expertise on both state and national levels, which complements the innovative, interdisciplinary research and education efforts applied to dental and craniofacial medicine through the internationally recognized Dental Technology Center (www.dentec.gatech.edu).

The Ben Massell Dental Clinic is a program of Jewish Family & Career Services (www.jfcs-atlanta.org) that provides professional volunteer staff and auxiliary personnel who deliver impeccable care, respecting the dignity and privacy of the financially disadvantaged persons who seek the Clinic’s services. This is accomplished each day with understanding, patience and caring. The Ben Massell Dental Clinic’s beginnings trace back to 1911 when Morris Hirsch established an outpatient medical center to provide services for those who couldn’t afford medical care. A dental program was added in 1929. Currently, the Clinic, named for the late Ben Massell, a local developer and philanthropist, is housed in a 2,000-square-foot building on 7th Street. Visit the Clinic online at www.benmasselldentalclinic.com.