Thuringian Company Serves Up Pain-Free Dentistry Method Using Laser Technology

Dr. Bernhard Seitz, CEO of Asclepion-Meditec AG, explains new dental treatment.

The pain and tooth destruction associated with today's standard treatment for dental caries may soon be a thing of the past.

Engineers at a company located in the booming technology town of Jena in the State of Thuringia in eastern Germany have come up with a groundbreaking and painless way to fix tooth cavities.

Asclepion-Meditec AG, working in cooperation with the London-based company, Denfotex and British scientists, has developed a new method called PAD/SaveDent, the world's first painless treatment that can disinfect root canals and caries.

The PAD/SaveDent system, which received approval on November 2, 2001 in Europe, will be field tested in key markets in Europe and other parts of the world by Asclepion-Meditec's marketing partners.

Using a small specially designed “smart” laser, a tiny hole less than 1 mm wide is made to reach the bacteria in the decayed area of the tooth. A special photo-activated disinfecting solution is then injected so that, when laser light is again applied, the solution effectively kills off the bacteria inside the tooth without having to carve out much of the tooth in the process, as is done today.

A fluoridated dentine material is then injected to fill the cavity area and restore tooth strength.

Dr. Bernhard Seitz, CEO of Asclepion-Meditec, says they are now preparing to submit the technology for FDA approval in the United States.

But the company’s pain-free caries treatment is only the most recent example of how Asclepion-Meditec has succeeded in pioneering a series of new laser applications by bringing together different areas of science and advanced laser technology.

In this case, the company’s expertise in laser technology was matched with knowledge of dentistry and chemistry.

Asclepion-Meditec, which has been making medical laser systems for more than 20 years, today focuses on three main areas:

• Vision – Refractive Surgery,

• Micro-Surgery Aesthetics – Skin Ablation, Hair Removal, Tatoo Removal, Vascular and Pigmentation Treatment

• Dentistry – Caries Therapy, Periodontia and Endodontics

Asclepion-Meditec was a pioneer in developing laser eye surgery, first introduced worldwide in 1986. Asclepion’s laser eye surgery system was approved for use in the United States in 1996-97.

Today, the company manufactures laser surgery systems for the correction of the cornea and poor vision, as well as the treatment of cataracts and glaucoma.

In the field of individual eyesight correction (customized ablation) Asclepion-Meditec is the largest European manufacturer of laser systems for ophthalmology (vision correction and eye disease) and the worldwide market leader with over one hundred and sixty systems sold since 1998.

The company continues to refine and improve its laser eye technology. In September 2001, Asclepion-Meditec hosted a scientific symposium in Amsterdam to receive the results of clinical trials by specialists from around the world of a new Asclepion-Meditec innovation called WASCA, short for wavefront diagnosis system.

Developed together with the American company Wavefront Sciences, Inc., the system further improves the ability to detect and take into account even the smallest vision defects which arise, for example, when the eye adjusts from short to long focus and innovation called WASCA, which is short for wavefront diagnosis system.

Developed with the American company, Wavefront Sciences, Inc., the system further improves the ability to detect and take into account even the smallest vision defects that can arise, for example, when the eye adjusts from short to long focus and that before WASCA, were not measurable factors.

“The results of the scientific studies where were presented at the symposium confirm the supreme technical performance of our WASCA diagnosis system and prove the great potential which our technology holds for improving the quality of eye operations,” said Dr. Seitz.

In another development, Asclepion Meditec AG and a division of Carl Zeiss Group announced on November 22, 2001 that they will form a new company called Carl Zeiss Meditec AG to expand their respective market positions in the field of vision care and eye disease.

Asclepion is Europe’s largest provider of laser eye surgery equipment while Zeiss is the leading brand for ophthalmic diagnostic systems and already has a strong presence in the important US market.

With combined sales if about 260 million Euro in the 2001 business year ending September 30, and approximately 750 employees (of which about 400 will be located in Jena) the new company will be a leading global manufacturer of ophthalmic equipment. For further information, see http://www.asclepion.com.—