Dr. Cao is the inventor of the modern dental diode laser and holds over 160 patents covering numerous innovations in dentistry including the LED curing light. He is also the CEO of CAO Group, Inc. which manufactures a range of dental products based on breakthrough technology platforms. 

Densen Cao, Ph.D

	Each month, Dr. Lou Shuman consults with dental industry experts to discuss the latest developments in technology ranging from truly innovative new products to the latest ideas in practice marketing, website optimization, SEO strategies, social media trends, online reputation management and more.

	This month, Dr. Shuman sat down with Densen Cao, inventor and CEO of CAO Group, to discuss a new approach to delivering dental medicaments enabled by next-generation technology.

	What fundamental innovations have you brought to dentistry?

	In the late 1990s, my research was focused on the use of LED light sources to replace halogen curing lights, which were bulky, hot and degraded quickly. In 2000 we introduced the first commercial LED curing light and almost every LED light in the market today uses that patent. With further research into the fields of optics and light we invented and launched the first compact soft-tissue diode laser for dentistry in 2002, with many of the best-selling brands today using our technology.

	Recently we have developed technology for more effective and efficient medicament delivery to the oral cavity, which we see as having many important applications today and in the future.

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	What exactly does medicament delivery mean?

	Medicaments are all forms of therapeutic substances, including those that are applied topically. Injections and trays are traditional forms of medicament delivery in dentistry but have limitations and drawbacks. There are healing agents that would be more effective with persistent delivery over an extended time, but of course that’s a challenge in the wet environment of the mouth not to mention the issue of swallowing the medicaments outright.

	We have created a patented medicament strip delivery system with a semi-sticky gelatinous matrix that is ideal for encapsulating a variety of therapeutic agents and conforms beautifully to the teeth and gum tissue. We apply the medicated gelatin layer to a uniquely pliable backing strip for ease of application and a form fit.  

	Are there products employing this medicament strip technology that are commercially available now?

	The first application has been for improved professional whitening products. Since there are over-the-counter strip offerings, we knew this product had to meet a significantly higher professional standard. In both our SheerWhite! In-Office and Take-Home products we have been able to achieve stable 20 percent concentrations of the active whitening agents (hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, respectively). Higher concentrations as well as an improved fit have resulted in a product that delivers faster results with shorter wear time.   

	At the same time our dentists told us that we needed to overcome issues like high cost, inconvenience, chair-time inefficiency and sensitivity that hamper traditional professional offerings. Sensitivity is reduced by significantly improved fit and encapsulation of the active whitening agents, even at higher concentrations. There are no custom trays or messy gels for either the staff or the patient. Chair time for the in-office system is one minute or less. The take-home strips are easier for the patient to apply correctly and permit eating and drinking liquids during wear. The fit and esthetics are so good that patients can wear them in public and talk normally. And the technology is so efficient to manufacture that dentists can compete with over-the-counter pricing while offering a professional quality product that reflects positively on their practice.

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	What other applications are on the near horizon for delivery via medicament strips?

	We envision this strip delivery system as a platform for a variety of treatments, including desensitization, remineralization, periodontal disinfection, administration of topical anesthetic and fluoride application.  These strips will provide a better patient experience and fast and effective therapy due to increased surface area contact and duration, and elimination of costly and time-consuming trays and solutions

Articles






Exploring how next-generation technology and advances in therapeutic delivery systems are leading to opportunities for practice growth.

How technology advancements are shaping medicament delivery

	Since being cleared by the FDA for use in dentistry over 30 years ago, lasers covering a range of formats have been introduced with varying degrees of adoption. 

	In recent years advances in the core laser technology, improvement in the laser units themselves, and the expansion of dental applications are moving lasers into the mainstream of dentistry where daily use is becoming commonplace. If you are among the estimated 80 percent of dentists not yet offering laser dentistry here are five reasons to consider whether a laser should be in your near future.

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	1. Flexible cost-effective lasers have proven their value in the operatory  

	Lasers of varying types including solid state lasers (NdYAG and ErYAG), gas lasers (CO

), and diode lasers have been increasingly used in dentistry over the last 20 years.  Initial adoption was low for a variety of reasons, including large size requiring considerable operatory space, lack of user friendly features, limited procedural applications and prohibitively high prices. In the last five years Erbuim and CO

 lasers with both hard and soft tissue treatment capabilities have declined in price and can now be purchased for as low as $25,000. Diode lasers have become an easy choice for soft tissue procedures due to extremely small footprints, flexibility, greatly enhanced ease of use and dramatically lower pricing. Since being introduced in the 1990’s at $30,000 per unit, diode lasers can now be purchased for between $3,000 and $8,000 making the ROI clear.

	Lasers cut and coagulate by focusing laser light energy which is converted into heat at the operative site. For example, diode units incorporate a fiber optic tip, which delivers the laser beam. These tips or fibers must be cut or changed from patient to patient to avoid cross contamination. Early versions were difficult to trim or change resulting in damaged fiber cables which interfered with efficient energy transmission. Now with high-quality powered retractable fiber cartridges in some models, and easy to-change disposable tips in others, it’s a simple matter to change or trim fibers insuring patient safety and maximizing cutting and coagulation efficiency.

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	Issues of operatory space are being overcome with more compact models. While early lasers came with large floor-standing enclosures, many of the newer models offer sleek table top form factors (about the size of a toaster oven). Today’s lasers also incorporate intuitive displays allowing for easy control of functionality such as variable power settings, continuous or pulse modes of cutting, and procedure-specific presets. Some models even include touchscreen or iPod

 touch interface which provide a familiar interface capable of delivering tutorials and training videos right to the unit. Small and compact wireless foot pedals, which are battery operated, provide additional ergonomics. Combined, these features make the lasers of 2017 much more dentist friendly than their predecessors.

	Probably the most significant advancement in lasers is in the variety of routine clinical procedures for which they are indicated. Treatments that would have once been referred out can now be done in-office. Procedures like tissue troughing, gingivectomies, crown lengthening, ulcer and cold sore treatment, orthodontic exposure of impacted teeth and implant uncovering can now be performed with less bleeding, quicker healing and improved patient comfort relative to traditional methods. Attachments on certain lasers can even provide TMJ therapeutic treatment or teeth whitening.

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	5. Laser preparation for digital impression scanning.

Digital dentistry and digital workflow are at the core of discussions on the future of dentistry. The digital impression is becoming ubiquitous and will arguably evolve to become the standard of care in a matter of years. Lasers provide a “killer application” to aid in taking digital impressions. One of the biggest challenges with digital impressions is being able to take high quality digital scans that completely capture the margin. Creating a dry open area below the margin is critical. Without proper site preparation, digital impressions may not capture deep sulcus points.

	This deficiency can result in a poor scan leading to ill-fitting restorations. Lasers are a fast and less traumatic modality for creating adequate space between the tooth and tissue required for a quality scan. Additionally, because the laser cauterizes the capillaries as it cuts, it naturally creates a stable, drier site. Blood and saliva are mortal enemies of the digital scan and will create distorted impressions. A laser can be seen as an important adjunct to your intraoral scanner and therefore to your digital workflow as a whole.

If you aren't currently using lasers in your practice, it's time to rethink your decision.