3M ESPE receives “Most Innovative” recognition for eighth consecutive year

3M ESPE has been named the most innovative company in the worldwide dental industry for the eighth consecutive year, based on new product approvals and international patents. The Anaheim Group, distributor of Dental Fax Weekly, published the finding in its 2012 Dental Industry Review.

The Dental Industry Review studies three factors in determining its “most innovative” honorees: FDA 510(k) new product clearances for the U.S. market, United States Patent Office dental industry patents, and dental patents from the European Patent Office and the World International Patent Office.

3M ESPE was recognized for 63 innovations in total during 2012. Additionally, in an examination of seven companies that have consistently ranked in the top 10 innovators since 2007, 3M ESPE far outranked the pack. The report cited 375 total innovations by 3M ESPE for the years 2007-2012, versus 213 for the second most innovative company.

The pace of innovation by 3M ESPE is made possible by the constant collaboration and cross-pollination of technologies across the many business units and corporate laboratories of 3M.  For example, one of the technologies used in 3M™ ESPE™ Filtek™ composite dental restoratives is also used in LCD screens to make them brighter, and may be used in the future to improve products as diverse as carbon monoxide filters and fuel cells.  3M is uniquely able to foster uncommon connections like these.

“3M ESPE is fortunate to be a part of a corporation whose culture is built upon sharing technology.  We are honored by this recognition and are committed to applying our technologies to solve real-world problems in dentistry,” said Mark Farmer, president of 3M ESPE. “We also look forward to bringing more innovations to dentistry in 2013 and the years after.”

The Dental Industry Review recognized 3M ESPE for several new product introductions during 2012, citing the 3M™ True Definition Scanner, 3M™ ESPE™ RelyX™ Ultimate Adhesive Resin Cement and the 3M™ ESPE™ Retraction Capsule, among others.