NuSmile Acquires MTA Manufacturer Avalon Biomed
World leader in restorative dentistry expands bioceramic materials capabilities
HOUSTON, TEXAS—NuSmile Ltd. today announced its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Avalon Biomed Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) products.
Avalon Biomed Inc. was founded in 2011 by Carolyn Primus, PhD, who holds both Masters and Doctorate degrees in Materials Science & Engineering. Dr. Primus has 10 patents in dentistry, including three for MTA-based products, to her credit, and has co-authored over 20 papers on bioactive dental cements. Avalon Biomed’s two key commercial products are NeoMTA Plus® and Grey MTA Plus®.
NeoMTA Plus and Grey MTA Plus are award-winning, bioceramic, tricalcium silicate-based bioactive cements that trigger hydroxyapatite formation and dentinal bridging to promote the healing process. These products have broad indications for pulpal and periapical tissue contact including root-end filling to resorption, sealer to perforation repair, pulp-capping to base/liner, and pulpotomies to apexification. Each product is non-cytotoxic, mixes smoothly, handles easily, and enables washout resistance and faster clinical setting.
NeoMTA Plus is a light-colored, stainproof MTA that can be used universally for vital pulp and other endodontic indications. Grey MTA Plus has a light silvery color and is slightly more radiopaque for endodontic use.
Dr. Primus will join the NuSmile team and will lead its research efforts in bioceramic materials. “We are excited to have Dr. Primus and Avalon Biomed as part of the NuSmile family,” said Diane Johnson Krueger, NuSmile founder and CEO. “Dr. Primus will continue to focus on developing state of-the-art bioceramic medicaments for NuSmile, while the NuSmile team will ensure that we provide Avalon Biomed customers with the extraordinary customer care that NuSmile is famous for.”
“We are delighted to be part of the NuSmile family,” said Dr. Primus. “While we are proud of what we have been able to accomplish from an NIH SBIR grant in founding Avalon Biomed, and are confident that our greatest service to dental patients and clinicians lies ahead of us.”
According to Mark Binford, NuSmile SVP of New Product Development, NeoMTA Plus and Grey MTA Plus will continue to be marketed through Avalon Biomed’s global network of dental distributors, and through direct sales on Avalon Biomed’s website in the USA and Canada. He added, “We are committed to making sure that this transition is seamless for Avalon Biomed customers, NuSmile customers, and our distributors.”
NuSmile will continue to maintain the Avalon Biomed website at www.avalonbiomed.com. NuSmile’s recently enhanced website may be viewed at www.nusmile.com.