We are able to’t imagine it, however this month we’re celebrating 20 years of CariFree. In honor of this celebratory month, we’ve interviewed CariFree founder and CEO, Dr. Kim Kutsch, to get his ideas on why he developed these merchandise and the place he hopes to go from right here. Get pleasure from!
What impressed you to turn into a dentist?
After a dental go to after I was six years outdated I instructed my mother I wished to be a dentist after I grew up. I used to be fascinated by all the things within the dental workplace. As I acquired older, that want by no means modified and serving to individuals turned a driving motivation in my life and dentistry has allowed me to just do that. I’m so grateful I turned a dentist and might’t think about my life as having completed anything.
Dr. Kutsch as a 20-year-old
Why did you determine to begin CariFree?
After 20 years in apply, I used to be annoyed that my sufferers continued to get cavities. They had been doing all the things I used to be asking them to do, however they nonetheless acquired new decay. It was then I noticed that what I had been taught wasn’t working, or let’s say it was treating cavities nevertheless it wasn’t addressing what should be blamed for the cavities. So I centered my research on attempting to grasp the illness and sought assist from the very best specialists on this planet. Once I lastly understood the illness, I stored coming again to Dr. Phil Marsh’s analysis about pH within the mouth being a major issue. So I put his idea to apply and knew I wanted alkaline merchandise for my sufferers, and I found there actually weren’t any. Having began different dental manufacturing corporations earlier than, I knew the right way to develop merchandise and navigate that course of. I knew my sufferers wanted them, and finally everyone would profit from them. It was principally understanding the science, seeing a niche in merchandise, and creating one thing new.
Merchandise which have substances like nano hydroxyapatite, sodium hypochlorite and elevated pH weren’t on anybody’s radar 20 years in the past within the US. What made you understand that these had been vital substances for cavity prevention?
The science was all there. I had used the prevailing gold customary method and didn’t get the outcomes I used to be searching for. So understanding the science, I labored on combining methods to create merchandise that present as a lot vary of profit as attainable. pH is foundational, however including fluoride, nano-HA, and xylitol present even higher profit. And sodium hypochlorite mixed with these substances provided nice antimicrobial remedy together with the advantages of all the different methods mixed. Typically occasions by combining a number of methods in a single simple to make use of merchandise, the overall profit is larger than the sum of the elements. Why use fluoride alone once we know that fluoride plus xylitol is even higher. The identical with nano-HA, including fluoride will increase the profit. So combining as many science supported substances as attainable simply makes logical sense.
Who was the primary affected person that you simply seen CariFree working effectively for? Or do you keep in mind a particular second the place you realized they’re life altering merchandise?
Within the early days I keep in mind an unlimited variety of sufferers who simply all of a sudden stopped getting cavities after utilizing the merchandise for six months or so. And after being wholesome and decay free then for 2 years or longer, I actually started to understand how life altering it was for individuals. And it was immeasurably life altering or me. Out of the blue I used to be actually in a position to assist individuals get decay free and wholesome for the primary time in my profession. It was one success story after one other, and it deepened my dedication to make a distinction and assist individuals.
The place do you hope to see CariFree 20 years from now?
My desires for the corporate are fairly simple. I need to proceed to develop merchandise that work and enhance the standard of life for as many individuals as attainable. I proceed to see gaps in our career with different ailments and circumstances and I feel we are able to provide hope to individuals. Loads of dental illness is preventable, some very treatable, and a few that’s manageable with the very best merchandise and methods. I need to be part of that journey.