We are able to’t consider 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. Take pleasure in!
What impressed you to grow to be a dentist?
After a dental go to after I was six years previous I informed my mother I wished to be a dentist after I grew up. I used to be fascinated by every thing within the dental workplace. As I bought older, that need by no means modified and serving to individuals grew to become a driving motivation in my life and dentistry has allowed me to do exactly that. I’m so grateful I grew to become a dentist and might’t think about my life as having carried out the rest.
Dr. Kutsch as a 20-year-old
Why did you resolve to start out CariFree?
After 20 years in follow, I used to be annoyed that my sufferers continued to get cavities. They have been doing every thing I used to be asking them to do, however they nonetheless bought new decay. It was then I noticed that what I had been taught wasn’t working, or let’s say it was treating cavities however it wasn’t addressing what should be blamed for the cavities. So I centered my research on making an attempt to grasp the illness and sought assist from the most effective 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 main issue. So I put his concept to follow and knew I wanted alkaline merchandise for my sufferers, and I found there actually weren’t any. Having began different dental manufacturing firms 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 elements 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 notice that these have been obligatory elements 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 in search of. 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 elements provided nice antimicrobial therapy together with the advantages of all the different methods mixed. Typically instances by combining a number of methods in a single simple to make use of merchandise, the full profit is bigger than the sum of the elements. Why use fluoride alone after 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 elements as attainable simply makes logical sense.
Who was the primary affected person that you just observed CariFree working effectively for? Or do you bear in mind a selected second the place you realized they’re life altering merchandise?
Within the early days I bear in mind an enormous variety of sufferers who simply all of the 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. Instantly I used to be really capable of 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 easy. I wish 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 illnesses and situations and I believe we are able to supply hope to individuals. Numerous dental illness is preventable, some very treatable, and a few that’s manageable with the most effective merchandise and techniques. I wish to be part of that journey.
