MALVERN, Pa., Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DentalEZ® Group today announced that it has signed a letter of intent to make Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC) the exclusive global distributor of the Identafi® Oral Cancer Screening Device, a product of the DentalEZ® Group's StarDental® Division. Henry Schein is the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, medical and animal health practitioners. Identafi will become a core component of Henry Schein Dental's Total Health' Beyond The Mouth initiative.
The Identafi system is a small, cordless, handheld unit that is designed for use in the offices of dentists, specialists and general practitioners to screen for oral cancers and pre-cancers. Unlike other fluorescent technologies and dye systems, the multi-spectral device uses a three-wavelength optical illumination and visualization system that allows dental professionals to identify biochemical and morphological changes in cells of the mouth, throat, tongue and tonsils that are not visible to the naked eye. The Indentafi Oral Cancer Screening Device received an Editor's Choice award from The Dental Advisor, was named as one of the "Top 100 Products of 2012" by Dentistry Today, and was selected as the Gold Winner in the dental instruments, equipment and supplies category of the 2012 Medical Design Excellence Awards competition.
"We admire the active role that Henry Schein has taken to advocate for the early screening of oral cancer, as well as their proven ability to build market share for innovative products like the StarDental Identafi Oral Cancer Screening Device," said Gordon Hagler, President and Chief Operating Officer of DentalEZ Group. "We look forward to the prospect of working with Henry Schein exclusively to advance this important public health issue and communicate the exceptional benefits of our system to dentists around the world."
The Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that oral cancer kills one person every hour, every day in the United States. However, when oral cancer is detected early, patients have an 80to 90 percent survival rate.
"The Indentafi Oral Cancer Screening Device will be an exciting new addition to the industry leading solutions that we offer exclusively to our customers," said Tim Sullivan, President of Henry Schein Dental.
"Henry Schein has been dedicated to the early detection of oral cancer for many years. We look forward to our new partnership with a renowned, worldwide dental company such as DentalEZ Group, and working together to expand our Total Health' Beyond The Mouth initiative, which underscores our steadfast commitment to help our dental customers provide the best and most comprehensive care possible to patients," added Mr. Sullivan.
Henry Schein Dental's Total Health Beyond the Mouth initiative includes the Total Health Checklist, which, together with screening and diagnostics, assists dental professionals in assessing a patient's oral health, its impact on their total health, and uncovering health problems.
About DentalEZ® Group
DentalEZ Group is committed to advancing the practice of dentistry through innovative products and services. Encompassing six distinct product brands - StarDental®, DentalEZ®, CustomAir®, RAMVAC®, NevinLabs', and Columbia Dentoform® - DentalEZ Group manufactures everything in the operatory, from handpieces to chairs to vacuum systems to dental simulation models, creating a complete line of products to elevate the health, comfort, and efficiency of the dental operatory. For more information, please visit www.dentalez.com.
About Henry Schein, Inc.
Henry Schein, Inc. is the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, medical and animal health practitioners. The Company also serves dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care sites. A Fortune 500® Company and a member of the NASDAQ 100® Index, Henry Schein employs nearly 15,000 Team Schein Members and serves approximately 775,000 customers.
The Company offers a comprehensive selection of products and services, including value-added solutions for operating efficient practices and delivering high-quality care. Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 100,000 additional products available as special-order items. The Company also offers its customers exclusive, innovative technology solutions, including practice management software and e-commerce solutions, as well as a broad range of financial services.
Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 26 countries. The Company's sales reached a record $8.5 billion in 2011, and have grown at a compound annual rate of 18 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.
SOURCE DentalEZ Group
