Innovation in Oral Care: An Interview with the Mavrik Dental Systems® Founders
Discover what motivated Daniel Sanders, BS, DDS, and Morris Strauss, BDS Dip. Orth, to develop the TheraSmile® system—and how this uniquely automated technology can help advance your patient care, as well as build your practice.
When you were maintaining your own practices, was teeth whitening a large offering? Are patients heavily interested in teeth whitening treatments?
Dr. Sanders: Yes, teeth whitening was a large offering and was very sought after by many of my patients when I was practicing in New York City and in New Jersey. I’ve always been particularly interested in cosmetic dentistry, and a large part of my practice was geared toward providing cosmetic treatments. For me, it was gratifying to be able to make over patients’ smiles with the highest standards of professionalism and care.
Dr. Strauss: Teeth whitening was not a major conversation in Israel or Europe until the 1980s, so we did not offer this treatment to patients initially. My specialization is in orthodontics, which is closely related to dental aesthetics, so I had a number of patients who had achieved straight teeth and wanted to know what was next. To them, teeth whitening would complete the process of getting their teeth in the shape they wanted them to be in. We continued to get more questions about teeth whitening, which led me to investigate available treatments that could help them achieve the results they wanted.
What are the limitations of existing in-office teeth whitening treatments and do they impact patient care and results?
Dr. Strauss: When I started offering teeth whitening, I was not satisfied with the technology that existed. The sustainability and degree of whitening did not match what patients were having to pay for the treatments. In orthodontics, your results can last for many years, and I wanted to see the same with my patients’ teeth whitening results.
Dr. Sanders: Unfortunately, there are still a number of limitations that exist with in-office teeth whitening systems. Current technologies can be a strain on practices because the whitening gel must be applied and removed manually, which is labor intensive. Plus, most in-office systems rely on the use of additional home bleaching trays to try to decrease the relapse, making it a longer process for patients.
The application of the whitening gel is limiting, as well. Teeth are naturally translucent and transmit light, but typical application is only to the buccal surfaces of the teeth. Not being able to apply the gel onto the backsides of the teeth is a huge negative for overall patient results.
Additionally, these technologies only apply a thin coating of the whitening gel on the enamel surface, which limits efficacy. As a result, only a relatively small number of free radicals can be released to whiten the chromogens that are embedded in the enamel matrix and give the teeth their yellowed intrinsic stains. The whitening gel is often also applied statically, so there is no dynamic flow of new gel onto the enamel surfaces of the teeth. There also is no intraoral delivery device to deliver the gel in a closed manner, increasing the dehydration and post-treatment sensitivity of the teeth.
Was there a personal experience that led to a specific interest in enhancing teeth whitening technology? What ultimately motivated you to find a new way to handle in-office teeth whitening?
Dr. Sanders: I have tried pretty much every system and treatment protocol available on the market since the late 1980s. Over time, I developed a deep dissatisfaction with the treatments that existed. I was charging significant fees for the services but often, I was not achieving the results I felt I should be getting based on the marketing I had seen and my own criteria for providing clinical excellence.
Dr. Strauss: I had the same concerns. I did not feel comfortable charging my patients for whitening treatments that I didn’t think met my standards. To me, it wasn’t acceptable to offer a treatment that I didn’t believe had the sustainability or results that patients should be experiencing. The sensitivity was a large concern for my patients, as well.
Around 2011, the idea for TheraSmile Whitening was born in my office during a discussion with Dr. Sanders. We both agreed that what was on the market was not worthwhile, and we needed to find a solution that would be reasonably sustainable and that we could have a clear conscience over patients spending money on. We sat down for a lengthy coffee break and started working on our innovation.
Dr. Sanders: Our goal was to develop a solution that would provide lasting whitening results in one office visit through an automated, easy-to-use system that wouldn’t hurt the patient—and we succeeded through the TheraSmile Whitening system.
What are you most proud of when it comes to the TheraSmile Whitening system?
Dr. Strauss: I’m proud that we created a technology that will help patients achieve the results they deserve and help practitioners feel comfortable charging for the treatment they are offering. As we developed this new approach, we were amazed by the sustainability. We followed up with patients a week, a month, even two years later—and the results were lasting with minimal shade change.
We have been able to achieve close to maximum whitening, and that will increase patient satisfaction, as well as the practitioner’s overall satisfaction; if patients are happy, the practitioners are, too. We’re honored to provide this to the dental community and are proud that our unique technology is helping advance patient care and practitioner satisfaction.
Dr. Sanders: I’m proud that I was able to envision and conceive the entire TheraSmile Whitening system based on sound scientific principles and develop with our great Mavrik team the unique disruptive solutions based on my inventions that have proven to be clinically effective.
Our ioWave™ mouthpiece technology is the only elastomeric and flexible intraoral device that, when a vacuum force is applied to its internal treatment cavities differentially, collapses to provide vacuum-sealed treatment areas for treatment agents to be dynamically flowed into and removed. It’s a major clinical achievement, as it can be adapted to vacuum seal many different sizes and shapes of patient mouths.
The system represents out-of-the-box thinking, and it required a lot of ingenuity to overcome the daunting technical and clinical challenges we faced. Our team was willing and able to keep going, and our tenacity to never give up led us to success. It’s very satisfying to now see the tangible fruits of all our efforts over the years.
Overall, what are the unique features and benefits of the TheraSmile Whitening system for practices and patients?
Dr. Sanders: The TheraSmile Whitening system is a fully automated and easy-to-use technology that provides full monitoring of all functions of the teeth whitening treatment in real time.
TheraSmile Whitening offers:
- Controlled, high-volume delivery of whitening gel in automated cycles for maximum efficacy
- Dual chemical and thermal activation of the whitening gel for better whitening without any dehydration of the teeth
- No use of bleaching lights, which leads to minimal or no teeth sensitivity and limits “zingers”
- Single-visit treatment without the need for additional at-home whitening tray
- Minimal or no relapse of whitening results
- Unique intraoral mouthpiece that maintains fluid seal for maximum patient safety and that additionally allows for the dynamic flow and removal of high-volume whitening gels from both the upper and lower teeth simultaneously
- Effective 360-degree exposure of all enamel surfaces of the teeth
- Integration of unique intraoral barriers (MavGuard® and ArmorLC®) so only the teeth get whitened while protecting the other soft tissues inside the mouthpiece
Dr. Strauss: The TheraSmile Whitening system is also a viable commercialization system for practices. Dental hygienists and assistants can handle management of the treatment, as long as the dentist is on-site. My hygienists have done all of the procedures; I check the color shades before and after, but they handle the treatment management. This makes it a unique and economically sound investment for practices.
What are the distinct benefits of the MavGuard® gingival guard and ArmorLC® resin?
Dr. Strauss: We innovated the MavGuard because we wanted to achieve maximum efficiency of teeth whitening—while adequately protecting the mouth. Because peroxide can be caustic, we knew we needed a gingival protector that would ensure that only the raw surface of the teeth is exposed to the ioWave flow of the hydrogen peroxide. This allows us to do the whitening procedure on the front and back of the teeth, creating a more comprehensive whitening experience.
Dr. Sanders: The MavGuard is one of my most challenging inventions in the field of dentistry. It is the only pre-formed, self-gripping silicone dental barrier that fits the dentulous gum ridges of the upper and lower jaws where the teeth remain exposed and provides a fluid sealed barrier to the gum ridges. It allows the mouthpiece to provide a vacuum sealed intraoral “closed” system for the delivery of high-volume whitening gels onto the 360-degree surfaces of the upper and lower teeth—all while protecting the gums inside the mouthpiece and providing isolation for the rest of the body.
Instead of relying solely (as others do) on a “liquid dam” as the entire gum protection from the applied whitening gels, the ArmorLC was developed to be perfectly adapted for use in conjunction with the MavGuards to fully seal and protect the soft tissues inside the mouthpiece.
What are the long-term advantages of investing in the TheraSmile Whitening system over other technologies?
Dr. Sanders: The TheraSmile is a huge practice builder, as whitening is a treatment many patients want. With TheraSmile, providers will be able to offer solid whitening results in a single visit—and their patients will experience minimal sensitivity.
Once staff members are trained, the TheraSmile Whitening treatment can be performed by dental staff with no chair time for the dentist required. It’s a less labor intensive and fully automated treatment; once the patient is prepped, the system does the whitening. There’s no need for repeated manual applications and removal of gels throughout the treatment. This saves dentists—and their staff—significant time throughout the day.
Dr. Strauss: By investing in this technology, you know that what you are providing to your patients is worth their money and will be safe and healthy. While other companies are only treating the six front teeth, our technology is offering a comprehensive whitening experience on all surfaces of all of the teeth. The TheraSmile Whitening system is a complete shift from any other whitening technology that exists; your patients will see the results and sustainability that they want.
Dr. Sanders: We are also working to expand what the TheraSmile Whitening system can do and are looking to offer non-whitening treatments through the same system in the future. This will make the investment a good long-term opportunity to enhance patient treatments beyond just whitening.
Dr. Strauss: Yes, we’re excited to see what the future will hold. With our proprietary MavGuard, we’ll be able to add therapies beyond whitening. There is huge opportunity for MavGuard to be used to manage periodontal gum disease, oral wounds, fluoride treatments, tartar treatments and more. The system has potential beyond teeth whitening, and our goal is to bring additional treatments to market.
Take Back Teeth Whitening
The TheraSmile Whitening system is a uniquely automated whitening technology that dynamically delivers whitening fluid for 360-degree* whitening—bathing buccal, lingual and occlusal enamel surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. This effective technology can provide your patients with full hydration of the teeth throughout the entire treatment and offers immediate and lasting results.** Plus, through the utilization of our MavGuard® gingival guard and ArmorLC® resin, you can provide a more comfortable patient experience with complete gingival isolation.
Learn how the TheraSmile Whitening system can deliver better results for your patients—and enhance profitability for your practice—by getting in touch with us today.
Daniel Sanders, BS, DDS
Dr. Daniel Sanders is the Founder, Director and Global Chief Medical Officer of Mavrik Dental Systems. He is a 1986 DDS graduate of the Columbia University School of Dental Medicine in New York City. Dr. Sanders completed a General Practice Dental Residency from the Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NYC in 1988. He practiced dentistry in New York City and in New Jersey with his primary cutting-edge practice located in Midtown Manhattan for almost 20 years. Dr. Sanders was a Clinical Evaluator for Clinician’s Report, the leading non-profit dental product testing facility in the USA, and he has over 100 patents filed with over 40 world-wide patents granted in several fields of dentistry.
Morris Strauss, BDS Dip. Ortho
A graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, he received his orthodontic degree from Tel Aviv University Dental School (class of 1976) and has been a clinical instructor in its post-graduate orthodontic department for over three decades. Dr. Strauss maintains a cutting-edge private orthodontics practice in Herzliya, Israel. Dr. Strauss holds a patent on an innovative orthodontic device. He is also the recipient of the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for Orthodontics in Israel and Abroad from the Israel Orthodontic Association.
