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 develop into a dentist?
After a dental go to once I was six years outdated I advised my mother I needed to be a dentist once I grew up. I used to be fascinated by all the pieces within the dental workplace. As I bought older, that want by no means modified and serving to folks 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 performed anything.
Dr. Kutsch as a 20-year-old
Why did you determine to start out CariFree?
After 20 years in observe, I used to be pissed off that my sufferers continued to get cavities. They have been doing all the pieces I used to be asking them to do, however they nonetheless bought new decay. It was then I spotted that what I had been taught wasn’t working, or let’s say it was treating cavities nevertheless it wasn’t addressing what was making the cavities. So I targeted my research on attempting to grasp the illness and sought assist from one of the best consultants on the planet. Once I lastly understood the illness, I saved coming again to Dr. Phil Marsh’s analysis about pH within the mouth being a main issue. So I put his idea to observe 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 best way to develop merchandise and navigate that course of. I knew my sufferers wanted them, and finally all people 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 notice that these have been obligatory substances for cavity prevention?
The science was all there. I had used the present gold commonplace method and didn’t get the outcomes I used to be on the lookout for. So understanding the science, I labored on combining methods to create merchandise that present as a lot vary of profit as doable. 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 the entire different methods mixed. Typically occasions by combining a number of methods in a single straightforward to make use of merchandise, the entire profit is bigger than the sum of the components. 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 doable simply makes logical sense.
Who was the primary affected person that you just seen 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 unlimited 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 folks. And it was immeasurably life altering or me. Out of the blue I used to be really in a position to assist folks 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 folks.
The place do you hope to see CariFree 20 years from now?
My goals 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 doable. I proceed to see gaps in our career with different ailments and situations and I feel we will provide hope to folks. Lots of dental illness is preventable, some very treatable, and a few that’s manageable with one of the best merchandise and techniques. I wish to be part of that journey.
Curious about studying extra in regards to the historical past of CariFree? Learn our look again from just a few years in the past right here: https://carifree.com/weblog/why-carifree-looking-back-at-our-company-history/