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. Take pleasure in!

What impressed you to develop into a dentist?

After a dental go to once I was six years previous I advised my mother I wished to be a dentist once I grew up. I used to be fascinated by the whole lot within the dental workplace. As I received older, that need 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 achieved anything.

Dr. Kutsch as a 20-year-old

Why did you determine to begin CariFree?

After 20 years in follow I used to be pissed off that my sufferers continued to get cavities. They had been doing the whole lot I used to be asking them to do, however they nonetheless received 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 making an attempt to grasp the illness and sought assist from one of the best exerts on the planet. After I lastly understood the illness, I saved coming again to Dr. Phil Marsh’s analysis about pH within the mouth being a major issue. So I put his idea to follow and knew I want 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 in the end all people would profit from them. It was principally understanding the science, seeing a spot 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 had been crucial substances for cavity prevention?

The science was all there. I had used the present gold normal strategy 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 doable. pH is foundational, however including fluoride and nano-HA and xylitol present even higher profit. And sodium hypochlorite mixed with these substances provided nice antimicrobial therapy together with the advantages of the entire different methods mixed. Typically instances by combining a number of methods in a single straightforward to make use of merchandise, the whole 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 doable simply makes logical sense.

Who was the primary affected person that you simply observed CariFree working nicely for? Or do you keep in mind a selected second the place you realized they’re life altering merchandise?

Within the early days I keep in mind an enormous variety of sufferers who simply immediately 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. Abruptly 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 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 occupation with different illnesses and situations and I feel we are able to provide hope to individuals. Numerous dental illness is preventable, some very treatable, and a few that’s manageable with one of the best merchandise and methods. I wish to be part of that journey.