Press Release

FenderWedge®
– The evolutionary new wedge that protects adjacent teeth

Stockholm, Sweden February 13, 2007 – The Swedish dental company Directa AB introduces the revolutionary protective wedge FenderWedge®; which with its new technology effectively protects adjacent teeth during the preparation of teeth for Class II fillings. The problem with damage to teeth caused by accidental contact with the bur is now a thing of the past.

The new protective wedge FenderWedge from Directa is a combined wedge and protective plate that together prevents any contact between the bur and tooth during preparation of teeth for Class ?? fillings, and other similar procedures.

Damage to neighbouring teeth caused by the bur is a common problem in a dentist’s everyday work. Research shows that teeth are damaged in more than 2/3 of the cases during the preparation of teeth for Class ?? fillings when a regular bur is used.* This is a common and frequently debated problem in the dental business, since a damaged tooth surface is three times more likely to develop caries compared to an undamaged surface. The FenderWedge is a product that has been eagerly awaited by professionals worldwide.

”It is an ethical necessity to protect adjacent teeth”, says Dan Ericson, Professor of Cariology and a Researcher at the Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University.

The assurance that any damage is done to the protective wedge instead of the patient’s teeth, enables the dentist to pay less attention to the adjacent teeth during the preparation. This will save time in the clinical work; and benefit dentists as well as patients.

The FenderWedge is easy to insert and stays firmly in place during the entire procedure, its protective plate of stainless steel is resistant and fully protects adjacent teeth. The wedge is easily inserted from the side, not through the contact point, which also helps to ease the teeth apart before the insertion of a matrix.

FenderWedge is the result of Directa’s philosophy ”Design by Dentists” – Development of products in close collaboration with leading dental practitioners and dental professors.

Facts about FenderWedge:
• Disposable wedge in 4 different wedge widths
• As easy to insert as a regular wedge
• Wedging prior to preparation for a better contact surface
• Jams in – stays in place
• Avoids interference

*)Qvist V, Johannessen L, Bruun M. (J Dent Res.1992 Jul;71(7):1370-3) Lussi A, Gygax M. (J Dent. 1998 Jul-Aug;26(5-6):435-41) Medeiros VA, Seddon RP (J Dent. 2000 Feb;28(2):103-10)

For further information please contact:
Olle Larsson, Managing Director, Directa
Phone: +46 8 506 505 76
Mobile: +46 708 593 483
E-mail: olle.larsson@directadental.com

About Directa
Directa, founded in 1916, is one of the fastest growing dental companies in the Nordic region with sales and marketing in 95 countries. Directa is groundbreaking in the dental business in its product development for- and by dentists. The philosophy: “Design by Dentists” pervades every function of the company, signifying that Directa develops all products in close collaboration with leading dentists and dental professors. The classic extraction instrument Luxator® and the revolutionary protective wedge FenderWedge® are examples of Directa products that have facilitated the clinical dental practice of dentists worldwide. The company has 20 employees and had a turnover of 50 million SEK in 2005. The head office and production plant are located in Upplands Väsby, Sweden.
Directa is one of 47 companies in the industrial group Lifco AB. Lifco AB Group has an annual turnover of 2.2 billion SEK, employs 1200 (2005) and is a subsidiary of privately owned Carl Bennet AB.
For more information visit: www.directadental.com and www.lifco.se

Olle Larsson, Managing Director, Directa AB

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