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 turn out to be a dentist?
After a dental go to after I was six years outdated I informed my mother I needed to be a dentist after I grew up. I used to be fascinated by every part within the dental workplace. As I bought older, that want 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 may’t think about my life as having executed the rest.
Dr. Kutsch as a 20-year-old
Why did you resolve to begin CariFree?
After 20 years in apply, I used to be annoyed that my sufferers continued to get cavities. They had been doing every part 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 but it surely wasn’t addressing what should be blamed for the cavities. So I centered my research on attempting to know the illness and sought assist from the perfect consultants on this planet. After 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 apply and knew I wanted alkaline merchandise for my sufferers, and I found there actually weren’t any. Having began different dental manufacturing corporations earlier than, I knew how you can develop merchandise and navigate that course of. I knew my sufferers wanted them, and in the end everyone would profit from them. It was principally understanding the science, seeing a niche in merchandise, and creating one thing new.
Merchandise which have components 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 understand that these had been needed components for cavity prevention?
The science was all there. I had used the prevailing 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 attainable. pH is foundational, however including fluoride, nano-HA, and xylitol present even higher profit. And sodium hypochlorite mixed with these components supplied nice antimicrobial therapy together with the advantages of all the different methods mixed. Usually occasions by combining a number of methods in a single straightforward to make use of merchandise, the overall profit is larger than the sum of the components. Why use fluoride alone after 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 components as attainable simply makes logical sense.
Who was the primary affected person that you just observed CariFree working nicely for? Or do you keep in mind a particular 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 abruptly 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. Immediately I used to be really 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 easy. I need to proceed to develop merchandise that work and enhance the standard of life for as many individuals as attainable. I proceed to see gaps in our occupation with different ailments and circumstances and I believe we will provide hope to individuals. Plenty of dental illness is preventable, some very treatable, and a few that’s manageable with the perfect merchandise and techniques. I need to be part of that journey.
Serious about studying extra in regards to the historical past of CariFree? Learn our look again from a couple of years in the past right here: https://carifree.com/weblog/why-carifree-looking-back-at-our-company-history/