The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) announced it is awarding $200,000 to Denver-based Sapphire Technology for funding and management assistance in developing its proprietary dental instruments.
Unlike current dental filling instruments, which typically use metal for their tips, Sapphire's SGS instrument line will employ highly polished and optically clear sapphire tips instead. The use of sapphire is intended to significantly reduce composite pullback as experienced with current metal instruments, which in turn is expected to provide a reduction of voids in the composite material and improve the bond between the filling material and the patient's natural tooth, according to the company.
As part of CID4's management support, Jonathan Thorne, a member of the CID4 board for the past two years, will join Sapphire Technology's Founder Alan Wong, DDS, and CEO H. Steven Rosen on the company's board of managers.
