LASERS IN DENTAL TREATMENT WITHOUT NEEDLES AND DRILLS
Dr Omar Zuaiter
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Dentroid
Alaa Habeb
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Dentroid
Professor Laurence Walsh
Chief Dental Officer, Dentroid &
Emeritus Professor, School of Dentistry, University of Queensland &
Adjunct Professor, Griffith University, Queensland
Professor Heiko Spallek
Member Scientific Advisory Committee, Dentroid &
Head of School and Dean of The University of Sydney School of Dentistry
BENCH SIDE STORY CASE STUDY
Filmed in Brisbane, Canberra & Sydney | December 2024
In 2017, Dr. Omar Zuaiter and Alaa Habeb launched Dentroid, a dental technology startup with a mission to make dentistry a kinder and friendlier experience for patients and dentists using photonics (using laser technology) and robotics, as alternatives to needles, drills and sprays. The vision for the startup is to have dentistry adopt laser technology, addressing the root causes of dental pain & anxiety, and create a pain-free dental experience.
Dentroid is pioneering the adoption of femtosecond lasers in dentistry which will be their first surgical application outside eye surgery. Unlike conventional dental lasers or rotary instruments, femtosecond lasers have a very unique ability to precisely cut through the most resistant materials without requiring cooling or causing thermal damage. This “cold cutting” creates convenience for the patient, clearer vision for the practitioner and a cleaner environment in the office without microbes laden droplets.
A key distinctive feature of femtosecond laser in “cold cutting” is that it leaves the underlying tissues unharmed with the aim of supporting faster healing with less postoperative complications.
Dentroid envisages femtosecond lasers, combined with their patented miniaturised robotic technology will change the way dental tissues and restorative materials are prepared, processed and bonded not only in clinics but also in dental labs.
To support this mission, Dentroid has assembled a multidisciplinary team of world-renowned experts in dentistry and medicine, engineering, robotics, physics, medical sciences and AI informatics together with commercialisation and growth minds who helped scale startups grow to much larger organisations.
In this Bench Side Story Case Study release, we spoke with some of the key people involved in Dentroid mission and commercialisation journey.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This case study may contain projections and forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the potential benefits and success of the drug or therapeutic. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to various factors, including but not limited to the risks and uncertainties associated with drug or device development and regulatory approval processes.
Viewers are advised content is for awareness and entertainment purposes only.
-
World first in rural and remote nursing
In March 2023, the Australian Government released the National Rural and Remote Nursing Generalist Framework 2023–2027. The Framework is a world first and describes the unique context of practice and core capabilities for rural and remote Registered Nurses in Australia.
The Framework was developed by the Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner and Australian Health Journal spoke with National Rural Health Commissioner, Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart, and Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner – Nursing and Midwifery, Adjunct Professor Shelley Nowlan, on the importance of rural and remote nursing and of the Framework itself.
-
Scott Willis, talks Physiotherapy
Health Executive Leadership Insights (HELI)
Scott Willis, the National President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association talks Physiotherapy -
Pharmacist Prescribing Model gets further support from state health
A full scope pharmacist prescriber model allows pharmacists to independently prescribe medicines within their professional competence, without requiring prior doctor authorisation. It extends pharmacists’ role beyond dispensing to include assessment, diagnosis of minor and chronic conditions, initiation and modification of therapy, and ongoing patient monitoring. This model integrates pharmacists into primary care teams, aiming to improve timely access to treatment, reduce pressure on general practitioners, and enhance continuity of care. Pharmacists use their clinical knowledge, patient records, and collaborative pathways to ensure safe prescribing. The model emphasises training, regulation, and accountability to maintain high standards of patient safety.
