Kulzer Helps Texas Inmates Rediscover Solid Food...and Their Smiles
cara® Scan 4.0, cara® Print 4.0 and Kulzer make 3D-printed dentures feasible for edentulous inmates
South Bend, IN/7.25.2019. Kulzer, a global leader in dental materials, announced today that its cara Scan 4.0 and cara Print 4.0 are now making it possible for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to provide dentures to edentulous inmates in an affordable and timely manner.
Until 2003, the Texas prison system routinely provided dentures for edentulous inmates through an in-house vocational program that fabricated them on site. But as the state’s prisons came out from under federal oversight, that program ended for unclear reasons. A policy took effect whereby dentures were being approved only in situations of “medical necessity.” Unfortunately, being unable to chew was not deemed to meet this criterion. As a result, by 2016, only 71 dentures were approved for the Texas prison population of more
However, in late 2018, Texas prison officials announced plans to change policies: their goal was to hire a denture specialist, start a denture clinic, train unit dentists to better identify when dentures are necessary, and review all denture-related grievances from the past year to re-evaluate any prisoners who filed complaints. Officials subsequently decided to purchase Kulzer’s new cara Scan 4.0 scanner, cara Print 4.0 3D printer, HiLite power 3D post-curing unit, Flexitime impression material, and Pala tray system for the Huntsville prison’s clinic.
“The process is quite remarkable,” said prison prosthodontist Chad Taylor. “We’re talking about the difference between an old flip phone and today’s Android or iPhone. It’s a pretty far leap between how we fabricated dentures in the past and how we’re doing it now.” According to Dr. Taylor, 3D dentures offer two significant advantages over conventional dentures: they are considerably less expensive, and they can be printed and delivered to the dentist in only days...versus weeks for conventional dentures. He adds that by making it possible for inmates to eat solid food again, 3D dentures may help improve their nutrition and health, which therefore reduces the cost of their medical care down the road.
In recent weeks, the first inmates received their 3D dentures. According to inmate Enrique Gutierrez, it is impossible to fully appreciate the benefits of teeth until you no longer have them. Suddenly, eating solid food is no longer something you look forward to; instead, it becomes something you dread. In his case, he eventually had to switch to an all-liquid
than 149,000 inmates.
blended diet, and his health began to suffer. In addition, he became so ashamed of his
toothless smile that he let his mustache grow down to his chin.
Today, Mr. Gutierrez is the proud wearer of one of the first dentures produced by the prison system’s cara Print 4.0 printer. He is starting to eat solid food again, and perhaps even more importantly, he is starting to smile again. And he has trimmed his mustache.
Bezaley Jackson has been edentulous for all of the 14 years he has spent in prison, but he never tried getting dentures until last year. Now, he is wearing a set of state-of-the-art 3D dentures, and it is enough to change his outlook on life.
“It means that I’m happy,” Mr. Jackson said. “Even in prison.”
For more information about Kulzer and its award-winning products and services, please visit www.kulzerUS.com.
Kulzer North America
Kulzer North America is a South Bend, Indiana-based division of Kulzer GmbH. As one of the world’s leading dental companies, Kulzer has been a reliable partner for all dental professionals for more than 80 years. Whether aesthetic or digital dentistry, tooth preservation, prosthetics or periodontology, Kulzer stands for trusted and innovative dental products. With optimal solutions and services, Kulzer aims to support its customers in restoring their patients’ oral health in a safe, simple and efficient way. For this purpose, 1500 employees work in 26 locations in the fields of research, manufacturing and marketing.
Kulzer is part of the Mitsui Chemicals Group. The Japanese Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (MCI), based in Tokyo, owns 131 affiliates with more than 17,200 employees in 27 countries. Its innovative and functional chemical products are as much in demand in the automotive, electronics and packaging industries as in environmental protection and healthcare.
Up to July 2017, Kulzer operated under the name of Heraeus Kulzer. By changing the name, Kulzer will focus on its strengths that have made it successful: loyal partnerships with users, distributors and universities, and, above all, highest quality materials, innovations and a spectrum of services that is unique in the market.
Today, Mr. Gutierrez is the proud wearer of one of the first dentures produced by the prison system’s cara Print 4.0 printer. He is starting to eat solid food again, and perhaps even more importantly, he is starting to smile again. And he has trimmed his mustache.
Bezaley Jackson has been edentulous for all of the 14 years he has spent in prison, but he never tried getting dentures until last year. Now, he is wearing a set of state-of-the-art 3D dentures, and it is enough to change his outlook on life.
“It means that I’m happy,” Mr. Jackson said. “Even in prison.”
For more information about Kulzer and its award-winning products and services, please visit www.kulzerUS.com.
Kulzer North America
Kulzer North America is a South Bend, Indiana-based division of Kulzer GmbH. As one of the world’s leading dental companies, Kulzer has been a reliable partner for all dental professionals for more than 80 years. Whether aesthetic or digital dentistry, tooth preservation, prosthetics or periodontology, Kulzer stands for trusted and innovative dental products. With optimal solutions and services, Kulzer aims to support its customers in restoring their patients’ oral health in a safe, simple and efficient way. For this purpose, 1500 employees work in 26 locations in the fields of research, manufacturing and marketing.
Kulzer is part of the Mitsui Chemicals Group. The Japanese Mitsui Chemicals Inc. (MCI), based in Tokyo, owns 131 affiliates with more than 17,200 employees in 27 countries. Its innovative and functional chemical products are as much in demand in the automotive, electronics and packaging industries as in environmental protection and healthcare.
Up to July 2017, Kulzer operated under the name of Heraeus Kulzer. By changing the name, Kulzer will focus on its strengths that have made it successful: loyal partnerships with users, distributors and universities, and, above all, highest quality materials, innovations and a spectrum of services that is unique in the market.
Comments