To: Lloy,
I talked with an ADA spokesman at the number you gave, and your story checks out. The WAND does not have ADA approval. However, its not clear to me what requirement there is for ADA approval. The ADA told me that lots of devices currently in use are not ADA approved. According to the ADA spokesperson, While the WAND is not an accepted ADA device, it doesn't mean that the product is not either safe or effective. In addition, the WAND is FDA approved (although it approval is listed under the former company's name, not Milestone Scientific.) This could actually be a problem, since the inventor of the product is suing Milestone Scientific.
On the other hand, it seems strange to me that WAND would not want its product ADA approved, since it costs nothing, and could be used as
additional marketing leverage.
As to your other issues, I believe they are more significant. I am especially focused on the rate of usage by those dentists who have kept the WAND. My cursory estimate is that of those dentists that still have the product, they are only using it about 20% of the time, on average, which is well below the forecasts made by the Montgomery analyst of around 70% usage. This is important for the company going forward, since it will make most of its money from the sale of the disposable units. (Kind of like the razor companies, which make all the money on the razor blades.)
Also, I have heard rumors that the company has filed a 5-10K for the WAND for other medical applications, such as Dermatology, Proctology, etc....Yet I am having a difficult time substantiating that claim. Do you think that this product is viable for other medical uses? The company believes it can sell the product to the medical community for 3x what it charges dentists. This also seems to be another specious claim by the company.
In addition, the company expects to sell this product internationally. I am not sure to what degree dentists in Europe buy these types of gadgets. When I was in France, and needed to see a dentist, he was extracting a tooth with the use of a string on one end and a donkey on the other.
Are you a dentist who have used and returned the WAND? If so, I would very much like to hear from you. |
