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US dental implant companies merge

Keystone and Southern Dental Implants are now operating together. (DTI/Photo Edhar Yuralaits/Shutterstock)

Mon. 25 June 2012

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BURLINGTON, Mass. & IRVINE, Calif., USA: After Dentsply's acquisition of Astra Tech Dental last year, another major player is poised to take on the dental implant markets, as Southern Implants has announced the merger of its entire business operations with Keystone Dental.

According to both manufacturers, the new corporate entity based in Burlington, Mass., will continue to operate under the name of Keystone Dental and will be headed by former Southern Implants CEO Michael Kehoe. The Canadian, who has led the company since 2006, said that the merger is intended to reinforce each company's presence in global dental implant markets.

Both companies have been providing dental restorative and implant solutions to dental markets worldwide and in the U.S., in particular, for years. Keystone Dental was founded in 2006 and the Dental Implant Division of Lifecore Biomedical, an early provider of implants in the U.S., merged with the company in 2008. The company currently provides implant systems, bone substitutes and grafting materials, among other products. Its Genesis brand, featuring a nano-surface called BioSpark for improved osseointegration as well as a unique pink collar and prostethics, received approval by U.S. regulators in late 2010. Since October last year, it has also been available to dentists in Europe.

Southern Implants will add a number of established implant lines to Keystone's future portfolio, including MAX, an FDA-cleared implant for immediate placement and load in a molar extraction socket, as well as its Co-Axis implant, offering 12 and 24° angles.

Further details of the merger were not disclosed; however, Keystone said that the management team of the new company will consist of executives from both manufacturers.

Until now, Keystone Dental has been headed by Pascal Girin, a former health industry executive, who joined the company in early 2011. He will remain a member of Keystone Dental's board, the company said.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Astra Tech Dental was aquired by Sybron Dental Specialties.

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