June 4, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry has opened a state-of-the-art clinic offering the latest in restorative, implant and cosmetic dentistry.

The new BioHorizons Clinical Research Facility is located in the school's main building at 1919 Seventh Ave. South. Project funds and equipment installation came from BioHorizons Inc., a Birmingham-based oral reconstructive device company, and from various donors.

"We are thankful that BioHorizons has generously provided a significant gift for the infrastructure costs for the new clinical research area," said John Burgess, D.D.S., UAB's assistant dean for dental clinical research. "The clinic has been designed as a multi-use facility housing research projects to evaluate implants, crowns, new ceramic materials, digital impression devices and the latest dental materials."

The clinic helps the dental faculty treat patients requiring specialized care, and it enables UAB to extend its outreach and professional training programs to community dentists and other professionals. Digital cameras in the clinic will stream video to distance learning sites and select rural dental offices. UAB dental students assigned to the clinic are gaining experience with an array of equipment and implants not yet available in many dental offices, Burgess said.

BioHorizons was founded in 1994 as a spin-off enterprise from UAB. The company has since become one of the nation's largest implant manufacturers. It benefits from various research arrangements with the university, including a license with the UAB Research Foundation, and by drawing on the expertise of UAB faculty to research and develop new materials and implant designs, said BioHorizons CEO Steve Boggan.

"We are thrilled to be opening the BioHorizons Clinical Research Facility and continuing our long-standing relationship with UAB and the School of Dentistry," said Boggan, who earned a master's degree in biomedical engineering from UAB.  "It is an honor to be able to give something back to this remarkable institution."

Other donors to the dental clinic project include Sirona Dental Systems Inc., Nevin Laboratories, 3M Company, A-dec Inc. and Patterson Dental Supply.

About the UAB School of Dentistry

The UAB School of Dentistry maintains a national reputation for excellence. In addition to its professional degree program leading to the doctorate of dentistry, the school offers accredited postdoctoral programs in eight areas of study.

About BioHorizons, Inc.

BioHorizons is a leading oral reconstructive device company at the forefront of digital dentistry. The company has a broad product offering, including dental implants, surgical planning software, regenerative products, CAD/CAM and traditional dental restorations.