Sunstar Butler’s Plak-Check™ Character Named at Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting

Sunstar Butler’s Plak-Check™ character named at Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting

CHICAGO (MAY 23, 2006) –  Sunstar Butler, a leader in providing advanced oral care products for both professionals and consumers worldwide, recently held a contest at the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting (CMW) in order to put a name on the “face” of its new invisible disclosing system, GUM^® Plak-Check™.

The new brand personality, a trench coat-clad detective armed with GUM^® oral care products, will now represent Sunstar Butler’s new Plak-Check disclosant system.  The character has been dubbed Les Plak, P.I.  The PI stands for “Plaque Investigator.”

Les Plak, P.I. will become a central character for educational programs currently in development by Sunstar Butler in order to teach children the importance of proper oral hygiene.  The character will have his own web pages as part of Sunstar Butler’s new website, www.gumclub.com, which is set to launch in late April.  The Gumclub site will offer a variety of games, educational programs, and adventures for youngsters, as well as special offers for kids and their parents. 

“Like the detective, GUM Plak-Check seeks plaque and then highlights the nasty oral offender,” explained Rick Gross, senior marketing manager for Sunstar Buter.  “I think the new name and character personifies our new GUM Plak-Check™ brand.  And besides, it’s fun.”

The winning name was submitted by Dana Kosel from Kosel Dental PC, located in Tinley Park, Illinois.  Ms. Kosel’s suggestion was picked from over 1,000 entries submitted at the CMW.  In addition to receiving an American Express gift card, Ms. Kosel also received a generous sampling of Sunstar Butler’s newest product offerings, including the Plak-Check™ Professional Starter Kit, Protect Desensitizing Solution, and the new Snap>On Dual End Proxabrush and Sulcus toothbrush.

GUM^® Plak-Check™ is a virtually “invisible” stain-free plaque disclosing system that is ideal for both children and adults.  It highlights harmful bacterial plaque on tooth surfaces, displaying areas where additional brushing and flossing are needed.  Plak-Check™ is available as a kit that includes individual dose units of sodium fluorescein liquid and a convenient battery-powered hand-held unit with a small mirror and blue light.

Unlike other contrasting color disclosant products, Plak-Check’s fluorescein liquid is invisible under natural light, yet glows green on plaque-covered tooth surfaces when illuminated by the hand-held blue light.

The use of a plaque disclosant enables the patient to determine the effectiveness of their oral care routine for controlling cavity-causing plaque, by revealing how much of it is on the teeth and where it is located.  When used at the beginning of the oral hygiene check-up, it provides the patient and clinician with a baseline from which to evaluate the success of future plaque-control efforts.  And when used after brushing and flossing, it allows patients to see the effectiveness of their oral hygiene program.

A retail version of Plak-Check™ is also available so the patient can continue this oral hygiene routine at home. For more information on Plak-Check™ or additional GUM^® brand products, please contact your local Sunstar Butler sales representative at 1-800-528-8537 or visit www.SunstarButler.com