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Who is ProDrive?
ProDrive is charting a new course for the dental industry that will inspire the most significant change: dentist's expectations. ProDrive designs and develops products with patented innovation, revolutionizing the conventional standards of performance and durability of modern dental instruments.
With over 30 years’ experience in the practice of dentistry, Dr. Derek Turner has identified many shortcomings with existing dental equipment. The idea to create the ProDrive products occurred in 1999 and was inspired by a lecture by Dr. Gordon Christensen. Frustrated by years of poor air rotor performance and the all-too-frequent need to overhaul or replace expensive turbines, Dr. Turner polled colleagues and found similar concerns. The consensus was that it is intolerable that so-called high quality products suffer such a poor lifespan. “The existing equipment had not evolved to match the current high standards of state-of the-art dentistry."
ProDrive developed the concept for the ProDrive Handpiece, ProDrive Upgrade Turbine and ProDrive Bur by identifying the functionality shortcomings of the existing technologies and products and by defining what would constitute product improvements and innovation.
The functionality requirements of the ProDrive products were defined and prioritized based on a detailed assessment of the dental market.
Why were ProDrive products invented?
The air turbine handpiece is the workhorse instrument of the dentist. North American dentists on average own 10 handpieces. Elevated concerns in the early 1990’s over the transmission of blood-borne viruses via dental instruments sparked televised congressional hearings, followed by new FDA guidelines for handpiece sterilization after each patient use. The results of increased sterilization have severely reduced both the performance and life of modern handpieces. All the leading brand manufacturers and resellers of handpieces have enjoyed the consequences of increased sterilization, because handpieces that once lasted several years without requiring turbine service or replacement now frequently require expensive service or replacement parts.
The unreliability of handpieces has evolved into a compelling consumable business that has faced no serious challenge to date. The business opportunity is based on providing unique and patented superior handpiece performance and increased durability against sterilization, coupled with industry-leading warranties. The value for dentists resides in greater efficiency and improved ROI for their handpiece investment.
ProDrive timeline
December 4, 2001
Dr. Gordon Christensen challenges the market to build a better handpiece because of universal frustration dentists’ feel regarding lack of power and reliability of air turbine handpieces.
Fall, 2002
TTi commences development of prototype products.
Summer, 2004
Strategic Dental Marketing (SDM) validates market opportunity.
Fall, 2004
First round of financing $1.75M, TTi valuation $4.375M.
Summer, 2005
TTi acquires The Handpiece Clinic, one of Canada’s largest independent handpiece service centers.
Summer, 2005
Meisinger chosen as bur partner.
Fall, 2005
2nd round of funding for $2.1M, valuation $13M.
Winter, 2006
ProDrive Upgrade Turbine prototype testing.
Winter, 2006
3rd round of funding launched ($5M), valuation increases to $17.3M.
Spring, 2006
Production manufacturing commences.
Spring, 2006
Upgrade Turbine meets ISO and regulatory tests. Health Canada Certification. Initial clinic testing confirms product appeal.
Spring, 2006
Established distribution agreement with High Speed Service, America’s largest handpiece maintenance provider.
Spring/Summer, 2006
ProDrive receives FDA & Health Canada certifications.
Fall, 2006
Product launch in conjunction with High Speed Service at the ADA Annual Session in Las Vegas.
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