As Researchers, Scientists Share Information, Expertise, Customers Can Expect Better Quality and Support

Dubai, UAE, 3 March 2005 --Showcasing at the Arab Dental Conference and Exhibition (AEEDC) 2005, Kodak's expanded portfolio of digital technologies for dental professionals enables dentists to improve patient care and better manage their practices through enhanced technology integration and improved digital functionality.

In 2003, Kodak added direct digital radiography, practice management software technology and e-services to its dental product offerings with its acquisition of PracticeWorks, Inc., and Trophy Radiologie, S.A. The acquisition deal was finalized on 7 October 2003. 

Today, the combined strengths of the three companies are resulting in benefits to its dental customers through improved product quality, product ease-of-use and customer support. 

Product Quality

The foundation of these benefits is the quality products that each of the three companies contributed. For example, the TROPHYPAN C System (now being renamed the KODAK 8000C Digital Panoramic and Cephalometric System) was the first system of its kind to support "one shot" cephalometric imaging, reducing the risk of blurred images and improving patient comfort. It and the TROPHYPAN System (now being renamed the KODAK 8000 Digital Panoramic System) are fully digital, so dentists can capture high-quality images quickly, and perform all image programming on their computers using the systems' user-friendly interfaces.

Future Improvements

Kodak is leveraging its expertise in imaging science and optics to improve the quality and reliability of future direct digital radiography products as well. Kodak and Trophy researchers are collaborating to apply Kodak image processing algorithms to the company's dental digital radiography products. Researchers will also leverage Kodak's knowledge of the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard to further enhance the company's radiography and dental practice management software products.

Ease of Use

Kodak's focus on ease-of-use has driven additional changes to its digital product portfolio. Kodak's digital camera design team is developing a new function to the KODAK DX6490 Dental Digital Camera System: the ability to download images into Kodak's dental practice management applications with a single touch of a button.

A new website at www.kodak.com/dental provides integrated information about Kodak's entire dental products portfolio, as well as technical information and publications to assist dental professionals in all aspects of their practice. The new website design is user-friendly and makes it easier for dentists to research new products. A worldwide version of the website will be operational in the third quarter of this year.

Customer Support 

Kodak is making investments in its worldwide customer support function for its digital imaging and practice management products. These investments will help assure that dental professionals who choose KODAK products will have access to the resources and expertise they need to learn the products quickly, and smoothly integrate them into their practices.

Integration Proves Foundation for Improvements

When Kodak announced its acquisition of PracticeWorks and Trophy Radiologie, it promised that the merger of the three companies would strengthen its ability to serve dental professionals. Today, the company believes that promise is already bearing fruit.

"We're in the wonderful position where 'the whole is greater than the sum of the parts,'" said Richard Hirschland, worldwide general manager and vice president, Kodak's Dental Systems. He added: "We see it when our scientists and researchers come together to share ideas. The energy and ideas that result from these meetings are inspiring. You can expect to see a steady stream of innovative design and technology solutions from Kodak."

Hirschland emphasized that the product enhancements are driven by customer input. "Kodak has a long tradition of working to understand our customer needs as the basis for our product scope and design. What's different now is that we have a greater breadth of technology and expertise to draw on."

-Ends-

About Kodak's Dental Systems Group
Kodak's Dental Systems Group is a leading participant in infoimaging, a $385 billion industry created by the convergence of image-and-information technology. The business, which includes wholly-owned subsidiaries PracticeWorks, Inc. and Trophy Radiologie, S.A., develops, manufactures and markets dental imaging and information systems for dental practitioners, including practice management software and electronic services, intraoral and extraoral dental imaging films, processing chemistry and x-ray equipment; direct-digital dental x-ray technology; digital cameras and accessories for dental applications; photographic-quality paper for printing digital images; and a variety of related products and services. Infoimaging unites three closely related imaging markets that enable people to more easily take and share images as information: devices, such as digital cameras and x-ray systems; infrastructure, such as practice management software; and services and media, such as photographic-quality inkjet paper and electronic claim processing.

For more information about Kodak's Dental Systems group visit Kodak's Dental Systems group website at www.kodak.com/dental. 

Media Contacts:
Nivine William,
Gambate! Communications,
(+971 4 391 6424),
nivine@gambate.biz

Magdi M.
Fadel, Kodak,
(+971 4 407 4244),
magdi.fadel@kodak.com

(Note: Kodak, RVG and TrophyPan are trademarks of Eastman Kodak Company.) 

© Press Release 2005