The founder of the company, Dr. John O. Butler, was committed to designing products that would conform to the highest professional standards and oral hygiene requirements. Dr. Butler's original concept of product innovation and total dedication to the dental profession has prevailed at Sunstar Americas, Inc. ever since. That is why the Company has provided the dental profession with innovations to help their patients. Here's just a partial list:

Original 2-row toothbrush: Dr. Butler designed the original brush with a bone handle and natural bristles that had a straight trim. Later, he designed the same brush with black natural bristles, promoting the idea that the white bristled brush should be used in the morning and the black one at night, so each brush could dry completely before the next use.

Velvet-tip, satinized nylon: The term "velvet-tip" was introduced by Dr. Butler many years ago when he realized the damage that could be done by an untreated, cut nylon bristle. We believe he was the first to treat bristle ends, using a rounding and tapering process that allowed each bristle to better fit in the narrow sulcus. Butler's satinizing process created texture on the bristle surface so it picked up and removed plaque. This was a crude process that has been refined by the Company and quality controlled with today's modern equipment.

Round rubber tip stimulator: Rather than triangular rubber tips found on most toothbrushes of that time, Dr. Butler placed a round tip on the brush because it scientifically gave better and more gentle contact to the interdental area.

Disclosing tablets: Butler invented a disclosant in tablet form which eliminated the mess formerly associated with liquid disclosants that had been used for 50 years. By popular demand, Sunstar Americas, Inc. later introduced a water soluble liquid disclosant in a dropper bottle.

Metal handle for stimulator: This product was designed by Dr. Butler so patients could have a portable product which could be used to perform gum therapy at any time or in any location.

Colored handles: Dr. Butler switched from bone to plastic handles, originating the idea of colored handles so each member of the family could identify their own toothbrush.

Dental Health Kits: Sunstar Americas, Inc. was the first to have a kit that included all items necessary for good home dental care.

Dome trim on #411 GUM brush: After careful research, it was discovered that toothbrush bristles, when placed at a 45 degree angle against the tooth (Bass brushing technique), bunch together and interfere with the penetration of the bristle under the gumline and between the teeth. Sunstar Americas, Inc. minimized this bunching by trimming the bristles in a dome shape which varies the length of the bristles. This benefit has been clinically proven.

Plastic patient mouth mirror: Until this introduction, mouth mirrors had been too expensive for home use, so patients had to use mirrors outside the mouth, which made it difficult to view back teeth. Today, patients can monitor their cleaning habits and note improvement.

The Proxabrush System interdental cleaners: The Proxabrush System was invented by a dentist at the University of Alabama who licensed it to Sunstar Americas, Inc. to improve and promote it. The original handle was metal. Sunstar Americas, Inc. has expanded the use of interdental cleaners by introducing the first double-ended plastic handle and the no-load Proxabrush Trav-Ler, adding the popular #612 small cylindrical brush refill, and coating the wire core with nylon to reduce galvanic sensitivity. Recently, the Company also introduced the first Ultra Fine wire core for cleaning very small interdental spaces.

The Proxabrush handle: Sunstar Americas, Inc. was the first to present a loading design that held a brush refill to the handle of an interdental cleaner.

End-tuft toothbrush: Dentists told Sunstar Americas, Inc. that twisted teeth and bridges were difficult to clean with a standard toothbrush so two new end-tuft brushes were designed with the small brush head specifications that were requested.

Sulcus brush: The sulcus brush was developed at the suggestion of Dr. Robert Barkley, an Illinois dentist who was the foremost preventive dentist of his time. He worked with Sunstar Americas, Inc. to determine the length and spacing of the bristles so they would most effectively contact the sulcus area for patients who needed extra therapy.

Water soluble wax on dental floss: Paraffin wax has been added to floss by manufacturers to minimize shredding and add strength. However, wax greatly reduced the spreadability of floss which picks up plaque. Sunstar Americas, Inc. engineered a water soluble wax so the floss had strength to get between teeth without shredding, yet spread during use when it contacted saliva on the tooth surface.

Shred-Resistant filament on dental floss: This filament was specially processed to bring the molecules closer together, like a shrinking process. It had a wider diameter filament, but with fewer filaments, which made the floss stronger but not too wide for tight spaces.

EEZ-Thru Floss Threaders: This flexible nylon loop, patented by Sunstar Americas, Inc., made it possible to thread dental floss in small spaces where floss and toothbrush bristles could not fit, such as under bridges.

Dental Health Education Program: This educational program was originated by Sunstar Americas, Inc. in 1974 when the concept of preventive dentistry was new. The program taught the dentist and his staff methods to make prevention successfully accepted in their practice.

PostCare flossing aid for implants: PostCare was designed by a dental hygienist with an extensive background in dental implants, when she realized her patients lacked an effective means for cleaning them without scratching the metal posts. Recognizing Sunstar Americas, Inc. commitment to dentistry, she made the design available in a regular and thin braided cord for the Company to manufacture and promote.

ButlerWeave dental floss: Sunstar Americas, Inc. engineered and patented the interlaced "weave" construction of ButlerWeave floss to answer the need for a flat floss like dental tape with a wide, spreadable profile. This floss has proven clinical efficacy for reducing plaque and gingivitis by over 26%.

Protect Drops: Dr. David Pashley at the Medical College of Georgia discovered, through his extensive research, that a monohydrogen-monopotassium oxalate solution blocked sensitivity to the nerve of the tooth when properly applied. Sunstar Americas, Inc. became aware of his research and formulated Protect Drops, the first oxalate product that reduced patients' sensitivity to fillings and root surface stimuli.