Ultradent Products Inc, South Jordan, UT, and its orthodontic division, Opal Orthodontics, have formed an exclusive relationship with Shofu Inc, an international dental materials and equipment manufacturer with more than 85 years of industry experience. Shofu will be the exclusive distributor of Opal Orthodontics in Japan.

Founded in 1922 by Kajo Shofu III, a Japanese entrepreneur and researcher, Shofu Inc is now a publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Richard P. McLaughlin, DDS (pictured), a private consultant to Ultradent’s orthodontic division, has been an active proponent of the Shofu-Ultradent partnership. “It is a pleasure to renew my relationship with Shofu in Japan under a new umbrella with a quality innovator of orthodontic products like Ultradent,” McLaughlin said. “Dr Masatada Koga, a recognized orthodontic expert, and I share a history of working in tandem to educate Shofu customers on advanced orthodontic diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient care. Ultradent will add more depth with its long history of continuing education and the development of quality, innovative orthodontic products.”

Last year, McLaughlin partnered with Opal Orthodontics as an advocate and consultant, helping to lead the global orthodontic education program and as a contributor to new product development and design. In the first quarter of 2010, Dr McLaughlin represented Ultradent at a continuing education course in Japan, educating more than 200 orthodontists on case studies related to the Opal Orthodontics system.

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