Weber State alum finds success with dental innovation
OGDEN, Utah — A breakthrough in dentistry started with a science fair project.
Jeremy Ellis, a Weber State University alum and dentist in Logan, Utah, was helping his daughter use fiber optic glass to build a jellyfish for a science fair project about 12 years ago, when it occurred to him the material would be fantastic for repairing a chipped tooth.
Both physical and chemical bonds can be used when repairing a chip, which traditionally involves reconstructing the tooth with resin, or inserting a small titanium rod to build the resin around. The problem with titanium is it can sometimes be seen through the resin, and it’s “unforgiving” and inflexible, which usually results in a chip needing multiple repairs over the years.
Ellis’ invention fixes the chip using a small fiber optic pin, the now patented DentXpin, which has much more flexibility and can’t be seen through resin. Once the tiny pin is inserted into a small hole, it can be affixed to the tooth using any resin and adhesive on the market.
“It flexes and moves, expands and contracts with the tooth,” he said. “They just stay in. It’s been beautiful.”
Ellis’ journey began when he attended Weber State, graduating in 1994 with a degree in zoology with an emphasis in human physiology. He also met his wife, Ruthann, while at Weber. She graduated in 1993 with a degree in nursing and child development.
Ellis went on to dental school at Virginia Commonwealth University and even though most of his classmates had attended Ivy League schools, he felt as prepared as any other student, if not more.
“And I had no student loan debt,” he said. “Most of my buddies had six-figure debt from their undergrad. We’d compare and I found out at those big Ivy League schools you’re mostly taught by the TA. I’d tell them even my PE teacher had a Ph.D. and it would blow their minds.”
While there are many paths to becoming a dentist, Weber State now offers several pre-medical professional programs, including pre-dentistry.
While developing the DentXpin, Ellis found a manufacturing company that could create the pin to his exact specifications and then took his renderings to the engineering and physics department at Utah State University for feedback; it just so happens some of those professors are Ellis’ patients. He also got input from his eldest daughter and her husband, both of whom are biological engineers.
“I was hoping to cover all my bases,” he said. “I’m really good at not knowing what I don't know, and I’m not opposed to asking for help.”
Ellis said his invention has been well received because it’s affordable, easy to use and solves a common problem in dental offices.
Anna Burleson, Marketing & Communications
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Rachel Badali, news coordinator
801-626-7362, rachelbadali@weber.edu