Proclaim - A New Oral Health Revolution?

“After demoing Proclaim, switching back to flossing feels archaic. Aside from being more difficult, painful, and gross, the problem again, is that I don’t want to do it. Simply put, I do not like how it feels, therefore, I neglect to do it.”

The Oral Dilemma

Take a guess, do you think you floss as much as the average adult? According to the national public opinion poll from a 2014 Delta Dental Oral Health and Well-Being Survey, only 41% of Americans floss at least once daily, and 20% never floss… YIKES! The thing is, we all know how important flossing is, though, we still neglect to do it. As one of those individuals who has a difficult time remembering to floss daily, let alone once a week, I wanted to take charge of my oral health and improve my dental hygiene.

But is flossing truly the best method of maintaining complete oral health and hygiene? I was searching for a better way - especially after learning that many dental floss brands get that waxy, smooth glide coating by incorporating PFAS or “forever chemicals” into their threads. Perfect, yet another excuse not to floss. These synthetic chemical compounds can lead to health problems such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues, and cancer and are not something I want to saw into my gums. My goal is to improve my health, not endanger it.

Interested in learning about a better alternative, I was given the opportunity to meet with Dr. Glassman of Glassman Dental Care who introduced me to and shared a demo for a new product he’s partnering with to provide scanning services.

What is Proclaim?

Just as with the electric toothbrush, we may be on the verge of another big change in the world of oral care. Proclaim Health is shaping up to be an innovative custom-jet oral irrigator five years in the making that has some big claims backing its new product. Similar to how the electric toothbrush has several advantages over a manual brush, Proclaim is the result of extensive evidence-based research with the aim of creating the world’s first automated oral health system. 

At its core, this is basically a custom-fitted mouth guard with tiny little holes that act like a dental pressure washer, using up to 60 precise jets of water spray against your gums to provide a complete clean. While this does in a sense work similarly to a water pick, which you may already have tried out or even use, the key difference here is in the simplicity and effectiveness. I actually own… and on occasion use a water pick, in fact, just last year I got one for Christmas. Thanks, Mom. As great as this gift was, for several reasons, it hasn’t found its way into my daily routine. But why?

For starters, it’s messy, and if we’re being honest, pretty gross. Rather than using one stream of water that requires the user to know exactly where to aim while trying to avoid spraying everywhere except their mouth, Proclaim is like having multiple automatic water picks that target all the necessary areas at once while keeping the jets of water concentrated to where it is most useful, inside your mouth. Beyond their ability to clean, in certain operation settings, the jets can also provide massage-like stimulation to your gums, which promotes blood flow to provide an even greater improvement in dental health. 

Recent findings have shown that the root of oral health begins with the gums and structures that are not fully covered using a dental care regimen of brushing and flossing alone. Although, most people aren’t aware of how important dental hygiene is to their overall wellness. Periodontal disease has been shown to exacerbate glycemic control in diabetic patients, and lower overall medical costs have been seen among diabetic patients who receive proper periodontal care. Several studies have shown an association between periodontal disease and adverse outcomes in pregnancy such as premature deliveries, fetal growth restriction, and other complications. Other relationships, such as that between periodontal disease and heart disease, and the occurrence of heart attacks have also been discovered. However, the reasons for the associations are not clear.

Proclaim was created to address this gap in oral care and provide hygiene care that is simple, but incredibly effective. They are all too familiar with the common struggles and negative associations with flossing and have posed the question - what if there was a better solution that could take as little as 7 seconds? 

Before experiencing Proclaim myself, I had a very interesting conversation with their development team where they discussed the motivation behind their new product. I learned that Proclaim isn’t just designed as a solution to overcome the “laziness” or “forgetfulness” many experience when it comes to flossing, but that it’s also a way to make oral health more accessible. Beyond the fact that some teeth are just downright hard to reach back into our mouth and floss effectively, there are those who struggle with flossing in general. In one scenario that they mentioned, they see Proclaim as potentially a way to assist those with limited mobility to maintain and improve their oral health more easily. 

Demo

My personal experience with Proclaim began with an appointment with Dr. Glassman to undergo my intraoral scan, which took about 10 minutes and created a perfect 3D image of my dentition. This image was used to create my CAD designed mouthpiece, complete with irrigation access points precisely angled to aim into the gumline and between teeth, that fit me perfectly. Despite the custom fit, I was initially concerned about how it would feel, and if it could realistically be kept clean between use.

I later attended Paul’s session where he had his teeth 3D scanned for his own mouthpiece. From our video below, you can see how easy the process is. It can be a little uncomfortable when your rear teeth are being captured, but aside from that, the process is painless.

The mouthpiece itself is made of medical-grade, biocompatible resin that feels firm without being uncomfortable and as it is one solid piece, I was happy with the lack of crevices, folds, or connections that would make cleaning difficult and could possibly harbor bacteria. 

Once my mouthpiece was complete and delivered, I met with the team behind Proclaim to unbox and try it out for the very first time. They showed me the hydro station in person and walked me through its set-up and use. I was impressed with its clean, sleek design and the simplicity of its operation. I was able to observe Heberto Calves, Proclaim’s CEO, use his own mouthpiece and show me exactly how it’s done. Comparing my mouthpiece to his was interesting, and really showcased how truly custom shaped they are.

After observing its use, I got to try it firsthand, and I did enjoy the process! It was very straightforward, and I was able to fill up the hydro station to the maximum of about 22oz, attach my mouthpiece, and select my preferred pressure without any difficulty. I decided to try its strongest pulse, and in about seven seconds, all of the water in the hydro station was used to give me an effective and powerful clean. I really enjoyed the mint oral infusion additive, it left me with a truly clean and refreshing intraoral feeling. After use, I was shown how to disconnect and rinse the mouthpiece thoroughly and given a storage case to keep it safe and hygienic. This was as simple a process as its use, and overall, I felt like it did align with their goal of being a product that people could and would want to use every day.

When thinking about why using Proclaim would make sense in my daily routine, I considered how the experience compared to using an electric toothbrush. While effective brushing isn’t necessarily as easy as` using Proclaim, as you still have to manually move the brush and make sure you are getting your teeth in the back, it certainly is nowhere near as involved as flossing. After demoing Proclaim, switching back to flossing feels archaic. Aside from being more difficult, painful, and gross, the problem again, is that I don’t want to do it. Simply put, I do not like how it feels, therefore, I neglect to do it. 

Pricing & Pre-Orders

Proclaim is currently offered for $799.00, a preorder special that is $100 off from its usual $899 price tag. This is certainly a steep purchase price for sure. Considering this is a completely new product that went through years of expensive development, it’s not all that surprising, yet it won’t be something you pick up for the whole family next Christmas. That said, this is a comprehensive package, with the cost covering the digital scan, custom mouthpiece, and hydro station; as well as 24 doses of their oral infusion and a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.

This bundle is already available for purchase and includes the option to purchase with Affirm. With either option, buyers will only be charged when planned distribution begins in the fall of this year.

Key Features & Potential Benefits

Custom-Made Jet Irrigator

The creation of the custom-made mouthpiece involves a 10-minute scan that develops a 3d image of your teeth and gums. Using this image, an individualized designed piece is created to a perfect fit of your mouth and bite.

The mouthpiece is designed with multiple jet irrigators and is engineered to deliver precise and controlled streams of water that effectively remove plaque, debris, and bacteria from hard-to-reach areas between teeth and along the gumline. The irrigation can be set to a preferred pressure setting between 1 and 5, and used for between 7-20 seconds. This allows users to take control of their long-term oral health, and not just prevent cavities in the short-term. 

Enhanced Cleaning Performance

The Proclaim oral irrigator can be used with water alone, or in combination with their proprietary cleansing mouthwash that can be added to the water inside the base to elevate your clean and leave a long-lasting fresh feeling. 

Versatile Usage

While Proclaim mouthpiece adapts to your unique oral care needs, those individuals in active orthodontia will need to wait until the completion of their treatment before having a custom mouthpiece created. It is safe and permitted for use in those with dental implants or lingual bars, but not advised for those with “all-on-four” implants and does not clean under fixed appliances. 

Compact and User-Friendly

The sleek and compact design of the device makes it easy to integrate into your daily routine. Its intuitive controls and ergonomic handle ensure effortless operation for individuals of all ages. Operation is simple and straightforward, with water level indicators to prevent overflow, and lights that provide visual feedback

Comprehensive Oral Care Kit

Proclaim can be used by everyone in the household using only one base, and with each member having their own individual custom mouthpiece. Ensuring comprehensive cleaning for different oral care needs.

Clinically Proven Results

Backed by clinical studies and endorsed by dental professionals, Proclaim has demonstrated significant reductions in plaque and gingivitis, contributing to improved oral health outcomes.

Clinical Testing

I did not choose to pursue Proclaim just because I preferred it to flossing alone. I was extremely impressed with its clinical results, and proven benefits based on evidence-based research. This product was evaluated by a third-party group Salus Research Inc, and the results were impressive. One hundred ninety-two adult subjects participated in a 30-day randomized, examiner-blinded study. The Proclaim group (n=66) used Proclaim once daily with water in addition to twice daily manual tooth brushing. The floss group (n=65) used string floss once daily in addition to twice daily manual tooth brushing. The control group (n=61) performed manual tooth brushing twice daily. Gingival bleeding on marginal probing, gingival inflammation, and plaque biofilm were measured at baseline,15 days, and 30 days during the timeframe of the study.

Pocket depth and bleeding on probing were measured at baseline and after 30 days. Gingivitis measures were taken at 6 points per tooth. Safety assessments evaluating hard and soft oral tissues and restorations were also performed. After 30 days of product use, the Proclaim group showed statistically significantly greater reductions in bleeding on probing and pocket depth as compared to the floss and control groups. The Proclaim group also showed an 82% reduction in bleeding on marginal probing at 30 days, which is 10x as effective as the floss group. The Proclaim group was also 13.2X as effective in reducing interproximal gingival inflammation and 7.9X as effective in reducing plaque accumulation.

Based on the available data from this independent evaluator, there is sufficient evidence that the use of the Proclaim Custom Jet Oral Irrigator, used in combination with manual toothbrushing, demonstrated significantly better clinical outcomes when compared to string floss and manual brushing and/or manual brushing alone. 

It is no surprise then, based on Proclaim’s fast operation, ease of use, and extremely positive preliminary research - that it has been highly praised by a multitude of dental professionals and featured in several dental health publications. With experts such as Dr. Robert Eber, Clinical Professor and Director of Clinical Research at University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and Diplomate and Past Chair of the American Board of Periodontology saying “The results of this clinical study prove that technological innovation can truly revolutionize and improve a routine, age-old practice with the push of a button. I predict it will positively impact hygiene behaviors and patient outcomes for generations to come.” 

And it’s not just oral healthcare professionals that see the potential either, as the company has received investments from the dental insurer Delta Dental’s Colorado and Washington arms, as well as from the venture capital fund Khosla Ventures. 

An Expensive, Yet Exciting Future for Oral Health

The future of Proclaim seems to be bright, it is an innovative, beneficial product with the support of dental health professionals and impressive research findings. Despite a hefty price tag, the advantages of its use make it worthwhile and reflects its cutting-edge technology and innovation. Users can invest in their overall health by prioritizing their oral care in just 7 seconds a day, and Proclaim makes that possible.