DENTSPLY International Inc. (NASDAQ-XRAY), the largest manufacturer of professional dental products in the world, has joined with Georgia Tech's Dental Technology Center (DenTeC) to partner on several innovative research projects.

DenTeC, a non-profit, multidisciplinary research center focused on advancing dental science and technology, is bringing its engineering expertise to dentistry by integrating engineering and dental science to develop new products and technology for dentistry and craniofacial medicine. The center will pursue dentistry-related research in nanotechnology, photonics and optics, imaging, rapid prototyping, material development and testing, tissue-material interface evaluation and software and hardware development.

DenTeC's partnership with DENTSPLY will help jumpstart work on several real-world innovations needed in dentistry. Through these and other innovations, DenTeC hopes to decrease the cost of patient care, reduce or eliminate patient discomfort, reduce the time required for treatment and help create more aesthetically pleasing treatment options.

Gary K. Kunkle, DENTSPLY's vice-chairman and chief executive officer, commented that, "Technological innovation is an important factor in our efforts to achieve market share gains. As such, we are pleased to affiliate with a world class research facility like Georgia Tech's DenTeC to accelerate the process of bringing new technologies to dentistry."

Don Ranly, director of DenTeC, notes, "Working with a market leader like DENTSPLY is a wonderful opportunity for DenTeC. Our researchers are dedicated to developing technology and techniques that not only help dentists work smarter and patients heal faster, but also are appropriately designed and timed for the market. DENTSPLY brings that deep market understanding that helps us focus on the most promising areas of research, where we can help DENTSPLY bring innovations to market sooner."

About DENTSPLY
DENTSPLY designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of products for the dental market. The company believes that it is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of dental prosthetics, precious metal dental alloys, dental ceramics, endodontic instruments and materials, prophylaxis paste, dental sealants, ultrasonic scalers, and crown and bridge materials; the leading U.S. manufacturer and distributor of dental handpieces, dental x-ray film holders, film mounts and bone substitute/grafting materials; and a leading worldwide manufacturer or distributor of dental injectible anesthetics, impression materials, orthodontic appliances, dental cutting instruments and dental implants. DENTSPLY distributes its dental products in over 120 countries under some of the most well established brand names in the industry. For additional information about Dentsply, please visit Dentsply's Web site at www.dentsply.com.

DENTSPLY is committed to the development of innovative, high quality, cost-effective new products for the dental market.

About the Dental Technology Center at Georgia Tech (DenTeC)
Georgia Institute of Technology's Dental Technology Center, DenTeC, demonstrates a unique commitment to dentistry by a world-renowned engineering university and research center. By integrating engineering knowledge and dental science, DenTeC is developing new products and technologies for dentistry and craniofacial medicine via multidisciplinary research, testing, innovation and education. DenTeC works with the dental industry, research and educational centers, and healthcare providers to improve dental healthcare worldwide. DenTeC is a non-profit, multidisciplinary partnership between Georgia Tech's College of Engineering, College of Computing, College of Sciences, College of Management, Ivan Allen College, College of Architecture, Continuing Education and the Georgia Tech Research Institute. For additional information about research and professional education at DenTeC, e-mail Jennifer.mcdonald@gtri.gatech.edu.