Clinical studies have shown that Oralief™ provides rapid and continual relief from tooth hypersensitivity due to cold, heat, acids, sweets, or contact through its action of the occlusion of dentin tubules.
Device Story
Oralief™ is a dentifrice containing NovaMin® (calcium sodium phosphosilicate) used for tooth hypersensitivity. Upon contact with aqueous environments (saliva), NovaMin® releases mineral-building ions (Ca, Na, Si, P, O) that physically occlude dentin tubules, blocking hydrodynamic flow and forming a mineral layer structurally similar to natural tooth mineral. The device is distributed by dental professionals for patient home use. Patients apply the paste via a specific brushing regimen (daily for two weeks, then weekly maintenance). By occluding tubules, the device reduces sensitivity to thermal and chemical stimuli, providing patient relief.
Clinical Evidence
Clinical evidence includes a double-blind, two-arm parallel study (n=20) comparing 7.5% w/w NovaMin® toothpaste to placebo. Primary endpoints were sensitivity reduction measured by metered air blast and cold water (4°C) using VAS scores. Results showed NovaMin® was statistically superior to placebo at all time points (p < 0.01 at week 2). Mean VAS scores for the test group dropped from 6.68 at baseline to 2.85 at week 2. In vitro dentin block testing confirmed significantly greater tubule occlusion compared to controls. No adverse events were reported.
Technological Characteristics
Active ingredient: NovaMin® (calcium sodium phosphosilicate). Mechanism: Ion release and physical occlusion of dentin tubules via calcium phosphate layer deposition. Form factor: Dentifrice/toothpaste. Intended for home use. No electronic components or software.
Indications for Use
Indicated for patients experiencing tooth hypersensitivity due to cold, heat, acids, sweets, or contact.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
Cavity varnish is a device that consists of a compound intended to coat a prepared cavity of a tooth before insertion of restorative materials. The device is intended to prevent penetration of restorative materials, such as amalgam, into the dentinal tissue.
Special Controls
*Classification.* Class II (special controls). The device, when it is an external cleaning solution, is exempt from the premarket notification procedures in subpart E of part 807 of this chapter subject to the limitations in § 872.9.
Predicate Devices
Butler GUM® Prophylaxis Paste with NovaMin® (K024343)
Submission Summary (Full Text)
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Food and Druq Administration 9200 Corporate Boulevard Rockville MD 20850
# MAR 1 4 2005
Dr. David C. Greenspan Vice President & Chief Technology Officer NovaMin Technology, Incorporated 13709 Progress Boulevard #23 Alachua, Florida 32615
Re: K040858 Trade/Device Name: OraliefTM Therapy for Sensitive Teeth Regulation Number: 21 CFR 872.3260 Regulation Name: Cavity Varnish Regulatory Class: II Product Code: LBH Dated: August 18,2004 Received: August 19,2004
Dear Dr. Greenspan:
This letter corrects our substantially equivalent letter of September 02.2004. regarding the classification of your device which was incorrectly identified as "unclassified."
We have reviewed your Section 510(k) premarket notification of intent to market the device referenced above and have determined the device is substantially equivalent, for the indications for use stated in the enclosure, to legally marketed predicate devices marketed in interstate commerce prior to May 28, 1976, the enactment date of the Medical Device Amendments or to devices that have been reclassified in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) that do not require approval of a premarket approval (PMA). You may, therefore, market the device, subject to the general controls provisions of the Act. The general controls provisions of the Act include requirements for annual registration, listing of devices, good manufacturing practice, labeling, and prohibitions against misbranding and adulteration.
If your device is classified (see above) into either class II (Special Controls) or class III (PMA), it may be subject to additional controls. Existing major regulations affecting your device can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Parts 800 to 898. In addition, FDA may publish further announcements concerning your device in the Federal Register.
Please be advised that FDA's issuance of a substantial equivalence determination does not mean that FDA has made a determination that your device complies with other requirements of the Act or any Federal statutes and regulations administered by other Federal agencies. You must comply with
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Page 2 - Dr. David C. Greenspan
all the Act's requirements, including, but not limited to: registration and listing (21 CFR Part 807); labeling (21 CFR Part 801); good manufacturing practice requirements as set forth in the quality systems (QS) regulation (21 CFR Part 820); and if applicable, the electronic product radiation control provisions (sections 531-542 of the Act); 21 CFR 1000-1050.
This letter will allow you to continue marketing your device as described in your Section 510(k) premarket notification. The FDA finding of substantial equivalence of your device to a legally marketed predicate device results in a classification for your device and thus, permits your device to proceed to the market.
If you desire specific advice for your device on our labeling regulation (21 CFR Part 801), please contact the Office of Compliance at (240) 276-0115. Also, please note the regulation entitled, "Misbranding by reference to premarket notification" (21 CFR Part 807.97). You may obtain other general information on your responsibilities under the Act from the Division of Small Manufacturers, International and Consumer Assistance at its toll-free number (800) 638-2041 or (301) 443-6597 or at its internet address http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/industry/support/index.html
Sincerely yours,
Chiu S. Lin, PhD
Director Division of Anesthesiology, General Hospital, Infection Control and Dental Devices Office of Device Evaluation Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Enclosure
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510(k) Premarket Notification NovaMiu Technology, Inc.
Orallef™ Therapy for Sensitive Tecth
510(k) Number (if known): K6_40X58
Device Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
INDICATIONS FOR USE:
Provides rapid and continual relief from tooth hypersensitivity-dueto cold, heat, acids, sweets, or contact through its action of the occlusion of dentin tubules.
# (PLEASE DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE -CONTINUE ON ANOTHER PAGE IF NEEDED)
Concurrence of CDRH, Office of Device Evaluation (ODE)
| (Division Sign-Off) | |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|
| Division of Anesthesiology, General Hospital, Infection Control, Dental Devices | |
| 510(k) Number: | K040858 |
Prescription Use _ X
OR (Per 21 CFR 801,109) Over-The-Counter Use _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SECTION D -- STATEMENT OF INDICATIONS FOR USE
Page 1)-1
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SEP - 2 2004
510(k) Premarket Notification NovaMin Technology, Inc. Oralicf™ Therapy for Sensitive Teeth
K040858
# 1. SUBMITTER INFORMATION:
| Name: | NovaMin Technology, Inc. |
|------------|----------------------------|
| Address: | 13709 Progress Blvd., #23 |
| | Alachua, Florida 32615 USA |
| Phone: | (386) 418-1551 |
| Facsimile: | (386) 418-1465 |
| Contact: | David C. Greenspan, Ph.D. |
Preparation Date: April 1, 2004
# 2. DEVICE NOMENCLATURE:
| Trade Name: | Oralief™ Therapy for Sensitive Teeth |
|----------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| Common Name: | Dentifrice; Toothpaste |
| Classification Name: | Agent, Polishing, Abrasive, Oral Cavity |
#### 3. LEGALLY MARKETED PREDICATE DEVICE:
| Device Name: | Butler GUM® Prophylaxis Paste with NovaMin® |
|----------------|---------------------------------------------|
| 510(k) Number: | K024343 |
| Applicant: | USBiomaterials Corporation |
#### 4. DEVICE DESCRIPTION:
Oralief™ Therapy for Sensitive Teeth incorporates NovaMin® as its active ingredient. The unique brushing regimen and NovaMin® -containing formulation provide rapid and continual relief from tooth sensitivity. NovaMin® (calcium sodium phosphosilicate) is composed of elements that occur naturally in the body (Ca, Na, Si, P, and O). When exposed to an aqueous environment, NovaMin® rapidly releases mineral-building ions, allowing it to relieve from sensitivity by physically occluding dentin tubules. Within a short period of time, essentially all of the NovaMin® reacts to form a mineral layer which is chemically and structurally similar to natural tooth mineral.
#### 5. INTENDED USE:
Clinical studies have shown that Oralief™ provides rapid and continual relief from tooth hypersensitivity due to cold, heat, acids, sweets, or contact through its action of the occlusion of dentin tubules.
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# 6. TECHNOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The technological characteristics of Oralief™ and Butler GUM® Prophylaxis Paste with NovaMin® are very similar. Both devices are designed to relieve hypersensitivity associated with exposed dentin by the deposition of a calcium phosphate layer onto the tooth surface. Both devices use NovaMin" to produce a calcium phosphate layer that occludes dentinal tubules and blocks hydrodynamic flow. The primary difference between the two devices is that Oralief™ supplies the calcium and phosphate ions on a daily basis for two weeks, followed by a once a week maintenance brushing for twenty-four weeks, whereas Butler GUM® Prophylaxis Paste with NovaMin® supplies the ions once every professional tooth cleaning. Oralief™ is intended to be distributed by the professional in the dental office for home use by the patient, whereas Butler GUM® Prophylaxis Paste with NovaMin® is applied by the hygienist in the dental office. In addition, there are some differences in the proportion of the ingredients in the two products.
# 7. SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE DATA:
Many different biocompatibility tests have been performed on NovaMin®, the active ingredient in Oralief™. The results of these tests indicate that there is no evidence of any hazardous effects to the patient if the product is used as directed.
The tubule occlusion efficacy of Oralief™ was evaluated using an in vitro dentin block model. The results indicate that Oralief™ occludes a significantly greater number of tubules when compared to controls.
A double-blinded, two-arm parallel group study was conducted to assess the efficacy of a 7.5% w/w NovaMin -containing toothpaste formulation in the reduction of tooth hypersensitivity. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee at the Dental School of the University of Bologna, Italy. Two measures of sensitivity were used in the study; a metered air blast (one second duration) and cold water (3 ml at 4℃) delivered from a syringe. The time between measures on a given tooth was at least 3 minutes. Subjects were instructed to brush their teeth in their usual manner for one minute, brushing no more than a total of two times per day for two weeks. At the two-week appointment, patients were instructed to use the product only once a week for two additional weeks. A total of 20 patients were enrolled in the study, 10 in each group. A total of 48 sensitive teeth were measured in the NovaMin® toothpaste group and 42 teeth in the placebo group. There were no adverse events reported during the study. All patients completed the course of treatment.
A 2 (treatment) x 5 (time periods) repeated-measures ANOVA was conducted on the VAS score averaged across the cold water and air pressure methods. The results showed that there were significant effects of treatment (NovaMin® was statistically better at reducing sensitivity than placebo, p < . 001) and that the effects were statistically significant over the time periods as well (p < .001). Post hoc tests showed that there were no differences between the test and placebo group at baseline (NovaMin® mean VAS = 6.68 ±0.88, Placebo = 6.37 ± 1.05), but that the test group was statistically better at each time point than the placebo (NovaMin® VAS at week 2 = 2.85 ± 1.52, versus Placebo VAS = 5.91 ±0.92, p < 0.01). The test group showed statistical decline in VAS score at each time point, and the placebo only showed a statistical decrease at the 3-week (p < . 02 ) and 4week (p < . 017) time periods versus baseline. The results of this study demonstrated that the 7.5% w/w NovaMin -containing formulation provided rapid and continual relief from tooth hypersensitivity.
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# 8. CONCLUSIONS:
Oralief™ is considered to be substantially equivalent to the legally marketed predicate device, Butler GUM® Prophylaxis Paste with NovaMin® (K024343). The provided clinical study and biocompatibility data demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Oralief™ for the intended use.
Two short videos show you everything — or skip straight to the written tutorial if you'd rather read. You can reopen this any time from the Tutorial button in the top bar.
Part 1 — Search, results, and everyday workflows 16 min
Part 2 — Embeddings: the galaxy map 3 min
1. Search: exact and fuzzy
Type a phrase like "coronary artery calcification" into the search box. You get two kinds of results. Exact results match the literal phrase — prefix searches work ("coronary artery calcificati") but suffix searches do not. Fuzzy results match on the meaning and intent of your phrase rather than the exact words, and are sorted by relevance score. Hover over the Exact or Fuzzy badge on any row to see exactly why it matched.
Use the checkboxes above the results to narrow: SaMD keeps only software-only devices, AI / ML keeps only devices with AI.
Exact vs. fuzzy search: what's the difference?
Exact matches on the literal phrase (prefix search works, suffix does not). Fuzzy matches on the meaning and intent of the phrase rather than the exact words. Hover over the badge on any row to see why it matched.
You search "coronary artery calcification" and want only software devices with AI. What two filters do you apply?
Narrow by SaMD (software-only devices), then narrow by AI/ML (devices with AI).
2. The results table
Scroll right in the results table. The intended use is extracted for you — no need to open the PDF. The device story gives a high-level snapshot of what the device does and how it's used. The AI Performance sub-table shows each output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, and development/test dataset descriptions — the same format Innolitics uses for regulatory strategy outputs, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. It is AI-generated but has been very reliable in practice.
Where do you find a device's intended use without opening the PDF?
Scroll right in the search results table. The intended use column is extracted for you; no need to dig into the 510(k) summary PDF.
What does the AI Performance sub-table show, and why is it useful?
Output name, acceptance criteria, observed values, development dataset description, and test dataset description. It's the same format we use for regulatory strategy output and Fast 510(k) input, and the fastest high-level fingerprint of an AI device. AI-generated but reliable in practice.
3. Judging fuzzy relevance
Fuzzy results trail off in relevance as you scroll. Use three signals to decide how far down to go: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether your target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, you're past the relevant zone. A top hit with a low score (~0.4) and a stretched explanation is a hint the closest predicates are far away — the project may be headed for De Novo. Note the fuzzy search is a pattern match: it doesn't handle negation ("not") well, and hardware devices can appear — filter by SaMD/AI ML to cut them.
How do you judge how far down fuzzy search results to go?
Use the relevancy signals: the fuzzy badge explanations, the intended use column, and whether the target output (e.g., Cobb angle) still appears in the AI Performance sub-table. Once it stops appearing, results are trailing off in relevancy.
4. Device detail page: chat and citations
Click a device name to open its detail page: device facts on the left, a chat window on the right. Ask something like "Describe the training data". The answer carries little citation bubbles — click one to jump to the highlighted passage in the source PDF, so you can verify every AI answer against the document. There's also a Download PDF button for sharing.
How do you verify an AI chat answer on the device detail page?
Click the citation bubbles to jump to the relevant highlight in the source document.
Reading rule for every project: how many summaries do you read in full?
At least the three most relevant 510(k) or De Novo summaries, in full. After that, use targeted chat questions to confirm your memory quickly. The tool supports this professional habit — it doesn't replace it.
5. Side-by-side comparison
Select multiple rows in the results table (aim for under ~10), then open the PDF Viewer tab. Ask one question — it goes to all selected devices in parallel, each with citations. This is the fastest way to compare and contrast devices: training data, PCCP scope, how they handled adding new scanners, and so on.
What does the side-by-side PDF viewer mode do?
Select multiple devices, open the PDF viewer tab, and ask one question (e.g., "Describe the training data"). It queries all selected devices simultaneously with citations, so you can compare and contrast quickly.
6. Collections
With rows selected, go to the Collections tab and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). Reload that selection any time — before a client call, pull up the collection and ask questions across all of its devices at once.
How do you save a set of selected devices for later use?
Select the rows, go to the Collections tab, and create a labeled collection (e.g., "Cobb Angle Project"). You can reload the selection anytime and carry it into the PDF viewer and other tabs that support selections.
7. Product codes and the regulations tree
Click a product code in the results to jump to it in the regulations tree — identification text, sibling product codes, and devices you can open in a PDF viewer on the right. Click a regulation number to see its identification, special controls, and related product codes. You can also search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree. Always read the special controls if any exist for your device — it broadens your search and sharpens pre-kickoff research.
What can you do from the regulations tree view?
Browse product codes and regulation numbers, read the identification text and special controls, browse sibling product codes, open device PDFs on the right, and search by product code or regulation number at the top of the tree.
8. Chart view
Click Show Chart and segment by regulation number (or product code) to see which regulations dominate your result set. Clicking a regulation takes you into the regulations tree. Great for spotting that most matches are, say, hardware laparoscopic devices — a cue to go back and filter.
How do you see which regulations dominate a search result set?
Click "Show Chart" and segment by Regulation Number. Clicking a regulation takes you to the regulations tree.
9. The predicate graph
Open the Predicates tab for a family-tree view of predicate relationships. Click a node to trace its parents and children; selections from search carry over pre-selected. Commonly predicated devices are worth reading — a lot of people predicated them for a reason. The visual lineage is also handy on client calls, e.g. to show how a predicate family evolved and justify why your predicate still holds.
In the predicate graph, why are commonly predicated devices worth reading?
A lot of people predicated them for a reason. Clicking a node traces parents and children, and selections from search carry over pre-selected.
10. Embeddings: the galaxy map
The Embeddings tab plots every matching document in a 2-D "galaxy map" where semantically similar devices cluster together. Hover or click clusters to explore, and let AI label the clusters for you. Embeddings beat product codes for grouping: two devices can carry different product codes (LLZ vs. QIH) yet do the same thing — the embedding captures the meaning of the intended use and device story. This is also exactly how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) works under the hood, and it makes a great visual on client calls.
Try it yourself
Head to the search page and work through a few of these AI/ML fuzzy searches to build intuition: perivascular fat on CT · aortic valve calcification opportunistic screening on noncontrast CT · breast cancer prediction on digital pathology slides · autism detection · gestational age prediction · a hearing aid that can also detect a pulse · foundation model based analysis of ECG · large language models · penetration test. Watch how the relevance scores, intended use, and AI Performance tables tell you when results stop being meaningful.