RDH eVillage Director Kristine Hodsdon interviewed Jennifer J. Spresser of OMNII Oral Pharmaceuticals, the new 3M ESPE company, on the recent merger between OMNII and 3M ESPE.
KH: Why become part of a larger company?
JS: Running a small company like OMNII has its advantages. It's hard work, but it can be a lot of fun building something practically from the ground up. It also has its challenges. You always want more — more people, more product development, more clinical research — but it's not that easy when you're small.
KH: How will this merger benefit the dental hygiene community?
JS: A larger company will mean we'll have better opportunities to do more and do it faster than we would alone. That means more people, more opportunities for developing innovative products and, if it is possible, an even stronger commitment to the hygiene community for the OMNII organization. In a broader sense, this acquisition benefits the profession of hygiene and truly validates and amplifies what hygienists do every day in terms of preventive care.
KH: Why 3M ESPE?
JS: 3M ESPE has a great reputation. In our early conversations we found that we share a commitment to quality dental products, oral health, and bringing the best and most current science to the dental market.
KH: OMNII has always been at the top with quality preventive products. Is that going to change now that OMNII is part of a larger company?
JS: Not at all. As I said, 3M ESPE is all about quality and innovation. It's a core business philosophy.
KH: Will the product lines remain separate, or branded under the 3M ESPE umbrellas? If there is a change, when should hygienists notice the change?
JS: The OMNII business is a wholly owned subsidiary of 3M ESPE. Our headquarters will remain in West Palm Beach, Florida, and our preventive care consultants and management team will remain in place. Hygienists will start to see the 3M ESPE name on our products and within our communications over time, along with many new and exciting products.
KH: In the meantime, how do professionals continue to order OMNII products?
JS: The OMNII preventive care products will be available as they always have been. You can order our products from your OMNII consultant or by calling our customer service department at 800-445-3386.
KH: Are you worried hygienists will leave the brand now that it will be part of such a large company?
JS: 3M ESPE is a great company. I can't imagine why anyone would not be thrilled that we have the strength of a world class organization behind us.
KH: OMNII has always had well-educated preventive care field-based consultants. Will they be displaced, or will my contact person change?
JS: Your local OMNII preventive care consultant will not change as a result of our being part of 3M ESPE. Our commitment to having the best-educated field consultants was one of the attractions for 3M ESPE when we began discussing becoming part of the 3M ESPE dental business.
KH: In the past, OMNII has provided preventive staff meetings. If I have one scheduled will it be cancelled? Can I still schedule one, and if so, how?
JS: Hygienists (offices) that participate in these sessions find that staff meetings are very beneficial to their overall practice and patients' oral health. Scheduled staff meetings will not be cancelled. In fact, we encourage any office that wants to hear about the latest information on preventive care products and protocols to contact their local OMNII consultant or call the West Palm Beach office to schedule a meeting.
KH: Will OMNII continue to exhibit at tradeshows? Will you be a part of the 3M ESPE booth?
JS: Yes, we will be at all the major national and regional conventions we have always attended, in addition to approximately 100 locally supported meetings. We may or may not be in the same location as the 3M ESPE booth, depending on the show. But rest assured, you will not have any trouble finding us.
KH: Will OMNII still be part of the Student Day at the upcoming American Dental Hygienists' Association Annual Session?
JS: Yes. Recognizing student programs has been a cornerstone of our commitment to the profession and we will remain supportive of those individuals that represent the future of the profession.
KH: Closing comments from OMNII Oral Pharmaceuticals to the dental hygiene community . . .
JS: We are proud of our work with the dental hygiene community and of the advancements in oral care that we have achieved together. The outstanding research and development capabilities of 3M ESPE will enable us to do even more to assist dental hygienists with providing the highest quality of care possible for their patients.
