Introducing the NEW flavor of FluoroDose fluoride varnish … DraganBerry!

In 1970, Dr. William B. Dragan founded Centrix, which today is one of the leaders in pioneering innovative dental products, most notably preventive solutions such as the revolutionary FluoroDose^® fluoride varnish. In 2024, Dr. Dragan celebrated two momentous events: his 90th birthday and over 50 years in dentistry.

In honor of Dr. Dragan’s achievements, Centrix has introduced a magical new flavor of FluoroDose fluoride varnish — DraganBerry. This special berry blend was inspired by Dr. Dragan’s memories of stories his grandmother told him of growing up in what was then known as the historic Kingdom of Galicia, and today is part of Poland and Ukraine. She would tell of warm summer days spent picking sweet berries from the local forests which she turned into delicious treats. As a tribute to Dr. Dragan, in this milestone birth year, Centrix has recreated this delicious berry flavor in DraganBerry FluoroDose, marking a lifetime of dental achievements and honoring his singular place as a trailblazer in dentistry.

A Dental Innovator in the Making

Dr. Dragan was born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His father, who came to the United States from Poland, instilled in him a strong sense of duty and the ideals of achieving the American Dream through hard work and determination. For Dr. Dragan, that path led through Temple University Dental School. Following graduation in 1958, he served as a military dentist with the U.S. Air Force before settling into private practice in Stamford, Connecticut.

“One of the things that bothered me about dentistry was that we were just supposed to accept certain problems,” said Dr. Dragan. “The one that annoyed me the most was composite resins, which were hard to apply correctly.” Not content to struggle like other dentists, he decided to look for a solution.

After much experimentation, Dr. Dragan developed and patented the first practical syringe delivery system for composites in 1966. He used his own funds to create the prototype stainless steel syringe and the rubber piston that pushed the material through the syringe. In addition to eliminating time-consuming errors, this innovative delivery system gave dentists a fast and easy solution to a common problem.

The Centrix Mission Became “Making Dentistry Easier”.

Dr. Dragan realized that his dental syringe could change the face of dentistry, so in 1970 he founded Centrix to produce and market it. Slowly but steadily, his syringe and other groundbreaking products, like the Benda^® Brush disposable applicator and AccuDose^® tubes, found a devoted following among progressive dentists across the United States and beyond.

As Centrix grew into its headquarters in Shelton, Connecticut, Dr. Dragan expanded the product line and improved upon existing concepts. “Everything I developed and everything Centrix sells has to meet three essential criteria,” he said. “First, it has to fill a void in dentistry — a ‘cavity,’ if you will — that nobody else has figured out how to fill. Second, the quality has to live up to my high standards. And third, it must be simple and economical to use.” This need for simplicity in dentistry became the famous Centrix tagline, ‘Making Dentistry Easier^®.’

An Extensive Dental Product Showcase

The outcome of Dr. Dragan’s self-confessed “tinkering” as a “dentist entrepreneur” is an array of product lines, including delivery systems, impressioning, restorative, temporization, endodontic, oral care and prevention, and tissue management. However, Dr. Dragan is especially proud of the products devoted to oral care and prevention. “When I started out as a dentist, preventive dentistry was drill and fill, brush and floss,” he said. “Today, we have so many more options, and prevention now is what we always wanted it to be back then.”

Prevention for Life^®

One of the most forward-thinking programs at Centrix is Prevention for Life, which allows dentists to work with individual patients to maintain their great oral health and combat caries at every stage of their lives. The program is based on a patient’s individual risk level — and encourages care not limited by insurance reimbursements. Proper care is achieved with the help of proven and effective Centrix products in their extensive prevention lineup.

Prevention for Life is not just limited to the United States. In fact, Centrix is committed to global outreach, especially in nations that have not generally embraced preventive care. One country where Centrix is most proud of its efforts to increase preventive care is Poland, where Sales Manager Patrycja Pyrlik-Repczuk has made great strides. Using products like FluoroDose fluoride varnish, Centrix is changing the landscape of prevention in Poland and around the globe, demonstrating to people who have not had access to preventive care that it is safe, easy, and effective.

The Importance of Fluoride Varnish

One of the most important aspects to Prevention for Life is fluoride varnish, which is a simple and effective prevention tool. “Traditionally, we provide fluoride varnish to children under the age of 18 as part of caries management, but what about adults?” said Donna Brogan, RDH, BS, speaking about dental professionals. Prevention for Life focuses on all stages of life, from children to the elderly, in pediatric and general dental practices.

Why FluoroDose is the TOP Fluoride Varnish on the Market

Today, Centrix’s FluoroDose is the TOP fluoride varnish on the market and has received more accolades than any other brand. It already showcases five award-winning flavors — Bubble Gum, Mint, Melon, Caramel, and Cherry — and now, the new DraganBerry flavor makes the lineup even more delicious. It is also anticipated that DraganBerry will give Prevention for Life a global boost. Patients and clinicians alike love that it is easy to apply, goes on smooth and clear, and tastes amazing!

“Nothing has given me greater pleasure than combining FluoroDose fluoride varnish with the unique taste of DraganBerry,” said Dr. Dragan. “I am excited to share it with the world!” In fact, DraganBerry represents the start of a new era in Centrix history. The company has been proud to serve the dental community for more than 50 years — and with this exciting new development, we look forward to continuing “Making Dentistry Easier” for many more years to come!

Learn more about FluoroDose fluoride varnish and the Prevention for Life program! If you have any questions, please call us at 800.235.5862.