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Discus Dental and Zap Lasers: A Closer Look Benjamin Lund, Editor, Orthotown Magazine

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by Benjamin Lund, Editor, Orthotown Magazine

Last fall, Zap Lasers announced it entered into an exclusive distribution partnership with Discus Dental for all of its laser products. To get a better understanding of the impact this new relationship has on the products as well as the orthodontic specialty, Orthotown Magazine spoke with Discus Global Product Manager of Lasers, Jonathan Luo. A member of the Zap Lasers team since 2006, Luo now oversees all aspects of Discus’ laser business, including marketing, manufacturing, key opinion leader development, and R&D.

Jonathan, as you know, many orthodontists are familiar with Zap Lasers, but what some might not know is Zap Lasers’ products are now exclusively distributed through Discus Dental. How did this partnership come about and when exactly was it finalized?
Luo: The partnership was finalized and took effect October 1, 2009. Zap Lasers has been an innovation leader in the soft tissue diode laser space since 2000. Zap was the first to market a laser specifically designed for orthodontists in 2006 with the introduction of the OrthoLase, followed by StylaOrtho (now NV Ortho) in 2008. Zap’s strengths were always in R&D and manufacturing. Recognizing the marketing and sales prowess of Discus Dental, the Zap team entered into discussions with Discus management to marry the two organizations. Discus Dental, with our established global sales and marketing machine and direct business model, is in a unique position to increase visibility of Zap’s products and bring their award-winning lasers to more dental professionals throughout the world.

Why did Discus decide to include lasers in its product offerings?
Luo: Discus’ mission is to be the largest direct distribution manufacturer of innovative, top-quality professional dental products with excellent customer service and support, and a variety of revenue streams from around the globe. Since its founding in 1992, Discus has been known primarily as a whitening company. However, the company has long had a broad set of product lines including restoratives, impressions, oral hygiene, endodontics and sustainable “green” dentistry. Bringing lasers into the portfolio is simply part of its continued product line expansion. Discus is also targeting new market segments like orthodontics. The laser category has tremendous growth potential and will help elevate the company to the next level of technical credibility.

What are the long-term goals of this new partnership?
Luo: Discus’ goals in this new partnership are to expand knowledge and awareness of lasers, and provide every orthodontist in the world a chance to benefit from a high-quality, easy-to-use and affordable soft-tissue laser. Both organizations realize the tremendous benefits laser technology brings to dental professionals. Nowhere is that more evident than in the field of orthodontics. With the help of soft-tissue diode laser technology, an orthodontist can save patients six months or even a year of treatment time by performing a bloodless, painless four-minute cuspid exposure.

What benefits are immediately apparent to existing Zap Lasers customers due to this new partnership?
Luo: Existing customers will continue to experience the high level of service upon which Zap built its reputation. Under the partnership agreement, Zap will continue to handle all customer service related to lasers. In addition, customers will now benefit from expanded continuing education opportunities, in-office support from our many sales representatives throughout the U.S., and significantly reduced prices on all lasers.

What are Zap Lasers’ new primary goals now that Discus is handling distribution and marketing?
Luo: Zap is now focusing exclusively on R&D and developing the next innovations for the soft-tissue diode laser category.

What sort of input does Discus now have when it comes to the research and development of new lasers/laser technologies?
Luo: This is a strategic partnership that enables each organization to focus on its own strengths. Discus and Zap are working closely to identify market needs and requirements for the next generation of lasers. Discus – especially its sales team – is Zap’s eyes and ears in the market, and thus has a major role in the R&D process. We are always looking for ways to improve our existing laser products, while thinking ahead to find the next big thing.

Do you expect this exclusive distributorship will provide new reasons for orthodontists to become clients of Zap Lasers/Discus Dental?
Luo: Zap built a strong base of customers in the orthodontic market in the last five years. There is no doubt orthodontists want and need diode laser technology. The two main obstacles to broader adoption have been high prices and limited educational opportunities. This new partnership allows Discus to offer high-quality, award-winning lasers at a significantly lower price, roughly 40-55 percent less than Zap’s list prices. Our domestic sales and marketing machine and global distribution network allow us to significantly expand upon Zap’s training and educational efforts. Discus wants to make it easy for every orthodontist in the world to own a laser.

What is your strategy to compete with other lasers on the market?
Luo: Discus’ strategy mirrors Zap’s model in many regards. Simply put, we want to provide the most innovative, high-quality, yet simple to use lasers to dental professionals at affordable prices, and partner with our customers through training and continuing education. Discus is uniquely positioned to do this better than any other laser company in the world.

Can you explain the decision to change the name of Zap’s StylaOrtho to the NV Ortho?
Luo: Prior to partnering with Discus, Zap was working through a trademark matter with another dental company regarding StylaOrtho and a non-laser related product. Instead of engaging in a distracting trademark dispute, Discus looked at it as the perfect opportunity to re-brand StylaOrtho and make the product distinctly ours. The features and functionality of the laser remain the same as the change was purely cosmetic.

Now that Discus is the sole distributor of Zap Lasers, what sort of financing is available?
Luo: Our financing options are as flexible as ever on all our lasers. We offer anywhere from 12-to-48-month terms, with zero percent interest on the 12-month option. A six-month easy payment plan is also available. Again, we want to make investing in laser technology as easy as possible.

For existing Zap customers, if they have any problems with their lasers or if they wish to purchase any accessories, who do they contact?
Luo: Under the partnership agreement, Zap handles all laser customer service. Our customers will continue to receive the world-class service upon which Zap built its reputation. All accessories are purchased directly through Discus Dental either on our Web site, www.discusdental.com, or by calling 800-369-3449.

How has training for new/existing customers changed since the beginning of the partnership?
Luo: Discus, like Zap, believes strongly in training and educating customers. We want to ensure successful integration of the laser into the practice, not just deliver the product and disappear. Our course offerings have expanded significantly with the partnership. Discus offers more regionalized courses, seminars, Webinars, and lectures/hands-on trade show events than Zap ever had the ability to support. NV Ortho still comes with a full-day, eight-CE-credit certification course that can be taken either at one of our many training locations, or online. The OrthoLase comes with the same online course, along with a voucher for half off the in-person course.

I know Zap Lasers prided itself on its products being made in the United States. Is that still the case
Luo: Yes, all of our lasers are still designed and manufactured in California.

Has this partnership yielded any interesting upcoming improvements or products?
Luo: We are always working toward the next big leap in laser technology. Every laser Zap released in the last decade has been game changing. Discus also has a strong culture of innovation, and we intend on continuing the tradition Zap started. We currently have several projects in the R&D pipeline that are extremely exciting, but unfortunately I cannot comment on them at this time.

We’ll keep an eye out for those new developments, Jonathan! Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. To learn more about Discus Dental, Zap Lasers and the NV Ortho laser, please visit www.discusdental.com.
Orthotown Magazine
September 2025
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