Our roots in the dental profession trace back to 1866 when Lee Smith purchased a small dental supply house in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania upon his return from the Civil War. Smith went on to form the American Dental Trade Association in 1881 and helped direct its growth for the next 25 years.

Over the years, the product line grew as the company forged associations with other dental manufacturers whose names are still widely recognized today. Dental acrylics, impression materials, cements, and handpieces still bear the names of Lee Smith, Ames, Densco, Tofflemire and Getz.

The pattern of growth continued through the 1960's as Hanau Engineering was acquired adding a respectable name in articulation and laboratory equipment. In 1966, the company became a part of the Teledyne, Inc family of companies and quickly added the Blu-White Diamond Instrument Company, Emesco Dental, and the Opotow Company. The merger with Water Pik and the acquisition of the Denar Corporation have furthered Teledyne's reach into the dental community.

Today the company combines the experience and tradition of its well recognized brand names with a commitment to growth through product development and acquisition. Current business strategy is to augment current market entries with products which offer the dentist an improvement in function, technique, convenience, or some combination of all three through innovation and improved technology.