There, he had access to the discovery science expertise and world-class research facilities at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He used these resources to develop and test his breakthrough: the world's first long-acting antibacterial adhesive resin for dental restorations. "My idea was to develop dental adhesives that would provide long-term protection from oral bacteria," said Esteban Florez, the lead inventor. "In the U.S. alone, a long-acting antibacterial dental adhesive could help prevent more than 60 million dental procedures per year and save patients over $5 billion annually. "We are currently talking with a leading dental products company about commercializing this patented technology for a wide range of products," said Esteban Florez.