Dental/Medical Diagnostic Reports Loss for 1999

Despite nearly doubling its revenue, Dental/Medical Diagnostic Systems Inc. in Westlake Village reported a loss for 1999, which it blames on the cost of research and development for new products and the scheduled end of a product line.

Net loss for the year was $6.7 million, equal to $1.15 per share, on net revenue of $38.2 million. This compares with a loss of $1.8 million, or 35 cents per share, on revenue of $19.2 million.

For the fourth quarter, ended Dec. 31, net revenue increased 27% to $10.6 million, compared with $8.3 million for the previous fourth quarter. There was a net loss of $5.9 million, or 93 cents per share, in contrast to a net profit of more than $1 million, or 21 cents, in the similar 1998 period.

Along with citing research and development and product discontinuation expenses, the company said it had higher commission costs from increased sales volumes, and additional salary and legal expenses associated with the company’s growth and its marketing and advertising costs.

Dental/Medical Diagnostic Systems develops dentistry products. Its current lead products are the Apollo line of devices used to harden fillings and whiten teeth in a dentist’s office and a dental digital X-ray system.