Essex Dental Benefits to Cover Zila's ViziLite Plus for Oral Cancer Screenings

Screenings Now Available to Most Essex Dental Benefits Members,
Age 18 and Older
PHOENIX--(Business Wire)--
Zila, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZILA) today announced that Essex Dental
Benefits has begun offering coverage for ViziLite(R) Plus with
TBlue(R), Zila's proprietary screening device for the early detection
of oral abnormalities that could lead to cancer.

"Wellness screenings, such as oral cancer examinations, have been
shown to help improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs,"
said Ziad Rubaie, executive vice president, Essex Dental Benefits. "We
added oral cancer screening to our dental plan design options because
early detection is the key to fighting this disease. Essex Dental is
pleased to offer this coverage as part of our commitment to our
members."

"ViziLite Plus is being adopted by dentists in the U.S. and other
parts of the world," said David Bethune, Zila's chairman and chief
executive officer. "We are delighted to have Essex Dental Benefits
join the insurance industry movement to cover ViziLite Plus exams and
help improve the overall care of patients."

Essex Dental Benefits will make oral cancer screening a benefit to
approximately 185,000 covered lives.

A ViziLite Plus with TBlue examination is simple, quick, pain-free
and effective in helping a dentist identify abnormal tissue suspicious
for precancer or cancer. A ViziLite Plus exam, after a conventional
visual examination, represents an integral part of comprehensive
oral-cancer screenings.

A recently published clinical study revealed that using ViziLite
Plus with TBlue correctly identified all cancers and lesions at
highest risk of becoming cancer. Oral cancer is found primarily in
tobacco users or heavy drinkers. New research shows a common strain of
the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) also accounts for
a significant percentage of all oral cancer cases in the U.S.

About Essex Dental Benefits

Essex Dental Benefits is a leader in the mid-west dental insurance
market with the most extensive regional managed care provider network
in the eastern Missouri and southern Illinois marketplace. With nearly
two decades of experience in the industry, Essex Dental Benefits
continues to provide employers with extensive dental care solutions,
formidable networks offering real choices at significant cost savings,
and reliable customer service. A constant focus on relationships,
quality and patient satisfaction enable Essex Dental Benefits to
maintain an edge in the industry.

About Zila, Inc.

Zila, Inc., headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a diagnostic
company dedicated to the prevention, detection and treatment of oral
cancer and periodontal disease. Zila manufactures and markets
ViziLite(R) Plus with TBlue(R) ("ViziLite(R) Plus"), the company's
flagship product for the early detection of oral abnormalities that
could lead to cancer. ViziLite(R) Plus is an adjunctive medical device
cleared by the FDA for use in a population at increased risk for oral
cancer. In addition, Zila designs, manufactures and markets a suite of
proprietary products sold exclusively and directly to dental
professionals for periodontal disease, including the Rotadent(R)
Professional Powered Brush, the Pro-Select Platinum(R) ultrasonic
scaler and a portfolio of oral pharmaceutical products for both
in-office and home-care use. All of Zila's products are marketed and
sold in the United States and Canada primarily through the company's
direct field sales force and telemarketing organization. The company's
products are marketed and sold in other international markets through
the direct sales forces of third party distributors. Zila's marketing
programs reach most U.S. dental offices and include continuing
education seminars for dentists and their staffs.

For more information about the company and its products, please
visit www.zila.com.

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