Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

1.  Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) include the accounts of Milestone Scientific and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries, including, Wand Dental (wholly owned), and Milestone Medical (majority owned).  All significant, intra-entity transactions and balances have been eliminated in the consolidation.

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

2. Basis of Presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Milestone Scientific have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring entries) necessary to fairly present such interim results. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations which may be expected for a full year or any subsequent period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2022, included in Milestone Scientific's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

3. Use of Estimates

The preparation of unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions in determining the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates relate to the allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory valuation, and cash flow assumptions regarding evaluations going concern considerations, stock compensation expense, and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue [Policy Text Block]

4.  Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To perform revenue recognition, the Company performs the following five steps:

i.	identification of the promised goods or services in the contract;
ii.	determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract;
iii.	measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration;
iv.	allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations based on estimated selling prices; and
v.	recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account in ASC 606.

The Company derives its revenues from the sale of its products, primarily dental instruments, handpieces, and other related products. The Company sells its products directly to consumers in U.S. and through a global distribution network and that includes both exclusive and non-exclusive distribution agreements with related and third parties.

Revenue from product sales is recognized upon transfer of control of a product to a customer, generally upon date of shipment. The Company has no obligation on product sales for any installation, set-up, or maintenance, these being the responsibility of the buyer. Milestone Scientific's only obligation after sale is the normal commercial warranty against manufacturing defects if the alleged defective unit is returned within the warranty period. 

E-Commerce

As of January 3, 2023, the Company launched an E-Commerce platform, selling and shipping STA Single Tooth Anesthesia System® (STA) and handpieces directly to dental offices and dental groups within the U.S. Our  E-commerce portal accepts online payments via credit and debit cards. The cost of delivery is charged to customer along with appropriate sales tax. The Company recognizes revenue from product sales at the time the product ships to a customer via a third party. 

Sales Returns

The Company records allowances for product returns as a reduction of revenue at the time product sales are recorded. Several factors are considered in determining whether an allowance for product returns is required, including the customers’ return rights and the Company’s historical experience with returns and the amount of product in the distribution channel not consumed by end users and subject to return. The Company relies on historical return rates to estimate returns. The Company terminated its major US distributor contract as of December 31, 2022. That distributor had return rights in connection with this contract termination that extended through March 31, 2023. The Company recorded allowance of approximately $179,000 for those returns within its December 31, 2022 financial statements.  As of March 31, 2023, no returns were presented, and the Company reversed the allowance for sales returns.

Financing and Payment

The Company's payment terms differ by geography and customer, but payments from distributors are required within 90 days or less from the date of shipment. The E-commerce portal sells directly to end users and accepts online payments via credit and debit cards via a 3rd party. These payments from the 3rd party are settled within 2 business days.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The Company operates in two operating segments: dental and medical. Therefore, results of the Company's operations are reported on a consolidated basis for purposes of segment reporting, consistent with internal management reporting. See Note 8 for revenues by geographical market, based on the customer’s location, and product category for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

5.  Cash and Cash Equivalents

Milestone Scientific considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, Milestone Scientific has approximately $2.3 million and $8.7 million, respectively of cash and cash equivalents. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, Milestone Scientific had approximately $6.5 million and $8.3 million, respectively, in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities that exceeded the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit of $250,000.

Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

6. Marketable Securities

The Company’s marketable securities are comprised of treasury bills with original maturity greater than three months from date of purchase. The Company’s marketable securities are measured at fair value and are accounted for in accordance with ASU 2016-01. Unrealized holding gains and losses on treasury bills are recorded in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from investments on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses are included in earnings and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of the marketable securities.

The appropriate classification of marketable securities is determined at the time of purchase and evaluated as of each reporting balance sheet date. Investments in marketable debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value. Fair value is determined using quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities or quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Declines in the fair values of equity securities that are considered other-than-temporary, are charged to other income (expense), net. The Company considers available evidence in evaluating potential impairments of its investments, including the duration and extent to which fair value is less than cost. As of  March 31, 2023, the Company held  approximately $4.4 million in  U.S. treasury securities which maturity within 3 and 6 months of the balance sheet date.

Accounts Receivable [Policy Text Block]

7.  Accounts Receivable

The e-commerce portal sells directly to end users and accepts online payments via credit and debit cards via a third-party credit card processor. These payments are settled within 2 business days of the transactions. Sales to distributors are on credit terms. The Company estimates losses from the ability or inability of its distributor to make payments on amounts billed.

Distributors credit sales are due in 90 days or less from the date of invoicing. As of March 31, 2023 and  December 31, 2022, accounts receivable was recorded, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,000.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

8.  Inventories

Inventories principally consist of finished goods and component parts stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value. Inventory quantities on hand are reviewed on a quarterly basis and a provision for excess, slow moving, defective, and obsolete inventory is recorded if required based on past and expected future sales, potential technological obsolescence, and product expiration requirements.

The valuation allowance creates a new cost basis for the inventory, and it is not subsequently marked up through a reduction in the valuation allowance based on any changes in the underlying facts and circumstances. When the valuation allowance is initially recorded, the increase to the allowance is recognized as an increase in cost of sales. The valuation allowance is only reduced if or when the underlying inventory is sold or destroyed, at which time cost of sales recognized would include the previous adjusted cost basis.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

9.  Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Common Share

Milestone Scientific presents “basic” earnings (loss) per common share applicable to common stockholders and, if applicable, “diluted” earnings (loss) per common share applicable to common stockholders pursuant to the provisions of ASC 260, “Earnings per Share”. Basic earnings (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing net income or loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and to be issued common shares of 72,104,234 and 69,013,001 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The calculation of diluted earnings per common share is like that of basic earnings per common share, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if all potentially dilutive common shares, such as those issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants were issued during the period.

Since Milestone Scientific had net losses in the three months ended March 31, 2023, and 2022, the assumed effects of the exercise of potentially dilutive outstanding stock options, unissued restricted stock awards (“RSA”) and warrants, were not included in the calculation as their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Such outstanding options, RSA's and warrants totaled 7,670,661 and 7,543,252 on March 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively.

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]

10. Stock-Based Compensation 
 

Milestone Scientific accounts for stock-based compensation under ASC Topic 718, Share-Based Payment. ASC Topic 718 requires all share-based payments to employees, non-employees, directors, and officers, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations over the service period, as an operating expense, based on the grant-date fair values.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

11.  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), which amends the guidance on measuring credit losses for certain financial assets measured at amortized cost, including trade receivables. The FASB has subsequently issued several updates to the standard, providing additional guidance on certain topics covered by the standard. This update requires entities to recognize an allowance for credit losses using a forward-looking expected loss impairment model, taking into consideration historical experience, current conditions, and supportable forecasts that impact collectability.

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic, 326), Derivatives and hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective dates, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2016-13 for the Company. As a result of ASU 2019-10, ASU 2016-13 is effective for all entities with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods.  As January 1, 2023, the Company adopted  ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic, 326), Derivatives and hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842) the adoption of this ASU does not have a material impact on our financial statements.