Delta Dental of California and Royal Philips will partner to promote and improve oral health and wellness. Together, they will conduct research to build integrated insurance and oral hygiene and wellness solutions within an evolving connected ecosystem encompassing care at home, care at the dentist, and coverage suited to a range of needs, the companies report. The partnership follows Philips’ existing collaboration with a Dutch health insurer focused on preventive oral healthcare in the Netherlands.
Delta Dental is the largest dental plan provider in the United States, according to the companies, covering 75 million people. The partnership is designed to leverage Delta Dental’s understanding of provider-enrollee dynamics and established relationships within those populations in combination with Philips’ experience in health technology and consumer needs and behavior. The companies’ joint research involves more than 2,000 people to better understand the health benefits that result from changes in oral health behavior. Its results will inform new offerings for employers and consumers alike, the companies say.
“As we pursue our mission of advancing oral health and wellness, Delta Dental of California understands that access to care can be enhanced in a variety of ways. We want to equip customers with the right tools to take control of their oral health and provide ways to encourage preventive behavior on a daily basis,” said Mike Castro, president and CEO of Delta Dental of California.
“At a moment when technological possibilities are seemingly endless and so many people are passionate about wellness, this partnership will have the collective resources, know-how, and innovative drive to empower people to improve their oral health,” said Castro.
“Having data-driven insights into actual consumer use and the health outcomes will enable us to create proven, personalized solutions that address the needs of each individual consumer,” said Michael Kuhne, business leader or oral healthcare at Royal Philips. “By continuously innovating our solutions and encouraging better hygiene practices through tangible health incentives, we can provide individuals with the tools they need to optimize their oral hygiene and overall well-being.”
The partnership’s first program, BrushSmart, is currently in its pilot phase. It is designed to improve oral health by measuring the connection between sonic brushing technology and oral health. Through the evaluation of brushing data and surveys to participating program enrollees, Delta Dental and Philips say they can draw linkages between behaviors and health outcomes.
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