Dearborn National™ recently launched a proactive Dental Wellness Program to all of its dental members identified as at-risk for dental disease.
"Unfortunately, many people don't take the basic steps that have been proven to prevent Periodontal Disease and tooth decay," said Tony Trani, president of Dearborn National, which features the largest dental PPO network in the United States with more than 146,000 access points. "We want to help our members understand both the importance of and the necessary steps involved in maintaining good oral health."
The Dental Wellness Program uses educational mailings and an online resource called the Dental Wellness Center™ to encourage members to manage their oral health, which may help improve their overall health.
"The purpose of the Dental Wellness Program is to create awareness of the importance of dental health and the role it plays in one's overall health," said Dr. Timothy Custer, dental director for Dearborn National's dental programs. "Having the right information available at the right time allows for targeted intervention to individuals who are most in need of education."
The program's first educational direct mail campaign kicked off in October with flyers sent to nearly 25 percent of the company's dental members -- those who were identified as at-risk for dental diseases.
A "sealants" flyer explaining how dental sealants can prevent tooth decay was sent to members with children between the ages of five and seven years old who had no history of sealants, as well as to members with children between the ages of five and 13 years old with a history of fillings in the last 12 months.
In addition, a flyer with information on Periodontal Disease was mailed to members with a history of periodontal treatment within the last 12 months, as well as adult members with no history of routine cleanings in the last 12 months. The Periodontal Disease flyer described the benefits of professional teeth cleanings and the suggested link between Periodontal Disease and increased health risks.
Dearborn National partnered with Procter & Gamble to include a sample of Crest® Glide Deep Clean Floss with every flyer, promoting the idea of starting on a healthy regimen right away.
In January 2010, the Dental Wellness Program will begin a "Birthday Card" mailing campaign to members with children turning one year old. The birthday cards are meant to be reminders of the importance of toddlers visiting the dentist.
The Dental Wellness Program also includes the online Dental Wellness Center, a comprehensive and interactive resource that offers members a wealth of information about oral health and wellness. With its educational approach to preventing tooth decay and Periodontal Disease, Dearborn National offers its members one of the most comprehensive dental wellness programs in the market today.
About Dearborn National
With more than 40 years of experience, the Dearborn National companies offer a broad selection of insurance products that cover many markets: Group Benefits, Worksite, Individual and Annuities. We are licensed in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Our parent company, Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, is the largest non-investor owned health care insurance provider in the United States the ninth largest overall. For more information, please visit www.dearbornnational.com.
