Mar 22, 2019

Philips and Delta Dental of California establish partnership to advance oral health and improve healthcare outcomes

Through joint research the companies aim to develop clinically validated solutions designed to drive positive behavior change and support people’s long term oral health
Linking brushing data with Delta Dental’s health outcomes will provide unique insights to better support consumers and dental care professionals in oral health

San Francisco, U.S. and Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Delta Dental of California, its affiliates and Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced a partnership aimed at promoting and improving people’s oral health and wellness. The companies plan to lend their respective expertise and conduct research in a joint effort 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. This new partnership follows Philips’ existing collaboration with a Dutch health insurer focused on preventative oral healthcare in the Netherlands.

Largest dental plan provider in the U.S.

Delta Dental is the largest dental plan provider in the United States offering dental insurance plans and services to 75 million people in the United States. The partnership will leverage Delta Dental’s deep understanding of provider-enrollee dynamics, established relationships within those populations and position as a leading insurer, in combination with Philips expertise in health technology and knowledge of consumer needs and behavior. As a way of informing the mission of the partnership, the organizations are currently conducting joint research with more than 2,000 people to better understand the health benefits that can result from changes in oral health behavior. Insights from the research partnership will help to inform new offerings for employers and consumers alike.

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.

Mike Castro

President and CEO of Delta Dental of California

"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," said Mike Castro, president and CEO of Delta Dental of California. "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. 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."

“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 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."

Partnership's first program

The partnership's first program, BrushSmart, currently in pilot phase, 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 can draw linkages between behaviors and health outcomes.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2018 sales of EUR 18.1 billion and employs approximately 77,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

About Delta Dental of California

Delta Dental of California and its affiliates, including Delta Dental Insurance Company, Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, Delta Dental of New York, and Delta Dental of West Virginia, together provide dental benefits to 36.5 million people in 15 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. All are members of the Delta Dental Plans Association, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental member companies that collectively cover more than 78 million people nationwide.