Dental Asia March/April 2022

DENTAL UPDATES
Dentsply Sirona partners with FDI and Smile Train to create cleft care protocols
Dentsply Sirona has announced a three-way
partnership with FDI World Dental Federation
(FDI) and Smile Train, a cleft-focused
organisation, to develop global standard
protocols for digital cleft treatment.
The protocols aim to increase access to digital
treatments for patients with clefts and advance
cleft care for the one in 700 babies born around
the globe with cleft lip and or palate.
According to the press release by Dentsply
Sirona, the three partners will jointly work on
integrating digital workflows and sustainable
solutions into these new protocols as well
as creating and providing the necessary
clinical education infrastructure to oral health
professionals around the world.
The partnership also includes designing and
setting up online courses and webinars to
introduce dental professionals around the world
to digital cleft care.
Prior to this new partnership, Dentsply Sirona
pledged a US$5 million donation to Smile Train
as part of a five-year commitment to help
children around the world gain access to
cleft treatment.
“At Dentsply Sirona, we live our sustainability
strategy every day in numerous ways. One of
the most rewarding aspects is working with
Smile Train and FDI to be able to offer the
best care possible to children with clefts,” said
Jorge M. Gomez, CFO and head of the Dentsply
Sirona Sustainability Programme. “Giving these
children healthy smiles by utilising the most
advanced digital technologies is part of our
larger sustainability goal to improve global oral
health care and create millions of healthy smiles
around the world. We are happy to contribute our
knowledge and technologies for this important
cause.”
“We are proud to be working with Dentsply
Sirona and Smile Train to increase the global
access to the best possible cleft care,” said
Professor Ihsane Ben Yahya, president, FDI.
“Cleft surgeries and cleft care benefit hugely
from digitisation and together with our
partners we work fervently on providing oral
health professionals, especially in limitedresource
settings and remote regions, with the
Zoe was supported by Smile Train partner Hospital
Pediatrico Dr Humberto J. Notti with presurgical
orthopaedics, cleft lip, and cleft palate surgeries
(Image: Dentsply Sirona)
infrastructure and training necessary to correctly
use these digital technologies.”
“Children with clefts are more susceptible
to poor oral health which can greatly impact
their speech, ability to eat, and their overall
well-being,” said Susannah Schaefer, president
and CEO, Smile Train. “We are delighted that
our new partnership with Dentsply Sirona and
FDI ensures that Smile Train centres around
the world will have access to digital treatment
protocols that integrate the latest, newest
technologies to provide best-in-class digital oral
healthcare.” ■
UnitedHealthcare Dental launches digital resource with quip to improve
dental care
UnitedHealthcare Dental has introduced several
enhancements designed to help people improve
their oral health and access dental care in a
more convenient and informed way, with the aim
of helping lower costs and improve satisfaction
among members and dental professionals.
According to the company, the latest offering
expands access to 24/7 virtual dental visits to
help members meet with a licensed dentist
via phone or video, giving eligible members
in many UnitedHealthcare Dental plans two
virtual dental appointments with no cost
sharing. The enhanced virtual dental care
benefit is designed to improve access to
dental advice anywhere and anytime, which
may help avoid often-unnecessary visits to the
emergency department for oral health issues.
In addition, to help people improve their oral
care habits, members of UnitedHealthcare
Dental can now save up to 30% on smart
electric toothbrushes, including toothpaste,
refillable floss and refillable mouthwash from
oral health company quip.
UnitedHealthcare Dental members will also
have access to an online resource to help bring
greater transparency to treatment options
and the cost of dental care, with the goal of
helping prevent surprise costs. The Treatment
Plan Calculator offers access to cost
estimates based on actual contracted rates
and the member’s plan, including real-time
processing capabilities.
“As more and more Americans adopt a
digital-first mindset, these new resources
are designed to help our members improve
and maintain their dental health, which
may contribute to overall well-being and
help reduce the risk of certain chronic
health conditions,” said Colleen Van Ham,
CEO, UnitedHealthcare Dental. “These new
initiatives advance UnitedHealthcare’s
approach of using technology to improve
access to quality, cost-effective medical and
dental care, while empowering people with
personalised information.” ■
10 DENTAL ASIA MARCH / APRIL 2022