Renaissance Dental, a national specialist in dental benefit plans, now includes a new, innovative benefits package as part of its standard dental plan effective January 1, 2008. The announcement comes as mounting scientific evidence suggests that early treatment and prevention of oral disease can improve quality of life and prevent premature death.
The new benefits increase the frequency of dental or periodontal cleanings for persons at risk for certain high-risk medical conditions.
These individuals are eligible for up to four cleanings per year rather than the traditional two in an effort to keep gum disease in check. Some individuals with conditions or treatments that can increase tooth decay will also have access to beneficial fluoride treatment.
By adding these additional cleanings and periodontal maintenance procedures, we hope to improve the overall health of our members and lower their total healthcare costs through advanced dental plan designs,? said Jed Jacobson, D.D.S., chief science officer for Renaissance.
Renaissance will enhance coverage for diabetics with gum disease and pregnant women with gum disease. The new benefits are also available for individuals with specific high-risk medical conditions, including those experiencing kidney failure or who are undergoing dialysis, and those with suppressed immune systems due to chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment, HIV infection, organ transplant, and/or stem cell (bone marrow) transplant.
It is well established scientifically that individuals with serious health conditions like these are at increased risk for infection. Infective endocarditis, for instance, is an inflammation of the lining of the heart caused by infection in the bloodstream, particularly affecting the heart valves. These individuals may benefit from having their teeth cleaned professionally at more frequent intervals to reduce the build-up of bacteria in the mouth. This can help lower the risk that bacteria will enter the bloodstream, create infection, and further compromise overall health.
Improving the Oral Health of Patients with Other At-Risk Conditions
In addition to four cleanings annually, individuals who are undergoing head and neck radiation will also be eligible for coverage of professionally applied fluoride treatments twice per benefit year. Because a common side effect of head and neck radiation is an increase in cavities, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research recommends fluoride treatment for those patients.
About Renaissance Dental
Renaissance Dental is the flagship product of Renaissance Life & Health Insurance Company of America (Renaissance America) and Renaissance Health Insurance Company of New York (Renaissance New York). With a focus on making dental benefits affordable for smaller businesses, Renaissance Dental includes PPO and indemnity plans for groups with as few as 5 enrollees. All Renaissance plans have the Option to include the Renaissance Value Card, which includes access to other health care service and product discounts at no additional cost. Renaissance America and Renaissance New York are members of the Renaissance family of companies, which dates back to 1957 and today has offices in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, New York, Florida, and Georgia. Collectively, Renaissance provides coverage for more than six million people with annual revenues of nearly $2 billion.
Full article:
http://www.ad-hoc-news.de/CorporateNews/en/14078495/Renaissance-Adds-New-Evidence-Based-Benefits
