Kolibree and Dentegra collaboration gives technology some "teeth"

SAN FRANCISCO and LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Dentegra Insurance Company announced today at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that it will co-market the Kolibree Connected Electric Toothbrush as part of a new dental discount plan and rewards program targeting uninsured families and individuals.

Dentegra offers innovative and affordable dental insurance plans to individuals and groups in 38 states and is one of the nation's leading stand-alone dental issuers on the public health exchanges of the Affordable Care Act. The new Dentegra dental discount plan will not be an insurance program, but rather a part of Dentegra's new "Smile Club" connecting members to advances in dental health care, pricing transparency, reviews and  discounts on dental products and services.

The Kolibree Connected Electric Toothbrush is the first of its kind that offers 3D sensors and real-time interactive feedback to users in an innovative way. The toothbrush includes a free mobile app that keeps people of all ages engaged and motivated to brush better and for longer. Basically, it registers both brushstrokes and location in toothbrushing. A fun way to connect to their phones and mobile devices while improving their brushing techniques, the Kolibree toothbrush will also allow parents to see how well their kids are brushing on a daily basis as well as store the entire family's brushing behavior data on one smart phone. That data can be kept private or users can share that data with their dentist if they choose.

Dentegra's collaboration with Kolibree will give consumers access to the connected electric toothbrush at a significant discount, complete with interactive games. The combination of real-time dental discounts from Dentegra with Kolibree's real-time data on brushing behavior will empower users to take better care of their teeth while changing the traditional paradigm of how people think of dental care.

Dentegra company officials said this is the first in a series of collaborative steps to research new ways of motivating preventive care.

"We see a compelling opportunity by teaming up with Kolibree to offer something of real value to consumers for whom dental insurance remains inaccessible," said Belinda Martinez, Dentegra's senior VP of sales and marketing. "From a user standpoint, this unique bridge between technology and improved access to dental care provides an innovative way to motivate people to keep their teeth clean while defraying the cost of dental care."

The announcement marks another step in Dentegra's recent growth and expansion. Last year, Dentegra launched PPO dental insurance plans in 24 public health care exchanges, and this year won approval to enter another 14, with insurance products that give children and families affordable, no-nonsense, easy-to-understand access to dental care. 

How it works:
According to Martinez, Dentegra is working to pilot "Dentegra Smile Club," initially in San Francisco, CA, and Austin, TX, starting in Q1 2015. The Dentegra dentist network – 22,000 strong across the nation and growing – will help Smile Club members obtain discounts on dental care that can average as much as 50% off the normal cost of cleanings and a significant number of the most common dental care services.*

Along with discounts on dental care, members will be able to purchase at a substantial discount the Kolibree Connected Electric Toothbrush, the first of its kind in the world with 3D motion sensors. Members who purchase and use the toothbrush can earn points redeemable for a cleaning and checkup from a Dentegra network dentist once certain milestones are met. This state-of-the-art device will give users real-time information about their brushing habits, delivered directly via Bluetooth to their smartphone or tablet. No other electric connected toothbrush on the market offers the powerful combination of 3D sensor motion technology and interactive real-time feedback.

Rewards will be based upon information automatically collected by the Kolibree toothbrush. More details about the pilot discount plan and how it works will be available in Q1 2015 at www.dentegrasmileclub.com.

About Dentegra
Headquartered in San Francisco, Dentegra Insurance Company is part of an insurance holding company system with 30 million subscribers. For more information, visit www.dentegra.com and follow Dentegra on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. For information about Dentegra Smile Club, including membership benefits and launch dates, please visit www.dentegrasmileclub.com.

About Kolibree
Kolibree is dedicated to connected innovative digital solutions to keep you healthy and smart. Kolibree's flagship product, the world's first connected electric toothbrush with 3D motion sensors and real-time interactive feedback, transforms what was once a tedious activity into a fun and creative experience. Kolibree has offices in New York, Paris and Hong Kong. For more information, visit www.kolibree.com on Facebook and on Twitter.

*Based on 2014 projected average savings for all procedures as compared to the 90th percentile as determined by FAIR Health for the San Francisco, CA, and Austin, TX, service regions.

SOURCE Dentegra Insurance Company

Related Links

http://www.dentegra.com