Aetna Announces Agreement With Epic Dental To Provide Members With Oral Health Care Products

Initiative supports efforts to improve overall health of Aetna's members

HARTFORD, CT - Aetna today announced it is expanding its offerings to Aetna members by contracting with Epic Industries, a leading provider of innovative dental care products, to offer oral health care products to reduce plaque and the occurrence of cavities.

"Our agreement with Epic represents our belief that a healthy mouth contributes to overall well-being," said Pat Farrell, head of Aetna Dental. "Aetna believes that dental health is a critical component of overall health, and that members may benefit from products and services that can enable them to improve their dental health."

The Epic product line features gum, toothpaste, mints and mouthwash. Their proprietary system contains Xylitol, which is a natural sweetener that helps stop tooth decay by reducing the amount of bacteria in the mouth.1 Members simply visit their general dentist, receive a routine cleaning, then call a toll-free telephone number to order the Epic products and set up a regular shipping schedule. The Epic product line also is available on the following website: www.epicdental.com/aetna. Aetna members can receive a free sample up to $25 in value, and a 20% discount off subsequent orders.

As one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, Aetna puts information and helpful resources to work for its approximately 14.4 million medical members, 12.8 million dental members, 9.0 million pharmacy members and 14.0 million group insurance members to help them make better informed decisions about their health care and protect their finances against health-related risks. Aetna provides easy access to cost-effective health care through a nationwide network of more than 672,000 health care professionals, including approximately 400,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 4,084 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of March 31, 2005)

Epic is a leading provider of innovative dental care products containing Xylitol, a natural sweetener clinically proven to reduce cavities by up to 70%.2 Utah-based Epic has a patent-pending on delivery mechanisms for Xylitol. Epic's research includes optimal dosage studies determining optimal daily intake of Xylitol. Epic carries a comprehensive line of Xylitol products, covering a range of gums, mints, toothpaste, mouthwash and more. Visit www.epicdental.com or call 1-866-920-4200.

1. Source: ASDC J Dent Child. 2002 Jan-Apr;69(1):81-6, 13. Effect of xylitol chewing gum on salivary Streptococcus mutans in preschool children. Autio JT. Department of Operative Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
2. Source: Caries Res. 2001 May-Jun;35(3):173-7. Influence of maternal xylitol consumption on mother-child transmission.