NEW YORK, September 21, 2006 –– MetLife is pleased to announce the addition of two new Dental Quality Resource Guides, Oral Ulcerative and Vesiculobullous Diseases and A Guide to Contemporary Endodontic Technology, to its series of continuing educational courses for the dental community. MetLife is approved by the American Dental Association (ADA) as a recognized provider under its Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP), and these new offerings may be used to fulfill licensing requirements where applicable. MetLife’s educational offerings are also approved by the Academy of General Dentistry. Access to the MetLife Dental Continuing Education Program is available at www.metdental.com.
The MetLife Quality Resource Guides are self-study courses authored by subject experts. The first new guide is a two-part series, Oral Ulcerative and Vesiculobullous Diseases. This series is authored by James J. Sciubba, D.M.D, Ph.D. Dr. Sciubba is the immediate past director of the Division of Dental and Oral Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center. The guide was created to help practitioners determine the proper diagnosis of diseases of the oral mucosa and in recognizing and administering the appropriate level of treatment.
The second new offering, A Guide to Contemporary Endodontic Technology, is authored by Ashraf Fouad, D.M.D, M.S. Dr. Fouad is chairman of the Department of Endodontics, Prosthodontics and Operative Dentistry at the University of Maryland. This course addresses some of the challenges that dental care professionals may face in keeping up with technological advances. The guide provides information about newer diagnostic devices and instruments, such as electronic apex locators, operating microscopes, and nickel titanium rotary instruments. It helps answer questions on reliability, effectiveness, and long- and short-term outcomes of specific devices.
MetLife is the only commercial dental benefits administrator whose educational offerings are currently approved by the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program. The MetLife continuing education courses are designed so that dental practitioners can view or print the materials from the internet and, at their convenience, take an online test to determine their familiarity with the course material. Test results are immediate, and certificates can be printed on demand. The ability to receive continuing education credits online saves dentists the time and expense of traveling to a physical site and provides the convenience of access 24-hours-a-day.
According to Dr. Alan Vogel, MetLife vice president, Dental Product Management, "Continuing education is an integral part of staying current on clinical and professional developments. It is also essential to the goal of improving the oral health of patients. The MetLife Dental Advisory Council (DAC) reviews quality data and the educational needs identified by dentists participating in the Preferred Dentist Program. As a result, the educational offerings are those that dental practitioners have said are important in addressing their patients’ needs."
Formed in 1995, the DAC is comprised of practicing and academic dentists, as well as corporate benefit representatives. The Council serves as the oversight committee for the MetLife Quality Initiatives Program. The DAC has recommended important changes designed to make participating in the MetLife Preferred Dentist Program easier for dentists and their support staff.
MetLife is the largest administrator of dental benefit plans among all single commercial carriers. MetLife administers dental benefits for nearly 21 million people. The continuing education program is open to both MetLife participating and nonparticipating dentists; however, as a benefit of participation, dentists and their office staff in the MetLife Preferred Dentist Program may enjoy continuing education credits at no charge. Non-participating PDP dentists can access MetLife educational offerings at no charge and if educational credits are desired, for a small fee they may take the test and earn credit.
MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to millions of individual and institutional customers throughout the United States. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. offers life insurance, annuities, automobile and homeowner’s insurance and retail banking services to individuals, as well as group insurance, reinsurance and retirement and savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. Outside of the United States, the MetLife companies have direct insurance operations in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.
