Joining Forces to Boost Patient Care at Home

For dental professionals, ensuring patients maintain optimal oral health extends far beyond the operatory. While in-office treatments and professional cleanings are critical, daily home care routines play an equally vital role in preventing oral disease and sustaining long-term dental wellness. However, patient compliance with home care recommendations is inconsistent, often due to a lack of education, motivation, or access to the right tools.

Recognizing the need to bridge the gap, Aspen Dental has taken an industry-leading step by partnering with Philips Oral Healthcare to bring top-tier home care solutions directly to patients through its expansive network of practices. This collaboration not only provides patients with access to premium oral care products, but also equips dental teams with the knowledge and resources to educate and guide patients toward better at-home hygiene habits.

“Many of the patients we see every day haven’t been to the dentist in a long time, and they’re not the most compliant type,” said Dr. Rute Ramalho, VP, Hygiene Strategy & Operations at The Aspen Group (TAG). “So, it’s very important for them to under-stand that now that they're committing to improve their oral health and their smile, their home care is just as important as coming to the dentist.”

Through the partnership, Aspen Dental is offering its patients Philips Sonicare ExpertClean, a smart electric toothbrush with built-in sensors to guide a patient’s brushing, as well as Philips Sonicare Cordless Power Flosser, a revolutionary water-flossing system featuring Quad Stream technology for thorough interproximal and gingival cleaning. Philips Sonicare Teeth Whitening Kits, a safe and effective grab-and-go solution designed to whiten up to 5 shades, round out the suite of at-home solutions. 

These products represent a dentist-recommended home care regimen that surpasses traditional manual brushing and flossing when it comes to plaque removal and gum health improvement.

“At Aspen Dental, we’re always looking for the best technology and products for our patients, so for us, partnering with the right company that offers the best solutions is really important,” Dr. Ramalho said. “Philips is not only a leader in oral healthcare innovation, but they’re also very supportive in building the right training for clinicians so that we can educate patients and drive acceptance.”

 A Shared Mission

The collaboration between Aspen Dental and Philips Oral Healthcare is built on a shared vision of improving patient health.

“The appeal for us, with Aspen Dental, is that they have a similar mission, which is improving the health and lives of patients,” said Darren Coppe, Marketing Director, Philips Professional Oral Healthcare. “Having a partner who will work with us on that mission is important because it’s about more than just the products. It’s about empowering the dental teams at the office level to have better conversations with their patients and help them become more compliant, so that at the end of the day we can drive better outcomes.”

Chairside education is at the core of the partnership. Clinicians take the time to assess patient needs, explain the benefits of advanced home care tools, and integrate these solutions into treatment plans.

Comprehensive Team Training

To ensure seamless implementation, Philips developed specialized training programs tailored for Aspen Dental’s doctors, hygienists, and support staff.

“We wanted to make sure that every-body was on board and fully understood the products we offer, how they benefit  patients, and how we can work together to ensure patients leave the practice not only with the great care that the Aspen Dental team has provided, but also the proper products to keep them healthy following their visit,” said Cindy Sensabaugh, RDH, MS, Senior Manager, Professional Relations & Education at Philips Oral Healthcare.

Belangie Perez-Torres, Aspen Dental’s Director of Hygiene Strategy & Operations, explained that Philips' products are woven into personalized treatment recommendations across various procedures, including for patients undergoing periodontal or restorative treatment.

“For example, if a patient has received a dental implant, we’ll talk about the importance of a power flosser to maintain it,” she said. “We’re showing the patients there are products that are clinically proven to provide superior outcomes—and that, for those who haven’t made the transition from manual flossing or brushing, there are alternatives that are going to be gentle yet far more effective.”

Impacting Patient and Practice

Sensabaugh said the initiative speaks volumes about Aspen’s commitment to prioritizing patient education and prevention. “I think it speaks very highly for Aspen Dental that they made the decision to include these strategies in their treatment planning,” she said. “That says a lot about the organization and how much they truly care about their patients.”

The rollout of the program has been met with enthusiasm thanks to strong training programs and teamwide engagement.

“Since we started this partnership with Philips, we have implemented the right training programs for our doctors, hygienists, and office managers—the whole team is involved in communicating the benefits,” Dr. Ramalho said. “It’s this education for both our clinicians and our patients that has truly made this program flourish.”