The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and Philips Oral Healthcare (POH), maker of the Sonicare® power toothbrush, announced today that they are joining forces in a 12-month collaborative education and marketing effort to promote oral health and the benefits of orthodontic treatment.
As a part of this joint effort, both organizations will focus on educating orthodontic patients, as well as the general public, on the many advantages of orthodontic treatment and the pivotal role that oral hygiene can play in the outcome of this treatment.
"The AAO Board of Trustees is really pleased with this new relationship," said Dr. James E. Gjerset, president of the AAO. "Philips Oral Healthcare is a fine company that is well-respected in the marketplace. It also has a positive image in the dental community. Philips Oral Healthcare will help the AAO inform the consuming public about the importance of orthodontic treatment in overall oral healthcare."
AAO and POH plan to circulate collaborative messages through various educational materials, including an AAO-distributed brochure entitled, The Importance of Clean Teeth: Good Oral Hygiene During Orthodontic Treatment and The S.W.A.T. (Straight, White, Attractive Teeth) Team, a patient-education video and CD-ROM. These messages will also appear on a POH-developed Web site and patient-education CD-ROM about Sonicare® power toothbrushes.
"The objectives of our collaboration with the AAO are first, to help promote orthodontics to consumers while educating them about the benefits of seeking orthodontic treatment, and second, to educate those patients and their doctors about the benefits of the Sonicare® toothbrush in helping keep teeth and gums healthy during orthodontic treatment," said Sajal Sahay, director of professional marketing for POH. "We believe that excellent oral hygiene before, during and after treatment is an important factor in successful orthodontic treatment and a satisfied patient."
"When I analyze this situation, I see that three parties are involved: Philips Oral Healthcare, the AAO and the consuming public," Dr. Gjerset said. "It's really a win-win-win situation and a good deal."
