NEW YORK, July 23, 2012 –– MetLife, a provider of dental plan administration for over 21
million people, announced today the availability of a free guide to help dentists be better
prepared in the face of an emergency. The guide, The Six Links of Survival is made available
through an arrangement with the Institute of Medical Emergency Preparation (IMEP) and the
Raven Maria Blanco Foundation (RMBF) and can be downloaded at www.gotsixlinks.org. It
highlights the education and items needed to be adequately prepared to help a patient in crisis.
According to the University of Texas Health Science Center, every practicing U.S. dentist will
face approximately eight potentially life-threatening medical emergencies in their offices every
10 years (approximately 150,000 in the U.S. every year). In addition to the free guide, the
www.gotsixlinks.org web site also features a video discussing the importance of medical
emergency preparedness and information about the benefits of IMEP membership including:
online continuing education classes; mock drills and clinical scenarios; and a medical education
workbook for emergency response.
“A medical emergency can happen in any dentist’s office at any time,” said Dr. David Guarrera,
DDS, vice president, MetLife Dental Products. “Being prepared as a first responder for an
emergency can mean all the difference to the patient, their family and a dentist’s practice.
MetLife is working with IMEP and RMBF to raise awareness on this issue and is dedicated to
improving emergency procedures in dental offices by providing dentists with education and
solutions.”
MetLife is the only dental carrier that offers its network dentists and their staff a discounted
membership in IMEP. The IMEP 40% discounted membership is a complement to MetLife’s
Quality Initiatives Program, which is dedicated to promoting improved oral health and safe
environments for care through education and research. MetLife’s Quality Initiatives Program
provides dental offices an opportunity to earn continuing education credits while learning about
the latest research and techniques in the field of dentistry.
MetLife, celebrating 50 years of healthier smiles in 2012, provided its first dental benefits for
families in 1962.