Taikang BestSmile Dental Launches Innovative 'Insurance + Healthcare' Model to Transform Oral Health Services

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned that on July 20, the Taikang Bybo Dental Forum of the “11th National Academic Conference on Oral Implantology and China Oral Implantology Exhibition” was held in Chongqing.

The 11th National Academic Conference on Oral Implantology: Taikang Bybo Stomatology Sub-forum

Organized by the Implant Dentistry Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association and hosted by the College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, this conference is the most authoritative academic gathering in China’s dental implant community and has been held consecutively for 11 sessions.

Notably, the Taikang Bybo Stomatology Sub-forum of the 11th National Academic Conference on Dental Implants was held for the first time. It brought together numerous leading experts in the field to discuss digital dental implant technology, tilted implant placement, zygomatic and pterygoid implant techniques, maxillary sinus augmentation, and bone augmentation procedures, based on the development and innovation of evidence-based medicine. The forum showcased the most advanced achievements in dental implantology, jointly promoting the advancement of China’s dental implant sector.

Taikang Bybo Dental Medical Group has consistently been committed to advancing academic development in the dental industry. Since 2016, it has hosted international academic forums for three consecutive years, bringing together top global experts and technical teams in dental implantology to foster worldwide academic exchange and promote the advancement of dental implant technology in China. This year, the Taikang Bybo Dental Sub-forum leveraged the conference platform to gather distinguished professionals from all sectors for collaborative discussion and knowledge sharing.

Dental implantology is a vital field within dentistry. With advances in theoretical research and the development of related materials, dental implants—ranging from biomaterials and surgical design to final therapeutic outcomes—have maximized the restoration of natural tooth aesthetics and function, becoming the optimal treatment option for patients with tooth loss.

Meanwhile, digital and internet technologies have further accelerated the rapid development of dental implantology. How to meet the public’s high expectations for oral healthcare services and how to promote new advancements in evidence-based medicine for dental implants have become common challenges faced by dental practitioners and healthcare institutions alike.

To elevate the group-wide standard of dental implantology, Taikang Bybo Dental has established the Taikang Bybo Dental Implantology Academic Committee. Professor Zhou Lei, a renowned authority in China’s dental implant field, serves as the Chairman, while Li Na, Medical Director of Taikang Bybo Dental Shanghai, acts as the Secretary-General. The committee provides professional guidance and oversight in discipline development, standardization of clinical pathways, tiered credentialing for specialist dentists, professional training management, multidisciplinary consultations for complex implant cases, and exploration of new technologies.

As one of the chairs of this dental implant forum, Professor Zhou Lei, Chairman of the Academic Committee on Implant Dentistry at Taikang Bybo Dental, stated that in recent years, digital implantology has become an effective means to enhance the precision, minimally invasive nature, and standardization of implant surgeries. As the largest dental chain brand in China, Taikang Bybo Dental operates more than 200 medical institutions across over 50 cities. By establishing the Academic Committee on Implant Dentistry and promoting digital implant technologies, the company aims to achieve greater precision and minimally invasive procedures, thereby providing patients with a better treatment experience.

More importantly,Taikang Bybo Dental operates a nationwide chain, where digital technologies facilitate the implementation of a “three-tier physician responsibility” system. This enables attending physicians to receive remote guidance and support from senior specialists during surgical planning and procedures, thereby standardizing treatment outcomes and enhancing medical quality and safety.

Compared with other countries, the dental health of elderly people in China is far from optimistic. The Fourth National Oral Health Epidemiological Survey shows that less than 35% of Chinese seniors aged 80 and above retain 20 teeth, and the oral health rate among middle-aged and elderly populations is below 15%. Among those aged 65 to 74, the tooth loss rate reaches as high as 86.1%, with 10% being completely edentulous. Many middle-aged and elderly patients with periodontal disease often delay seeking treatment until they experience severe pain or have lost most of their teeth. This delay frequently leads to irreversible gingival recession. A significant number of edentulous patients suffer from severe maxillary atrophy and minimal bone volume, making them unsuitable for dental implants even after conventional bone grafting or internal and external sinus lift procedures.

Taikang Bybo Dental Group has actively introduced and promoted advanced global dental medical technologies and established the Taikang Bybo Dental Implant Complex Case Diagnosis and Design Center (IDDC). The group closely follows the latest developments in domestic and international dental medical technologies, exploring and innovating upon this foundation. Drawing on clinical insights and experience gained from treating tens of thousands of implant patients annually, the group shared its experiences with “zygomatic” and “pterygoid” implant techniques—used in cases involving severe maxillary bone deficiency and high surgical complexity—with renowned domestic experts at this sub-forum.

“Zygomatic” and “pterygoid plate” implantation not only require clinicians to possess advanced surgical skills but also demand a comprehensive understanding of the various anatomical structures of the human head. Given its considerable complexity, this technique is still in an active exploratory phase in China. Experts at the forum offered constructive recommendations to collectively advance the development of dental implant technology in China and narrow the gap with Europe and the United States.

Like bone grafting, guided bone regeneration (GBR), ridge splitting, and internal/external maxillary sinus lift procedures, the zygomatic implant and pterygoid implant techniques are evidence-based innovations. They are poised to become established and effective alternative treatment options in the field of dental implantology.

Although bone augmentation is a widely adopted technique, it is highly technique-sensitive and challenging, requiring implant dentists to engage in systematic learning to solidify their technical proficiency. It is reported that in late July, Taikang Bybo Dental will recruit both external and internal dentists for systematic training in bone augmentation techniques. Under the guidance of evidence-based medicine, participants will engage in practical exercises to enhance their clinical skills and achieve continuous improvement.

Reviewing the innovation and development of dental implant technology both domestically and internationally, the field initially focused on achieving “successful placement and stable osseointegration,” then progressed to “pursuing higher aesthetic standards.” Today, regardless of the approach employed, “long-term stability of implants under the premise of balancing aesthetics and functionality” represents the ultimate test for dental implantology. Ensuring the long-term stability of dental implants and maximizing patients’ treatment experience constitute the shared goal of all professionals and institutions in the dental industry.

With the development of China's economy, attention has been drawn to tooth loss among the elderly. In fact, periodontal disease and dental caries are the two most prevalent oral conditions in this population. If left untreated for prolonged periods, these conditions can ultimately lead to tooth loss, warranting significant attention from all sectors of society.

Dental implants have long been a specialty and core strength of Taikang Bybo Dental, enhancing the quality of life for a broad customer base through advanced implantology. From a long-term perspective, Taikang Bybo Dental is committed to prioritizing foundational dental care while maintaining its competitive advantages, thereby actively fulfilling its corporate social responsibility.

Zhu Zhenghong, Vice President of Taikang Health Industry Investment Holding Co., Ltd. and CEO of Taikang Bybo Dental

“After decades of development, dental implantology has evolved into a unique and comprehensive treatment system. It is currently the optimal option for tooth replacement, yet it should also be regarded as the last resort,” stated Zhu Zhenghong, Vice President of Taikang Health Industry Investment Holdings Co., Ltd. and CEO of Taikang Bybo Dental. “We should guide people of all age groups to cultivate lifelong habits of maintaining oral health and prioritize periodontal care, rather than waiting until old age to incur substantial costs for dental implants. Only by emphasizing foundational treatments and adhering to the principle that ‘prevention is better than cure’ can the entire industry and society achieve sustainable development and enhance medical efficiency.”

In June 2018, Taikang Insurance Group made a strategic investment in Bybo Dental, comprehensively empowering the company through talent development, discipline construction, insurance product innovation, and resource integration, with the aim of building a closed-loop dental ecosystem centered on “payment + services.” Looking ahead, dental insurance products will be designed to cover customers’ entire life cycles—from childhood to adulthood, and from prevention to treatment and warranty—addressing various dimensions of care.

Liu Tingjun, Vice President of Taikang Insurance Group, CEO of Taikang Health Industry Investment Holdings Co., Ltd., and Chairman of Taikang Bybo Dental, stated that Taikang Bybo Dental creates an exceptional experience through full-lifecycle oral health management and internationally aligned medical service models. Within the grand vision of comprehensive health, it provides high-quality dental medical services that emphasize both quality and patient experience.

Currently, Taikang has successively launched six dental insurance products, primarily covering preventive care, emergency dental treatment, and comprehensive therapy. With a strong emphasis on basic and preventive treatments, these products help customers maintain long-term oral health. Furthermore, Taikang Bybo Dental has fully integrated its patient settlement system with its insurance accounting system, enabling direct billing for insurance claims. This significantly enhances convenience for customers, reduces out-of-pocket expenses, and simplifies the process to resemble the use of public medical insurance, thereby increasing patients’ willingness to seek treatment.

For dental implants, which remain in high demand, Taikang is also providing robust support and protection through insurance: it will soon launch a quality warranty extension insurance service underwritten by Taikang Online. This service will provide every implant patient with regular follow-up cleaning and maintenance. In the event of complications such as porcelain fracture of the implant crown or implant failure after restorative treatment, patients will be eligible for insurance compensation, thereby alleviating their financial burden. This initiative truly embodies Taikang Bybo’s commitment to “dental implants backed by insurance,” offering customers more reassuring and secure after-sales services for dental implants. Currently, this warranty product has entered its final pilot testing phase, and the entire product system will initially be piloted in Beijing and Shanghai.

The emergence of dental insurance carries broader social significance. Taikang Bybo Dental leverages dental insurance to incentivize medical institutions to reduce the incidence of oral diseases through health education, regular scaling, and check-ups, while providing the most appropriate treatment plans during care. This approach not only ensures customers receive optimal dental treatment services but also lowers the total societal cost of oral healthcare, more effectively curbs over-treatment, reduces resource waste, returns healthcare to its intrinsic value, and generates substantial social benefits.

Mr. Chen Dongsheng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Taikang Insurance Group, stated that Taikang has always aligned with the trends of the times and the tangible needs of the people, integrating virtual insurance with physical medical and elderly care services to build a comprehensive health industry ecosystem. We respect, care for, and celebrate life, leveraging market-oriented approaches to wholeheartedly serve the people.

Note: VCBeat will continue to monitor and interpret Taikang Bybo Dental’s “Payment + Service” model.