FIRST DENTAL HEALTH RECEIVES FIRST-EVER DISCOUNT DENTAL LICENSE AWARDED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

License Provides Unprecedented Consumer Protection and Access to
High-Quality Care for up to 15 Million Uninsured Californians

SAN DIEGO - October 10, 2006 - First Dental Health, one of California's largest dental preferred provider organization networks, announced today that it has received California's first-ever license for a discount dental plan. The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has regulatory authority over the discount health care industry, enforcing the nation's most stringent and consumer-friendly licensing requirements.

"We are pleased that First Dental Health has complied with all of the requirements for licensure in California," said Cindy Ehnes, Director of the DMHC at a news conference today in Sacramento. "The license will ensure that consumers are receiving verifiable benefits." Consumer safeguards that other discount plans cannot guarantee will include: credentialed dentists; true and verifiable discounts; truth in advertising; and a dispute-resolution process.

"Dental health care is a key component of overall health and it is vitally important that individuals and small businesses without dental insurance have access to high-quality credentialed dentists," said Michael S. Grossman, D.D.S., founder, president and CEO of First Dental Health.

First Dental Health will introduce its licensed discount dental plan, called New Dental Choice, in November. The plan will provide the state's approximately 15 million individuals who aren't covered by dental insurance with access to affordable dental care and it will also be an affordable alternative to costly insurance for the 60 percent of California's small employers who cannot afford to offer dental benefits to their employees.

Dr. Grossman said: "People should think of our licensed discount plan as the Costco of dental care, offering individuals and small business owners the highest quality at the best prices."

New Dental Choice, currently called The Dental Club and re-named to coincide with the granting of the state license, was first introduced by FDH in 2001.

About First Dental Health

First Dental Health, one of California's largest dental network management companies with national capabilities, has provided convenient access to affordable dental care from credentialed dentists for over 10 years to more than half a million insured and uninsured Californians. First Dental Health's New Dental Choice, which will be introduced in November, will be the first and only discount dental plan currently licensed by the State of California, providing individuals with convenient access to high-quality dental care at significant savings. First Dental Health's network is made up of approximately 8,000 dentists in 14,000 dental locations throughout California.

About Department of Managed Health Care

The California Department of Managed Health Care is the only stand-alone watchdog agency in the nation, touching the lives of more than 21 million enrollees. The DMHC has assisted more than 633,000 Californians through its 24-hour Help Center to resolve their HMO problems, educate consumers on health care rights and responsibilities, and work closely with HMO plans to ensure a solvent and stable managed health care system.

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New Dental Choice is a dental plan offered by First Dental Health that provides dental coverage, an alternative to dental insurance, and affordable dental coverage that is available to all audiences including individuals, families, groups, and small or large businesses. Sign up for our dental plan today and start saving on all of your dental procedures. It's not dental insurance it's better. Call 1-888-632-7558 today for more information.
© 2006 New Dental Choice. All rights reserved.