BEER BOTTLES BITE BACK: TEETH IN DANGER ON HOLIDAY

• Sunday, 06 August 2006

Watch out next time you try to impress the local senorita with some macho antics on holiday! Over-enthusiastic holiday makers attempting to crack open beer bottles in their mouths were just one of the causes of over a thousand dental accidents that have been suffered abroad since the start of 2006 by customers of Denplan.

As we start the nation’s peak week for jetting off in search of sunshine and frolics, these alarming numbers show that holiday misadventure can have a big impact on your smile. The findings from Denplan’s Helpline and Insurance team show that, even if you do manage to pull off the bottle opening feat without injury to your person, you may run into trouble in your hotel bathroom. Some accident prone people crack their teeth in the unfamiliar shower whilst more adventurous holiday makers are crashing jet skis and being thrown from galloping horses.

Some of the dental accidents suffered so far this year include:

• Crashing jet skis and mopeds
• Galloping horses
• Biting beer bottles
• Slipping at pools
• Stumbling on high pavements
• Falling in the shower

That’s not forgetting the plethora of lost dentures, loose fillings, chipped teeth and abscesses which can happen out of the blue and be painful enough to ruin a week away.

Dr Henry Clover, dental adviser for Denplan said: “Denplan’s travel insurance claims show that you can’t take a holiday from looking after your teeth. People might not think to check whether their travel insurance covers accidents to their teeth and may find themselves facing huge dental bills should something happen whilst they are abroad.”

-ends-

Notes to Editors:

1. The research was sourced from Denplan’s own statistics for their dental support service.
2. Denplan offer multinational A&E cover as part of many of their payment plan products.

About AXA

AXA is a world leader in financial protection. AXA’s operations are diverse with major operations in Western Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific area. AXA employs 120,000 staff and tied agents and, as of 31 December 2005, had €1,064 billion in assets under management. AXA reported total IFRS revenues of €72 billion and IFRS underlying earnings of €3,258 million for the full year 2005. Our previous company performance is not a guide to how we may perform in the future.

AXA ordinary shares are listed on the Paris Stock Exchange; AXA American Depositary Shares (ADSs) are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol AXA.

About Denplan

Denplan Ltd., part of the AXA Group, is the UK's leading dental plan provider with an 87% market share. Denplan has more than 6,000 member dentists nationwide (around a third of General Dental Practitioners) and over 1.5 million registered patients. The company was established in 1986 by two dentists who pioneered the concept of dental payment plans. Today Denplan provides a range of plans for adults and children, enabling patients to spread the cost of their dental care through a fixed monthly fee. Denplan supports regular attendance and preventive care, reducing the need for clinical intervention and helping patients to maintain healthy teeth and gums for life.

Denplan Care: all routine and restorative care + worldwide dental A & E cover
Denplan Essentials: routine care only + worldwide dental A & E cover
Plans for Children: routine and other agreed care + worldwide dental A & E cover
Denplan Emergency: worldwide dental A & E cover only
Denplan Enhance: interest-free patient loans of £500 – £25,000 for dental treatment
Company Dental Plans: company funded, voluntary and flexible benefit schemes

Denplan also provides a range of professional services for its member dentists, including the Denplan Quality Programme, Denplan Excel accreditation programme and Denplan Training.

Patient enquiries telephone: 0800 401 402
Dentist enquiries telephone: 0800 328 3223

www.denplan.co.uk

For more information please contact:

Emma Slater
Denplan Press Office
Tel: 01962 827 997 / 07974 832 975
Email: pressoffice@denplan.co.uk

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