Latest news with #DeltaDental
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hundreds of Nashville-Area Kids Receive Free Dental Screenings, Shoes, and More at 2025 Kids Dental Day
Delta Dental of Tennessee, Nashville Sounds, and cityCURRENT team up with local partners to promote health and confidence for the new school year NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 21, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hundreds of children from across Middle Tennessee recently received free dental screenings, new shoes, hygiene kits, books, and more during the 4th annual Kids Dental Day at First Horizon Park. Hosted by Delta Dental of Tennessee, the Nashville Sounds, and cityCURRENT, the event brought together 250 children and over a dozen community organizations to provide essential health services and school readiness resources to area youth. "This is one of our favorite days of the year," said Adam English, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the Nashville Sounds. "First Horizon Park is meant to be a place where families can come together, and thanks to our incredible partners, we're able to make a real impact for hundreds of kids in our community." Tooth decay is the most common chronic condition of childhood, and poor oral health can affect a child's quality of life, performance at school, and success later in life. According to the CDC's 2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report, half of all children aged 6 to 9 have had cavities in their primary or permanent teeth. Left untreated, these cavities can lead to pain, infections, and missed school days - and affect a child's ability to eat, speak, play, and learn. Events like Kids Dental Day help bridge the gap in access to care and put children on a path toward healthier, more confident futures. "We're always grateful to the Sounds and our many community partners and volunteers who come together to make Kids Dental Day such a success," said Jeff Ballard, President and CEO of Delta Dental of Tennessee. "It's a fun, high-impact day that helps make care more accessible - and reminds kids that their health and happiness matter." The 250 participating kids arrived throughout the day from summer camps and community programs that coordinated with event organizers, including Preston Taylor Ministries and local chapters of the Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee. Kids received free dental screenings and dental cleanings (as needed), a new pair of socks and shoes, snacks, and a new book. About 25% of children receiving cleanings also had signs of developing cavities that the dental team was able to treat with silver diamine fluoride (SDF), a non-invasive treatment used to stop the growth of tooth decay. "Helping kids access quality dental care is at the heart of our mission," said Dr. Michele Blackledge-Polk, Director of Oral Health at Neighborhood Health. "Good oral health habits start early and set the foundation for lifelong health, confidence, and success. One of the most powerful aspects of events like Kids Dental Day is our ability to assess the state of children in the community by having limited exams and education on brushing and flossing. Silver Diamine Fluoride is a new tool that works by preventing the progression of cavities. When properly used, we can reduce the need for drilling and hopefully the number of visits required to treat the tooth. This event is all about meeting families where they are and making oral health approachable and fun." The day also featured educational stations and activities to engage children as they prepare to return to school in the coming weeks. Book'em brought their Book Bus, giving every child the opportunity to pick out a free book to take home. The American Heart Association provided hands-only CPR demonstrations, and the Adventure Science Center hosted STEM activities. PBS Kids on Nashville PBS gave out temporary tattoos featuring characters from the Delta Dental and Smile180 Foundation supported oral health education programming. "For many of our families, back-to-school can be extremely time-consuming and stressful," said Dwight Johnson, Executive Director at Preston Taylor Ministries. "Kids Dental Day helps to alleviate a lot of that burden with care, joy, and community. Our students left with healthier smiles, fresh shoes, and a boost of confidence for the year ahead." 130 volunteers from cityCURRENT and other community groups helped make the day run smoothly ─ from assisting families and guiding kids through activities to distributing books, snacks, and dental kits. "Kids Dental Day is a shining example of what can happen when the business community comes together with a shared purpose," said Kelly Meyers, Nashville Market President, cityCURRENT. "It's more than a day of service ─ it's a reminder to each child that they matter, and we're here to support them." Additional partners helped to make the event possible behind the scenes. Signature Transportation provided buses to bring kids to and from summer programs and camps across the region, ensuring that transportation was never a barrier to participation. Volunteers stayed energized thanks to snacks and drinks donated by Kroger, as well as coffee and doughnuts donated by Dunkin' Donuts. Dental supplies were donated by Henry Schein and equipment was provided by Hope Smiles. To learn more about Kids Dental Day, visit: View source version on Contacts Ann Waller Curtis /
Business Wire
26-06-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Investing in Smiles: Delta Dental of Idaho Funds Oral Health Projects Across the State
BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Delta Dental of Idaho, the state's leading stand-alone dental benefits carrier, is pleased to announce the recipients of its Spring 2025 Oral Health Grant Program, awarding over $100,000 to five nonprofit and community-based organizations across the state. These grants support innovative efforts to expand access to dental care, improve oral health outcomes, and deliver preventive services to underserved individuals. "Our goal is to support programs that not only expand access to dental services but also help strengthen Idaho's oral health workforce and improve long-term outcomes—especially for those who face barriers to care." Share A committee of Delta Dental of Idaho's senior leaders and an external dental professional selected the grant recipients through a competitive review process. Applications were evaluated based on clearly defined needs, alignment with Delta Dental's mission, program objectives, and the potential to serve historically underserved or underrepresented populations. " Every year, we're inspired by the commitment these organizations show in addressing the oral health needs of their communities," said Heather Brown, Senior Director of Oral Health and Community Outreach at Delta Dental of Idaho. "Our goal is to support programs that not only expand access to dental services but also help strengthen Idaho's oral health workforce and improve long-term outcomes—especially for those who face barriers to care." Over $100,000 was divided among these 2025 Spring grant recipients: Family Health Services To purchase a panoramic X-ray machine for their new dental clinic in Shoshone, expanding diagnostic capabilities for patients in the Magic Valley region. Community Health Association of Spokane (CHAS) To provide dental care vouchers for patients at their Moscow clinic and acquire a portable dental unit for outreach in Latah and Nez Perce counties. Southeastern Idaho Public Health To purchase equipment and supplies for a school-based dental sealant and fluoride varnish program serving southeastern Idaho students. Special Olympics Idaho To fund portable dental units and supplies that will allow on-site preventive dental care at Special Olympics events statewide. Kaniksu Community Health To support X-ray and anesthesia equipment upgrades for their dental clinics in northern Idaho. These awards reflect Delta Dental of Idaho's ongoing commitment to addressing oral health disparities and promoting wellness across the state through community partnerships and strategic investments. For more information about Delta Dental of Idaho's community programs and grant opportunities, visit Delta Dental of Idaho is the leading dental benefits carrier in the state, providing quality, affordable dental plans for both companies and individuals. We are a not-for-profit organization seeking to improve the dental health of all Idahoans through our plan offerings and community outreach programs. Nationally, Delta Dental member companies provide coverage to more than 80 million Americans. For more information, visit
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oral health continues to be a challenge in Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Brushing, flossing and annual dental checkups are very important, but officials say oral care in Arkansas continues to be a problem. Officials with the ADH Oral Health Program said Arkansas has many rural areas, and access to oral health care for people who live in rural areas can be challenging due to longer driving distances to care and other factors such as insurance coverage. Arkansas also has some counties that have been federally designated as dental provider shortage areas, which means there are not enough dentists to care for the population residing in the county. FDA Signals major shift on fluoride treatments for children Dental Director for Delta Dental of Arkansas, a dental benefits company, Niki Carter says after and during COVID oral health care became bad nationwide. However, last year Arkansas was ranked low for poor oral care. 'Arkansas is 50th in the nation, so we have our work cut for us,' Carter said. Carter explained that one way there's a gap in care has to do with distribution. '60% of dentists practice in only eight of the state's 75 counties and these eight counties represent 40% of the state's population that are all in urban areas,' Carter said. 'Technically, 60% of the population lives in rural areas.' Carter said that's not the only problem, the other issue is a shortage of dentists. 'Technically, there is a shortage of dentists per 100,000 population in our state,' Carter said. Study ranks Arkansas at the absolute bottom for dental health Carter says most dentists want to practice in metropolitan areas, which is why she's glad Lyon College will open the state's first dental school this month. 'One aspect of poor oral health is it affects numerous systemic illnesses,' Carter said. She also says students could go through a loan repayment program helping serve those needed areas. 'New dental students are graduating with $300,000 and $400,000 in debt. Through the repayment program, they will go to these rural areas and practice for a certain amount of time and pay back that loan,' Carter said. Carter says they also partner with multiple companies that provide care to patients, hoping they can help close the gap. One of the partners is Teledentistry, where members have 24/7 access to dental visits. Lyon College holds groundbreaking for first dental school in Arkansas Officials with the Arkansas Department of Health Office of Oral Health also say they're focused on promoting lifelong, optimum oral health for all Arkansans through education and prevention. This includes programming that educates health care providers about the interplay of oral health on systemic health, raising awareness about oral disease and the importance of regular dental care and programming that promotes and supports daily oral health hygiene habits for all ages, particularly children. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Delta Dental report reveals gap in understanding the link between oral health and medical conditions
CHICAGO, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Dental released its 2025 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report, a nationwide analysis of consumer opinions and behaviors relating to oral health. Now in its fifth year, Delta Dental commissioned the research of 2,000 U.S. adults and parents of children 12 and under. The report reveals that the state of U.S. oral health is generally positive, but areas for improvement remain. While adults maintain near-universal awareness of the relationship between oral health and overall wellness, there is a reduced understanding of the direct correlation between oral health and specific health conditions such as heart disease, respiratory illness, and high blood pressure compared to last year. Further, the report finds that intentions for good oral hygiene remain strong, but dental visit anxiety and dips in at-home oral health care have impacted some adults and children. "Oral health is a cornerstone of overall wellness, and while it is encouraging to see that most adults recognize this important connection, greater efforts are needed to demonstrate its critical role in preventing and managing systemic health conditions," said James W. Hutchison, President & CEO, Delta Dental Plans Association. "As the nation's leading dental benefits provider, we are committed to ensuring continued dialogue and supporting access to care so that everyone can prioritize and safeguard their oral and overall health." Below are additional key findings from the 2025 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report: Dental anxiety is a notable barrier to care More than 1 in 5 (21%) adults have avoided dental care due to anxiety, and 1 in 7 (14%) parents have skipped taking their children to the dentist for the same reason. Fear of pain or discomfort was the top reported reason among adults (59%) and children (72%) who have experienced dental visit anxiety. Closing the gap in prenatal oral health care A majority of women (54%) who are or have been pregnant are likely to prioritize dental visits, as they believe it is as important as their annual physical. One third (33%) of adults understand that pregnant individuals are at greater risk for gum disease, while over 1 in 4 (26%) recognize this may be associated with adverse outcomes such as pre-term birth and low birth weight. Preventive dental visits are prioritized The frequency of preventive visits among adults who made a trip to the dentist in 2024 remained steady (84%) compared to 2023 (83%). Notably, there is a significant corresponding drop in unexpected visits among adults, decreasing from 36% in 2023 to 22% in 2024. Cosmetic visits experienced a sharp decline from 12% in 2023 to 4% in 2024. To read the 2025 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report and learn more about the report's methodology and findings, click here. About the reportDelta Dental Plans Association commissioned a third-party market research firm, Material Holdings, LLC, to undertake research that formed the basis for this report. Material conducted its research between January 9 and January 23, 2025, using an email invitation and online surveys of two audiences recruited through an opt-in panel: 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages 18+ 1,000 parents of children ages 12 and under Geographic distribution quotas were set to ensure a reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. population of adults and parents with children ages 12 and under. Research in this report has a margin of error of +/- 3%. About Delta Dental Plans AssociationBased in Chicago, Illinois, Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest dental benefits provider and offers the country's largest dental network with approximately 152,000 participating dentists. Over the last decade, Delta Dental companies and their foundations invested nearly $2 billion to improve the oral and overall health of our communities. Visit for information on individual dental insurance plans and group dental insurance plans. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Delta Dental Plans Association Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
13-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Delta Dental of Tennessee Honors Dr. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi with Smile Power Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Delta Dental of Tennessee (Delta Dental) and its charitable arm, the Smile180 Foundation, recently presented Dr. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi, CEO of Interfaith Dental, with its Smile Power Award. The award, which celebrates an individual who has made a significant positive impact on the oral health of Tennesseans, was given to Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi in recognition of her decades-long leadership of Interfaith Dental, a volunteer-driven safety net clinic in Nashville, Tennessee, and commitment to expanding access to care for the state's most vulnerable populations. The award was presented to Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi by Dr. Phil Wenk, CEO of the Smile180 Foundation, at a conference for safety net dental clinic leaders hosted by Interfaith Dental entitled 'River of Resilience: Leadership in Changing Currents.' 'For nearly 30 years, Rhonda has never hesitated to step up and help, whether it was a patient in need of care, or a young dentist or nonprofit leader seeking advice,' said Dr. Wenk. 'Her compassion and determination have made a lasting difference in the lives of countless Tennesseans. It's an honor to recognize her with the Smile Power Award.' Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi has spent her entire career overseeing dental programs for the underserved. After working in two international health clinics, she became the first employee and CEO of Interfaith Dental in 1995. Under her leadership, Interfaith has grown from a two-chair operation located in a church basement into a two-clinic, 26-chair facility with a staff of nearly 60 that provides over $8 million of care for 3,600 uninsured or underinsured patients each year. 'I've devoted my career to the belief that a healthy smile changes everything, and it is an honor to be recognized by partners like Delta Dental who share that commitment wholeheartedly,' said Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi. 'Increasing access to quality, affordable care is truly a team effort, and I'm fortunate to work with a terrific team at Interfaith, a wonderful and resilient group of safety net clinics leaders, and so many others who make it possible to do this type of work.' Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi is deeply engaged in the state's nonprofit and oral health communities. She serves on the board of directors of the Tennessee Dental Association, the Center for Nonprofit Management, the Tennessee Charitable Care Network, the Safety Net Consortium of Middle Tennessee, and the Tennessee Center for Health Workforce and Development. She is the chair of the Tennessee Alliance of Oral Health Advocates and was recently inducted into the International College of Dentists, an honor reserved for 3% of dentists worldwide. In 2021, Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi was appointed by Governor Lee to a special task force to address oral health access for all Tennesseans. The task force's resulting recommendation - a five-year, $94 million pilot program known as the Healthy Smiles Initiative - aims to increase access to oral health care for all Tennesseans by increasing the number of dentists practicing in the state. Now wrapping up its third year, the program has helped UTHSC College of Dentistry and Meharry Dental School increase their class sizes, increase access to dental care through the development of a new dental clinic in Kingsport, and create incentives for graduating dentists to practice in areas of need. In addition, under her leadership, Interfaith Dental designed and manages a statewide oral health program for low-income older adults. Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi is just the fourth recipient of the Smile Power Award, joining a distinguished group that includes the late State Representative Charles Sargent, former Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak, and former Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey. Delta Dental's Smile180 Foundation has donated more than $30.7 million to Tennessee's dental colleges, children's hospitals, free and reduced-cost dental clinics, and other like-minded charities since its creation in 2015. To learn more about Delta Dental's philanthropic work across Tennessee, visit the Smile180 Foundation website. About the Smile180 Foundation Smile180 reflects the transformative power of a healthy smile to turn someone's life around. The Smile180 Foundation supports Tennessee's dental colleges, children's hospitals, free and reduced-cost dental clinics, and other like-minded charities. About Delta Dental of Tennessee Delta Dental of Tennessee is the state's largest independent dental benefits carrier with 1.5 million lives covered. As part of the Delta Dental Plans Association, Delta Dental of Tennessee members have access to the largest dental network in the nation, with more than 206,000 providers serving more than 558,000 locations. With the simple mission of ensuring healthy smiles, Delta Dental of Tennessee works hard to help members of the communities it serves. Along with its corporate foundation, Smile180, Delta Dental of Tennessee donated more than $4.0 million in funding and in-kind services to over 100 organizations in 2024.
