Latest news with #DeltaDentalPlansAssociation
USA Today
3 days ago
- General
- USA Today
'The Tooth Fairy sticks to a budget:' Kids are finding less under their pillows for lost teeth
Times are tough, even for kids. What they're receiving for each tooth they're putting under their pillows has fallen 14% to $5.01 from $5.84 last year, marking one of the most significant year-over-year declines in Tooth Fairy giving since Delta Dental began its annual "Original Tooth Fairy Poll" 27 years ago. The Tooth Fairy is also scaling back on additional gifts. Only 1 in 6 children (16%) receive both money and 'something else,' down from 21% in 2024. Kids may not be happy about the drop in how much money they're getting for each tooth, but their parents still believe the Tooth Fairy helps educate their children about the value of money. The Tooth Fairy's thriftiness these days shows 'even the Tooth Fairy sticks to a budget,' Delta Dental said in a release. Besides, kids should take heart that the trend for the value of a tooth has generally been up. Since the poll's inception in 1998, the average cash gift left by the Tooth Fairy has increased 285% from $1.30 to $5.01 per tooth. Are all teeth created equally? The first lost tooth is typically the most valuable, the survey of 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12 in January showed. One-third of parents say the Tooth Fairy spends more on their child's first tooth. However, the Tooth Fairy's also cut back here, with the average value dropping 12% to $6.24 from $7.09 over the past year. How busy is the Tooth Fairy? The Tooth Fairy is busier than ever. She's visited more than 8 in 10 homes (83%) across the country, up from 78% in 2024. That's great news for kids even if their haul per tooth has shrunk, Delta Dental said. Nearly one-quarter of children (23%) consider the Tooth Fairy's visit one of their favorite surprises of the year, the poll said. "We're pleased to see the Tooth Fairy's wings have been in overdrive this year, as each visit is (also) an opportunity to spark conversations with children about strong oral health care practices," said Gabriella Ferroni, senior director, strategic communications, for the Delta Dental Plans Association. Does a drop in tooth value signal bad economic times? Historically, the Original Tooth Fairy Poll has mirrored the economy's overall direction, tracking with the trends of the broad Standard & Poor's 500 Index, Delta Dental said. However, since 2023, the two have diverged. Over the past year, the average value of a single lost tooth decreased 14%, while the S&P 500 rose 26% during the same period, Delta Dental said. Do kids everywhere get the same amount per tooth? Where kids live can make a big difference in how much they get for their teeth, the poll showed. Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@ and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.
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
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Delta Dental commits up to $1 million to advance the future of the oral health workforce
The Delta Dental Future Workforce Fund opens its application process, supporting initiatives that inspireschool-aged children to explore careers in oral health. WASHINGTON, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Delta Dental Institute reaffirmed its dedication to advancing the future of the oral health workforce with its announcement that applications are now being taken for the Delta Dental Future Workforce Fund. This industry-leading fund invests up to $1 million annually in comprehensive solutions, innovative pilots, and scalable models that inspire school-aged children from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to pursue careers in oral health. "Strengthening the oral health workforce is vital for improving oral and overall health," said James W. Hutchison, President & CEO of Delta Dental Plans Association. "As the nation's largest oral health philanthropist, Delta Dental is proud to continue supporting innovative programs that inspire students to pursue careers in the oral health field." The application period for the Future Workforce Fund is open from April 16 to June 11 at 5:00 PM ET. Those interested in applying can visit Applicants must be based in the United States, and may include 501(c)(3) organizations, private businesses, limited or general partnerships, and non-profit educational, government, and tribal entities. Delta Dental companies across the country are deeply invested in supporting the future of the oral health workforce. This announcement is a continuation of Delta Dental's commitment to elevating programs that help advance the workforce through education, research, and community engagement. Learn more about past awardees here. About the Delta Dental InstituteThe Delta Dental Institute advances oral health for all Americans in partnership with Delta Dental companies and dedicated organizations across the country. With expertise rooted in Delta Dental's rich history of oral health leadership, we support oral health research, community outreach, and advocacy, striving to ensure that everyone understands the importance of oral health to overall health and has access to the care they need. Visit for more information. 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 154,000 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. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Delta Dental Institute
