Insider Update

You’ve heard the saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And it’s no less true for your teeth. Most oral health conditions such as cavities and gum disease are preventable. And all it takes is developing a few simple habits such as brushing, flossing and seeing a dentist regularly.

Even though many adults have developed these habits, there’s still room for improvement. One in four adults in the U.S. has untreated cavities, and nearly half show signs of gum disease, based on estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These problems take their toll. Americans lose 92 million hours of work because of unplanned dental visits. That’s something your group clients would be concerned about, in addition to the links between dental hygiene and wellness. Let’s look at what you can do to encourage your clients to keep their teeth and gums healthy and avoid those trips to the dentist.
 

Prevention is the key

Delta Dental’s focus is on prevention. Most plans, including all individual options, offer 100% coverage for diagnostic and preventive services such as cleanings and exams. During regular dentist exams, dentists can catch the early signs of tooth decay and gum disease and address them before they develop into more serious conditions. They can also recommend good hygiene practices between visits.

Group clients can encourage their members to seek diagnostic and preventive services by adding the D&P Maximum Waiver® to their plan. Under this optional feature for Delta Dental PPO™ group plans, diagnostic and preventive services won’t count against members’ annual maximums.

For individual PPO plans, no deductible is required for diagnostic and preventive services under the Basic and Premium plans. This applies to plans with an effective date of August 1, 2022, or later.
 

Get employees to the dentist

Encourage your group clients to provide an employee wellness program. Many wellness programs offer incentives for going to the dentist and practicing good dental hygiene. These incentives work well with Delta Dental’s diagnostic and preventive coverage. Wellness programs can help get patients into dentist offices, and once they go at least twice, they’re more likely to start going regularly and get professional cleanings and exams.

“All good dental health flows down from that initial visit,” said Dr. Karen Horace, Dental Policy Manager at Delta Dental.
 

Get the right tools

Delta Dental’s own BrushSmart™ program gives members access to discounts on popular oral care products and services such as Philips Sonicare, Oral‑B and quip toothbrushes. This free oral wellness program is designed to help your members improve their oral care at home. All Delta Dental members are eligible to join, including group members and individual members.

Encourage your members to sign up for the BrushSmart program. Share the  BrushSmart promotional flyer to get the word out.
 

Make the most of Dental Hygiene Month

You can use National Dental Hygiene Month to stress the importance of good dental health. Share these resources from Delta Dental with tips on how to prevent cavities and gum disease:
 

• Flyer:  6 reasons to get a dental cleaning
• Flyer:  Choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste
• Flyer:  Game plan for healthy teeth
• Article: Brush up on brushing and flossing techniques
• Article: 5 reasons to floss every day
   

Making sure your clients address good dental hygiene practices takes a little bit of attention and a few rewards. But the end result is satisfying because you can help them be healthier and flash that smile more often.