Today, the Delta Dental Institute released its first-ever Community Impact Report, highlighting the investments Delta Dental companies and their foundations made in 2019 to expand access to oral health care, improve oral health education, and support communities. Delta Dental of Arizona contributed $1,153,705 to over 100 organizations last year, helping 245,200 Arizona residents achieve their healthiest smiles. Nationally, Delta Dental companies donated more than $76.3 million in direct and in-kind community outreach in 2019, impacting the lives of more than 12.8 million people and funding more than 1,700 programs.

“Promoting good oral health is our business, and as an organization that keeps our Arizona communities at top of mind, Delta Dental of Arizona and our Foundation continue to look at ways to improve the oral health of residents facing significant barriers to dental care and services,” said Delta Dental of Arizona President and CEO Allan Allford. “We are committed to helping uninsured and underserved communities all across the state have access to oral health services they need for a healthy smile.”

"The need to address health disparities in our country, including in access to oral health care, has become even more apparent amid the COVID-19 pandemic," said Vivian Vasallo, Executive Director of the Delta Dental Institute. "The Delta Dental Institute is proud to spotlight the positive impact of Delta Dental companies, foundations, and their community partners in 2019. The programs and giving highlighted in this report represent our enduring commitment to listen to, learn from, and support the communities we serve, no matter what comes our way."

The theme of the 2019 Community Impact Report is "Our Purpose, Our People, Our Promise," a nod to the rich history of community engagement that has guided Delta Dental companies for more than 65 years. Delta Dental's 2019 Community Impact Report explores three main areas of giving and features local spotlights on Delta Dental company programs that are generating measurable impact on the oral and overall health of their communities. Delta Dental of Arizona’s partnership with Tooth BUDDS, a school-based teledentistry program in Graham and Greenlee counties provides oral health education and treatment to over 600 children a year. The full report is available online here.

About Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation
Founded in 1997, the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation is the charitable arm of Delta Dental of Arizona, the dental benefits company. Its mission is to improve oral health, particularly for underserved and uninsured groups and communities. Since 2006, the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation has provided more than $13 million in community benefit support for oral health education, promotion, and dental disease prevention programs across the state. For more information on the Foundation, please visit http://www.deltadentalaz.com/foundation.

About Delta Dental of Arizona
Delta Dental of Arizona is the leading dental benefits provider in Arizona, serving more than 1.2 million enrollees and more than 3,500 contracted dentists across the state. Passionate about oral health and its importance to generations of families, Delta Dental of Arizona has worked for more than 45 years to improve oral health by emphasizing preventive care and making dental coverage accessible to a wide variety of employers, groups and individuals. Since 2010, Delta Dental of Arizona, through its Foundation, gave $7 million to support oral health education and disease prevention programs for underserved and uninsured communities across the state. For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, visit http://www.deltadentalaz.com.

About Delta Dental Plans Association
Delta Dental Plans Association, headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, is the not-for-profit national association of the 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Through these companies, Delta Dental is the nation's largest provider of dental insurance, covering more than 80 million Americans, and offering the country's largest dental network with approximately 156,000 participating dentists.

About the Delta Dental Institute
The Delta Dental Institute launched in 2019 to advance oral health for all Americans in partnership with Delta Dental companies and community partners across the country. With expertise rooted in Delta Dental's rich history of oral health leadership, the Delta Dental Institute engages in and supports oral health research, community engagement, and advocacy, striving to ensure all Americans can have the healthy smile they deserve and live their healthiest lives.

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