Today, the Delta Dental Institute released its 2021 Community Impact Report, highlighting the philanthropic investments Delta Dental has made nationwide over the past year to support the oral and overall health of communities across the country. According to the report, Delta Dental of Arizona contributed $1,727,180, which positively impacted 211,530 people across the state. A national leader in oral health giving, Delta Dental has supported efforts and initiatives that expand access to care, advance health equity, build resilient communities and innovate for a healthier future. In total, Delta Dental invested $106 million in communities in 2021 – an increase from 2020 – and positively impacted over 21.3 million lives.

“For nearly 70 years, Delta Dental has been driven by our mission to advance the oral and overall health of the people we serve and the communities we inhabit,” said James W. Hutchison, President and Chief Executive Officer. , Delta Dental Plans Association. “We are proud to be one of the national leaders in oral health giving and look forward to continuing to collaborate with our communities and partners on the journey to better health for all.” »

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The 2021 Community Impact Report, “Our Mission: Your Health,” explores four main areas of Delta Dental’s nationwide community impact efforts:

Expanding access to care: Delta Dental has supported dental treatment and prevention programs – such as free dental clinics – that have reached 10 million people and helped 4.4 million others gain access to dental care. fluoridated water.

Advancing Health Equity: Delta Dental has funded scholarships and grants for underrepresented students pursuing careers in oral health, including support for dental students at Howard University and Meharry Medical College, the only two HBCU dental schools in America. Delta Dental has also reached more than 10 million people through oral health education programs, with a focus on underserved communities.

Building resilient communities: Delta Dental has expanded access to healthy food, supporting food drives and food banks that have provided more than 17 million meals, and prioritized sustainability by investing in water bottle filling stations. water in schools and other efforts.

Innovating for a healthier future: Delta Dental has focused on the future by funding research and supporting new models and technologies of care, such as integrated medical-dental and teledentistry, to help develop new solutions to improve care.

To accompany the report, Delta Dental also today released a video and digital story detailing its community impact work, including an interactive map featuring specific initiatives in all 50 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. In this document, available here, Delta Dental of Arizona’s partnership with HonorHealth and Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH) is profiled. Through this partnership, uninsured patients who visit one of HonorHealth’s five emergency rooms with dental issues are triaged and then referred to social workers to book appointments at NOAH dental clinics for treatment. Additionally, transportation is arranged if needed and patients receive up to $1,500 in emergency dental services.

“Delta Dental of Arizona is dedicated to increasing access to oral health care and education for all individuals and families in the state. Without a focused and intentional effort to support members of our community who lack access to affordable preventative care and oral health education, we cannot achieve this goal,” said Michael Jones, President. and CEO of Delta Dental of Arizona. “Through the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation’s grant programs and partnerships with organizations such as ATSU Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, Banner University Medical Center, Pacific Dental Services Foundation Dentists for Special Needs , St. Vincent de Paul, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and Northern Arizona University College of Dental Hygiene, Delta Dental works proactively to improve the oral health of more Arizonans every day.

The full report is available online at 2021cir.deltadental.com.