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A recent nationwide survey with 900brokers and consultants and 900 benefitsmanagers revealed the characteristics theyconsider most important when evaluatinga dental benefits carriers.
Brokers and consultants put customerservice at the top of the list, followed bybest value, easy administration, fast claimsand problem resolution. Topping thebenefits manager’s list of dental carrierattributes was value, with customer service,fast claims, ease of use and easy adminis-tration rounding out the top five.
Among national dental benefits carriers,
Delta Dental was recognized as the categoryleader among all audiences surveyed, andoutperformed the competition in the areasthat were most important to each group.In a measure of overall satisfaction withDelta Dental, three in five (61 percent)brokers and consultants gave Delta Dentalan “excellent” rating.
Among benefits managers, 85 percentviewed Delta Dental as very good or excel-lent at meeting or exceeding expectations.This was 14 percentage points higher thanthe competition scored as a group. DeltaDental scored another 14 percentagepoints higher than the competition in
customer service satisfaction, with 82percent of benefits managers giving thema rating of very good or excellent.
B R O K E R N E W S F R O MD E L T A D E N T A L O F O K L A H O M A
For more information contact:Ken McGuireVice President Sales & MarketingOffice: 405-607-2107Toll Free: 1-800-522-0188, ext. 107Email: [email protected]: www.DeltaDentalOK.orgP.O. Box 54709Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1709
Editor:Tom SearlsCorporate Communications Director
Newsline is the quarterly newsletter fromyour dental insurance carrier of choice :Delta Dental of Oklahoma.
HealthTips:
Teen Years Tough on Teeth Delta Dental Marketing Department Contact Information:Vice President, Sales & MarketingMr. Ken McGuire405-607- 2107800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Broker Relations Representative:Ms. Katrina Nash405-607-4706800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Underwriting/Requests for Proposals:Ms. Kelly Graham405-607-2113800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Communications/Advertising:Mr. Tom Searls405-607-2178800-522-0188–ext [email protected]
Group SpecialistPeggy Nickels405-607-2114800-522-0188, ext 114, [email protected]
Account Services Representative:Ms. Navette Winford405-607-2124800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Visit OurWeb Site:www.DeltaDentalOK.org
Incremental improvements in administrativeefficiency, disease prevention and treat-ment are keys in Delta Dental’s ongoingefforts to improve oral health for ourclients. But Delta Dental believes thateveryone deserves good oral health, andwe act on this belief by investing in thecommunities we serve.
Across the nation, Delta Dental membercompanies are working to bring betteroral health to everyone in their communities– not just Delta Dental enrollees. In someparts of the country, uninsured and un-derserved populations are receiving dentalcare from traveling mobile care vans orfrom volunteer dental offices. In otherparts of the country, school children arelearning valuable lessons about oralhealth through curriculum and in-schoolprograms developed by Delta Dental.From coast to coast, Delta Dental is deter-mined to remove barriers to oral healthand is making a real difference. Examplesof Delta Dental’s national communityinitiatives include:› Donations of oral health services and supplies to address the dental needs of under-served populations› Promotion of oral health through advocacy and awareness programs
› Funds for research to advance dental science› Support of community groups and charities through sponsorships, participation and in-kind donations
› Promotion of the P.A.N.D.A. (Prevent Abuse and Neglect Through Dental Awareness) program to help dental professionals spot and report suspected cases of child abuse› Funds for scholarships and educational grants
Here at home, Delta Dental of Oklahomasupports:› The OU-College of Dentistry Distance Learning Laboratory
› OU-College of Dentistry Dental Student Scholarships
› Neighbor for Neighbor Dental Clinic› Good Shepherd Dental Clinic› Health for Friends› D-DENT› City Rescue Mission› The Captain Supertooth Program: A Free Children’s Dental Education Program for Our Schools› The “Resource for Care” Telephone Hotline & Public Service Announcement Program
Through corporate giving and communityinvestment programs, Delta Dental contrib-utes more than $14 million annually. Inaddition to monetary contributions,Delta Dental promotes a corporate envi-ronment that encourages volunteerismand a sense of community spirit amongemployees. Working together with ourcommunity partners, Delta Dental ofOklahoma will continue to promote theimportance of oral health and support ouroral health professionals.
Regular readers of the Newsline know thesound business benefits available to com-panies that offer their employees dentalcoverage. But with all the different carriersout there offering dental benefits, howshould you go about choosing a carrier?And why stay with a carrier once youchoose them?
Of several crucial considerations, the sizeand span of a carrier’s network are espe-cially important. That’s because the maincost-saving and productivity-boostingbenefits of dental coverage can only beobtained when enrollees seek regularpreventive care, and they’re far more likelyto do that when network dentists are inplentiful supply and located nearby. Ittakes years to establish a good networkand ongoing effort and expertise to preserveits consistent strength.
The consideration of network size becomeseven more important for companies withemployees scattered in multiple states.When working with clients that haveemployees in more than one state or region,we urge you to look at a carrier’s nation-wide network strength. Some dental benefitscarriers might have large networks incertain cities or regions, but network sizemight not be consistent from coast to coast.
Nearly three out of every four dentists inthe U.S. participate in one or more ofDelta Dental’s networks. Wherever youdo business, a network dentist is likely tobe nearby, ready to care for your coveredenrollees. In cities and small townsacross the country, Delta Dental hasspent more than 50 years building itsnetworks and integrating our network’sresources to offer high-quality, affordable
service – virtually everywhere.
Delta Dental Premier, our nationwidemanaged fee-for-service network, contractswith 163,000 dental offices. Delta Dental’sPPO network offers more than 88,000treatment locations. By contracting withmost of the dentists in the United States,Delta Dental makes it more convenientfor your employees to prevent or treatdental problems before they become morecostly and painful. This also helps to keepinsurance premiums low and can spareemployers the expense of work time lostto dental illnesses.
More than 47-million enrollees from81,000 groups already utilize Delta Dental’snetworks, and with your support, we’llcontinue to look for new ways to matchmore eligible enrollees with our participat-ing dentists in more locations nationwide.
The pre-teen and teen years may provesome of the toughest for teeth. Whileevery stage of life brings a new set of oralhealth issues, the mouth is often beset byunique combinations of internal andexternal factors often converging withharmful effects on teeth. Factors include:
Hormonal changes: A dental professionalcan prescribe a treatment program thathelps maintain healthy gums and teeth.
Diet: Teens often acquire new diets thatare abundant in sugary, starchy foods andsweetened drinks.
Contact sports: Oral injuries are oftenpermanent, but many can be preventedby wearing a mouthguard.
Eating disorders: Bulimia and anorexiacan lead to inflammation of the gums,erosion of tooth enamel, cavities and,potentially, can result in the loss of teeth.
Mouth piercing: Jewelry in the lips ortongue can chip teeth, scrape gums andcause other problems as well, includingserious infections.
For most teenagers, remaining vigilantabout oral hygiene should help them getthrough the teen years with their oralhealth intact. As always, it remainsimportant to brush at least twice daily,floss once each day and visit a dentistregularly for checkups.
Just the Facts about Delta Dental
Promoting Oral Health Builds Strong Communities
National Study Reveals What Brokers, Consultants andBenefits Managers Want Most from Dental Carriers
On The Insidepage 2 News & UpdatesBuilding Strong Communitiespage 3 Products & ServicesDelta Dental Factspage 4 Who’s Who at Delta Dental
www.DeltaDentalOK.org
Effective Dental Coverage Requires Networks, Networks, Networks!
We’ve Come a Long Way!
People once believed that apaste made from the ashes ofdogs’ teeth mixed with honey
could keep teeth white.
People once believed that toothacheswere caused by toothworms. Methodsto eradicate toothworms ranged fromfumigating the mouth with smoke tochewing on hot chili peppers.
Used in Roman times to clean andwhiten togas, urine was also thought tokeep teeth pearly white.
The earliest toothpastes were mixturesof powdered fruit, burnt shells, talc andhoney, as well as mice, lizard livers anda host of other creatures.
In ancient Greece, donkey’s milk wasused as a mouthwash to strengthengums and teeth.
Barbers were the original dentists.Beginning as early as the Middle Ages,they were responsible for “routinehygienic services” such as shaving,bloodletting and tooth extraction.
DDOK won two “Gold Awards”including “Best in Category”and “Best in Show” for its
advertising and community serviceinitiatives at the recent Delta DentalAssociation National CommunicationsCompetition. Nearly 50 entries werereceived, representing the largestparticipation since inception of theawards program in 1999.
Visit us on the Web atwww.DeltaDentalOK.org
DDOK Wins Best of Show!
Delta Dental is the nation’s largest, mostexperienced dental benefits carrier.Following are just some of our statisticson dental health care leadership:
› Delta Dental serves over one-fourth of the estimated 159 million Americans with dental insurance, providing den- tal coverage to over 47 million people in over 81,000 groups across the nation.› Delta Dental’s panel of dentists for its Premier network is the country’s most extensive. Delta Dental contracts with approximately 118,000 dentists, which is over twice the amount of any com- petitor’s PPO network.› Delta Dental posted approximately $12 billion in premium revenue during fiscal year 2005, the System’s 26th consecutive year of financial gains.› In 2005, Delta Dental processed over 69 million dental claims or approximately
1.3 million every week, with an accuracy rate of 99 percent› Since 1954, Delta Dental has worked to improve oral health in the U.S. by emphasizing preventive care, and making dental coverage affordable to a wide variety of employers and groups.
› Delta Dental’s unique cost control measures and contractual agreements with dentists help to ensure quality care at moderate fees, saving groups over $4.4 billion in 2005.› Delta Dental’s national accounts pro- gram provides dental benefits to over 9.7 million primary subscribers.› Delta Dental PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) has over 88,000 dentist locations.
› Delta Dental Premier has over 163,000 dentist locations.
A nationwide system of dental healthservice plans, Delta Dental offers yourclients, large and small, with customprograms and reporting systems thatprovide employees with quality, cost-effective dental benefit programs andservices.
A recent nationwide survey with 900brokers and consultants and 900 benefitsmanagers revealed the characteristics theyconsider most important when evaluatinga dental benefits carriers.
Brokers and consultants put customerservice at the top of the list, followed bybest value, easy administration, fast claimsand problem resolution. Topping thebenefits manager’s list of dental carrierattributes was value, with customer service,fast claims, ease of use and easy adminis-tration rounding out the top five.
Among national dental benefits carriers,
Delta Dental was recognized as the categoryleader among all audiences surveyed, andoutperformed the competition in the areasthat were most important to each group.In a measure of overall satisfaction withDelta Dental, three in five (61 percent)brokers and consultants gave Delta Dentalan “excellent” rating.
Among benefits managers, 85 percentviewed Delta Dental as very good or excel-lent at meeting or exceeding expectations.This was 14 percentage points higher thanthe competition scored as a group. DeltaDental scored another 14 percentagepoints higher than the competition in
customer service satisfaction, with 82percent of benefits managers giving thema rating of very good or excellent.
B R O K E R N E W S F R O MD E L T A D E N T A L O F O K L A H O M A
For more information contact:Ken McGuireVice President Sales & MarketingOffice: 405-607-2107Toll Free: 1-800-522-0188, ext. 107Email: [email protected]: www.DeltaDentalOK.orgP.O. Box 54709Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1709
Editor:Tom SearlsCorporate Communications Director
Newsline is the quarterly newsletter fromyour dental insurance carrier of choice :Delta Dental of Oklahoma.
HealthTips:
Teen Years Tough on Teeth Delta Dental Marketing Department Contact Information:Vice President, Sales & MarketingMr. Ken McGuire405-607- 2107800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Broker Relations Representative:Ms. Katrina Nash405-607-4706800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Underwriting/Requests for Proposals:Ms. Kelly Graham405-607-2113800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Communications/Advertising:Mr. Tom Searls405-607-2178800-522-0188–ext [email protected]
Group SpecialistPeggy Nickels405-607-2114800-522-0188, ext 114, [email protected]
Account Services Representative:Ms. Navette Winford405-607-2124800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Visit OurWeb Site:www.DeltaDentalOK.org
Incremental improvements in administrativeefficiency, disease prevention and treat-ment are keys in Delta Dental’s ongoingefforts to improve oral health for ourclients. But Delta Dental believes thateveryone deserves good oral health, andwe act on this belief by investing in thecommunities we serve.
Across the nation, Delta Dental membercompanies are working to bring betteroral health to everyone in their communities– not just Delta Dental enrollees. In someparts of the country, uninsured and un-derserved populations are receiving dentalcare from traveling mobile care vans orfrom volunteer dental offices. In otherparts of the country, school children arelearning valuable lessons about oralhealth through curriculum and in-schoolprograms developed by Delta Dental.From coast to coast, Delta Dental is deter-mined to remove barriers to oral healthand is making a real difference. Examplesof Delta Dental’s national communityinitiatives include:› Donations of oral health services and supplies to address the dental needs of under-served populations› Promotion of oral health through advocacy and awareness programs
› Funds for research to advance dental science› Support of community groups and charities through sponsorships, participation and in-kind donations
› Promotion of the P.A.N.D.A. (Prevent Abuse and Neglect Through Dental Awareness) program to help dental professionals spot and report suspected cases of child abuse› Funds for scholarships and educational grants
Here at home, Delta Dental of Oklahomasupports:› The OU-College of Dentistry Distance Learning Laboratory
› OU-College of Dentistry Dental Student Scholarships
› Neighbor for Neighbor Dental Clinic› Good Shepherd Dental Clinic› Health for Friends› D-DENT› City Rescue Mission› The Captain Supertooth Program: A Free Children’s Dental Education Program for Our Schools› The “Resource for Care” Telephone Hotline & Public Service Announcement Program
Through corporate giving and communityinvestment programs, Delta Dental contrib-utes more than $14 million annually. Inaddition to monetary contributions,Delta Dental promotes a corporate envi-ronment that encourages volunteerismand a sense of community spirit amongemployees. Working together with ourcommunity partners, Delta Dental ofOklahoma will continue to promote theimportance of oral health and support ouroral health professionals.
Regular readers of the Newsline know thesound business benefits available to com-panies that offer their employees dentalcoverage. But with all the different carriersout there offering dental benefits, howshould you go about choosing a carrier?And why stay with a carrier once youchoose them?
Of several crucial considerations, the sizeand span of a carrier’s network are espe-cially important. That’s because the maincost-saving and productivity-boostingbenefits of dental coverage can only beobtained when enrollees seek regularpreventive care, and they’re far more likelyto do that when network dentists are inplentiful supply and located nearby. Ittakes years to establish a good networkand ongoing effort and expertise to preserveits consistent strength.
The consideration of network size becomeseven more important for companies withemployees scattered in multiple states.When working with clients that haveemployees in more than one state or region,we urge you to look at a carrier’s nation-wide network strength. Some dental benefitscarriers might have large networks incertain cities or regions, but network sizemight not be consistent from coast to coast.
Nearly three out of every four dentists inthe U.S. participate in one or more ofDelta Dental’s networks. Wherever youdo business, a network dentist is likely tobe nearby, ready to care for your coveredenrollees. In cities and small townsacross the country, Delta Dental hasspent more than 50 years building itsnetworks and integrating our network’sresources to offer high-quality, affordable
service – virtually everywhere.
Delta Dental Premier, our nationwidemanaged fee-for-service network, contractswith 163,000 dental offices. Delta Dental’sPPO network offers more than 88,000treatment locations. By contracting withmost of the dentists in the United States,Delta Dental makes it more convenientfor your employees to prevent or treatdental problems before they become morecostly and painful. This also helps to keepinsurance premiums low and can spareemployers the expense of work time lostto dental illnesses.
More than 47-million enrollees from81,000 groups already utilize Delta Dental’snetworks, and with your support, we’llcontinue to look for new ways to matchmore eligible enrollees with our participat-ing dentists in more locations nationwide.
The pre-teen and teen years may provesome of the toughest for teeth. Whileevery stage of life brings a new set of oralhealth issues, the mouth is often beset byunique combinations of internal andexternal factors often converging withharmful effects on teeth. Factors include:
Hormonal changes: A dental professionalcan prescribe a treatment program thathelps maintain healthy gums and teeth.
Diet: Teens often acquire new diets thatare abundant in sugary, starchy foods andsweetened drinks.
Contact sports: Oral injuries are oftenpermanent, but many can be preventedby wearing a mouthguard.
Eating disorders: Bulimia and anorexiacan lead to inflammation of the gums,erosion of tooth enamel, cavities and,potentially, can result in the loss of teeth.
Mouth piercing: Jewelry in the lips ortongue can chip teeth, scrape gums andcause other problems as well, includingserious infections.
For most teenagers, remaining vigilantabout oral hygiene should help them getthrough the teen years with their oralhealth intact. As always, it remainsimportant to brush at least twice daily,floss once each day and visit a dentistregularly for checkups.
Just the Facts about Delta Dental
Promoting Oral Health Builds Strong Communities
National Study Reveals What Brokers, Consultants andBenefits Managers Want Most from Dental Carriers
On The Insidepage 2 News & UpdatesBuilding Strong Communitiespage 3 Products & ServicesDelta Dental Factspage 4 Who’s Who at Delta Dental
www.DeltaDentalOK.org
We’ve Come a Long Way!
People once believed that apaste made from the ashes ofdogs’ teeth mixed with honey
could keep teeth white.
People once believed that toothacheswere caused by toothworms. Methodsto eradicate toothworms ranged fromfumigating the mouth with smoke tochewing on hot chili peppers.
Used in Roman times to clean andwhiten togas, urine was also thought tokeep teeth pearly white.
The earliest toothpastes were mixturesof powdered fruit, burnt shells, talc andhoney, as well as mice, lizard livers anda host of other creatures.
In ancient Greece, donkey’s milk wasused as a mouthwash to strengthengums and teeth.
Barbers were the original dentists.Beginning as early as the Middle Ages,they were responsible for “routinehygienic services” such as shaving,bloodletting and tooth extraction.
DDOK won two “Gold Awards”including “Best in Category”and “Best in Show” for its
advertising and community serviceinitiatives at the recent Delta DentalAssociation National CommunicationsCompetition. Nearly 50 entries werereceived, representing the largestparticipation since inception of theawards program in 1999.
Visit us on the Web atwww.DeltaDentalOK.org
DDOK Wins Best of Show!
Delta Dental is the nation’s largest, mostexperienced dental benefits carrier.Following are just some of our statisticson dental health care leadership:
› Delta Dental serves over one-fourth of the estimated 159 million Americans with dental insurance, providing den- tal coverage to over 47 million people in over 81,000 groups across the nation.› Delta Dental’s panel of dentists for its Premier network is the country’s most extensive. Delta Dental contracts with approximately 118,000 dentists, which is over twice the amount of any com- petitor’s PPO network.› Delta Dental posted approximately $12 billion in premium revenue during fiscal year 2005, the System’s 26th consecutive year of financial gains.› In 2005, Delta Dental processed over 69 million dental claims or approximately
1.3 million every week, with an accuracy rate of 99 percent› Since 1954, Delta Dental has worked to improve oral health in the U.S. by emphasizing preventive care, and making dental coverage affordable to a wide variety of employers and groups.
› Delta Dental’s unique cost control measures and contractual agreements with dentists help to ensure quality care at moderate fees, saving groups over $4.4 billion in 2005.› Delta Dental’s national accounts pro- gram provides dental benefits to over 9.7 million primary subscribers.› Delta Dental PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) has over 88,000 dentist locations.
› Delta Dental Premier has over 163,000 dentist locations.
A nationwide system of dental healthservice plans, Delta Dental offers yourclients, large and small, with customprograms and reporting systems thatprovide employees with quality, cost-effective dental benefit programs andservices.
A recent nationwide survey with 900brokers and consultants and 900 benefitsmanagers revealed the characteristics theyconsider most important when evaluatinga dental benefits carriers.
Brokers and consultants put customerservice at the top of the list, followed bybest value, easy administration, fast claimsand problem resolution. Topping thebenefits manager’s list of dental carrierattributes was value, with customer service,fast claims, ease of use and easy adminis-tration rounding out the top five.
Among national dental benefits carriers,
Delta Dental was recognized as the categoryleader among all audiences surveyed, andoutperformed the competition in the areasthat were most important to each group.In a measure of overall satisfaction withDelta Dental, three in five (61 percent)brokers and consultants gave Delta Dentalan “excellent” rating.
Among benefits managers, 85 percentviewed Delta Dental as very good or excel-lent at meeting or exceeding expectations.This was 14 percentage points higher thanthe competition scored as a group. DeltaDental scored another 14 percentagepoints higher than the competition in
customer service satisfaction, with 82percent of benefits managers giving thema rating of very good or excellent.
B R O K E R N E W S F R O MD E L T A D E N T A L O F O K L A H O M A
For more information contact:Ken McGuireVice President Sales & MarketingOffice: 405-607-2107Toll Free: 1-800-522-0188, ext. 107Email: [email protected]: www.DeltaDentalOK.orgP.O. Box 54709Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1709
Editor:Tom SearlsCorporate Communications Director
Newsline is the quarterly newsletter fromyour dental insurance carrier of choice :Delta Dental of Oklahoma.
HealthTips:
Teen Years Tough on Teeth Delta Dental Marketing Department Contact Information:Vice President, Sales & MarketingMr. Ken McGuire405-607- 2107800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Broker Relations Representative:Ms. Katrina Nash405-607-4706800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Underwriting/Requests for Proposals:Ms. Kelly Graham405-607-2113800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Communications/Advertising:Mr. Tom Searls405-607-2178800-522-0188–ext [email protected]
Group SpecialistPeggy Nickels405-607-2114800-522-0188, ext 114, [email protected]
Account Services Representative:Ms. Navette Winford405-607-2124800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Visit OurWeb Site:www.DeltaDentalOK.org
Incremental improvements in administrativeefficiency, disease prevention and treat-ment are keys in Delta Dental’s ongoingefforts to improve oral health for ourclients. But Delta Dental believes thateveryone deserves good oral health, andwe act on this belief by investing in thecommunities we serve.
Across the nation, Delta Dental membercompanies are working to bring betteroral health to everyone in their communities– not just Delta Dental enrollees. In someparts of the country, uninsured and un-derserved populations are receiving dentalcare from traveling mobile care vans orfrom volunteer dental offices. In otherparts of the country, school children arelearning valuable lessons about oralhealth through curriculum and in-schoolprograms developed by Delta Dental.From coast to coast, Delta Dental is deter-mined to remove barriers to oral healthand is making a real difference. Examplesof Delta Dental’s national communityinitiatives include:› Donations of oral health services and supplies to address the dental needs of under-served populations› Promotion of oral health through advocacy and awareness programs
› Funds for research to advance dental science› Support of community groups and charities through sponsorships, participation and in-kind donations
› Promotion of the P.A.N.D.A. (Prevent Abuse and Neglect Through Dental Awareness) program to help dental professionals spot and report suspected cases of child abuse› Funds for scholarships and educational grants
Here at home, Delta Dental of Oklahomasupports:› The OU-College of Dentistry Distance Learning Laboratory
› OU-College of Dentistry Dental Student Scholarships
› Neighbor for Neighbor Dental Clinic› Good Shepherd Dental Clinic› Health for Friends› D-DENT› City Rescue Mission› The Captain Supertooth Program: A Free Children’s Dental Education Program for Our Schools› The “Resource for Care” Telephone Hotline & Public Service Announcement Program
Through corporate giving and communityinvestment programs, Delta Dental contrib-utes more than $14 million annually. Inaddition to monetary contributions,Delta Dental promotes a corporate envi-ronment that encourages volunteerismand a sense of community spirit amongemployees. Working together with ourcommunity partners, Delta Dental ofOklahoma will continue to promote theimportance of oral health and support ouroral health professionals.
Regular readers of the Newsline know thesound business benefits available to com-panies that offer their employees dentalcoverage. But with all the different carriersout there offering dental benefits, howshould you go about choosing a carrier?And why stay with a carrier once youchoose them?
Of several crucial considerations, the sizeand span of a carrier’s network are espe-cially important. That’s because the maincost-saving and productivity-boostingbenefits of dental coverage can only beobtained when enrollees seek regularpreventive care, and they’re far more likelyto do that when network dentists are inplentiful supply and located nearby. Ittakes years to establish a good networkand ongoing effort and expertise to preserveits consistent strength.
The consideration of network size becomeseven more important for companies withemployees scattered in multiple states.When working with clients that haveemployees in more than one state or region,we urge you to look at a carrier’s nation-wide network strength. Some dental benefitscarriers might have large networks incertain cities or regions, but network sizemight not be consistent from coast to coast.
Nearly three out of every four dentists inthe U.S. participate in one or more ofDelta Dental’s networks. Wherever youdo business, a network dentist is likely tobe nearby, ready to care for your coveredenrollees. In cities and small townsacross the country, Delta Dental hasspent more than 50 years building itsnetworks and integrating our network’sresources to offer high-quality, affordable
service – virtually everywhere.
Delta Dental Premier, our nationwidemanaged fee-for-service network, contractswith 163,000 dental offices. Delta Dental’sPPO network offers more than 88,000treatment locations. By contracting withmost of the dentists in the United States,Delta Dental makes it more convenientfor your employees to prevent or treatdental problems before they become morecostly and painful. This also helps to keepinsurance premiums low and can spareemployers the expense of work time lostto dental illnesses.
More than 47-million enrollees from81,000 groups already utilize Delta Dental’snetworks, and with your support, we’llcontinue to look for new ways to matchmore eligible enrollees with our participat-ing dentists in more locations nationwide.
The pre-teen and teen years may provesome of the toughest for teeth. Whileevery stage of life brings a new set of oralhealth issues, the mouth is often beset byunique combinations of internal andexternal factors often converging withharmful effects on teeth. Factors include:
Hormonal changes: A dental professionalcan prescribe a treatment program thathelps maintain healthy gums and teeth.
Diet: Teens often acquire new diets thatare abundant in sugary, starchy foods andsweetened drinks.
Contact sports: Oral injuries are oftenpermanent, but many can be preventedby wearing a mouthguard.
Eating disorders: Bulimia and anorexiacan lead to inflammation of the gums,erosion of tooth enamel, cavities and,potentially, can result in the loss of teeth.
Mouth piercing: Jewelry in the lips ortongue can chip teeth, scrape gums andcause other problems as well, includingserious infections.
For most teenagers, remaining vigilantabout oral hygiene should help them getthrough the teen years with their oralhealth intact. As always, it remainsimportant to brush at least twice daily,floss once each day and visit a dentistregularly for checkups.
Just the Facts about Delta Dental
Promoting Oral Health Builds Strong Communities
National Study Reveals What Brokers, Consultants andBenefits Managers Want Most from Dental Carriers
On The Insidepage 2 News & UpdatesBuilding Strong Communitiespage 3 Products & ServicesDelta Dental Factspage 4 Who’s Who at Delta Dental
www.DeltaDentalOK.org
We’ve Come a Long Way!
People once believed that apaste made from the ashes ofdogs’ teeth mixed with honey
could keep teeth white.
People once believed that toothacheswere caused by toothworms. Methodsto eradicate toothworms ranged fromfumigating the mouth with smoke tochewing on hot chili peppers.
Used in Roman times to clean andwhiten togas, urine was also thought tokeep teeth pearly white.
The earliest toothpastes were mixturesof powdered fruit, burnt shells, talc andhoney, as well as mice, lizard livers anda host of other creatures.
In ancient Greece, donkey’s milk wasused as a mouthwash to strengthengums and teeth.
Barbers were the original dentists.Beginning as early as the Middle Ages,they were responsible for “routinehygienic services” such as shaving,bloodletting and tooth extraction.
DDOK won two “Gold Awards”including “Best in Category”and “Best in Show” for its
advertising and community serviceinitiatives at the recent Delta DentalAssociation National CommunicationsCompetition. Nearly 50 entries werereceived, representing the largestparticipation since inception of theawards program in 1999.
Visit us on the Web atwww.DeltaDentalOK.org
DDOK Wins Best of Show!
Delta Dental is the nation’s largest, mostexperienced dental benefits carrier.Following are just some of our statisticson dental health care leadership:
› Delta Dental serves over one-fourth of the estimated 159 million Americans with dental insurance, providing den- tal coverage to over 47 million people in over 81,000 groups across the nation.› Delta Dental’s panel of dentists for its Premier network is the country’s most extensive. Delta Dental contracts with approximately 118,000 dentists, which is over twice the amount of any com- petitor’s PPO network.› Delta Dental posted approximately $12 billion in premium revenue during fiscal year 2005, the System’s 26th consecutive year of financial gains.› In 2005, Delta Dental processed over 69 million dental claims or approximately
1.3 million every week, with an accuracy rate of 99 percent› Since 1954, Delta Dental has worked to improve oral health in the U.S. by emphasizing preventive care, and making dental coverage affordable to a wide variety of employers and groups.
› Delta Dental’s unique cost control measures and contractual agreements with dentists help to ensure quality care at moderate fees, saving groups over $4.4 billion in 2005.› Delta Dental’s national accounts pro- gram provides dental benefits to over 9.7 million primary subscribers.› Delta Dental PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) has over 88,000 dentist locations.
› Delta Dental Premier has over 163,000 dentist locations.
A nationwide system of dental healthservice plans, Delta Dental offers yourclients, large and small, with customprograms and reporting systems thatprovide employees with quality, cost-effective dental benefit programs andservices.
A recent nationwide survey with 900brokers and consultants and 900 benefitsmanagers revealed the characteristics theyconsider most important when evaluatinga dental benefits carriers.
Brokers and consultants put customerservice at the top of the list, followed bybest value, easy administration, fast claimsand problem resolution. Topping thebenefits manager’s list of dental carrierattributes was value, with customer service,fast claims, ease of use and easy adminis-tration rounding out the top five.
Among national dental benefits carriers,
Delta Dental was recognized as the categoryleader among all audiences surveyed, andoutperformed the competition in the areasthat were most important to each group.In a measure of overall satisfaction withDelta Dental, three in five (61 percent)brokers and consultants gave Delta Dentalan “excellent” rating.
Among benefits managers, 85 percentviewed Delta Dental as very good or excel-lent at meeting or exceeding expectations.This was 14 percentage points higher thanthe competition scored as a group. DeltaDental scored another 14 percentagepoints higher than the competition in
customer service satisfaction, with 82percent of benefits managers giving thema rating of very good or excellent.
B R O K E R N E W S F R O MD E L T A D E N T A L O F O K L A H O M A
For more information contact:Ken McGuireVice President Sales & MarketingOffice: 405-607-2107Toll Free: 1-800-522-0188, ext. 107Email: [email protected]: www.DeltaDentalOK.orgP.O. Box 54709Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1709
Editor:Tom SearlsCorporate Communications Director
Newsline is the quarterly newsletter fromyour dental insurance carrier of choice :Delta Dental of Oklahoma.
HealthTips:
Teen Years Tough on Teeth Delta Dental Marketing Department Contact Information:Vice President, Sales & MarketingMr. Ken McGuire405-607- 2107800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Broker Relations Representative:Ms. Katrina Nash405-607-4706800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Underwriting/Requests for Proposals:Ms. Kelly Graham405-607-2113800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Communications/Advertising:Mr. Tom Searls405-607-2178800-522-0188–ext [email protected]
Group SpecialistPeggy Nickels405-607-2114800-522-0188, ext 114, [email protected]
Account Services Representative:Ms. Navette Winford405-607-2124800-522-0188 – ext [email protected]
Visit OurWeb Site:www.DeltaDentalOK.org
Incremental improvements in administrativeefficiency, disease prevention and treat-ment are keys in Delta Dental’s ongoingefforts to improve oral health for ourclients. But Delta Dental believes thateveryone deserves good oral health, andwe act on this belief by investing in thecommunities we serve.
Across the nation, Delta Dental membercompanies are working to bring betteroral health to everyone in their communities– not just Delta Dental enrollees. In someparts of the country, uninsured and un-derserved populations are receiving dentalcare from traveling mobile care vans orfrom volunteer dental offices. In otherparts of the country, school children arelearning valuable lessons about oralhealth through curriculum and in-schoolprograms developed by Delta Dental.From coast to coast, Delta Dental is deter-mined to remove barriers to oral healthand is making a real difference. Examplesof Delta Dental’s national communityinitiatives include:› Donations of oral health services and supplies to address the dental needs of under-served populations› Promotion of oral health through advocacy and awareness programs
› Funds for research to advance dental science› Support of community groups and charities through sponsorships, participation and in-kind donations
› Promotion of the P.A.N.D.A. (Prevent Abuse and Neglect Through Dental Awareness) program to help dental professionals spot and report suspected cases of child abuse› Funds for scholarships and educational grants
Here at home, Delta Dental of Oklahomasupports:› The OU-College of Dentistry Distance Learning Laboratory
› OU-College of Dentistry Dental Student Scholarships
› Neighbor for Neighbor Dental Clinic› Good Shepherd Dental Clinic› Health for Friends› D-DENT› City Rescue Mission› The Captain Supertooth Program: A Free Children’s Dental Education Program for Our Schools› The “Resource for Care” Telephone Hotline & Public Service Announcement Program
Through corporate giving and communityinvestment programs, Delta Dental contrib-utes more than $14 million annually. Inaddition to monetary contributions,Delta Dental promotes a corporate envi-ronment that encourages volunteerismand a sense of community spirit amongemployees. Working together with ourcommunity partners, Delta Dental ofOklahoma will continue to promote theimportance of oral health and support ouroral health professionals.
Regular readers of the Newsline know thesound business benefits available to com-panies that offer their employees dentalcoverage. But with all the different carriersout there offering dental benefits, howshould you go about choosing a carrier?And why stay with a carrier once youchoose them?
Of several crucial considerations, the sizeand span of a carrier’s network are espe-cially important. That’s because the maincost-saving and productivity-boostingbenefits of dental coverage can only beobtained when enrollees seek regularpreventive care, and they’re far more likelyto do that when network dentists are inplentiful supply and located nearby. Ittakes years to establish a good networkand ongoing effort and expertise to preserveits consistent strength.
The consideration of network size becomeseven more important for companies withemployees scattered in multiple states.When working with clients that haveemployees in more than one state or region,we urge you to look at a carrier’s nation-wide network strength. Some dental benefitscarriers might have large networks incertain cities or regions, but network sizemight not be consistent from coast to coast.
Nearly three out of every four dentists inthe U.S. participate in one or more ofDelta Dental’s networks. Wherever youdo business, a network dentist is likely tobe nearby, ready to care for your coveredenrollees. In cities and small townsacross the country, Delta Dental hasspent more than 50 years building itsnetworks and integrating our network’sresources to offer high-quality, affordable
service – virtually everywhere.
Delta Dental Premier, our nationwidemanaged fee-for-service network, contractswith 163,000 dental offices. Delta Dental’sPPO network offers more than 88,000treatment locations. By contracting withmost of the dentists in the United States,Delta Dental makes it more convenientfor your employees to prevent or treatdental problems before they become morecostly and painful. This also helps to keepinsurance premiums low and can spareemployers the expense of work time lostto dental illnesses.
More than 47-million enrollees from81,000 groups already utilize Delta Dental’snetworks, and with your support, we’llcontinue to look for new ways to matchmore eligible enrollees with our participat-ing dentists in more locations nationwide.
The pre-teen and teen years may provesome of the toughest for teeth. Whileevery stage of life brings a new set of oralhealth issues, the mouth is often beset byunique combinations of internal andexternal factors often converging withharmful effects on teeth. Factors include:
Hormonal changes: A dental professionalcan prescribe a treatment program thathelps maintain healthy gums and teeth.
Diet: Teens often acquire new diets thatare abundant in sugary, starchy foods andsweetened drinks.
Contact sports: Oral injuries are oftenpermanent, but many can be preventedby wearing a mouthguard.
Eating disorders: Bulimia and anorexiacan lead to inflammation of the gums,erosion of tooth enamel, cavities and,potentially, can result in the loss of teeth.
Mouth piercing: Jewelry in the lips ortongue can chip teeth, scrape gums andcause other problems as well, includingserious infections.
For most teenagers, remaining vigilantabout oral hygiene should help them getthrough the teen years with their oralhealth intact. As always, it remainsimportant to brush at least twice daily,floss once each day and visit a dentistregularly for checkups.
Just the Facts about Delta Dental
Promoting Oral Health Builds Strong Communities
National Study Reveals What Brokers, Consultants andBenefits Managers Want Most from Dental Carriers
On The Insidepage 2 News & UpdatesBuilding Strong Communitiespage 3 Products & ServicesDelta Dental Factspage 4 Who’s Who at Delta Dental
www.DeltaDentalOK.org
We’ve Come a Long Way!
People once believed that apaste made from the ashes ofdogs’ teeth mixed with honey
could keep teeth white.
People once believed that toothacheswere caused by toothworms. Methodsto eradicate toothworms ranged fromfumigating the mouth with smoke tochewing on hot chili peppers.
Used in Roman times to clean andwhiten togas, urine was also thought tokeep teeth pearly white.
The earliest toothpastes were mixturesof powdered fruit, burnt shells, talc andhoney, as well as mice, lizard livers anda host of other creatures.
In ancient Greece, donkey’s milk wasused as a mouthwash to strengthengums and teeth.
Barbers were the original dentists.Beginning as early as the Middle Ages,they were responsible for “routinehygienic services” such as shaving,bloodletting and tooth extraction.
DDOK won two “Gold Awards”including “Best in Category”and “Best in Show” for its
advertising and community serviceinitiatives at the recent Delta DentalAssociation National CommunicationsCompetition. Nearly 50 entries werereceived, representing the largestparticipation since inception of theawards program in 1999.
Visit us on the Web atwww.DeltaDentalOK.org
DDOK Wins Best of Show!
Delta Dental is the nation’s largest, mostexperienced dental benefits carrier.Following are just some of our statisticson dental health care leadership:
› Delta Dental serves over one-fourth of the estimated 159 million Americans with dental insurance, providing den- tal coverage to over 47 million people in over 81,000 groups across the nation.› Delta Dental’s panel of dentists for its Premier network is the country’s most extensive. Delta Dental contracts with approximately 118,000 dentists, which is over twice the amount of any com- petitor’s PPO network.› Delta Dental posted approximately $12 billion in premium revenue during fiscal year 2005, the System’s 26th consecutive year of financial gains.› In 2005, Delta Dental processed over 69 million dental claims or approximately
1.3 million every week, with an accuracy rate of 99 percent› Since 1954, Delta Dental has worked to improve oral health in the U.S. by emphasizing preventive care, and making dental coverage affordable to a wide variety of employers and groups.
› Delta Dental’s unique cost control measures and contractual agreements with dentists help to ensure quality care at moderate fees, saving groups over $4.4 billion in 2005.› Delta Dental’s national accounts pro- gram provides dental benefits to over 9.7 million primary subscribers.› Delta Dental PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) has over 88,000 dentist locations.
› Delta Dental Premier has over 163,000 dentist locations.
A nationwide system of dental healthservice plans, Delta Dental offers yourclients, large and small, with customprograms and reporting systems thatprovide employees with quality, cost-effective dental benefit programs andservices.
