PARSIPPANY, N.J. — June 28, 2017 — For many people, dental coverage can seem like an afterthought or pain point because they think it's too confusing, or they simply don’t think they have a need for it. But as June 28 marks National Insurance Awareness Day, Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut wants everyone to know that having dental coverage and maintaining good oral health is a vital part of your overall health and well-being.
Research has shown that 5 in 10 U.S. adults can’t accurately identify common insurance terms. What’s more, a recent survey sponsored by Delta Dental found that in Connecticut, 22 percent of respondents said they didn’t see the value of dental coverage, didn’t know how to get benefits, or didn’t think they needed it because they weren’t having any current problems with their teeth. However, the key to good oral health is getting ahead of concerns before they advance into more serious problems.
“So much of dental care is preventative in nature. Scheduling regular dental visits and maintaining good oral health are critical elements of an overall healthy lifestyle and well-being,” said Dr. Keith Libou, Chief Clinical Officer at Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut. “From helping maintain healthy teeth and gums, to providing oral cancer screenings and high blood pressure screenings, dentists play a frontline role in detecting health concerns.”
Establishing good oral health starts at an early age, but it can be challenging for parents and caregivers to maintain their children’s oral health through good brushing and flossing habits. A Delta Dental survey found that only about one third of New Jersey parents would give their child an A on their oral health. However, dental benefits may encourage proactive dentist check-ups and help instill good habits beyond the visit—the same survey found that 73 percent of parents whose children were insured took their child to their first dentist appointment before they were five years old.
Recognizing the importance of empowering individuals, Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut offers extensive online educational resources through its DentalCentral™ to help patients find the information they need to make informed decisions about oral health care and understand their dental coverage options.
Delta Dental is proud to offer access to the nation’s largest dental network and encourages everyone to make informed decisions. Employers can click here to learn more about providing dental benefits for their workforce, while individuals looking to obtain their own affordable dental plan can learn more here or call 888-899-3736.
About Delta Dental
Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. is New Jersey’s leading dental benefits company, providing or administering coverage to more than 1.6 million people through contracts with groups in New Jersey and Connecticut. In Connecticut, Delta Dental of Connecticut, Inc. is a newly licensed insurer that writes dental coverage on an insured basis, and Delta Dental of New Jersey administers self-funded dental benefit programs. For more information, visit www.deltadentalnj.com.
