Delta Dental of Wisconsin - Behind Every Smile, We See a Story.

Extending access to care

People who can’t afford to visit a dentist suffer greatly from lack of regular dental care. Gum infections or decayed and missing teeth all take a toll on overall health. Health care costs go up, too – including visits to the emergency room for dental emergencies. Delta Dental of Wisconsin has a long tradition of awarding grants to safety-net dental clinics across the state. These clinics provide urgently needed dental services to many people in their communities who could not otherwise afford dental care. Delta Dental is committed to improving outcomes and access to care for Wisconsin’s vulnerable and low-income populations, as well as individuals with disabilities.

poor oral hygiene and needs for periodontal disease treatment than the general public.”

Recent safety-net dental clinic grant recipients include the Fowler Memorial Dental Clinic in Monroe, Chippewa Valley Technical College dental program in Eau Claire, and a new dental clinic in Menomenee Falls for Waukesha County Community Dental Clinic. These grants helped fund clinical facility updates and needed equipment so that individuals with physical or developmental disabilities can access the essential dental care they need. Additional grant support was provided to St. Ann’s Center for Intergenerational Care in Milwaukee. St. Ann’s provides services to approximately 700 individuals that live with developmental and/or physical disabilities. More than 80 percent have a need for professional dental care due to a number of barriers. St. Ann’s hopes to minimize these challenges, and create a dental home for clients where staff can maintain a rapport and consistent care from early childhood through their elderly years.

Special Smiles

We also support local athletes with special needs. For more than a decade, Delta Dental of Wisconsin has sponsored the Special Olympics’ Special Smiles program. Athletes are provided a free oral health screening, fluoride varnish application, education on the importance of good hygiene, and if appropriate for the sport they are participating in, a free mouth guard. In addition, those needing further dental treatment are assisted in finding a dentist in their area.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services 2010 Burden of Oral Disease in the State of Wisconsin , individuals with disabilities have “significantly higher rates of