Articles
Captain Supertooth Teaches Future Employees Why Oral Health Is Important
Your Dentist May Spot Potential Medical Problems
Benefits Managers Give Delta Dental Top Marks vs. Competition, Says Survey

Captain Supertooth Teaches Future Employees Why Oral Health Is Important

Kids don’t always eat right, brush or floss. But if they develop those habits now, they’re more likely to enjoy good oral health long into adulthood.

That’s why we send Captain Supertooth into schools every February.

Captain Supertooth is a caped superhero who teaches kids how to fight against tartar, gingivitis and cavities. Each February during National Children’s Dental Health Month, the Delta Dental Foundation sends him to dozens of schools in New Jersey and Connecticut to get students excited about oral health.

Using a giant red toothbrush and the children as teeth, Captain Supertooth shows children how to brush and floss. He also talks about how a balanced diet and regular dental visits keep teeth healthy.

Judging by their letters, children love Captain Supertooth’s lesson.

“Thank you, Captain Supertooth. Thank you for coming to our school. You are cool!” wrote Kenny, “the kid who was missing 4 teeth.”

“Dear Captain Supertooth, Thank you for the toothbrush. Thank you for teaching me how to brush my teeth. I learned how to brush my tongue too,” wrote Brian.

The program normally lasts about 20 minutes and can be tailored to fit a school's needs. Because Captain Supertooth is in such high demand, we also developed a Captain Supertooth video, which is free to schools and available in both English and Spanish.

Teachers, school nurses and school administrators may add their schools to the waiting list for a Captain Supertooth program by sending an e-mail to jappaluccio@deltadentalnj.com. They may also request a free Captain Supertooth video for their schools by sending an e-mail to the same address.

Your Dentist May Spot Potential Medical Problems

Heading to the dentist’s office? Your visit may uncover important information about your overall health.

"Routine dental visits can uncover a number of things about our health, and put us on the path to preventing and managing bigger health issues for ourselves and our families,” says Dr. Scott Navarro, dental director, Delta Dental of New Jersey.

Oral health professionals may spot evidence of many conditions, including:

Upper respiratory disorders. Viral infections in the lungs can produce lesions or sores inside the mouth.

Acid reflux and Hiatal hernia. Sufferers who repeatedly burp bile into their mouths may experience eroded tooth enamel, sensitive teeth and a bitter taste in their mouths.

Diabetes. Inflammation, infections, dry mouth, burning tongue, persistent gingivitis, and multiple lesions may signal diabetes.

Kidney failure. Signs may include retarded tooth development in children, dry mouth, odor, metallic taste, and ulcers on the tongue and gums.

Anemia. Some early signs include burning, fiery red tongue, inflamed mucous membranes and difficulty swallowing.

Osteoporosis. Dental x-rays of the mouth are used to spot oral health problems, but may also show symptoms of osteoporosis, such as an eroding and thinning jawbone.

The primary role of the dentist is to protect and promote oral health. But patients often find their exams also cover health topics outside their mouths. Dental professionals often ask patients about their medical history and medications they are taking. They may also measure vital signs. All this is part of diagnosing and treating patients.

“There are many factors that contribute to the state of our oral health and our bodies,” says Dr. Navarro. “Patients can expect the contemporary dental professional to take a systematic approach to protecting and promoting their oral health. That’s what works best.”

Benefits Managers Give Delta Dental Top Marks vs. Competition, Says Survey

A recent nationwide survey reveals what benefits managers and consumers want most from a dental benefits carrier.

At the top of the list for benefits managers are value and customer service. Rounding out their list are fast claims processing, ease of use and easy administration.

Consumers most want ease of use from their dental benefits carrier. Other important traits include value, customer service, quality of care and fast claims processing.

“We wanted to take an in-depth look at what truly matters to the people who matter most to us,” said Tom Dolatowski, vice-president of marketing for Delta Dental Plans Association, which sponsored the study. “We were pleased to learn that our brand is the most familiar, owns the strongest reputation and has the most dominant share of mind among those we surveyed.”

The study was conducted by The Long Group, an independent market research firm.

The study found that 85% of benefits managers view Delta Dental as very good or excellent at meeting or exceeding expectations. This is 14 percentage points higher than competing carriers scored as a group.

Benefits managers also give high marks to Delta Dental’s customer service: 82% view Delta Dental as very good or excellent in this area. This is also 14 percentage points higher than Delta Dental’s competitors.

The study also looked at how Delta Dental compares to our competitors in the dental benefits market. Among national dental benefits carriers, Delta Dental is viewed as the category leader by all audiences surveyed. Delta Dental also outperformed the competition in areas that survey participants view as most important.

“All of this is good news for us,” said Dolatowski. “But, more importantly, the findings are a great tool for us to learn more about our customers. With this information, we can work on developing new products, features, and targeted communications to help people realize the best health and financial benefits from their dental plans.”

The study included nationwide telephone surveys with 900 consumers aged 25-55, and 900 benefits managers serving 100 or more employees in the 25 largest states or dental benefits markets. Additionally, the survey gathered information from brokers, consultants and dentists to measure attributes unique to their needs.