DELTA DENTAL TO SPONSOR LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH EVENT FEBRUARY 23, 2003
-Governor Proclaims February 23 'Children's Dental Health Awareness Day'-

PARSIPPANY, NJ (February 20, 2003) – The Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation, Inc. (Delta Dental) will commemorate the first Children's Dental Health Awareness Day by sponsoring a special educational event on February 23rd, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., at Liberty Science Center. The event, which is presented through a partnership between Delta Dental, the UMDNJ Dental School and Hudson County Dental Society, will offer a variety of fun, educational activities that encourage improved oral hygiene, preventive dental care, and good nutrition. The program is geared toward preschool through teenage children.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, according to the Surgeon General's report Oral Health in America which was released in 2000. The Surgeon General's report also stated that more than 51 million school hours are lost to dental-related illness each year. To address this issue, Delta Dental participates in initiatives throughout the year - such as the Liberty Science Center event - that reinforce the importance of establishing good oral health habits at a young age.

Delta Dental's outreach programs include presentations by Captain Supertooth, a costumed character who visits schools in New Jersey to teach kids about proper oral care. Captain Supertooth will make a special trip to Liberty Science Center on February 23rd. "Children respond to educational messages when they are presented in a fun, entertaining way," said Dr. Scott Navarro, Dental Director, Delta Dental. "The Liberty Science Center Dental Health Awareness event is a great way to get the whole family involved in hands-on learning through a variety of activities."

The Dental Health Awareness event will feature interactive learning stations, carnival-style games, dental-related arts and crafts, and nutrition education. Prizes, including electric toothbrushes, dental flashcards, stickers, and more will be raffled throughout the day. Other highlights will include a dental lab and an "Ask The Dentist" station. Dr. Lawrence Dobrin will be on hand to present timely information regarding forensic dentistry.

Participation in the Dental Health Awareness Day is included in the cost of admission to Liberty Science Center. Those who attend can enjoy the event as well as hundreds of interactive exhibits, live science demonstrations and activities that focus on invention, health and the environment. A $3.00 discount coupon is available for download by visiting Liberty Science Center's Web site at www.lsc.org.

About Liberty Science Center
Liberty State Park, 251 Phillip Street, Jersey City, New Jersey
Dedicated to inspiring imagination and creativity through adventures in interactive discovery, Liberty Science Center is the NJ-NY area's preeminent science education center. Located at Exit 14B of the NJ Turnpike in Jersey City, New Jersey, Liberty Science Center has welcomed over seven million guests since opening in 1993. For more information, call 201-200-1000 or visit www.lsc.org.

About Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation
Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc. established the Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation in 1986. Its mission includes promoting and assisting educational projects devoted to the enhancement of dental health, research programs designed to increase public awareness of the general benefits of good health, and to improve dental health through the science of dentistry. Each year, the Delta Dental Foundation provides financial support to various organizations throughout the state.

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s and Connecticut's leading dental benefits carrier, providing coverage to more than one million people through contracts with employers in New Jersey and Connecticut. The Delta Dental Plan system is a national network of independently operated, not-for-profit dental service corporations specializing in providing dental benefits programs for employee groups throughout the country. For more information visit us on the Web at www.deltadentalnj.com.