Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation

Ensuring a strong dental workforce - a) The Foundation provided six scholarships to Marquette dental students in 2022. b) Scholarships are also awarded to dental hygiene and dental assisting students at nine Wisconsin technical colleges. In 2022, 33 scholarships were awarded. c) Another impactful workforce program is a public health dentistry Fellowship offered annually to three Marquette dental student graduates that serve for one year at two safety-net clinics.

Access to dental care - Due to Wisconsin's low Medicaid dental reimbursement, finding a dentist that will accept public insurance is extremely difficult. a) The Foundation awarded grants to 13 safety-net dental clinics that provide care to individuals who are uninsured or have Medicaid coverage. Grants are awarded for new or expanding nonprofit dental clinics, as well as those which need sustaining funds for caring for individuals with special needs or other innovative programs. These clinics treated approximately 61,800 low-income individuals in 2022.

Prevention of dental disease - Preventing cavities and other dental disease in vulnerable populations takes a multi-pronged approach. The Foundation's cavity prevention efforts significantly reduce the cost of future dental care. a) The Foundation co-funds one of the best school-based sealant programs in the nation. In the 2021/2022 academic year, many programs had to reduce or cancel school-based dental care within schools due to the COVID 19 pandemic so the numbers served were greatly reduced. In a typical year, more than 75,000 children in high free-and-reduced meal rate schools receive oral health education, screening and if appropriate with consent, receive fluoride varnish and sealants. The program has proven a reduction in cavities rate. b) The Foundation also provides grants that help communities purchase fluoridation equipment needed to keep public water systems at optimal fluoridation levels, which helps keep teeth strong. c) The Foundation's Cool Water Program provides water bottle filling stations in selected at-risk schools while students in those schools receive water bottles and toothbrushes. In addition, oral health education materials and curriculum explain how drinking water, especially fluoridated water, improves oral and overall health. Each year, 25-35 schools are selected. The Foundation staff coordinate this state-wide program.