Quarterly newsletter

>>> Research

Introducing the 2025 AADOCR Delta Dental Institute Oral Health Equity Research Award recipients

The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and the Delta Dental Institute (DDI) are proud to name Heidi Longi, DMD, and Jeri Bullock, DDS, University of Utah, and Kristin Hoeft, PhD, University of California, as the 2025 recipients of the AADOCR DDI Oral Health Equity Research Award.

This year, the Oral Health Equity Research Award will support two research awards of $25,000 each. A summary of each research project is featured below:

Drs. Longi and Bullock will conduct research that evaluates the impact of integrating oral health services into the University of Utah West High School Clinic, a school-based health center serving the Salt Lake City School District.
Dr. Hoeft will pursue research that assesses the implementation of teach-back education in the dental setting, including time, in order to develop best practices for its implementation and the design of a larger implementation and evaluation study.

Heidi Longi, DMD, and Jeri Bullock, DDS Image

Heidi Longi, DMD, and Jeri Bullock, DDS University of Utah

Kristin Hoeft, PhD

University of California

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>>> Community Impact

Delta Dental of Arkansas

Expanding school-based oral health care

Delta Dental of Arkansas supported the Gurdon Public Schools District school-based health clinic, which provides on-site medical, dental, and mental health services for students and staff. The Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation awarded a grant to the District to purchase portable nitrous oxide equipment for their oral health center. Without the school-based oral health center, students would have to travel 20 miles to visit the nearest dental clinic to see a provider.

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Delta Dental of Idaho

Improving access to filtered drinking water

Delta Dental of Idaho supported the Rethink Your Drink program, which aims to improve access to filtered drinking water for Idaho school children and staff and encourage hydration throughout the day. Delta Dental of Idaho supplied 22 Idaho schools with a new Elkay® bottle filling station, reusable water bottles, and dental care kits at no cost. Schools also received access to educational materials to teach the importance of drinking water for their oral and overall health.

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Delta Dental of Illinois

Building the future oral health workforce

Delta Dental of Illinois supported the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation, a nonprofit organization that awards grants, scholarships, and leadership opportunities to dental professionals to advance dental health in their local communities. Funding from the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation provided dental and dental hygiene students with scholarships and mentorship opportunities to provide guidance and support as they embark on a career in dentistry.

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>>> Advocacy

Delta Dental of Virginia Workforce Spotlight

Collaborating to expand the dental workforce

To address critical dental health professional shortages affecting over 100 of Virginia's 133 localities, the Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation helped spearhead the development of a statewide workforce plan. This collaborative effort, involving 30+ professionals, focused on policy, program, and data-driven solutions, including expanding training opportunities, addressing student loan debt, defining career pathways, and obtaining reimbursement for Community Health Workers. The Foundation also partnered with the Virginia Community College System to fund a study exploring the expansion of dental hygiene and assistant program slots.

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From farm to teeth: reimagining school-based oral health and nutrition education programs

The intersection of oral health and nutrition education in school-based programs offers an effective opportunity to advance health equity among school-age children in the United States. Learn how public health departments, health systems, school districts, and other entities are launching new programs and initiatives to address these focus areas.

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NAF: Tiny Teeth, Big Impact KnoPro Challenge

NAF is launching the Tiny Teeth, Big Impact KnoPro Challenge on Monday, March 31. This challenge, supported by Delta Dental, is open to all high school students and allows them to boost their critical thinking and creativity skills by developing solutions highlighting the importance of early dental visits.

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