It’s no stretch for Delta Dental of Wisconsin to embrace that position. It aligns well with the mission statement we developed nearly a decade before in which we pledged to “strive to foster a higher level of dental health for everyone.”

Truth is, from our very beginnings some 40 years ago, we have consistently “walked the talk” when it comes to improving oral health for the people of Wisconsin. It is the core of our being, whether viewed in terms of the more than 1.2 million adults and children covered by dental insurance plans we administer, or the many uninsured, low-income persons who receive free or reduced-cost dental services through clinics and other programs that depend on our financial support.

Delta Dental of Wisconsin is by every measure the leading dental insurer in Wisconsin. We insure more groups and individuals here than any other carrier. We have the largest dental networks. We have the respect and support of the broker community. We are affiliated with the nation’s largest and most respected dental insurance provider, the Delta Dental Plans Association. Leveraging our knowledge and influence, we are committed to providing our customers, partners and communities with innovative, customized solutions to promote oral health and ultimately achieve a better quality of life.

We serve an important need

As a not-for-profit service corporation, Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s tax-exempt status is based upon advancing oral health for all. We do so through expanding access to care, and by encouraging innovations that advance the effectiveness of care. The common thread in both these goals is to improve the oral health of people in Wisconsin and beyond.

We expand access to care in a number of ways, including:

• Supporting clinics and other programs providing treatment to low-income persons of all ages.
• Funding sealant programs and other preventive services developed for children.
• Supporting educational institutions providing training for dental professionals and for students enrolled in those schools.

We encourage innovations that advance the effectiveness of care through initiatives such as:

• Evaluating scientific advancements in the area of evidence-based care, and incorporating changes into dental benefit plans as warranted. Our Evidence-Based Integrated Care Plan option, enjoyed widespread support in the market, and was integrated into standard coverage on our small-group pooled plans in 2008. EBICP provides additional benefits for women who are pregnant, and persons who have diabetes or a history of periodontal surgery.
• Providing education to all about the importance of oral health and its relationship to overall health.
• Investment in a biotech research firm (C3 Jian) that is developing unique technologies for the eradication of the bacteria that cause dental caries infections through targeted antimicrobial therapy. The work of this company could lead to the development of products that could have a global impact in cavity prevention.

Wider horizons

Our insured vision plan, DeltaVision, gained significant ground in 2007, providing an additional revenue stream. DeltaVision is offered through our wholly owned subsidiary, Wyssta.

We are currently in the process of launching a discount card product, Benessential, that provides savings on dental, vision, pharmacy and chiropractic services. Benessential is also offered through Wyssta.

Looking forward, Wyssta provides us with a solid platform for introduction of new product lines and services that leverage our core strengths in customer service and benefits administration.