There’s no question that social determinants of health, including access to oral health care, can change the trajectory of a child’s life. So, as we look to build a more accessible and integrated health care system for Oklahoma’s future, we must ensure that oral health is not left behind. In doing so, we can ensure that Children’s Dental Health Month was more than just a mark on our calendars, it’s a call to action. Jandra Korb, DDS, is the DentaQuest Dental Director for Oklahoma.

Gary Allen, DMD. Vice President of Dental Services of Advantage Dental Plus (Nashville, Tenn.). Dr. Allen has been the vice president of dental services of Advantage Dental since 2017. He is experienced in health policies, practice management and strategic planning. Dr. Allen also served as a commander in the U.S. Army Dental Corps.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority has selected two dental contracted entities, also known as Dental Benefit Plans, to handle the dental component of the SoonerSelect program for certain SoonerCare members. They are DentaQuest and Liberty Dental.

Steven Brady, regional vice president of client engagement at DentaQuest, was named to the TeamSmile board of directors.

Steven Brady, regional vice president of client engagement at DentaQuest, was named to the TeamSmile board of directors. DentaQuest supports TeamSmile clinics across the country and has been the company's exclusive national dental insurance partner since 2017, according to a Jan. 23 news release from DentaQuest. TeamSmile partners with professional sports teams to provide oral health education, screening and treatment to underserved children.

At DentaQuest, the nation’s largest Medicaid dental benefits administrator, our digital transformation is underway, and it started with listening to and educating employees across our business. Getting the buy-in of early adopters who have acted as change ambassadors has been a key component to our success.

The separation of medical and dental systems disproportionately burdens vulnerable populations. MDI—medical-dental integration—is a key path forward. Editorial by DentaQuest's Dave Olson

DentaQuest, a purpose-driven oral healthcare company, has spearheaded advancements in prevention-focused dentistry with the goal of improving the oral health of all. In 2020, during their pursuit to expand access to care, vaping became a real issue that DentaQuest wanted to address through a partnership with CATCH My Breath. Developed by researchers at the University of Texas School of Public Health, CATCH My Breath is the only peer-reviewed, evidence-based youth nicotine vaping prevention program in the United States.

First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that within the first 5 days of activation, the Florida Disaster Fund has raised nearly $35 million in donations to support communities impacted by Hurricane Ian. \r\n\r\nDentaQuest donated $500,000 to the fund.

It came as no surprise to her that Burch received the Health Equity Hero Award from DentaQuest, one of the largest providers of Medicaid dental benefits, for his efforts to teach the next generation of dentists who care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As part of the award, Burch joins a cohort of 12 dentists and public health experts from across the country who are working to increase health care access for underserved groups.

Op-ed submitted by Dr. Bertha Alarcon, the college coordinator for Diversity & Inclusion Activities at Western University’s College of Dental Medicine and a member of the Hispanic Dental Association, and Steve Pollock, president of DentaQuest, the nation’s largest Medicaid dental benefits administrator, and a member of CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion.

Poor oral and overall health in adolescence frequently leads to even worse oral and overall health during adulthood. But not everyone knows these real and devastating impacts vaping can have. That’s why DentaQuest is working with America’s Toothfairy to develop and share resources that help educators, parents, and teens talk — not argue — about vaping. As an organization focused on prevention, DentaQuest is passionate about educating young people and parents about the risks to everyone’s health.

DentaQuest, the nation’s largest provider of Medicaid and CHIP dental solutions, and TeamSmile, today announced the launch of the TeamSmile Dental Home Project powered by DentaQuest, a nationwide initiative that connects children in need with long-term dental care resources and dental teams. Established with $275,000 from DentaQuest, this project builds upon DentaQuest’s years long partnership with TeamSmile, the nation’s premier advocacy group connecting oral health professionals with professional athletic organizations to provide life-changing dental care to underserved children across the country.

And with this new legislation passed, Dr. Damien Cuffie, Director of Louisiana DentaQuest, says patients no longer have to worry about or put off certain procedures, “Prior to the age of 21, they had pretty much full dental coverage. They could get cleanings done every six months, teeth extracted, crowns replaced, you know any restorative work that was needed. But once they turned 21 those benefits changed so now those benefits are extending beyond 21 throughout their adult life.”

Best for Affordable Dental Care: DentaQuest

In addition to distributing 25,000 backpacks with school supplies, the event will feature on-site health screenings to include: dental screenings and sealants, vision screenings, routine immunizations and COVID-19 vaccines. The event also connects families to a wide range of health and social services offered by community agencies. With one in four Texas children living in poverty, the Mayor's Back to School Fest presented by Shell is focused on changing the future, one child at a time.

"For example, at my company, DentaQuest, we actively manage dental benefits for millions of Americans, contracting with contrasting health plans, government entities and health care providers. We’ve been doing this for more than 20 years. We could easily default to business as usual. Instead of fearing that which we don’t understand, we have approached digital transformation head on, doing it one step at a time and ensuring our culture keeps pace."

The health plan is also emphasizing the importance of health and wellness and will be offering free dental screenings with DentaQuest for children and adults on August 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be giving away free toothbrushes.

DentaQuest is an oral health care company that works to expand accessibility to health care for all. The DentaQuest Health Equity program, which is in its eighth year this summer, celebrates individuals for their work helping people gain access to medical, oral and behavioral health care.

DentaQuest representative Gonzalo Perez, manager of the DentaQuest case management and outreach program, said Martin's ability to be a “disruptor” within the health care system was one of the reasons she merited the award.

Texas A&M College of Dentistry professor Dan Burch has been recognized as one of 12 health equity heroes. Burch received the honor from DentaQuest for his work in making dental care more accessible for individuals with special needs and/or intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

DentaQuest released its 2022 Health Equity Heroes: Disruptors in Health Systems; the award recognizes the work and advocacy for equity in medical, oral and behavioral health.

Besides ridding your mouth of gnarly morning breath, cleaning your chompers in the morning plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health, and it all comes down to the bacteria lingering in your mouth while you snooze. "As we're sleeping, bacteria has the tendency to settle — we don't have [as much] saliva moving around our mouth to prevent this bacteria from settling," says Amber Bonnaig, D.D.S., the dental director of Georgia for DentaQuest, a health care company that provides dental benefits.

On this second annual Health Equity Hero Day, DentaQuest, a purpose-driven oral health care company dedicated to improving the oral health of all, announced its 2022 Health Equity Heroes: disruptors in health systems. In addition to celebrating and promoting the work of the 12 Health Equity Heroes, DentaQuest is making $60,000 in charitable contributions— $5,000 in the name of each hero to a nonprofit of their choice.