At Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, we believe that a healthy mouth leads to a healthy life. Every day we partner with communities to re-imagine how all of our neighbors access, benefit from, and value the importance of oral health care. When we go the extra mile for every smile, we elevate the well-being of all Coloradans.
To elevate the well-being of all Coloradans by advancing oral health equity.
We create sustainable, measurable impact within three focus areas:
Access to Care
All Coloradans have affordable, accessible and comprehensive oral health care.
Prevention of Tooth Decay
Effective programs are available for prevention and early intervention of tooth decay.
Connections to Overall Health
Oral health is included as a vital part of overall health.
Our Theory of Change demonstrates our approach to achieving long-term goals and creating sustainable change in the community. We use multiple methods and engage a variety of partners to address inequities and accomplish our goals and vision.
The Colorado Health Institute is a strong partner in helping us measure whether our work really improves population health. As an independent evaluator, this is one way we demonstrate accountability to the communities we serve and our commitment to equity.
There has been progress that made us smile, starting with the fact that more Coloradans got dental insurance and visited a dental health professional in 2019 than 2017. We partner with organizations across the state to provide innovative oral health support so that every person can have a healthy mouth, regardless of life circumstances.
While there is still much work to be done, in 2019 we focused our efforts on reaching underserved populations across Colorado. Click on each demographic below to learn more.
Some low-income Coloradans earn too much to be eligible for programs such as Medicaid and yet still may not be able to cover oral health expenses or purchase dental insurance. One in three Coloradans with incomes between 134-250% of the federal poverty level do not have dental insurance.1
Cost is a barrier for an increasing number of people. More Coloradans, 20.6%, skipped needed dental care due to cost in 2019. This is a 32% increase from 2017.1
Some low-income Coloradans earn too much to be eligible for programs such as Medicaid and yet still may not be able to cover oral health expenses or purchase dental insurance. One in three Coloradans with incomes between 134-250% of the federal poverty level do not have dental insurance.1
Cost is a barrier for an increasing number of people. More Coloradans, 20.6%, skipped needed dental care due to cost in 2019. This is a 32% increase from 2017.1
Factors like distance and geography can be a barrier to receiving adequate oral health care. Rural Coloradans are less likely to have visited a dental provider in the past year, less likely to have dental insurance, and more likely to skip dental care due to cost, compared to Colorado’s urban residents.1
Changing hormone levels during pregnancy can make women more prone to gum disease and cavities. In 2018, only 51.5% of Colorado women had their teeth cleaned during their pregnancy.
Preventing and treating cavities in children is critical to their oral health since tooth decay can begin as early as age one. However, only 59.2% of children under 5 visited the dentist last year, in comparison to 94.8% of children ages 6-10.1
Data suggest that communities of color may be experiencing systemic inequities in accessing care. Despite having the highest rates of dental insurance coverage among all race/ethnic groups (81.7%), Black Coloradans are less likely to visit a dental professional than any other race/ethnic group. Just 56.1% of Black Coloradans visited a dental professional in 2019. However, we are seeing growth in this area as only 51.3% visited a dental provider in 2017.
Coloradans over 60 are less likely than all other age groups to have dental insurance. According to the 2019 Colorado Health Access Survey, only 57.8% of adults over 60 had dental insurance, the lowest of any age bracket.
On a positive trend, older adults’ access to and use of dental care is improving. 73.5% of adults ages 65 and older visited a dental professional in the last year, an 11.8% increase since 2017.
Eighty-eight years young, Dorothy Kremer has a new zest for life. A patient of MarillacHealth, Dorothy needed extensive dental work to replace missing teeth. Before treatment, she found it difficult to chew, speak clearly, or smile. After a series of appointments with a new denture specialist, Dorothy now possesses upper and lower partial dentures that will last the rest of her life. “I wouldn’t even smile before. But now I feel like smiling,” she explained. “Everybody has been wonderful and I appreciate having a healthy, natural looking smile.” Adding an Expanded Duties Dental Assistant (EDDA) to Marillac’s dental program was made possible through our partnership.
In 2018, the Foundation awarded grants to 38 grantees through open, initiative-based and invited funding opportunities that advance oral health and reduce disparities across the state. In 2019, those grantees reached approximately 54,000 Coloradans through an array of oral health initiatives. Grantees sought to improve equity by reaching Coloradans facing the greatest barriers to accessing oral health care and prevention services.
This opportunity provides grants for Colorado organizations to empower community-led solutions. Our 2019 round of Open Funding resulted in 31 grantees with a total investment of $3.5 million over three years. Partner organizations serve their communities through direct service provision, oral health education and awareness efforts, research, workforce initiatives, and coverage and affordability programs.
These five open funding grantees made serving communities of color a top priority.
Maria has severe gum disease, but hadn’t been to a dentist in years because of the cost. She takes care of her medical needs at a local clinic that serves mostly low-income, Spanish-speaking residents like herself.
When the clinic added dental services, she was delighted. Now she can take care of her medical and dental needs in one location where she can communicate with her provider. Low cost and convenience make maintaining her oral health possible for the first time in years.
See Maria’s experience at Clinica TepeyacLearn about our 2019 Open Funding Grantees for a sneak peek at work to come in 2020.
Effective policy-making is one of the strongest tools to affect sustainable and widespread change at a systems level. We support local and state level legislation and policy that improve access to care, address social determinants of health, and improve oral health equity through enhanced workforce development, broader benefits and coverage, and innovation in service provision.
Six invited grantees supported oral health equity statewide through policy and advocacy work. Colorado Community Health Centers have over 88 dental clinics throughout Colorado. By assessing needs, challenges, and strategies in the recruitment and retention of oral health providers, they help ensure that a diverse, equity-driven workforce is available to meet the needs of patients in achieving optimal oral health.
The Colorado Medical-Dental Integration Project (CO MDI) was launched in 2015 to expand access to dental services for populations who experienced limited access to dental care due to insurance status, location, and transportation barriers by integrating registered dental hygienists into medical care teams.
CO MDI has provided services for thousands of low-income Coloradans, many of whom do not have dental insurance, and continues to be an innovative source of oral health care for those most in need. Clinics participating in Wave I (2015-2019) of the CO MDI project collected data which was used to evaluate its effectiveness.
Wave 1 Stories and DataAt 15 years old, Andrew had never brushed his teeth. Unable to take the pain in his mouth, he begged his mother to take him to the dentist. The day he came to Northwest Colorado Health, they gave Andrew his first toothbrush and showed him how to brush his teeth. They were able to give Andrew the education and tools to take care of his teeth, a life-changing experience. Northwest Colorado Health was a CO MDI Wave I participant.
Land of Smiles is a free school-based theater program that teaches students in pre-kindergarten through third grade the importance of good oral health habits. Each student receives a Smile Bag containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss to help implement effective practice at home. We are focused on reaching schools with a high population of students eligible for free and reduced lunch and schools in rural communities.
The Heroes Clinic at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine provides critical services such as extractions, restorations, and periodontal care for military veterans.
Currently, only veterans who are designated 100-percent service-connected disability are eligible for VA dental care. Under these guidelines, about 8% of veterans are eligible for dental care from the VA. Providing fourth-year dental students with this experience helps prepare providers entering the workforce to provide more compassionate, high-quality care to veterans and people with disabilities. This clinic is the only model of its kind in the country.
As a 501(c)(3) organization funded by the nonprofit Delta Dental of Colorado (DDCO), we work to support the company in fulfilling its vision, a healthy smile for all. DDCO’s history of giving back is proven through our corporate social responsibility. These mission-building activities are complemented by the foundation’s philanthropic activities. We believe our collective efforts will improve the well-being of all Coloradans and make the greatest possible social impact on oral health across the state. Special thanks to DDCO and the Board of Trustees for the financial support they provide for our work.
See our 9902019 Board of Directors
Marilyn E. Taylor, Board Chair
Helen Drexler, DDCO President & CEO
Luella Chavez D’Angelo, Governance Chair
Mary Noonan, Finance Chair
Cathy Garcia
Scott Hamilton, DDS
Julie Keegan
Kim Kretsch, DDS
Mark Wehrle
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Allison Cusick, Executive Director
Monica Woods, Executive Assistant
Megan Wilson, Director of Programs and Interim Executive Director
Amy Maillet, Communications Manager
Cherith Flowerday, Program Officer
Marybeth Goodwin, Senior Program Officer
Mirella Chavez, Associate Program Officer
Veronica Contreras de Raya, Communications and Graphic Design Specialist
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