Delta Dental of Washington: PNDC 2025 Community Partner

May 6, 2025
Delta Dental of Washington is on a mission to improve oral health for all, together. Visit DDWA at Booth #416.

Delta Dental of Washington is on a mission to improve oral health for all, together. 

Our members are more likely to have had a recent preventive care visit, and for that we thank the 4,800 Washington dentists who chose to partner with our network in 2024 to complete over 2.3M preventive visits for almost 1.5M unique patients.

As we celebrate the power of prevention to support the oral and overall health of individuals, families, and communities, we also recognize the staffing and economic pressures dentists are facing, which is why in 2024 we:

  • Supported Lake Washington Institute of Technology to complete their clinic renovations, welcome their fourth dental assistant program cohort, and gain accreditation approval for expanding their dental hygienist program in 2025.
  • Joined Pacific Northwest University (PNWU) in opening Delta Dental Equity Hall as they prepare to welcome their first class of 36 dental students in 2025.
  • Based on provider feedback, invested an additional ~$36M to increase provider reimbursement – bringing our total increased investment in provider compensation to nearly $140M since 2020.

The Tooth Fairy Experience presents free in-person and virtual presentations to youth organizations and K-2 classrooms with a focus on underserved communities including rural, tribal and Title I schools. Reaching nearly 85,000 kids to date, our program makes pediatric dental health education fun and interactive and is intended to improve dental health habits among kids. The program includes:

  • Presentations, delivered in English, Spanish and American Sign Language by diverse Tooth Fairies
  • Online resources for providers, educators and parents (Available in English and Spanish, with videos available with ASL interpretation)
  • Quarterly newsletter
  • 3 children’s books to match each module – The Clean Teeth Club, The Search for the World’s Greatest Smile, and Smile Scouts
  • A coloring and activity book for dentists

Arcora Foundation—which Delta Dental of Washington founded and funds—advances oral health equity across the state by expanding access to care and promoting oral health. Highlights of Arcora’s accomplishments with partners in 2024 include: 

  • Provided over $3.5M in funding support for Washington oral health equity efforts
  • 119,000+ users received unique referrals to care through DentistLink, a no-cost public-private partnership between Arcora and the Washington State Health Care Authority that connects people to dental care whether they have insurance, including Apple Health (Medicaid) or not
  • 1,300+ patients served in 32 clinics and community events statewide on the SmileMobile, Arcora’s modern, mobile dental office
  • Partnered with dental community leaders and other organizations to offer continuing dental education courses with 1,340 course completions, including our in-demand Culturally Appropriate Care course at PNDC 2024

Visit us on Instagram and Facebook for current events and resources for a cavity-free Washington!