Delta Dental of Arizona Funds Scholarships to Provide Intensive Special Needs Training to 10 Community Health Centers, Public Health Clinics, and Nonprofits Statewide

(SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Feb. 4, 2025) – Arizona’s community health dentists and local nonprofits often face challenges when it comes to accessing dental training and continuing education. To increase access to care, Delta Dental of Arizona, through its Foundation, is pleased to announce the funding of 20 scholarships, supporting 10 community health centers, public health clinics, and oral health nonprofit programs across Arizona to take part in the intensive special needs training program through the New York University Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities. In addition to the program scholarships, in collaboration with BHHS Legacy Foundation, Arizona Department of Health Services, and The Burton Family Foundation, travel stipends of up to $2,500 were also provided to all recipients.

Local scholarship recipients include dental providers at the following:

• A.T. Still University
• El Rio Community Health Center
• MHC Healthcare
• Midwestern University
• Mountain Park Health Center
• Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH)
• Dental of Arizona Oral Health Center at St. Vincent de Paul
• Sunset Health
• Tooth B.U.D.D.S. (Bringing Understanding of Dental Disease to Schools)
• Valleywise Health

The three-day intensive training focuses on observing patient workflow and experience; utilizing accommodation in health risk assessment and treatment planning; working with caregivers to maintain oral health for patients; understanding physical ergonomics of treating patients; and best accommodations of physical space characteristics and needs.

“Our mission is to create a path to better health and wellness. That applies to everyone,” said Michael Jones, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Arizona and chair of the Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. In 2024, Delta Dental of Arizona added a Special Health Care Needs dental benefit to most of its dental plans. It covers additional dental visits and up to four dental cleanings per benefit year as well as treatment delivery modifications and the use of anesthesia when necessary to provide dental care. “For the over 7 million people in the U.S. with intellectual or developmental disabilities, visiting the dentist for oral health care can be overwhelming or even inaccessible, and we are out to change that in our state.”

In addition to the scholarship program, Delta Dental is also currently offering free special needs training opportunities for network and community health center dentists in Arizona. The program, titled Center for Persons with Disabilities Presentation Series, was developed in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania and raises awareness of oral health barriers for individuals with disabilities. These online courses are open to all dentists and staff. Additionally, dentists completing 18 or more of the courses within a three-year period will receive a certificate of completion from Penn Dental Medicine as a Disabilities Dentistry Clinician Expert.

About Delta Dental of Arizona

Delta Dental of Arizona (Delta Dental) is a health and wellness company providing affordable dental and vision benefits to individuals, families and businesses throughout the state. Building on its reputation as the state’s largest and most experienced dental insurance provider, Delta Dental’s mission is to create a path to better health and wellness. Since 2010, Delta Dental of Arizona, through its Foundation, has given over $20 million to support oral health education, disease prevention and food assistance programs for underserved and uninsured communities across the state. For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, visit www.deltadentalaz.com.