Did you know that Delta Dental is a non-profit organization? It's true. Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana is a 501(c)(4) entity with an important mission: "To improve oral health through benefit plans, advocacy, and community support." In mid-December, that mission was supported in a big way when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 280 into law, adding dental screenings to the panel of health checks required for incoming kindergartners in Michigan. Delta Dental of Michigan's policy staff invested hundreds of hours into the passage

According to The Journal of the American Dental Association, Black dentists made up 3.8% of U.S. dentists while Black people accounted for 12.4% of the overall population in 2020. Delta Dental recognizes that ethnic and racial disparity persists within the dental industry, both in terms of who receives care and who provides it. In fact, Black dentists note that more than half of their patients are also Black and are more likely to trust a provider who is of the same race--which could mean better oral health and