Delta Dental Announces Dentist Participation At All-Time High

Okemos, MI - Approximately 92 percent of Michigan dentists now contract with Delta Dental of Michigan (Delta Dental), the highest participation rate in the company's 50-year history, announced Thomas J. Fleszar, D.D.S., M.S., president and chief executive officer.

Fleszar said that means Delta Dental continues to offer by far the largest networks of participating dentists in Michigan - more than 5,200 - in its group dental benefit plans.

"Having the largest networks of dentists means Delta Dental can deliver maximum access and freedom of choice with minimal disruption or inconvenience to our nearly four million Michigan enrollees," said Fleszar. "We appreciate the partnerships we have had with Michigan's dentists for 50 years to achieve our mutual goal of improving the oral health of the public."

Delta Dental of Michigan is a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA), a national network of independent not-for-profit dental service corporations. The DDPA recently reported that nationwide, Delta Dental continues to provide the largest networks of dentists, a position it has held for five decades. Across the U.S., three out of four dentists participate with Delta Dental - more than 121,000 dentists in 174,000 locations.

Delta Dental of Michigan, with its affiliates in Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee, is the largest dental plan administrator in Michigan and is among the largest in the nation. In 2006, the enterprise paid out more than $1.7M for dental care for more than 6.2M enrollees.

Michigan customers include General Motors, Chrysler, Whirlpool, The Dow Chemical Company, State of Michigan, and Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS). Offices are located in Okemos and Farmington Hills, Mich.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Indianapolis and Greenwood, Ind.; and, Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis, Tenn.

SOURCE: Delta Dental