Dental practices may use these donated funds to cover operating expenses associated with safety guidelines including acquiring personal protective equipment.
As orthodontic and dental offices across Virginia reopen with new and costly health and safety protocols, Delta Dental of Virginia and the Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation are donating $3 million to help alleviate the financial burden on practices and their patients and to increase patients’ confidence in seeking oral healthcare. The funds will be distributed directly to the more than 4,500 dental professionals in the Delta Dental of Virginia network. Dental practices may use these donated funds to cover operating expenses associated with safety guidelines including acquiring personal protective equipment (PPE).
Since May 1, Virginia dental practitioners have begun opening their offices after the American Dental Association (ADA) recommended and the Virginia governor ordered in March the postponement of elective dental procedures for routine dental care. Now that dental offices are reopening, dentists are wondering how to manage costs related to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the ADA.
“We know dentists need access to funds as soon as possible to meet new safety precautions,” says Frank Lucia, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Virginia. “We’re empathetic to dental professionals and patients alike who remain concerned about how and when to safely return to the dental office. Quickly supporting dentists is crucial to ensuring patients receive the oral health care they need, when they need it.”
