New Initiative Empowers Families to Prioritize Preventive Dental Care for a Strong Start to the School Year
ALBANY, NY (August 20, 2025) With kids across New York returning to school, CDPHP and Delta Dental Insurance Company are reminding families that one of the most important school supplies doesn’t go in a backpack—a healthy smile.
To raise awareness about the importance of preventive dental care, CDPHP, in partnership with Delta Dental Insurance Company and the All Smiles Welcome campaign, is launching its Back-Tooth-School (BTS) initiative. This statewide promotion is designed to help CDPHP members understand their no-cost dental benefits through Delta Dental Insurance Company and connect them with dentists to support lifelong oral health. The campaign emphasizes how prioritizing dental checkups is an essential step in ensuring children have the confidence and health to learn, grow, and succeed.
Why Is This Important?
Unaddressed dental pain and infections can hinder a child’s ability to eat, sleep, and speak properly, which directly impacts their concentration and performance in the classroom. This is a widespread issue: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children in the United States. More than half of children ages 6-8 have had a cavity in at least one of their baby teeth and more than half of teens ages 12-19 have had a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth.
The good news? Cavities are preventable. With CDPHP, dental checkups and preventive services, including fluoride treatments and molar sealants, are covered at no additional cost for children when they visit an in-network Delta Dental provider. These services are essential to protecting long-term oral health and preventing more serious issues later on.
Bringing Oral Health to Local Families
To help make dental health a family priority, the All Smiles Welcome and CDPHP teams will be on the ground at two upcoming events, providing resources to support children’s oral health and overall school readiness:
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August 23: New Jerusalem Community Block Party, Albany, NY
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September 6: Back-to-School Celebration at Watervliet High School, Watervliet, NY
Care Managers will be on-site at both events to provide free health screenings and connect families with important wellness resources, including information about their CDPHP dental benefits. These events are designed to promote whole-family health and help ensure children can learn, grow, and thrive.
CDPHP members can find in-network Delta Dental dentists at AllSmilesWelcome.com or by calling Delta Dental Customer Service at 1-800-542-9782.
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About CDPHP®
Established in 1984, CDPHP is a physician-founded, member-focused and community-based not-for-profit health plan that offers high-quality affordable health insurance plans to members in 36 counties throughout New York. CDPHP is also on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About All Smiles Welcome
Delta Dental Insurance Company developed the All Smiles Welcome campaign to encourage CDPHP members to take advantage of the dental benefits available through their plan. CDPHP member plans include most regular and routine dental services at no additional cost. These dental benefits include preventive services like teeth cleanings, fluoride treatments, and molar sealants as well as restorative services to fix problems. To view the full list of covered services, visit AllSmilesWelcome.com.