You can get a lot done in five minutes, including simple but important insurance tasks. As a Delta Dental of Wisconsin member, a few free minutes is all you need to manage your dental benefits.
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*Updated October 2025
Open enrollment can feel overwhelming, whether it’s your first or thirtieth time going through it. But with a clear understanding of the process and some research into plans and coverage, it can become a simple, stress-free experience completed in just a few clicks.
Open enrollment is the period near the end of each year when companies allow employees to enroll in or change health benefits. It’s also the time for individuals to sign up for health insurance plans or adjust existing coverage outside of the workplace.
As you move through open enrollment, it’s important to think about your health needs and consider how coverage can support your overall well-being. Oral health, for example, is closely tied to whole-body health.
Dental insurance makes care more accessible and affordable, ensuring you get the treatment you need. Take advantage of open enrollment to choose the plan that best fits your health and budget for the year ahead.
When selecting a dental insurance plan, it’s important to explore your options in advance. Open enrollment is the best time to evaluate your coverage and make sure it aligns with your health goals.
Tips to prepare:
Once you’ve identified the right plan, check your enrollment dates and mark your calendar so you don’t miss them.
Nationwide, open enrollment generally runs November 15 to January 1, though dates may vary by employer. Watch for emails or notifications from your HR team to confirm your enrollment window, and reach out if you’re unsure.
Note: Outside of open enrollment, changes to health insurance are typically restricted to qualifying life events, such as getting married, having a child, or losing other coverage.
Once you’ve reviewed your options, selected a plan, and confirmed your enrollment dates, you’re ready for the final step: to enroll in your dental insurance plan.
Follow your employer’s instructions to complete the process, or if you have an individual plan, visit your insurance provider’s website and search “open enrollment” to get started.
Many companies in the United States offer dental benefits to their employees. According to a 2019 Employer Health Benefits Survey, 92% of large (more than 200 employees) firms offer dental benefits to their employees.
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If you’ve noticed that your vision isn’t as sharp as it once was, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that one in three people in the United States have blurry vision due to problems such as astigmatism.
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*Updated April 2025
A healthy team is a productive team—and when it comes to supporting employee well-being, dental benefits play a key role. For small businesses, offering dental insurance isn’t just about coverage—it’s about investing in your company’s success.
While salary is important, benefits like dental coverage are a major factor in job satisfaction. For small businesses, offering dental insurance can help:
During dental appointments, dentists are doing more than looking at teeth. They’re also screening for other health problems such as anemia, oral cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and more.
Early detection of serious health conditions allows employees to seek timely care from the appropriate healthcare professionals, ensuring prompt treatment. This proactive approach can lead to fewer missed work hours and help maintain a healthy, productive workforce.
Employees value a well-rounded benefits package, and health-related benefits are a top priority. In fact, a 2024 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 88% of employees consider them “very important” or “extremely important.”
Today’s employees are looking to work for companies that prioritize their health and wellbeing. If your small business isn’t currently offering a dental insurance plan, it may be overshadowed by companies that do.
Concerned that dental insurance may be too expensive for your small business? The reality is that many small business dental plans are tailored specifically for your needs, providing cost-effective solutions such as:
Investing in dental benefits can be a smart and sustainable choice for your small business, enhancing employee well-being while keeping your company financially viable.
Ready to find the right dental plan for your small business? Delta Dental of Wisconsin offers flexible options to meet the needs of you and your employees. Explore our small business dental plans today, and reach out with any questions—we’re here to help!
Looking for more information about the benefits of dental insurance? Check out “Benefits of using Delta Dental of Wisconsin dental insurance early in the year.”
TikTok has become a powerhouse in the social media landscape not just due to its funny and relatable user-generated videos, but also its ability to quickly spread viral trends and challenges.
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Dental insurance open enrollment is approaching fast. Are you ready for it?
Open enrollment refers to a period of time, typically near the end of the year, in which you can add benefits for the first time or make changes to your current insurance plans and employee benefits. This may be one of the only times throughout the year where you can make changes to existing coverage or opt out of benefits.
Whether this is your first time or you’re an experienced participant, it’s always a good idea to make sure you’re prepared before the next open enrollment period begins. Use this guide when preparing for dental insurance open enrollment.
Open enrollment is important because it gives individuals the chance to review and modify their benefits based on their specific needs. It gives employees or individuals the opportunity to select insurance plans, add or remove dependents, and make other benefit-related decisions.
According to HealthCare.gov, open enrollment begins on November 1. December 15 is the last day to enroll in plans or make any changes before coverage starts on January 1. Any enrollment after December 16 and through January 15 will have coverage start on February 1. January 15 is the end of open enrollment.
If you’re receiving benefits from an employer, the exact dates for your open enrollment period may differentiate from the dates listed above. Be sure to keep an eye out for any emails from your HR team or communicate with them directly for details.
Taking the time to prepare for open enrollment before it starts will make the process easier and more manageable. Use the tips below to get ready.
By following these steps, you can be well-prepared to make informed decisions about your benefits during the dental insurance open enrollment period.
Delta Dental of Wisconsin offers a range of dental coverage options for employers and individuals. Learn more about our plans for individuals and families, as well as businesses.
You might love whole grains and leafy greens, but getting your kids to show the same enthusiasm toward a healthy diet can be tricky. To encourage a well-balanced diet in kids, here are three healthy eating activities for preschoolers.
Getting your preschooler to eat a healthy meal is all about making it fun. Try these tips below to make healthy food exciting.
A healthy sandwich is much more fun to eat if it’s in the shape of your child’s favorite animal, or an airplane, or even a simple heart! Sliced fruit like watermelon can also be easily cut into entertaining shapes. Any cookie cutter will do the trick!
Your child might not be a fan of eating their whole dinner, but perhaps they always devour their snacks. While snacks are fun, they don’t have the complete nutrition of a balanced meal. Trick your kids into eating their lunch by cutting up their sandwich into small pieces and choosing fruits and veggies that are also cut into small pieces, rather than a whole fruit. Breaking down their meal into bite-sized options makes it seem less intimidating and promotes portion control. Finger foods make a meal appear like snacking, allowing you to sneak in all the nutrients that they need.
A bento box, a Japanese single-portion box, is perfect for school lunch. Bento boxes are made of small, separated compartments that are ideal for small fingers. They provide the perfect opportunity for variety in the meal while keeping portion sizes healthy. Try offering a variety of flavors and textures such as boiled eggs, sliced grapes, berries, cubed chicken breast, bite-sized sandwiches, and more. You can find bento or similar boxes online for your child and for yourself!
It may be hard to get your toddler or preschooler to sit down for a full meal, but if you make it fun, they’re more likely to stick around! Ask your little ones to demonstrate how a dinosaur would eat something on their plate or give them unique utensils, such as a straw, to try and eat with. The goal is to make mealtime fun instead of a fight.
If getting your child to eat healthy is like pulling teeth, don’t be discouraged. You’re setting them up for a healthier lifestyle in the future every time you offer nutritious foods now.
For more information about the importance of good nutrition check out “Best Farmers Market Finds for Your Teeth.”
In today’s digital world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trusting everything you see online. Recently, social media powerhouse TikTok has emerged as a dominant player with its rapid growth and influential nature.
While this popular platform has its fair share of entertaining content, it can also encourage its users to engage in potentially harmful trends like do-it-yourself teeth whitening. These may seem like harmless DIY options for those on a budget, but it’s crucial to recognize the potential dangers they pose and adverse effects they may have on your oral health.
Many influencers claim their secret to whiter teeth can be done at home using common products. However, many of these products can cause harm to your teeth.
One of the most popular TikTok trends for achieving whiter teeth features charcoal toothpaste, with numerous creators and influencers saying it’s the reason for their sparkling smile.
Despite its popularity, charcoal has been found to be less effective than conventional whitening products and toothpastes. In addition, charcoal poses a danger to your oral health. Due to its naturally abrasive nature, charcoal can gradually wear down the protective enamel layer of your teeth, leading to increased tooth sensitivity and a higher risk of decay.
Creators are also sharing a supposed teeth-whitening hack that involves mixing baking soda with lemon juice, but this TikTok trend also comes with risk.
Using baking soda isn’t the problem with this practice. Because it’s mildly abrasive, baking soda has been found to be a safe and cost-effective way to remove stains from your teeth by the Journal of the American Dental Association. What makes this teeth whitening trend potentially hazardous is the use of lemon juice. According to a study published in the Journal of International Dental and Medical Research, the acidic nature of lemons can cause a decrease in hardness of enamel. As a result, erosion can weaken the teeth, making them more prone to sensitivity, yellowing, cavities, and even tooth loss.
DIY TikTok trends may seem like easy and inexpensive methods for teeth whitening, however so-called hacks featuring lemon juice and charcoal can have detrimental effects on your oral health.
One of the best ways to achieve a whiter smile is to focus on preventing stains by reducing your intake of certain food and drinks as well as tobacco products. Coffee, red wine, and soda are some beverages notorious for their staining properties. Similarly, smoking or chewing tobacco not only poses serious health risks, but also leads to browning and yellowing of the teeth.
If you’re interested in legitimate teeth whitening, be sure to contact your dentist. They can make recommendations for your specific needs with safe and effective processes.
For more oral health tips, read “Top 5 Ways to Take Care of Your Children’s Teeth”.
Dental emergencies always seem to happen at the worst times. In many cases, it’s hard to find a provider that can see a patient immediately.
The good news is that Delta Dental of Wisconsin plans include coverage for teledentistry. If you face a dental emergency after business hours, can’t get in to see your provider right away, or don’t have an established provider, teledentistry provides emergency dental care when you need it.
Members of Delta Dental of Wisconsin can access teledentistry by signing in to the Delta Dental virtual visits portal or calling 866-950-4375. If you don’t have a provider, use TeleDentistry.com for a virtual visit.
Dental emergencies are scary. They’re even more scary when you don’t know where you can get help. That’s where teledentistry comes in.
According to the American Dentistry Association (ADA), teledentistry refers to the use of telehealth systems and methodologies. It can include patient care and education delivery using live video, secure electronic communications, and other technologies. Providers who use teledentistry can consult with patients, do examinations, and prescribe medication if needed.
Basically, teledentistry helps you get the support and care you need from a dentist without going to an office.
Teledentistry provides patients with the ability to receive dental care at any time of day or night, 365 days a year. Reasons someone may use teledentistry range from having a dental emergency outside of business hours to wanting to consult with a provider without leaving home or not having a dentist in their town.
In addition to having access to dental care whenever you need it, teledentistry mat also save you a trip to the emergency room. The Wisconsin Hospital Association estimates that more 2,000 children visited emergencies rooms across the state for dental emergencies. Most of these emergencies were non-traumatic and would be better served in a dental office setting “due to the availability of definitive care and the likelihood of continuity of care.” Teledentistry gives you the ability to consult with an oral health professional before potentially spending hundreds of dollars at the hospital.
During a teledentistry visit you’re in a different location than your dentist. Your dentist may have you provide images and/or videos, or use a device that can live-stream to exam the condition of your mouth and teeth. This type of visit is often used for dental emergencies.
For non-emergencies, your provider may ask for certain documents such as “periapical radiographs, photographs, charting of dental conditions, health history, consent, and applicable progress notes” that can be used for diagnosis and treatment plans on a later date.
For more information about what to expect during a virtual care visit, check out the ADA Guide to Understanding and Documenting Teledentistry Events.
No matter what the reason is, Delta Dental of Wisconsin members can rest assured that quality dental care is only a phone call away. For more information about teledentistry check out the Delta Dental of Wisconsin virtual visits webpage.