Maintaining Your Dental Health

The Insurance and Benefits Trust of PORAC (IBT) offers comprehensive HMO and PPO dental coverage through Delta Dental to our retired members. Dental health is crucial to your overall well-being. Healthy teeth and gums are vital not only for maintaining a beautiful smile but also for ensuring overall health. Poor dental hygiene can lead to a host of issues that go beyond toothaches or cavities. These problems can contribute to more serious health concerns such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory issues. Therefore, prioritizing dental health is essential for a long, healthy life.

Steps you can take to maintain your dental health include:

  1. Brushing your teeth daily. Brushing daily helps to remove plaque buildup, which can cause tooth decay. It is recommended you use a toothpaste with fluoride, a mineral that helps prevent cavities by strengthening your enamel, the hard outer casing of your teeth.
  2. Floss your teeth daily. Flossing is a great way to reach the hard to get to crevices between your teeth to remove plaque and food particles. 1
  3. Schedule regular dental cleanings. The IBT offerings of HMO and PPO plans through Delta Dental offer you the opportunity to see qualified dentists throughout the United States.

The IBT has partnered with Delta Dental for many years, offering a broad network of in-network dentists. The Delta Dental plan covers a range of benefits designed to address both routine and more complex dental care needs to ensure members have the support they need for long-term dental health.

Below is a brief comparison of some of the features under the Delta Dental PPO and HMO plans:

Plan Feature Delta Dental PPO DeltaCare USA
Can I go to any dentist? You can visit any licensed dentist to receive coverage, but you’ll save the most at an in-network dentist. You can visit any dentist from the DeltaCare USA network of certified dentists and dental offices.
What procedures are covered? Wide range of covered services with no exclusions for most pre-existing conditions. Preventative care is offered at low or no cost. Plan covers hundreds of procedures with low or no cost on most preventative care. No annual limit on the amount the plan pays.
What if I need to see a specialist? You do not need a referral from your dentist. Your dentist will refer you to an in-network specialist.
Are there deductibles and maximums? Deductibles and annual maximums apply. No annual deductible or annual maximums apply.

If you are interested in the Delta Dental plans, you can contact an IBT Insurance Service Representatives by calling our office at (800) 655-6397, and selecting Option 1 for Health Plan Members, and Option 1 again for Enrollment/Eligibility. You can also visit the IBT’s Dental page to learn more.


Featured in the April 2025 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News.

1. Retrieved from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, nidcr.nih.gov