As much as we might hope to buy coverage in a pinch, insurance companies are smarter than that. They might cover exams and X-rays immediately, but fillings and oral surgery usually require a one- to two-year wait.

Instead, the reader bought into a discount network and saved about $800 after purchasing an individual membership for $100 a year. The waiting period before her benefits kicked in? Three days.

It’s called a discount dental plan and it’s similar to buying a membership at Costco or Sam’s Club. For the price of your annual membership, you get the benefit of paying lower prices on the products or services offered.

The dentists who participate in the program agree to accept a discounted fee from the plan as payment in full for their services. For example, a white filling is typically $173, but discount plan members pay $51 to $116, depending on the plan. A crown is typically $1,200, but members pay $473 to $1,000.

Annual membership fees range from $80 to $160 for an individual and $130 to $200 for a family.

One of the best ways to shop for a plan is at www.dentalplans.com. It has aggregated plans from more than 30 companies, including Aetna and Cigna. After putting in a ZIP code, you can find dentists in your area who accept the plans and what the discounted rates are for fillings, crowns, root canals and dentures.

Most people have never heard of the discount plans, probably because nearly 70 percent of Minnesotans have dental insurance, said Loren Hanson, director of marketplace activities at the Minnesota Dental Association in Minneapolis.

But even those with insurance might want to consider a dental plan if they have some unexpected big bills. Dental insurance typically has a maximum benefit per year of $1,000 to $1,200. Anyone who has already met the annual maximum and develops a new toothache is unlikely to wait until January to get it fixed.

Hanson said the MDA has had few complaints about the discount dental plans but says many patients will find that their dentist doesn’t offer the discounts. About 10 percent of dentists in the Twin Cities offer them, he said.

Dental plans have a 30-day cancellation policy and no waiting periods, deductibles or maximums. Orthodontia and cosmetic procedures are included in some plans. DentalPlans.com is offering a 10 percent discount with the code “July10,” but when I called several months ago I was offered a 20 percent discount after I balked about joining. Call 1-888-632-5353 or visit the website.

Dental care can really take a bite out of your wallet. Even if you have insurance — and just over half of people do, says the National Association of Dental Plans — the typical co-insurance is only 50% on major procedures such as root canals, bridges, and crowns, which run $750 and up. Here’s how to manage those costs so that you don’t end up putting too much money where your mouth is: 1. Don’t rush for coverage. 2. Pay for prevention. 3. Investigate discounts. 4. Ask about stopgaps.

Baby teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay from their very first appearance, on average between the ages of six and 12 months. Pediatric dentists specialize in caring for these tiny teeth, imperative for proper speech development and nutrition. The specialized care offered by a pediatric dentist includes unique strategies for working with children that alleviate fear and anxiety through the use of positive reinforcement and behavior guidance. Pediatric dentists monitor babies’ growth and development and provide essential dentistry services including tooth cleaning, polishing and fluoride treatment.

For healthy smiles, dental care must be established in – and out – of the pediatric dentist’s chair. The AAPD recommends the following at-home methods for infant oral health care:

Clean infant mouths and gums regularly with a soft infant toothbrush or cloth and water.

Children older than six months need fluoride supplements if their drinking water does not contain enough fluoride. Fluoride supplementation in infants has been shown to reduce tooth decay by as much as 50 percent. Check with your pediatric dentist first.

Babies should be weaned from the bottle by 12-14 months of age and at will breast-feeding should be discouraged.

Baby teeth should be brushed at least twice a day with a toothbrush made for small children using a “smear” of fluoridated toothpaste.

Visit www.aapd.org for more information or to locate a pediatric dentist.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Founded in 1947, the AAPD is a not-for-profit membership organization representing the specialty of pediatric dentistry. AAPD’s 7,600 members are predominately pediatric dentists and primary care providers who deliver comprehensive specialty treatments for infants, children, adolescents and individuals with special health care needs. As advocates for children’s oral health, the AAPD aims to promote the use of evidence-based policies and guidelines, foster research concerning pediatric oral health, and educate health care providers and the public to improve children’s oral health. For further information, please visit the AAPD Web site at http://www.aapd.org.

In a show of responsible corporate leadership, executives from CPX Interactive fund inaugurate Children International’s newest community center, which will help impoverished children in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childreninternational/44544/

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100609/MM17262 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100609/MM17262 )

CPX Interactive executives, feeling compelled to make a difference to poor children, encouraged their colleagues to join them in funding the construction of the B.U.D.S. Community Center, where over 5,000 children will receive medical and dental care, educational support and nutrition education.

Children International’s President and CEO Jim Cook said, “We are grateful to CPX Interactive for their passion and dedication to helping children living in crushing poverty. Their support is an excellent example of being a responsible corporate citizen.”

An effective model for community development, the new center marks the sixth Children International center in Guayaquil that serves poor children and their families from marginal areas of the city. The center will provide benefits to poor families who often live on less than a dollar a day and reside in makeshift shacks with dirt floors on the outskirts of a major metropolitan area.

Children International has been working in Ecuador since 1988 and currently serves 55,000 children in cities of Guayaquil and Quito.

About Children International:

Established in 1936, Children International is a humanitarian organization with its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Children International’s programs benefit more than 335,000 children and their families in 11 countries around the world including Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Zambia, Honduras, India, the Philippines and the United States. For more information about Children International or to sponsor a child, visit www.children.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dolores Quinn Kitchin

Public Relations

Children International

Direct: (816) 943-3730

Cell: (816) 718-0711

Email: dkitchin@children.org

https://twitter.com/ci_doloresk

SOURCE Children International

Financial services information and intelligence provider BAI has put a finger on the pulse of the banking industry and its findings come today in the form of a new economic measure – the BAI & Finacle Banking Confidence Index(TM). The new index, sponsored by NewGround, looks at the extent to which upheaval in the financial services industry in the last six months has affected consumers’ views across five areas: Financial Stress and the Economy; Access to Credit; Managing Personal Finances; Consumer Trust; and, Fees & Disclosure. The index also projects how consumers expect to feel about these areas in six month’s time. To develop its new biannual index, BAI conducted 2,501 interviews across a representative sample of U.S. households in late August 2009 (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/BAI.html> BAI).

“This is the first index we know of to focus exclusively on consumer sentiments vis-a-vis retail banking,” said Debbie Bianucci, president and CEO of BAI. “We designed this research with a rigorous methodology, so the index will have maximum value to executives who are focused on measuring consumer trust and confidence in retail banking.”

“In today’s fast-changing scenario, consumer opinion counts more than ever before and technology has made the consumer highly empowered,” said Haragopal Mangipudi, global head – Finacle, Infosys Technologies Ltd. “Presented with diverse and ever-dynamic consumer segments, banks need to anticipate changing requirements and fine-tune business strategy. Finacle with BAI has launched this index for banks to gain insight into consumer trends for innovation on future business strategy and differentiated product offerings.” Among the index’s findings were the following: Financial Stress and the Economy: One-third of consumers feel their financial situation has deteriorated in recent months, but few expect things to grow worse then now. When asked if they thought the current overall employment situation in the country was better, worse or the same as compared to six months ago, 73 percent of respondents said it was worse, 21 percent said things had remained the same and 5 percent felt the situation was better. But 40 percent felt the overall economic condition of the country would be better in six months. When asked which items among a list of behaviors respondents had altered to address their financial concerns, 71 percent said they had trimmed spending on entertainment, 60 percent had changed eating habits to save money, and 34 percent had postponed medical or dental care. Access to Credit: Along with mortgage-related products, most consumers find accessing credit a challenge. Compared to six months ago, 31 percent of respondents feel access to mortgages is worse; 5 percent say it is better, and the remainder saw no change. Those surveyed showed optimism when asked if they thought access to mortgages would be better, stay the same or become worse in six months, with 12 percent saying things would be better and 15 percent saying it would be worse. When asked to look ahead six months and say how likely they were to take out a loan to purchase a car, buy a home, or open a line of credit, respondents who were not likely to do so tallied 71 percent, 82 percent and 80 percent, respectively. Managing Personal Finances: Consumers basically trust their banks, but are less certain about their bankers’ ability to truly understand what consumers are trying to accomplish financially. While 65 percent of consumers surveyed say they trust their primary financial institution and another 81 percent feel their bank will still be in business a year from now, only 35 percent of respondents felt their primary financial institution was concerned about their financial well-being. One out of three respondents said their primary financial institution understood their financial goals. When asked to look ahead six months and project whether they would feel differently about their primary financial institution in these areas, the numbers were largely unchanged.

“In spite of everything that’s happened to our economy, most people still trust their primary bank. And people surveyed said they have some willingness to take on more risk, but they’re concerned about their ability to make the right decisions,” remarked Ajay Nagarkatte, managing director, BAI Research. “For bankers, this is an opportunity to take a fresh approach to how they work with their customers, and develop an array of new products and services that will go further to help people with their financial decision-making.” Consumer Trust: The level of trust consumers expressed in their financial services institutions was largely based on how familiar they were with the organization. Fifty-three percent of respondents who were customers of large national banks said they trust their bank. The same measure rose to 63 percent for clients of regional banks, 82 percent for customers of community banks, and 83 percent for those banking at credit unions. Customers of community banks and credit unions were likely to recommend those institutions by a measure of 72 percent and 76 percent, respectively. Fees & Disclosure: Less than a third of respondents find overdraft fees fair or reasonable. When it comes to fees and disclosures, consumers appear to understand to some extent why banks charge overdraft fees. But only 30 percent of those surveyed believed banks needed to collect such fees to manage overdrawn accounts. Only half of respondents felt the disclosures that financial institutions give for accounts, terms, rates, and fees were easy to understand.

“Recent changes introduced by some of the nation’s large banks are a good initial step to address consumer concerns. But simplified disclosures and clarity around when fees are assessed will continue to be a central theme, unless meaningful, long-term changes are made,” added Nagarkatte. About the Index and Survey BAI and Finacle created this new index, in part, to help bankers and industry-watchers understand the level of trust consumers have in the U.S. banking system. Along with that, the index assesses potential changes in consumer behavior, tracks consumers’ attitudes about their financial service providers, and offers a view behind the trends affecting the financial industry.

AMD LASERS, the world leader in comprehensive and affordable laser technology, announced a strategic partnership aimed at providing even more value for dental professionals that purchase the Picasso diode dental laser. Partners include industry leaders 1-800-DENTIST(R), Fortune Management, and Cetylite Industries. While supplies last, AMD customers who purchase a Picasso laser package will receive a voucher for Everything is Marketing: The Ultimate Strategy for Dental Practice Growth (list price $24.95), a Gift Certificate for a FREE Practice Analysis (valued at $1,500), and a complimentary Cetacaine(R) Topical Anesthetic LIQUID Kit (value of $63).

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with these industry leading companies,” said Alan Miller, President and CEO of AMD LASERS. “Our customers are our greatest asset and creating such a high quality, value-added promotion will make their Picasso purchase experience even more pleasant and relevant to their business. At a value of almost $1,600, coupled with the world’s most affordable laser, we are confident this promotion will help with our goal of having a laser in every operatory.”

AMD LASERS, founded in 2006, is the global leader at providing comprehensive and affordable diode laser technology for dental professionals preparing to take their practice to the next level. The integration of Picasso, our high quality laser technology, enables thousands of dental practices to provide advanced patient care with ease. AMD LASERS customers also receive full-service customer care support from our knowledgeable and friendly staff. For more information about AMD LASERS, please call 866-999-2635, 317-202-9530, or visit us online at www.AMDLASERS.com.

Delphi Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:DFG) announced that Donald Sherman, President and Chief Operating Officer, will present at the Barclays Capital 2009 Global Financial Services Conference in New York on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 2:15 pm Eastern time.

Investors may access a live Internet webcast of Delphi’s presentation, including slides, at http://cc.talkpoint.com/barc002/091509a_rb/?entity=60_YRPKWHG. Delphi’s slide presentation will also be available for download on Delphi’s corporate web site at http://www.delphifin.com/financial/presentations.html.

Delphi Financial Group, Inc. is an integrated employee benefit services company. Delphi is a leader in managing all aspects of employee absence to enhance the productivity of its clients and provides the related group insurance coverages: long-term and short-term disability, life, excess workers’ compensation for self-insured employers, large deductible workers’ compensation, travel accident, dental and limited benefit health insurance. Delphi’s asset accumulation business emphasizes individual annuity products. Delphi’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DFG and its corporate website address is www.delphifin.com.

Keywords: Delphi Financial Group, Inc., Professional Services, Banking, Finance, Insurance, Insurance, Common Stock, Finance, Financial, Financial Services, Investing, Investment, New York Stock Exchange, Stock Market

This article was prepared by Investment Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Investment Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.

The community solution forged to help adults without insurance or funds receive emergency dental care is yet another action that sets Haywood apart from other places.

Adult dental care has been a thorny issue for quite some time, accounting for a large number of the cases seen at the Haywood Regional Medical Center emergency department. Few dentists in the county are accepting anymore Medicaid patients, and the health department dental clinic focuses on children.

That leaves few options for adults with dental emergencies who aren’t able to pay for the treatment.

However, a partnership between Haywood Vocational Opportunities, Haywood Christian Ministry, the health department dental clinic and Dr. Eric Morrison, who often provides emergency medical care for those in need, has devised a solution.

There are 11 dentists in the county, including the dentist with the county health department, who will be participating in the program. A $9,000 grant and donations of $21,000 will help defray the costs. Haywood Christian Ministry will be accepting donations toward the program, which allows the contributions to be tax-deductible, and the agency will be the gatekeeper for helping adults find the dental care they need.

The solution is a caring one that fills a desperate need at the lowest cost possible. The program says a lot about the type of community and professionals here in Haywood who are making this possible.

Often ranting and raving about problems beyond our county borders makes us feel helpless and provides little hope of making a difference. But when we focus inward and look at our neighbors and fellow county residents who are doing without, it is fairly simple to make a difference. If all communities were able to take care of their own as Haywood has increasingly been able to do, it could change the dynamics of how we follow the biblical command, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

MetLife, a leading provider of employee benefits, today announced the availability of a new resource designed to help small businesses more effectively leverage benefits programs as employers seek to drive employee productivity, loyalty and retention while containing overall costs. Small Business Benefits: Cost-Effective Strategies for Maximizing ROI, a supplement to MetLife’s 7th annual Study of Employee Benefits Trends, is the result of surveying nearly 1,000 benefits decision makers at companies with fewer than 500 employees as well as hundreds of the employees who work for these smaller businesses. The research supplement is available at whymetlife.com/sbtrends2009.

“Despite economic challenges, employee retention remains the top benefits objective for employers, but we have found that it is of even greater importance to smaller employers,” said Georgette Piligian, senior vice president, Small Business Strategy & Operations, MetLife. “For smaller businesses, the loss of a few key employees can have a significant impact on costs and operations. The MetLife study should help small businesses more effectively optimize their benefits programs as they strive to deliver on their business objectives.”

Benefits Linked to Loyalty & Retention

“To maximize the value of benefits, employers must first understand how they may help address retention and loyalty goals,” said Piligian.

According to MetLife’s 7th annual Study of Employee Benefits Trends, approximately seven in ten (66%) workers at companies with fewer than 500 employees report that benefits such as life, disability and dental insurance are significant drivers of their feelings of loyalty towards their employer, behind salary and wages (85%) and health benefits (71%). While small businesses are on par with larger companies when it comes to offering medical insurance (95% and 96% respectively), the divide widens for other products. For example, only 65% of small businesses with fewer than 500 employees offer dental insurance compared to 93% of those employers with 500 or more employees.

The addition of life, dental, disability and other insurance benefits can be important factors when considering overall job satisfaction among employees. The study found that 73% of employees who were satisfied with their benefits were satisfied with their job, while just 22% who were not satisfied with their benefits were satisfied with their job – an indicator that attention to benefits satisfaction could have a positive impact on employee loyalty and retention.

Productivity is increasing in importance for small businesses as well. For companies with fewer than 500 employees, productivity increased as a top benefits objective from 33% in 2007 to 43% in November 2008. However, Small Business Benefits: Cost-Effective Strategies for Maximizing ROI reveals that smaller employers may not be leveraging benefits as effectively as they could be and offers several strategies that small businesses can implement as they seek to drive productivity and retention. For most small businesses, this means maximizing the value of current benefits offered, deepening the pool of available benefits, and giving employees the tools, decision support and information required to make smart choices.

Voluntary Benefits

One significant – but often missed – opportunity for small businesses to maximize their benefits programs is to increase employees’ options through voluntary benefits. The MetLife study found that only about one-third (31%) of employers with fewer than 500 employees see voluntary benefits as a cost-effective way to enhance the attractiveness of an organization’s overall benefits offering. However, when it comes to voluntary benefits, employees say they like the convenience and time savings of buying at the workplace, the ease of payroll deductions as well as group rates. Approximately nine in ten small business employees are interested in their employer providing a greater array of employee benefits that they can choose to pay for on their own.

Wellness Programs

Similarly, small businesses may have the opportunity to actually reduce benefits costs through the use of workplace wellness programs. At a time when small businesses say they are spending 61% of their total benefits dollars on medical insurance, there are many wellness initiatives that can be implemented at little to no cost to the employer, potentially helping to control future medical costs for the employer and employee. In addition, employee interest in health and wellness is high. For example, 73% of employees who participate in wellness programs said the top reason to participate is “I want good health.”

Companies can also promote employee health and wellness through voluntary benefits that contribute to employees’ overall health, such as dental benefits that not only treat oral disease but provide access to important oral health education. While small businesses may not have the economies of scale to implement major wellness programs, Small Business Benefits: Cost-Effective Strategies for Maximizing ROI provides several low- and no-cost wellness program suggestions.

Education: One Key to Cost Effective Benefits Optimization

Small employers may also be missing an opportunity to educate their employees about their benefits options. Only about one-third of workers at businesses with fewer than 500 employees report that their company’s benefit communications effectively educate them on their benefits options so they can select those that best meet their needs. In these challenging economic times, employees are increasingly looking to employers for guidance on securing their personal financial safety net. Forty-three percent of employees at small businesses have taken a greater interest in understanding the employee benefits they receive through their employer because of recent economic events.

“Increased employee interest in workplace benefits also means increased opportunities for employers to leverage benefits to help meet their business objectives,” said Piligian. “Small businesses that are able to maximize the value of the benefits they currently offer – or increase the array of available benefits through the strategic use of voluntary benefits – to address employee loyalty and retentions goals can help put themselves in a better position for sustained viability and continued growth when the economy recovers.”

Study Methodology

MetLife’s 7th annual Study of Employee Benefits Trends surveyed employers and employees at two different points in time, August 2008 and November 2008, to assess how employer and employee attitudes toward employee benefits may have changed from prior years, and, more specifically, how they may have been affected by the changing economic climate. Both sets of research interviews were fielded by Gfk Custom Research North America. More than 1,500 interviews were conducted with benefits decision-makers at companies with two or more employees, representing a mix of industries and geographic regions, and more than 1,300 interviews were conducted with full-time employees, age 21 and over, at companies with a minimum of two employees. Approximately 1,000 interviews were conducted with benefits decision-makers at companies with less than 500 employees and approximately 600 interviews were conducted with employees who work at these smaller businesses. The 7th annual MetLife Study of Employee Benefits Trends is available at whymetlife.com/sbtrends2009 along with a wealth of other related benefits resources.

About MetLife

MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), a leading provider of insurance, employee benefits and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance and retirement & savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

Nishimura et al conducted a two-year longitudinal study to show the predictive abilities of a caries activity test, and to include the predicted screening indexes that were based on previous caries activity test results and lifestyle factors that influence caries activity. Results show that caries activity test score at 18 months of age not only reflected caries incidence but also predicted caries incidence and screening results in 2- and 3 ½-year-old children. They conclude that a caries activity test could predict 3 ½-year-old children’s caries risk based on 18-month and 2-year-old test results and early weaning, less sucrose intake and toothbrushing by parents were effective in reducing a child’s caries risk.

Yoshioka et al report two cases of paresthesia in the mental region. No lesions were readily apparent on the patients’ panoramic radiographs. To exclude the presence of disease in the mandible that could have been responsible for the NCS, computed tomographic (CT) images should be obtained. The images identified metastases to the mandible from primary malignant tumors elsewhere in the body. To prevent misdiagnosis of numb chin syndrome (NCS), dentists need to be aware of the clinical manifestations of NCS, the need for CT imaging, the shortcommings of panoramic radiographs and the value of obtaining detailed and accurate medical and dental histories from patients.