Benefits Connection Can Help You Manage Paperwork
A few weeks after you or one of your dependents visits the dentist, an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) will arrive in the mail. Among other things, the EOB provides a description of each procedure performed by the dentist, an explanation of the processing policies used to process the dental claim, the amount paid to the dentist, and the amount of any out-of-pocket payments. If you’re like a lot of us, you want to keep thorough records of expenses for tax purposes. But did you know that this information is also available on Benefits Connection? The Claims Summary feature provides easy access to all this information online. Plus, the information is available online as soon as the claim is processed, so you don’t have to wait for it to arrive in the mail. So, put away the file folders - access to your claims information is just a few clicks away. Just log in to Benefits Connection and click “Claims Inquiry.” The Claims Summary page will automatically display.

Rain, Snow, or "Nothing To Do"? Introduce Kids to Buc and Friends
Dental Defenders is the perfect antidote when bad weather keeps you indoors. The online game is both fun and (shhh, don’t tell the kids) educational. Pick an avatar - Buc, Moley, Rooty, Flossy, Cusp, or Flora - arm yourself with brush and flosser, and start your adventure as a crumb-sized superhero inside 10-year-old Devin’s mouth. Boost your score (and oral health) fighting plaque and tooth decay, and finding healthy foods. Do you have what it takes to keep Devin’s mouth cavity-free? Play Dental Defenders and find out!

Athletes, Watch Your Mouths!
Springtime means many of us are digging out the baseball gloves and lacrosse sticks. But before hitting the field, make sure you have all the protective equipment you need - and that includes mouthguards. Mouthguards can help prevent broken teeth, cuts on the lips and tongue, and jaw injuries. They can also help protect against other head and neck injuries - including concussion. This spring, be a good sport and wear a mouthguard.

Foundation Helps "Give Kids a Smile"
The Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation last month participated in “Give Kids a Smile Day,” a day-long nationwide program sponsored by the American Dental Association to provide education and free dental care to children from low income and underserved communities. The Foundation gave a special grant to the Hudson County Dental Society to help provide children with free checkups and care from local participating dentists at Jersey City Medical Center. “This program has grown from having three sites in New Jersey in 2003 that served 250 children to 91 sites in 2010 that served just under 4,000 children,” noted Gene F. Napoliello, D.D.S., President of the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation. “Delta Dental is proud to participate in the program, which supports our mission to promote oral health to the greatest number of people.” Read more about Foundation activities on the Star-Ledger's Helping Hands blog.

Sunshine Gives a Vitamin D Boost - But You Probably Need More
Daylight savings time means longer days. That extra hour of sunlight helps your body produce more Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps form teeth and bones. It also helps maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorous, which strengthen bones. But sunlight alone may not be enough to produce all the Vitamin D you need. Some good food sources of the vitamin include fortified milk or margarine, fortified cereals, and fatty fish. To learn more, check out “Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?” and “Vitamin D, Calcium Work Together to Strengthen Teeth and Bones.” Both articles were written by Harvard Health for The Oral Health and Wellness portal on our Web site.