Over the last two years, more than 400 members covered under Marquette’s dental insurance plan did not have a dental visit. Halloween is an especially great time for everyone to consider scheduling a preventive dental visit, given the amount of candy that many consume and its impact on teeth.
Marquette’s dental plan through Delta Dental of Wisconsin provides 100% coverage for diagnostic and preventive services at all in-network providers. While using an in-network dentist outside of the university provides this strong coverage after a deductible, utilizing the School of Dentistry’s Faculty Practice for dental services provides the highest level of coverage in addition to not having deductibles. To schedule an appointment with the Faculty Practice clinic, call 414-288-0788.
Dental health is especially pertinent around Halloween due to the increase in candy consumption for both children and adults. While candy is enjoyable to many, it can be harmful to teeth in a variety of ways, including causing cavities, tooth decay and other dental issues. This is especially the case when consumed in large quantities.
While many different types of candies can harm teeth, some candies are worse than others. Some of the candies with the highest potential to do the most damage include hard, sour, and gummy candies as well as caramels, due to how these can stick to or get stuck in between teeth. Instead, chocolates are generally considered to be a lesser evil, with some dark chocolates being a better option than milk chocolate.
Other strategies to minimize teeth damage while consuming candy this Halloween season include going trick-or-treating on a full stomach, only eating candy during pre-scheduled periods, donating extra candy to avoid having a large candy stash on hand, and brushing teeth immediately after eating candy. Regular diagnostic and preventive dental exams can also help ensure that any dental issues are addressed before they worsen, which can help save teeth and money in the long run and contribute to overall health.
More information on the university’s dental benefit can be found on the Dental Insurance page and the 2025 Total Rewards Guide.
