What does it mean to be part of Delta Dental Plans Association?

As a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA), Delta Dental of Tennessee gives members and employers something truly unique: the strength of the nation's largest dental benefits network, delivered by a carrier that's been embedded in Tennessee communities for six decades. Understanding how that relationship works can help you get more out of your coverage.

Simply put, Delta Dental of Tennessee is its own independent company, headquartered here in the state, with offices in Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis. On top of this, as a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association, we are part of a national network of 39 independent companies that together cover nearly 79 million Americans.

What is the Delta Dental Plans Association?

The Delta Dental Plans Association is the not-for-profit national association behind the Delta Dental name, and the numbers speak for themselves. DDPA's network spans all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories, making it the largest dental benefits system in the country. Its 39 independent member companies collectively cover nearly 79 million Americans across more than 157,000 employer groups, supported by the nation's largest network of participating dentists.

That scale translates directly into network access, and consistency of care that individual carriers simply can't replicate on their own, which is exactly what makes DDPA membership so valuable for a company like Delta Dental of Tennessee.

Delta Dental of Tennessee: Independent since day one

Delta Dental of Tennessee has been serving the Volunteer State since 1965, when it was established as Tennessee Dental Services Corporation through enabling legislation passed by the Tennessee General Assembly. Five years later, in 1970, the company joined the Delta Dental Plans Association, not as a subsidiary, but as an independent member, retaining local governance and a singular focus on Tennessee.

That independence has fueled steady growth. Today, Delta Dental of Tennessee is the largest independent dental insurance provider in the state, serving more than 3,200 employer groups and over 1.8 million Tennesseans. The company also maintains the state's largest network of practicing, licensed dentists, with more than 88% participating in the Delta Dental Premier network and more than 70% in Delta Dental PPO. This year, Delta Dental of Tennessee is marking 60 years of healthy smiles with 60 Moments of Surprise Smiles.

What DDPA membership means for you

Being covered by a DDPA member company comes with some real advantages for you, here's what that looks like in practice.

You have access to the largest dentist network in the country. Because Delta Dental of Tennessee is part of DDPA, your plan taps into a nationwide network of participating dentists. Whether you're at home in Tennessee or traveling across the country, finding an in-network provider is straightforward.

Your coverage travels with you. Moving to a new state or spending time elsewhere? DDPA's 39 member companies operate in all 50 states, meaning the Delta Dental name — and the standards behind it — follow you wherever you go.

You're backed by 70+ years of dental benefits expertise. DDPA has been the nation's leading dental benefits system for over seven decades. That depth of experience shapes everything from how claims are processed to how networks are maintained, and it's built into every plan Delta Dental of Tennessee offers.

You're covered by a carrier that knows dental. While many general health insurers offer dental as an add-on, Delta Dental of Tennessee's brings dedicated expertise to every plan, combined with DDPA's national infrastructure. This means you're getting both depth of knowledge and breadth of access. 

Local coverage made for you

National scale is only part of the story. As an independent company, Delta Dental of Tennessee makes its own decisions, about the plans it offers, the communities it invests in, and the Tennesseans it serves.

That community commitment is built into everything we do. Since 1999, Delta Dental of Tennessee has invested more than $78 million back into Tennessee communities, working alongside partners and the Smile180 Foundation to expand access to care, support oral health education, and make a meaningful difference across the state. The Smile180 Foundation supports Tennessee's dental colleges, children's hospitals, free and reduced-cost dental clinics, and other organizations working toward the same goal: healthier smiles for everyone.

And with offices in Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis, we're not managing your benefits from across the country. We're here in the same communities you live and work in, with a firsthand understanding of what Tennesseans need from their dental coverage.

That's the combination DDPA membership makes possible: the resources of a national network, grounded in a company that's been showing up for Tennessee since 1965.