Dr. Sheila Strock

Dr. Sheila Strock is vice president dental services & science officer and has been with Delta Dental of Illinois since 2017. Dr. Strock has more than 35 years of experience in dentistry and the dental benefits industry, serving as vice president of dental services at Delta Dental of Minnesota prior to coming to Illinois. She has served as senior manager of interprofessional relations at the American Dental Association in Chicago and enterprise dental policy officer at Delta Dental of California. Dr. Strock received her dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in public health from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Blog posts by this Author:

• 4 Frequently Asked Questions About Local Anesthesia

  Your dentist strives to make your dental experience as pleasant as possible. For more than 100 years, local anesthetics have been a major part of that effort. Learn the answers to these questions to better understand the use of local anesthetics in dental treatments.

• Pho Soup

  You can make this tasty Vietnamese dish in record time with this easy recipe. Enjoy the hearty flavor and the healthful benefits of fiber, protein and immunity-boosting herbs and spices. It’s even high in calcium and phosphorus for stronger teeth.

• Six Steps Toward a Healthier 2023

  If you have fallen short on your New Year’s resolutions so far, don’t worry – it takes time to solidify new healthy habits. It's not too late to begin working on some oral health resolutions if you haven’t already.

• Stress Less and Smile More

  Stress can be managed. Here’s how stress and your mouth are connected, along with some practical stressbusters that will help keep you smiling.

• Top Benefits of Moving your Dental Office to the Cloud

  Is your practice still working with paper documents and traditional desktop-based solutions? Think about transitioning paper to digital and creating a cloud-based practice, which can ensure security, while saving your office time and costs.

• What is a dental bridge?

  A dental bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth by filling in a gap with a false tooth called a pontic.

• Floss like a boss

  The American Dental Association recommends that you clean between your teeth every day with floss or a comparable cleaner. Here’s why, along with helpful tips to make flossing easier.

• Adults, children make oral care a priority according to Delta Dental survey

  In recognition of National Dental Hygiene Month, Delta Dental shares encouraging findings from its 2022 survey showing U.S. adults and parents are doing their part to practice diligent oral care at home.

• A refreshing guide to toothpaste

  It has long been recommended to brush twice daily and floss once a day to maintain good oral health. Brushing and flossing help remove plaque and leftover food from your teeth and gums. A key component of brushing is the toothpaste you use — it can have many more benefits than just leaving your breath feeling fresh and clean.

• What to do about a loose baby tooth

  Remember that old iconic image of a loose tooth being pulled by a string tied to a doorknob? Slam! Problem solved. Fortunately, there’s a much easier and gentler way to help children when they have a loose baby tooth.

• Tooth Fairy Tradition Remains Strong Across the United States

  According to findings of the 2022 Original Tooth Fairy Poll® released by Delta Dental of Illinois, the Tooth Fairy visited 79% of homes across the country with children ages 6-12 who have lost teeth.

• Periodontitis causes and risk factors

  Have you been experiencing tender, swollen or bleeding gums? Read on because you may be experiencing early signs of periodontitis.

• How to help children overcome an overbite or overjet

  Most people’s upper front teeth slightly overlap their lower front teeth. In most cases, it’s so slight that it’s not noticeable. Even when the upper teeth overlap more than normal (overbite) or stick out too far forward (overjet), it’s usually a minor issue that doesn’t need treatment. It’s a different case for a child who has an excessive overbite or overjet. Here’s why these conditions cause concerns.

• What is an occlusal guard?

  The term “occlusal” refers to the surfaces of your teeth that are used for chewing. When you are damaging those surfaces by clenching or grinding your teeth, an occlusal guard may be recommended by your dentist.

• New report finds many unaware of connection between poor oral health, serious medical conditions (but 9 in 10 want to learn more)

  Delta Dental of Illinois has released the 2022 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report, a nationwide analysis of consumer opinions and behaviors relating to oral health.

• There’s no sugarcoating it — sugar damages teeth

  Bacteria feed on sugar, forming dental plaque that becomes acidic and makes holes in your teeth — in other words, it causes cavities. That plaque can also lead to gum disease and bad breath.

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