Back in March of this year, I posted about the death of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver, of Prince George's County, Md., who died from a severe brain infection that may have resulted from untreated dental disease. Since then, Rep. Elijah Cummings has been working on legislation to ensure that disadvantaged children have access to suitable oral health care.
Earlier this week, the ADA joined Rep. Cummings in Baltimore to demonstrate its support for Deamonte's Law. This could be a powerful step toward ensuring the health of ALL America's youth. The full press release follows:
CHICAGO, June 18, 2007: American Dental Association (ADA) Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs William Prentice joined Rep. Elijah Cummings in Baltimore today to announce the ADA's support for "Deamonte’s Law," legislation that will help end the silent epidemic of untreated dental disease among the nation's disadvantaged children.
"The American Dental Association is excited to be working with Rep. Cummings and the cosponsors of his legislation to improve access to oral health care for our most vulnerable citizens," Prentice said. "Deamonte's Law is an important piece of our agenda to ensure that all children receive the dental care they need. We are particularly pleased that the bill highlights the need for pediatric dental specialists."
The bill honors the memory of Deamonte Driver, a Maryland boy who died in February from a brain infection that apparently stemmed from untreated dental disease. It seeks to improve access to dental care for underserved children, increasing the number of dentists specially trained to treat children and increasing the capacity of community health centers to provide that treatment.
The 155,000 members of the ADA urge Congress to pass Deamonte's Law as a meaningful step toward ensuring that all children get the dental care they need and deserve.
