American Dental Association praises pediatric dental bill

May 18 2007

The American Dental Association (ADA) applauds Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) for introducing legislation to help end the silent epidemic of untreated dental disease among the nation's disadvantaged children.

“It is unconscionable that in 21st Century America, thousands upon thousands of children can't eat or sleep properly, can't pay attention in school, can't even smile because they suffer from chronic pain and infection caused by untreated dental disease,” said ADA President Kathleen Roth, DDS. “This disease is easily prevented and, when it does occur, easily treated, but only if the means are in place to get the child to the dentist. Rep. Cummings's bill would take important steps toward making that possible for more kids.”

The bill honors the memory of Deamonte Driver, a Maryland boy who died in February, at age 12, 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 American Dental Association urge Congress to pass Deamonte's Law as a meaningful step in ending what amounts to a national disgrace,” said Dr. Roth.

http://www.ada.org