One year ago, Marylanders first hear the name Deamonte Driver. Driver was a 12 yer old Prince George's county boy who, the medical examiner says, died as the result of an infection that began in his teeth. A simple, $80 tooth extraction could have saved his life, but his mother was unable to find a dentist willing to accept Medicaid.
Today, the anniversary of his death is being used to promote dental health by various lawmakers.
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (Md.-07) held a press conference to outline the progress in his efforts to ensure dental access for all children and to discuss new legislation that he expects to introduce this week.
Dr. Norman Tinanoff, Maryland Dental Action Committee Co-Chair and Chair of the University of Maryland Dental School Department of Pediatric Dentistry; Dr. Allen Finkelstein, Chief Dental Officer of United Health; Dr. Charlene Brown, Baltimore City Department of Health Assistant Commissioner of Clinical Services; and others say they support Cummings' work.
Ms. Laurie Norris, attorney for the Public Justice Center who represents Alyce Driver, Deamonte’s mother, says the progress is important.
“Deamonte’s story is a shocking wake up call to the failures of our health care system, and I will continue moving forward to ensure that from this tragic death we are able to bring life,” Congressman Cummings said.
“Dental decay is the single most common childhood disease in the U.S., and I will not relent in this fight until I am assured that every single child who needs to see a dentist is able to do so.”
Cummings and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown
this week will introduce new legislation that aims to establish a dental home for every child by increasing dental services in community health centers and training more individuals in pediatric dentistry. Additionally, the bill offers tax incentives for dentists to treat children with Medicaid.
