American Dental Association Praises Rep. Elijah Cummings’ ‘Deamonte’s Law’

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.

About the American Dental Association

Celebrating its 150th anniversary, the not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org

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