[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 30 (Thursday, February 25, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1029-S1030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I rise today to recognize February as 
National Children's Dental Health Month. Since 1981, this month has 
afforded us the opportunity to acknowledge the importance of children's 
dental health, recognize the significant strides we have made and the 
work that remains to be done, and renew our commitment to ensuring all 
children in our country have access to affordable and comprehensive 
dental services. To echo former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, 
``there is no health without oral health.''
  Despite being largely preventable, tooth decay is the single most 
chronic health condition among children and adolescents in the United 
States. It is 5 times more common than asthma and 20 times more common 
than diabetes. Nearly half, 44 percent, of the children in the United 
States will have at least one cavity by the time they start 
kindergarten. Children with cavities in their primary or ``baby'' teeth 
are three times more likely to develop cavities in their permanent 
adult teeth, and the early loss of baby teeth can make it harder for 
permanent teeth to grow in properly.
  Left untreated, tooth decay can not only destroy a child's teeth, but 
also can have a debilitating impact on his or her health and quality of 
life. Tooth and gum pain can impede a child's healthy development, 
including the ability to learn, play, and eat nutritious foods. Recent 
studies have shown that children with poor oral health are nearly three 
times more likely to miss school due to dental pain, and children 
reporting recent toothaches are four times more likely to have a lower 
grade point average than their peers without dental pain.
  Tooth decay and oral health problems also disproportionately affect 
children from low-income families and minority communities. According 
to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 80 percent of 
childhood dental disease is concentrated in 25 percent of the 
population. These children and families often face inordinately high 
barriers to receiving essential oral health care, and, simply put, the 
consequences can be devastating.
  Madam President, many have heard me speak before about the tragic 
loss of Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old Prince George's County resident. 
In 2007, Deamonte's death was particularly heartbreaking because it was 
entirely preventable. What started out as a toothache turned into a 
severe brain infection that could have been prevented by an $80 
extraction. After multiple surgeries and a lengthy hospital stay, 
sadly, Deamonte passed away--9 years ago today. So today we mark the 
ninth anniversary of his tragic death.
  Since the tragic death of Deamonte in 2007, we have made significant 
progress in improving access to pediatric dental care in the country. 
For example, in 2009, Congress reauthorized the Children's Health 
Insurance Program--CHIP--with an important addition: a guaranteed 
pediatric dental benefit. Today, CHIP provides affordable comprehensive 
health coverage, including dental coverage, to more than 8 million 
children. Thanks to CHIP, we now have the highest number of children in 
history with medical and dental coverage. In addition, in 2010, 
Congress included pediatric dental services in the set of essential 
health benefits established under the Affordable Care Act.
  I am very proud my State of Maryland has been recognized as a 
national leader in pediatric dental health coverage. In a 2011 Pew 
Center report, ``The State of Children's Dental Health,'' Maryland 
earned an A and was the only State to meet seven of the eight policy 
benchmarks for addressing children's dental health needs.
  In addition, in the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, every qualified 
health plan now includes pediatric dental coverage, so families do not 
have to pay a separate premium for dental coverage for their children 
and do not have a separate deductible or out-of-

[[Page S1030]]

pocket limit for pediatric dental services.
  However, Madam President, more work remains to be done. For example, 
according to a recent report by the Department of Health and Human 
Services Office of Inspector General, three out of four children 
covered by Medicaid did not receive all required dental services over a 
recent 2-year period, with one in every four failing to see a dentist 
at all. This is simply unacceptable. We must act to ensure that all 
American children have access to comprehensive oral health care.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort. Tragically, our 
health care system was not there for Deamonte. Today, on the ninth 
anniversary of his death, let us honor his memory and pledge to do 
better for the children in our country by working together to build on 
the significant strides we have made over the past 9 years, and to 
ensure that all children have access to affordable and comprehensive 
pediatric dental services.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority whip.

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