ADA Issues Statement on Dental Provisions in House SCHIP Reauthorization Bill

WASHINGTON, August 3, 2007—With the enactment of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) ten years ago, the federal government made a promise to provide health care to millions of children in families just above the federal poverty line. As we all know, when it came to assuring access to good oral health care, that promise wasn't kept, and too many children have suffered needlessly from dental disease as a result. This year, the Congress and the President have an opportunity to right that wrong.

The American Dental Association (ADA) is proud to stand with members of the Maryland congressional delegation who have made our cause—ensuring access to dental care for children in need—their cause. This effort comes too late for Deamonte Driver, the Maryland boy who died earlier this year from complications apparently stemming from untreated dental disease, but it is our obligation to prevent similar tragedies. The House-passed SCHIP reauthorization bill, by including a dental benefit guarantee in SCHIP, is a good first step in that direction.

Emphasis on Prevention

While some people want to focus on the cost of this bill, we want to emphasize that devoting resources to preventive dental care for children is one of the best investments that the government can make. Without access to regular preventive dental services, dental care for many children is postponed until problems like toothache and abscesses become so acute that care is sought in hospital emergency departments. One recent study estimated that, on average, the cost to manage symptoms associated with dental problems in an emergency room was approximately 10 times as expensive as normal preventive treatment. Clearly, the guarantee of dental coverage in the House-passed SCHIP legislation makes sound fiscal sense.

The ADA pledges to continue working with the House, Senate and Administration to ensure that SCHIP recognizes the importance of dental health as a part of overall health.

About the American Dental Association
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 155,000 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. JADA, a monthly journal, is the ADA's flagship publication and 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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