Kool Smiles has recently teamed with Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, the Deamonte Driver Dental Project and other dental providers in Governor O'Malley's Healthy Smiles Tour, Maryland's program that aims to educate the state's children and their parents about maintaining oral health and finding a quality dental care service provider. Kool Smiles is dedicated to providing quality oral health care to children regardless of their parent's income, economic status or background and was established with the intention of delivering quality care to under served populations. The efforts of Governor O'Malley show a step in the right direction as public service officials begin to take stock of the oral health of today's youth. The Surgeon General has declared an oral health crisis among American children with tooth decay being the most common disease among our young population. With programs like Governor O'Malley's, awareness of this growing problem is increased, both informing parents and giving children unconditional access to dental care and the oral health education that will help ensure a healthy mouth for a lifetime.
Governor O'Malley was driven to spearhead this initiative after the death of Deamonte Driver, a young man receiving Medicaid who suffered from a simple toothache. After his mother was unable to locate a dentist to see Deamonte, he died from serious complications associated with the toothache. Shocked by such a loss, Governor O'Malley has resolved to do everything in his power to prevent these easily avoidable tragedies. Currently, over 50 percent of 5- to 9-year-old children have or have had at least one cavity. That figure increases to 78 percent among 17 year olds. The main goal of the program is to make services available to Medicaid-eligible children throughout Maryland so that they are not refused routine, life-saving care.
Kool Smiles has opened five offices in Maryland to promote the initiative of Governor O'Malley. The Healthy Smiles Tour was commenced at Seat Pleasant Elementary School in Prince George's County at an event in which Kool Smiles of District Heights provided free dental screenings to all Seat Pleasant students.
Governor O'Malley was driven to spearhead this initiative after the death of Deamonte Driver, a young man receiving Medicaid who suffered from a simple toothache. After his mother was unable to locate a dentist to see Deamonte, he died from serious complications associated with the toothache. Shocked by such a loss, Governor O'Malley has resolved to do everything in his power to prevent these easily avoidable tragedies. Currently, over 50 percent of 5- to 9-year-old children have or have had at least one cavity. That figure increases to 78 percent among 17 year olds. The main goal of the program is to make services available to Medicaid-eligible children throughout Maryland so that they are not refused routine, life-saving care.
Kool Smiles has opened five offices in Maryland to promote the initiative of Governor O'Malley. The Healthy Smiles Tour was commenced at Seat Pleasant Elementary School in Prince George's County at an event in which Kool Smiles of District Heights provided free dental screenings to all Seat Pleasant students.