Alice M. Horowitz, a research associate professor at the SPH, and Dushanka Kleinman, the associate dean for research and academic affairs at the SPH, attended a press conference hosted by the Maryland Dental Action Coalition on Monday, February 7 honoring Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old boy who died four years ago when an untreated tooth infection spread to his brain.
The event highlighted Maryland’s initiatives to improve oral health care for its most vulnerable residents.
This goal is mirrored by Alice Horowitz’s research, entitled the Maryland Oral Health Literacy Model to Prevent Childhood Dental Caries (Tooth Decay). Horowitz has directed an extensive assessment of the communication skills and their understanding and practices related to tooth decay prevention in young children of physicians (pediatricians, family practitioners), nurse practitioners, dentists (pediatric dentists, general practitioners), and dental hygienists. Maryland adults who have young children in their homes were surveyed as well. The findings will be used to create interventions and messages that support better oral health for children and adults alike.
The press conference took place at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene headquarters in Washington, DC, and Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Maryland Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin and Congressman John Sarbanes attended as well. Maryland is the first state to hold a gathering of Senate and Congressional leaders to focus on oral health care in our state and nationally.
The SPH has taken an active role in pursuing and supporting improved oral health care in Maryland. The SPH is a member of the Maryland Dental Action Coalition and a partner in their upcoming state summit that will take place in October.
Kleinman, Horowitz and SPH staff member Wesley Queen are on the advisory board for the Deamonte Driver Dental Project. The goal of the project is to identify and treat children in Prince George’s and neighboring counties in Maryland who do not have dental insurance, are under insured or who have not received dental care.
A week prior to the press conference, the state Senate voted not to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and the legislators at the event emphasized the important role health care reform will play in Maryland’s communities.
Read more about the Deamonte Driver Project's recent accomplishments in this Washington Post article.
I'm glad they are finally focusing on oral health. This needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteIn the UK a lot of dentists are doing what our GP'S now do and are using health promotion videos in their waiting areas, these seem to be having a very posative affect, I wonder if they should be shown in schools too?
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