In February, 2007, a young boy in Prince George’s County Maryland died from a brain infection caused by bacteria from tooth decay. His name was Deamonte Driver. His Medicaid coverage had lapsed, and even with the help of social workers, his mother was unable to find a dentist who would treat him. Devastated by the news of Deamonte’s death, a group of PG County dentists mobilized and sprang into action. With the help of many community partners they launched an emergency plan to examine and provide treatment for other children at Deamonte’s school, the Foundation School of PG County. The dentists were members of the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society and they quickly realized that they had not failed the child. The sate’s health system had failed him.

In the months that followed, Maryland legislators and policy makers vowed to “fix the system”. There are nearly 500,000 Medicaid children in Maryland; but fewer than one in three were seen by a dentist last year. Prince George’s County has the 2nd largest school system in the state, and the 18th largest in the nation, with more that 134,000 students. There are 139 elementary schools, 32 middle schools, 31 high schools, and 16 special schools and centers.

Guided by the work of Maryland’s Dental Action Task Force, oral health for children is now a top priority for the state. The Governor’s initiative includes a mobile dentistry component. The goal of the Deamonte Driver Dental Project is to provide a grassroots solution to a problem that is preventable.