New Bill Gives Children Even More Reasons to Smile

I trust that "Give Kids a Smile" was a huge success; as always. If you had the opportunity to participate in last Friday's event as a dental professional, send me your stories and I will gladly share them with my readers. Parents and caregivers of children that took part in the event are also encouraged to share their experiences. Recognize the people that help to make a difference in children’s lives by sharing your stories.

With the end of "Give Kids a Smile" comes fantastic news from Washington. The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate both passed the "State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)", with President Obama's signature turning it into law on February 4, 2008. What does this mean for Americans? SCHIP will provide millions of children from families that simply are unable to afford private dental insurance with oral disease prevention services, oral health promotion, and restorative and emergency care.

Beth Truett, President and CEO of Oral Health America reveals in a press release that "This is a bill that was vetoed twice by the previous administration, and we recognize the importance of its passage now, as a significant step towards the inclusion of dental care in healthcare reform," adding "The President and Congress are in agreement that access to dental care is a problem in the United States. The political will exists to find solutions to our healthcare crisis. We urgently need stakeholders, including the public, to be engaged in the process of developing a far-reaching health reform strategy -- one that will include dental care."