I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5549 
To expand the dental workforce and improve dental access, prevention, and 
data reporting, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 6, 2008 
Mr. CUMMINGS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To expand the dental workforce and improve dental access, 
prevention, and data reporting, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Deamonte Driver Den-
tal Care Access Improvement Act of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) The Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention reports that between the periods 1988 to 
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1994 and 1994 and 2004, tooth decay increased 15 
percent among toddlers and preschoolers 2 to 5 
years old. 
(2) During the period 1999 to 2004, 28 percent 
of young children experienced cavities. 
(3) Among 2 year olds in the United States, 1- 
in-10 already have cavities, and by age 5 that figure 
jumps to 2-in-5 children. 
(4) Tooth decay is the single most common 
childhood chronic disease, and it disproportionately 
affects poor and minority children. 
(5) Eighty percent of dental decay occurs in 
just 25 percent of children. 
(6) Parents are 3 times more likely to report 
that their children’s dental needs are unmet, when 
compared with general medical care needs. 
(7) While 9,000,000 of the children in this Na-
tion do not have medical insurance, more than twice 
that number—23,000,000—do not have dental in-
surance. 
(8) One out of 20 middle-aged adults in the 
United States are missing all their teeth. 
(9) More than 40 percent of low income adults 
have at least 1 untreated decayed tooth compared to 
16 percent of non-poor adults. 
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(10) 
Employed 
adults 
lose 
more 
than 
164,000,000 hours of work each year due to oral 
health problems or dental visits. 
(11) For every adult 19 years or older without 
medical insurance, there are 3 without dental insur-
ance. 
(12) About 25 percent of adults 60 years old 
and older no longer have any natural teeth. Having 
missing teeth can affect nutrition, since people with-
out teeth often prefer soft, easily chewed foods. 
SEC. 3. DENTAL WORKFORCE IMPROVEMENT. 
(a) DENTISTRY WORKFORCE PILOT PROGRAM.— 
Title VII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 747 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 747A. DENTISTRY WORKFORCE PILOT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make grants to 
schools of dentistry and hospitals with accredited training 
programs in pediatric dentistry to increase the number of 
individuals who pursue academic programs in pediatric 
dentistry or provide dental services to children. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary may not make 
a grant to a school of dentistry or a hospital under this 
section unless the school or hospital agrees to use the 
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grant to increase the number of individuals who provide 
dental care to children by— 
‘‘(1) establishing, maintaining, or improving 
both pre- and post-doctoral academic programs in 
pediatric dentistry; 
‘‘(2) recruiting and training dental students to 
pursue training in pediatric dentistry; 
‘‘(3) strengthening training in pediatric den-
tistry within advanced education in general dentistry 
and general practice dentistry residencies in den-
tistry programs; 
‘‘(4) recruiting and training practicing dentists 
through continuing education programs in pediatric 
dentistry; 
‘‘(5) training pediatricians to examine chil-
dren’s mouths to conduct risk assessments and 
apply fluoride varnish; or 
‘‘(6) training dental students, dentists, dental 
hygienists, and other dental professionals in dental 
health disparities and community-based dental 
health care. 
‘‘(c) REPORTS
TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of the enactment of this section, and 
biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct an eval-
uation of the activities funded through grants under this 
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