The Maryland oral health summit: Pathways to common ground and action

摘要

News of the death in 2007 of a 12-year-old Maryland boy, Deamonte Driver, from an untreated dental infection that had spread to his brain shocked the nation and spurred the state of Maryland to immediate action. The state's response and continued vigilance have been watched closely by other states for lessons learned and paths to take in search of optimal health outcomes. Now, 4 years later, the momentum created by Maryland's activities has led to the Maryland Oral Health Summit, a meeting held in Columbia, Maryland, October 20-21. For 2 days, some 150 attendees came together to review changes and challenges to oral health in Maryland and nationwide, hear about programs in place or planned, and take part in a priority-setting exercise in relation to the first 5-year Maryland Oral Health Plan (2011-2015) launched in May 2011 (1).