I'd like to thank Dan Rodricks for his recent column highlighting the issue of our nation's dental crisis ("Making Wall Street pay and the nation smile," June 16).
As a dentist who treats mainly Medicaid children and adults, I'm all too familiar with the troubling statistics outlined in Mr. Rodricks' column.
Low-income families face tremendous obstacles in accessing the most basic and routine dental care because the majority of dentists refuse to treat them.
Both as a dentist and a mother, it breaks my heart when children arrive at my practice suffering from the pain (and low self esteem) resulting from a lifetime of dental neglect that could easily be prevented.
The investment in dental care for underserved communities that Rep. Elijah Cummings' bill calls for is already underway, thanks to private dental practices like Kool Smiles, which exist to care for these populations.
We're slowly closing the dental divide in Maryland and getting care to those who need it most. I applaud Rep. Cummings for his efforts to make happy, healthy smiles a reality here in Maryland and nationwide.
Priya Grewal, Baltimore
