After Deamonte Driver’s demise, elected officials battled to add dental advantages to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program , solely to see the law vetoed by George W. Bush. Barack Obama signed the Schip expansion in February 2009; newly confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price voted towards it. A core of public well being and oral health advocates rallied to the call but the goals have remained elusive. Those who’ve worked for change know the inherent challenges of transforming the dental care system. They know that finally, meaningfully addressing oral health inequality will mean basic reform of the healthcare system that takes into consideration the long and separate historical past of American dentistry.