NH Advocate for Access to Dental Care Dies

Curtis Cole, a 42-year-old man from Rochester, New Hampshire—who became an advocate for improved access to oral healthcare through reporting by Foster’s Daily Democrat—died due to infection after undergoing a full-mouth extraction. Cole had suffered with poor oral health and significant tooth pain throughout his life due to the prohibitive cost of professional dental care. Through coverage via Medicaid, he was able to undergo oral surgery and an anonymous donor had offered to pay for the cost of dentures. However, Cole developed an infection and died on May 30 due to sepsis and cardiac arrest. State legislators in New Hampshire are currently considering the addition of a dental benefit to adult Medicaid coverage, which now only covers emergency dental care, such as extractions. Click here to read more.