2025 -- H 5540

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LC000741

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING FEBRUARY OF 2025 TO BE “CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH"

IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Kislak, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Kennedy,
Ajello, Fogarty, Ackerman, Tanzi, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Since 1949, the American Dental Association has championed February as

National Children’s Dental Health Month. Bringing focus to the importance of good oral health

care habits, making better nutritional food choices, and encouraging children to access dental

health care has been a constant theme over the decades; and

     WHEREAS, This year’s theme of “Brushing Fights Cavities” is critical to the

overwhelming well-being of a healthy mouth and a major contributor to achieving and

maintaining an individual’s overall well-being; and

     WHEREAS, Childhood cavities remains the most preventable chronic oral disease that

affects all children regardless of social economics, race, ethnicity, gender, or age, and continues

to affect more than 74% of the children in the United States who have not seen a dentist by age

one; and

     WHEREAS, Barriers, unfortunately, are still prevalent in today’s society, which limit

oral health equity even in basic preventive care, such as routine cleanings, fluoride treatments,

sealants, and restorative care. It should not be the “norm” to make a child wait 4-6 months who

needs critical dental care all the while with exacerbating pain, limiting their ability to sleep, eat,

attend school, and perform normal life functions; and

     WHEREAS, In 2015, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed the Public Health

Dental Hygienist bill. Subsequently, in 2022, 2023, and 2024, legislation was passed to increase

facility reimbursements for surgical ambulatory clinics and increase reimbursement to providers –

and while these are small improvements - we need to do more; and

     WHEREAS, It is imperative that Rhode Island continues to rapidly expand access to

dental care by replicating alternative models that have proven successful in other states. This

expansion can only happen through collaborative efforts between the State, community

stakeholders, dental professionals, and other interested parties; and

     WHEREAS, Oral health education should be standard in every educational environment.

Through education, an understanding of basic care will encourage and lead to daily quality oral

health habits for overall better health; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

proclaims the month of February of 2025 to be “Children’s Dental Health Month” in the State of

Rhode Island. We furthermore heartily support the American Dental Association’s 2025 theme of

“Brushing Fights Cavities”; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Aaron C. Guckian, MBA, MA, Executive

Director, Rhode Island Dental Association.

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