| R 117 |
| 2025 -- H 5540 Enacted 02/25/2025 |
| 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 |
| 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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| LC000741 |
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