Georgia SR 210: Dentist's Day; recognize February 20, 2019

Bill Text

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S. R. 210
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Senate Resolution 210
By: Senator Mullis of the 53rd
A RESOLUTION
Commending the dentists of Georgia and recognizing their day at the state capitol on1
February 20, 2019; and for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, the dentists of this state are respected civic leaders and business owners within3
their communities who believe that removing barriers to dental care and educating the public4
on the benefits of proper oral health are critical for maintaining the overall health of5
Georgia's citizens; and6
WHEREAS, the prevention of dental disease is also a way to prevent complications for7
pregnant women and diabetic patients; and8
WHEREAS, good oral health can also positively impact a person's confidence and enhance9
a person's prospects for gainful employment; and10
WHEREAS, every February is designated as Children's Dental Health Month, during which11
members of the Georgia Dental Association (the "GDA") provide free oral health instruction12
and educational activities to pre-K and school-aged children throughout the state of Georgia;13
WHEREAS, as part of Children's Dental Health Month, one day is designated as Give Kids14
a Smile Day, which in 2018 provided more than $100,000.00 in free, donated dental services15
and oral health education to underserved children throughout Georgia; and16
WHEREAS, each year, GDA members provide free dental health services at the Georgia17
Special Olympics State Summer Games and State Master's Bowling Tournament; and18
WHEREAS, on August 10 and 11, 2018, the GDA's Foundation for Oral Health hosted a19
Mission of Mercy at the James Brown Arena in Augusta, Georgia, where over 1,80020
low-income and underserved adults from across the state received free dental treatment from21

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thousands of volunteer dentists and dental health professionals performing nearly 9,20022
procedures with a donated value of care of almost $1.5 million; and23
WHEREAS, the GDA established a statewide Donated Dental Services Program in July 201624
to provide free, comprehensive dental treatment and labs for Georgia adults with disabilities25
or who are elderly or medically fragile, which provided over $1.5 million in total donated26
dental treatment with an average value of $5,400.00 in donated care per patient to date; and27
WHEREAS, in 2018, the GDA created its Prescribe with Care initiative to educate its28
members on the opioid abuse epidemic in the State of Georgia, which included creating and29
offering continuing education courses for dentists on safe and effective prescribing for dental30
pain using non-opioid alternatives, administrative rulemaking with the Georgia Board of31
Dentistry requiring mandatory opioid prescriber continuing education, participation in32
statewide task forces, and formally endorsing the American Dental Association's Statement33
on the Use of Opioids in the Treatment of Dental Pain; and34
WHEREAS, in 2018, the GDA, together with the Georgia Department of Public Health, and35
Dental College of Georgia-Augusta University, created a Dental Adjunct Professor Program,36
through which dental students may serve a clinical rotation treating patients in Georgia37
public health clinics located in rural and underserved parts of Georgia under the supervision38
of a GDA member dentist, who shall serve as adjunct faculty for the dental school; and39
WHEREAS, Georgia licensed dentists and members of the GDA consistently volunteer in40
the free and charitable dental clinics located throughout the state and also provide free41
treatment in their offices to underserved and low-income patients; and42
WHEREAS, this state recognizes the members of the GDA for their long-standing43
commitment and dedication to promoting the oral health of all of Georgia's citizens and44
protecting the safety of their patients.45
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body46
join in recognizing Wednesday, February 20, 2019 as Dentist's Day at the state capitol; that47
Friday, February 22, 2019 is Give-Kids-a Smile Day in Georgia; that the entire month of48
February is Children's Dental Health Month in Georgia; and recognize the valuable role49
played by the GDA and the thousands of licensed dentists in this state who help remove50
barriers to dental care by volunteering their services.51

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed52
to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and press.53