Rhode Island SR 2252: SENATE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY OF 2024, AS "NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Bill Text

2024 -- S 2252 
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LC004698 
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S T A T E      O F     R H O D E      I S L A N D 
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024 
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S  E  N   A   T  E      R  E  S O   L  U   T  I  O   N 
RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY OF 2024, AS "NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH 
MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND 
Introduced By: Senator Alana DiMario 
Date Introduced: February 05, 2024 
Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar 
 
 
WHEREAS, Children’s Dental Health Month is a month-long  national  health observance 1 
that provides an opportunity to highlight a child’s dental health as being a critical component of 2 
overall  well-being  and  essential  to a child’s quality of life. A healthy mouth is meant to last a 3 
lifetime and contributes to an individual’s  self-esteem; and 4 
 WHEREAS,  Good  dental  care  begins  as  early  as  age  one  with  good  habits  that  are 5 
reinforced  through  examples  set  by  parents,  caregivers,  and  older  siblings  in  collaboration  with 6 
dental  healthcare providers; and 7 
WHEREAS,  Childhood  cavities  remain  the  most prevalent,  chronic,  and  curable  disease 8 
of   childhood   but   some   100   million   Americans   fail   to  visit  their  dental  office  for  routine 9 
preventive  care; and 10 
WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s poor and minority children are the most vulnerable and are 11 
disproportionately  and negatively  affected  by  dental  decay  which  remains  the  most  prevalent 12 
infectious  disease  of  childhood.  They  are  often  left  waiting  months  for  necessary  treatment  or 13 
surgical  procedures; and  14 
WHEREAS,  Young  children,  between  the  ages  of  three  and  five,  and those  with  special 15 
needs  are  also  at  additional  risk  as  they  often  cannot  tolerate  or  understand  the  necessary dental 16 
treatments which can lead to chronic dental pain and produces a negative impact on the child’s 17 
mental  and overall  physical  health;  and   18 
WHEREAS, This year, the slogan is “Fluoride in the water prevents cavities! Get it from 19 

 
 
 
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the tap!” Fluoride in water is the most efficient way to prevent common childhood diseases such 1 
as  tooth  decay.  Untreated  cavities  can  cause  pain,  infection,  problems  with  eating,  and  speaking 2 
difficulties;  and 3 
WHEREAS,  In  addition,  sealants,  a protective thin coating placed on the chewing surface 4 
of a child’s adult molar, as soon as the tooth appears in the mouth, have been shown to be a cost-5 
effective  method  of  preventing  cavities  beginning  in  early  childhood  and  can  be  applied  in  the 6 
dental  office, school-based sealant programs,  mobile  dental clinics,  and community  settings;  and  7 
WHEREAS,  Communities  should  all  be  working  collectively  to  support  dental  health 8 
professionals,  school-based  dental  health  programs,  and  community  organizations  in  advocating 9 
for  increased  overall  access  to  preventive  programs  that  support  sealant  programs  which  in  the 10 
long-term  reduces the future need for extensive and costly dental treatments; and 11 
WHEREAS,  Dental  professionals,  school  administrators,  state  officials,  and  parents 12 
should  advocate  for  dental  health  educational  and  treatment  programs  for  children  and  families; 13 
now,  therefore be it 14 
RESOLVED,  That  this  Senate  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  hereby urges all citizens and 15 
community organizations to observe February as National Children’s Dental Health Month; and 16 
be it further 17 
RESOLVED,  That  this  Senate  hereby  proclaims  February  of  2024,  to  be  "Children’s 18 
Dental Health Month"  in  the State of Rhode Island; and be it further 19 
RESOLVED,  That  the  Secretary  of  State  be  and  hereby  is  authorized  and  directed  to 20 
transmit  duly  certified  copies  of  this  resolution  to  Ms.  Marie  Jones-Bridges,  PHDH,  BS,  United 21 
Healthcare, Rhode Island Community  Based Coordinator,  Specialty  Benefits, RIte Smiles Dental. 22 
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LC004698 
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