III 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 483 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 18, 2006 Mr. Cochran submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of oral health, and for other purposes.

Whereas the Surgeon General has determined that oral health is integral to general health; Whereas the Surgeon General has identified numerous oral-systemic disease connections, including possible associations between chronic oral infections and diabetes, heart and lung diseases, stroke, low-birth-weight, and premature births; Whereas the burden of dental and oral health diseases restricts activities of an individual at school, at work, and at home, and often significantly diminishes the quality of life of an individual; Whereas oral health diseases, including dental caries and periodontal disease, are largely preventable; Whereas the effective treatment and prevention of those diseases are substantially aided by access to highly trained dental primary care professionals; Whereas the Academy of General Dentistry was officially incorporated in 1952, with the mission to serve as the premier resource for general dentists who are committed to improving patient care through lifelong learning and continuing education; Whereas the Academy of General Dentistry has grown to represent over 33,000 general dentists who provide primary care, oral health care services; Whereas the Academy of General Dentistry encourages excellence in continuing education and professionalism through its earned professional designation programs known as Mastership, Fellowship and Lifelong Learning, and Service Recognition; and Whereas the Academy of General Dentistry has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health and Human Services to help improve the oral health status of the citizens of the United States and achieve the objectives of the Healthy People 2010 initiative of the Department: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1)access to oral health care services and the prevention of oral health care disease is integral to achieving and maintaining good health; and (2)the Academy of General Dentistry and the members of that organization are recognized for— (A)promoting— (i)excellence in continuing dental education; and (ii)high standards of training and professionalism in the field of primary dental care; and (B)helping to address the treatment and prevention of oral health disease.