[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E48]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          TRIBUTE TO VOLUNTEER DENTISTS AND PHYSICIANS OF UTAH

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                           HON. CHRIS CANNON

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2006

  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedicated 
dentists and physicians who volunteer in my home state of Utah to 
provide much needed care to low-income, uninsured residents in my 
district.
  An estimated one-third of Utah County residents lack dental 
insurance. Hundreds of thousands of school hours and even more work 
hours are lost every year due to oral pain when families cannot afford 
to visit a dentist. In Utah, needy patients are linked with dental 
providers who are willing to see patients on a charity basis.
  For example, a constituent of mine was a patient suffering from 
severe oral pain due to three abscesses. She had been working full-
time; however, she did not have dental insurance through her 
employment. Even with her full-time wages, she made less than $1,500 a 
month--which put her family of four more than 150 percent below the 
poverty level. Fortunately, through a system of volunteer dentists, 
this constituent was able to schedule an emergency appointment with one 
of the dentists in a local volunteer provider network. The dentist was 
able to see her in his office the next day.
  This is just one of many success stories among patients who are 
treated by volunteer dentists and physicians, none of which would be 
possible without the dedicated professionals who volunteer to give back 
to their community. I commend the dentists in Utah who willingly donate 
their time, their resources, and their skill as dentists to help the 
less-fortunate members of their own community. Their service and 
commitment in helping the underserved is a testament to the strength of 
the local community, and I applaud their efforts.

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