[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 62 (Thursday, May 18, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 483--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
           IMPORTANCE OF ORAL HEALTH, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

  Mr. COCHRAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 483

       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
       Resolved, 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.

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