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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 85
BY SENATOR MORRISH
SENATE. Recognizes Tuesday, May 7, 2013, as Dental Hygiene Day and commends the
Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association.
A RESOLUTION1
To recognize Tuesday May 7, 2013, as Dental Hygiene Day, to commend the Louisiana2
Dental Hygienists' Association, and to celebrate one hundred years of the dental3
hygienists' profession.4
WHEREAS, May 7, 2013, has been designated as Dental Hygiene Day in the state5
of Louisiana; and6
WHEREAS, the year 2013, marks the one hundredth anniversary of dental hygiene7
as a profession with the opening of the first dental hygiene school by Dr. Alfred C. Fones8
in Bridgeport, Connecticut; and9
WHEREAS, a dental hygienist is a preventive oral health professional licensed in10
dental hygiene who provides educational, clinical, and therapeutic services supporting total11
oral health care through the promotion of optimal oral health; and12
WHEREAS, the education of a dental hygienist emphasizes all of the basic sciences13
and eligibility for licensure as a dental hygienist is based upon successful completion of both14
a written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a clinical state board15
examination; and16
WHEREAS, as a profession, dental hygienists are committed to maintaining the17
highest levels of quality and to keeping abreast of the most advanced technology in their18 SR NO. 85
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field; and1
WHEREAS, dental hygienists advocate continuing education courses in oral health2
to maintain their licenses and to ensure that they provide state-of-the-art oral hygiene to their3
patients; and4
WHEREAS, a dental hygienist is a vital member of a complete dental team and is5
responsible for providing treatment that helps to prevent oral disease and for educating the6
patient to maintain optimal oral health in order to prevent such oral diseases; and7
WHEREAS, over the course of the one hundred years of the existence of dental8
hygiene as a profession, registered dental hygienists have provided quality preventive oral9
health care to millions of American adults and children; and10
WHEREAS, dental hygienists have also established a record of excellence in11
providing quality care for those patients with special needs; and12
WHEREAS, approximately one thousand six hundred licensed dental hygienists are13
currently serving the oral health needs of the people of the state of Louisiana; and14
WHEREAS, the month of October is designated as Dental Hygiene Month, focusing15
on the preventive benefits of good oral hygiene; and16
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association, in collaboration with17
other dental professions, celebrated Children's Dental Health Month in February, which18
focused on the need for dental care for the children of the state of Louisiana; and19
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize dental hygienists and to encourage citizens20
to become familiar with and appreciative of the benefits of good dental hygiene. 21
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana22
does hereby recognize May 7, 2013, as Dental Hygiene Day in the state and does commend23
the Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association and dental hygienists throughout the state of24
Louisiana for their tireless efforts in promoting good dental health for the citizens of the25
state.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the27
Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association.28 SR NO. 85
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
Morrish SR No. 85
85
Recognizes May 7, 2013, as Dental Hygiene Day and commends the Louisiana Dental
Hygienists' Association and dental hygienists throughout the state for their tireless efforts
in promoting good dental health for the citizens of the state.