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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 85
BY SENATOR MORRISH
A RESOLUTION
To recognize Tuesday May 7, 2013, as Dental Hygiene Day, to commend the Louisiana
Dental Hygienists' Association, and to celebrate one hundred years of the dental
hygienists' profession.
WHEREAS, May 7, 2013, has been designated as Dental Hygiene Day in the state
of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the year 2013, marks the one hundredth anniversary of dental hygiene
as a profession with the opening of the first dental hygiene school by Dr. Alfred C. Fones
in Bridgeport, Connecticut; and
WHEREAS, a dental hygienist is a preventive oral health professional licensed in
dental hygiene who provides educational, clinical, and therapeutic services supporting total
oral health care through the promotion of optimal oral health; and
WHEREAS, the education of a dental hygienist emphasizes all of the basic sciences
and eligibility for licensure as a dental hygienist is based upon successful completion of both
a written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a clinical state board
examination; and
WHEREAS, as a profession, dental hygienists are committed to maintaining the
highest levels of quality and to keeping abreast of the most advanced technology in their
field; and
WHEREAS, dental hygienists advocate continuing education courses in oral health
to maintain their licenses and to ensure that they provide state-of-the-art oral hygiene to their
patients; and
WHEREAS, a dental hygienist is a vital member of a complete dental team and is
responsible for providing treatment that helps to prevent oral disease and for educating the
patient to maintain optimal oral health in order to prevent such oral diseases; and SR NO. 85 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, over the course of the one hundred years of the existence of dental
hygiene as a profession, registered dental hygienists have provided quality preventive oral
health care to millions of American adults and children; and
WHEREAS, dental hygienists have also established a record of excellence in
providing quality care for those patients with special needs; and
WHEREAS, approximately one thousand six hundred licensed dental hygienists are
currently serving the oral health needs of the people of the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the month of October is designated as Dental Hygiene Month, focusing
on the preventive benefits of good oral hygiene; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association, in collaboration with
other dental professions, celebrated Children's Dental Health Month in February, which
focused on the need for dental care for the children of the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize dental hygienists and to encourage citizens
to become familiar with and appreciative of the benefits of good dental hygiene.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby recognize May 7, 2013, as Dental Hygiene Day in the state and does commend
the Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association and dental hygienists throughout the state of
Louisiana for their tireless efforts in promoting good dental health for the citizens of the
state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE