ENROLLED 2015 Regular Session HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 86 BY REPRESENTATIVE CHANEY A RESOLUTION To designate Tuesday, May 19, 2015, as Dental Hygiene Day at the state capitol, to commend the Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association, and to celebrate one hundred two years of the dental hygiene profession. WHEREAS, 2015 marks the celebration of one hundred two years of the dental hygiene 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 based upon successful completion of both a written national board dental hygiene examination and a clinical state board examination; and WHEREAS, dental hygienists are committed to maintaining the highest levels of quality and to keeping abreast of the most advanced technology in their field as they advocate and attend continuing education courses in oral health care 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; and WHEREAS, registered dental hygienists provide 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 Page 1 of 2 HR NO. 86 ENROLLED WHEREAS, there are approximately one thousand six hundred licensed dental hygienists serving the oral health care 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, along with other dental professions, celebrate Children's Dental Health Month in February, which focuses on the needs of 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 House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby designate Tuesday, May 19, 2015, as Dental Hygiene Day at the state capitol; does hereby commend the Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association and dental hygienists in Louisiana for their tireless efforts in promoting good dental health for the citizens of the state; and does hereby celebrate one hundred two years of the dental hygiene profession. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Page 2 of 2