2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 73
BY SENATOR MORRISH
A RESOLUTION
To recognize May 4, 2017, as Dental Hygiene Day at the Louisiana Senate.
WHEREAS, 2017 marks the one hundred fourth anniversary 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
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 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 in order to prevent such oral diseases; and
WHEREAS, for over ninety years, registered dental hygienists have provided quality
preventive oral health care to millions of American adults and children; and
WHEREAS, dental hygienists have established a record of excellence in providing
quality care for those patients with special needs; and
WHEREAS, there are approximately one thousand six hundred licensed dental
hygienists serving the oral health care needs to the citizens 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
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WHEREAS, the Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association, along with other dental
professions, celebrated Children's Dental Health Month in February, which focused on the
needs of dental care for children in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize dental hygienists for the quality dental
health care they provide, 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 4, 2017, as Dental Hygiene Day and commends the Louisiana
Dental Hygienists' Association and dental hygienists around Louisiana for their tireless
efforts in promoting good dental health.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Louisiana Dental Hygienists' Association.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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