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2005 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 319
Designating February 4, in 2005 and in each succeeding year, as Give Kids A Smile Day in Virginia.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, February 2, 2005
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 24, 2005
 

WHEREAS, children's oral health is an important and overlooked component of overall health and well-being; and

WHEREAS, dental care is a part of good health care, and tooth decay affects more than half of all children by second grade, and is disproportionately distributed with 80 percent of cavities occurring in only 25 percent of children, mainly among low-income and minority children; and

WHEREAS, the United States Surgeon General reported that oral disease is a "silent epidemic" in the United States, 23 million children are without dental insurance coverage, and uninsured children are 2.5 times less likely than insured children to receive dental care; and

WHEREAS, oral health problems begin early, and if untreated, threaten a child's health and academic achievement through chronic school absenteeism, can lead to problems eating and speaking, and cause poor self-esteem; and

WHEREAS, oral disease in children is preventable, and sealants and fluorides are as important in protecting against disease as immunizations; and

WHEREAS, teeth were intended to last a lifetime and promoting good oral health habits among children is critical to maintaining a lifetime of healthy smiles; and

WHEREAS, children's oral health affects the Commonwealth, and "Give Kids A Smile," a part of National Children's Dental Access Day, is designed to educate and promote public awareness of oral health care; and

WHEREAS, the health and welfare of children is a community concern, and dentists in Virginia are encouraged to join dental professionals across the nation on February 4, 2005, "National Give Kids A Smile Day," in providing free oral health care to children, particularly low-income children, and in conducting educational activities to heighten public awareness concerning oral health care; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly designate February 4, in 2005 and in each succeeding year, as Give Kids A Smile Day in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, the dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, the Executive Director of the Virginia Dental Association, the President of the Old Dominion Dental Society, the President of the Virginia Dental Hygienists Association, the President of the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the President and Executive Director of the Board of Dentistry, requesting that they further disseminate copies of this resolution to their respective constituents, so they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate post the designation of this day on the General Assembly's website.