Congratulating the American Dental Hygienists Association on the 100th anniversary of the profession of dental hygiene and commending its work to improve the oral health of the people of the United States.

Congratulating the American Dental Hygienists Association on the 100th anniversary of the profession of dental hygiene and commending its work to improve the oral health of the people of the United States. Whereas the first dental hygiene education program was established in 1913 and early graduates worked in schools providing direct access to oral health care to school children; Whereas the American Dental Hygienists Association is the largest national organization representing the more than 150,000 licensed dental hygienists in the United States; Whereas, in order to become licensed as a dental hygienist, an individual must graduate from one of the 335 accredited dental hygiene education programs in the United States and successfully complete a national written exam and a State or regional clinical exam; Whereas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the dental hygiene profession is one of the fastest growing health care professions, with employment of dental hygienists expected to grow 38 percent between 2010 and 2020; Whereas dental hygienists are prevention specialists who understand how the connection between oral health and total health can prevent disease, treat problems while they are still manageable, conserve critical health care dollars, and save lives; Whereas new research continues to demonstrate that oral health is a vital element of overall health; Whereas dental caries (more commonly known as tooth decay) are the single most common chronic disease of childhood, 5 times more common than asthma; Whereas nearly 48,000,000 people in the United States live in areas without enough dental practitioners; Whereas less than 40 percent of children enrolled in Medicaid receive at least one preventive dental service each year and this percentage varies widely among the States; Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 9,000 new dental practitioners are needed to address the dental workforce shortage in underserved areas; Whereas the American Dental Hygienists Association represents, empowers, develops, and supports dental hygienists; Whereas the American Dental Hygienists Association works to improve access to oral health care services, which are essential to the health of the people of the United States; Whereas the Center for Lifelong Learning of the American Dental Hygienists Association seeks to advance the study of dental hygiene through educational opportunities; and Whereas the American Dental Hygienists Association advocates in support of Federal oral health programs, expanding access to care for underserved populations, optimizing the dental workforce, and maximizing coverage for oral health services: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) congratulates the American Dental Hygienists Association on the 100th anniversary of the profession of dental hygiene; (2) commends the American Dental Hygienists Association for its work to improve the oral health of the people of the United States, a fundamental part of overall health and well-being; (3) recognizes dental hygienists across the United States who volunteer their time and resources to further their profession and to increase access to oral health care services; and (4) commends the dental hygiene profession on its centennial celebration.

Summary: Congratulates the American Dental Hygienists' Association on the 100th anniversary of the profession of dental hygiene. Recognizes dental hygienists across the United States who volunteer their time and resources to further their profession and to increase access to oral health care services.