Florida Senate - 2014                            (NP)    SR 1540
       
       
        
       By Senator Hays
       
       
       
       
       
       11-01984-14                                           20141540__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing the Florida Dental
    3         Association and the Florida Dental Health Foundation
    4         for their outstanding contribution to the dental
    5         health of the residents of the Tampa Bay area as the
    6         hosts of the first Mission of Mercy event in Florida.
    7  
    8         WHEREAS, the Florida Dental Association, a statewide
    9  professional membership organization representing nearly 6,500
   10  licensed dentists in this state, was established in 1884 to
   11  advance the public health through professional education and
   12  public advocacy, while promoting high practice standards and
   13  improving the professional practice environment, and
   14         WHEREAS, studies show that good oral health may help
   15  prevent heart disease, arterial blockage, stroke, diabetes,
   16  preterm delivery, low birth weight in babies, and bacterial
   17  pneumonia, and
   18         WHEREAS, the Florida Dental Association is promoting the
   19  message “Dentistry: Gateway to Good Health” to emphasize that
   20  oral health is directly linked to a person’s overall health, and
   21         WHEREAS, on March 28 and 29, 2014, the Florida Dental
   22  Association, through the Florida Dental Health Foundation, will
   23  host Florida’s first Mission of Mercy event to provide free
   24  dental services for the underserved, at the Tampa Fairgrounds,
   25  and
   26         WHEREAS, participants may receive dental services at the
   27  Mission of Mercy regardless of income status, residency, or
   28  health status, and
   29         WHEREAS, hundreds of volunteers, including dentists, dental
   30  hygienists, dental assistants, medical professionals, and
   31  laypersons, will be actively engaged in providing care to those
   32  in need, and
   33         WHEREAS, numerous organizations have joined the Florida
   34  Dental Association and the Florida Dental Health Foundation to
   35  serve as sponsors of the event, including the Alliance of the
   36  Florida Dental Association, the West Coast District Dental
   37  Association, Brandon Regional Hospital, Dental Health and
   38  Wellness, Crest, Oral-B, the DentaQuest Foundation, Darby
   39  Dental, Delta Dental, Dentsply, the Florida Association of
   40  Orthodontists, the Florida Association of Periodontists, the
   41  Florida Prosthodontic Association, the Hillsborough County
   42  Dental Association, Liberty Mutual, The Doctors Company, Managed
   43  Care of North America, Regions Bank, the Upper Pinellas County
   44  Dental Association, Great Expressions Dental Centers, More
   45  Health, and the Florida Association of Endodontists, NOW,
   46  THEREFORE,
   47  
   48  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   49  
   50         That the Florida Dental Association and the Florida Dental
   51  Health Foundation are recognized for their outstanding
   52  contribution to the dental health of the residents of the Tampa
   53  Bay area as the hosts of the first Mission of Mercy event in
   54  Florida.
   55         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
   56  presented to the Florida Dental Association and the Florida
   57  Dental Health Foundation as a tangible token of the sentiments
   58  expressed in this resolution.