HR0600

LRB094 13557 HSS 48421 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, According to the Surgeon General's Report on "Oral 
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Health in America", most adult Americans suffer from 
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periodontal disease, sometimes called gum disease; it is one of 
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the most prevalent chronic diseases in America, yet it remains 
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what former Surgeon General David Satcher calls a "silent 
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epidemic"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, There remains an underutilization of safe and 
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effective means of preventing and treating periodontal disease 
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with new medical and dental innovations; as a result, millions 
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of Americans who have periodontal disease are unaware of it and 
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may be undertreated or not treated at all; and

 
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    WHEREAS, New studies suggest a link between periodontal 
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disease and other adverse health conditions, such as heart 
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attack, diabetes, stroke, and pre-term births; thus, there is a 
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need to educate and provide information to all Americans on 
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important oral health issues related to the prevention and 
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treatment of periodontal disease; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Beyond these conditions, untreated periodontal 
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disease exacts a strong psychological and economic toll; 
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studies have shown that people with compromised oral health 
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lack confidence, suffer from low self-esteem, and are less 
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likely to find work or be promoted; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The financial costs for ignoring periodontal 
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disease are severe; for individuals, businesses, and 
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government, the latter often bearing the burden of direct 
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medical costs for the consequences of periodontal disease; to 
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this are added the additional costs of work and school 
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absenteeism and lost productivity; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In consequence of the "silent epidemic" of 
 


 






HR0600
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LRB094 13557 HSS 48421 r




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periodontal disease and all its attending dental, medical, 
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social, and economic conditions, a National Periodontal 
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Disease Coalition (NPDC) has been formed; the Coalition, with 
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membership drawn from the spectrum of communities of direct and 
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related interests across the private, public, and non-profit 
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sectors, will work to establish a forum for increasing the 
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public's awareness and understanding of periodontal disease 
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and new treatment methods; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we recognize and applaud the efforts of the National 
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Periodontal Disease Coalition for its commitment in making the 
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public aware of the dangers of periodontal disease; and be it 
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further
 
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    RESOLVED, That we strongly encourage citizens of Illinois 
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to be aware of the dangers of periodontal disease and to seek 
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proper treatment; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the NPDC as an expression of our support in its 
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efforts.