HR0600 LRB094 13557 HSS 48421 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, According to the Surgeon General's Report on "Oral
3 Health in America", most adult Americans suffer from
4 periodontal disease, sometimes called gum disease; it is one of
5 the most prevalent chronic diseases in America, yet it remains
6 what former Surgeon General David Satcher calls a "silent
7 epidemic"; and
 
8     WHEREAS, There remains an underutilization of safe and
9 effective means of preventing and treating periodontal disease
10 with new medical and dental innovations; as a result, millions
11 of Americans who have periodontal disease are unaware of it and
12 may be undertreated or not treated at all; and
 
13     WHEREAS, New studies suggest a link between periodontal
14 disease and other adverse health conditions, such as heart
15 attack, diabetes, stroke, and pre-term births; thus, there is a
16 need to educate and provide information to all Americans on
17 important oral health issues related to the prevention and
18 treatment of periodontal disease; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Beyond these conditions, untreated periodontal
20 disease exacts a strong psychological and economic toll;
21 studies have shown that people with compromised oral health
22 lack confidence, suffer from low self-esteem, and are less
23 likely to find work or be promoted; and
 
24     WHEREAS, The financial costs for ignoring periodontal
25 disease are severe; for individuals, businesses, and
26 government, the latter often bearing the burden of direct
27 medical costs for the consequences of periodontal disease; to
28 this are added the additional costs of work and school
29 absenteeism and lost productivity; and
 
30     WHEREAS, In consequence of the "silent epidemic" of

 

 

HR0600 - 2 - LRB094 13557 HSS 48421 r

1 periodontal disease and all its attending dental, medical,
2 social, and economic conditions, a National Periodontal
3 Disease Coalition (NPDC) has been formed; the Coalition, with
4 membership drawn from the spectrum of communities of direct and
5 related interests across the private, public, and non-profit
6 sectors, will work to establish a forum for increasing the
7 public's awareness and understanding of periodontal disease
8 and new treatment methods; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11 we recognize and applaud the efforts of the National
12 Periodontal Disease Coalition for its commitment in making the
13 public aware of the dangers of periodontal disease; and be it
14 further
 
15     RESOLVED, That we strongly encourage citizens of Illinois
16 to be aware of the dangers of periodontal disease and to seek
17 proper treatment; and be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 presented to the NPDC as an expression of our support in its
20 efforts.