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WASHINGTON,
D.C.
–
U.S.
Senator
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
helped
introduce
the
Action
for
Dental
Health
Act
of
2018,
a
bill
that
would
reauthorize
initiatives
that
increase
access
to
oral
health
treatment
and
prevention
services,
particularly
for
underserved
communities.
Additional
co-sponsors
include
Senators
Cory
Booker
(D-NJ),
Bill
Cassidy,
M.D.
(R-LA),
and
Mazie
Hirono
(D-HI).
“Dental
care
is
an
important
part
of
our
overall
health
and
we
should
work
to
make
sure
families
have
access
to
basic
oral
care,”
Scott
said.
“I
am
confident
this
legislation
will
help
promote
better
education
of
dental
services
and
improve
availability
of
care
across
the
country,
even
in
our
most
underserved
communities.
I
am
proud
to
support
the
Action
for
Dental
Health
Act
alongside
Senators Booker, Cassidy,
and
Hirono
and
look
forward
to
the
Senate
considering
this
important
measure
in
the
near
future.”
“Everybody
deserves
good
oral
health.
The
Action
for
Dental
Health
Act
will
help
Americans
improve
essential
oral
health
care
for
low-income
and
other
underserved
individuals
by
breaking
down
barriers
to
care,”
Dr.
Joseph
P.
Crowley,
president
of
the
American
Dental
Association,
said.
“It
will
also
help
organizations
qualify
for
oral
health
grants
to
develop
and
expand
programs
that
establish
dental
homes
for
children,
adults,
the
elderly,
blind
and
disabled
at
no
extra
burden
to
taxpayers.”
“We
applaud
the
bipartisan
efforts
of
Senator
Cory
Booker (D-NJ),
Senator
Bill
Cassidy
(R-LA),
Senator
Mazie
Hirono
(D-HI)
and
Senator
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
for
co-sponsoring
this
important
bill
that
will
help
improve
oral
health
education
outreach
programs
and
dental
disease
prevention
in
our
communities
and
underserved
populations,”
Crowley
continued.
“The
Action
for
Dental
Health
Act
will
bring
greater
access
to
oral
health
care
to
all
American
families.”
Poor
oral
health
is
a
risk,
as
it
can
lead
to
various
conditions,
including
tooth
decay,
gum
disease,
and
oral
cancer.
It
can
even
be
linked
to
other
health
issues,
such
as
diabetes,
heart
disease,
and
adverse
pregnancy
outcomes.
Many
of
these
conditions
can
be
avoided
by
preventive
measures,
such
as
regular
cleanings.
Specifically,
this
legislation
would:
- Reauthorize
oral
health
promotion
and
disease
prevention
activities
at
the
Centers
for
Disease
Control
and
Prevention,
such
as
school-based
dental
sealant
programs
and
support
for
community
water
fluoridation
- Establish
an
Action
for
Dental
Health
Program
to
improve
oral
health
education
and
reduce
barriers
to
oral
health
care.
- Reauthorize
and
expand
a
grant
program
through
the
Health
Resources
and
Services
Administration
that
helps
states
increase
their
oral
health
workforce
and
provide
needed
dental
care,
particularly
in
underserved
communities.
The
Action
for
Dental
Health
Act
is
supported
by
the
following
organizations:
American
Dental
Association
Academy
of
General
Dentistry
American
Academy
of
Pediatric
Dentistry
American
Academy
of
Periodontology
American
Association
of
Dental
Research
American
Academy
of
Oral
and
Maxillofacial
Pathology
American
Association
of
Oral
and
Maxillofacial
Surgeons
American
Association
of
Women
Dentists
American
College
of
Prosthodontists
American
Dental
Education
Association
American
Society
of
Dentist
Anesthesiologists
Families
USA
National
Dental
Association
Oral
Health
America
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