Assembly Resolution No. 126

BY: M. of A. Steck

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
February 2017, as Oral Health Awareness Month in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of health
issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 2017, as Oral
Health Awareness Month in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Oral Health Awareness Month recognizes the importance of
oral health as a part of overall health and supporting efforts to
improve the oral health of all in New York State; and

WHEREAS, Oral health is a critical component of overall health
affecting speech, nutrition, growth and function, social development,
employability and productivity, and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Prevention Agenda 2013-18: New York
State's Health Improvement Plan, and the New York State Oral Health Plan
identifies dental caries, or tooth decay, as the most common chronic
disease among children; and

WHEREAS, By December 31, 2018, Goal No. 5 under Child Health in the
State's Health Improvement Plan proposes to reduce prevalence of dental
caries among New York State children by 10%; increase the proportion of
NYS children who have protective dental sealants by 10%; increase the
proportion of NYS children who receive regular dental care visits by
10%; increase the proportion of NYS population receiving fluoridated
water by 10%; and strengthen systems to improve the oral health of
people with special health needs; and

WHEREAS, By 2020, Goal No. 3 of the 2014 NYS Oral Health Plan
proposes to eliminate oral health disparities and improve access to high
quality, comprehensive, continuous oral health services for all New
Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, Untreated dental disease is linked to adverse health
outcomes associated with diabetes, stroke, heart disease, bacterial
pneumonia, preterm and low birth weight deliveries, and in some
instances, death; and

WHEREAS, In NYS, approximately 44% of children experience tooth
decay by the third grade, and approximately 3.4 million New York
children will experience tooth decay by high school graduation; and

WHEREAS, Nationally, 18% of all children's health expenditures are
devoted to dental care; and

WHEREAS, Access to dental care is associated with higher utilization
of preventive and restorative dental services; and

WHEREAS, New York State residents deserve access to high-quality
oral health care; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the
local, state and national levels to improve health and healthcare
outcomes for those affected by dental disease; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 2017, as Oral
Health Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.