Bill Text: NJ SCR115 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges State to commend and express support for Donated Dental Services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-19 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [SCR115 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-SCR115-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Urges State to commend and express support for Donated Dental Services.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution urging the State of New Jersey to commend the work of and express support for the Donated Dental Services program.
Whereas, Donated Dental Services (DDS) is a program founded in 1985 and operated by Dental Lifeline Network, a national dental charity, that provides free, comprehensive dental treatment to people who are disabled, elderly and medically fragile; and
Whereas, Dental Lifeline Network is a nonprofit humanitarian program founded in 1974 and is a charitable affiliate of the American Dental Association; and
Whereas, Over 15,000 dentists volunteer their time for DDS, and over 3,000 dental laboratories donate appliances to DDS; and
Whereas, Since its inception in 1985, DDS has provided over $250 million in donated dental therapies and has changed the lives of over 120,000 recipients of donated treatment; and
Whereas, The average value of treatment provided by DDS is more than $3,000, and every dollar raised or contributed to DDS results in more than ten dollars of dental services; and
Whereas, Dental disease may prevent certain individuals with cancer or other chronic conditions from receiving lifesaving treatment, and it disqualifies certain individuals in need of organ transplants from being placed on transplant waiting lists; and
Whereas, Untreated dental problems may contribute to serious health issues, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems and stroke; and
Whereas, Approximately 30,000 American are diagnosed each year with oral and pharyngeal cancers, and approximately 8,000 American die from these cancers each year; and
Whereas, Twenty-three percent of people aged 65 to 74 have severe periodontal disease, and the percentage of impoverished individuals in the same age group suffering from periodontal disease is even greater; and
Whereas, Dental disease causes the loss of more than 164 million hours of work productivity annually among the American workforce; and
Whereas, Programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and services offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs provide little, if any, dental benefits to participants; and
Whereas, When complications arise from dental diseases afflicting under-insured individuals, taxpayers bear the burden of the resulting medical expenses for those individuals, and in some circumstances, dental treatment could have prevented or minimized these complications; and
Whereas, Pro bono dental care is the only realistic option for many individuals needing extensive, medically-essential treatment, and allocating funds to DDS yields a greater return by reducing other healthcare costs; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper, and in the public interest, to urge the State to commend the work of and express support for Donated Dental Services; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):
1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey urges the State to commend the work of and express support for Donated Dental Services.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor of New Jersey, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, and to the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the State of New Jersey to commend and express support of Donated Dental Services, a program operated through Dental Lifeline Network, which provides free, comprehensive dental care to the disabled, elderly and medically fragile. Dental Lifeline Network is a nonprofit organization and a charitable affiliate of the American Dental Association.
Donated Dental Services was founded in 1985, and since its inception, it has provided over 120,000 individuals with over $250 million in donated dental services. The average value of treatment provided is over $3,000, and for every dollar contributed to Donated Dental Services, ten dollars of services are provided.
Left untreated, dental disease can contribute to conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems and stroke. Moreover, simply having dental disease may prevent some individuals who have cancer or other chronic conditions from receiving lifesaving treatment. Further, individuals with dental disease are often ineligible for organ transplants. Reducing the occurrence of dental disease may provide chronically ill individuals access to more varied and superior treatment options.
Additionally, 30,000 American are diagnosed every year with oral and pharyngeal cancers, and over 8,000 Americans die from these cancers each year. Further, over 164 million hours of work are lost each year by employed individuals due to dental disease and dental emergency issues.
Although participants of Medicaid, Medicare and programs offered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs receive medical benefits, the dental care benefits available through all three of these programs are minimal. There is a great need for dental care to be provided to the disabled, elderly and medically fragile.
The Legislature of the State of New Jersey expresses its sincere gratitude to Donated Dental Services and commends it for its exceptional work.
