Roberts convenes state’s primary oral health coalition to renew efforts at improving access to oral health in Rhode Island
PROVIDENCE— Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts, chair of the Rhode Island Oral Health Commission, will reconvene the Commission at a kick-off meeting and Oral Health State Summit, Monday, January 11th, at 8:00 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick.
Formed as the Senate Commission on Oral Health in 1999 by then Senator Elizabeth Roberts, the Oral Health Commission has developed recommendations and guided implementation of statewide initiatives to improve oral health for Rhode Islanders, focusing on access to oral health, disease prevention and oral health workforce development. Accomplishments of the Commission and its participants include expansion of school-based dental care programs, a mobile dental service program serving nursing home residents, and creation of the nationally recognized RIte Smiles program, which provides dental care to children of Medicaid recipients. The Commission also sponsored mini-residency programs for oral health professionals with national experts.
The Oral Health State Summit will bring together Commission members, participants and stakeholders to assess the progress and status of current initiatives, and set the agenda for future initiatives to improve quality and access to oral health for Rhode Islanders.