My name is Dominique Francois, and I reside in Davenport, Florida. I am a Registered Dental Hygienist, currently serving as the Medical-Dental Integrated Dental Hygienist in the state of Florida.
I am writing you to ask that you help pass a bill, or create a law that requires the Florida Department of Health to have a dental clearance section – performed by a dental health professional - as part of the State of Florida School Health Entry Exam. The dental clearance will help to prevent or fight early childhood caries.
As the Medical-Integrated Dental Hygienist at my health center, I currently perform oral screenings and assess pediatric patients who come in for their annual school physical when visiting the Pediatrician, and regularly come across dental caries, which is the most common chronic disease among youth aged 6–19 years. Untreated caries can cause pain and infections. Monitoring the prevalence of untreated and total caries (untreated and treated) is key to preventing and controlling oral diseases.
This bill will help fight early childhood caries; a disease which is a major health problem that affects children worldwide.  Oral health should not be ignored because oral health plays an important role in children to maintain the oral functions and is required for eating, speech development, and a positive self-image.  Children with early childhood caries are at risk of infections that can spread to other parts of the body and can potentially cause death.
Creating this bill will help to create more urgency to fight childhood caries, and it can also contribute to create more jobs for dental hygienists across the state.  The role of the Medical-Integrated Dental Hygienist functions as another provider within a medical setting – outside of the typical dental practice – where oral health screening, education, and application of fluoride is performed. 
I appreciate your help and urgently ask that you please sign this petition to pass a Bill that would instill a positive difference for our children’s oral health.
Thank you for your time and considering my request.

Sincerely,

Dominique Francois
Registered Dental Hygienist