The removal of fluoride from public water supplies is gaining momentum in states across the U.S., but there are some possible negative consequences, according to dental academics.
Utah and Florida have become the first two states to ban water fluoridation, with others considering the move.
Rick Valachovic, DMD, is the executive director of the NYU Dentistry Center for Oral Health Policy and Management. He recently joined the Becker’s Dental + DSO Review to talk about how states ending community water fluoridation could impact oral health and the dental industry.
Question: What are some things that are making you nervous about dentistry?
Dr. Rick Valachovic: My biggest concern is the changes in the way that the public is looking at fluoride and the skepticism. For 75 years, we have had community water fluoridation without very much push back, and 75% of Americans enjoy the benefits of community water fluoridation. The levels that are implemented in community water supplies at 0.7 ppm have not been shown at all to have any impact on cognitive abilities or neurotoxicity. Those kinds of things happen at much higher levels, at 4 ppm and above. If we eliminate community water fluoridation, we’re going to go back to a time when, as I did early in my career, working as a pediatric dentist before there was water fluoridation, I was doing quadrant dentistry all day long. I think that pulling fluoride out of the water is going to dramatically impact the level of caries and then the sequelae of, either restoration or extraction.
