USA - Despite objections, Authority opts out of using fluoride
Friday, December 26, 2008 8:02 AM EST
By Evan Brandt, ebrandt@pottsmerc.com
POTTSTOWN — Despite the urging of two dental experts, the Pottstown Borough Authority has taken the first steps toward no longer adding fluoride to the public water supply.
Elkins Park dentist Bernard P. Dishler, representing the Pennsylvania Dental Association, told the authority that "we were always proud that Pottstown was one of the few communities in our area that adds fluoride. Frankly, we're a little disappointed you're even thinking about removing it."
Calling sites on the Internet that question the safety of adding fluoride to tap water "junk science," Dishler said "fluoridation is perfectly safe and we have 50 years of research to back that up.
"Any recognized authority has said it's perfectly safe," he said.
Dishler said the practice reduces dental decay by "40 to 60 percent" and said having it in the tap water of communities with a high percentage of low-income families is especially beneficial.
Low-income families typically cannot afford dental care, so having a preventative like fluoride in the water, which can prevent cavities, saves them money, Dishler said.
"Every $1 invested in fluoride in the water saves $38 in dental treatments later on, so by looking to save $50,000 that it costs to fluoridate, you may cost your residents $2 million in dental care," said Dishler.
Fluoride in tap water "does not discriminate," he said.
Bruce Terry, an endontist who works in Phoenixville, said of fluoridation, "We know absolutely that it works."
"It's a no-brainer as far as any dentist in the country," Terry said. "I know it's troubled times, but I say turn the spin around and say look at what you're doing for your community."
Later in the meeting, the board voted 3-2 to begin the procedure for stopping the practice.
Authority member Don Read, who head's the board's marketing committee, said having fluoride in the water can make it more difficult to market Pottstown's water to some customers. He said in a recent conversation with Pennsylvania American, the fact that Pottstown's water has fluoride in it may make it more difficult to reach an agreement.
Authority member Tom Carroll, who with Aram Ecker voted against making any change to the current fluoridation practices, pointed to what the dentists had to say.
"I think there is some value in what they had to say," Carroll said. "I think it's important to take care of our society as the dentists recommend.
"You took the words right out of my mouth," said Ecker.
Authority Solicitor David Garner said the vote taken Dec. 16 does not commit the authority to a final decision.
"It begins a process of gathering further information," said Garner. "Even if you approve the process, it does not commit you to doing it."
He added, "There is probably a need for a subsequent vote. You are not necessarily voting to eliminate it.
"This is one way to create a public response," said Authority Chairman Ronald Downie.
Garner noted that almost as soon as the last article about a previous discussion on this issue was published on The Mercury Web site, "people started commenting right away."
Carroll, however, said "I believe what the dentists said tonight."
To which Downie responded that "no one is right 100 percent of the time and some of the science I have seen on this issue on the Internet is not junk science."
By Evan Brandt, ebrandt@pottsmerc.com
POTTSTOWN — Despite the urging of two dental experts, the Pottstown Borough Authority has taken the first steps toward no longer adding fluoride to the public water supply.
Elkins Park dentist Bernard P. Dishler, representing the Pennsylvania Dental Association, told the authority that "we were always proud that Pottstown was one of the few communities in our area that adds fluoride. Frankly, we're a little disappointed you're even thinking about removing it."
Calling sites on the Internet that question the safety of adding fluoride to tap water "junk science," Dishler said "fluoridation is perfectly safe and we have 50 years of research to back that up.
"Any recognized authority has said it's perfectly safe," he said.
Dishler said the practice reduces dental decay by "40 to 60 percent" and said having it in the tap water of communities with a high percentage of low-income families is especially beneficial.
Low-income families typically cannot afford dental care, so having a preventative like fluoride in the water, which can prevent cavities, saves them money, Dishler said.
"Every $1 invested in fluoride in the water saves $38 in dental treatments later on, so by looking to save $50,000 that it costs to fluoridate, you may cost your residents $2 million in dental care," said Dishler.
Fluoride in tap water "does not discriminate," he said.
Bruce Terry, an endontist who works in Phoenixville, said of fluoridation, "We know absolutely that it works."
"It's a no-brainer as far as any dentist in the country," Terry said. "I know it's troubled times, but I say turn the spin around and say look at what you're doing for your community."
Later in the meeting, the board voted 3-2 to begin the procedure for stopping the practice.
Authority member Don Read, who head's the board's marketing committee, said having fluoride in the water can make it more difficult to market Pottstown's water to some customers. He said in a recent conversation with Pennsylvania American, the fact that Pottstown's water has fluoride in it may make it more difficult to reach an agreement.
Authority member Tom Carroll, who with Aram Ecker voted against making any change to the current fluoridation practices, pointed to what the dentists had to say.
"I think there is some value in what they had to say," Carroll said. "I think it's important to take care of our society as the dentists recommend.
"You took the words right out of my mouth," said Ecker.
Authority Solicitor David Garner said the vote taken Dec. 16 does not commit the authority to a final decision.
"It begins a process of gathering further information," said Garner. "Even if you approve the process, it does not commit you to doing it."
He added, "There is probably a need for a subsequent vote. You are not necessarily voting to eliminate it.
"This is one way to create a public response," said Authority Chairman Ronald Downie.
Garner noted that almost as soon as the last article about a previous discussion on this issue was published on The Mercury Web site, "people started commenting right away."
Carroll, however, said "I believe what the dentists said tonight."
To which Downie responded that "no one is right 100 percent of the time and some of the science I have seen on this issue on the Internet is not junk science."
posted by Bill at
10:34 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home