Opinion: Safeguarding smiles: Water fluoridation and expanding dental access
This article was originally published here.
By: Tom Raffio, President & CEO, Northeast Delta Dental
Earlier this year, New Hampshire lawmakers did not support the efforts to ban public water fluoridation despite the movement gaining momentum in some areas of the country.
As president & CEO of Northeast Delta Dental for the last 30 years, I believe it is important that our communities understand the life-changing impact that fluoridated water can have on our long-term health.
Recently, Utah became the first state in the country to enact a statewide ban on public water fluoridation. Fluoride ban bills have also been introduced in Tennessee and North Dakota. There is also the possibility of a federal effort to cease the fluoridation of water supplies.
Decades of research and experience underscore the safety and efficacy of fluoride and its proven role in public health. Fluoride strengthens enamel, reducing tooth decay by at least 25%. There was massive reduction in tooth decay following widespread fluoridation in the 1950s and ‘60s, and a University of Calgary study noted a 700% increase in children receiving IV antibiotics for dental infections after fluoride removal. The CDC estimates that community water fluoridation saves $6.5 billion in dental treatment costs annually and leads to 25% fewer cavities. Fluoridation is a cost-effective, vital preventive measure, especially for underserved communities with limited access to care.
Access to fluoridated water is only one part of the oral health crisis puzzle in the U.S. According to the recent TIME article America’s Dental Health Is in Trouble, 27% of adults lack dental insurance – that equals 72 million Americans – and according to a recent national poll from the PAN Foundation’s Center for Patient Research, one-third of insured adults without regular dental care say they have experienced worsening dental issues and tooth loss due to not having regular access to dental care.
A child shows off her teeth after a dental exam in Concord, N.H., on Feb. 21, 2024. Robert F. Bukaty / AP file
One of the groups most negatively impacted by lack of access to dental care is veterans. Less than 15% of 9 million VA-enrolled veterans are eligible for dental benefits. As a result, veterans are more likely to experience worse oral health outcomes, higher decay and periodontal disease.
Additionally, there is a direct correlation between poor oral health and overall health issues, including mental health, Alzheimer’s, pre-diabetes, heart disease, endocarditis, stroke and more. Good oral hygiene should be an essential element of a holistic approach to primary care.
Improving dental care access demands a comprehensive strategy. Legislative efforts include a bill that provides dental benefits to adult Medicaid recipients which became law in April 2023. Another related bill would phase in dental services to all enrolled veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at least 30% or greater and increase the number of VA dental sites. It would also address the shortage of dentists by providing incentives to dental school students to work for the VA and mandate the expansion of VA dental clinics in all fifty states. Eventually, all VA enrolled veterans would be eligible for VA dental services. This bill was initially defeated.
Community organizations and the private sector can be an important piece of the solution. For example, as a dental services provider, Northeast Delta Dental is committed to investing in oral health clinics, school programs and initiatives for the underserved. We also support programs like Maine Veterans Dental Network (MVDN), a similar Vermont program and a grass roots New Hampshire plan.
Access to oral health benefits and fluoridation, addressing the gaps in dental care, especially for veterans, and driving home the message of the critical connection between oral and overall healthcare are critical to the well-being of our community.
I encourage individuals and businesses to support local organizations providing free dental services to veterans and others with little or no access to oral care, and I urge dental professionals to consider how they can support care for veterans and those utilizing their Medicaid dental benefits.
Together we can make an impact, because ‘everyone deserves a healthy smile.’