From the Front Line
Two Decades of Persisting Income Disparities in Dental Caries Among US Children and Adolescents
June 21, 2018
Guest Blog Post by Lourdes M. Secola, DMD, MScD, DDS, Cert.PH West Maple Pediatric Dentistry. Omaha, NE Dental caries – known to most of us as tooth decay – continues to be the most common preventable disease of childhood. And the poorer you are, the worse your dental disease is… » Read Full Post
Attempts to Discontinue Fluoridation in U.S. Communities Fail 4 out of 5 Times
June 5, 2018
The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) recently posted the findings of its ongoing surveillance of attempts by opponents of water fluoridation to end the practice in targeted communities. In 2017, although existing fluoridation policy was challenged in 48 communities, it was maintained in 39 (81%). This… » Read Full Post
New Study: No Neurotoxic Effect
April 24, 2018
In recent years, opponents of community water fluoridation (CWF) have pointed to some studies as supporting their concerns that fluoride is a neurotoxin that can lead to lower IQs or cognitive scores among children. Experts have examined those studies and cited significant weaknesses or limitations. Nonetheless, researchers in multiple countries… » Read Full Post
AAPD Policy on the Use of Silver Diamine Fluoride for Pediatric Dental Patients
October 31, 2017
Guest Blog Post by Yasmi O. Crystal DMD, MSc, FAAPD Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry NYU College of Dentistry When very young children or children with special needs have cavities, placing fillings in their teeth can be a challenge for all involved. These children often need to be… » Read Full Post
Draw No Firm Conclusions from Prenatal Fluoride Exposure Study
October 20, 2017
In these polarized times, it is all too easy to rush to defend our biases and to do so fiercely, leaving no room for reasoned discussion. That is one of the points made by Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in health law and policy at the University of Alberta, in… » Read Full Post
Initial Observations on the Prenatal Fluoride Exposure Study
September 21, 2017
A new study published by Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) reports data from Mexico showing an association between higher fluoride urine levels among pregnant women and lower cognitive function among their offspring. This study is a welcome addition to scientific inquiry on the effects of fluoride. Using mother-child pairs, the study,… » Read Full Post
Flint, Lead, Communities of Color, and Health Equity
August 16, 2017
The Campaign for Dental Health has been tracking the safe drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan since water fluoridation advocates sounded the alarm in early 2015. At that time, environmental activist Erin Brockovich wrote a post on Facebook that questioned the use of funds to fluoridate the city’s water. (Brockovich… » Read Full Post
EPA denies petition to end fluoridation in the United States
March 17, 2017
On November 23, 2016, the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) and other groups delivered a petition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting that the agency “prohibit the purposeful addition of fluoridation chemicals to U.S. water supplies” under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 6. On February 27, 2017, a response… » Read Full Post
A Framework for Addressing Social Determinants of Oral Health for Low-Income Populations
February 21, 2017
Guest Blogger: Stacey Chazin, MPH, Former Director of Prevention Programs, Center for Health Care Strategies There is growing evidence that the way people live, learn, work, and play has a significant impact on health, including oral health. These social determinants of health (SDOH) — including such things as access to… » Read Full Post
Low Income Children Deserve Better Access to Dental Care
November 11, 2016
Calls to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, risk being realized come January 2017, when Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress take their seats. Much remains to be seen, but one thing that is unlikely to change much or change soon is unmet need. Children from families with low… » Read Full Post
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