More than 40 people, including half a dozen dentists attended a community discussion on the question of water fluoridation in the Porter Meeting Hall at Skidompha Library Oct. 27.
The meeting was held in advance on a vote on the question of removing fluoride from the Great Salt Bay Sanitary District water supply Nov. 8. Community members on either side of the issue came armed with statistics and studies in support of varied positions.
Denture Design owner Kathryn Young served as host and moderator.
“I believe that as the medical and dental providers in the area it is our obligation to hear concerns that arise in the community,” Young said. “We have a common interest in water fluoridation even though we may have different beliefs.”
Young said she collaborated with Jennifer McDonald, Director of the CarePartner Program to form Lincoln County Dental, a non-profit 501(c) corporation, in order to create a dental safety net for those who cannot afford care. A grant of $95,000 was awarded to LCD this year. This enabled them to move forward in developing the infrastructure for a dental clinic for Lincoln County. Anni Pat McKenney, of Healthy Lincoln County is also participating in these plans.
John Basty and Leih Deil from the Maine Dental Association attended. Judy Feinstein, the Dental Director for the State of Maine Center for Disease Control was the key speaker for the evening.
At the start, Feinstein requested that all questions wait until she had completed her presentation. Feinstein continued her presentation until close to 8:15, which allowed only 15 minutes for questions from the floor, and a resultant rush to share information.
Citing a New York state study, Feinstein said every dollar spent on water fluoridation avoids an average of $38- $42 in dental care.
“Fluoride in public water supplies may be the most studied intervention all over the world,” Feinstein said. “Over 20 agencies in 20 studies, with expert committees, have done systematic reviews.”
“Fluoridated communities have a 20- 40% lower rate of tooth decay. Dental caries (cavities) are the single most common childhood disease,” Feinstein said.
Feinstein asked the dentists present to offer their observations. “I see lots more decay in my patients from Bristol, and many more abscesses,” said Bristol based dentist Dr. Kerry Ransdell said. Bristol does not have town water supply to fluoridate.
Dr. Joseph Griffin said that he had been practicing dentistry in Damariscotta since before fluoride was added to the water. “I saw rampant decay,” he said. “We used to call it a ‘bombed-out’ mouth, because the children had so much decay. I noticed that kids from Jefferson had less decay. I discovered that my hygienist took her vacation every year and went into the Jefferson School to apply topical fluoride to the student’s teeth. It made a huge difference.”
Dr. Jeffrey Grosser, who practiced in Wiscasset until his retirement said, “I saw fillings drop precipitously after fluoridation. Don’t ignore that dental disease causes many other serious medical conditions besides the ravages of dental decay.”
Following Feinstein’s talk, Damariscotta resident Amy Lalime wanted to personalize the argument for the removal of fluoride. “My beautiful 12-year-old-daughter has fluorosis. Her name is Nina. She gets fluoride in drinking water, fluoride when she showers, and in foods, like rice, cooked in water. I water my organic garden with town water, which means my vegetables have fluoride in them. How do I know how much fluoride Nina is getting, how do we measure it?”
Newcastle resident Alan Pooley questioned why there could not be an answer to this question. “It seems a reasonable question, is there some way to fund a study?”
Feinstein, who maintained throughout that she did not have all the answers, agreed in principal. “It would be wonderful if we had the money to fund a study like that, but the CDC certainly doesn’t,” she said.
Joel Oyer, a student nurse in Damariscotta, and ardent opponent of fluoride in public water supplies, wanted to make the point that adding fluoride was giving medicine and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that fluoride is not a mineral nutrient; it is a drug. He went on to say that there are eight rights of medication administration that, “as a nurse, I will have to satisfy, every time I give a medication.”
Seven of these eight rights should apply to fluoride, Oyer said. The right patient must be given the right drug in the right dose/amount by the right route (of delivery) at the right time. Patients have the right to know (what they are taking) and the right to refuse to take it. Oyer concluded saying, “Fluoride is a drug, and cannot meet any of these rights.”
According to a Maine Centers for Disease Control handout given to attendees, “Water Fluoridation is a public health measure, no more and clearly nothing less. We believe that the overwhelming evidence shows it to be in the best interest of Mainers. Water fluoridation is a safe and cost effective was to ensure that all members of a community have access to this preventative health measure, without regard to income, insurance, or ability to access dental care.
Information on both sides of this issue is available at www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/fluoride and at www.fluoridedebate.com.
In 1969 and 1970, Newcastle and Damariscotta voted with a majority of communities across the country to add measured and regulated amounts of fluoride to the public water supply. The primary goal was to slow the formation of cavities in the teeth of children and adults.
The Maine Secretary of State has required wording identical to the original ballot question in 1969-1970, when the two towns approved fluoridation. The question on the ballot asks ” Shall fluoride be added to the public water supply for the intended purpose of reducing tooth decay?”
