This study, published in The Journal of the American Dental Association, finds that privately insured children in communities with water fluoridation (CWF) had fewer dental fillings and lower risk of multiple fillings compared to privately insured children in communities without CWF.
The findings challenge claims that fluoridation is unnecessary in modern times due to the widespread availability of fluoride from other sources — and demonstrate that CWF remains beneficial among an advantaged population.
This is the first study examining the risk of increased dental fillings among privately insured children in communities without CWF. Related research — studies in New York and Alaska — has shown that CWF reduces dental insurance claims for children with public (Medicaid) dental insurance.
The research was conducted by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health with support from CareQuest Institute. The authors write:
Our findings suggest that discontinuing fluoridation could result in increased restorative oral health care demands, elevating public and private health expenditures.”
Read the article in The Journal of The American Dental Association (open access)
You may also be interested in:
- How Ending Water Fluoridation Would Affect Children and State Medicaid Costs, a report finding that ending water fluoridation in just five states could cause 132,000 additional children to need cavities filled or teeth pulled, and cost state Medicaid programs nearly $40 million.
- Community Water Fluoridation: Proven, Safe, and Essential for Oral Health, a fact sheet highlighting the overwhelming benefits of community water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay and reduce health care costs.
- Fluoride: Questions Parents Ask, answers to frequently asked questions about fluoride and community water fluoridation.