Professor and Associate Dean for Prevention and Public Health Sciences University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry Chicago, Illinois, United States
Disclosure(s):
Scott L. Tomar, DMD, DrPH: No financial relationships to disclose
Some researchers, advocates, and government officials have recently raised questions about the safety and effectiveness of community water fluoridation — a caries prevention strategy that now reaches more than 400 million people worldwide, including nearly three-quarters of the US population served by public water systems. Claims also have been made about the safety of other fluoride products such as fluoride supplements. This session will review recent political and legal events, the evidence behind the headlines, and suggest what you can tell your patients and policymakers.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the contemporary evidence for the safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of community water fluoridation for reducing the incidence of dental caries
Discuss the current political and legal climate concerning community water fluoridation in the United States
Identify at least three evidence-based talking points they can use with their patients and policymakers regarding community water fluoridation
