From Bill Osmunson:
Very well done Steve.
Did you see these two recent abstracts?
Looks like most dentists, the ADA is unaware that fluoride’s benefits, if any, are topical and not systemic. The ADA persists in claiming fluoridation reduces tooth decay by 20-40%. Looks like the ADA flunks Public Health Dentistry 101.
J Public Health Dent. 2007 Summer;67(3):140-7.
Knowledge and use of fluoride among Indiana dental professionals.
Yoder KM, Maupome G, Ofner S, Swigonski NL.
Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN, USA. kmyoder@iupui.edu
OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the knowledge of Indiana dentists and dental hygienists about fluoride’s predominant mode of action and their protocols for the use of fluoride for dental caries prevention. METHODS: In 2000, questionnaires were mailed to 6,681 Indiana dentists and hygienists prior to the 2001 release of recommendations for the use of fluoride by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2005, the questionnaires were again sent to Indiana dental professionals to assess changes in knowledge and protocols. In addition, a 10 percent sample of Illinois dentists and hygienists were surveyed to determine the similarity of Indiana and Illinois responses. RESULTS: Questionnaires were anonymously completed and returned. In 2000, a minority of Indiana health professionals (17 percent) correctly identified that remineralization was fluoride’s predominant mode of action. There was a significant increase in Indiana respondents correctly identifying this predominant mode of action between 2000 and 2005 (17 percent versus 25 percent, respectively, P < 0.0001). Fourteen percent of Illinois respondents answered correctly in 2005. Preeruptive incorporation of fluoride into enamel was the most frequently cited incorrect response (IN 2000, 79 percent; IN 2005, 71 percent; IL 2005, 82 percent). Some protocols for use of fluoride products reflected inadequate understanding of fluoride’s predominant posteruptive mode of action. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of dental professionals surveyed were unaware of the current understanding of fluoride’s predominant posteruptive mode of action through remineralization of incipient carious lesions. Additional research is indicated to assess fluoride knowledge and protocols of dental professionals nationwide. Educational efforts are needed to promote the appropriate use of fluoride.
PMID: 17899898 [PubMed - in process]
J Public Health Dent. 2007 Summer;67(3):151-8.
An investigation of bottled water use and caries in the mixed dentition.
Broffitt B, Levy SM, Warren JJ, Cavanaugh JE.
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA. barbara-broffitt@uiowa.edu
OBJECTIVES: Bottled water consumption in the United States has greatly increased in the past decade. Because the majority of commercial bottled water is low in fluoride, there is the potential for an increase in dental caries. In these secondary data analyses, associations between bottled water use and dental caries were explored. METHODS: Subjects (n = 413) are in the Iowa Fluoride Study, which included dental examinations of the primary (approximately aged 5) and early erupting permanent (approximately aged 9) dentitions by trained dentist examiners. Permanent tooth caries and primary second molar increments were related to bottled water use using logistic and negative binomial regression models. All models were adjusted for age and the frequency of toothbrushing. RESULTS: Bottled water use in this cohort was fairly limited (approximately 10 percent). While bottled water users had significantly lower fluoride intakes, especially fluoride from water, there were no significant differences found in either permanent tooth caries (P = 0.20 and 0.91 for prevalence and D(2+)FS, respectively) or primary second molar caries (P = 0.94 and 0.74 for incidence and d(2+)fs increment, respectively). Results for smooth surfaces differed somewhat from those for pit and fissure surfaces, but neither showed significant differences related to bottled water use. CONCLUSION: While bottled water users had significantly lower fluoride intakes, this study found no conclusive evidence of an association with increased caries. Further study is warranted, preferably using studies designed specifically to address this research question.