Principles of Dental Hygiene Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Principles of Dental Hygiene - Essay Example Critics of fluoridation say that past research is biased and outdated. Proponents of fluoridation cite their own research and insist that fluoridation has proven itself useful and safe in preventing dental decay. Both sides have creditable supporters and the conflict has no straightforward solution. With the question of whether fluoridation has a proven health benefit to people, comes the issue of individual rights. There exists argument that the rights of individuals are violated when they are forced to consume fluoridated water. Some have gone so far in protest as to acquire their own sources for unfluoridated water. As a result of the debate over the effectiveness and health risks of fluoridation, there is a belief that the By 1992, nearly 60% of the American public consumed water from fluoridated sources. Fluoridation began in the US in 1945 and has since been implemented in almost every major city. The Center for Disease Control (CDC, 1999) lists the fluoridation of drinking water as one of the top ten advancements made in American public health since 1900. Evidence suggests that ingested fluoride systemically prevents tooth decay while teeth develop. Topical application to mature teeth has also shown to reduce tooth loss in adults. . Fluoride strengthens teeth and makes them more decay-resistant. Fluoride acts on the enamel of teeth. The enamel is made less soluble and plaque-forming organisms have a reduced ability to produce acid. Remineralization also occurs in areas where acids have caused demineralization. The ADA fully endorses fluoridation of community water sources and recommends dietary fluoride supplements for children aging from six months to sixteen years old living in non-fluoridated areas. Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, is a health problem that has plagued human kind for centuries. Up until 60 years ago, the damage caused by Fluoridation 4 caries was an inevitable fact of life for most people. The disease often meant many visits to the dentist where damaged and painful teeth were repaired or removed. Today, primarily as a result of fluoride, damage caused by decay can be reduced and, in many instances, prevented. Fluorides' benefits for teeth were discovered in the 1930's. Dental scientists observed remarkably low decay rates among people whose water supplies contained significant amounts of natural fluoride. Several studies conducted during the 1940s and 1950s confirmed that when a small amount of fluoride is added to the community water supply, decay rates among residents of that community decrease. Although these studies focused primarily on the benefits of water fluoridation for children, more recent studies demonstrate that decay rates in adults are also reduced as a result of fluoride in the drinking water. Water fluoridation prevents tooth decay in two ways. The first is through direct contact with teeth and the second is by systemic absorption in the body. The most inexpensive way to deliver the benefits of fluoride to all residents of a community is through water fluoridation. All water naturally contains some fluoride. When a