USA - letter
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 12:20 AM EST
To the editor:
In the Centers for Disease Control's Web site statement of November 2006, wherein the CDC advises that parents may now wish to avoid fluoridated water when making up infant formula throughout a baby's first year, the CDC used the definition of questionable dental fluorosis to describe both very mild and mild dental fluorosis. Playing fast and loose with T. Dean's official definitions of the five severity levels of dental fluorosis is a common tactic by fluoridation defenders who are clearly concerned about the inherent liability of this out-of-control public health policy. To attempt, in this official statement, to conceal the severity of dental fluorosis suffered by U.S. children today clearly reveals the corner into which the CDC and the American Dental Association have backed themselves.
Dean's 1942 Classification and Criteria for dental fluorosis is still the standard used today. Here is the description of each fluorosis tooth classification. Normal: Smooth, glossy, pale creamy-white translucent surface. Questionable: A few white flecks or white spots. Very Mild: Small opaque, paper-white areas covering less than 25 percent of the tooth surface. Mild: Opaque white areas covering less than 50 percent of the tooth surface. Moderate: All tooth surfaces affected; marked wear on biting, surfaces; brown stain may be present. Severe: All tooth surfaces affected; discrete or confluent pitting; brown stain present.
According to the CDC, currently one-third of children aged 12 to 15 years in the United States have very mild to mild forms of fluorosis. This is the first sign of fluoride poisoning. The tooth disfigurement is permanent.
Gloria LeVaggi
To the editor:
In the Centers for Disease Control's Web site statement of November 2006, wherein the CDC advises that parents may now wish to avoid fluoridated water when making up infant formula throughout a baby's first year, the CDC used the definition of questionable dental fluorosis to describe both very mild and mild dental fluorosis. Playing fast and loose with T. Dean's official definitions of the five severity levels of dental fluorosis is a common tactic by fluoridation defenders who are clearly concerned about the inherent liability of this out-of-control public health policy. To attempt, in this official statement, to conceal the severity of dental fluorosis suffered by U.S. children today clearly reveals the corner into which the CDC and the American Dental Association have backed themselves.
Dean's 1942 Classification and Criteria for dental fluorosis is still the standard used today. Here is the description of each fluorosis tooth classification. Normal: Smooth, glossy, pale creamy-white translucent surface. Questionable: A few white flecks or white spots. Very Mild: Small opaque, paper-white areas covering less than 25 percent of the tooth surface. Mild: Opaque white areas covering less than 50 percent of the tooth surface. Moderate: All tooth surfaces affected; marked wear on biting, surfaces; brown stain may be present. Severe: All tooth surfaces affected; discrete or confluent pitting; brown stain present.
According to the CDC, currently one-third of children aged 12 to 15 years in the United States have very mild to mild forms of fluorosis. This is the first sign of fluoride poisoning. The tooth disfigurement is permanent.
Gloria LeVaggi
posted by Bill at
10:11 AM
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