Australia - Fed up to back teeth with ‘crisis’

Fed up to back teeth with ‘crisis’
JOHN CONROY
18/08/2009 12:00:00 AM
EXPERTS from the dental world met in Corowa last night to discuss what they say is a crisis in the shire’s oral health.
Corowa has twice the level of dental decay in children as Albury, with Howlong slightly more than Corowa, according to data from the Greater Southern Area Health Service.
In the public forum at the Corowa RSL club, the crowd heard how fluoride was the first step in addressing the shire’s issues, which was also facing a shortage of dentists.
Professor Anthony Blinkhorn, the keynote speaker, and a chair of population oral health at the University of Sydney, said adding fluoride to the water supply would reduce the need for dentists in the area.
“Increasing training schools so we can have more dentists is actually a very old-fashioned way to address the problem,” he said.
“You shouldn’t have to fill teeth when you can prevent it in the first place.
“I have been involved in fluoride research for 30 years and I can’t find anything wrong with it.
“It strengthens dental enamel on a daily basis.
“It’s a very sensible and practical solution.”
Professor Blinkhorn said removing fluoride from a water supply in Scotland had shown the cost of dental care rises.
“It rises 105 per cent for children and 85 per cent for adults,” he said.
He said 95 per cent of people in NSW drank water with fluoride added and did not protest.
Yarrawonga dentist John Charles agreed, saying dissent among the profession was almost non-existent.
“Maybe one or two people but it’s a very emotive situation,” he said.
“We have emotions on one side and science on the other ... there is nothing to link it with disease.”
The meeting was attended by Corowa councillors and council staff, as well as interested members of the public including Wodonga-based anti-fluoride campaigner Marilyn Edgar.
Mrs Edgar was invited by Corowa friend, Barry Stiff, to represent him as he couldn’t attend.
“It is a grave concern considering most of Europe has rejected fluoride where they have ruled it is actually a medication,” Mrs Edgar said.
“It’s a shame the whole community is not consulted on this, just the interest groups.”

Unbelievable!