FLUORIDATION

FLUORIDATION. The controversial policy of adding fluoride to the drinking water in order to reduce tooth decay resulted in studies being done on children who had lived in Dubuque since the program was started. Beginning in 1951, local dentists with personnel of the Iowa State Department of Health annually examined the teeth of all children in parochial and public school in kindergarten, first, second and seventh grades. (1)

In 1955 the survey revealed 50% less decayed, missing, and filled teeth than the normal five-year-olds in communities without fluorine in their water supplies. (2)

In 1958 there were twice as many five-year-old Dubuque children with perfect teeth than there were in 1953 according to a report issued by the Health Education Division of the Iowa State Department of Health. The report was based on a city-wide examination carried out by Dubuque dentists. Children moving into Dubuque were not counted. (3)

Despite the results, the program remained controversial. Five times nationally state supreme courts had to rule on the legality of the process. The case was carried to the United States Supreme Court three times with the ruling in each case being that the process was legal. Dubuque added 1.1 parts of fluorine to one million parts water. This was less fluorine that naturally occurred in some places where drinking the water caused no health problems. (4)

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Source:

1. "Report Verifies Benefits of Fluoridation Here," Telegraph Herald, March 23, 1955, Dubuque News, p. 1

2. Ibid.

3. "Benefits of Fluoridation in Dubuque Shown in New Dental Health Survey," Telegraph Herald, March 28, 1957, p. 1

4. "Report Verifies..."