Dear Restoratives Insider,
This month's Restoratives Insider Exclusive takes an in-depth look at a controversial issue that just won't fade away: water fluoridation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has gone so far as to call water fluoridation "one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century." But some 55 years after the first city in the U.S. began fluoridating its water, purported risks and long-term health effects dog the practice.
Myriad public health agencies -- including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, CDC, ADA, World Health Organization, and National Cancer Institute -- have demonstrated that fluoridation is a safe and effective way to prevent caries, especially among children in underserved populations with limited access to dental care. And yet, a number of communities continue to fight fluoridation of their water supply after hearing claims of lowered IQ, decreased thyroid function, increased risk of bone fractures, and arthritic-like conditions stemming from fluoride exposure.
Learn more about these two opposing viewpoints, and the research behind each of them, by clicking here.
In other Restoratives Community news, new technology and processes, government regulations, and an innovative start-up company each have the potential to change the way dental practices operate.
In one of our most popular articles this month, DrBicuspid.com profiled a Minnesota start-up that is gearing up for a product launch that may represent the next step in root canal treatment options. Could their approach revolutionize endodontics?
New products and techniques were the focus of a story about isolation devices and their role in increasing the longevity of restorations. Bite blocks and other patient-friendly products are helping practitioners keep areas of the mouth moisture-free during restoration procedures. Learn more here.
Not all new products are an improvement over the existing options, however, according to Dr. Phillip Brown, a dentist with a background in restorative materials development. His article on dental adhesives seeks to clear up the confusion stemming from so many product launches. Click here to read more.
Learning what science had to say about preoperative antibiotics administered to patients to prevent the failure of dental implants was covered by contributing writer Rosemary Frei. She examined the results of a British team's investigation that suggested that the risk of implant failure may be significantly reduced by antibiotics here.
In other news, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants dental offices to reduce mercury waste, and dentists may not have a choice about whether to comply if a new rule regarding amalgam waste moves forward. By the EPA's estimate, 3.7 tons of mercury washes into waste treatment plants from dental offices annually, and the agency is concerned about trace amounts of toxic buildup in fish affecting children's developing brains.
Parents had more opportunities to fret when DrBicuspid.com covered research examining the possibility of health risks associated with exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) through the use of resin composites and sealants in pediatric dentistry. Is it worth worrying about? Find out here.
Moving away from harmful chemicals and into the realm of potentially dangerous devices, the FDA recently issued another safety warning about the risk of patients getting burned by dental handpieces that overheat during a procedure. Read the agency's recommendations here.
