Delay in Fluoride Reintroduction Impacts Calgary’s Oral Health

CANADA: Calgary faces another setback in the reintroduction of fluoride to its drinking water, as infrastructure upgrades at key water treatment plants experience delays. Initially slated for completion in September, the project now anticipates conclusion in the first quarter of 2025 due to construction challenges and uncertainties in the global supply chain.

“In November of 2021, city council voted to approved the reintroduction of fluoride after a plebiscite was held that showed 62 per cent support for the mineral to be added to the drinking water in Calgary,” a city spokesperson explained. “As a result of this global uncertainty and industry resource competition, we now anticipate the system will be in service by Q1 2025.”

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Advocacy for Fluoride Reintroduction

City council approved the reintroduction of fluoride in November 2021 following a plebiscite showing strong public support. Dr. James Dickinson, a prominent advocate for fluoride, expressed disappointment at the delay, emphasizing its impact on oral health, particularly among children. Dickinson, a professor at the University of Calgary, stressed the importance of fluoride in dental care, highlighting its role in preventing tooth decay and promoting overall oral health.

“The water supply people have known since then that they had to do this. It’s going to be another year and that’s just appalling,” said Dickinson, a professor of family medicine and community health sciences at the University of Calgary.

Cost and Infrastructure Challenges

The delay not only extends the timeline but also escalates costs, with infrastructure expenses ballooning to $28.1 million from the initial estimate of $10.1 million. Despite the challenges, proponents argue that the long-term benefits of fluoride reinstatement outweigh the financial burden, especially considering its potential to reduce dental treatments under anesthesia and associated healthcare costs.

“The implementation cost for infrastructure at the two water treatment plants has grown to $28.1 million, up from the original estimates of $10.1 million,” the city spokesperson stated.

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Impact on Oral Health and Pediatric Population

A recent study conducted by dental researchers at the University of Alberta underscores the significance of fluoride in oral health. The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health, reveals disparities in oral health between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities. It indicates a notable increase in caries-related dental treatments under general anesthesia among children residing in non-fluoridated areas, highlighting the adverse consequences of discontinuing water fluoridation.

“The results showed that among 2,659 children receiving caries-related treatments under GA, 65% resided in the non-fluoridated area,” the study outlined. “The cessation of water fluoridation was significantly associated with an increased rate of caries-related GA events per 10,000 children in both age groups (0-5 and 6-11 years), with a more pronounced effect in 0-5-year-olds in non-fluoridated areas.”

Implications for Dental Care and Community Health

The rising rates of dental treatments under anesthesia, particularly among young children, underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to address oral health disparities. Dr. Dickinson emphasizes the lifelong impacts of dental issues, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures such as water fluoridation in mitigating oral health challenges and reducing healthcare expenditures.

“Dentists have been telling us since we lost fluoride that they’re getting more and more young children coming in with bad dental problems,” Dickinson noted. “The ones who were so bad, they required general anesthetic to have major dental work done.”