Currently , only 54 percent of Pennsylvanians are receiving optimally fluoridated water , with rural communities missing the benefits the most . People who live in these areas are in need of basic oral health care . Fifty-one percent of rural children receive regular dental services , compared to 61 percent of urban children . Community water fluoridation is needed to help improve the oral health and lives of all residents who live in rural Pennsylvania .
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) proclaimed community water fluoridation as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20 th century . It is one public health program that actually saves money . The average cost for optimally fluoridating a public water supply is less than the cost of one dental filling . For every dollar invested in fluoridation , a person saves $ 38 in dental treatment costs . Fluoridation also would save money in the state Medicaid budget .
Dr . Bauman says she sees the ravages of dental decay every day .
“ I have treated children and adults who have had access to toothpaste , fluoride supplements and dentally applied fluoride . Unfortunately , these patients have well water that does not have fluoride occurring naturally . Therefore , even with access to the other fluoride sources , they still have cavities . These patients suffer from pain and infection every day , causing loss of time in school , loss of time at work . If we can provide something as simple as a naturally occurring mineral in the drinking water of a population to help prevent this unnecessary suffering , why would we not ?”
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About the Pennsylvania Dental Association
Founded in 1868 , the Pennsylvania Dental Association ( PDA ) is
visit our website at padental . org .