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ADA Reaffirms Support of Water Fluoridation
CHICAGO, April 7, 2006—After reviewing a recently published paper
on a possible association between fluoride in water and osteosarcoma
(a rare form of bone cancer), the ADA remains confident that
community water fluoridation is a safe, effective public health measure
for preventing tooth decay.
The ADA agrees with the paper’s authors that their work constitutes
an “exploratory analysis” that will require scientific
confirmation to confirm or refute the findings. The data in this paper
is simply one piece of a much more comprehensive 15-year study by
the Harvard School of Dental Medicine scheduled for publication later
this summer. The principal investigator of the larger Harvard study
has advised against drawing conclusions before seeing the full study,
which will not suggest an overall association between fluoride and
osteosarcoma, he states. Further, an “association” found
in one, limited study, falls far below any scientific
standard needed to establish a cause-and-effect relationship.
In fact, after more than 60 years of rigorous scientific study
of water fluoridation, the overwhelming weight of scientific evidences
does not show an association with osteosarcoma.
Bottom line: Nothing in this study should deter the public
from continuing to enjoy the proven health benefits
of optimally fluoridated water.
About the American Dental Association
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 155,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. JADA, a monthly journal, is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org
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