Sunday, October 21, 2007

bmj.com Rapid Responses for Cheng et al., 335 (7622) 699-702

bmj.com Rapid Responses for Cheng et al. British Medical Journal

"DENTAL RISKS OF FLUORIDATION: As a Cosmetic Dentist, it is not uncommon to have patients receive gorgeous porcelain veneers to correct their dental fluorosis, white and brown damage from too much ingested fluoride. Costs range from several hundred dollars to well over $25,000 and need to be retreated every 10 to 20 years for life time costs which may exceed $100,000 per person. With a third of children having dental fluorosis, the true costs for cosmetic damage to teeth alone is in the trillions of dollars. A side effect seldom raised by cosmetic dentists. Certainly most will not seek treatment, but the public liability for damage is significant. Public Health Dentists seldom provide cosmetic dentistry and therefore under rate the increased dental damage from fluoridation."