Dental association is delighted with the government’s announcement on water fluoridation
The New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) welcomes the government’s announcement to transfer the decision-making process about community water fluoridation to District Health Boards (DHB) from local government.
“Community water fluoridation has always been about improving oral health through safe, community-wide, and cost-effective means. To have the decision-making process placed in the hands of District Health Boards whose responsibility is improving the health of their communities is a brilliant step in the right direction,” says Dr. David Crum, CEO of NZDA.
A report published on behalf of the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor titled “Health effects of water fluoridation: A review of the scientific evidence” strongly supports community water fluoridation.
“The report strongly reaffirms NZDA’s position that community water fluoridation is a safe, effective and cost-efficient way of reducing dental caries and health inequalities,” says Dr. Crum.
“The NZDA congratulates the Hon Dr. Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Health and Hon Peter Dunne, Associate Minister of Health, for showing leadership and for taking the issue seriously by proposing to place decision-making into the hands of health authorities. This could well lead to many more New Zealanders receiving the health benefits of drinking adequately fluoridated water,” says Dr. Crum.
