Analysis and Critique of the Fluoride Policy in Alberta

Introduction

Various scholars have reviewed concepts of analysis and critiques of the fluoride policy in Alberta, and the study has helped in the implementation of ways to decrease fluoridation, which have had a significant impact on tooth decay and sensitivity. Many groups founded to help find ways of combating this menace to all people in the society and therefore, enacted policies. Fluoridation has led to many effects as well as its effectiveness to reduce tooth decay.

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Effects

Fluoride policy can be analyzed based on the effects that it yields to the intended population. Therefore, the policy has a specific impact on health, some of the effects are unintended, and the other effects of the fluoride policy influence the population differently.

Effectiveness

Fluoridation is a practice that is effective in minimizing tooth decay especially in the current era where there is widespread use of substances that contain fluoride such as the fluoridated toothpaste. Thus, fluoride policy has helped in ensuring that individuals are embracing fluoridation because of the benefits that it yields for the public. Both adults and children have experienced health benefits because of drinking fluoridated water. Most importantly, early and recent studies have consistently indicated that water fluoridation de-escalates the pervasiveness and severity of dental caries. For example, the studies carried out between the 1940s and 1960s have indicated the effectiveness of fluoridation towards reducing the dental carries to 60% in children (Julie et al., 2014). According to the Cochrane review of literature conducted in 2015, fluoridation found reliable in minimizing caries in deciduous and permanent teeth in youngsters. The proportion of children to adults who are caries-free viewed as to escalate in areas where fluoridated water used as compared to the regions where fluoridation is abandoned. Therefore, the overall scientific studies are supportive of the benefits that are associated with the use of fluoride in water, as it is an effective public health strategy of minimizing dental ailment.

Unintended Effects

The implementation of the fluoride policy would result in unintended effects especially when the fluoride combines with fluorides from other sources such as from toothpaste, which yields an adverse effect particularly when it becomes excessively used. The effects of excessive use of fluoride result in dental fluorosis and crippling skeletal fluorosis (Maheshwari, 2006). Thus, the enamel becomes defective such that the condition related is to hypoplasia or hypomineralization. The development of fluorosis among individuals begins by barely noticeable whitish striations to a severe pitting as well as subsequent staining. However, the risk period of fluorosis is limited to youngsters aged eight years old and younger.

Moreover, when the fluoride policy is implemented, the effects of fluoride will depend on the availability of other sources of fluoride, which would combine to yield the fluorosis effect. The rate at which fluorosis would be severe would, therefore, be determined by the dose intake as well as the timing of fluoride intake. In areas where fluoride policy applies, the population has increased cases of dental fluorosis because of taking fluoridated water. Adopting the right concentration of fluoride of 1.5mg per liter of drinking water is likely to prevent health effects such as bone fracture, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity and cancer (Julie et al., 2014). Nonetheless, there is no adequate evidence on the connection between fluoridation and adverse effects such as cancer and bone fractures.

Equity

The use of fluoride policy would offer equal benefits to the population regardless of the gender, race, background, and age of the intended individuals. Fluoridation is an act that is responsible for providing a proactive effect against dental caries (IheozorEjiofor et al., 2015). For example, in newborn babies and children with pre-erupted teeth, fluoride ingested and integrated into the developing structures of the tooth enamel, which make it resistant to decay after the eruption. In the case of adults, drinking fluoridated water helps in reducing the rate of demineralization. Moreover, fluoridated water is significant in promoting the demineralization of early caries. Thus, fluoride policy in Alberta has ensured that the intended population benefits from fluoridation of water regardless of their religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, gender or age.

Implementation

The implementation process will help improve the healthcare sector by providing easier means of dealing with teeth problems associated with excessive use of fluoride. Therefore, policies have been set to help minimize the resources and get favorable means and alternatives to using in fluoridation.

Cost

The fluoride policy in Alberta is cost effective. The amount of money used in ensuring that the policy employed is much less as compared to the cost incurred in the prevention and control of dental caries. Most importantly, the government experience financial costs gains as the cost of healthcare in treating dental caries reduce. Fluoridation of drinking water yields a remarkable Per Capital Annual benefit. According to Ran, Chattopadhyay & Community Preventive Services Task Force (2016), the benefit-cost ratio connected to fluoride policy is more considerable in areas where there are at least 20,000 individuals. The consumers of fluoridated water incur minimal costs in maintaining oral hygiene as the fluoridated water play an active role in controlling dental caries.

Moreover, through preventing tooth decay, fluoride policy has helped in saving money for both the taxpayers and healthcare systems according to the Department of Health & Human Services, (2018).

Nonetheless, the return on investment when the fluoride policy realized depends on the size of the community. The implementation of the policy ensures cost saving regardless of whether the community involved is small or large. The cost incurred and the savings obtained because of implementing the policy varies over time. For example, the report indicates that in 2013, the estimated per capita savings were beyond the estimated per capital costs for about 211 million individuals with fluoridated water (O'Connell, Rockell, Ouellet, Tomar & Maas, 2016). The saving related to fluoride policy in a population of at least 1,000 individuals calculates to result in a standard saving of $20 per dollar invested. Additionally, although there other methods that can be used to control individuals' dental health, fluoridation practice is a remarkable cost-effective approach of distributing fluoride to community members regardless of other socio-demographic aspects that may influence their dental health.

Feasibility

The fluoride policy meets the specified needs as stated in the Standards for Municipal Waterworks and Storm Drainage Systems according to Alberta Regulation. The authority in Alberta utilizes the resources required to ensure that the fluoride policy used accordingly. The policy makes use of fluoridation equipment requirements and provides the security of the cylinders that are used. Moreover, the leak detection equipment links to the isolated audible and visual alarm systems for verifying proper operations. Safe equipment put in place to prevent certified individuals who are performing the fluoridation process. The pieces of equipment used include the safety shower, eye protectors, gloves, eyewash, and other respiratory equipment. The health and economic benefits connected to fluoride policy made it possible to be included in the national health objectives such as the Healthy People 2010 as reported by the American Public Health Association, (2008). This policy aimed to ensure that there was a 75% proportion increase in the number of Americans served by the fluoridated community water systems. Currently, the fluoride policy has boosted its reliability, and the court systems have intensively tested the legality of fluoridation in America. According to the American Public Health Association, (2008), the courts view fluoridation as a plausible means of furthering public health and welfare. Advanced technology applied to ensure that the policy satisfies the population needs and Approaches such as conventional filtration, membrane cartridge filtration and microfiltration implemented to boost the relevance of the policy. The fluoride policy greatly respects the certified operator requirement. The treatment of the water plants performed by individuals who are qualified and are directed not to exceed the maximum number of operators required to avoid disrupting the applicable code of practice. The application of fluoride policy grounded on standards that complied with such as the treatment chemicals guidelines that must be approved by AESRD, for fluoridation practices (Julie et al., 2014). Consequently, the opponents of the fluoride policy cannot interfere with the implementation and adoption of the policy, since it systematically ratifies the majority of the public are in support of its health benefits.

Acceptability

Most residents in Alberta view fluoridation as a very safe and effective practice that is advantageous towards their health. Therefore, fluoride policy is greatly accepted in the Alberta region, and very few opposers are present. According to Julie et al., 2014, 62% of the population support the idea of adding fluoride in local drinking water. Additionally, other respondents in other studies are likely to support fluoridation especially those who have had regular visits to the dentists. Individuals who possess public dental insurance coverage are less likely to support fluoride policy because they incur fewer healthcare bills in case they are faced with a dental health challenge. Most of the opponents of fluoride policy questions the usefulness of fluoridation in preventing dental caries. Research process has been complicated because there are many more sources of fluoride in Canada compared to 60 years ago. Fluoride assists in preventing decay by the limited way, which entail thorough act on the enamel of the tooth primarily after the occurrence of the eruption and dental plaque. The absorption of fluoride perceives to decrease as individuals' age (Peckham & Awofeso, 2014).

Nonetheless, the opponents try to reject the fluoride policy because the benefits that the population acquires outdo the demerits, hence, should not use this idea. The stakeholders who are allied to this policy including the government ensure that individuals are informed of the health issues that fluoridation addresses. Also, fluoride policy complies with other legislative requirements, and thus, it is accepted by individuals due to the health benefit that the population acquires.

Durability

The overall benefits that are associated with fluoride policy are long-term. Water fluoridation has an active health effect in preventing dental caries, primarily when used at a safe concentration. The public need to avoid excessive exposures to fluoride and adopt fluoridation as the most effective strategy of ensuring personal oral hygiene. Individuals 'should maintain their dental health and therefore, fluoride policy is adopted to minimize the dental health visits that the vulnerable people would have. Frequent visits to the dental clinics ought to be specified priority, as the health experts will help check and advice appropriately on the amount of fluoride used depending on the condition of the patient. People especially children advised keeping clean their teeth by brushing daily with fluoride-contained toothpaste to help prevent cavities and tooth decay; this will ensure the durability of the fluoride substa...