FLUORIDATION OF WATER

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28050, 18 August 1956, Page 10

FLUORIDATION OF WATER

Proof Of Benefit To Teeth DENTAL AUTHORITY’S OPINION

(New Zealand Press Association l AUCKLAND, AUg. 17. Americans had been completely convinced that sodium fluoride in drinking water resulted in healthier teeth, said Dr. G. Teuscher. a world authority on children’s dentistry, who arrived at Auckland in the Oronsay today. Although the nlan for introducin'* fluoride to central water supplies had at first met with scepticism, he said, it was now accented to such an extent that jars of water treated with fluoride were bought by people whose towns and cities did not have a central supply. Dr. Teuscher will spend four weeks in New Zealand. He will lecture at the dental conference at Dunedin, and will discuss dental research and methods with groups throughout the country. The study of the effects of fluoridation in the United States had become most interesting over the last few years, said Dr. Teuscher. Results had shown that children, now adolescents who had been treated since birth, had infinitely better teeth than children who had had no fluoride in their drinking water. Further research had also proved that adults could benefit from treatment. he said. However, this particular aspect was still being studied. Commenting on a report that two Russian dentists had developed a method whembv artificial teeth could be inserted into the gums after extractions and take permanent root. Dr. Teuscher said he doubted whether such an jperation could be successful. Infection could easily set in. and the artificial teeth however strong the binding tissues in the -s. would probably work loose.

This matter had been explored in America, but po satisfactory results had been achieved, he said. Dr. Teuscher is dean of the Dental School at North-western University. Chicago.