Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Authority To End Fluoridation: What Does This Mean For Oral Health?

Attention, residents of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County:  You and your families will soon be at higher risk for tooth decay.   In a surprising move, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority Board in January voted to stop adding fluoride to the public water supply by the end of the year.

Although our water supply contains some naturally occurring fluoride, fluoride levels are too low in most of the county to prevent tooth decay.   The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has determined the optimum level of fluoride in water to be 0.7 mg/liter.  Yet only 35% of Bernalillo County’s water distribution zones meet this level.   (See this map of ABQ-Bernalillo County’s naturally occurring fluoride levels.)

Fluoridating public water supplies and using fluoride dental products can improve oral health and produce several benefits:

• Fewer cavities and less severe cavities.
• Less need for fillings and tooth extractions.
• Less pain and suffering associated with tooth decay.

Thirty-four percent of New Mexico’s third-graders suffer from untreated tooth decay, compared to the national rate of 23%.  Hispanic and Black children and those living in families with lower incomes have more decay. Reducing water fluoride levels could make that worse.

The water utility board’s action recently was brought to the attention of the New Mexico Oral Health Advisory Council (NMOHAC), of which I am a member.  The NMOHAC includes dental health care providers, state officials and others committed to improving oral health and access to dental services. The NMOHAC is considering how to address this issue.

Under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, public water supplies must contain no more than 2.0 mg/liter of fluoride.  There is no federal minimum for water fluoride levels.

For more information on fluoridation and the nationally recommended standard:

• Community Water Fluoridation: Questions and Answers:
  • http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/fact_sheets/cwf_qa.htm#12
  • http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/guidelines/index.htm
• Press Release on HHS/CDC recommendation:  http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/20110107a.html

Local Hygienist Barbara Posler Receives National Award for Excellence

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) recently named Albuquerque dental hygienist Barbara Posler, as the recipient of the ADHA Award for Excellence sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. She was honored during the ADHA President’s Luncheon at ADHA’s 88th Annual Session in Nashville in June.

With this award, ADHA and Johnson & Johnson recognize individual dental hygienists who have made “outstanding accomplishments that have a significant impact on the practice and future of the dental hygiene profession.” The recipients have at least 10 years of membership in ADHA, demonstrate an active involvement in the association, and were nominated by a colleague for their outstanding accomplishments.

On receiving the award Posler said, “I know that the practice of dental hygiene will continue to evolve.  It has been my personal experience that dental hygienists can effect positive change for the profession and for the public we serve.”

“Barbara [Posler] is such an important part of our association at the local, state and national level,” said colleague Glenelle G. Butler, RDH.  “She has given so much energy, time, and commitment to the issues of standard of care and education of New Mexico hygienists.   She is an admirable advocate for the citizens of New Mexico because of her working for the best care as well as adequate access to care for our population.  I am proud to call her a friend and so happy that she has been recognized at a national level for her commitment as a professional.”

In 2004, Posler received the ADHA Distinguished Service Award for her community as well as legislative work. She helped to organize and participated in the annual Healthy Smiles clinic, sponsored by the New Mexico Dental Hygienists’ Association, which offered an average of 130 children oral health exams, treatments, sealants and instruction. Along with other hygienists, she has also contributed to the Special Olympics program by helping create mouth-guards for the athletes and providing oral health education.  On several occasions, Posler has worked with Senator Bingaman and his staff, giving input on federal legislation affecting oral health and the role of dental hygienists. She has been involved in state legislation to improve access to dental hygiene services to the underserved, and in advancing the profession of dental hygiene.

Posler earned her certificate in dental hygiene from the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, Mich. in 1970. She has been a member of ADHA for 40 years, and served as state president of the New Mexico Dental Hygienists’ Association (NMDHA). She is currently serving as the NMDHA legislative committee chair.

NM Oral Health Advisory Council Covers Topics Important to Improving Oral Health & Access at Recent Meeting

Members of the New Mexico Oral Health Advisory (NMOHAC) brought to light many items impacting the oral health of New Mexican’s at its most recent meeting.  The NMOHAC is comprised of dental healthcare providers, state officials and others committed to improving oral health and access to dental services in New Mexico.

Chair of NM Dental Board Predicts at Least One Year for Dental Bill Regulations to Go Into Effect – While Governor Susana Martinez signed HB 187 a bill to amend the NM Dental Health Care Act into law on April 7, the NM Dental Board has yet to review and begin drafting regulations that make the provisions in HB 187 a reality, according to Jessica Brewster, DDS current chair of the NM Dental Board.  Hygienists and others at the meeting expressed concerns that a year was too long. They felt that some provisions could be enacted sooner and shouldn’t be held up by other more complex provisions.  Dr. Brewster agreed to look into whether the regulations could be enacted in sections so that less complex provisions could be finalized and enacted before other provisions.

Provisions of HB 187 include:

• Slightly expanding dental hygienist scope of practice to allow hygienists to provide anesthetic services without the supervision of a dentist and allows hygienists to assess for sealants.
• Creating a community dental health coordinator (CDHC) who are not providers, and can only provide prevention awareness information and can transport patients to dentists.
• Creates an opportunity for dental assistants and dental hygienists to with additional training provide additional services beyond their scope under the in-person supervision of a dentist.
• Allows for a temporary 3-day public service licensure for out-of-state dentists and hygienists to participate in charity dental service events such as Mission of Mercy.

Exciting New Changes for UNM’s Dental Programs

• UNM’s dental services and dental hygiene divisions are now under their own new dental department, the UNM Department of Dental Medicine.  Previously they were housed under the UNM Department of Surgery.
• New Facility for UNM Dental Residency Program opened its new state of the art training and clinical facility late in August located near UNM Hospital.
  • After completing their one-year residency, most of UNM’s residency program’s graduates stay in the state and practice in the area of public health.

HB 187 Regulations Will Determine if NY Medical Center Can Place Dental Residents in NM –  For a number of years the Lutheran Medical Center based in New York has wanted to place dental residents in New Mexico.  The medical center and others including the NM Primary Care Association argue that allowing these residents to practice in NM would increase access to dental services in our state and hope that the regulations in HB 187 will allow this to happen.   While HB 187 allows dental residents to obtain a 12-month temporary public service licensure to practice in NM, the law states that the dental residents must be “in a residency program in the state.”  The sticking point is how to define “a residency program in the state.”  Must it be like UNM’s dental residency program or would a dental resident practicing in the state meet this requirement?  Some expressed concerns about whether there would be enough NM licensed dentists who are trained to appropriately supervise out-of-state residents who are practicing in rural and remote parts of our state.

State and Bernalillo County to Apply for CDC Community Transformation Grant – This grant would provide communities with funds to pursue and provide clinical health prevention programs in their communities.  If awarded, the NM Office of Oral Health hopes to use some of the grant funding to support its oral health prevention programs for elementary school-age and adolescent children.