Contents

!ntroduction – Foresight and courage rewarded
By Andrew Bolas (President) and Fintan Hourihan (Chief Executive), IDA

In the public good
By Dr Paul Beirne of UCC studied the origins and politics of fluoridating public drinking water supplies in Ireland. He spoke to PAUL O’GRADY and outlined that story for the Journal.

Monitoring the effectiveness of water fluoridation in the Republic of Ireland
Professors HELEN WHELTON and DENIS O’MULLANE review the many studies undertaken in Ireland into the effects of the decision to introduce water fluoridation of the public water system.

Defending fluoridation
DR JOE MULLEN counters the main arguments against fluoridation.

Enamel fluorosis: a cause for concern?
DR DEIRDRE BROWNE looks at recent research into enamel fluorosis rates and levels of acceptance in Ireland.

Milestones in oral public health services in the Republic of Ireland
By M Mc Donnell BDS MDPH BBS, M Harding BDS MFGDP (UK) MDPH, H Whelton BDS MDPH PhD FFPHM, and D O’Mullane, Emeritus Professor.

Oral health policy – time to broaden our perspective?
DR CARMEL PARNELL argues that fluoridation alone is not enough to provide equitable oral health.

My 50 years plus with fluoride
As well as positive effects for the public, fluoridation has also had an impact on dentists, says DR SEAMUS O’HICKEY.

The fluoridation case: a milestone in Irish constitutional law
DR PATRICK QUINN explains how the case taken to prevent fluoridation of the Irish water supply had far-reaching constitutional consequences.

Water fluoridation: a patient-centred overview
JENNIFER CARMODY offers suggestions on how to deal with patient concerns regarding fluoridation.

Learning from the past
DR MA?IRE?AD HARDING argues for a strong awareness of national and international research and policy in order to develop Ireland’s oral health policy into the future and to promote oral health.