The Kentucky Dental Association opposes a bill in the General Assembly that would give local water districts the ability to opt out of fluoride treatments. HB 141 easily passed the House State Government Committee in early February, despite strong opposition from several medical groups. Stephen Robertson is the executive director of the Kentucky Dental Association.
“It’s incorporated in the developing teeth of the young children. So you’re primarily aiming at the kids between two to six years old, that are developing those permanent teeth, it gets into the tooth structure becomes incorporated in and makes the tooth a little denser, a little stronger.”
Robertson said stronger teeth are better able to resist decay. Backers of House Bill 141 say it would end an unfunded state mandate and restore local control. Robertson said unfortunately, fluoridating water has become a passion issue.
“And once you reach the point that something is a passion issue, that means that really, there’s not a lot of room for negotiation anymore. People have made their mind up. And that’s just the way that it’s going to be, you know, we do have the science is strongly on our side.”
The bill’s sponsor, Representative Mark Hart of northern Kentucky, wasn’t available for an interview Monday afternoon. WEKU will have more on this story as it develops.
Original article online at: https://www.weku.org/the-commonwealth/2024-02-27/kentucky-dental-association-leader-fluoridation-of-water-has-become-a-passion-issue