Abstract
Since the 1950s, community water fluoridation (CWF) has stood as a cornerstone of dental public health. However, a growing amount of public scrutiny necessitates reflection on the ethical basis for coming to a firm position on the topic. Aside from CWF, fluoride in the form of ingestible supplements has recently been identified as a concern by the US Food and Drug Administration. Indeed, it is challenging to wade through the facts, opinions, misinformation, and policy shifts. This article examines the ethical dilemmas that surround CWF through the lens of the American Dental Association (ADA) Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct (ADA Code)— autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and veracity—and contemporary science, highlighting tensions between individual rights and the collective good. Additionally, the manuscript considers educational, clinical, and policy implications to equip dental professionals and educators with critical tools to engage ethically and effectively in public health discourse and ethical decision-making.
Recommended Citation
Kaur, Roopwant; Perez, Herminio; and Moss, Mark
(2025)
"Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Community Water Fluoridation,"
Journal of the American College of Dentists: Vol. 92:
No.
1, Article 2.
Available at:
https://commons.ada.org/jacd/vol92/iss1/2
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Applied Ethics Commons, Bioethics and Medical Ethics Commons, Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Dental Materials Commons, Dental Public Health and Education Commons, Health Law and Policy Commons, Medical Education Commons, Other Dentistry Commons, Social Justice Commons