Fluoride and Osteosarcoma

[mdub]

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Anyone know what the most recent data on the link between fluoride and osteosarcoma is?

Last I heard, Elise Bassin's study said there was a significant link for young boys, but I haven't heard anything else for a while.

 

[toofache32]

Even if it caused osteosarcoma, the public should still have the choice to take the risk and make their own choice...right?

 

[wigglytooth]

Anyone know what the most recent data on the link between fluoride and osteosarcoma is?

Last I heard, Elise Bassin's study said there was a significant link for young boys, but I haven't heard anything else for a while.

http://www.ada.org/public/media/releases/0604_release02.asp

"ADA Reaffirms Support of Water Fluoridation

Chicago, April 7, 2006—After reviewing a recently published paper on a possible association between fluoride in water and osteosarcoma (a rare form of bone cancer), the ADA remains confident that community water fluoridation is a safe, effective public health measure for preventing tooth decay.

The ADA agrees with the paper’s authors that their work constitutes an “exploratory analysis” that will require scientific confirmation to confirm or refute the findings. The data in this paper is simply one piece of a much more comprehensive 15-year study by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine scheduled for publication later this summer. The principal investigator of the larger Harvard study has advised against drawing conclusions before seeing the full study, which will not suggest an overall association between fluoride and osteosarcoma, he states. Further, an “association” found in one, limited study, falls far below any scientific standard needed to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. In fact, after more than 60 years of rigorous scientific study of water fluoridation, the overwhelming weight of scientific evidences does not show an association with osteosarcoma.

Bottom line: Nothing in this study should deter the public from continuing to enjoy the proven health benefits of optimally fluoridated water. "

 

[mdub]

Even if it caused osteosarcoma, the public should still have the choice to take the risk and make their own choice...right?

Choice is fine. If it's in the public water supply there isn't a choice...right?

Checkmate.

 

[mdub]

The ADA agrees with the paper’s authors that their work constitutes an “exploratory analysis” that will require scientific confirmation to confirm or refute the findings. The data in this paper is simply one piece of a much more comprehensive 15-year study by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine scheduled for publication later this summer. The principal investigator of the larger Harvard study has advised against drawing conclusions before seeing the full study, which will not suggest an overall association between fluoride and osteosarcoma, he states.

The lead researcher was/is Chester Douglass. He was accused of a conflict of interest because he's the editor-in-chief of a Colgate funded newsletter. One of his grad students, Elise Bassin, concluded in her thesis using the same data set that there was a significant link.

I was curious to see if anything new had come out of that (e.g. a new study or Douglass getting fired/exonerated/whatever).

 

[toofache32]

Choice is fine. If it's in the public water supply there isn't a choice...right?

Checkmate.

There is no public health measure that has done more to prevent caries over the past century. Whereas quadrant dentistry used to be common, now it is uncommon because of this. I'm not sure you realize what you want people to "choose" between. The choice is between preventing the vast majority of cavities that people get ....and a mouth full of rotten teeth requireing dentures for the high school prom. That's the "choice" you're fighting for.

 

[omfsres]

Choice is fine. If it's in the public water supply there isn't a choice...right?

Checkmate.

Hey Bobby Fisher, would it surprise you to know that many of the products we drink including fruit juices, soft drinks and bottled water have more fluoride than the 1 ppm contained in tap water. As far as I know that info isn't printed on the lables. Where's your choice now.

King me.

 

[wigglytooth]

Hey Bobby Fisher, would it surprise you to know that many of the products we drink including fruit juices, soft drinks and bottled water have more fluoride than the 1 ppm contained in tap water. As far as I know that info isn't printed on the lables. Where's your choice now.

King me.

Or how about areas that have naturally fluoridated water... sometimes even over the optimum. Fluoride is going to be in water even if public health officials didn't put it there. 🙄

 

[mdub]

Hey Bobby Fisher, would it surprise you to know that many of the products we drink including fruit juices, soft drinks and bottled water have more fluoride than the 1 ppm contained in tap water. As far as I know that info isn't printed on the lables. Where's your choice now.

That wouldn't be a criticism of my position. You're thinking of toofache32. I generally say choice is good. Toofache32 implied that choice exists regarding fluoride. I said no (and checkmate). You're saying that there are problems elsewhere. I agree.

 

[tx oms]

Choice is fine. If it's in the public water supply there isn't a choice...right?

Checkmate.

Last I checked no G-man holds a gun to your head and forces you to drink city public water. I guess you do have a choice.

Oops, you just got owned.

BTW, Fluoride:Osteosarcoma::chewing ice:anemia

 

[dentalman]

The families that would not be able to afford bottled water are the ones that most likely need fluoride the most. (Since lower socio-economic status = higher risk of caries.)

 

[aphistis]

...meaning the OMS guys in this thread are all on the right side of the argument.

Just last night, our OMS PD mentioned he's only diagnosed a handful of osteosarcoma cases in his entire career. Do any of the pro-fluoride-choice guys want to take a stab at how many cases of inadequate fluoride exposure you'll see in just your first 12 months of clinic?

 

[12YearOldKid]

Look up the incidence of osteosarcoma. There are ~45 deaths/year due to osteosarcoma. 45.

I would almost bet that fluoride saves more than 45 people / year from deaths related to odontogenic infection. It would be an interesting thing to look up the pre- and post-fluoridation rates of dental related deaths if anyone has the time.

 

[toofache32]

That wouldn't be a criticism of my position. You're thinking of toofache32. I generally say choice is good. Toofache32 implied that choice exists regarding fluoride. I said no (and checkmate). You're saying that there are problems elsewhere. I agree.

Actually, I was being a smarta$$ by using your "people should be able to choose a non-licensed dentist" mentality from that other thread.

I was using the same logic to suggest that people should have the choice to drink fluoride (with the possibility of osteosarcoma)....just like you recommended people should be able to choose a backwoods dentist from El Salvador working out of the trunk of his car (with the high possibility of sub-standard care).