‘Dentistry from the 1950s’: Cairns dentist calls for fluoride to be reintroduced to regional water supplies across Queensland

Cairns is embracing post-World War II era dentistry where forceps for pulling teeth are favoured over fluoride in the town’s water supply, a leading Far North health expert says.

A Far North dentist is calling for fluoride to be reintroduced into water supplies across regional Queensland.

Cairns is embracing post-World War II era dentistry where forceps for pulling teeth are favoured over fluoride in the town’s water supply, a leading Far North health expert says.

JCU Dental clinical director, Professor John Abbott’s Smithfield service has seen more than 80,000 patients since opening in 2009.

But the long-time pro-fluoride advocate said he’d gladly avoid sedating patients and sewing sutures in gums in favour of letting the globally recognised tooth-strengthening mineral flow from our taps.

“Without fluoridation, Cairns has decided to take a non-preventive approach,” Prof Abbott said.

“In other words, drilling teeth, filling teeth and extractions. That’s dentistry from the 1950s. It’s not today’s dentistry.

“The patients we see in JCU Dental so often do require extractions, root canal fillings and dentures. That really shouldn’t be the case these days when it can be prevented.”

JCU Dental’s clinical director, Professor John Abbott, has campaigned for fluoridated water supplies in Queensland for more than a decade. Picture: Romy Bullerjahn

The alarming increase in Cairns children needing general anaesthetic for dental procedures was unacceptable.

“A general anaesthetic is not without its danger,” Prof Abbott said. “It also means that they’re holding up hospital beds who need surgery for other urgent needs.

“Children having general anaesthetics to have teeth pulled out because of tooth decay can be prevented by having fluoride in the water supply.

“It is disappointing to think that after all these years Cairns has not gone back to fluoride in the water supply because it’s undeniably a great health benefit.”

Cairns Regional Council has voted to not introduce fluoride into Cairns' drinking water supply at an ordinary meeting attended by dozens of anti fluoride protesters. Cairns Mayor Amy Eden. Picture: Brendan Radke

In December, a campaign to keep fluoride out of Cairns’ water supply succeeded with mayor Amy Eden voting against a proposal to consider its reintroduction.

“I don’t believe that fluoride in the water is the silver bullet that it’s claimed to be,” Ms Eden said.

The decision came as a consequence of former premier Campbell Newman giving councils the power to opt out of mandatory fluoridation in 2012.

An unidentified young oral health patient from Far North Queensland who recently required surgery due to tooth decay. Picture: Supplied

But Prof Abbott said Queensland councils shouldn’t be expected to make decisions on public health.

“It really is a state government issue,” he said.

“It was a mistake to give it to the councils. They don’t necessarily have the ability, training or facilities to give that sort of important information which state governments have.”

Other factors can also contribute to poor oral health, Prof Abbott said.

“We have so many people who still smoke,” he said.

“The oral hygiene for these patients has been neglected and smoking is very bad for the gums.

“We get a lot of extractions from not only tooth decay but teeth that don’t have any bone support anymore and are loose. That can affect your health as well if you have gingivitis or periodontal disease.”

Just 26 of the Sunshine State’s 77 councils currently fluoridate their water supply.

More than 150 major health organisations worldwide, including the World Health Organisation, support water fluoridation.

Last November, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) revealed a 56 per cent spike in the number of children under the age of 15 who have received dental treatment under general anaesthetic in the region over the last two years.

The Cairns Post, The Courier-Mail and sister publications launched the State of Decay series this week, highlighting the significant dental health problems in regions without fluoride

Originally published as ‘Dentistry from the 1950s’: Cairns dentist calls for fluoride to be reintroduced to regional water supplies across Queensland