Park Hills Water Department awarded for fluoridation quality
Media Contact: Lisa Cox Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Lisa.Cox@health.mo.gov
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced today that Park Hills Water Department has been awarded a 2020 Reaffirmation Award from the American Dental Association (ADA), Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for continuously adjusting and maintaining the amount of fluoride in drinking water for the prevention of tooth decay in adults and children. This award recognizes those communities that defeated an initiative to discontinue community water fluoridation.
According to Casey Hannan, MPH, Director, CDC Division of Oral Health, “Water fluoridation is one of the best investments that a community can make in maintaining the oral health of its citizens. It is equally effective in preventing cavities in children and adults. Fluoridation is also highly cost effective. Studies continue to show that the economic benefit of fluoridation programs exceed their cost. An individual can enjoy a lifetime of fluoridated water for less than the cost of one dental filling.”
More than ever, Missouri’s Office of Dental Health recognizes the value of prevention, and the community water fluoridation can play in helping to prevent a disease that affects children and adults.
“Water operators deserve our gratitude in bringing clean, fluoridated water to their customers’ homes. Community water fluoridation has been recognized by CDC as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century. We are especially proud of Park Hills for continuing this important public health measure,” stated Guy Deyton, DDS, Dental Director, Department of Health and Senior Services.
Learn more about the importance of oral health and water fluoridation at the Office of Dental Health website.
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About the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: The department seeks to be the leader in protecting health and keeping people safe. More information about DHSS can be found at http://health.mo.gov or find us on Facebook and Twitter @HealthyLivingMo
