Summary

A Federal research program on tooth decay prevention was started in 1971, but public officials cannot predict when the program will achieve a decrease in tooth decay. Tooth decay affects nearly every person in the United States and is a tremendous financial burden to the public and to the State and Federal Governments.

Questionable research expenditures have been made to develop prevention techniques that do not have widespread applicability and to demonstrate methods that were already successfully marketed, such as the $2 million spent to demonstrate school-based mouth rinsing. When these demonstrations were begun, this technique was already known to be effective and had been commercially marketed in 40 States. Relatively little is being done to promote fluoridation, a proven decay prevention technique. Greater emphasis is needed to promote this cost-effective technique for reducing tooth decay. The Safe Drinking Water Act has been misinterpreted in some communities as prohibiting fluoridation. Environmental Protection Agency regulations implementing the act are misleading in that fluoridation's dental health benefits are not prominently stated. The agency has agreed to amend the regulations.