Fluoride in Caries Control: Benefits, Controversies, and Current Research

2025 AAC Spring Webinar

April 25, 2025 | 11 am - 1 pm ET

CE Credits

This webinar explored the use of fluoride in caries prevention, the controversies surrounding its toxicity, and current research addressing those concerns. The session featured presentations from leading experts in the field, followed by a Q&A session.

Marcelle-Nascimento-University-of-Florida-800x800

Introduction of webinar and speakers

Dr. Marcelle Nascimento (University at Buffalo), AAC President

Speakers

Speakers will be followed by a live Q&A session in which you will be encouraged to participate.

What we know about systemic fluoride effects – the Iowa Fluoride Study/Iowa Bone Development Study

SPEAKER: Dr. Steven Levy (University of Iowa)

The presentation will provide an overview of the main findings of the Iowa Fluoride Study/Iowa Bone Development Study, including concerning fluoride intakes, dental fluorosis, dental caries, and bone health. The Iowa Fluoride Study/Iowa Bone Development Study collected data until 2019 on fluoride exposures from multiple sources of nearly 1,900 participants born in 1992-1995, thus being one of the longest studies on this topic worldwide.

Fluoride toxicity: addressing the controversies

SPEAKER: Dr. Jayanth Kumar (Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors)

The presentation will discuss the evidence and perspectives on fluoride toxicity, with special emphasis on the current debate about the association between fluoride and low IQ in children.

A randomized controlled trial of fluoridated water

SPEAKER: Dr. Gary Slade (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

The presentation will focus on the ongoing randomized controlled trial of fluoridated bottled water, one of a kind experiment differentiating itself from the decades of research on fluoridated water coming from observational studies.