title: Costs And Savings Associated With Community Water Fluoridation In The United States.
abstract: The most comprehensive study of US community water fluoridation program benefits and costs was published in 2001. This study provides updated estimates using an economic model that includes recent data on program costs, dental caries increments, and dental treatments. In 2013 more than 211 million people had access to fluoridated water through community water systems serving 1,000 or more people. Savings associated with dental caries averted in 2013 as a result of fluoridation were estimated to be $32.19 per capita for this population. Based on 2013 estimated costs ($324 million), net savings (savings minus costs) from fluoridation systems were estimated to be $6,469 million and the estimated return on investment, 20.0. While communities should assess their specific costs for continuing or implementing a fluoridation program, these updated findings indicate that program savings are likely to exceed costs.
authors.affiliation: Joan O'Connell (joan.oconnell@ucdenver.edu) is an associate professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health at the Colorado School of Public Health, in Aurora.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.affiliation: Jennifer Rockell is a research associate in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health at the Colorado School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rockell
authors.affiliation: Judith Ouellet is a senior professional research assistant in the Division of Health Care Policy and Research at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, in Aurora.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ouellet
authors.affiliation: Scott L. Tomar is a professor in the Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science at the College of Dentistry, University of Florida, in Gainesville.
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tomar
authors.affiliation: William Maas is a dental consultant at William Maas, LLC, in Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maas
mesh_terms: D017046:Cost Savings / Q000191:economics*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D005457:Fluoridation / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D018803:Models, Economic; D014481:United States
keywords: Health Economics; Oral Health Care; costs; economic benefits; water fluoridation