Primary care providers can now help prevent tooth decay in their MassHealth patients! MassHealth is implementing this new statewide initiative that allows all primary care providers to apply fluoride varnish on children’s teeth. The initiative began on October 1st and we expect providers to treat over 6,000 MassHealth children in the first year alone. The purpose of applying fluoride varnish is to prevent cavities in children at risk. Fluorides have been used for many years to help prevent dental decay. Fluoride varnish provides an added benefit of protection for children at risk for dental decay and is fast and easy to apply. Providers can apply fluoride varnish as part of an oral health risk assessment and then refer children to MassHealth dentists. Click here to lookup MassHealth Dental Providers.
This initiative is part of the remedy phase of the successful HCFA v. Romney lawsuit brought by Health Law Advocates and Greater Boston Legal Services on behalf of HCFA and Massachusetts consumers.
Georgia J. Maheras, JD, MTS
Staff Attorney – HLA
The evidence that fluoridation reduces cavities is overwhelmingly positive. The evidence of adverse health effects is non existent. This post reminds me of General Jack T. Ripper from Dr. Strangelove, who was convinced that fluoridation was a Communist plot (Have you ever seen a Commie drink a glass of water?).
The truth is that dental cavities are the most common chronic childhood disease and that dental disease can lead to unnecessary suffering that can affect children’s ability to pay attention and do well in school. This program allows pediatric and family medicine offices to address their patient’s risk of dental disease before it starts, to provide information and counseling about preventing dental disease, and to offer fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish is a proven, safe, easily applied method of preventing dental disease and through this program it can be specifically recommended and provided to a child by their doctor.
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/topics/science_fluoride_varnish.asp
http://ezinearticles.com/?Fluoride—A-Toxin-to-Avoid&id=668899
Will HCFA varnish the truth?