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Massachusetts officials want fluoride varnish to become more readily available. To do that, the requirements for who can apply for the cavity-protecting varnish can’t be as strict as they are now.
There is currently a small number of low-income children in Massachusetts who have access to this important fluoride varnish.
The new regulations would make it permissible for nonlicensed people who work under the supervision of a licensed dentist to apply the fluoride to someone’s teeth. The proposed rules were outlined at a meeting of the state’s Public Health Council, which is a committee that comprises doctors, professors and consumer advocates.
Despite the fact that a license won’t be required to perform these procedures, mandatory training would still be required.
There are roughly 500,000 low-income people under age 21 in Massachusetts eligible for this type of treatment. Less than 3,000, however, received the treatment last year.
According to the state’s statistics, low-income children are more inclined to visit a doctor than a dentist. That’s why if doctors or other healthcare professionals could perform these procedures, it would be extremely beneficial to low-income individuals.
There are 35 percent of people in Massachusetts that don’t live in a community where fluoride is added to the water.
This problem is more widespread than just impacting children, though. Approximately three out of five senior citizens living in nursing homes have some form of tooth decay that has gone untreated.
This fluoride varnish decreases tooth decay by about 30 percent.
The council will hold a public hearing soon to discuss the situation before voting on the issue.
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