In 2007 the Poughkeepsie Water Treatment Facility decided to re-fluoridate the municipal water supply. The Water Facility provides water for 80,000 customers in the City of Poughkeepsie, Town of Poughkeepsie and the Village of Wappingers Falls. Fluoride was removed a year and a half before but following a second fluoride presentation to the Water Board, water fluoridation was restored.

DCDS members Drs. William D. Kirtland and Thomas Bloom and Dr. Gerri Pozzi-Galuzzi of Dutchess Community College and the excellent staff people of the Ninth District Dental Association, the New York State Dental Association, the American Dental Association successfully defended the ADA fluoride talking points against a well organized anti-fluoride presentation.

However, in January, 2008, the decision was reversed and sadly, the proven benefits of water fluoridation were once again denied to those 80,000 customers.

Undeterred, our team went to bat again and also enlisted the help of the Health Department and it appears that fluoridation will soon be restored.

The drama continues…