Is community water fluoridation a cost-effective method for disease prevention?
Yes. In 2004, an estimated $78 billion was spent on dental services, representing about 5% of all expenditures for personal health care in the United States. A CDC study estimated that every $1 invested in community water fluoridation saved $38 in avoided costs for dental treatment. The national average cost to fill one cavity with dental amalgam is approximately $65—the approximate cost of providing fluoridation to an individual for a lifetime.
