Continuing water fluoridation in the City of Calgary, Alberta, 1997-1998.

The issue of water fluoridation has a long history in the City of Calgary (population 820,000). There were five plebiscites before 1998, with only the 1989 plebiscite receiving a majority vote in favour of fluoridation. Calgary introduced water fluoridation in 1991. In the fall of 1997, the City sponsored a review of water fluoridation as a public policy based on information provided by a group of concerned citizens. An expert panel was formed to look at the new scientific information on the subject; four of the five members agreed that there was not sufficient evidence upon which to make substantial changes to the water fluoridation policy. Nevertheless, the City's Standing Policy Committee on Operations and Environment recommended that a plebiscite on water fluoridation be held in conjunction with the 1998 municipal election. This decision was ultimately supported by City Council. Under the direction of the Calgary Regional Health Authority, the Fluoride Education Steering Committee undertook three strategies for the campaign: building partnerships, educating health professionals and educating the public. In spite of the anti-fluoridation activities, Calgarians voted 55 per cent in favour of continuing fluoridation of the municipal water supply.

Survey of 1980 California dental hygiene graduates to determine expanded-function utilization.

In a survey with an 81 percent response rate, 1980 California dental hygiene graduates reported that a large majority of dentists in 410 practices were delegating expanded functions. Hygienists reported that they were being delegated local anesthesia administration in 89 percent of their practice settings, soft-tissue curettage in 86 percent, and nitrous oxide and oxygen administration in 60 percent. More recent dental graduates delegated more frequently than older graduates. Teaching status of the dentist/employer did not appear to affect delegation. Periodontists delegated more than general dentists and this seemed to be related to patient need in those practices. Hygienists in general practices are feeling somewhat underutilized; however, they attribute a relatively small percentage (14.8% local anesthesia, 20.2% soft-tissue curettage and 4.1% nitrous oxide) of the underutilization to "lack of delegation" by their dentist/employer. Hygienists perceived "lack of patient need" and "lack of equipment" to be the major reasons for any underutilization in the expanded functions. In conclusion, it appears that a 1976 law change in California allowing dental hygienists to perform block and infiltration local anesthesia, soft-tissue curettage, and nitrous oxide and oxygen administration has resulted in a rather widespread change in the dental practices of this sample. Dentists are apparently delegating local anesthetic administration and soft-tissue curettage in over 85 percent of the 410 practices employing 216 hygienists. Delegation of nitrous oxide and oxygen administration, which is dependent on availability of equipment, was reported as being delegated in over 50 percent of the practices.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)