Water Fluoridation: Principles and Practices is a CDC-sponsored course on
basic community water fluoridation. It is intended to build the skills
needed to manage and operate a state water fluoridation program, as well as
to train engineers in drinking water programs and water fluoridation
specialists on the principles of fluoridation engineering.
Operators of water treatment facilities and engineers in private practice
have also found this course to be useful in building their skills and
knowledge. CDC awards 1.8 Continuing Education Units (CEU) or 18
Professional Development Hours to participants who complete it.
The training is normally preceded by an optional half-day course on the
use of the Water Fluoridation Reporting System for those who are responsible
for maintaining records for a state program.
The following is a sample three-day agenda for a typical course.
Day One
|
| 8:00 a.m. |
Opening Remarks |
| |
Introductions |
| |
Course Objectives |
| |
|
| 8:30 a.m. |
Fluoridation and Public Health |
| |
Definition |
| |
History |
| |
The Problem of Tooth Decay |
| |
Fluoride's Mechanism of Action |
| |
Dental Benefits |
| |
Dental Fluorosis |
| |
|
| 10:45 a.m. |
Fluoride Additives |
| |
Fluoride Compounds |
| |
Commonly Used Additives |
| |
Specifications |
| |
|
| Lunch |
|
| |
|
| 1:00 p.m. |
EPA Regulatory Perspective |
| |
EPA and Water Fluoridation |
| |
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and Secondary Maximum
Contaminant Level (SMCL) |
| |
Monitoring Requirements |
| |
Public Notification |
| |
|
| 2:00 p.m. |
Fluoridation Equipment |
| |
Introduction |
| |
Method of Feeding Fluoride Additives |
| |
Metering Pumps |
| |
Fluoride Additive Equipment |
| |
Day Tanks |
| |
Ancillary Equipment |
| |
|
| 3:00 p.m. |
Design of Fluoridation Systems |
| |
Water Treatment Context |
| |
Planning and Permitting |
| |
Design Basis |
| |
Calculations |
| |
Selecting Pumps |
| |
|
| 4:00 p.m. |
Risk Communication |
| |
Overview of Risk Communication |
| |
Communication Tips |
| |
|
Day Two
|
| 8:00 a.m. |
Health Effects and Current Issues |
| |
Charges and Claims of the Opposition |
| |
How to Address Allegations of Health Effects |
| |
|
| 9:50 a.m. |
Chemistry of Fluoride Analysis |
| |
SPANS Colorimetric Determination |
| |
Specific Ion Electrode Determination |
| |
Errors and Methodology Interferences |
| |
|
| 10:50 a.m. |
Laboratory Safety and Session Directions |
| |
|
| 11:00 a.m. |
Management of State Programs |
| |
How State Programs Are Organized |
| |
Engineering and Administrative Recommendations for Water
Fluoridation (EARWF) |
| |
Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors
(ASTDD) Best Practices |
| |
|
| 11:30 a.m. |
Data Management and CDC Responses |
| |
General Information |
| |
Water Fluoridation Reporting Systems (WFRS) |
| |
Proficiency Testing |
| |
My Water's Fluoride |
| |
Oral Health Maps |
| |
Program Support |
| |
|
| Lunch |
|
| |
|
| 1:30 p.m. |
Laboratory Session |
| |
Hands-on Testing of Fluoride Content in Water |
| |
|
| 3:45 p.m. |
Laboratory Discussion |
| |
Results and Statistics |
| |
|
| 4:15 p.m. |
Water Treatment Plant Tour |
| |
Context of Water Fluoridation |
| |
|
Day Three
|
| 8:00 a.m. |
Operation of Water Fluoridation Systems |
| |
Records |
| |
Calculations |
| |
Maintenance |
| |
Inspections |
| |
|
| 9:00 a.m. |
Operator Safety |
| |
Planning for Safety in Fluoride Handling |
| |
Fluoride Exposure |
| |
Toxic Exposures: Chronic and Acute |
| |
Personnel Safety Gear and Techniques |
| |
|
| 9:45 a.m. |
Managing Fluoride Levels and Defluoridation |
| |
Well Blending |
| |
Alternative Sources |
| |
Methods for Fluoride Removal |
| |
|
| 10:15 a.m. |
Fluoridation Costs |
| |
Equipment Costs |
| |
Additive Costs |
| |
Installation Costs |
| |
|
| 10:40 a.m. |
Running Successful Community Fluoridation Campaigns |
| |
Community Support |
| |
Coalition and Program Capacity |
| |
|
| 11:15 a.m. |
Implementing Improvements in Your State Program |
| |
|
| Noon |
Course Closeout |
