Sir, - As a member of the Forum on Fluoridation, I was disappointed to read the letter from John Gormley, TD (September 26th). The members of the forum had hoped that all people with an interest in the issue of water fluoridation would read this detailed report and that an informed debate on the subject could then take place.
From his letter, it is apparent that Mr Gormley's reason for dismissing the report before reading it is that he believes that the forum was stacked with "pro-fluoridationists" and thus brought in a predetermined verdict. This is untrue.
I am a public health dentist. No doubt, I am one of these people whom Mr Gormley would be happy to label as a "pro-fluoridationist". I can tell him that I most certainly am not. My job as a health board principal dental surgeon is to promote health, particularly dental health. This is the task that the community entrusts to people like me, and to discharge this duty I am obliged to use real scientific evidence. The point is that it is the evidence itself which is very much pro-fluoridation.
Should the evidence change, I would be quite happy to recommend withdrawal of water fluoridation. For instance, if the underlying risk factors for dental disease (mostly but not exclusively lifestyle related) could be reduced, fluoridation would most likely lose its effectiveness and would not be needed.
I must also state that nobody, at any time, has ever brought any pressure or influence to bear on me to come to a positive view on fluoridation. On the contrary, the instructions from the Minister for Health and Children to all forum members made it clear that the continuation of the policy of water fluoridation was and is an open question.
Mr Gormley should try to resist the temptation to smear people with whom he disagrees. It does not make for constructive debate and is entirely unworthy. - Yours, etc.,
Dr JOHN MULLEN, Principal Dental Surgeon, North Western Health Board, Sligo.