Journal of the Louisiana Dental Association

LDAfrom the editorDavid N. Austin, D.D.S.Editor, LDA JournalA Truly Great AccomplishmentEvery now and then, it is good to give ourselves apat on the back for a job well done. The recentlegislation that came before our state to mandate waterfluoridation in community water systems with at least5,000 households has been passed and has been signedinto law by Governor Bobby Jindal.Now, for the first time, most of our statemunicipalities that supply water to their citizenswill contain fluoridation. Once this is implementedthroughout our state, the incidence of caries in childrenand adults will be decreased. This is something that didnot go unnoticed by the ADA, as you may have seen inthe August 4, 2008 ADA News. (This article can also beviewed by going to www.ada.org.)This could not have happened if we had not workedtogether. I would like to name a few key names ofindividuals that went above and beyond the call ofduty. The Healthy Smiles Coalition, which includedmany local, state and national organizations, workeddiligently to pass this legislation. Local participantsincluded: Eunice Chamber of Commerce, LouisianaAcademy of Family Physicians, Louisiana Associationof Nurse Practitioners, Louisiana Chapter, AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics, Louisiana Dental Association,Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals, LouisianaDietetic Association, Louisiana Fluoridation AdvisoryBoard, Louisiana Maternal and Child Health Coalition,Louisiana Primary Care Association, Louisiana Societyof Health-System Pharmacists, Louisiana State MedicalSociety, LSU Health Science Center School of Dentistry,New Orleans Dental Association and North LouisianaArea Health Education Center. You can view theentire list of partners by visiting the Web site at www.healthysmileslouisiana.org/coalition.html.And, there was much participation among ourmembers who contacted many leaders of our statelegislature through phone calls, letters and e-mails. Asmembers, many of us also used the LDA’s grassrootslobbying tool, VoterVOICE, which truly enhanced ourcommunication capabilities with our state legislature.LDA staff and lobbyists, as well as support from theADA, was especially integral in accomplishing ourlegislative goal.Sometimes, it is truly nice to be envied by otherstates for an accomplishment that is not so easily done.But I think like many of you, the inner knowledgeof knowing that water fluoridation can decrease andhelp eradicate the scourge of dental caries among ourchildren is enough thanks for me. Congratulations toall of us for a job well done!LDA is pleased toannounce the newestway to pay your dues:The automatic bankdraft system.For more informationcall 1-800-388-66422 LDA Journal