Click here for the full article written by David Burger for the ADA
The World Health Organization announced Oct. 1 updates to its Model List of Essential Medicines for Adults and Children, three of which – topical fluoride-containing preparations (such as toothpaste), glass ionomer cement and silver diamine fluoride – are dental treatments featured for the first time.

The updated essential medicines list, which includes 20 new medicines for adults and 17 for children, had never deemed these dental preparations as essential until now.

“This marks a major achievement for oral health and public health,” said Jessica Meeske, D.D.S., immediate past chair of the ADA Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention.

“As a practicing pediatric dentist who sees a large number of low-income, high caries-risk patients, I have seen the benefits of fluoride, glass ionomer cement and silver diamine fluoride, and I am glad that their usefulness is recognized globally as essential.”