By Jaidyn Steinbrecher
The Selinsgrove Borough Council voted to remove fluoride from the municipal water system despite strong opposition from local citizens and council members alike.
The motion, introduced by Councilman Todd Cox and seconded by Councilwoman Sara Maul, passed despite vocal dissent from Mayor Michael B. Bolig, Council President Pro Tempore Richard P. Mease and locals.
The mixed vote concluded the final step before the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) conducts its formal permit review, a process expected to take up to six months.
During the public comment period, Dr. John Lazur, a retired dentist representing the Sunbury Dental Health Clinic, delivered an extended presentation; the council unanimously granted him additional time after his five minutes expired.
Lazur cited 80 years of research on community water fluoridation, calling it “one of the top public health achievements of the 20th century.” He warned that eliminating fluoride would significantly increase dental decay, particularly among vulnerable residents.
“Fluoride is a safety net,” Lazur said. “Once you remove this, I do believe that this would be a step backwards.”
According to Lazur, the Sunbury clinic recently examined over 400 patient charts for children aged 5 to 20. The comparison between fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas showed a 50% increase in dental decay in communities without fluoride.
He estimated that the clinic, which already treats over 1,300 patients each month, would face approximately 17 additional patients per day as a result.
Lazur emphasized that the greatest impact would fall on residents who lack insurance or rely on Medicaid.
“There’s not one private practice in the area that takes Medicaid,” he said, explaining that those in pain often must travel to Williamsport or Harrisburg. Wait times at major regional providers, including Geisinger, can stretch to one year for extractions or pediatric care.
Lazur noted that the Sunbury clinic is operating with a four-month waiting list and an ongoing shortage of dentists and hygienists.
Councilman Mease urged colleagues to weigh the long-term consequences.
“We are talking about the health and welfare of our kids, our elderly, our people that don’t have correct insurance,” Mease said. “Even if they do have the correct insurance, it’s the possibility of making my community healthier.”
Representatives from Larson Design Group, the borough’s engineering firm, told council members they had “successfully gone through the public process,” including reviewing more than 160 pages of public input and technical documentation.
The fluoride removal plan will now be forwarded to DEP for formal permitting, which could take up to six months before any changes take effect.
While fluoride debates have periodically surfaced in municipalities across the country, Selinsgrove’s vote represents one of its most significant public health decisions in recent years. Several council members offered no explanation for their final vote, leaving residents divided and dental providers bracing for the potential impact.