A Few Words on the Costs and Economics of Fluoridation in Yarmouth

For easier organization and presentation, this page is in three sections,

• 1)  Costs of fluoridation
• 2) Economics of fluoridation
• 3) Bottling facility proposal
  

1) The Costs of Fluoridation in Yarmouth

These are the best estimates at this time from the Yarmouth Water Dept., as developed by SEA Consultants, Inc., of Rocky Hill, CT.  The precise engineering, planning, and installation work would need to be done under a professional engineer's license to meet professional standards and DEP approval for a project involving Yarmouth's rather unique situation of having 17 wellheads.  Once that work is done then the project would be put out to bid.

• Capital costs - For the engineering work, equipment, installation, and other such related costs, the figure is $975,731.

• Operational costs - The figure for operations and maintenance on a yearly basis is $91,233.

• Net present value (NPV) - The present value of the investment over a 20-year period is $2,119,411.

• Cost per person - Over the 20-year period, the cost per person is $4.90 per year (based on a population figure of 21,616 provided by the Town Clerk's office).
  

Funding would not come out of the town's budget and would not appear as taxes.  The funding would come out of the Water Dept. budget, a separate entity.  At present, it cannot be said by how much, or even if, water rates would increase.

2) The Economics of Fluoridation in Yarmouth

This section is based upon estimates of the amount of tooth decay that presently exists, the cost to repair it (amalgam or composite restorations), and the savings that would result from fluoridation.  This is a rather simple estimate, not taking into account more extensive and expensive procedures such as crowns, implants, bridges, surgical procedures, so this is more for illustrative purposes and quite likely very much underestimates the costs of treating tooth decay.  The math is basic but the process is rather detailed, so please follow along.

• It was presented on the "Facts and  Further Resources" page that about 50% of school children through third grade in Yarmouth elemen- tary schools had experienced decay or had untreated decay.  This was used to estimate the amount of decay in the 18 and under population, of whom there about 2123 in town, according to figures from the Town Clerk's office.  Fifty-percent of 2123 = 1062 individuals.

• A reasonable assumption is that these 1062 individuals have on average 6 teeth with decay.  Restoring these teeth depends on the severity of the decay, the number of tooth surfaces involved, and the type of restorative material used.  Simple restorations are on the order of $100 for a 1-surface situation, more complex 4-surface ones about $340, for an average of $212, again depending upon complexity and material used.  1062 kids x 6 teeth with decay x $212 = $1,350,869.

• Using as a basis that half the adults statewide have had at least one tooth removed due to decay, an estimate is that one-half the adult population in Yarmouth (one-half of 19,493), those 19 and over, have on average 3 teeth with decay.  Adjusting for the number of elderly totally without teeth (1351), that brings the estimate to 18,142 x 0.5 = 9071.  9071 adults x 3 teeth with decay x $212 = $5,769,156.

• Under these assumptions, which seem reasonable, an estimate of the burden of decay in the Yarmouth population is $1,350,869 (18 years old and under) + $5,769,156 (19 and above) = $7,120,025.

• Assuming a 60% effectiveness from fluoridation in preventing tooth decay in kids and a 30% effectiveness in adults, then the economics of fluoridation in Yarmouth is estimated to save $1,350,869 x 0.60 = $810,521, and $7,120,025 x 0.30 = $2,136,007, respectively, for a total of $2,946,528.
  

• The estimated capital cost for this concept is $2,926,358.

• The estimated annual operating and maintenance cost is $390,071.
  

• The 20-year NPV of this concept is $7,994,257.