As opposition to fluoride grows, rural America risks a new surge of tooth decay

James Flanagin, the only dentist in Leslie, Ark., treats David Potts. About 25 million Americans live in dentist shortage areas, according to new research from Harvard University.

Many rural counties are short on dentists, and if they lose water fluoridation, tooth decay could surge to levels that have not been seen in decades, experts warn.

(Image credit: Katie Adkins)