Media reports on foreign made dental crowns discovered in laboratory tests that they contained lead at 200 parts per million. This alarmed the American Dental Association, which then alerted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The ADA conducted tests on foreign and locally made dental crowns. The CDC has said that the amount of lead is “highly unlikely” to be dangerous. Domestic dental laboratories may outsource production overseas, in which case it has to import crowns, bridges, and other dental devices. As a precaution and for your own peace of mind, find out from your dentist where the crowns come frome and what they are made of.
Last year, research teams from different parts of the world made the news when they expressed hope in the use of stem cells to grow new teeth. Separate groups of researchers from the Tokyo University of Science in Japan and King’s College London in the United Kingdom have successfully grown teeth from mouse stem cells and transplanted them into mice, while another team from the University of Southern California has grown teeth from human stem cells and transplanted them into pigs. It appears that the challenge is getting the teeth to form roots, without which the tooth would be rendered useless. Another question is where the stem cells will be taken from, whether they will be obtained from embryos, bone marrow, gums or teeth.
We mentioned in the last post that dental amalgam is one of the best direct restorative material as of today. However, we also posted here, and here, the possible dangers presented by one of the main ingredients of the amalgam: mercury. Now we’re going to update you on new information regarding this subject.
Norway has taken a stand against dental amalgam. They have totally banned its use across the country as they reasoned that safer alternatives are available. This not only includes dental fillings but also measuring instruments. They consider the mercury as “…among the most dangerous environmental toxins. Satisfactory alternatives to mercury in products are available, and it is therefore fitting to introduce a ban.”
Will the world soon follow suit or will this be disproved? Watch this blog for more details soon.
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Folks from Florida, you’d better check this article out.
There will be a bit of stringency in keeping with the regulations that protect the millions of American dental patients who receive permanently seated restoration treatments (at least those who receive them in Florida for now). This is due to the legislation filed by Florida Rep. Stan Jordan, R-Jacksonville, and backed by the Florida Dental Laboratory Association.
Dental-restoration products – such as porcelain crowns, dentures and bridges will now be regulated by requiring “all dental laboratories to disclose to dentists where a product was manufactured and what materials were used, and provide certificates of authenticity.”
Dentists will also be required to include this information in the records and dental charts of patients in case of enquiries. This will also help health officials track and trace particular restorations to their source in case problems later emerge. The bill also requires dental laboratory technicians to maintain continuing education every two years.
SOURCE: Earthtimes
Image Source: Forever Teeth
A new dental implant procedure called the hybridge is a new technology pioneered by doctors to give people with a lot of missing teeth a good reason to smile about.
The procedure consists of teeth removal and the fastening a row of resin dentures to several mental implants. It appears to be very cost effective granted that the patient has a �mouthful of problems.� The procedure is also speedier than its other counterparts � try completing the whole process from a whole year to merely three weeks. The idea behind the procedure has been brewing for many years but it has only been recently that the actual process itself was formulated.
�It can be cost-prohibitive when you’re dealing with someone who has a full mouth of problems and they feel implants are too costly for them. This is a great way to do it fast and cost effective.�
Prices start at $15,000 to $20,000 dollars which amounts to half the cost of dental implants with porcelain crowns and bridges. Not bad, huh?
Up to now, the idea is still under patent consideration but the actual goal is to market the procedure nationally.
Source: WHEC
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