Dental materials to avoid

Until recently, no one was particularly concerned about the biocompatibility of dental materials, and there were no debates or controversies on this topic. However, at least in Romania, a limited range of materials has been used for a long time, which mainly had to meet two requirements: they had to be cheap and resistant. Therefore, some of us remember, or perhaps still have, Gaudent metal works, amalgam fillings (containing mercury), and all kinds of metal alloys for dental bridges and crowns, with acrylic veneers.

 

Types of toxic dental materials

 

• Gaudent, for example, a yellow metal, is currently banned from the market, even though it was created by a Romanian doctor, Dr. Gaucan. Gaudent has been shown to be carcinogenic, denatures in the salivary environment, and changes color. It should clearly be avoided, and if you know you have work done with this material, I recommend replacing it with new, biocompatible materials.

 

• Chromium-nickel is a durable alloy widely used today as a base material for porcelain (ceramic) dental work, but in some patients it can cause allergic reactions such as inflamed gums that bleed at the slightest stimulus.

 

• Acrylic is a cheap dental material that looks like natural teeth, but over time it breaks down, cracks, leaks, changes color, and gets rough. This makes acrylic irritate your gums, causing inflammation and a bad smell. Over time, they deteriorate, creating spaces between the gums and the crown that promote tooth decay and become unsightly. Acrylate itself is a plastic! At this point, the only indication for acrylate would be temporary crowns, which are worn for only a few days until the final work is ready, and in no case for long-term restorations.

 

• Dental amalgam is a well-known filling material, metallic in color, which many Romanians are still proud of because it has "lasted" for decades without causing any problems. It is true that amalgam's strength is its strong point and that is why it has been so successful, plus, of course, its very low cost. Unfortunately, however, it is not only these two considerations that are important, but also the influence of this material on the body.

 

About dental amalgam. How toxic is it?

 

Amalgam has mercury as its base component, which we all know has toxic potential for the entire body. Although the Romanian College of Physicians claims that this material is safe for human health, there are numerous studies that prove the contrary. Many of these studies claim that mercury vapors are constantly released from these fillings when we chew, rub our teeth together, drink hot beverages, or during brushing our teeth. It also appears that the mercury released from fillings affects our overall health, especially that of children, promoting autoimmune or immunodeficiency disorders, multiple sclerosis, kidney disease, allergies and hypersensitivity, genetic disorders, etc.

 

Amalgam has been banned or restricted for dental use in several countries around the world: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, France, Austria, Canada, and Germany. Unfortunately, in Romania there are no regulations regarding this material and it is still used in quite a few dental offices when it comes to cavities. At Life Dental Spa, this material is not used or recommended by our doctors.

 

Non-toxic dental materials for dental restorations

 

Below, we have made a selection of non-toxic dental materials, ranging from simple fillings to complex prosthetic work. Consequently, we have chosen those with a high degree of biocompatibility, such as:

• Ceramic (porcelain) – is a very body-friendly material and at the same time offers a special aesthetic to crowns, veneers, and dental inlays. The color and texture are stable over time, the work does not yellow or become rough or impregnated; on the contrary, it retains its beauty in the long term. Full ceramic crowns are very aesthetic, closely resembling natural teeth and imitating their transparency and translucency very well. For this reason, they are recommended for crowns and veneers on front teeth, which are visible when smiling. In terms of resistance, however, they are more sensitive than zirconium restorations, for example. The gums easily accept this type of material because it does not irritate them.
• Zirconium – is one of the most dental-friendly materials. It is a white material that can be easily adapted aesthetically and is very well accepted by the gums and the body in general. The work can be done entirely in zirconium, or it can have an infrastructure made of this material, which is then coated with ceramic. Zirconium provides strength and durability over time, without affecting the aesthetics – there will no longer be a dark line where the restoration meets the gums, as is the case with metal-containing restorations. The result is both aesthetic and durable over time. We also use zirconium to make pivots (crown-root reconstructions) at our clinic. To do this, the root of the tooth is treated endodontically, then prepared (milled) according to certain rules and imprinted. The impression will be sent to the laboratory and will serve as a mold for the new zirconium pivot.
• Glass fiber – we use it in our clinic for pivots and periodontal immobilizations. It has high biocompatibility and aesthetics.

 

Non-toxic dental fillings

 

Of all types of dental materials, non-toxic fillings are relatively new in dentistry. In fact, Life Dental Spa was the first clinic in Romania to offer patients non-toxic composite fillings for the treatment of cavities. 

Let me explain what this dental filling material is and what makes it so special. We are all familiar with regular composite fillings, which are tooth-colored and light-cured with a special UV lamp. Most of us probably have such fillings in our mouths, as they have been and still are widely used in dentistry. However, recent studies have shown that they contain compounds called methacrylates, which are potentially toxic to the tooth on which they are applied, but also to the rest of the body.

In short, UDMA, TEGDMA, and HEMA methacrylates can affect tooth development and their ability to self-repair, as they are toxic to odontoblasts (tooth cells) and fibroblasts (gum cells), and can cause sensitivity and even necrosis of the dental nerve. Furthermore, they can cause allergies and toxicity in lung cells.

I admit that when I attended the specialist conference that presented this issue, I was a little surprised and skeptical, but I continued to study the subject and concluded that such studies should not be ignored. Therefore, I searched for a METHACRYLATE-FREE composite alternative and found this non-toxic composite, which we warmly recommend to all our patients.

At this point, I believe that laser treatment of cavities and filling with non-toxic fillings is one of the most effective methods, and involves the use of high-quality, biocompatible dental materials. 

 

Life Dental Spa recommends and promotes biocompatible dental materials for both dental fillings and more complex prosthetic work. If you need more information about dental materials to avoid, you can make an appointment at any of our clinics in the country.