Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Learn The Facts On Composite Dental Fillings Made from Porcelain or Resin

In our professional experience, composite dental fillings made from resin and porcelain are the best options for filling teeth with cavities and cracks The use of dental amalgam, also known as silver-mercury fillings, is no longer a wise or viable option in general dentistry. Their use dates back to the Civil War and many dentists throughout the country still use them in their daily practice.

These outdated fillings are made from silver and mercury that harden when the two are mixed. There are a number of reasons why use composite dental fillings instead.

For one thing, composite dental fillings contain no mercury. They are made either from special resins or from porcelain. Amalgam fillings can consist of as much as 55 percent mercury at the time teeth are filled. The problem is, mercury leaks out of the filling over a period of years. In five years, mercury content is normally around 27 percent.

After fifteen years, it is down to zero. It is the position of our group that patients should never have to ingest mercury in any amount, as it is highly toxic. It will show up in the liver, placental barrier, and mother's milk. While we have no definite proof linking mercury contamination to a number of diseases often mentioned in the media, we do have cause for concern.

So why don't all dentists use composite dental fillings instead? This is an intriguing question. Mercury is still part of the standard curriculum in most dental schools. It is inexpensive, and it is easy to place. Some insurance companies will even go so far as to insist on amalgams because the payout on them is less expensive than composite porcelain or resin fillings.

It is ironic that when we remove amalgam scraps from a patients teeth, we have to store them in a hazardous waste container. Why then would such a toxic substance be found in a human mouth to begin with? The answer is that amalgam had be in use prior to either the federal government or the American Dental Association systematic testing of which materials were safe to use in dentistry. If tested today, mercury certainly would not be approved. However, it was permitted to remain in use after the fact through a grandfather clause which is still in effect till this day.

There is another very important reason to opt for cosmetic dental fillings instead of mercury-silver. They do not expand and contract in response to temperature changes. Mercury, on the other hand, is an expansive substance, which is why it is so effective when placed in thermometers.

When mercury heats up, it expands. It makes no sense to us to place a substance that is more than 50 percent mercury into a brittle tooth. Drinking or eating anything cold, then eating or drinking something hot will have to same effect on the filling as the substance in a thermometer. In our practice, we see so many adult molar fractures that we now believe these fillings are responsible for so many cracked teeth.

Finally, from an aesthetic perspective, a dental filling made from porcelain or resin will blend right in with the natural color of teeth. This allows a properly trained dental professional to make almost any tooth look brand new at the end of the day.

Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat.


About the Author

Cosmetic Dentistry Center. For more information about Composite Dental Fillings, Dental Implants, and LANAP visit us online now.

Related posts:

Labels: ,

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Quality Treatment Tables are the Cornerstone of Any Medical Practitioner's Exam and Treatment Room

Ask any patient which portion of their medical visit they remember most, and they will most likely tell you it's the time spent in the examination room. If you think about it, things change drastically when going from the waiting room to the exam room.

In the waiting area, you are fully clothed, relaxed and more than likely reading a magazine or a book you brought with you, while soothing music plays in the background. Once you get into the exam room, everything changes.

You're sitting half clothed in a smaller room, up on a table rather than a chair. In this situation, you most certainly hope to have a table that is both comfortable and sizable enough so that you are at ease.

As a medical practitioner, it's important that you keep your patients at ease as much as possible, as most medical related visits cause patients to have a case of the jitters just being there, even if for a simple check up.

At the time of examination, it's just you, the patient and the table. To keep your patient comfortable during the exam or treatment, it is important the table keeps the patient in a comfortable position throughout the office visit.

So how does the table do its part? By placing the patient at the proper height for ease of examination and treatment, and keeping them as comfortable as possible. High quality tables are characterized by strong motors, so they can lift any patient safely regardless of size.

Motors are very important, as in the electric high-lo tables. This table must be able to move patients into varied positions for therapeutic sessions and manipulation. Not only does the correct table get the job done more efficiently, it is more professional, and is essential for client satisfaction. The handicapped and the elderly are especially needful of this type of table, as it allows them to feel more secure in getting on and off the table.

Another prime example of the importance of the treatment table is during massage therapy. Regular tables simply are not a good substitute for a quality massage table. An essential part of massage therapy is the patient feeling at ease, while in a comfortable position.

The mark of a quality massage table is that it is comfortable to the patient, is easy to clean, and be highly transportable. Massage therapists who must take their business to the patient require a table which is as functional as it is comfortable. Of course, the stationary massage table must also be functional and fit into your budget.

For those practitioners who treat overweight or obese, a bariatric table is a must. A quality bariatric table will help put your larger patients mind at ease during the evaluation and treatment.

With obesity being a real health issue, most practitioners are seeing more and more overweight patients, which creates a must have situation in bariatric tables. Of course, these tables are suited to use across the board with all your patients, no matter their size.

One of the most versatile tables you can invest in is the mat table. This treatment table allows practitioners to treat patients who have specific ambulatory or height needs. They are perfect for those who are in wheelchairs, or are elderly.

Mat tables are specifically designed to provide a treatment area that has plenty of room and can be adjusted in height. Also, mat tables have the ability to connect to one another to make an even larger treatment area if needed. These tables are easily portable, and are constructed of sturdy materials, while retaining a lightweight status.

Pediatric tables come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate both the needs of the patient, and the practitioner. No one will argue the fact that children are very special patients, and have different needs than adults.

Exam rooms can be imposing to an adult, so imagine how children feel when put into a room where everything is so big and unfamiliar. By incorporating a treatment table that has a bit of novelty to it in the manner of fanciful and familiar images, children are reminded of things to which they can relate to, and feel more at ease. A nice comfortable treatment table with child friendly decor will go a long way in getting patient participation, and will make the examination go much smoother.

Getting the perfect table for the job is a lot easier when you know beforehand exactly what your needs are before you go shopping. Take all your patient's needs into consideration, and then invest in the best table you can to ensure your patient is comfortable so you can get the job done as efficiently as possible.

About the Author

Author Alex Craig can help you find the perfect table for your clinic. For more information on choosing Treatment Tables, or other Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Fitness Equipment needs, please visit www.MedSourceUSA.com.

Related posts:

Labels: , , ,