Biocompatible Dentistry Services Explained

No part of the human body embodies the idiom “you are what you eat” like teeth.  Diet plays a huge part in oral hygiene.  More patients are streaming in dentists offices to get their teeth fixed than ever before. In fact the CDC published a report in 2012 that found approximately 9 in 10 adults (age 20-64) in the United States had dental caries in permanent teeth. The figure for adults over 65 is much higher at over 96%.

Consumption of sugary foods/drinks, chewing of gum and poor oral health are the main causes tooth decay. Tooth decay is brought about consumption of sugars mainly sucrose which react with bacteria to produce an acid which weakens the enamel causing plaque. There are a number of ways dentists use to treat cavities and one is biocompatible dentistry.

What is Biocompatible Dentistry?

Biocompatible dentistry stems from a practice of holistic treatments that is geared at using the safest, non-toxic natural elements and materials to maintain good oral health.  It encompasses physical, emotional and spiritual facets in dental health.

Biocompatible dentistry seeks to give patients healthier smiles by getting rid of harmful materials that are commonly used in conventional dentistry.  It seeks to eliminate use of amalgams, commonly known as silver fillings which contain mercury, one of the most toxic neurotoxin known to man. 

Mercury is so dangerous that even limited exposure causes headaches, mental disorders, fatigue, panic attacks, anxiety and overall irritability. A large proportion of people with silver fillings are not aware that their fillings are mercury-laded as well as the hazards it posses to them and their families. The World Health Organization through a report submitted to the OSPAR commission reports that over half (53%) of the world’s mercury emissions comes from traces that are present in dental amalgams and in other related medical devices. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and American Dental Association (ADA) have not presently banned use of amalgams. However there are some countries that have banned use of Amalgam fillings including Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.  Notably these countries that have imposed a ban rank high in world happiness and world healthcare systems rankings.

Remedies from Biocompatible Dentistry 

Biocompatible dentistry offers an alternative to dental amalgam fillings by use of ceramic and composite.  Ceramic is artificially made and been proven to be durable during dental restoration procedures. It comes in handy for both full restoration and addition of partial crowns.

Composite resin material is best used when patients want to get rid of their existing silver amalgams.  Biocompatible dentistry also ensures that water is not contaminated by removal of amalgams through the proper use amalgam separators that decrease mercury concentration in water.   

Other Safe Practices

Safe and preventive practices that biocompatible dentistry advocates for is use of high-volume air filtration system and use of ozonizer to sanitize the air in the operating room.  Additional provision of external oxygen during dental restoration procedures.

 Biocompatible dentistry also calls for use of pure distilled in-house water system free from contamination.  Clean water should always be available for scrubbing, rinsing and general cleaning of dental tools.

Related: wisdomtoothpain.org