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The FDA has advised ‘vulnerable’ groups – pregnant and lactating women; women trying to conceive; fetuses, infants and younger kids; those with neurological or kidney issues; and those allergic to mercury – to avoid dental amalgam. We take this advice very seriously. That’s why we consider mercury-free smiles as a priority!

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FDA advises “vulnerable groups” to avoid dental amalgam

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised certain “vulnerable and high-risk groups” to avoid getting dental amalgam fillings if possible due to the potentially harmful effects the mercury in these fillings may pose to their health.

In a recent statement, the FDA has updated its recommendations on dental amalgam and potential risks to certain individuals that may be posed by these mercury-containing fillings that are used to restore the missing structure and surfaces of decayed teeth.

The groups that the FDA has listed as facing greater risks for potential harmful health effects include:

Pregnant women and their developing fetuses
Women who are planning to become pregnant
Nursing women and their newborns and infants
Children, especially those younger than six years of age
People with neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease
Those with impaired kidney functions
Those who are extremely sensitive or allergic to mercury or other components in dental amalgam.

Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury and a powdered alloy comprising silver, tin and copper. The FDA has been reviewing and monitoring scientific publications and reports and conducting public discussions on the effects of dental amalgam and mercury vapor on patient health for over 20 years.

They now also recommend non-mercury alternatives like composite resins and glass ionomer cement fillings, especially for vulnerable populations. The FDA has made these recommendations after obtaining the views of healthcare professionals and public comments about dental amalgam and other metal implants and evaluating published literature.

If you are searching for natural, mercury-free dentistry in Yadkinville, North Carolina, make Virtue Dental Care your provider of choice!

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Sep

Considering biological dentistry near Stuart, VA? Here’s what you need to know.

Virtue Dental Care provides patients near Stuart, VA with conservative holistic care.

The health of your mouth and your entire body is closely connected. For this reason, it’s important to seek dental care from a provider who truly understands this close oral systemic connection. At Virtue Dental Care, our entire philosophy of care is because any procedure we perform, and any materials used can and will impact overall wellness. If you are near Stuart, VA and have been researching biological dentistry and the oral systemic connection, we invite you to call our office and ask any member of our team the importance of this type of dental care.

The oral systemic health connection

Every day, millions of Americans go to the dentist for some type of care or treatment, never fully understanding the connection between what occurred in the office and their total wellness. The good news is that as a biological dental practice, we do. The oral systemic connection refers to the link between oral health and the health of the entire body. Diseases that originate in the mouth can increase the risk of other more serious health conditions. One such example is periodontal disease. This bacterial infection can enter the blood stream and cause problems with organs in other areas of the body. Periodontal disease has been linked to the following conditions:

Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease
Diabetes
Low birth weight
Strokes

A deeper look into periodontal disease

Many adults will experience gum disease at some point in their lives, and often never know they had it. The earliest stage of the disease is called gingivitis and it produces symptoms such as bleeding while brushing, chronic bad breath, and swollen/red gum tissue. Many cases of early gum disease resolve, either with an improvement in oral hygiene or through professional dental cleanings. However, when the condition progresses it can become a much more serious infection.

Advanced periodontal disease must be addressed through more advanced treatment options including dental care, medications such as antibiotics, and restorations for tooth, gum tissue, and bone loss. In addition to these oral health problems, the infection may travel to other areas of the body.

CALL OUR OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Virtue Dental Care Patients: (336) 679-2034 | New Patients: (336) 606-0040

How biological dentistry can help with periodontal disease

One of the ways biological dentistry can help is through patient education and prevention. Gum disease is largely preventable through good oral hygiene and routine dental care. We establish a strong relationship with our patients that encourages them to be proactive about their oral health which translates to overall wellness.

Another way is using holistic treatment options. We use dental ozone therapy which is a very effective way to remove bacteria from deep within the periodontal pockets to improve health and healing.

Why biological care is important

Just like an infection such as periodontal disease can travel through the body and impact health, so can the effects of the materials used in dental procedures. As such, we take special care to ensure that all our materials and devices are safe for the body. This means we do not place amalgam fillings, we provide safe removal services of these fillings, and we provide other metal-free restorations such as composite resin fillings, and ceramic crowns, inlays and onlays.

Before mapping out any sort of treatment plan, we always consider how the procedures and materials could impact the entire body and strive to always use the most conservative methods available to us.

Some of the most important reasons to consider a biological dentist include:

Their goal is to educate. Biological dentists are passionate about the mouth-body connection and are happy to share any information they have to improve total wellness. This includes recommendations about products to use at home, and certain products to avoid.
They default to conservative, minimally invasive treatments. Biological dentists are not around to just drill and fill, they are advocates for preserving natural tooth structure and using safe technologies such as ozone therapy, laser therapy and CEREC technology.
They are mercury-safe and mercury-free. Not only do biological dentists avoid the use of amalgam fillings containing mercury, the also offer the safe removal of these fillings following the guidelines by the IAOMT.

To learn more about how biological dental care from Virtue Dental Care can improve your health, call us today at 336-606-0040.

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