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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!

06

Jun

Yadkinville NC dentist offers superior way to replace missing teeth with dental implants

As a holistic and biological practice, Virtue Dental Care understands how the materials and techniques used in dentistry affect not only oral health but also overall wellness. For this reason, Dr. Mary Katherine Taylor takes great care to provide treatments that are low-risk, non-toxic, and add to the quality of your life. Dental implants fit in well with this Yadkinville, NC office and are a significant asset for patients.

Why Dr. Mary Katherine Taylor places implants

In the past, if you were missing a lot or all of your teeth, dentures may have been the only option. Since conventional dentures are not fixed to underlying bone, wearers commonly complained about loose fit and daily upkeep such as soaking and cleaning. Over the longer term, dentures actually accelerate the destructive process of bone loss in the jaw.

Dental implants stabilize replacement teeth in a way conventional dentures can’t. Innovations in implant techniques have resulted in a versatile procedure which can replace everything from a single tooth to a mouthful of teeth. Newer approaches allow for a minimal number of implants to support a maximum number of teeth, which reduces the costs associated with this type of tooth replacement.

A cylindrical post designed to replace your tooth’s natural root, the implant is placed in the jawbone to provide a stable foundation for your new tooth or new teeth. This feature provides a number of benefits over traditional tooth replacement such as dentures and conventional bridges, including:

The implant-supported tooth looks, functions, and feels like a natural, healthy tooth.
The implant system provides stimulation to underlying bone through chewing food and other actions.
Bone strength is maintained, which avoids damaging bone loss.
You retain a youthful appearance, because underlying bone remains strong and supports facial tissue and structures that otherwise sag with bone loss.
You avoid other bone resorption-related complications such as problems with speech and chewing food.
Since dental implants are built like natural teeth, there is no special upkeep. You brush and floss as you normally would. In turn, you are less likely to fail to properly clean your teeth.

You also retain healthy tooth structure. Conventional dental bridges rely on adjacent teeth for support. To properly support the new tooth or pontic, these teeth must be crowned. To accommodate the crowns, the teeth would be reduced in size, which might involve removing otherwise healthy tooth structure. Its newer counterpart gets support from dental implants firmly rooted in the bone, so you don’t have to worry about losing healthy structure from surrounding teeth.

To find out more about dental implants and other restorative options, Virtue Dental Care Patients call (336) 606-0040, and New Patients call to schedule an appointment at Virtue Dental Care.

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