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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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Safe pediatric sedation dentistry in NC helps establish good childhood memories, and helps avoid fear in adulthood

The fear of the dentist is often rooted in negative experiences during childhood. Virtue Dental Care wants to prevent this crippling fear from developing, so you and your littlest family members will keep coming back for the ongoing care necessary for good oral and overall health.

One of the ways Virtue Dental Care ensures you and your child have the best experience possible is with sedation. Thanks to advances in sedation, Dr. Mary Katherine Taylor and his team can safely administer pediatric sedation to patients in Yadkinville NC and the surrounding areas. These patients might otherwise be too anxious for Dr. Virtue to treat.

In combination with Dr. Mary Katherine Taylor’s focus on minimally invasive procedures (such as fillings and inlays and onlays versus crowns), oral conscious sedation allows your child or teen to feel completely at ease. Since concerns associated with the loss of control while under sedation are a primary source of patients’ dental fears, parents and children alike can rest easier knowing these calming medications allow the patient to remain awake and respond to questions from Dr. Virtue and dental hygienists.

Oral conscious sedation requires a pre-sedation evaluation. These fast-acting drugs leave your child’s body quickly. Dr. Mary Katherine Taylor will provide instructions on when the medication should be given prior to treatment. During treatment, Virtue Dental Care staff will continuously check your child’s vital signs. After treatment, your child will have little to no memory of the procedure.

While oral conscious sedation is very safe for children, your child may have a pleasant experience with another sedative approach: nitrous oxide. Better known as laughing gas, this is what comes to mind when many people think of calming drugs used during dental procedures. The sedative agent, when mixed with oxygen, is delivered to your child via a mask comfortably and securely fitted over the nose. As with oral conscious sedation, the patient will still be able to respond to requests and outside stimuli, without having a care in the world about the treatment.

Several factors are considered when determining the best sedative option, including the anticipated chair time for the treatment and the level of dental anxiety. To find out more about pediatric sedation dentistry for your little one, Virtue Dental Care Patients call (336) 606-0040 and New Patients call for appointments

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