Although U.S. agencies have thus far avoided taking a definitive stance on dental amalgam, other countries have taken bold measures against the toxic dental filling material. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark banned mercury fillings, a number of countries placed limitations on their use for pregnant women and children, and the Council of Europe called for their restriction and prohibition.

Meanwhile, it has been openly acknowledged that corporations profiting from the mercury industry sponsor the same dental groups who defend mercury fillings.

The IAOMT has repeatedly brought the hazards of mercury fillings to the FDA’s attention, as documented by thier testimony at the Dental Products Panel Hearing in 2010, their petition filed in 2009, and thier 2002 publication of over 1,000 adverse reaction reports due to dental amalgam.

For more information on all of the subjects shared in this post, please refer to the original IOAMT press release available by clicking here.

IAOMT has established a mercury safety protocol for patients and personnel, especially women who are pregnant or of child-bearing age because fetuses are known to be extremely sensitive to mercury. For more on the guidelines, please click here.

Dr. Mike is a member of the IAOMT and strictly follows the mercury safety protocols established by the IAOMT. Please contact us if you have questions about removing your mercury.

In Remembrance and Dedication to Christina

In dedication and remembrance to Renee’s Grandmother, Christina, and Oral Cancer Month, we are offering free Oral Cancer Screenings for the entire month of April.

According to the ADA:

“Your dentist has recent good news about progress against cancer. It is now easier than ever to detect oral cancer early, when the opportunity for a cure is great. Only half of all patients diagnosed with oral cancer survive more than five years.

Your dentist has the skills and tools to ensure that early signs of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions are identified. You and your dentist can fight and win the battle against oral cancer. Know the early signs and see your dentist regularly.”

For more information from the ADA about Oral Cancer and the importance of early screening click here.

Contact us to make your free Oral Cancer Screening appointment. Remember, this offer is only for the month of April, so give us a call today and help us in our fight against cancer.

Samit Joshi, a postdoctoral fellow in infectious diseases at the Yale Univ. School of Medicine, recently presented the results of a study indicating those who do not practice good oral hygiene are at a greater risk of developing pneumonia. He claims that changes in the types of oral bacteria can have a significant imopact onthe risk of develping pneumonia and the risk doubles if s/he has periodontal disease. During the past decade in particular dental scientists have found more systemic diseases associated with periodontal disease, including various forms of heart disease. Therefore it comes as no surprise to witness the results found in this study.

The oral health of 37 subjects was studied from a variety of age and health backgrounds over a period of one month. Only a small percentage of subjects developed pneumonia, but those who did also showed significant increases in the number of oral bacteria associated with pneumonia. While the study was not designed to demonstrate the direct relationship between pneumonia and these bacteria, Joshi hopes the experiment he directed will be replicated by larger independent studies to determine a causal link.

Other studies have implicated the increase in pneumonia in the elderly with poor oral hygiene. It is commonly known that the disease can be particularly deadly among those in the older age groups.

As we are all taught, oral hygiene is important for keeping us healthy throughout our lives, now some studies show it is just as important as we age to stay healthy. The best oral hygiene is conducted between you and your dentist. Regular check ups and cleaning along with good personal hygiene is a good start towards a long and healthy life.

Source: YaleDailyNews

Here are the highlights from the Mercola article.

In Vermont, State Senator Kevin Mullin and State Representative George Till are working with the Vermont Health Commissioner, Dr. Harry Chen, and medical trade organizations funded by pharmaceutical companies to take away the philosophical exemption to vaccination with two bills before the state House and Senate — S. 199 and H. 527
Vermont parents, including a mother and father whose seven year old daughter died within 92 hours of a routine flu shot, are urging Vermont legislators to oppose the bills that would strip Vermonters of their right to exercise philosophical belief exemption to vaccination (See video below).

Vermont is one of only 18 states that still allows a conscientious, personal or philosophical exemption to vaccination; these states come the closest to protecting a citizen’s right to exercise voluntary, informed consent to vaccination, but this exemption is under attack by proponents of “no exceptions” mandatory vaccination laws that will eliminate all non-medical exemptions to vaccination in the United States.

This is not simply an issue of being for or against vaccination; it’s a matter of protecting your legal and human right to abstain from risky medical interventions for yourself and your children.

Vermont residents, if you want to protect your right to exercise a philosophical exemption to vaccination, please contact your state representative and senator IMMEDIATELY and tell them to vote against S. 199 and H. 527

Last month we did a post on whether Thimerosla was being used in vaccines and we confirmed that: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Thimerosla, the mercury-based preservative used to prevent the growth of germs, bacteria and fungi was approved and is being used for the 2011-2012 Seasonal Flu Vaccines. Read more here.

We also offered some good suggestions on how to opt-out of vaccines, in this post. If you have any questions about mercury, please give us a call.

Source:Vermont Parents Fight to Save Philosophical Exemption/a>

Steve Martin as Orin Scrivello, DDS in the Little Shop of Horrors

If researchers at the University of Missouri have anything to say about it, the dental high-speed handpiece will go the way of the horse and buggy. They are well on their way to replacing it with a new device called the Plasma Brush. It is silent and painless in operation…something that has been dreamed about for decades if not longer.

It would take only about 30 seconds to remove the average size carious lesion. The chemical reactions involved would be able to clean and disinfect the area of decay easily before restoring the tooth to its proper form and function. In addition the surface prepared by the plasma brush results in an increased bonding strength for the restoration (filling).

It is estimated that approximately 200 million fillings annually cost patients about $50 billion, and about 75% of those are considered replacement fillings. Hao Li, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the MU College of Engineering said,,,,,, “The plasma brush would help reduce those costs”. He estimates that restorations placed using the plasma brush are 60% stronger than those presently being used. Undoubtedly these restorations will have an enhanced life span, thus reducing costs for patients and their insurance companies. It is estimated that human trials will commence in 2012, and if things go according to plan, the plasma brush could be in dentists hands by 2013.

Source: The Blaze, 12/22/2011 by Liz Klimas

Tooth Cleaning May Reduce Heart Disease

The research study done in Sweden involved 7,999 patients with periodontal disease and cites predisposition to cardiovascular disease as related to the number of teeth present, severity of gingival bleeding as well as the severity of periodontal disease present in the oral cavity.

Source: Medical News Today, 15 Nov 2011…Catherine Paddock, PhD. Link to full article.

Consult local dental specialists

Research dental specialists in your community, (orthodontist, oral surgeon, periodontist, endodontist, pediatric dentist, etc.). Call them and ask if they can refer you to an excellent dentist, preferably one considered to practice preventive/biological/natural dentistry. This immediately limits the field. Any dentist who truly wants you to enjoy excellent dental health for a lifetime will help you learn what is involved in the preventative/natural process.

Consult local Health Practitioners

Find natural health practitioners (Naturopath, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, etc.) and call their office to request a referral to a local dentist. The focus of the natural practitioner should point you to the right direction of a natural/holistic dentist.

Consult Google!

In the age of the Internet, many dentists (including myself) have websites to help you be more discerning in selecting a dentist without having to commit to making an appointment for your first exam, etc. No question this can be a practical first step in your search, and by doing this often you will see a difference among sites and quite possibility sincerity of intent. Cross reference the dentists you find through Google with Facebook and Twitter. See if the dentist has an online presence and read their posts and updates. This is a great way to see if you connect with the doctor’s views.

Read The Reviews

When you have narrowed down your list, Google those names. Look for any reviews on the dentist. Many sites (Yelp, Kudzu, Healthgrades, Dr. Oogle, Angie’s List, etc) will list the dentists name and then share what has been said about them from, hopefully, actual patients. Remember, not all reviews have to be glowing. Perfect, does not exist in our society, so if there are a few negative reviews, don’t let that scare you away. Don’t base your entire decision on reviews, if there is something that concerns you, ask the doctor directly about the excerpt of the review that concerns you.

Make The Call

When you have narrowed your search to two or three possibilities call each office. If you are confident through your research that this the dentist for you, make an appointment. If not, when calling for the first time, explain briefly why you are calling and ask if the doctor offers a free consult. If not, ask if you may speak with the office manager to go over a few questions you may have before committing to an appointment. Obviously politeness, enthusiasm and willingness to talk with you and answer all of your questions will certainly give you a clue about what might await you in the future.