No one will deny the importance of a winning smile. It makes a pleasing appearance, promotes self-esteem, and is valuable to social and career success. Creating a beautiful smile is what orthodontics is all about.
Monthly Archive for December, 2008
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is essentially a sophisticated titanium screw that serves as the replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth.
The implant is placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw, allowed to bond with the bone and serves as an anchor for the replacement tooth. Dental implants can be used to replace a single lost tooth or many missing teeth.
I understand that many of the readers are asking about the comparison of the referral rates between a Private patient and a referral case from a dental polyclinic.
I’ve done some research on the National Dental Centre Singapore and you can take a look at it here.
In the next few days, I’ll be posting the difference between private and subsidized rates for National University Hospital , Changi General Hospital as well as Alexandra Hospital. So keep a look out for them.
“I don’t feel any pain, why should I see a dentist?”
That’s the typical response of the busy working adult that puts work, family, food and every other “necessity” first before their Oral Health and Hygiene.
According to a survey by Singapore Dental Health Foundation (SDHF) and the Singapore Humane Resources Institute (SHRI), having ‘no pain’ was the number one reason Singaporeans gave for not having regular visits to the dentist.
So are we supposed to treat out set of pearly whites like a car that can take much of the beating we give it and only when it breaks down, send it “to the workshop!”
Unlike cars which have replaceable spare parts, our teeth and gums do not have that sense of security that we might perceive and once it’s gone it’s either costly to get it fixed or it might just be too late to salvage.
One of the silent enemies of our teeth is - gum disease. You don’t feel any pain at all until it’s too late. Once you’ve reached that stage, it’s going to be a constant 4 to 6 months of seeing a specialist periodontist to keep it under control, else, gums disease could eventually lead to tooth loss.
Sounds scary? It is!
So how many Singapore adults have some form of gum disease? Health Promotion Board states 81%. Every 4 out of five of your friends have some form of gum disease. That should bump ‘going to see the dentist regularly’ up the priority list for you.
So what’s the Gum disease about? Gum disease is an infection that attacks both the gums and the bone supporting the teeth and in severe cases are the direct causes of tooth loss. Look into the mirror and check if you’ve got the following early signs of gum disease:
- swollen or puffy gums
- bleeding from gums
- red gums (not pale pink, red)
- ask someone if you’ve got bad breath
or late stages of gum disease:
- longer looking teeth
(if you think your teeth are still growing at 30, you’re wrong, the gums are receeding) - shifting teeth
- spaces between teeth (where gums should have been)
- loosening of teeth
- pain
- subtle itchness
Another common problem that can be corrected early is tooth decay. This is also another silent killer as you feel no pain while the decay is happening, not until the decay reaches the nerve will you start to feel any sensation or pain. But the bad news is that by the time that has happened, the decay has passed through your fortified walls of enamel and headed straight for your vital nerves, causing infection along it’s path.
If your excuse of not going to see a dentist is to ’save money’, i hope to knock some ‘cents’ into you. Let’s do some math.
Treatment for simple tooth decay would be cleaning, fillings that would cost around $120, but if the decay has hit the nerve, Root Canal Treatment (RCT) would set you back around $600-800 if done by a specialist Endodontist.
Furthermore, treatment for gum disease could have you undergo a few sessions of ‘deep scaling’ (deep cleaning inside the gumline) that cost $300 per hour if done by a Specialist Periodontist. Compared with a regular cleanings and instructions for proper home care (brushing, flossing or use of mouthrinse)
So it’s a stark ‘penny wise pound foolish’ mindset that needs to be changed.
Hopefully after reading this, you’ll pick up the phone and call your dentist to make an appointment and get your teeth “serviced”. And let it be a bi-annual ritual from now on.
Amalgam Fillings - Pros / Cons
Pros:
- With metal content present, these fillings are stronger and thus able to withstand heavy biting pressure. Because of this strength, they are primarily used for back teeth (molars) where biting force is intense
- Relatively inexpensive
Cons:
- Contains mercury
- Amalgam filling are completely safe and there is no conclusive studies to mercury inside amalgam fillings posing any danger.
In June 2008, FDA admits that amalgam dental fillings may NOT be safe. Quoted from FDA site: - “Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses. When amalgam fillings are placed in teeth or removed from teeth, they release mercury vapor. Mercury vapor is also released during chewing”
- “Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bioburden, should not avoid seeking dental care, but should discuss options with their health practitioner”
- In light of the above, not all dentist offer amalgam fillings anymore
- More tooth area is lost in the preparation process
- Aesthetically not pleasing (looks like you’ve got black beans stuck in your teeth)
Composite Fillings - Pros/Cons
Pros
- Does not contain mercury, It is basically a plastic with a combination of finely ground particles of silica, quartz, barium,glass, zirconium, and strontium (all dependent upon manufacturer’s unique blend).
- Aesthetically pleasing. Looks like your tooth colour, that explains why it’s sometimes called “tooth-coloured filling/restoration”. Duh.
- Hardens immediately after your treatment (due to light activation), therefore chewing on the site immediately is possible
- Less tooth area is lost in the preparation process
Cons
- More expensive than amalgam ($20-$50 more in Singapore)
- Time taken is usually longer
- Susceptible to staining from staining agents like coffee, tea, tobacco etc.
- Not as strong as amalgam fillings
Conculsion:
In light of the recent health dangers and aesthetics, composite fillings would be a better choice. But due to the inability to withstand large amounts of bite pressure, might not last as long as amalgam fillings in the back teeth.
In any case, ask your dentist for the best solution to your problem.
*Update 27th Dec 2008
Thanks for the emails from concerned Singaporeans that still have amalgam in their mouth or are thinking of doing a filling but are uncertain about which one to choose.
In the Straits Times Fri 11 July 2008, there was an article on the FDA’s announcement where some dentist commented on their findings. Yet again, there are 2 camp regarding this. To view, click here.
Additional resources on this topic:
- America’s Dental Association (ADA) comments on FDA’s settlement on Dental amalgam Lawsuit
- ADA’s stand
- Dental amalgam controversy
- Norway bans mercury fillings
- Norwegien Ministry of Environment: Bans mercury in products
- Reuters: Dental mecury ban in Norway, Sweden & Denmark
- Reuters: US FDA Admits Risks of Mercury Dental Fillings, Settles Lawsuit
- Reuters: Mercury teeth fillings may harm some: FDA
- Philadelphia - First City in Nation - to Pass a Law Requiring Informed Consent
Before Dentists Use Mercury Amalgam - Amalgams pose no risk to human health, EU report says
- Asiaone: Silver dental fillings may not harm kids’ brain
And the list goes on….. and on….
However, Singapore’s dental associations continues to state that amalgam filling is safe to be used. That’s why your dentist still offers amalgam fillings as an option to tooth restoration.
This has been and will continue to be a debate. Like many of the other debates going on,
- “excessive usage of handphones is dangerous & affects your brain (mobile phone controversy)”
- “artificial sweeterners causes brain tumors, brain lesions, mental disorders (Aspartame controversy)”
we’ll just have to wait and see…
When it comes to making a decision, you should consult your dentist on his views on this matter. But to many of us, we agree with M.J. when he said “it doesn’t matter if it’s black of white”.
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