Philosophies of Dentistry
Holistic / Biological / Biomiminic / TMJ / Cosmetic / Implant / Sleep Dentistry These are all Philosophies of Dentistry. It needs to be understood that these are not recognized Licensed Specialties of Dentistry by State Boards or Dental Schools. When you call them specialties, it’s misleading. When Dentist’s say they specialize in something, they better have a license or degree from an accredited dental school. TMJ Specialist and cosmetic dentist are another example, no formal license exist. There are hundreds of dental continuing education classes going on every weekend throughout the world teaching different techniques, philosophies and opinions. Tons of Continuing education exist online now as well, we dentist can watch hours of education videos on many different subjects. Most are driven by manufactures, trying to sell the dentist a new piece of equipment, technique, instrument, material, philosophy. Some are other dentist telling us what he did to be successful. I can tell you what worked for me, if you pay me 3k a weekend to listen to me) Most all dentist have different philosophies and look at your oral cavity, teeth, gums, etc with different approaches. We all go throughout our careers learning bits and pieces along the way. No two dentist are alike. Sometimes we change, sometimes we stay the same. We are all looking around or over our shoulder to what the other dentist is doing. We ask, how can I set myself, my practice apart, or we ask, am I in line with what everyone else is doing. It’s important for the patient to be aware of how much current training the dentist is getting or how much they are trained on a philosophy of dentistry. It’s also important to note, I could find you a research article supporting almost any claim. You want to hear Crest is better toothpaste than Colgate or Oral B electric Brush is better than Sonicare? I could more than likely find a research paper to support whatever you want to believe. It gets way worse in our dental field, as we have a vast world of materials, cause and effects of surgeries, amongst many many other things that we have to stay on top of the research. We also have to be skeptical of research from the product company and have sources to the best non biased research, which is getting harder and harder to find. After sifting through research, clinical outcomes, longevity of treatment, its ultimately up to the dentist to decide, is this best for the patient?
Can Old Fillings Cause a Metallic Taste?
Why Does my Mouth Taste Like Metal? Metallic fillings have always been controversial. From the time of their introduction until today, they were a source of contention within the dental community. Originally banned by dentist organizations, they eventually became the standard of care, but lingering doubts about their safety have many people wondering about the wisdom of this decision. One of the key questions about metal amalgam fillings is whether the metal stays in the filling or whether it can migrate out of the filling into your teeth, gums, and even bloodstream. Today, we think the answer is that metal can move out of the fillings, and that may be responsible for the metal taste in your mouth, and you might want to replace them with composite or porcelain fillings. Causes of a Metallic Taste There are two main mechanisms by which metal can move from amalgam fillings. First, chemical reactions can “liberate” metals that should be locked in the filling. This usually occurs when you either have lots of fillings or have another type of metal in your mouth that can create a galvanic reaction, the sort of reaction that is used in batteries, which is why they not only release more mercury and other metals, they create painful shocks. Next, mercury can simply seep out of the amalgam, slowly penetrating through your teeth and gums and causing a metallic taste. Are Your Amalgam Fillings Responsible for That Metal Taste? However, if you have a persistent metal taste in your mouth, it’s important to note there are other possible causes so we don’t leave the real cause of your metallic taste untreated. Some medications can give you a metallic taste, especially antibiotics. Talk to your doctor about your prescriptions and whether any of them can lead to metallic tastes. Another important cause of a metallic taste is bleeding gums. Once you have periodontal disease, you need to get it treated to avoid losing your teeth, so we want to make sure bleeding gums aren’t to blame for your metallic taste. At Ascent Dental, a local dentist in Cherry Creek, Denver, we can help you track down the taste of metal in your mouth and eliminate it. We offer composite and all-ceramic restorations so that you can get rid of metal amalgam fillings forever. For more information, please contact Ascent Dental Group today. Book a FREE Consultation