There are numerous reasons why our San Antonio cosmetic dentistry office is amalgam free, but the most important reason is that we don't want to expose our patients to large doses of mercury. Amalgam fillings or silver cavity fillings are the largest source of mercury for patients who have them and they continue to release mercury into the patient's body daily while eating, chewing gum, and teeth grinding.

Dr. John Moore, and the rest of the staff at Cosmetic Dental Associates strive to be the very best cosmetic dentistry office in San Antonio, and that starts with providing the safest, most efficient dental care possible for our patients.

The reason why were so concerned about exposing our patients to mercury is because it's toxic and can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and the immune system in large quantities. Fetuses, infants, and children that are exposed to mercury are seen with impaired neurological development that negatively affects their cognitive thinking, memory and language skills. Adverse reactions in adults include tremors, mood swings, insomnia, headaches, weakness, change in nerve responses, concentration problems and memory disturbances can also occur.  It's also been linked to numerous diseases, such as Alzheimers's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

Countries, including Norway, Sweden and Canada have outlawed the use of amalgam in the dental field and we hope that ours is next.  In the meantime, we are always watching out for our patient’s health and safety, so our San Antonio dentistry clinic been amalgam free for over 20 years.
 

We offer fluoride to all of our patients, children and adults, at each teeth cleaning visit to help prevent cavities and to reduce tooth sensitivity.

Fluoride helps strengthen the tooth's enamel, making it more resistant to acids and bacteria, which means less tooth decay or cavities. Fluoride also reduces tooth sensitivity on roots that are exposed due to gum recession, clenching and grinding.

A little bit of fluoride goes a long way and we believe that fluoride's predominant affect occur when they are in direct contact with teeth so we only apply Fluoride topically. Fluoride that's given systemically can lead to Fluorosis, which causes teeth to be discolored, look spotted, pitted or stained. Therefore, we don't recommend our patients to take fluoride orally.  

To reduce consumption of fluoride, avoid swallowing toothpaste and other dental hygiene products and avoid drinking overly fluoridated water.  Children are especially vulnerable to fluorosis, so we recommend that they use only a pea-size amount of toothpaste and should be supervised while brushing their teeth until about seven years old.

Beryllium is a hard, silvery-white metal that is added to base metal alloys for use in dental crowns, bridges and partial denture frameworks. Beryllium has a very high melting point at 2349 degrees Fahrenheit and is very light in weight. The combination of its lightweight and high melting point, make it valuable for making metal alloys. With beryllium’s chemical properties and cheaper price, the material is often added to metal alloys instead of pricier precious metals in dental labs.

What is not so well known about beryllium is that it is a category 1 carcinogen, meaning that it is cancer causing to animals and humans. Beryllium produces a direct corrosive effect to tissue and exposure to its vapor or particles can cause a number of life threatening diseases. These diseases include contact dermatitis, chronic granulomatous lung disease, lung carcinoma and osteosarcoma. Beryllium disease can develop in a short period after initial exposure or remain latent for up to thirty years.

The risk of ingesting beryllium dust and particles is the greatest during the fabrication of dental crowns, bridges and partial dentures. So the people who are affected the most are the dental lab technicians. Symptoms of Beryllium disease include cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss, fevers, and night sweats. Because of these generalized symptoms the disease is often gone undiagnosed and therefore not treated for properly.

The general public should be informed about this cancer causing metal that could be in their mouth right now.  At Cosmetic Dental Associates we do not use any beryllium in the fabrications of our dental restorations. We have replaced this cancer causing material with titanium, which is a biocompatible and a precious metal. This is our policy not only because we care about the safety of our patients as well as our talented lab technicians Mingo and Sam. A good consumer is an educated one!

Dental Care After Head & Neck Radiation Therapy

Radiation to the head and neck area comes with a few side effects.  One of the most critical ones are the temporary and permanent changes that occur in the mouth.

Temporary Changes

Temporary changes that occur after treatment disappear a few weeks after radiation is complete.  These changes may cause some discomfort and make it difficult to eat and swallow.  These include mouth or throat ulcers, sore mouth and throat, painful gums and tongue.  Another side effect is taste changes or ageusia, which means no taste at all. 

To improve these symptoms, eat only foods that soothe and relieve your mouth. 

What to Do:

1.            Eat foods that are soft, liquid and blended.

a.     Soups

b.     Jello

c.     Pudding

d.     Milk shakes

e.     Cooked cereal

2.              Eat foods that are cold or at room temperature.           

3.              Eat smaller bites and chew slowly.  Always have liquid (preferably water) on hand to sip on.

What to Avoid:

1.              Crunchy foods that may cut your mouth

a.     Chips

b.     Popcorn

c.     Granola bars

d.     Nuts

e.     Dry cereal

2.              Hot foods or liquids

3.              Spicy, salty, or acidic foods. Including mint and cinnamon flavored gums

4.              Alcohol, caffeine and citrus juices

Permanent Changes

Permanent changes that occur due to head and neck radiation therapy do not disappear after treatment and patients have to take extra steps daily to make sure they lessen the symptoms and prevent further problems in the future.

One of the main permanent changes is dry mouth. Also known as xerostomia.  Radiation causes a decrease in amount of saliva the salivary glands produce.  With less saliva protecting the teeth and removing bacteria from the mouth, cavities are more likely to occur. 

To improve dry mouth and prevent cavities, always have a water bottle on hand and chew gum to stimulate salivary flow.  Also, practicing daily oral care is very important:

·      Always have clean hands prior to starting your oral hygiene routine

·      Floss before you brush

·      Brush after each meal and before bed

·      Use a soft toothbrush

·      Use a fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash

Jawbones are also affected due to the radiation reducing the blood circulation, which decreases the ability to heal wounds.  Always inform the dentist that you’ve had radiation therapy prior to treatment to prevent complications. 

If your upper teeth are covering most or all of your lower teeth, then you have an overbite.  An overbite is a condition where the front teeth overlap the lower teeth excessively.  A little overbite, however, is normal and actually optimal.  Your upper teeth should cover one third of your lower teeth, about 3-5 mm.  Anything over that is too much and can cause excessive wear of your lower teeth, painful joint problems and damage your upper gums.

 If you’ve seen an English Bulldog or Jay Leno, then you’ve seen an underbite. An underbite occurs when the lower front teeth extend over the upper front teeth.  This condition causes poor functioning of the teeth and can make chewing very difficult.

 Fortunately, both of these conditions can be treated with Invisalign or braces and should be treated sooner than later so the damage doesn’t continue.  Call us today at (210) 337-6453 or Click Here to request an appointment!