Feb
Biological dentists use some traditional methods of material selection such as shade, color, light transmission, and shape matching. Biological dentists are also looking for harmony. Harmony with how the teeth, muscles and joints function, and with how the material reacts with the body’s immune system.
For instance, traditional aesthetic crowns are actually porcelain layered over a coping of what I will call “mutt” metal. Best case scenario- the DDS did a great job preparing the tooth, had a great shade and shape match, and the crown was placed without incident.
Time and again the area will react to the trace minerals in the coping, which are in direct contact with both the neural vascular portion of the tooth prep, and vascular area below the gum line. Body’s immune systems often react to copper, zinc, iridium and tin, trace minerals commonly found in coping metals, and sometimes the aluminum and minerals from the porcelain.
The area becomes red, and the probings around the crown (you know those measurements the hygienist takes at cleaning appointments?) increase and before one knows it they are diagnosed as having periodontal disease. Patients frequently hear that they are at fault – not brushing and flossing enough around that new precious dental work. The dentist shakes their head. But it’s an immune response to the materials, perhaps even the bonding agent is contributing to the irritation. The same person would not believe a jeweler who claimed it was the client’s fault that her earlobes became inflamed or turned green due to poor hygiene.
The Biological Dentist can avoid this scenario by testing for Biocompatible materials for the patient and then intelligently match the qualities of a low immune response material to the requirements of the area to be treated. As materials vary greatly in their qualities of strength, resistance to “chewing forces”, transparency, placement technique, and “finish”, this is a very important decision. Both the Dentist and the Patient should desire biocompatibility, beauty, and durability in any treatment.