Help Improve Your Dental Health

Regular brushing, flossing and checkups are important for good dental health, but there's more you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Read more

Scientists Bioengineer New Teeth in Mice

Researchers in Japan report that they've grown new teeth in mice with the help of bioengineered tissue, an early sign of progress in the effort to grow new organs in humans. Read more

Health Tip: If You Fear Going to the Dentist

Regular dental checkups and cleanings are key to having healthy teeth and gums. But the sights, sounds and potential pain of the dentist's office are enough to keep many people away. Read more

Dental Spa

Just as it exactly sounds, Bangkok Smile Dental Spa is a unique dental practice that offers the combination of high quality dental service with the specialized relaxation of spa services and treatments. Can you imagine that visiting the dentist might one day be regarded as a treat, a pleasant session in which you’re pampered by personal attention before a little relaxing laser tooth whitening , root canal or surgical work? Dental Spa is your choice.

As well as dental treatment, a range of other treatments, such as massages, aromatherapies , hydrotherapies and facials are available, all against a backdrop of relaxing mood music and images. There’s a serious medical purpose behind this, beyond the need to get more people through the door and more income for the practice: there’s good reason to think that a relaxed patient is one who suffers less and whose treatment is more effective. Continue Reading >>

The 3 1/2 Year Success Of Root Canal Cover-Up

The Price Pottenger Nutrition Foundation was organized on September 11, 1965, in order to make Dr. Weston A. Price's monumental work Nutrition and Physical Degeneration available to the public. This book clearly demonstrated to the world that human physical degeneration was basically a nutritional problem. The book made Dr. Price famous.

During the last 31 years, the Foundation has reprinted Nutrition and Physical Degeneration eight times, in order to meet the growing interest in his work.

The Foundation has also had custodial care of Dr. Price's vast dental research data. Documenting his incredible accomplishments are 220 articles, which can be found in the dental and medical literature, along with two additional books. Unfortunately, until recently, Price's dental research remained unknown.

Much of Price's research is contained in two monumental volumes entitled Dental Infections Oral & Systemic and Dental Infections and the Degenerative Diseases. While these works have long been in the PPNF library, it was only just four years ago that the Foundation became aware of their importance. These volumes have moldered in obscurity because Dr. Price's research was suppressed and buried over 70 years ago by the autocratic action of a minority group of dentists and physicians who refused to accept the focal infection theory. Continue Reading >>

Dr. Sorin on Dental Health

Dr. Robert M. Sorin, DMD, discusses his comprehensive, integrated approach to your dental health.

What is a holistic dentist?

Host Jennifer Kamstock explains what a holistic dentist is and why we should go to one. Written and produced by Larry Cook, author of The Beginner's Guide to Natural Living. Distributed by Tubemogul.

Health Tip: X-Rays at the Dentist

(HealthDay News) -- Healthy teeth require more than good dental hygiene and regular cleanings. Dental X-rays can show potential abnormalities that your dentist couldn't otherwise see, indicating how healthy your teeth really are.

Here's a list of what dental X-rays can be used to identify, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• The number, size and position of all teeth.
• Teeth that are impacted or those that haven't emerged.
• Cavities.
• Damage to the bones surrounding the teeth.
• Abscesses.
• Fractures in the jaw.
• Other abnormalities of the teeth or jaw.

Health Tip: Talking to Your Dentist

(HealthDay News) -- Good dental care protects your teeth, and helps prevent other health problems. So, it's important to talk to your dentist about how to take proper care of your teeth.

Here are questions to ask your dentist, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• What kind of toothbrush is best for my teeth and gums?
• Do I have specific problems with my teeth and oral health that need watching?
• How do I floss properly?
• Should I use any special instruments to clean my teeth, such as an electric toothbrush?
• Should I use any special rinses or mouth washes?

Heavy Metal Toxicity and dental fillings removal

Heavy Metal Toxicity can be caused by mercury fillings. This video prepares your dental appointment with a holistic dentist or a general dentistry clinic.Fumes of heavy metal while being removed can make you more sick than ever before. Be prepared.

Chemical & Heavy Metal Cleanse Starter Kit $149.85 [ learn more ] The Chemical & Heavy Metal Starter Kit was designed by Dr. Group for individuals that are new to the cleansing process, or are simply looking for an easy-to-perform, cost effective cleanse program. The Heavy Metal Starter Kit is comprised of LIFE Detox Foot Patches™, NDF Plus™, and Quantum Zeolite™.

Tischler Dental: Holistic Dentistry in Woodstock, New York

Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbbxKchHW0Y

Over 50 years, Dr. Michael Tischler, cosmetic dentist of Tischler Dental in New York believes in the philosophy of treating the "whole person" -- that is, seeing your dental well being in the context of your overall health.

Here Dr. Tischler discusses how he entered the field of holistic dentistry and how subtle, non-invasive adjustments to a patient's teeth can alleviate chronic body pain.To learn more about Holistic Dentistry, visit http://www.tischlerdental.com

International Ban on Mercury in Dental Amalgam

Luxembourg Appeal
International Ban on Mercury in Dental Amalgam

Coordination:
European Academy for AKUT asbl Environmental Medicine e.V.
137, rue de Mühlenbach Juliuspromenade 54
L-2168 Luxembourg D-97070 Würzburg
tel. +352 22 33 75 tel. +49 931 35 34 830 fax +352 22 28 73 fax +49 931 57 31 31 info@akut.lu europaem@europaem.de

Luxembourg Appeal:
Towards an International Ban on Mercury in Dental Amalgam

Invited by the „Aktionsgruppe für Umwelttoxikologie (AKUT asbl)“ in Luxembourg and the “European Academy for Environmental Medicine” (EUROPAEM) and under the patronage of the Ministry of Health Luxembourg, renowned scientists, researchers, doctors specialized in environmental medicine, physicians, and dentists as well as politicians, NGOs, and patient groups met on the 10th of November 2007 to draw attention to the serious risks for health and environment coming from mercury out of dental amalgam.
Following this international conference, they published unanimously this urgent appeal addressing the European Commission, the European Parliament, and all national health authorities within and outside of Europe to ban mercury in dental amalgam.

Luxembourg Appeal
The signatories, participants of this international conference in Luxembourg, and/or supporters of the objectives and outcomes of this conference, believe that:
• starting from the scientifically uncontested toxicity and the health and environment damaging potential of mercury and its combination with other metals,
• recognizing the effort of UNEP as well as the report of the EU-Commission to the Council and the European Parliament concerning their joint strategy on mercury,
• recognizing the resolution of the European Parliament about the joint strategy on mercury and the therein included doubts and reservations against the use of mercury in dental amalgam,
• pointing out that, repeatedly now, on both European and international platforms, independent scientists and researchers, doctors specialized in environmental medicine, critical physicians and dentists as well as NGOs and patient groups urgently warn against the continued use of mercury, especially in the dental medical field,
• considering the fact that these warnings are grounded, among other things, on the demand of the precaution principle and a preventive policy for health and environment,
• considering the fact that, at the same time, scientific evidence that mercury from dental amalgam in many cases unambiguously leads to numerous health disturbances or chronic diseases increases,
• supported by the fact that dental amalgam is not an alloy but only a mixture and therefore allows a continuous release of mercury and other heavy metals,
• further supported by the fact that experiments on cells and animals as well as studies on post mortem examination of humans provide strong evidence for storage of mercury in human cells, tissues, and organs,
• considering that primarily mercury vapor released from dental amalgam is adsorbed and accumulated by cells and tissues,
• based on the fact that this direct storage of mercury vapor from dental amalgam constitutes a primary enrichment in addition to accumulation from other sources of mercury such as the animal and human food chain,
• considering that accumulation of mercury is able to cause chronic diseases dependent on the dose, duration of contact, individual susceptibility, and the genetically determined or acquired state of detoxification mechanisms,
• pointing out that in industrial countries, mercury from dental amalgam represents the second greatest burdening source of mercury for the environment and therefore for human nutrition,
• knowing the potential of physical damage from mercury, especially o the toxicity to cells and toxic damage to cell membranes, o the neurotoxicity, o the modulation of the immune system and immune toxicity, o the alteration of endocrine patterns, o the reduction of fertility, o and the risks for embryonal and fetal development (perinatal damage),
• considering that, therefore, numerous health disturbances as well as inflammatory, chronically degenerative and often severe chronic diseases can be initiated,
• regarding that in this context scientific studies are providing more and more evidence showing correlations between the use of mercury in amalgam as well as other dental metals and frequently occurring serious diseases,
• concluding that mercury from dental amalgam exposes numerous people to irresponsible health risks, especially to developing life in the pre- and perinatal period, the EU authorities, the WHO, as well as the national health authorities in Europe must now seriously take note of those increasing numerous warnings and, as a consequence, ban the use of mercury in dental materials without delay!

Luxembourg, 10th November 2007
Jean Huss
AKUT asbl, LUXEMBOURG
Dr. Kurt E Müller
European Academy for Environmental Medicine e. V., GERMANY

Marie Grosman
Prof. agrégée de biologie,
Association Non au mercure dentaire, FRANCE

Prof. Boyd E. Haley
Professor of Chemistry-Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA

Dr. Graeme Munro-Hall
International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxikology, UNITED KINGDOM

Dr. Joachim Mutter
Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology at the University Medical Center, Freiburg, GERMANY

Prof. André Picot
Directeur honoraire de Recherche CNRS
Président de l`Assosication de Toxicologie - Chimie ATC, Paris, FRANCE

Prof. Vera Stejskal
Associate Professor at University of Stockholm and First Faculty, Charles University Prague; Danderyd, SWEDEN

Health Tip: Baby Teeth Need Attention

(HealthDay News) - Even though baby teeth eventually fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, they still need proper care.

Here are suggestions to keep baby's teeth healthy, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• It's never too early to start brushing. As soon as the infant's first tooth erupts, start brushing twice a day with a damp washcloth.
• Once your baby is a year old, start brushing teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste (without fluoride) that are designed for babies.
• Make sure your baby sees the dentist by the first birthday. Make sure the child has regular, twice yearly checkups every year.
• Avoid too much juice, which may contain lots of sugar that can lead to decay.
• Don't give your baby a bottle once the infant has reached 1 year of age.

Marijuana Bad for the Gums

(HealthDay News) -- Pot smokers face many of the same health consequences that tobacco users do, such as an increased risk of heart disease, but until now, it wasn't known that marijuana use could also destroy gum tissue.

In the Feb. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers reported that heavy marijuana users have as much as three times the risk of developing serious gum disease compared to those who haven't smoked pot.

"We found in our study that long-term heavy [marijuana] smokers had a greater risk of gum disease by the time they reach their early 30s," said study lead author W. Murray Thomson, a professor of dental epidemiology and public health at the Sir John Walsh Research Institute at the School of Dentistry in Dunedin, New Zealand.

"The gums in a person's oral cavity before the age of 35 seem to be a pretty sensitive marker for adverse lifestyles," said Philippe Hujoel, a professor in the department of Dental Public Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. Hujoel wrote an accompanying editorial in the same issue of the journal.

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Smoked like tobacco, it has many similar ill health effects. Marijuana use has been associated with increases in the risk of heart disease, head and neck cancers, problems in the lungs and infection. Marijuana has also been associated with social behavior problems, according to NIDA.

For the study, Thomson and his colleagues used data from a group of 900 New Zealanders who have been followed from birth into their early 30s. The group members have been assessed 11 different times since they were 3 years old. The researchers began asking about marijuana use at age 18, and then again at 21, 26 and 32. Dental examinations were conducted at 26 and 32 years of age, according to the study.

Thomson acknowledged that it's sometimes difficult to get people to accurately report illicit drug use. But, he's confident in this case that the use of marijuana was honestly reported, because this group has been participating in this study for so long and knows that its answers will remain confidential.

The researchers identified three marijuana "exposure" groups: No exposure, 32.3 percent; some exposure, 47.4 percent; and high exposure, 20.2 percent.

After adjusting the data to account for tobacco use, gender and a lack of dental care, the researchers found that those in the high-use group had a 60 percent increased risk of early periodontal disease, a 3.1 times greater risk of more advanced gum disease, and a 2.2 times increased risk of losing a tooth due to gum disease, compared to those who didn't use marijuana.

"We think that it is the same as with tobacco smoke: That is, the effect is not directly on the gums as smoke is inhaled. Instead, it acts through toxins being absorbed into the bloodstream via the lungs and then affecting the body's ability to heal itself after bursts of destructive inflammation in the gums," Thomson said.

The bottom line, he said, is "don't smoke, whether it's cannabis or tobacco -- it's not a rational thing to do, and it has far-reaching effects on your health."

If you're concerned about the health of your gums, Hujoel suggested that you avoid risk factors, such as smoking, and ask your dentist or periodontist what additional steps you can take to protect them. If you have early periodontal disease, he said that regular periodontal maintenance care is generally recommended, but there may be other treatments, depending on your individual periodontal health.

More information
To learn more about marijuana and its effects on the body, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Health Tip: If You Fear Going to the Dentist

(HealthDay News) - Anxiety about going to the dentist is common, but fear shouldn't prevent you from keeping your teeth in good health.

The American Dental Association offers these suggestions to help ease anxiety at the dentist's office:

• Talk to your dentist or hygienist about your anxiety, so they can better understand and accommodate your needs.
• Schedule appointments when you have plenty of time and won't feel rushed -- such as very early in the morning, or on a Saturday.
• Bring soothing music to distract you during your appointment -- especially if the sounds of a dental office bother you.
• Visualize yourself somewhere pleasant -- on a beach, with family or at a park.

more discussion: Forum
· Addiction Forum · Ask the Doctors Forum · Ayurveda Forum · Ayurvedic & Thai Herbs Forum · Colon Cleansing Forum · Dental Forum · Diabetes Forum · Diet Forum · General Cleansing Forum · Hepatitis A, B. C Forum · Integrated Medicine Forum · Live Blood Analysis Forum · Ozone-Oxygen-Forum · pH - Alkaline - Acidity Forum · Weight Loss Forum

Oxy-Powder® Complete Cleansing System $147.75 [ learn more ] Complete Cleansing System with Livatrex™, Oxy-Powder®, Latero-Flora™, and two bottles of ParaTrex®.

Dentists Take Dimmer View of Patients' Smiles

(HealthDay News) -- People tend to be much happier with the condition of their teeth and smiles than their dentists are, Norwegian researchers report.

Patients also view eyes and teeth as the most important aspects of facial attractiveness, and younger people under 50 are most at ease with the appearance of their teeth, the study found.

"Patients had much higher opinions of their smiles than dentists assessing their smiles," said study author Dr. Oystein Fardal, a periodontist in private practice in Egersund, Norway.

Yet despite the inclination towards more favorable assessments, patients did not usually rank their pearly whites as being the best that they could be.

"They only gave themselves scores of six out 10," he noted. "This could mean that they are content, but realize that they do not compare with the 'perfect smiles' of Julia Roberts, Angelina Jolie, etcetera."

Fardal and co-author Jannike Jornung, a graduate student in the department of orthodontics in Sweden's Sahlgrenska Academy at Goteborg University, published their findings in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.

To gauge patient and dentist perceptions, the researchers first interviewed 78 patients at a general dental practice in a small rural Norwegian community during September of 2004.
The patients were between the ages of 22 and 84 and, at the time, none were seeking any kind of aesthetic dental care. Nearly two-thirds were women.

Written questionnaires were completed, in which patients assessed on a scale of one to 100 the shape of their lips; the appearance of the soft tissue (gingiva) surrounding their teeth; the shade, shape and alignment of their teeth; and the overall state of their smile.

Patients were also asked to indicate if they thought they had crooked teeth and/or receding gums.

No photographs or mirrors were provided, as patients were asked to grade themselves from memory.

In addition, all the men and women also ranked various facial features according to how important they believed they were to overall attractiveness. Features included hair and hairline, eyes and eyebrows, nose, skin, ears, lips, teeth, chin and the shape of the head.

Digital photos were then taken of the smiles of the first 40 patients, and both the attending dentist and Fardal independently arrived at aesthetic scores based on assessments of tooth shade, spacing, crowding, inflamed tissue and overall appearance.

At no time had Fardal been involved in the dental care of any of the patients.

The authors found that on a scale of 100, average patient satisfaction with the state of their smile came to just over 59 -- a figure that rose significantly among patients under the age of 50.
By contrast, the two dentists' assessments taken together registered at about 40 on the scale.

Specifically, patients were most satisfied with the state of their soft tissue (gingiva) when they smiled. They were least satisfied with the color of their teeth, which they generally described as being too dark.

Skin condition followed teeth and eyes as the most important features contributing to a person's facial attractiveness. Female patients said that teeth and hair were more important to them than did the men, while the men said head shape was more critical.

Fardal and Jernung suggested that dentists should remember that their opinion of the aesthetics of a patient's smile may not match that of the patient.

"Whether the 'perfect smile' exists is a different question," said Fardal. "The smile is made up of the teeth, gums, lips and jaws, and we as dentists use criteria and guidelines attempting to produce the 'perfect smile.' However, how many people actually fulfill these criteria is not known."

"Furthermore, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder," he added. "So there are a lot more smiles that are found to be attractive than just the 'media-created smile'. In addition, social and cultural differences exist, where different features are deemed attractive."

Dr. Edmond Hewlett, a consumer advisor to the American Dental Association, and an associate professor in UCLA's School of Dentistry in Los Angeles, agreed that dentists are trained to look for certain agreed-upon tooth proportions, symmetries, sizes, shapes and coloring when assessing a person's smile.

"I think there is a notion of what the components of an optimally attractive smile," he said. "There are certain parameters that are commonly utilized when a dentist looks at a smile. Then you take these very general parameters and apply them to every individual person with their unique features."

"It's certainly not a cookie-cutter situation, like a Julia Roberts template that we want to stick in everybody's mouth," he stressed. "But when you look at a beautiful smile you do see a lot of the same features -- either because the person is blessed or through orthodontic work -- which we all find appealing.

"Models, for example, consistently have central incisors which tend to be a little bit wider and longer than the other teeth in the front," Hewlett noted. "And yet when you look at two famous actresses -- Kirsten Dunst and Patricia Arquette -- both have a type of crookedness. The incisors are actually tilted back a little, and the canine teeth look more prominent like fangs. Yet both have commented in interviews that they are tired of people telling them to change their teeth. They're quite confident and comfortable."

"And that's the subjectivity of attractive teeth personified," he noted. "They're comfortable in their own skin, and they don't feel the need to conform to some culturally driven ideal of beauty. And that's something I think that dentists need to be sensitive to as well."

More information
For additional information on cosmetic dentistry, visit the American Dental Association.

Tooth Decay Is Kids' Stuff

(HealthDay News) -- The dental health of Americans is improving as people take better care of their teeth. But that encouraging trend doesn't extend to some of the country's most vulnerable individuals -- children.

Studies have found that baby tooth decay is on the rise. One federal report found that decay in baby teeth among 2- to 5-year-olds increased from 24 percent to 28 percent from 1988 to 2004.

This decay can have unwanted lasting effects on a child's overall heath, ranging from impairment of permanent teeth to systemic illness caused by infection from bacteria in the mouth.

Jean Connor, a dental hygienist in Cambridge, Mass., and president of the American Dental Hygienists Association, said parents need to teach their children that a clean mouth is just as desirable as clean ears or hands or feet.

"It's just another part of the body that must be kept clean," Connor said. "If you have a dirty mouth, you're carrying bacteria and infections around."

Baby teeth are often thought of as disposable or temporary. But if left to decay, those teeth can fill the mouth with bacteria that could harm the permanent teeth as they come in. And if baby teeth are pulled early due to decay, the permanent teeth behind them can come in crooked.

Oral cleanliness can come from a variety of techniques. Parents should teach their kids how to brush and floss and also how to keep their mouth clean by watching what they eat.

This care can start even before a child is born, said Diann Bomkamp, a dental hygienist in St. Louis, and president-elect of the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA).

Expecting mothers can give their unborn children an advantage by taking special care of their dental health during pregnancy, Bomkamp said.

"If the pregnant woman does not have good dental care, she could have more of the decay-producing bacteria in her mouth, and it's very likely she could pass these bugs on to her child," Bomkamp said.

Once the child is born, parents should start keeping the mouth clean even before the first baby tooth has erupted.

The ADHA recommends thoroughly cleaning an infant's gums after each feeding with a water-soaked infant washcloth or gauze pad to stimulate the gum tissue and remove food.

"Even before they have teeth, you can clean out their mouths and get the kids used to the idea of it," Connor said.

When the baby's teeth begin to erupt, parents should brush them gently with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush using a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.

At age 2 or 3, a parent can begin to teach their child proper brushing techniques. However, the child will need help with brushing and flossing up through age 7 or 8. By then, they will have developed the dexterity to do it alone.

Parents also should be cautious about inadvertently sharing their own mouth's bacteria with their child, through even the most seemingly innocuous behavior.

"Decay bugs can be transmitted through sharing food and drink, through sharing a toothbrush or sharing utensils," Bomkamp said. "Even blowing on food, your saliva can be transmitted to the child."

Watching what children eat also can help protect them from developing cavities or large amounts of decay bacteria in their mouths. This includes making sure that kids are fed regular meals throughout the day, especially breakfast, to keep them from feeling the need to snack on unhealthy foods.

One recent study found that the odds of decay in baby teeth were greater in the children with poor eating habits. Children who don't eat breakfast every day had higher levels of tooth decay, the study found, as did those who don't eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

"If they're eating several snacks a day, they probably aren't eating foods that are good for them," Bomkamp said.

Also, don't let a young child go to bed with a bottle, Bomkamp said, and avoid allowing them to run around with sippy cups filled with sugary juices.

Another potential problem is the increased use of bottled water, she said. Tap water in almost all U.S. cities contains fluoride, which helps prevent tooth decay. "Most bottled water doesn't have the fluoride levels we'd like to see," Bomkamp said.

Dental hygienists also urge parents to get their kids in to see a dentist as early as possible, within six months of the eruption of their first baby tooth or by their first birthday.

"Parents often don't think to take their child to the dentist until it's too late to prevent problems," Connor said.

More information
To learn more, visit the American Dental Hygienists Association.

more discussion: Forum
· Addiction Forum · Ask the Doctors Forum · Ayurveda Forum · Ayurvedic & Thai Herbs Forum · Colon Cleansing Forum · Dental Forum · Diabetes Forum · Diet Forum · General Cleansing Forum · Hepatitis A, B. C Forum · Integrated Medicine Forum · Live Blood Analysis Forum · Ozone-Oxygen-Forum · pH - Alkaline - Acidity Forum · Weight Loss Forum

Health Tip: Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth

(HealthDay News) -- If your child has a permanent tooth knocked out, it should be considered a dental emergency, the Nemours Foundation advises.

The tooth is most likely to survive if it is properly placed back in the socket within 30 minutes of the injury.

Here are the foundation's suggestions for what to do if a child's permanent tooth is knocked out:

• Find the tooth, and only handle it by the crown (the part that you'd see in a person's mouth), never by the root.
• Immediately rinse the tooth (don't scrub it) with saline solution or milk. Don't use tap water, which typically contains chlorine, unless that's all that's available.
• If your child is old enough to hold it there, place the tooth gently back in its socket.
• If your child is young, store the tooth in a cup of milk, or hold it in your mouth between your cheek and lower gum.

Go immediately to your dentist or local emergency room.

Coming Soon: Pain-Free Dentistry

(HealthDay News) -- The phrase "no pain, no gain" may someday not apply to the dentist's office, according to a team developing a drill-free cavity treatment.

The technique may be available to dentists and their relieved patients in the future, say University of Missouri-Columbia inventors.

They're working on a non-thermal plasma brush that uses a low-temperature chemical reaction to disinfect and prepare cavities for filling.

In typical (and often painful) cavity repair, the dentist drills away the affected area and then makes a filling to restore the tooth's shape. The vibration and noise can be very uncomfortable for many patients.

"Successful development of the plasma brush could replace the painful and destructive drilling currently practiced in dentistry," Hao Li, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at University of Missouri-Columbia, said in a prepared statement.

The brush will operate without the heat and vibrations that cause the pain and discomfort associated with the current procedure. The researchers say it will also be silent.

"Plasma treatment would be a painless, nondestructive and tissue-saving way to care for and treat cavities because it relies on chemical reactions instead of heat or mechanical interactions," Qingsong Yu, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said in a prepared statement. "The chemical bonding between teeth and fillings that the plasma treatment would create would be much stronger than dentists currently get with drills or laser techniques," Yu added.

Yu and Yixiang Duan, a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, have filed two U.S. patent applications for the brush.

The researchers also promise that the brush will alter the tooth's surface, creating a stronger bond with the filling.

More information
To learn more about cavities and their current treatments, visit the University of Maryland Medical Center

FDA Advisers Reject Safety Report on Dental Fillings

(HealthDay News) -- Federal health advisers have rejected a government report suggesting that mercury-containing amalgam dental fillings are safe, saying instead that further study is needed.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel's decision is not a declaration that the widely used fillings are unsafe, the Associated Press reported late Thursday. However, in a 13-7 vote, the panel said a large federal review of data fails to clearly and objectively present the current body of knowledge on the subject.

In a second vote, also 13-7, the panelists said the report's conclusion that amalgam fillings are safe is not reasonable, according to the AP.

The announcement came after FDA committee meetings held Wednesday and Thursday --the first public hearings in more than a decade on the safety of these fillings.

The FDA is not compelled to act on the advice of its advisory committees, although it frequently does.

Dental Amalgam contains elemental mercury combined with other metals such as silver, copper, tin and zinc. The fillings, about 50 percent mercury, have been used for generations to stabilize decaying teeth. Dental experts contend that when mercury is bound to the other metals it's encapsulated and doesn't pose a health risk. Consumer groups, however, contend that mercury, a known neurotoxin, does leak out in the form of mercury vapor and then gets into the bloodstream.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the use of Amalgam is declining. In 1990, dental amalgams made up 67.6 percent of all dental restorations, by 1999 45.3 percent and, in 2003, an estimated 30 percent. Cavities that previously would have been treated with dental amalgam are now mostly filled with a resin composite.

Several European and other countries, including Canada, Norway, Sweden, Britain, Germany and Denmark, currently advise dentists against using mercury fillings in pregnant women.

The ADA, however, said the recommendation was made despite there being no scientific evidence of systemic health problems or toxic effects.

The ADA maintains its position that dental Amalgam should remain an option for patients.

"Our position is one of looking at the scientific evidence and believing it's safe and effective and that dentists and patients should have the option," said Dr. Ron R. Zentz, senior director of the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs.

Zentz pointed, in particular, to two studies (the Children's Amalgam Trials) published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Those trials compared the use of amalgam to composite dental fillings in children.

The studies found no differences in IQ, memory, attention, kidney function or other measures between children with amalgam fillings and children with composite fillings.

The fillings may even be superior to other materials in certain instances, such as in the back of the mouth where the forces and stress on the fillings are stronger, Zentz said.

According to the Associated Press, officials at the FDA also asked committee members to carefully review findings from an internal agency "meta-analysis" of 34 recent studies. That review found "no significant new information" that might change the FDA's conclusion that amalgam fillings pose no harm to the vast majority of patients.

Earlier on Thursday, one consultant to the panel said the review fell short. "Just by looking at this paper, we are in a sense really limiting ourselves. I am not convinced we are doing justice to the topic at hand," Vanderbilt University professor of pediatrics and pharmacology Michael Aschner told the AP.

Several groups are vehemently opposed to the use of these fillings.

On Sept. 5, a consortium of organizations including Consumers for Dental Choice, the Mercury Policy Project and the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology filed a petition to the FDA to immediately ban mercury fillings for pregnant women so as to protect their unborn children. The FDA has six months to respond to the petition.

"We're doing this primarily as a precautionary measure to protect unborn children from unnecessary exposure to mercury," said Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project, located in Montpelier, Vt. "We're very concerned that our government is not doing what it should to protect the unborn."

"Why isn't the FDA joining Health Canada and the other countries in banning the placement in expectant mothers?" he continued. "FDA silence over mercury is the same kind of silence our government once had for tobacco."

Still, any ban could have consequences. A study by dentist Howard Bailit and colleagues at the University of Connecticut found that a ban on Amalgam fillings would boost costs, cut down on cavities filled and hurt America's oral health.

"Our recommendation is, do not ban the use of dental amalgams," Bailit told the Associated Press.

More information
To learn more about amalgam fillings, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.