Frequently Asked Questions

I am anxious about dental treatment; can it be easier and more comfortable?

Do you use mercury-silver amalgam fillings? Some say they cause health problems; do they?

What dental materials do you use?

Do you do root canals? Are they safe?

 

I am anxious about dental treatment; can it be easier and more comfortable?

Yes, depending on how anxious you are, we have a variety of solutions. “Conscious Sedation” is a combination of nitrous oxide gas, local anesthetic, and a fairly strong anti-anxiety medication taken orally. This combination is for overwhelming anxiety, the kind that keeps you from getting dental care when you know you really need it. You are sedated, numb, and anxiety free. Many sleep through the dental procedures. If you are only somewhat anxious, I would recommend nitrous oxide gas, plus local anesthetic. The gas will relax you and make you feel detached from your body, while the local anesthetic prevents you from feeling any discomfort. Many people are not anxious, but concerned about comfort. They are completely fine if they don’t feel anything. Expertly applied local anesthetic and a gentle touch will make all the difference. Some people are bothered mostly by the noise. Headphones really help with this.

Do you use mercury-silver amalgam fillings? Some say they cause health problems; do they?

I have not used mercury fillings since 1982. I wish we had better evidence as to their safety. Very few dispute the fact that mercury comes out of the fillings during and after placement. The controversy is whether this small amount of mercury is harmful. Until we have conclusive proof one way or the other, I choose not to use mercury fillings. When we remove mercury fillings we try to minimize your (and our) exposure to the mercury vapor that removal produces. If you want to explore this issue further you can get both sides of the issue at:
The International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology and the American Dental Association

What dental materials do you use?

Generally we try to use the most biocompatible materials available, and for the most part that means materials other than metals. We use composites (acrylic and micron-sized glass particles), dental porcelains, and zirconium for fillings and crowns.

Each of us has a unique allergic response. Some materials are OK for almost everyone, some are not good for anyone, and the majority fall somewhere between. If you have or suspect an allergic problem with dental materials we can send a blood sample to Clifford Consulting and Research in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They will send us a report of all the dental materials currently available and indicate which ones you react to and which ones cause no reaction. We can then tailor our choice of material to your unique profile.

Do you do root canals? Are they safe?

Yes we perform root canals, but we use an alternative procedure. For further explanation of what a root canal is and how we do them see:(the EndoCal root canal pdf).
The safety of root canal procedures is a controversial subject. Part of my profession thinks they are always safe and some think they never are. If you want to find out more about this controversy see The International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology and The American Dental Association.