Dental Ceramics and Radiation Levels

Are Ceramic Dental Implants Radioactive?

Almost every element in nature has some measure of radioactivity associated with it including seemingly innocuous elements such as water, milk, vegetables and meat. So it is not surprising to learn that many materials used in dentistry today have some level of radioactivity including Zirconium based implants. By looking at the chart below you can see that Zirconium can contain a certain number of radioactive isotopes. In worst case scenarios, Radioactive Isotopes are known to increase the chance of various oral cancers, so knowing what level of radioactivity is involved is important for anyone who may be considering dental implant surgery.

“In the case of Zirconium, this natural radioactivity is related to natural exposure with other elements,” says James B. Francis, President Z-Systems USA, Inc. “The manufacturer of our raw material is the same manufacturer who has been making the Zirconia hip ball replacements for the past 30 years.  Its process of removing the natural contamination is state of the art and results in the highest purity of raw Zirconia available.”

The Physics of Dental Ceramics (Zirconium) compared to other common elements

• The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
• The atomic mass is the mass (weight) of all the components of the atom but is dominated by the nucleus composed of protons and neutrons. It is the mass of the atom at rest, measured in atomic mass units.
• Electron density: the number of electrons per unit volume; volume charge density = electric charge per unit volume of a medium or body measured in coulombs per meter cubed; surface charge density = electric charge per unit area of a surface measured in coulombs per meter squared.
• In physics, the radiation length is a characteristic of a material, related to the energy loss of high energy, electromagnetic-interacting particles with it. The mean distance traveled by a relativistic particle in a given medium before its energy is reduced by a factor e by its interaction with matter.
• Relative density: The density of a substance divided by the density of water (formerly called specific gravity) which has a maximum density of 1000kg m-3; therefore the relative density of any substance is one-thousandth of its density.

Zirconia hip ball replacements weigh approximately 100g, which translates to a yearly natural radiological output of 1 mSv per year.  Z-Systems Z-Look3 implants weigh approximately 1g, which translates to a yearly natural radiological output of 0.01 mSv per year. To put that in perspective, a look at the comparison levels of other items which have radioactive output might be helpful:

• 2.4 mSv/year the amount equal to the typical background radiation experienced by everyone (average 1.5 mSv in Australia, 3 mSv in North America).
• Up to 5.0 mSv/year represents the typical incremental dose for aircrew in middle latitudes.
• 9.0 mSv/year equals the amount of exposure experienced by airline crew flying the New York – Tokyo polar route.
• 20 mSv/per year is the current limit (averaged) for nuclear industry employees and uranium miners.
• 50 mSv/per year is the former routine limit for nuclear industry employees. It is also the dose rate which arises from natural background levels in several places in Iran, India and Europe.

Uranium = White Teeth

Oral implants are produced from a highly purified form of Zirconia material which contains extremely low radiation emission levels, although all manufacturers of Zirconia dental implants are required to provide a declaration of radioactivity for their Zirconium based dental products. The use of radioactive compounds in dental ceramics has to do with cosmetic results and the need to copy the luster of natural teeth in an implant. Human dentine is naturally very bright in color and in an attempt to duplicate this characteristic, uranium is added to both artificial teeth and ceramic powders for the manufacturing of crowns and bridges, a practice that originated as far back as the 1920’s. A patent just a few decade later presented by inventors Lee and Müller describes a mixture of cerium and uranium as,”… creating an improved shade of white”.

Zirconium compounds are refined for dental use from naturally occurring ores, notably zircon, which usually contain trace amounts of other elements depending upon the source of the original ore, including trace amounts of radioactive nuclides. In 1992 ceramic radioactivity was addressed by Anusavice KJ in an article titled ‘Degradability of dental ceramics’ which observed in part that … “The degradation of dental ceramics generally occurs because of mechanical forces or chemical attack. The possible physiological side-effects of ceramics are their tendency to abrade opposing dental structures, the emission of radiation from radioactive components…”

Further research pointed out that the radiation emitted by a dental ceramic powder (3 mol% Y2O3-ZrO2) was the same as alumina powder (note: aluminum is an element, and alumina is an aluminum containing compound), both of which were several orders of magnitude less than that typically measured for water, milk, vegetables and meat (based on European standards). The radioactivity of zirconia Y-TZP artificial hip joints has been shown to be similar to that of alumina and cobalt-chrome. The radiation dose of each material was recorded at that time to be well below European radiation limits recommended for the human body including local internal exposure of organs and tissue. It was documented to be no more than the ambient radiation of environmental surroundings.

In a similar study, radiation levels of several commercially available zirconia powders commonly used to manufacture implants in Australia (Nilcra Ceramics, Melbourne) were tested and documented as ‘minimal and well below acceptable limits’. The Radiation Health Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia now deems that magnesia partially stabilized zirconia artificial hip joints made from these powders pose “very little hazard to surrounding tissue”.

In the United States, the primary raw material used in the manufacture of zirconium dioxide is zircon silicate (ZrSiO4), which is rendered into a higher form of purity (ZrO2) when melted with coke and lime. Since extremely pure initial products must be used for high-performance ceramics such as those used in dental implants and special synthesis methods have been developed specifically for this product; a process that works to create the strongest, most durable dental ceramic product available today.

Where does the radiation go?

Research has shown that all radiation is absorbed withinto the bulk of the material in such extremely dense ceramics. For example, in the case of artificial hip joints, any radiation from the femoral head is absorbed primarily by the surrounding artificial materials.

Continuous testing and research from the medical implant field demonstrates that the actual radiation risk of zirconia ceramics is negligible, certainly no more than that of alumina – and consistent with the level of radiation found to occur naturally in healthy environments.

The Benefits of Zirconium Implants and Dental Ceramics

Overall, Zirconium implants are highly resistant to corrosion and superior to other implant materials such as titanium and have a higher level of human biocompatibility and superior aesthetic value for patients. They are ideal for anyone whose immune systems are not compatible with titanium implants and for patients who may have metal allergies. Zirconium implants are far more durable with less risk of breakage. They are also capable of holding up to the extreme changes in temperature found in the human mouth

Furthermore, being bright white in color zirconium implants have a definite advantage or aesthetic value over titanium dental implants by eliminating the possibility of the unsightly grey appearance that titanium exhibits.

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Resources:
World Nuclear Association (The World Nuclear Association http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf05.html):

Radiation Length Package  (data taken from Particle Data Booklet)  by R.J.Apsimon

Is There A Renewed Trend of Radioactive Compounds In Dental Materials? — Ulf Bengtsson, 2000-01-01

Abstracted from Ph.D Thesis “Application of Transformation-Toughened Zirconia Ceramics as Bioceramics”, University of New South Wales, Australia, 1995.

Anusavice KJ. Degradability of dental ceramics. Adv Dent Res 1992 Sep 6:82-9

Dangers of Dental Mercury – Still Ignored by the FDA despite Recent Warnings

“Exposure to mercury can have serious health consequences,” says Charles Lee, M.D., a senior medical advisor at FDA. “It can damage the kidneys and the nervous system, and interfere with the development of the brain in unborn children and very young children.”

In its ongoing effort to protect the American public from exposure to dangerous levels of mercury, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued an updated warning about skin care products, which may contain mercury, specifically anti-aging, skin-lightening beauty lotions and creams. These products are manufactured primarily in other countries and sold illegally in the States—often in ethnic shops and neighborhoods, and made available to consumers online. Studies on the subject of mercury in beauty products observed by the FDA showed that some of the tainted creams have been found to contain mercury levels up to 131,000 times the acceptable limit of mercury.

You don’t have to use the product yourself to be affected, says FDA toxicologist Mike Bolger, Ph.D. “People—particularly children—can get mercury in their bodies from breathing in mercury vapors if a member of the household uses a skin cream containing mercury.” Infants and small children can ingest mercury if they touch their parents who have used these products, get cream on their hands and then put their hands and fingers into their mouth, which they are prone to do, adds Bolger. From this statement it appears that the FDA is becoming more and more informed on the very real dangers mercury poses to the human body. Now, we have to wonder when the FDA will come around to recognizing the same level of danger posed to patients undergoing dental treatments that result in the use of silver amalgams containing seriously high levels of mercury.

The Evidence is Glaring

It isn’t a matter of the FDA not being informed on the scientific evidence behind the danger of dental amalgams; it’s more a matter of their persistence to ignore the facts. The International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine (IABDM), the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) as well as the Holistic Dental Association (HDA) all acknowledge critical scientific studies stubbornly overlooked by the FDA, American Dental Association (ADA) and other upholders of the status quo.

The Scientific Advisory Board of the IAOMT stated in a report, aimed at informing and advising the FDA, (authored by noted scientists Boyd Haley, Thomas Burbacher, Louis Chang among others); “Chronic exposure to mercury, even in minute amounts, is known to be toxic and poses significant risks to human health. Current scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that dental amalgam unnecessarily exposes dental patients to substantial amounts of mercury vapor, particulates and other forms and is therefore not a suitable material for dental restoration.”

Furthermore, “It is incompatible with current valid scientific evidence to continue to endorse or otherwise condone the use of a permanently implanted material in teeth that continuously emits a very potent enzyme inhibitor and metabolic toxin. Moreover, mercury’s damaging influence on the developing brain makes dental amalgam an entirely inappropriate material for use in children and women of childbearing age.”

The ADA: In Cahoots with the FDA

By the efforts put forth by the IAOMT and several others notable crusaders against dental mercury use, the facts have been exposed and the FDA is fully informed and aware of the issues. What is one of the biggest factors keeping the FDA’s apparently y stubborn blinders firmly in place? One would have to suspect that the American Dental Association (ADA) is largely to blame.

The alternatives to amalgam based products are economically sound for consumers and quite often less expensive than their mercury based counterparts.  By and large amalgams cost more than glass ionomers, some ceramics and many other non-mercury based products.  In fact, amalgam costs are identical to composite, which is used for smaller cavities, although composite can be slightly more expensive depending on the size of the cavities.  But when you consider the alarming environmental and health catastrophe caused by amalgam, then the real cost of continued amalgam use becomes ever so evident.

The Filling that Keeps on Giving

Sadly, mainstream dentists make more money by enforcing the ‘safe’ use of mercury amalgams.  In this way of thinking, damaged teeth represent money in the pocket rather than concern for the patient’s ongoing healthfulness. For example, aspiring dentists are encouraged to ‘drill, fill, and bill’, a well worn joke in dental school.  Another sinister element in the push to preserve mercury’s hold on the dental industry has to do with guaranteed repeat customers.  Amalgam damages tooth structure leading to fractures in the teeth and as a consequence – often leading to unnecessary root canal procedures, pro-mercury dentists continue to profit from amalgam implants long after the initial placement.

In an effort to keep the profits rolling in, the ADA has pressed its enormous influence on Congress, the Food and Drug Administration, state dental boards and corporate media in an effort to cover up the dangers of amalgam’s mercury.  How did they accomplish this?

By popularizing the misleading term “silver fillings” so consumers would think amalgam is made mainly of silver when it actually contains twice as much the mercury as it does silver.
By mounting an aggressive campaign to silence competitors and critics of this outdated style of dentistry, focused directly on dentists who openly recognized the dangers of mercury amalgams

Help Stop the Use of Dental Amalgam

The ironic twist that a substance as toxic as mercury has been allowed to be implanted into the mouths of unsuspecting men, women and children for so long points directly to the ties between the FDA and the ADA – a situation that consumers need to be made aware of so that action can be taken to keep Americans safe from poisonous mercury products at the dental office.

In order to do that the FDA needs to be forced to listen to its own experts and scientists.  You can help to make that happen by simply calling your congressman or congresswoman and urging them to contact the FDA to make the changes needed to eliminate the use of dental mercury.  To find the name of your member of Congress simply visit their website then call Congress at 202-224-3121 and ask for your state member’s office.

More information:

Mercury Exposure Information: http://www.mercuryexposure.info/
Banning Mercury Amalgams: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevices/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/DentalProductsPanel/UCM236379.pdf

Z-Systems Ceramic Zirconium Dental Implants

You can’t get much more natural than this

Before the advent of dental implants, lost teeth could only be replaced by bridges or dentures, which meant that significant portions of the natural tooth had to be removed in order to accommodate the dental appliance. These appliances were made of metal and metal alloys containing a mix of substances including copper, silver and nickel – all substances that can cause a cascade of damaging effects on the human immune system. Dentures, once installed, are uncomfortable, cause embarrassment and create the perfect environment for decay of the remaining natural teeth. To top that off, the material dentures are made of can also create toxic effects on the body, and the total loss of natural teeth causes the jaw to deform and recede, significantly altering a person’s natural appearance.

A Better Option

By the mid-60s dental implants began to revolutionize the field of dentistry. Originally designed as a way to stabilize dentures, over the years the technology developed to allow for restorations of a single tooth without causing damaging to the surrounding teeth. At first the only material on the market was titanium, chosen for its mechanical and comparatively low biological properties. Research and reports collected over the years began to point to potential health related issues of titanium, and so the dental field kept watching for a more appealing product to enter the implant market. Ceramics (ceramic zirconium) is that material.

Proven Results

Ceramic zirconium combines biocompatibility with mechanical properties well beyond that of titanium. In the mid-90s the first zirconium dental implant was developed in Switzerland. Over time research led to greater improvements in the product that made it possible for the first prototypes of a new zirconium implant used in Germany beginning in 2000. Four years later the implant was certified in Europe and used in 2000 patients, verifying the products superior properties. Ceramic zirconium is a material of choice for dental restorations today, and the product most recommended by holistic, biological and natural dentistry.

Ultimately, the advantages of ceramic zirconium include:

• Significantly reduced plaque adhesion, making it easier to clean and maintain than titanium
• Free of metals
• Good biocompatibility
• Natural white appearance
• Aesthetic appeal
• Superior gum regeneration
• Certified bio-inert

The holistic dental community has been able to embrace the newer forms of dental implants presented by ceramic zirconium by the advantages it offers patients including biocompatibility and presenting few to no adverse reactions of the human immune system. The natural white coloring of the material is much preferred over the gray of titanium, offering a pleasing cosmetic appeal. In addition, the long-term health benefits presented by zirconium implants include its apparent ability to resist plaque build-up, making it easier for patients to care for their teeth and sustain good oral hygiene.

Another added benefit of zirconium implants has to do with how well the gums react to the material following surgery, lessening incidents of gum disease, a high contrast to results observed in cases where titanium implants were chosen. Appreciating the low impact of zirconium implants can only be achieved when it is compared to titanium. With titanium products there is a trail of complications including gum disease and inflammation likely caused by the free radicals present in the metal. Additional issues include:

• allergic reaction
• irritation
• inflammation
• foreign body response (rejection)
• cancer and other autoimmune disorders

Healthy Smiles

Our goal is to provide absolute metal-free, biocompatible dentistry. Ceramic options are proven holistic, aesthetic and hygienic over other their metal counterparts. Contact our office for more information, or to schedule an evaluation appointment: Request a Ceramic Dental Implant Evaluation

The Toxic Effects of the Mercury in Dental Amalgam Fillings on the Environment and Human Health

The following document — “THE TOXIC EFFECTS OF THE MERCURY IN DENTAL AMALGAM FILLINGS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH” — is a fact sheet prepared by The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (www.iaomt.org).

It’s one of the most detailed looks you’ll see on the hazards of the mercury in amalgam fillings on both our health and the environment and a pretty good list of reasons to ban mercury fillings in America.

If you have any questions about whether mercury fillings are bad, this paper should provide most of the reasons for you, along with several pages of supporting research for those who want or need more information.

I encourage you to print it out and share it with your family, friends, and loved ones. Share it with your doctor. Share it with anyone who doubts the dangers of silver fillings and anyone who craves more information than they typically have access to.

Thank you to the IAOMT for making this available and for helping to better educate us all.

Allergies and the Dentist’s Office

Allergies Can Start in the Dentist’s Chair

There has been quite a bit of attention paid to the various metals or amalgams used in dentistry pertaining to the toxic effects that they can have on the body. In addition to metals used in fillings and bridges, it is important to be aware that dentists also use a wide assortment of cements, anesthetics, bonding materials, temporary appliances, denture materials and more – and every one of these substances can potentially cause a negative reaction once placed in the sensitive environment of the mouth.

Fortunately for our patients, holistic dentists are well aware of the potential for compatibility issues with the materials we use in our practices, and therefore we work hard to make sure that our patients are able to tolerate any substance that we might introduce into the mouth. Unfortunately many people don’t realize that the substances and materials mainstream dentists use, but do not test for compatibility, may be causing some serious health issues in their patients. Many problems can start out as something as innocuous as an allergic reaction at the time of placement. To compound the problem, there is much evidence pointing to a correlation between allergies and autoimmune disorders. In other words, if the source of the allergy is not pinpointed and removed, then potentially the resulting reaction could manifest itself as an autoimmune disorder.

So, whether you are considering having some dental work done now, of if you have serious and persistent health issues and suspect a correlation to previous dental procedures – understanding how an allergic reaction can instigate larger health issues will help you decide how to proceed.

Understanding Allergies

An allergic reaction is best described as an overreaction of the body’s immune system which usually springs up in response to something relatively harmless known as an ‘allergen’. Allergies are caused by the activation of an antibody in the blood called immunoglobulin E. Allergens we are most familiar with include pollens, grasses, bee venom, medications and certain foods such as peanuts and eggs. Common symptoms include a runny nose, itchy eyes or rashes and sometimes people have difficulty breathing. Although reactions are usually mild, occasionally they can be severe, or even fatal.

In the dental industry, allergies to various materials aren’t the only issue causing concern; patients have long been known to have adverse reactions to gold and ‘silver’ amalgam fillings – reactions that can last a lifetime if not treated. Dental material allergies and amalgam allergies can both present anywhere from a few hours to a few days after exposure to the material and symptoms can include swollen lips, oral, head and neck rashes and sometimes lesions in the mouth. Although these symptoms may appear to clear up on their own without medical intervention after just a few days, the body may well continue to fight what it considers to be a foreign agent, releasing a torrent of antibodies into the bloodstream over a long period of time.  As a result one must be wary that the potential of long term exposure could cause a cascade effect impacting the immune system in very unhealthy ways.

How Allergies Lead to More Serious Problems

Between 15 and 25 million Americans are reportedly affected every year by one autoimmune disorder or another – and as of yet, no medical authority is pointing the finger at any particular culprit.  At the same time allergists suspect that defects in the immune system and hypersensitivity often begin with something as seemingly benign as an allergic reaction.  When you consider that the word “autoimmune” means self-immune and it is characterized by the immune system turning on itself in attack in a state of hyperactivity of the immune system then you can begin to see the similarities between autoimmune disorders and allergies, and doctors are  beginning to realize that allergies are quite often a precursor to autoimmune disease.

Many health problems are recognized to be related to mercury (and other metals) used in ‘silver’ fillings, and its longtime impact on the body is suspected to be instrumental in autoimmune diseases such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Psoriasis, and Scleroderma. Other autoimmune disorders that we are hearing more and more about include; Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and others.  With this alarming rise in autoimmune diseases, it makes sense for us to take whatever steps we can to ensure that our patients are biocompatible before allowing any substance or material to be permanently affixed into the mouth.

Be Safe from the Get-go

The unique thing about putting a potentially incompatible dental material in the mouth is that it presents a 24-hour a day exposure that you simply cannot get away from. Unfortunately there isn’t any one set of materials that are compatible for every person since every patient is different and presents a unique physiology. However, there are some materials that are recognized to be better tolerated by more people than other materials. People with weak immune systems have an even greater difficulty finding substances that can be tolerated but fortunately there are ways to test everyone for compatibility. The most common types of tests used by holistic dental offices include:

• Clifford Materials Blood Test
  The blood test will offer results that are based on true allergens. Specifically the Clifford Materials Test is a blood test that will determine if a blood serum sample will react to known dental materials. Although this test can provide valuable information about existing allergies, results may not be as comprehensive when it comes to testing for materials the patient has not yet been exposed to.
• Electro-dermal Screening (EAV)
  Electro-dermal screening is performed by using a machine that tests dental materials according to their compatibility with the patient’s acupuncture meridian system. This test will allow us to determine more than just what materials are compatible, but which materials appear to be optimal for a particular patient. As with muscle testing, we can determine reactions to substances and elements the patient has never previously been exposed to.
• Applied Kinesiology
  Applied kinesiology is based upon the activity of muscles and the relationship of muscle strength to health. This test is based on bio-feedback and will give strictly ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. Using applied kinesiology we are able to test both commonly used items and items that a person has never been exposed to, and by using the body’s biofeedback abilities, identify those items that weaken the individual.

Allergy Testing – An Important Part of the Whole

As natural dentists, our goal is to treat the whole person through the use of safe, natural and painless methods. Our innovative approach to dental care focuses on the health and wellness of the mouth in relation to the whole body, including identifying and treating issues pertaining to allergies and autoimmune disorders. In addition to providing allergy testing, we are able to recommend a variety of natural and herbal products that can help support the immune system – helping to bring our patients to a greater state of overall wellness.