Cell Phones and Metal Dental Implants Don’t Mix

Cell Phone Use Increases Health Risks for Metallic Dental Implant Patients

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) or the invisible radiation which is continuously emitted from cell phones, cell phone towers, wireless Internet, power lines, household electrical wiring and elsewhere is now being implicated in a growing number of serious symptoms, including headaches, unexplained fatigue and even mental confusion. These types of adverse effects can happen to anyone, but most particularly to people who are known to be electrosensitive. There are several factors that can create an increased risk factor to which a person may be affected by electromagnetic fields, including metallic dental implants and/or amalgam (silver) tooth fillings. This seemingly unrelated factor can significantly increase a body’s reception to the mircrocurrents from cell phones and other ambient fields.

How metal implants may exaggerate harmful effects posed by cell phone use

Cell phones constantly emit electromagnetic radiation called RF (radio frequency) and EMF (electromagnetic fields). As cell phones are used in close proximity to the head, therefore increasing EMF intensity to the brain during use, there is clear potential for EMF emissions to generate harmful effects to any of the 300 million healthy cell-phone users in the United States today. However, patients who are already recognized as electrosensitive as well any anyone who may have metallic dental implants, amalgam fillings and/or dental repairs are potentially at a much higher risk.

New research on the subject says that up to eight percent of populations in developed countries experience serious electrohypersensitivity symptoms, while 35 percent experience mild symptoms, (as reported by Dr. Thomas Rau, medical director of the world-renowned Paracelsus Clinic in Switzerland). According to this study a person’s EMF sensitivity can fluctuate depending on these contributing factors:

• body weight,
• body-mass index,
• bone density, and
• water and electrolyte levels
• Heavy metals in the brain can also act as micro-antennas, concentrating and increasing reception of EMF radiation.
• Electrifying the problem through galvanism

The use of metallic repairs in the mouth is known to have the ability to create a potentially dangerous situation called ‘galvanism’. The body’s normal electrical (bioenergetic) current fluctuates at about 450 millivolts. Galvanism occurs when saliva mixes with amalgam (metal) fillings or implants which can cause the normal oral electric current to soar to around 1,000 millivolts, or higher. When you factor in the amplified EMF fields associated with cell phone use this number can go even higher. Such a highly charged electrical current can quite easily overpower the body’s normal electrical flows and potentially interfere with energy flow to the brain and cause irritations to the nervous system.

Electrical interference can short circuit the whole body

Cell phone radiation is suspected of being a factor in a wide range of health problems including headaches, pressure or tingling in the head, earaches, eye problems including distortion of vision, memory loss and fatigue. As the level of EMF exposure continues to rise, so do the risks of long term serious health issues, including; brain tumors, DNA alteration or damage, lymphoma and changes to the brain’s electrical activity. For patients who have metallic dental repairs, the risk is quantified significantly.

Nobody knows with certainty what long-term health consequences EMF-induced biological effects may lead to – or how comingling metal implants and dental repairs with EMF radiation from cell phones might affect the human body. However, researchers are now beginning to discover that electromagnetic emissions from cell phones can cause significant biological effects — and evidence strongly suggests that metallic dental implants do create an electrical resonance of their own. These two factors combined create serious challenges to the long term health and wellness of anyone who has been fitted with metallic dental repairs.

Electrical currents and the immune system

The electric currents and ionic flow between various dental alloys is known to cause irritation in the trigeminal nerve which is the main cranial nerve system; blocking the flow of major acupuncture (or energy) meridians. Blocks in the body’s natural flow of energy can lead to overall dysfunction throughout the body, activating the immune system, which in turn can lead to chronic and debilitating health issues. Scientific studies associated with oral galvanism have clearly illustrated that currents of just over 5 microamps is more than enough to cause significant health problems such as headaches, migraines, dizziness, nausea, etc.

Removing the amalgam filling, metallic dental implant or dental repair essentially eliminated the problem in patients participating in clinical studies.

Studies on metallic implants and cell phone use

Researchers in one study involved two basic types of implants: metallic pins and rings in the surface layers of the human body – positioned near the mobile phone. The goal in this case was to discover ‘the worst case scenario’ with respect to energy absorption. Researchers noted that “Based on the simulations of this study, the local absorption of EM field in a limited volume may be significantly (even by a factor of 700) enhanced by a conductive implant in the surface layer of a human body. The mobile phone and the metallic implant are strongly coupled, especially when the implant is close to a mobile phone, its length is in resonance with the field, and it is aligned with the antenna. This coupling can be either conductive, magnetic or both (Troulis et al 2003).”

Watch out for these symptoms

One suggestion for reducing exposure to harmful EMF radiation when using a cell phone would be to make only short and essential calls, particularly when not using a hands-free device. Some studies suggest that positioning the phone’s antenna as far away from the body as possible during a call may also be helpful.

How can you tell if your cell phone is causing a problem? Several topical symptoms are immediately recognizable and they include:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Warmth behind the ear
• Warmth on the ear, and
• Burning skin

What is the long term solution?

Removing any amalgam fillings, metal fixtures, metallic dental implants or other dental repairs help to eliminate health problems in patients. Ceramic dental implants and non-metallic repairs are the best alternative. Ceramics are highly resistant to corrosion and superior to other implant materials such as titanium and amalgams for both durability and aesthetics. They also have a higher level of human biocompatibility and do not conduct radioactive frequencies.

Resources:

Has the Dental Work in Your Mouth Turned You Into a Walking Antenna?

http://www.oneradionetwork.com/latest/has-the-dental-work-in-your-mouth-turned-you-into-a-walking-antenna-article/

Has the Dental Work in Your Mouth Turned You Into a Walking Antenna?

http://www.drlinagarcia.com/view_articles.php,t=30

The prevention of occupational risks of electromagnetic fields.

http://www.officiel-prevention.com/protections-collectives-organisation-ergonomie/rayonnements/detail_dossier_CHSCT.php?rub=38&ssrub=126&dossid=338

Note: The concept for this article and many of the sources were graciously provided by Dr. Sammy Noumbissi. Dr. Noumbissi is a skilled implantologist working with ceramic dental implants in the Washington D.C. area. You can learn more at www.MilesofSmilesDental.net.

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.

————–

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

Community Forums Are Now Live!

Holistic Dental Forums — Free Registration!

As of this writing, our website — NaturalDentistry.us — has more than 600 comments. That’s a lot of comments for a dental practice website. In addition to all the comments, we also get more than 50 questions submitted through the website contact forms every week and about that many phone calls every DAY.

What does it all mean? It means that our small, two doctor holistic dental practice in San Diego gets a lot of questions… more than we can respond to promptly and still maintain good customer service to our patients (we are typically booked about a month in advance for new patients).

That’s why we are excited to announce the first ever community forum dedicated to alternative dentistry: www.DrMarvin.com

Registration for DrMarvin.com is FREE. It provides a community forum where you can find answers to your questions, ask questions of the group, ask questions of the doctors (not just our doctors, but other doctors as well!), and get all the information you need and want about natural, biological, holistic dentistry and your health.

Check it out today. A few topics on the board as of this writing include:

• Best Alternative for Fillings
• Replacing missing teeth
• What’s Your Favorite Toothbrush?
• Alternatives to Fluoride
• root canal or extraction
• And so much more!

If you are not already registered for your free account, sign up today and help us grow this amazing community resource!

Thanks,
Dr. Marvin

PS: For those of you who have been trying to purchase BreathDR mouthwash on our website, we FINALLY have our store up and running again. You can find it at http://drmarvin.com/index.php?/store/

Root Canal Fails Again

This patient came into the office complaining of sensitivity and only a small amount of pain due to the fact that the tooth’s nerve had been removed and was no longer registering pain. This case clearly highlights the fact that root canal treated teeth are dead, embalmed teeth that can lead to serious jaw bone infections.

As you will see on the X-ray and by examining the tooth, this infection was essentially invisible (hidden under a crown), unfelt by the patient and misdiagnosed by at least one other dentist. Root-canal treated teeth are effectively dead teeth that can, and all too frequently do become silent incubators for highly toxic anaerobic bacteria. These bacteria can, under certain conditions make their way into the bloodstream, causing a number of serious medical conditions—conditions that may not even become apparent until decades later.

The patient came complained of slight pain under the existing crown, which another dentist recommended re-cementing back into place, opting to completely ignore the patient’s issue of pain. Luckily the patient chose to seek another opinion. This picture depicts the condition of the crown.

The primary root canal abscess usually involves both the root tip of the tooth and the dead pulp. A colony of live bacteria builds up inside the root canal and spreads into the surrounding tissue. This rapid spread of infection can cause the dental ligament to develop acute periodontitis (to become inflamed) and can result in mild to extreme pain. Sometimes, the inflammation is so sudden and severe that it pushes the tooth slightly out of the tooth socket and brings even more pain when chewing. In this case, below you can see the severe periapical pathology (infection) around the mesial tooth root:

These types of root canal failures can have serious repercussions on the body, primarily due to the level of toxic bacteria that is released from the infected site into the body. Often various strains of staphylococci and streptococci are contributory microorganism; however, a wide variety of other anarobes microorganisms such as Baccteroides, Peptococcus, Pepr­tostreptococcus, Actinomyces, Eubacterium, and Fusohacterium, are sometimes found. Unfortunately these anaerobes tend to be resistant to antibiotic treatment including penicillin. Below, the discoloration of the dead root-canal treated tooth was surrounded by infection and inflammation.

More often than not teeth treated by root canals result in infection. While this type of infection can remain hidden as it did for the patient in this case, a substantial number of people can and will suffer sudden and insidious pain due to inflammation caused by the aggressive nature of the bacteria. Ultimately the risks associated with root canal therapy will never justify the need to keep a dead tooth in your mouth where it can become an incubator of highly toxic bacteria.

The Links between Root Canals and Other Diseases

One of the most common questions we get is “why don’t you believe in root canals?” For years we have talked about the links between root canals and all kinds of systemic health problems (including certain cancers). To drive the point home further, we have developed the following list of some of the most common bacteria found in root canals and the links between that bacteria and other diseases.

Up to 400 percent more bacteria are found in the surrounding tissues of the root canal tooth than in the tooth itself, indicating that the dead tooth works as an incubator for bacteria that feed on the periodontal ligament where they mutate, grow in number and eventually invade the bone surrounding the root canal.This is just a PARTIAL list and by no means is meant to be considered all-inclusive.

Growing Evidence of Bacteria Commonly Found in Root Canal Cavitations

Bacteria can be identified using DNA analysis, whether they’re dead or alive, by looking at their DNA signatures. The Toxic Element Research Foundation (TERF) used DNA analysis to examine root canal teeth, and they found bacterial contamination in 100% of the samples tested. They were able to identify more than 40 different species of anaerobic bacteria in each sample. In cavitations, 67 different bacteria were identified among the 85 samples tested, with 19 to 53 types of bacteria each individual sample.

Examples of the many diseases that have been associated with the bacterium discovered hidden within dental procedures are MS, ALS, AD, leukemia and diabetes. With proper dental treatment and recognition of these sources of toxins and their eradication, many patients can be improved, and clearly most could have been avoided entirely.

The bacteria found by clinical tests conducted by both TERF and independent laboratories reveal the following most types present in root canals and cavitations:

• Acinetobacter baumanii – linked to Pneumonia and Periodontal disease
• Gemella morbillorum – linked to invasive endocarditis, Meningitis & Arthritis
• Klebsiella – linked to pneumonia Lung infections, infections of the Urinary Tract, biliary tract & Osteomyelitis & Meningitis
• Porphyromonas gingivalis – Protein metabolism, Biofilms, leads to Bone destruction and Premature labor
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa – linked to Central Nervous System disorders, Endocarditis, Brain abscesses & increase in liver enzymes, Prosthetic heart valve invasion
• Streptococcus mitis – found in Strep Throat, Scarlet fever and linked to heart failure –
• Rhpumatir fpvpr- known to affect the heart, nerves, kidneys, brain, and sinus cavities.
• Capnocytophagaochraceavi – known to affect the heart, nerves, kidneys, brain, and sinus cavities.
• Fusobacteriumnucleatumvii – known to affect the heart, nerves, kidneys, brain, and sinus cavities.
• Leptotrichiabuccalis – known to affect the heart, nerves, kidneys, brain, and sinus cavities.
• Porphyromonas gingivalis ix – known to affect the heart, nerves, kidneys, brain, and sinus cavities.
• Veillonella parvula – pathology associated with heart disease and destruction of the Central Nervous System.
• Candida albicans – as it changes from yeast to the fungal state, it becomes invasive, causing small holes to occur in the intestinal tract resulting in „leaky gut syndrome?.  Also increases porphyrin excretion in urine leading to reduced ATP and heme formation, thus reducing overall energy to cells of the nervous system.
• Capnocytophaga ochracea – can cause frontal lobe brain abscesses – associated with dental infections and diseases of the Central Nervous System
• Porphyromas gingivalis – alters the integrity of endothelium of blood vessels.  Enhances atherosclerosis.
• Actinomyces naeslundii –associated with draining sinuses (generally clear up within a week of root canals and cavitation treatment)
• Candida albicans –associated with ALS
• Capnocytophaga ochracea –frontal lobe brain abscesses of dental origin – microbe thought to originate in dental decay.
• Gemella morbillorum –associated with meningitis.
• Neisseria meningitides –associated with seizures.
• Escherichia coli –and Staph aureus –are both capable of increasing porphyrins, which will cause less ATP to be available to neural tissues.
• Streptococcus intermedius –Cervical spinal cord abscesses –associated with high mortality and neurologic morbidity.