Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

EPA Going After Mercury From Dental Amalgams

Friday, September 26, 2014

I saw a report today that the Environmental Protection Agency was proposing that dentists install a new type of amalgam separator in their offices to keep the mercury from old dental amalgams out of the water supply. I have one question - why do they still allow mercury amalgam fillings in the first place?

Dental amalgam (those old silver fillings) are about 50% mercury. Mercury is a neurotoxin - bad for everybody. While patients worry about having the stuff in their mouths those of us who spend our days removing old mercury fillings from patients are exposed to even more risk.

Our practice has never used mercury amalgam fillings and we never will. This is for the safety of our patients, our staff and the environment. Mercury amalgam fillings have been around since the 1800's - I think that material science has made some progress in the years since.

New dental restorative materials do not contain mercury and do not expand and contract when exposed to heat/cold, thereby cracking teeth. Tooth colored restorations are more aesthetically pleasing and actually help to strengthen the tooth.

Why do some dentists still place mercury amalgam fillings? Simple - the stuff is cheap and easy to work with. I'm hoping that progressive dentists will finally stand up and find a way to get rid of mercury amalgam use in the United States.

Labels: mercury fillings, tooth decay

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Preventing Cavities In Kids

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Tooth decay among children is skyrocketing after almost 60 years of reduced rates. What has happened that preventing cavities in kids is no longer working?

Rates of childhood tooth decay started to go down when municipal water supplies started adding fluoride. Today, more and more kids are drinking bottled water (or other beverages) instead of tap water. This has dramatically reduced the amount of fluoride they are receiving.

There are lots of things you can do to protect your kids, and yourself, from tooth decay. Delta Dental, the insurance company, studied more than 90 million claims and found:

More than 70% of kids ages 6 to 18 are not receiving 2 fluoride treatments per year
More than 60% of kids ages 6 to 9 did not get sealants on their first molars
More than 80% of kids aged 11 to 15 didn't get sealants on their second molars

These are low cost, preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of tooth decay. Here are a few more things you can do at home to protect your kids (and your own) teeth:

Avoid drinking soda, sports drinks and energy drinks. The acid and sugars destroy teeth!
Avoid constant snacking. This is good for everyone's waistline and their teeth. Having sugary or high carbohydrate snacks throughout the day keeps oral bacteria well fed and growing - not something we want.
Limit sugary treats to mealtimes.
Chew sugarless gum. The chewing action helps remove debris from the teeth and the xylitol in the gum has been shown to help prevent bacteria from sticking to teeth.

Remember, you won't know when you have tooth decay! By the time a tooth starts to hurt because of a cavity it means that the decay has become very advanced which means a larger filling or perhaps a root canal and crown. All members of the family should visit the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. Yes, we do need to take x-rays every so often because there is often decay that we can't see.

Contact Dr. Ken Mogell at 561-394-9000 to schedule your next visit.

Labels: mercury fillings, tooth decay

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Got Sensitive Fillings? Time to Replace Them

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Got sensitive fillings? Maybe it is time to replace that 20 year old filling for a new and improved model.

Older fillings, especially those old silver fillings made from mercury-based dental amalgam, have a tendency to break or leak as they age. This type of filling material is 150 year old technology and when it comes into contact with heat and cold it contracts and expands. This causes problems with the filling and can even cause cracks in the tooth.

New decay forming under these old leaky fillings is common. Any discomfort from a tooth that has an existing filling should be brought to the attention of your dentist as soon as possible. Early treatment can help save the tooth or possibly help avoid needing a root canal. If your dental floss is being shredded while you are flossing then it is a good bet that you have old fillings in need of replacement even if they are not causing discomfort.

Untreated tooth decay, especially under an old filling, can infect the pulp of the tooth and cause an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth is painful and requires treatment from a dental professional to resolve the infection. Oral antibiotics alone cannot treat this type of infection and a visit to the emergency room won't help either - no dentists there. An abscessed tooth that is not treated causes severe pain and the infection can travel from the tooth to other areas of the body causing serious infection and illness.

If you need a new filling or feel that it is time to replace those old mercury silver fillings with modern dental composite fillings then please contact Boca Raton dentist Dr. Ken Mogell at 561-394-9000.

Labels: mercury fillings, replace fillings

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