Q&A about Dentistry-Answered by a qualified Goan Dentist

lotus blossom

i had eight mercury amalgam fillings removed and replaced with composite several years ago. the dentist used the rubber dam and followed protocol for removal reasonably well, but there was no testing performed for the composite compatibility. i learned more about that after the fact.

i felt a surge of energy after they were all removed, which was about a month long process. i was referred to as "wonder woman" when i came in since i refused pain killer. i listened to my walkman and tuned into the melodies to tune out the whirr of the drill.

i researched amalgam mercury poisoning for quite some time before i took the step, and fortunately had a great dentist that accepted monthly payments. the big issue with amalgam is that the mercury is continuosly being released whenever we chew, drink something hot, brush our teeth, etc. the vapors, or methyl mercury, is much more toxic, and has an affinity for the brain. it is suspected that it may account for the high incidence of alzheimers.

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joshipooja

Doctorji:

My dentist in US suggested that I might need a root canal eventually. I am extremely skittish about dental treatments and have been putting it off. My tooth hasn't been bothering me, but I don't want to put it off any longer. I am visiting India in Feb and have already made an appointment with a dentist reccomended by friends and family. Before I approach the topic of root canal with him, I would like to know if root canals can be done while the patient has been given an anesthetic. I don't mean local anesthesia, I want the dentist to put me out. Is this possible? I know that when my sister was younger, her dentist had given her *sweet air* as he was giving her multiple fillings. Can I request the same from my dentist?

Thank you.

Goandentist

Hi there,

As far as I can say Dental Surgeries in India do not use Nitrous Oxide for sedation and the procedure is normally done under local anesthesia only. Trust me when I tell you , a nerve block will completely numb the tooth and you will feel no pain. What i would be more concerned about if a dentist agreed to do it with gas is if he has Cardiac equipment and other emergency equipment to manage your case should something go wrong.

Opt for Local Anesthetic. There will be no problems and you will have no pain.

Regards
Dr. Ambert

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The India Mike Dental thread

amarama

I was researching dental materials and have been reading a lot about a product called clearfil se, which is a primer sealer. Do you use this product, or do you know if it is any good?
When someone goes to a dentist in India to have a gold crown made, how can they be sure that they are receiving the right amount of gold in the crown. Is there a way to buy gold from a third party, as to insure the mix is right. Maybe gold is not the best material.
Speaking of root canals, do you preform them on say tooth 30? Will I need local pain killer, or can I rough it. I have never had pain killers even as a child, maybe this is diferent.

alaskabob

Many thanks for your reply. Does that mean you only fit all ceramic crowns and bridges too?

I'm curious about the basis behind the arguement re: toxicity of amalgam fillings. It's just I got the impression that they have been on the go for well over 100 years and actually have far less mercury content now; so should we all be having our old fillings replaced? How much more tooth on average would you recommend is removed to place an amalgam filling rather than say a white filling?

I've been told that gold is the safest thing to repair a tooth. What do you think? OK, so it doesn't look so pretty but I just want whatever is going to be safest and last the longest.

Also, I've been wondering, when people have their old and apparently terribly toxic amalgam fillings removed at your practice, do you have some means of measuring the mercury vapour levels in your surgery? And how is this waste metal disposed of? Is there some means of separating the amalgam from the waste water that it would get sucked up in? Or is this not possible and does it have to drain into the normal waste water/sewage system?

I have heard that in some European countries where the use of amalgam has been prohibited, it was due to concerns about waste mercury (not just from fillings but some industrial processes too) getting into the water system. When I've looked this up, it does seem the concern wasn't about peoples fillings at all.

Anyway, thanks for your help and advice!
Bob

Goandentist

I dont use Clearfil se, but i would think it is a good product. You can never be sure how much gold will be used for a particular crown. A lot depends on the lab and the dentist has nothing to do in its fabrication. A little part of other metals are also used so its not 100% pure. Also a large part of gold is lost in wastage during the fabrication process.
I dont perform RCT's on wisdom teeth ( big hands so i cant get back there ). But most dentists will advise against it as the last molars rarely come into functional occlusion, and most of the times will give you pain or pressure if the jaw cannot accomodate the extra teeth.
Yes pain killers are best, but if the tooth is really troubling you, get it removed. Earlier the better !

Goandentist

Alaska bob,

Unfortunately its not possible to do all ceramic bridges for the posterior teeth, so we have to do porcelain fused to metal. The metal used is Ni/Cr or Co/Cr, which is non toxic in the quantity used. So yes I can say mine is a metal free practice.

There is a lot of conflicting info about amalgam and whether it is toxic or not. I cannot say for sure which lobby is right. As per my understanding , the amount of mercury released during removal of amalgam fillings is far greater than the amount it can release slowly over a period of several years in your mouth.

I have now stopped removing amalgam fillings just for the sake of replacing them with white fillings unless there is a fracture in the old restoration.

Regards

TattooLady

Hello Goan Dentist,
I am in Goa (Anjuna) until March and I am slowly biting my way through my retainer. Do you make retainers or do you know a Othro in the area who does? Would you know how much this would cost? Right now I have the clear plastic one and I find it quite comfortable. I would also like to know if you do dental implants? Is this the best option for someone that is losing their teeth? If so, how much do they cost?
Thank you for all of your help.
TL

Nick-H

I've always wondered why gold fillings?

Or to put it another way: Why Gold fillings?

Does it have any material advantage, or is it just for showing off?

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beebah

Hi GoanDentist,

I'm staying in Jaipur and having had an accident that involved some "oral breakage" (cracked a tooth) and now I need to see a dentist. Do you know of any good dentists here or perhaps a way to tell how good a dentist is before he/she starts work or as he/she's doing it?
Thanks
Nick

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TimMakins

My preferred method is to ask the expats. Phone up the nearest British/American/European embassy, and ask which dentist they recommend. Most embassies keep a list.

Another way, which I did in Tiruvananathapuram, was to walk into the British Council office, ask to see the director, and ask him which dentist he uses. That worked very well - he was *so* friendly, and even sent a peon with me to see that I found the place OK.

Tim in Ireland.

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Quote:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Mark Twain

Nick-H

I could have helped you out in Chennai, Nick.

Or rather, I could have recommended a dentist that would.

My dentist was recommended by my doctor. My doctor was recommended by a friend in London!

Anither idea is that the private hospitals will probably have dental clinics.

beebah

unfortunately it happened only a few days ago and while I'd love to come back down to Chennai for a while, I have my course and the immenant visit of my folks stopping me. still i hope someone in Jaipur can make my smile look like this !

happytraveler

I just came back from seeing my oral surgeon here in the U.S. and realized that I may not be able to get a temporary crown before I leave for India in April. I'm having an implant done in March (had to have a baby tooth pulled and now will be replaced with an implant) - all along I was under the impression that I would have a temporary crown before I left but they're telling me no that they would put the implant (meaning post) in and I'm supposed to use a retainer with a fake tooth attached for the 8+ months I'll be gone! I don't think so, that is so ridiculous and I expressed my concern all along - ever since November when I had my baby tooth removed. I'm so frustrated - my oral surgeon was obviously not listening because I said many times my main concern was having a tooth before I went to India! I understood that it would be a temporary crown and not permanent which was fine but now it may be not even that much!

My question is - should I just stick with the implant and let it heal and wait until I return to the U.S. in 8 months for any type of crown? Or, my oral surgeon said he could put on a temporary crown if the implant procedure goes well but he is concerned in case something happens while I'm in India - I guess it would open the implant up to infection a bit more and I couldn't chew on that side. I can be careful, that's no problem but I don't want to take unnecessary risks of infection especially in a country where I'm not used to the kind of bacteria, etc. present. I will be about 12 hours away from Delhi so I could go there if I had a problem.

Sorry for the long post. Any advice is very much appreciated.

morleymarra

Hi

I am travelling to Jaipur, Delhi and Agra in March and am looking for a dentist that can laser whiten my teeth and maybe do porcelain vaneers on the front two as I have a gap that is approx 4mm wide.
Please can you help me by recommending a dentist, so i can contact them before i travel.

thank you
Regards
Joanne