There has been a lot of buzz that biocompatible dentistry is better – but why? Well, there are a few reasons why patients who have dental‌ ‌implants‌  in Orange‌ County‌ ‌opt for a more holistic approach. In a nutshell, when you talk about biocompatible dentistry, you are referring to the holistic practice in dentistry. This approach takes into account a patient’s general well-being and does not only focus on the health of the patient’s teeth, gums, and mouth. It considers how the chemicals used in dental treatments influence the rest of the patient’s body because this idea views the body as a whole. 

What Is The Reasoning Behind Biocompatible Dentistry?

The best dentist in Orange‌ County‌ understands the link between a patient’s mouth and body. It understands that what occurs in your mouth also influences the whole body and vice-versa. 

Along with this doctrine, an Orange County biocompatible dentist uses a proactive method to dental health that focuses on the underlying causes of a dental illness instead of the symptoms. A biocompatible dentist in Orange‌ County‌ would rather proactively promote health and wellness through dental hygiene and nutrition instead of managing only the negative effects of not maintaining your teeth properly and eating poorly. 

What Is Biocompatible Dentistry?

Dentists who practice biocompatible dentistry prudently think about what materials they place inside their patient’s mouths since this can have a chain of cause and effect on a person’s general wellness. Biocompatible dental materials are non-toxic substances that don’t result in any adverse effects on a person’s biology when used in their mouth. Also, dentists try to avoid invasive procedures, such as surgery, when less-invasive means are feasible.

You will find below a list of chemicals and practices that biocompatible dentists usually avoid:

Fluoride 

Many biocompatible dentists don’t prescribe fluoride to their patients since they believe there are sufficient amounts of fluoride in the water systems. Nevertheless, you have to ensure that you aren’t ingesting additional fluoride from other sources, such as toothpaste. When you make sure of this, you don’t leave the safe levels of intake since an overabundance of fluoride can result in fluorosis. 

Mercury Amalgam Fillings 

The use of mercury amalgam is a very hot topic in the world of dental health. The reason being is that these fillings include 50% mercury, which is an extremely toxic heavy metal that can damage the immune system and central nervous system. 

Although conventional dentists think the effects of mercury in the amalgam is harmless, the biocompatible dentists think mercury is still mercury and even the smallest amounts can accumulate in the biological systems of individuals and lead to health issues. 

Those who already have mercury amalgam fillings are usually told by their biocompatible dentist that for the sake of their health, they should consider removing them. 

Bisphenol A (BPA) 

Typically, BPA is a compound that is found in different plastics, and it’s also in some composite options to mercury amalgam fillings. Biocompatible dentists are very attentive about the alternatives they use to replace mercury amalgam. 

X-Rays

Rather than using traditional x-rays, biocompatible dentists have switched to digital X-ray equipment because they emit less radiation. 

Biocompatibility Tests

A few biocompatible dentists use biocompatibility tests on patients to guarantee that they won’t encounter any systemic reactions to the materials they use. To the contrary, many traditional dentists don’t talk about material options to their patients or offer them a choice of which materials they prefer to use. 

Mercury and Metal-Free Dentistry 

For many years, metal restorations were fundamental in the dental field. No matter whether it was silver, gold, and mercury, they all played a huge part in protecting damaged teeth, filling cavities, and replacing lost teeth. Thankfully, modern dentistry provides safer, more pleasant, biocompatible dental implant alternatives to these materials.

As mentioned above, biocompatible dentists don’t implant mercury amalgam fillings into their patient’s mouths. Instead, they use resin dental implant fillings, which, unlike mercury, won’t result in any negative effects on the person’s body. Plus, inserting them doesn’t require your dentist to remove a lot of the tooth structure compared to metal fillings. 

Another biocompatible material used by a biocompatible dentist to restore teeth is porcelain or ceramic. Typically, metal crowns and bridges cause tooth sensitivity, but porcelain crowns and bridges have less risk of sensitivity. By the same token, porcelain crowns won’t cause any allergic reactions or intervene with MRIs, contrary to metal ones. 

Again, another reason why many patients go for biocompatible dental implant restorations over traditional ones is that they look better. Normally, metal fillings, bridges, and crowns don’t look like a person’s natural teeth and can affect the way a smile appears. Composite resin, Zirconia implants ‌, and porcelain are almost identical to your tooth’s natural enamel, so they integrate well with the rest of a patient’s teeth. Undoubtedly, metal-free restorations are the way forward to repair decayed or damaged teeth. 

Are Biocompatible Materials Less Durable?

No, they are not. Biocompatible dental implant materials have extraordinary longevity and other distinguished advantages, biocompatible materials are way better than metal. However, how can you make sure that your biocompatible restorations will last for a long time? Here is some advice to follow:

• Try not to clench or grind your teeth.
• Don’t eat a lot of hard or sticky food.
• Practice good oral hygiene.
• Wear a mouthguard when playing sports.
• Visit the best dentist in Orange County regularly so they can see how your restorations are doing and to get recommendations on when to replace them. 

To encourage dental-physical balance, biocompatible regimens also consist of proper nutrition. Also, it’s important to consume foods that give you strong teeth and healthy gums. Restorative procedures make sure your bite is well-aligned and healthy. Dental issues such as bruxism (teeth grinding), clenching, plaque accumulation, soft tissue irritation, and infection can be avoided and treated with self-care and regular visits to a dental professional who has your oral and dental health in mind. 

Contact Aria Dental at (949) 364-9600 to make your next holistic dental appointment. We are your trusted holistic dental provider, providing safe, non-toxic alternatives for every dental procedure. Moreover, we are a top certified member of IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology), IABDM (International Academy of Biological Dentistry & Medicine), and HDA (Holistic Dental Association).