DENTAL CARE

Q:

I A: Only Want Metal

That was the directive from my patient this week; if you stop and think for a moment, it is quite strange. After all, we are already two decades into the 21st century, and metal in the mouth is not the accepted norm. We emphasize cosmetics and esthetics when it

comes to oral care in the modern dental office. This topic leads to a

bigger question. Is there a place for any metal in the mouth in the year 2022?

Let’s talk about this subject just a little and find out where we were and where we are today in dental health care. There is one common denominator in all dental materials, and that is strength.

Chewing forces in the mouth are really beyond what one would think. Food comes in all shapes and consistencies, requiring the chewing process to manage a broad range of situations. The muscles that bring our jaws together generate a tremendous amount

of force. When we couple this with tooth enamel, most foods are chewed and ground very well. Tooth enamel is harder than our bones, making it the strongest tissue in the body.

If not for decay, gum disease, or decades of abuse, our teeth would last forever. Since we know that teeth lasting a lifetime are a rarity, replacement issues come into play. Whether I replace an entire tooth or just a section of it, the new tooth must duplicate the strength of the natural tooth.

In addition to replicating natural teeth from a strength standpoint, ease of creation and modification are factors to consider. In the earlier days of dentistry, various metals fit the bill. One of the first and most durable metals used in dentistry was gold. Gold teeth were easy to make and adjust afterward, making them an ideal material for tooth replacement.

As time went on and the cost of gold increased, dentistry explored other metals to replace gold. New materials and alloys showed

up in dental care with some but not all the benefits of gold. One

of the biggest changes and an improvement came in the area of removable bridges, which are also called partial dentures.

Newer metals are very thin and light when compared to gold. The strength of these materials allows the partial denture to be very thin, and I will tell you why this material feature is important. As we get older, our teeth often wear down, and the space between the top and bottom teeth is minimal. If I were to use a softer material that requires more thickness to achieve strength, the rest of the teeth in the mouth would not close properly.

My patient knew this as she tried other materials before coming to me. I made her the original partial over 20 years ago; it stood up beautifully and served her well. Due to time and wear, and after two decades, she wanted something new and fresh in her mouth. She read about different materials for making teeth and heard some horror stories from her friends. She knew what worked well for her and wanted another twenty years out of her next partial denture.

A good dental practitioner must stay abreast of the latest materials and techniques. That being said, there are times that tried-and-true techniques should be used as we know how well they help patients. If you are ready to help ensure that your teeth last a lifetime, please call us at 440.951.7856 for a discussion with me. I look forward to meeting you.

Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD, is an Ohio licensed general dentist and is a staff member at Case School of Dental Medicine in the Department

of Comprehensive Care.

The Healthy Smile

34586 Lakeshore Boulevard (¼ mile west of Route 91 on Lakeshore Blvd) Eastlake, Ohio 44095 440-951-7856 Severance Medical Arts, Suite 603 5 Severance Center Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 216-371-2333 www.jeffreygrossdds.com