On Tue, 02 Sep 2003 15:48, Philip Hellyer wrote; > To my knowledge, there is no filling that requires mercury > amalgam, although I have heard that many dentists say that they > do. I think that these statements stem from a lack of ability on > the part of the dentist, or a lack of commitment to mercury-free > alternatives. My s.o. has both root-filled teeth and crowns, none > of which are now mercury based. Root fillings are particularly > nasty because not even the mercury-free dentists agree on what > substances are safe to use.
My other half is a dental assistant, so I've had some of these matters drilled into me (boom boom). Always ask for `composite' fillings. They should be a gooey plastic that is set with a blue or green light. I've had teeth that strictly speaking needed a crown (a complete reconstruction of the top of the tooth) and where 75% of the tooth was missing. There is no excuse for not using it. She had to ask around in NZ to find a dentist that would do `thermo-fill' root canal treatment. This method is fast (took under 45 minutes for me) and safe. -- Sam Vilain, [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Civilization is a movement, not a condition; it is a voyage, not a harbor." - Toynbee -
