I don't trust composites for a sensitive as I've been completely disabled since I had mine put in. I had been MCS for 10 years already, but a functioning one. I drove an hour to teach 5 days a week, performed 2-4 times per weekend, lugging and set up all my own equipment and jumping up and down on stage in heels for 5 hours per performance. I dove for the bed often but still could do all this, go places, hear bands, handle smoky clubs, live in an apartment in smoggy LA and have a social life. But after getting my mercury out and composites in I was bed ridden for 3 months, feeling like I had the flu constantly. I became more and more sensitive and weak until I could handle and do very little... and have been that way ever since, now 12 years. The practitioners told me the symptoms were mercury detox, but if this was so, they would have passed at some point. The latest research in Sweden, shows that for a person to get mercury out is all well and good, but putting plastics in a chemically sensitive person can sensitize them even more or set up more allergic processes. There is constant low level petro-chemical leakage into the system from them. Many of the pulp caps, liners and cements used can also be toxic and one must really do their own research before getting anything permanently in their mouth.
Unfortunately in my experience, most dentists saying they specialize in MCS patients are not knowledgeable on materials or their biocompatibility for a sensitive. Years ago, I didn't do my own research and trusted a dentist who came highly recommended claiming expertise in working with MCSs. Yet, when I lost a filling of his last month, I became ill from the exposed cement alone (until I could get it drilled out), even these 12 years later. What have his many fillings been doing to me all this time (at a lower concentration)? I would get them all out, but in my hypersensitive state there is nothing I handle to replace them with. The pain, nervous system stress and infection risk of having that many exposed holes would be dangerous for a compromised immune system. I continue to have hope as I live and chew with 5 holes in my mouth!
I have talked to many others who this composite syndrome has happened to. After getting mercury replaced with plastic, one MCS friend could suddenly not just smell, but taste everything so strongly when she'd go shopping. She'd get knocked out and have to sit down. Things got worse and worse from there. There are many more stories, including another friend spending $40K trying to get well. Since doing hers, it initiated anxiety attacks and ruined health. I am of course, biased due to these experiences. I can't say that every MCS person should not get plastic. I would, however, err on the safe side if there were a choice. Even if it doesn't knock you out, down the road it could cause problems you don't trace to it, who knows? Some current MCS practitioners have seen so many problems with sensitives replacing their mercury that leaving it in. It's best to work on the root causes of the illness until you can get stronger. Because if you've had mercury in your teeth for awhile, it has likely leached out of your teeth and into your system into organs, bone etc. anyway. I wish I had gotten this advice a long time ago and not messed with it!
There are other material choices such as porcelains, that many tolerate. After testing at least 50 samples of materials I got from all over the country, the safest one I found is DUCERAM porcelain by DAGUSSA. The problem remained, for me, that the cements to affix it are all composite. I haven't found one I tolerate to use with it.
** If anyone knows of a safer cement (besides zinc phosphate or TRANSLIT) without Methyl Methacrylate Monomer or composites, please write to this site!
There is a scientist at U.C. Santa Barbara working on Mussel Cement but it is far from being available yet. After finding DUCERAM on my own, I heard that in Hansen's book he also feels it is the safest, the reason being that it contains the least amount of aluminum. If you have a cement you handle, an inlay with it and DUCERAM may be a good choice. (Test first!)
Germany just inserted their first MOTHER OF PEARL inlay in September 2001, and they say "so far, so good." Europeans attempts to import a MEXICAN PLANT for filling material have failed, but they think they might be able to cultivate the plant in warmer areas of Europe. And, finally, a substance called DOXADENT shows promise for filling material. It resembles enamel and dentine, which is supposed to be much more biocompatible. It requires no etching or bonding agents! A tablet containing a compacted ceramic powder (calcium aluminate hydrate) is dipped in water containing alkaline salt, and stuffed into the cavity. It is simply polished with a soft cloth after hardening and can be chewed on in an hour. They are now saying it will be available in the U.S. in another 6 months to a year.
If you're trying porcelains, I would get them with no exterior glaze and the least coloring. They all have aluminum and other metal oxides; some say the oxides are tightly bound in a crystalline form thus don't release much at the molecular level as compared to say gold which has free electron clouds causing a battery effect. Others disagree about porcelains not releasing much and will tell you don't get anything with metal or metal oxides. This can be a very confusing process as there are so many conflicting opinions and it really comes down to what the individual can handle, as always (though how can one tell what cumulative affect dental materials in controversy may have on them over the long term)?
For cements, Mizzy Fleck brand zinc phosphate is the one most highly sensitive MCSs tolerate. It has the purest and least ingredients. At first it seemed promising, but I got sensitized to it the more I tried it. Editor's Note: Zinc oxide is well tolerated and can be used for temporary fillings. The cements have to be compatible with the filling material. This is a stumbling block for MCS persons. They find a filling material, but cannot tolerate the cement needed to bond the material to the tooth.
Testing the Materials with Blood Tests and Samples
I have been looking for a filling material for 5 years now. In the experience of myself and most (ultra) sensitives, the blood tests for biocompatibility of dental materials have proved inaccurate. They are useful because they narrow down the list of materials to be tested. But these tests seem to produce a lot of false positive results. I have found an EAV machine with a good technician is a step up and can narrow things even more as far as what you WON'T handle. When you are (ultra) sensitive, I think the only way to test accurately, is to get a sample and put it in your mouth between the gum and teeth for as long as you can stand it. The Heavy Metal Bulletin advocates 2 weeks during waking hours. (contact info below) Editor's Note: Another recommendation is to test 2 hours a day for 2 weeks. Record symptoms, if any, for each material. Make sure to include cements with your test. Ultra-sensitive persons have the most difficulty with these products.
A desperate MCS friend did a search through Medline and found several articles referring to CALCIUM HYDROXY APATITE (the material teeth are made of) ceramics used in Japan.
** Does anyone know a way to find it? She blindly called universities in Japan but got nowhere as was blocked by the language barrier.
** Eric Perry with Vident, told me there was a company in San Diego who used to make it. Does anyone know of this company or how to contact them? Being a lay person and trying to find these things is very difficult.
** If there is any professional out there willing to help our plight, please contact this site!
There are several cases I know where MCSs got healthy by removing all of their teeth. For extreme cases such as myself, where no tolerable material has been found for a tooth that needs filling, maybe pulling the tooth and getting a partial that you can take out (at night/when you're not out) may be the safest option. One doesn't have that constant exposure. Having all my teeth pulled is the scary option that I'm putting off, in the hope of getting strong enough to handle a current material, or something new I tolerate coming out on the market.
** Any suggestions are more than welcome, as I don't know how much longer I can hold out.
Please send suggestions or information to: maryk555@yahoo.com
Anonymous Canary, July 2002
See also Safer Dental Materials