Dr. Mercola February 05 2008 64,824 views
Millions of dollars worth of unnecessary dental treatments are being performed each year.
One dentist told a patient she had a fractured jaw, although it was not fractured at all. The dentist performed surgery anyway, and inserted hundreds of tiny beads instead of a bone graft. The beads became infected and required multiple surgeries for removal. The same dentists has reportedly performed unnecessary root canals and other unneeded dental work.
In addition to unnecessary procedures, there have been cases of “phantom billing” by dentists, in which dentists simply bill insurers for services they never performed.
James Quiggle, of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, says there has been a disturbing spike in dental fraud by crooked dentists. An ABC News investigation uncovered dental fraud cases across the country, causing harm to patients and bilking insurance companies out of millions of dollars.
This is an unfortunate occurrence indeed, not only because it’s costing you lots of money, but also because your dental health is such an important part of your overall health.
Unnecessary drilling and filling your teeth with toxic materials can have far-reaching, long-term health ramifications.
The brilliant, but largely ignored work of Dr. Westin Price DDS -- published in 1923 after 25 years of research -- shows undisputable links between root canals and chronic degenerative diseases, such as:
The Medical Impact of Conventional Dentistry
There are many ways your health can be negatively impacted through conventional dentistry. For example:
Fluoride Can Actually CAUSE Cavities -- Studies have shown that consuming too much fluoride might actually cause tooth decay, rather than prevent it. One such study, published in the September 2001 issue of International Journal of Pediatric Dentistry, found that South African children who drank water containing high levels of natural fluoride, had more tooth decay than children in other parts of South Africa who drank much lower concentrations. By comparison, fluoride-saturated American teenagers had twice the rate of cavities as the South African children drinking low levels of natural fluoride! According to the dental textbook, Dentistry, Dental Practice and the Community, by Brian Burt, DBS and Steven Eklund, DDS, fluoride concentrations form a J-shaped curve, where cavities are reduced up to a point, and then begins to rise again as you’re exposed to higher and higher levels of fluoride. Mercury Toxicity From Amalgam Fillings -- Commonly known as silver fillings or just amalgam fillings, these fillings should really be called mercury fillings, since mercury has been and remains a full 50 percent of the content of these fillings. Conventional dentistry long asserted that the amalgamation process rendered the mercury non-toxic by the chemical reaction that was supposed to be taking place. However, as you can see for yourself in this shocking video, that is simply not the case. A single dental amalgam filling releases as much as 15 micrograms of mercury per day. The average individual has eight amalgam fillings and could absorb up to 120 micrograms of mercury per day. In contrast, eating mercury-tainted seafood will expose you to about 2.3 micrograms per day -- and that is enough for scientists to call for a world-wide warning. Mercury vapor from your amalgams passes readily through cell membranes, across your blood brain barrier, and into your central nervous system, where it causes psychological, neurological, and immunological problems. Mercury can persist in your body for years unless it is actively removed. Root Canals are the Root of Many Evils -- Root canal-treated teeth are almost always infected – even when not presenting visible clues -- and the toxins isolated from them are often incredibly potent. Some researchers claim there is a strong relation between the presence of root canals and the development of cancer and heart disease. It appears that the longer root canal-treated teeth stay in your body, the more your immune system becomes compromised. Cavitations are Hidden Sources of Infections -- Pockets of gangrene in the jawbone are often found at the sites of previous extractions by conventional dentists. These toxins are essentially the same as those found in root canals, being the product of aerobic mouth bacteria being forced to live in an anaerobic environment. Implants can Exacerbate Autoimmune Diseases -- Currently, implants continue to be done without biocompatibility testing, and they are often started at extraction sites where cavitations are already developing. Autoimmune diseases seem to be often aggravated or even initiated by implants. Periodontal Disease can Lead to Heart Disease -- Not enough emphasis is put on how severely your gum infection will impact your long-term health if you have periodontal disease. Heart- and lung disease is clearly the result of such disease in many.
Fluoride Can Actually CAUSE Cavities -- Studies have shown that consuming too much fluoride might actually cause tooth decay, rather than prevent it.
One such study, published in the September 2001 issue of International Journal of Pediatric Dentistry, found that South African children who drank water containing high levels of natural fluoride, had more tooth decay than children in other parts of South Africa who drank much lower concentrations.
By comparison, fluoride-saturated American teenagers had twice the rate of cavities as the South African children drinking low levels of natural fluoride!
According to the dental textbook, Dentistry, Dental Practice and the Community, by Brian Burt, DBS and Steven Eklund, DDS, fluoride concentrations form a J-shaped curve, where cavities are reduced up to a point, and then begins to rise again as you’re exposed to higher and higher levels of fluoride.
Mercury Toxicity From Amalgam Fillings -- Commonly known as silver fillings or just amalgam fillings, these fillings should really be called mercury fillings, since mercury has been and remains a full 50 percent of the content of these fillings.
Conventional dentistry long asserted that the amalgamation process rendered the mercury non-toxic by the chemical reaction that was supposed to be taking place. However, as you can see for yourself in this shocking video, that is simply not the case.
A single dental amalgam filling releases as much as 15 micrograms of mercury per day. The average individual has eight amalgam fillings and could absorb up to 120 micrograms of mercury per day. In contrast, eating mercury-tainted seafood will expose you to about 2.3 micrograms per day -- and that is enough for scientists to call for a world-wide warning.
Mercury vapor from your amalgams passes readily through cell membranes, across your blood brain barrier, and into your central nervous system, where it causes psychological, neurological, and immunological problems. Mercury can persist in your body for years unless it is actively removed.
Root Canals are the Root of Many Evils -- Root canal-treated teeth are almost always infected – even when not presenting visible clues -- and the toxins isolated from them are often incredibly potent. Some researchers claim there is a strong relation between the presence of root canals and the development of cancer and heart disease. It appears that the longer root canal-treated teeth stay in your body, the more your immune system becomes compromised.
Cavitations are Hidden Sources of Infections -- Pockets of gangrene in the jawbone are often found at the sites of previous extractions by conventional dentists. These toxins are essentially the same as those found in root canals, being the product of aerobic mouth bacteria being forced to live in an anaerobic environment.
Implants can Exacerbate Autoimmune Diseases -- Currently, implants continue to be done without biocompatibility testing, and they are often started at extraction sites where cavitations are already developing. Autoimmune diseases seem to be often aggravated or even initiated by implants.
Periodontal Disease can Lead to Heart Disease -- Not enough emphasis is put on how severely your gum infection will impact your long-term health if you have periodontal disease. Heart- and lung disease is clearly the result of such disease in many.
What My Own Dental Struggles Have Taught Me
If you eat properly and maintain optimal health, cavities should simply not happen. They only occur when you're eating the wrong foods, and growing up, I clearly did not eat the right foods. As a result, I had a mouth full of metal fillings.
Eventually, I had all the metal fillings removed, replacing them with gold fillings. Unfortunately, gold fillings and crowns cause problems too, I found out. So after I’d already made an investment of several thousand dollars, I later decided to replace them all again. This time with non-metal crowns, for the most part.
My own struggles with my teeth led me to learn about and embrace biological dentistry.
Biological dentistry, also known as holistic or environmental dentistry, views your mouth as an integrated part of your entire body, and that the medical treatments performed on your mouth and teeth can have a huge impact on your health. The primary aim of this type of holistic dentistry is to resolve your dental problems while impacting the rest of your body as little as possible.
How to PREVENT Cavities and Other Dental Problems
The only scientific way to prevent tooth decay is through diet and nutrition.
In one landmark study, Dr. Ralph Steinman at Loma Linda University injected a glucose solution into the bodies of mice, so the glucose didn't even touch their teeth.
What happened?
The glucose reversed the normal flow of fluid in the dentin, resulting in all of the test animals developing severe tooth decay!
So yes, dental cavities reflect systemic illness, and its cure is in your diet.
Dr. Price studied the diets of natives and its impact on their teeth very carefully. He found that what they ate varied greatly from region to region, but the one thing they had in common was that they ate whole, unrefined foods, and NO sugar or white flour.
Remarkably, with absolutely no access to tooth brushes, floss, fluoridated water or tooth paste, the primitive people he studied were almost 100 percent free of tooth decay. Further - and not unrelated - they were also almost 100 percent free of all the degenerative diseases we suffer from, such as problems with the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, joints and skin (allergies).
No one food proved to be magic as a preventive food. However, you can thrive best and maintain optimal health by eating a wide variety of whole foods, customized for your nutritional type.
Additionally, if you still have mercury in your teeth, I highly recommend reviewing my Mercury Detoxification Protocol, which details the things you can do, right now, to help detoxify your body to improve your health.
PepperR23 - You are not the only one. I had four fillings when I was a kid because I had deep pits in my molars. I've never had a cavity, but one of the metal filings came out when I was pregnant with my second son. I am so sad for the mercury he probably was dosed with. It really hurt so I went to the dentist to get a new filling. The treatment I received at the dentist was horrible when I refused x-rays, fluoride treatment and painkiller because I was pregnant. The hygenists were making fun of me and snickering right behind my chair and one of them came in to say it was rediculous to be worried since she herself had several fillings while pregnant and her kids are fine. I never went back and I am a bit annoyed that my husband still goes to someone that would be so careless with his child and mean to his wife. I personally don't go to the dentist and I don't take the kids anymore since they started trying to push plastic sealers for 3 year olds!!!
We use Tooth Soap, no glycerin. You can find them on You Tube.
My husband is a dentist and I work in the office. He has read Dr. Price's book and we are avid Mercola fans. Unfortunately, most people think "a dentist is a dentist" and nothing is further from the truth. Just like everything else we do, we should do a little research and make sure the dentist we choose is reputable and agrees with our own philosophy for health. The other side of the story is that MOST patients do not want to change their diet one bit. They want to continue drinking gallons of soda, eating sugar and other processed foods and are surprised when they have dental problems. My husband tries to educate and get people to change their diets, but most are not interested. In addition, patients today are so "insurance oriented" that they let their insurance companies dictate their treatment. Believe me--your insurance company does NOT have your best interest in mind. They simply want to pay the least amount possible. Many will still only pay for amalgam (mercury) fillings. When we refuse to do that, some patients get upset and "only want what my insurance will pay for." So, while I agree that there are some dentists who are not providing good care, there are patients who don't care about their own health enough to change their diet. In addition, we have the established ADA and dental school still preaching the safety of Amalgam fillings and fluoride to dentists. If you are a dentist that disagrees, you will find yourself being "investigated" and criticized to shut you up.
Jeanne
I agree. If we were even close to your state, I would love to become a patient at your practice. I am dealing now with an orthodontist that wanted to use a flouride application for my daughter's braces. He doesn't understand why I don't want it used. How can I be sure that I am not getting the flouride stuff?
I had the non-metal filling in one tooth years ago. I started having a different kind of problem, that turned out to be minor. I went to a low-income clinic and I specifically stated that I didn't want them to use amalgam if they were working on this tooth and supposedly correcting a bite problem. I was so mad when I looked inside of my mouth after the procedure was finished that I refuse to go back to that clinic ever again. Low-income or not, my rights in this case were violated as if I wasn't a person with a sensible mind of my own. I have since then had the work done to remove this amalgam from a dental school student who did an excellent job who did this painstaking effort to not even end up removing more natural tooth. He replaced it once again with the non-metal filling. I could have been spared so much exposure to this mercury if I had been respected as a real person and not just someone who makes it possible for the low-income clinic's dentist to get a higher paycheck. I had amalgam fillings in my baby teeth, too. As an adult, low-income or not, I have the intelligence and desire and made the necessary changes you were talking about. I am still really mad at that unethical dentist, who went ahead and did what she wanted to do to my body after I specifically told her I did not want her to use the amalgam. The critics who are still promoting amalgam should get their own teeth filled with amalgam against their will and see how many health problems they end up getting. It seems like drastic things like this are the only things that some people will learn to recognize well enough to actually listen when someone says something that is "different" from their mainstream point of view. I will never set foot in that dental clinic ever again!
The "root" of this problem is Insurance companies. They have destroyed the health care system. Politicians all get applause when they say "Health insurance for everyone". What we need is No Insurance, and fair pricing by the practitioners. -no offense intended, Dr. Mercola