Lead in Your Dental Crowns?

You may have heard recent news reports about lead in dental crowns made in overseas Chinese laboratories. Previously most Americans had given little thought to where their dental restorations were being made - but now patients are asking questions.

The new global economy is changing everything, and that includes the dental profession... or SOME of the dental profession. Cheap overseas labor and shrinking profit margins have forced some dentists to outsource their laboratory work to foreign laboratories. These dentists are typically those who participate in low-fee "managed care" insurance programs such as HMOs. When a dentist signs a contract with these plans, he or she must agree to the insurance company's fee schedule, which is typically 50% or even LESS than their normal fees. But to remain in business, corners MUST be cut if these dentists are reducing their fees by 50% or more. One way to lower expenses is by sending laboratory work to China.

Always check where your dental crowns are being made. Remember that, “The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.” In the case of lead-contaminated dental crowns, poor quality may have negative effects on your health.

In my dental office I use only American dental laboratories that do not outsource their crowns and which follow strict quality standards. We use only certified, high-quality materials and laboratories.

Dental Implant or Not?

Two prospective patients came into the office recently with the same complaint. Both were missing all of their teeth and were wearing old, ill-fitting dentures. Their dentures were loose, they had trouble eating foods they would have liked, their faces had that sunken-in look and they were in constant pain.

Their previous dentists recommended dental implants to stabilize the dentures. The problem was that as they were both retired and on fixed incomes they could not afford implants. What to do? Yes, implants are a wonderful service and have revolutionized what we can do to improve lives. I love implants! But due to the laboratory and materials costs involved, they are expensive.

My approach is different from most other dentists. I make new, custom-fitted dentures for the patient and tell them that if the new denture doesn’t fit and function well, we can then add implants. My experience is that the denture patient does very well with the new dentures and rarely decides to go ahead with the implants. Implants are always an option but they don’t have to be the first option. I believe that patients like these can be well served with well-fitting dentures.

For more information on dental implants and dentures, visit www.drterryshapiro.com.