Frequently Asked Questions

Do osteoporosis medications affect dental treatments?

If you use a bisphosphonate medication to prevent or treat osteoporosis (a thinning of the bones) or as part of cancer treatment therapy, please advise us. Some bisphosphonate medications (such as Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva) are taken orally (swallowed) to help prevent or treat osteoporosis and Paget's disease of the bone. Others, such as Aredia, Bonefos, Didronel or Zometa, are administered intravenously (injected into a vein) as part of cancer therapy to reduce bone pain and hypercalcemia of malignancy (abnormally high calcium levels in the blood), associated with metastatic breast cancer, prostate cancer and multiple myeloma.

In rare instances, some individuals receiving intravenous bisphosphonates for cancer treatment have developed osteonecrosis (pronounced OSS-tee-oh-ne-KRO-sis) of the jaw, a rare but serious condition that involves severe loss, or destruction, of the jawbone. Please consult the American Dental Association for more information: http://www.ada.org/public/topics/osteonecrosis.asp

How should I whiten my teeth?

There are several approaches and many products available to bleach, or whiten, your teeth. Our preferred method is to make a custom mouthguard for the patient which is then filled with bleaching solution and worn for a short time each day for several weeks. The custom mouthguard ensures that the bleaching solution covers the teeth evenly and significantly reduces the exposure of the gums to the solution. For more information regarding teeth whitening/bleaching, go to: http://www.ada.org/public/topics/whitening.asp

Are silver (amalgam) fillings safe?

Dental amalgam contains elemental mercury combined with other metals such as silver, copper, tin and zinc to form a safe, stable alloy. In recent years, there has been concern that exposure to these elements through fillings could potentially cause neurotoxic effects in patients. While there is no conclusive evidence to support this, we feel that the effectiveness and durability of the composite resin materials available today offer a preferred option to amalgam fillings.

The FDA recently called for additional review of scientific studies regarding the safety of amalgam fillings: http://www.ada.org/public/media/releases/0609_release01.asp

Is toothpaste too abrasive?

Unfortunately it is true that all major brands of toothpaste today contain at least one of the three well known abrasives that are Calcium Carbonate, DiCalcium Phosphate or Silica. These abrasives can damage the tooth enamel which is a thin layer that covers the tooth above the gum line. Brushing with an abrasive causes wear on the enamel and subsequent erosion over the years. As we see more and more erosion in tooth enamel, we are frequently recommending to our patients that they dip their toothbrush in an antiseptic mouthwash, such as Listerine, instead of using toothpaste.