Foreign Dental Work Put To Test

WBNS-10TV ^ | 27 Feb, 2008 | 10tv investigative team

[steve86]

Elemental lead is not dangerous: It’s the oxides of lead (and other lead compounds)that are dangerous as the body can easily absorb them.

I guess that is the explanation; I knew it had to do with the specific compound or physical form.

[ConservativeMind]

Ping for later reference.

My wife needs a crown replacement. This is good information. I’ve already gone to the NADL site for more.

Many thanks.

[boxerblues]

bttt for later

[JACKRUSSELL]

(Please FReepmail me if you would like to be on or off of the list.)

[Guenevere]

bttt

[tacticalogic]

It appears that the porcelain cap was filed in her mouth upon insertion and the filings contained lead.

I understand that. The problem seems to be that I'm not willing to turn off my brain right there and say that's what caused it without knowing how much lead, and whether that amount of lead is really significant.

[tacticalogic]

People just freak out when the word lead comes up.

It seems to be easy to get on the "no amount of environment lead exposure is safe" bandwagon. What do you think someone looking to shut down your local gun range will be able to do with that idea?

[hosepipe]

iS LEAD BETTER THAN MERCURY LIKE WE HAD IN FILLINGS FOR MOST OF THE LAST century... IN FILLINGS..

[nmh]

Why export it out?

Have ILLEGALS with no education make them so private companies can make a huge profit.

Let’s put ILLEGAS first!

(just being sarcastic)

[nmh]

My “crown” was close to 2K. That didn’t include prep work. too bad they don’t pass the “cost savings” down to the person receiving the crown - that is IF it is out sourced and cheaply made. I'll have to ask my dentist where the crown was made ... .

[nmh]

Been there. Done that with nerve removal as well. Gum surgery was needed to apply a crown - to expose what was left of the tooth for the crown to stay in place. It’s not fun and COSTLY. I’m just hoping the “crown” isn’t a piece of crap. That alone was nearly 2K. He’s “off plan” but I KNOW he’s good. There are too many dentists out there that should not be performing dentistry. You often have to pay a premium for a good dentist. Paying for a good dentist is cheaper in the long run ... .

[spotbust1]

I understand that, and I agree. I guess I just like to err on the side of caution and cut down on as much lead ingestion as I possibly can.

I wonder, if you ask your dentist where the dental appliance is made and if there might be lead in it, do they have to tell you the truth?

[tacticalogic]

I guess I just like to err on the side of caution and cut down on as much lead ingestion as I possibly can.

I'm sure I could cut down on mine if I'd give up going to the range. All things in moderation, including caution.

[spotbust1]

Well if there is one type of lead I really don’t want in my body it would be a bullet. There is a whole lot more to worry about there.

Although, I’m not sure if it would be worth not going to the range and enjoying one of our God given rights to own and use a firearm.

[Red Boots]

Your kid loses his retainer after orthodontic treatment. The lab bills the dentist for less than $45 for an average retainer. How much did the dental office charge the parents for the replacement?

$145.00. I know because I put my retainer through the dryer by mistake.It shrank. It was one of those clear plastic ones, and it cost $145.00 to replace.

[tacticalogic]

Although, I’m not sure if it would be worth not going to the range and enjoying one of our God given rights to own and use a firearm.

That's the difference between doing "everything possible" and doing what's practical and necessary.

[spotbust1]

Yes, you are right. Thanks for that lesson. ;-)

[Ceramaman]

There are many kinds of crowns from all metal to all porcelain / metal free.
All metal can be made from almost any castable metal. All porcelain can be made from that exactly... ALL PORCALINE. Also, for stronger crowns AND bridges, porcelain can be fused to alumina or zirconium oxide sub structures. Also referred to as ALL PORCALINE OR METAL FREE. Frameworks of metal or oxides are usually about .3mm - .5 mm thick, with porcelain over about 1mm thick. More people need to know this.We won’t let our kids play with toys made in China, but we have no idea what the crown in our mouth is made of or where it’s from. China isn’t the only off shore country that crowns are coming out of. Any thing made in U S A has to be made with FDA approved products. Dental products have to be approved by the FDA to be sold here. Crowns from other countries are made with products that they just USE! Nothing resold here from off shore has to comply with the FDA. As of now that I know of, a dentist can not send his impressions right to China.... He has to go through a U.S. lab to get to China. If the time comes that a dentist can send right to china, he will get crowns for $35.00 or cheaper. So the way I see it is How can a dentist save/ make more money? How can he cut costs? If right now he pays $75.00 ( more or less) for a China crown and sells it to a patient for $800.00 to $1000.00, he is making money. An American made crown is about $100.00 to $150.00 for porcelain to metal (more or less) and metal free can be $150 - $250.00 (more or less) If you get a knee replacement , those parts are approved by the FDA. Wouldn't’t you want to know your crowns are also?

[Ceramaman]

I have made crowns for 30 years and to this day I don't know one that makes one him self. Back in the day some old World war Two dentists made gold crowns their self, and that was all. In school they made a few and thats about it. Now in dental school most don't even have to do that!

[Freedom2specul8]

So, are you saying that the impressions are sent to a local lab, who then will send them overseas and that’s why it takes a week or more?