Heavy Metal Poisoning: Potential Implant Complications?
Dr. UK asks:
I have several patients that I have treatment planned for implant placement and restoration who have suffered from heavy metal poisoning – such as mercury. I cannot find any studies on this subject to determine if this will be a potential factor complicating their treatment. Are there any potential complications that I should warn these patients about? Is there any difference in the rate of success? What precautions should I take? I would be grateful for any feedback from dentists who have already treated patients with this kind of history. Thanks.
4 Comments on Heavy Metal Poisoning: Potential Implant Complications?
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JW
11/4/2008
Heavy metal poisoning is a medical and not a dental issue. If the patient has been successfully managed from the medical side, has been cleared for surgery and no healing issues, you should have no problems. I would contact the treating physician for a chat
PL
11/4/2008
Dear Dr. UK,
I would recommend you to take a look at extensive material on heavy metal toxicity at IAOMT and Melisa Foundation websites for appreciation and research. Heavy Metals in the body are always undesirable for their harmful long term consequences. Holistic Medicine Centers can give you further info too.
An outstanding successful alternative and apparently the only one for implantology is the use of Zircon Implants which have been commercially in dental use in Germany and Switzerland since 2002 .
Good luck !
R. Hughes
11/5/2008
I understant peoples concerns about metal in the body. There is not enough hard evidence to support removal of amalgam restorations or to stop using titanium in medicine and dentistry. You can do as you wish! E. Richard Hughes, D.D.S., FAAID, FAAIP, Dipl.ABOI/ID
arthur suckow
5/24/2011
I do not understand after practicing dentistry for 27 years why someone wouul place a posterior composite unless it were very small and in the mandible. composite restorations done by the best still last a third as long as amalgams. I cannot predict a patients finances,health,dental insurance for more than a few weeks let alone years. it must be agreed unless brainwashing is taking place that an amalgam,gold or crown will last longer than composite. I don't care if it is prettier. I don't think most patients have taken enough dental courses to understand that 5 to 10 years is very short in the life of a periodontally fine tooth. That is the life expectancy of a posterior composite. I look at it this wat that if a 19 year old has 12 lesions they will start running into problems in late twenties.Wish i was still young. the same patient with amalgam about 45 to 50. The changes that take place in an average persons life in those years is dramatic. Why placing a short lasting restoration even a consideration. I don't buy the fact a person wants them. I want a 30 inch vertical and run a 4.30 mile like i used to. Im stuck with a two inch leap and a 7.30 mile but still some solid amalgams. think about it.
