We recently read an article on www.syracuse.com called, “Toxic toys are partly to blame for increasing kids’ cancer rates and developmental disabilities, advocate says,” which states that activists are urging state legislature to pass a law that would enforce listing toxic materials used in toys.
This law would increase consumer awareness and overall consumer safety and is crucial not just in the toy manufacturing industry but also in the dental industry. As with toys, dental restorations – such as dentures, crowns, implants and bridges – might contain potentially grey market materials. Beyond that, the contents of a restoration could cause adverse reactions for the patient.
Contrary to popular belief, dentists typically don’t oversee the manufacturing process. Dental technicians in laboratories in the U.S. or abroad actually create the restorations dentists place in patients.
Only a handful of states require dental laboratories to disclose to dentists what patient contact materials are used in restorations, who made them and where they came from. No state dental practice act requires such information be provided to dental patients.
Since dental restoration material disclosure is not required, The National Association of Dental Laboratories encourages patients to take it upon themselves to stay informed by asking dentists: 1) “Is the dental laboratory you work with certified? And by whom?” 2) “Is the dental laboratory technician who made my restoration certified?” 3) “Where is the dental laboratory you work with located?” 4) “What patient contact materials were used in my restoration?”
For more information, visit the rest of our website: www.whatsinyourmouth.us.
