The ADA's Position on Dental Amalgam

A dentist with more than three decades of experience, James A. Vito, DMD, has managed a practice in Wayne, Pennsylvania, for the past 15 years, where he offers restorative, cosmetic, and implant dentistry. In addition to his practice, James A. Vito, DMD, is a member of the American Dental Association.

The American Dental Association (ADA) continues to maintain that amalgam fillings pose no risk to patients. Rigorous studies by the ADA over the years, in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have shown that this composition of metals is more than adequate for use as a tooth filling material and been proven to be safe and effective.

Nearly 20 years ago, the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs first undertook a serious study of all the existing information on amalgam. After much research, the group came to conclusions supporting amalgam’s safety and said there was “no justification” to stop using it in fillings. 

In terms of classification, the FDA ruled in 2009 that amalgam is a Class II medical device, meaning that it is in the same category as other dental restoratives such as composite materials. Concurrent with its classification, the FDA supported the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs' conclusion that amalgam continues to be safe and effective.

Using Bone Grafts to Prepare the Mouth for Implants

A dentist with more than 30 years of experience, James A. Vito, DMD, has managed a practice in Wayne, Pennsylvania since 2001. His second private practice since receiving his certificate in periodontics in 1987, Dr. James A. Vito’s office offers restorative, cosmetic, and implant dentistry, and the DMD is a recognized expert in the latter.

Dental implants are installed to fill the gaps left by missing teeth with false teeth, creating a natural transition. While a bridge is often used to fill the space of a single tooth, implants may be needed when the gap is too wide to support the former method.

If an implant is not placed as soon as the tooth is removed or lost, the jaw bone can shrink due to natural bone resorption. In these cases, a bone graft is required prior to installing the implant, so the jaw has enough supportive bone. Bone grafts are a safe option for preparing the jaw for a new tooth.

Socket grafting may be carried out as soon as the tooth is removed. Bone grafting material is placed in the socket of the missing tooth, holding the space for the required four months of healing. When healed, the implant can be screwed into the grafting material, and the new tooth can be attached.

If nothing was done when the tooth was lost, a block of bone may be added to build up the jawbone again. Titanium screws hold the graft in place until it heals (typically four or five months), then the screws are removed and the implant installed. Alternately, a soft mix of “bone substitute” may be placed in the hole and covered with a membrane that helps regrow the bone needed for the implant.

Teeth by Tonight with James A. Vito, DMD

James A. Vito, DMD, maintains dental offices in Wayne, Pennsylvania. In this role he provides a number of general and advanced dental services, including sedation dentistry procedures. James A. Vito, DMD, previously spent more than 13 years as a dentist in Princeton, New Jersey.

Teeth by Tonight is a unique dentistry service available only at James A. Vito’s Wayne, Pennsylvania, office. This special service helps patients quickly solve issues of damaged or missing teeth with dental implants, crowns, bridgework, or whichever combination best addresses a patient’s specific problem.

The key to the Teeth by Tonight service is that patients can enjoy teeth that are functional and healthy, not to mention attractive, within 24 hours. Not only does the Teeth by Tonight service work for patients dealing with broken or missing teeth, but it can also be applied to patients whose removable devices no longer fit due to bone growth or are otherwise ineffective. To learn more about Teeth by Tonight, review the services page at www.jamesvito.com.

Properly Maintaining Dental Implants

An experienced dentist, James A. Vito, DMD, provides high-quality dental care to patients at his own practice in Pennsylvania. Although he provides a wide range of general and advanced dental care services, James A. Vito, DMD, is particularly knowledgeable about dental implants. He holds two board certifications in implant dentistry.

Patients who receive dental implants need to take care of them. Good implant maintenance is similar to routine dental care.

Implant recipients should brush and floss their teeth and implants at least twice a day, ideally after meals with a toothpaste that is minimally abrasive. Patients can use an antimicrobial mouth rinse and plaque removal aids between brushings. Professional dental visits should also be scheduled regularly.

When dental implants are not properly cared for, recipients are at risk of developing infections. As with teeth, implants have two stages of problems: mucositis and peri-implantitis. 

Bleeding around the implant is a symptom of mucositis. However, when mucositis is caught early, it can be treated and even reversed. 

If the problem is not fixed, it leads to peri-implantitis, which is bone loss. Bone loss is irreversible and can lead to the removal of the implant and even advanced bone loss.

The Advantages of Mini Dental Implants

James A. Vito, DMD, holds a doctor of medical dentistry from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. He also received a certificate in periodontics from the school. As the leader of a Wayne, Pennsylvania, dental practice, James A. Vito, DMD, provides patients with an array of services, including both traditional and mini dental implants.

Dental implants allow dentists to replace a tooth’s damaged or missing root with a strong titanium substitute. After the implant fuses with bone, dental professionals can manage a patient’s oral health as if the tooth has simply been fixed with a crown. In some scenarios, dentists prefer to use mini dental implants.

Mini dental implants are especially helpful when dentists are performing procedures in narrow oral spaces. Some individuals have smaller teeth than others, necessitating mini implants, while certain kinds of teeth, like incisors, are smaller for all individuals. Oral spaces may also be crowded, and therefore require mini dental implants, due to the presence of lower jaw dentures or pre-molar teeth.

In most cases, a mini dental implant is about half the width of a normal-size implant. In the event of implant failure, the shallow submersion of a mini implant means dentists do not have to perform any corrective grafting. Additional benefits of a mini dental implant procedure range from oral bone preservation to less pain and recovery compared to traditional implants.

An Introduction to Sleep and Sedation Dentistry

 


James A. Vito, DMD, spent several additional years training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry after receiving a doctor of medical dentistry. His additional time at the school yielded certificates in periodontics, periodontal prosthesis, and fixed prosthodontics. James A. Vito, DMD, now leads a Wayne, Pennsylvania, dental practice, through which he provides services ranging from initial exams to sedation dentistry.

The anxiety and stress a medical setting generates in some people is enough to keep them from receiving regular treatment. Sedation dentistry and sleep dentistry may provide a solution for these individuals.

Prolonged avoidance of professional dental care can result in a number of serious health concerns, from gum disease to permanent tooth loss. The main objective of sedation dentistry and sleep dentistry is to ease a patient’s nerves to the point that they can comfortably receive treatment and avoid these issues.

Drawing on a gentle dose of IV sedation, sleep dentistry patients can safely receive any number of restorative or cosmetic dental procedures, including dental implant surgery. Sedatives are administered and managed by a board-certified anesthesiologist. To learn more about sedation dentistry and sleep dentistry options in the Wayne, Pennsylvania, region, visit www.jamesvito.com.

Sedation Dentistry Options

James A. Vito, DMD practices cosmetic and general dentistry in Wayne, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. In order to help patients feel more comfortable while receiving dental work, James A. Vito, DMD offers sedation dentistry at his office.

For many people, getting a dental procedure is somewhat uncomfortable, but not an overly stressful or difficult experience. However, others may experience high levels of anxiety at the prospect of getting dental work done. Additionally, some people may have difficulty sitting still through a long procedure or have a lower threshold for pain. For these individuals, a dentist may offer sedation services to help. 

A dentist might offer different levels of sedation to patients. For instance, nitrous oxide gas, also known as laughing gas, provides lower levels of sedation. The patient breathes it in when the dentist administers the gas via a mask, and it helps the patient feel calmer. Another option is to use an oral medication such as Halcion to lightly or moderately sedate the patient. This option does not work right away, and the patient must take the medication about an hour before the procedure so that the drug has time to take effect.

In comparison, sedating drugs given intravenously work much faster, and the patient receives it continuously throughout the procedure. The dentist can also easily adjust the amount of the drug the patient receives if necessary, which is another advantage of this approach. A dentist can provide additional information about the types of sedation he or she offers and their pros and cons.