What is orthodontic treatment? Are amalgam fillings safe? Are white fillings safe? Can knocked out teeth be put back? Why do dentists give different advice about treatment needs? What can you tell me about bleaching or tooth whiteners? What do dentists think about first aid kits for holiday use? What is the risk from having X-rays taken? Q What is orthodontic treatment? Orthodontics is concerned with the management of irregularities of the teeth, jaws and face. The most common orthodontic problems are crowding of teeth, impacted teeth (where a tooth cannot fully erupt because it is partially blocked by another tooth) and protruding (sticking out) teeth. Most orthodontic treatment is carried out in childhood but increasing success is reported with adult treatment. Download BDA press briefing on orthodontic treatment Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader To download Click Here Q Are amalgam fillings safe? The Department of Health has advised dentists that amalgam fillings are free from risk of systemic toxicity - that they are not a threat to general health. Very occasionally, they can cause a local sensitivity reaction, which removal of the filling will end. Apart from hypersensitivity, no health problems are thought to be caused by amalgam use. The Department of Health has suggested that, where clinically reasonable, the placement or removal of amalgam fillings is avoided during pregnancy. But this advice was given as a precaution and not because of any evidence of harm to the baby's development or health. Download BDA Fact File on amalgam Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader To download Click Here Q Are white fillings safe? Dentists have no reason to think white fillings - or any of the other materials used in dental treatment - are harmful to general health. As with dental amalgam, dentists take the advice of toxicologists and physicians on the safety of other filling materials. Manufacturers of materials have a duty to supply safe products. As with dental amalgam, suggestions are sometimes made that the materials are not safe. Concerns focus on the use of Bisphenol A, which releases oestrogen-mimicking chemicals believed to be associated with male infertility and breast cancer. Manufacturers of white filling materials are aware of this research and new generations of materials make less use of Bisphenol A. Exposure to oestrogen-mimickers from dental fillings is small compared with exposure from other sources such as food packaging. Download BDA Fact File on Bisphenol A Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader To download Click Here Q Can knocked out teeth be put back? Yes, with a good chance of success. So if a tooth is knocked out, don't panic but act quickly: Make sure its a second tooth: the front teeth come through between the ages of six an nine. Don't try to replace baby teeth. Find the tooth: Hold the tooth by the crown (the part usually visible in the mouth) not by the root (the part of the tooth inside the gum). Don't scrub the tooth or place it in disinfectant. If the tooth is clean: Hold it by the crown and gently push it back into its socket making sure that it is the right way round. This is usually painless if done immediately after the accident. If the tooth is dirty: Rinse it in milk or cold water before gently pushing it back into place. Hold the tooth in place: Bite on a handkerchief and go to the dentist immediately for advice. If you cannot put the tooth back in: Place it in a cup of milk: When milk is not available place the tooth in the mouth between the cheeks and gums. Don't let the tooth become dry. Don't place the tooth in disinfectant. Go to your dentist immediately. If this isn't possible, phone casualty and ask which is the nearest casualty department with a dentist on call. By the age of fourteen, one child in four will have broken, or knocked out, a front tooth. Children can damage their teeth in many different ways through accidents in and around the home, through playing contact sports and through violence. Injuries to teeth can alter appearance, spoil a smile, damage self-esteem and it can take many trips to the dentist to repair the damage. A properly fitted mouthguard made by a dentist will help to protect teeth in contact sports or games such as hockey and football when tooth damage can result. Download BDA media briefing on advice for dealing with damage to permanent teeth Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader To download Click Here Q Why do dentists give different advice about treatment needs? A dentist's advice about treatment will depend on a number of factors — whether the patient has been seen before, the dentist's understanding of a particular problem that the patient might have (for example, a cavity which has been present for some time but is not progressing), the patient's oral hygiene (which might make certain advanced forms of treatment less feasible), the patient's timescale (a patient might be looking for a major overhaul or for simple maintenance) and so on. For every dental problem there is a decision to be made about whether to treat or not, and if treatment is decided on, the type of treatment to be given. The decision must always be the patient's, however. All treatment must have the patient's informed consent. If you are concerned about a dentist's treatment proposal, ask questions — ask to be shown the problem in a mirror, or with a diagram drawn. Q What can you tell me about bleaching or tooth whiteners? Tooth discolouration may be intrinsic - the teeth simply developed with discolouration - or extrinsic - the teeth were stained by coffee or foods, for example. Talk to your dentist if you are worried about the colour of some of your teeth. Download BDA Fact File on tooth whitening Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader To download Click Here Go to DentistryOnline and Power-whitening Q What do dentists think about first aid kits for holiday use? They are a good idea. But if you have to use one make sure you go to a dentist as soon as you get home. Download BDA fact file on dental first aid kits Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader To download Click Here Q What is the risk from having X-rays taken? If you have any concerns about having X-rays taken please talk to your dentist. X-rays are necessary and invaluable tools in assessing oral health and planning treatment. There is a very small amount of radiation involved in taking a dental X-ray and a very small risk involved with any exposure to radiation. Dentists do all they can to minimise exposure and technological advances in the X-ray equipment used means that the actual risk is minimal. There are also strict legal rules governing how X-rays are used in dental practices. To help you understand the level of risk involved, the following figures show a comparison of the amount of radiation received from a dental or medical X-ray and that to which you are exposed through natural background radiation: Equivalent Type of X-ray background radiation in Bitewings (x2) 8 hours Panoramic 28 hours Chest 6.7 days Barium Meal 2.3 years The two bitewing X-rays are equivalent to the exposure to radiation resulting from a return flight to Spain.