Menu Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog Phone
Phone: 504-885-8869 Main Site Pen Icon Reviews: GoogleFacebook Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog
phone: 504-885-8869
  • Welcome to the Blog of Dr. Duane Delaune

Archives for August 2014

Is it dangerous to swallow amalgam during filling removal?

Posted on August 27, 2014 by smiles4u.

I recently made a choice to have my old metal fillings replaced with mercury-free tooth-colored fillings. While my dentist felt is wasn’t absolutely necessary, he agreed to do it because my old fillings were worn down a bit. During the procedure, I felt a large piece of one of the fillings fall on my tongue. The dentist retrieved it, but now I am wondering if I could have swallowed pieces that were too small to see. If I did swallow some, is it bad for me?  — Rich in Idaho

Rich,
If your dentist is a traditionalist, he likely doesn’t worry much about possible side-effects of mercury or amalgam fillings because he follows the guidelines of the ADA (American Dental Association) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The ADA quotes the FDI (Fédération Dentaire Internationale/ World Dental Federation) and WHO (World Health Organization) on their website by saying, “the small amount of mercury released from amalgam restorations, especially during placement and removal, has not been shown to cause any adverse health effects.”

Today, there are a growing number of holistic dentists, doctors and patients who have concerns whether this statement is accurate. There is no evidence endorsed by a government agency that suggests patients will experience any adverse health effects from  amalgam filling removal, nor does any major agency question the safety in having or placing amalgam fillings. It does, however, sound like your dentist was trying to follow the best practice of removal which includes removing them in large pieces to reduce the total amount of aerosol, as well as keeping the large suction and water sprayer on the tooth the whole time to minimize vapors.

A holistic dentist would do things much differently. Not only would he or she likely use a rubber dam to keep particles and debris from falling into your mouth, they would have used additional suction, air movers, oxygen sources, supplementary barriers and other tools to ensure safety and protection of everyone in the room.

Based on current governmentally-endorsed evidence, you have not ingested enough mercury to become ill. If you are concerned, you may want to seek out a holistic dentist and discuss those concerns before your next procedure.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about Find out why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Filed Under: Mercury-Free Dentist Tagged With: amalgam filling removal, holistic dentist, how much mercury in amalgam fillings, is mercury bad for my health, New Orleans mercury-free dentist, swallowed amalgam

My teeth still look stained — even after Zoom whitening

Posted on August 18, 2014 by smiles4u.

I was so excited to get Zoom whitening, but it’s been two days since I had the procedure and I am kind of disappointed. I guess I had much higher expectations, but overall, I feel like my teeth still look brownish and I was expecting a bright, white smile. Did my dentist do something wrong, or is there a limit to how white Zoom can make my teeth?  — Alyssa in Memphis

Alyssa,
Zoom whitening usually produces very rapid, drastic results — so much so that it’s often used on the many of the television makeover shows.

Because it’s so powerful, your dentist has to be careful that you are not getting too much at one time to minimize sensitivity. Depending on how heavily stained your teeth were before treatment, it could take a couple of sessions to get the results you desire. Professional-grade systems like Zoom can also take a couple of days for the color to stabilize. You should actually notice your teeth becoming a little whiter as long as you try to avoid things that will stain them again.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about Find out why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Filed Under: Teeth Whitening, Zoom Whitening Tagged With: Metairie teeth bleaching, Metairie teeth whitening, Metairie Zoom whitening, New Orelans teeth whitening, New Orleans teeth bleaching, New Orleans Zoom whitening, teeth still stain after Zoom, teeth whitening

What can I do to cover tetracycline stains?

Posted on August 12, 2014 by smiles4u.

I have had gray stained teeth as a result of tetracycline for many years. All I really want is to have nice, white teeth. I’ve seen and heard a lot of negative stories about porcelain veneers and Lumineers. I’ve also researched bonding. What procedure would give the best results for my situation? — Adrianna in Tennessee

Adrianna,
Tetracycline stains the teeth from the inside out and are very difficult to remedy – particularly with traditional teeth whitening. The best procedure to mask the stains is probably porcelain veneers. While Lumineers might be a cheaper option, keep in mind that they are very thin and the dark enamel might show through. You’ll have similar problems with cosmetic bonding, plus bonding is also susceptible to staining and it is not as durable as porcelain veneers.

Porcelain veneers will give you the best result because they will completely mask  and cover the dark enamel. What’s even better is that the procedure is much less invasive compared to other treatments (i.e. porcelain crowns) and if you have them done by an expert cosmetic dentist,  you shouldn’t have any pain or sensitivity. The result will be a beautiful, natural-looking smile you will be proud to show your family and friends.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about Find out why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Filed Under: Lumineers, Porcelain Veneers Tagged With: Metairie cosmetic dentist, Metairie Lumineers, Metairie porcelain veneers, Metairie tetracycline stains, New Orleans cosmetic dentist, New Orleans Lumineers, New Orleans porcelain veneers, New Orleans tetracycline stains

I think I developed TMJ after getting a crown

Posted on August 4, 2014 by smiles4u.

I recently had a crown placed on one of my molars. It was a very long process from prep appointment to when the crown was cemented. I spent a lot of time in the dental chair with my mouth wide open and now my bite doesn’t feel right. I’ve been having headaches, stiffness in my jaw and pain in my face. I’ve researched my symptoms and they sound a lot like TMJ. Could getting the crown have started this? — Steve in Montana

Steve,
There are several things that can create joint/muscle symptoms, and that includes a poorly fitted crown or other dental restorations. Even if your dentist says your crown is properly fitted, it changes the bite and can cause TMJ (which is usually the result of malocclusion or the misalignment of teeth). Be sure to have your dentist check the tooth in question and do a complete bite evaluation. If he can make any slight adjustments, that may fix your problem. When your bite is even on both sides this keeps the disc of the jaw joint in a natural, comfortable position. It may not even be the restoration, but rather the amount of time you had to keep your mouth open during the appointments that put strain on the muscles and disc in the joint.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about Find out why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: headaches after crown, jaw pain after crown, Metairie TMJ specialist, New Orleans TMJ dentist, New Orleans TMJ specialist

Search

Recent Posts

  • Does a Front Tooth Always Need a Crown After Root Canal?
  • Why Does My Upper Denture Make Me Gag?
  • Will Root Canal Treatment Damage My Porcelain Veneers?
  • Can I Get a Refund If a Dentist Did the Wrong Treatment?

Archives

  • March 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011

Topics

  • Affordable Dental Implants
  • all-on-4 dental implants
  • Best Dentist
  • Botox
  • Cosmetic Dentist
  • Damaged Teeth
  • Dental Bonding
  • Dental Crown
  • Dental Implants
  • Dentures
  • Emergency Dentistry
  • Gum Disease
  • Invisalign
  • Lumineers
  • Mercury-Free Dentist
  • Metal-Free Dental Restorations
  • Porcelain Veneers
  • Smile Makeover
  • Snap-On Denture
  • Teeth Whitening
  • TMJ Dentist
  • TMJ Specialist
  • TMJ symptoms
  • Tooth Contouring
  • Tooth Discoloration
  • Tooth Extractions
  • Tooth Filling
  • Tooth Trauma
  • Uncategorized
  • Wisdom Teeth
  • Zoom Whitening
Dr. Duane Delaune's Blog
Duane P. Delaune, D.D.S.
3801 N. Causeway Blvd. Suite 305
Metairie, LA 70002 USA
Phone: (504) 885-8869
See on the Map

©2008-2025 Delaune Dental • All rights reserved
Website Design and SEO by Infinity Dental Web