The lux glint of gold in your mouth makes an undeniable impression. But are gold grills for teeth safe? If you have concerns about decorative dental devices, take a look at what you need to know about keeping your mouth healthy with gold in it.
Can gold grills cause some level of decay? Like any other dental device, a grill can increase the risk. But, with proper care, a grill won't cause decay in and of itself.
To truly understand how a gold grill can impact dental health, you need to know understand how decay (cavities) forms. Bacteria in the mouth produce acids as they digest sugary substances. The more debris and sticky plaque deposits you have, the more food there is for the bacteria to feed on.
The acid byproducts of bacterial digestion wears away the enamel (outer coating) of the teeth. Worn spots allow the bacteria to invade deeper into the tooth, increasing the amount or the severity of the decay.
On its own, a gold grill can't increase bacterial acid production. But leaving the grill in during or after immediately after meals (without cleaning in between) or failure to properly maintain regular dental health can. This makes brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist absolutely essential if you wear a grill.
Again, a grill won't cause periodontal (gum) disease on its own. But if food gets caught under the grill or you don't adequately brush or floss in the area, you can develop gum discomfort, pain, redness, swelling, or infection.
Even though dental patients who wear gold grills can develop gum disease, plenty of people who have never used this type of device also have periodontal issues. Gold or a gold grill isn't a primary factor in deteriorating gum health. But poor dental care habits are.
Some dental patients have concerns about metal in their mouth. Older silver amalgam fillings were the target of skepticism, with some questions about the safety of the metal. Even though silver fillings contain mercury, researchers haven't found a connection between amalgam and poisoning from the substance.
Metallic mercury, which is the mercury in fillings, is generally non-toxic-especially in the quantities included in fillings. Even though the risks are slim to none, some dental patients may prefer a non-silver substance. But what about gold? Unlike silver, gold fillings and teeth don't contain mercury. This means there's no reason to worry about mercury toxicity with gold dental devices or fillings.
MRI scans are necessary to diagnose some medical conditions and provide more information about internal injuries. Some metals can interfere with the powerful magnets used to create diagnostic images. This can lead to misdiagnosis and improper or inadequate treatment.
Like with mercury issues, gold is not a culprit when it comes to MRI interference. Ferromagnetic metals (such as iron, nickel, stainless steel, and cobalt) can cause imagining issues during an MRI. While the small quantity used in most fillings won't interfere with an MRI, your health care provider may recommend removing larger dental devices.
Even though the gold in a grill won't distort or get in the way of a clear MRI picture, you may want to remove the device prior to the imaging test. Holding a grill in your mouth during a potentially lengthy MRI is uncomfortable and may make it challenging to stay still (which is necessary during the test).
Are you considering a gold grill or gold teeth? Contact
Gold Teeth Baton Rouge
for more information.
