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Dental Work in Mexico - Composite Materials & Replacing Amalgam Fillings
Contact Info for CSL Dental |
Baja and much of Mexico has become very popular destinations for medical and dental tourism as the new coined phrase those that travel from their country in order to receive Dental and Medical help that may not be available or at least is less expensive. In furthering Bajainsider ‘s dental and medical tourism information of what dental services are available here in Cabo ,Baja California Mexico at a fraction of the cost of the U.S. and Canada. Here is an article written by Dr. Arciga of Cabo San Lucas, tip of Baja California Sur (See map). This Cabo dentist offers us some great reasons to look at dental composites and the removal of amalgam fillings.
Dr. Arciga of Cabo San Lucas Dental is a dentist with the in office ability to help you with many cosmetic, periodontal and general dental services. He describes the different options of dental composites used today to help remove those ugly and very possibly harmful amalgam fillings that many people have had for years.
Composites and Direct Composite
A dental Composite is a plastic mixture filled with glass (silicon dioxide). The composites are tooth colored at exact shades so the dentist can match perfectly the color of the tooth to be restored. Introduced in the 1960s, dental composite was limited to the front teeth where no biting impact and wear was produce by the chewing action.
Dr Arciga of Cabo San Lucas started to use a German composite system by 1987 when the evolution of these materials had gotten enough progress to satisfy his patients’ needs. Basically the composites are divided in anterior and posterior types, which means, beauty, gloss and color accuracy for front teeth where wear is a minor priority. The posterior materials, for molars where a high load is produced, are stronger composites with harder silica molecules added for longer lasting, and even the color accuracy can be a perfect match.
A direct composite is placed in a cavity after removing decay and rotten tissue, dentin and enamel are conditioned and etched, then a thin, fluid bonding agent is applied to the surface of the cavity and set with a high intensity light, different layers of composite past are added, they can be in different shades to perfectly get the desired tooth shade, every layer bonds perfectly to the next one and the dentist shapes the tooth to the right dental form. After the final light exposure the material is adjusted and polished to high gloss.
Back in 1987, Dr Arciga decided not to use amalgam fillings any more considering the perfection and beauty of these improved materials. Besides the controversy of the mercury hazard, amalgams look like gray, almost black stains in mouth. So why use it when the possibility to make every tooth back to its normal appearance became true?
Indirect Composite
Equipment at Dr Arciga’s practice to process indirect composites. It features a Xenon halogen lamp to cure composite glass material
Sometimes the cavity in a tooth could be too big, and an in-lay or an on-lay be necessary to repair that tooth. In the past the choice was gold, now, however, a variety of composite material is the election, this variety is a harder material called compo glass, which has to be processed in a more intense light device, usually in the dental laboratory, for what the dentist first gets an impression, and the inlay or on-lay is made in a plaster model. It takes two visits to the dental office. The filling is finally bonded with special cement called dual cement, that is light activated.
Dr Arciga has all the necessary laboratory tools and materials to elaborate this kind of fillings, saving precious time usually consumed in delivery to the dental lab.
Bonding
Another method of handling esthetic problems in front teeth is the so called bonding. This technique involves placing a composite resin directly onto the enamel of the teeth. Composite resin has the appearance and consistency of dough until it is exposed to the curing light. Although composite bonding can look as good as Porcelain veneers, they will generally not last as long.
So, for most of your dental needs with an English speaking staff please email Dr.Arciga with any questions or visit his website for additional information. Please be sure to include as many details as you can as to what your dental needs are so they can respond as accurately as possible. Dr. Arciga or his staff would be happy to answer any of your questions so you may arrange your dental work during your visit Cabo San Lucas. Keep smiling!
