Are All Dental Materials Created Equal?
Most of us pay close attention to what we eat and drink, making thoughtful choices about food and water in support of our health. Yet we rarely consider that the materials placed in our teeth can remain in the body for many years and may also influence overall well-being.
Not all dental materials interact with the body in the same way. A substance that causes little or no reaction in one person may provoke sensitivity or irritation in another. Individual biological responses to dental materials can vary significantly.
The ability of a dental material to exist in the mouth without causing adverse biological reactions is known as biocompatibility. In holistic dentistry, careful consideration of material compatibility is an important part of protecting both oral and overall health.
Materials that may cause sensitivities or biological reactions in some individuals include:
Amalgam fillings — mercury, silver, tin, copper
Composite fillings — BPA-derived resins (Bis-GMA, Bis-DMA) and other methacrylate compounds
Metal-based crowns — nickel, chromium, cobalt, beryllium, copper (depending on alloy composition)
Titanium implants — titanium alloys that may contain aluminum or vanadium
Possible reactions may also occur with materials that are generally considered safe, including certain gold alloys, metal restorations, dental cements, and composite materials, depending on an individual’s biological sensitivity.
Our team performs testing that helps determine which dental materials and products may be most appropriate for each individual patient. These evaluations are used not only when selecting materials for future treatments, but also when reviewing materials that are already present in the mouth.
Dr. Rossinski uses biological testing based on the Reinhold Voll method, performed with an EAV device (Electroacupuncture According to Voll). This technology allows for screening of mercury exposure, assessment of tooth health, identification of possible cavitations, and evaluation of how root canals may be influencing overall health.
What Kinds of Tests Exist?
Mercury and Metal Testing
Quicksilver Testing
Quicksilver Scientific specializes in advanced mercury testing and offers diagnostic tools that help evaluate metal exposure and the body’s ability to process and eliminate certain metals.
Quicksilver Mercury Tri-Test
The Quicksilver Mercury Tri-Test analyzes hair, blood, and urine samples to evaluate mercury levels in the body while also assessing patterns that may reflect mercury exposure and detoxification capacity. Using patented technology, the test distinguishes between two forms of mercury: inorganic mercury, most commonly associated with dental amalgam exposure, and organic mercury, which is more often linked to seafood consumption. By measuring both forms, the test provides valuable information that may help guide individualized detoxification and support strategies. Quicksilver Scientific also offers supplements designed to support detoxification pathways.
Blood Metal Test
The Blood Metal Test measures levels of 15 different metals in the body, including both potentially toxic metals and essential minerals. Toxic metals evaluated include arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, lead, mercury, silver, and strontium, while the test also measures important essential minerals such as calcium, copper, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc in order to identify possible imbalances. Dr. Rossinski is a participating provider for these laboratory services.
BioComp Labs Tests
BioComp Laboratories offers biocompatibility testing that helps patients and practitioners identify dental materials that may be less reactive for a particular individual. These tests evaluate how a patient’s immune system may respond to various dental materials so that practitioners can select materials that are better tolerated by the body.
Please note: BioComp Laboratories does not directly service the New York area due to New York State regulations governing laboratory testing. Testing is available through New Jersey and Connecticut. For more information visit the link below or email: info@biocomplabs.com
Heavy metal testing may also be available through functional or integrative medicine physicians.
Autonomic Response Testing (ART) / Kinesiology
Autonomic Response Testing (ART), a form of applied kinesiology, is a diagnostic technique used by some integrative and holistic practitioners to evaluate how the body responds to potential stressors. The method has been used in complementary and integrative medicine for many years and is sometimes incorporated into the clinical work of physicians, dentists, and osteopathic practitioners.
In this approach, the practitioner evaluates the body’s response to a specific substance or stimulus — for example, a small sample of a metal such as mercury, cadmium, or arsenic. The practitioner then observes changes in muscle tone while the patient is exposed to the tested substance through a series of specific testing procedures. According to this method, if the body recognizes a substance as a potential stressor, a temporary change in muscle strength may occur during the test.
The concept behind Autonomic Response Testing relates to the autonomic nervous system (ANS) — the part of the nervous system that regulates automatic body functions such as breathing, digestion, heart rate, and circulation. Practitioners who use this technique interpret the body’s responses as signals that may help guide treatment decisions and identify potential sensitivities.
*The term biofield is sometimes used in integrative medicine to describe the body’s electromagnetic and energetic environment.
