Ensuring Dental Materials Are Safe for Your Body
Modern dentistry uses a wide range of advanced material from composites and ceramics to metals and bonding agents. For most of our patients at Dr. David & Associates, these materials are well tolerated. However, some individuals can experience unexplained symptoms after dental treatment. Given our goal is to provide the most comprehensive care that dentistry has to offer, we can proactively address this potential issue by testing a patient system to anticipate if their body responds adversely to dental materials that will be used in their care.
This personalized approach aligns with our philosophy of holistic dentistry, which considers how dental treatments impact the entire body—not just the teeth.
Why Do Some Patients React to Dental Materials?
Dental materials remain in the mouth for years and interact continuously with saliva, oral tissues, and the immune system. In certain patients, this interaction can trigger adverse responses due to:
- Immune sensitivities or allergies to metals, resins, or additives
- Inflammatory responses that are subtle but chronic
- Genetic differences in how the body processes foreign substances
- Cumulative exposure, especially in patients with multiple restorations
Reactions may present oral symptoms such as burning, swelling, or gum irritation or as more generalized concerns like headaches, fatigue, jaw discomfort, or difficulty tolerating previous dental work. These reactions are often overlooked because they do not always appear as “classic” allergies.
What Is Biocompatibility Testing?
Biocompatibility testing is a diagnostic process used to evaluate how an individual patient’s body responds to specific dental materials before they are placed in your mouth! Rather than assuming that a material is “safe for everyone,” this approach recognizes that biological responses are highly individual.
As part of providing the most comprehensive dental care possible for our patients we want to ensure that we choose dental materials that work in harmony with your immune system and overall physiology.
How Do We Perform Biocompatibility Testing?
One of our in-house licensed phlebotomists will draw a blood sample, which we keep refrigerated and overnight to a specialized laboratory, where immune cell responses to commonly used dental materials are evaluated.
This is not a broad-based allergy test that you might receive in an allergists office but instead the testing focuses on specific materials that may be used in your dental treatment plan. This process allows the dental team to move beyond guesswork and base decisions on objective biological data that is specific to your results!
How Are the Results Used in Your Personalized Dental Care?
The true value of biocompatibility testing lies in how the results directly guide clinical decisions. Based on your individual response profile, your provider at Dr. David & Associates will tailor your care based on the findings by taking all the following steps:
- Selecting materials your body tolerates best, reducing the risk of inflammation or adverse reactions
- Avoiding materials shown to provoke immune responses, even if they are commonly used
- Modifying treatment plans, including restorations, orthodontic appliances, implants, or retainers
This allows us to stay consistent with our philosophy of supporting your long-term oral and systemic health, especially if you have chronic health concerns or heightened sensitivities. Testing results help guide decisions related to restorative dental treatments, including crowns, fillings, bridges, and other long-term restorations. In some cases, results may influence material choices for dental implants or orthodontic appliances to ensure long-term comfort and compatibility.
Are You a Good Candidate for Biocompatibility Testing?
In our experience, this personalized approach is particularly beneficial for patients who:
- Have experienced unexplained dental discomfort
- Have autoimmune or inflammatory conditions
- Are undergoing complex or long-term dental treatments
- Prefer a more holistic, prevention-focused philosophy of care
The Future of Patient-Centered Dentistry
Healthcare continues to evolve and shift toward precision healthcare where treatments are customized, proactive, and biologically informed and at Dentistry by Dr. David & Associates we look to not just follow the shift but lead it! By understanding how your body responds to dental materials before treatment begins, we can create restorations and appliances that not only function beautifully but also support your overall well-being!
After all, a healthy smile is not just about how it looks it’s about how well your body accepts and supports the products that we use to support it!