I'm not denying it at all. It happens in every profession. You have honest plumbers as well as dishonest ones. And if in doubt as I have said many times don't have the treatment done. What I would say is that it is all down to the practicing ethos of the individual. I can say for the dentists here who I know that they genuinely care and undertake very high quality work.
Amalgam is not dangerous for a patient, rather the dentist and his team as we work with it day in a day out. All of my colleagues here undertake the highest precautions when removing amalgam fillings. All evidence to show amalgam is unsafe is seriously flawed. However, there are many superior materials that can be used but the skill set required is significantly higher than the manipulation of amalgam. I would be happy to have any of the colleagues I know here undertake work for me.
Go to 10 dentists and you will get 10 opinions. There are lots of factors to take into consideration. As Popadoopus has also said, those involved in the forum here take great care to educate themselves properly so that we can undertake advanced treatments. Porcelain placed by someone who is unaware of its manipulation and methods for bonding it can expect rapid failures. Similarly, by your argument, porcelain placed well by someone who knows how to use it can potentially last a lifetime. We always talk averages. And on average, amalgam lasts 10 years. On average porcelain lasts 10-15 years.
I replace many amalgams. The reason for this is I use a microscope for diagnosis and pick up many cracked teeth. A recent audit has shown me that since I have introduced the microscope and have found these fractures, the number of my clients calling with broken teeth has dramatically reduced.
I do appreciate your input and feel you have made some very valuable points, but the picture is much larger than what appears at first glance. I will be going to the States several times this year to study. That is how much I genuinely care about providing the highest quality work for my clients.
I hope you can also admit that there are many exceptionally skilled dentists out there who do the highest quality work. And that their results will last much longer than average whether they use amaglam, gold or porcelain.
this again all comes down to how much you trust your treating dentist
Kindest regards
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