Dental restorations not as regulated as some may think

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The "What's in Your Mouth?" campaign on social media is to provide U.S. dental consumers, dentists and dental labs with help in making purchasing decisions.

Leon Hermanides, a National Association of Dental Laboratories board member and co-chair of NADL's Public Awareness Committee, said dental restorations -- dental restorative material used to restore the function and integrity of missing tooth structure -- increasingly being imported from countries like China, India and Vietnam.

Depending on the country, those dental laboratories might not be subject to the same scrutiny of domestic laboratories receive from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, domestic labs remain unregulated in more than 40 states.

"It's important for dentists and patients to have a full understanding of where their dental restorations are coming from and what materials are used in the process," Henry Martin, president of NADL, said.

"Restorations from certified dental labs meet national and industry standards. Problems occur when restorations are not made in certified dental labs."

Poorly-made dental restorations -- whether made in America or abroad -- could lead to a range of health consequences for patients, and in turn, legal consequences for dentists, NADL said. Growing demand for dental work in America has created a market that features both high-end and economy-priced work, Martin said.

NADL began its new website www.whatsinyourmouth.us and created a YouTube page for its informational videos www.youtube.com/user/WIYMCampaign/videos.