On this week’s JOURNAL, Bill Moyers spoke with Melody Petersen, an
independent journalist who formerly covered the drug industry for the
NEW YORK TIMES and is author of OUR DAILY MEDS: HOW THE
PHARMACEUTICAL

I just had two back upper molars completely filled with composite resin
material, and they both have some dark areas in them. Is that normal, or should
they be totally white on all surfaces?
Thanks for any help.

I asked my wife, a physician, how often she sees low VIT D levels in
patients in Massachusetts, she says about 2/3 of patients over 60 have
low levels and 1/3 in younger patients have low levels.   She sees low
levels in patients who take  multi-vitamins.   400 units a day is not

I've discovered today "A SURFACE DETECTION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A
DROPLET SPRAY ORAL
CLEANING DEVICE" and "A LIQUID DROPLET SPRAY CLEANING SYSTEM FOR TEETH
WITH TEMPERATURE AND FILTER CONTROLS".

I've read here and elsewhere that crowns only last 5-15 years on average.
What happens after that? Do they replace the crown or does the tooth have to
come out? Thanks.

I went to the dentist yesterday and he had me take a panaroma xray. He
placed a lead protection vest covering my entire front of the body
with short flaps over the shoulders. but today, i realized that the
xray was coming from around the back of my head (ear to ear) and

Can you tell me if it is normal for an adult to be charged for a Therapeutic
Pulpotomy (exc rest) on # 3 ,4 then in exactly one month later have a "Root
canal therapy " be done on those same two teeth? This individual is 22 years
old.

Looking for a new dentist.  (I'm sorry I'm too far away from SB!)   I see a
couple advertising the use of something called a Diagnodent for detecting
decay.  Is this a true advance, or is it hyped up? Can this actually help
detect decay underneath composit fillings?

About nine months ago I foolishly let a factory-style dentist replace
amalgam fillings with resin in seven of my upper teeth.  (I wasn't against
amalgam - he just said the fillings needed to be replaced and used resin as
a matter of course.)

Are Silver fillings the same as Amalgam fillings?  If not, what is the
difference?

The JIDC2008 conference committee (www.jidc2008.com) invites
submission for individual papers for the forthcoming conference. Our
conference theme is: FUTURE VISION OF DENTISTRY.
For abstract submission visit:

About a week ago I had a resin filling replaced on #5. The dentist put some
"medication" underneath the filling (Calcium Hydroxide maybe?)  Anyway, that
tooth feels fine, but #4 and #3 (which also have resin fillings) are
starting to really hurt and it actually looks like they ...

What do you guys think of this? Do you think it holds any real promise?
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2006/06/28/teeth-grow.html

I'm learning a lot about dentistry, so that's a good thing. But I'm surprised no
one can see (although Newbie figured it out, correctly - but then backed off)
that Robert is a troll of the first order, and is just having some fun with you
people.  Methinks he's just trying to see ...

Does anyone know of any home tooth whitening treatments that might
really work for badly discolored teeth?..I know professional treatment
is the best way to go but untill I save enough I`d like to at least
accomplish something..Thanks