Dentist Doi's Talking Story

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Winter 2002 Edition - Dr. Doi's Talking Story

As promised at the end of the last newsletter, this newsletter will be devoted to discussing a test that is offered by our office for those patients who would like reassurance that everything is being done to select the most biocompatible materials to be used in the restoration of their mouth.

WHAT IS MATERIALS REACTIVITY?

In modern society we come in contact with many substances every day. They exist in every facet of our lives including the food we eat, the products we use and the treatments we receive.

Because each of us possesses a unique biochemistry, these substances effect each of us differently and in varying degrees. For some, the effects of certain substances (and their corrosion byproducts) can be toxic and hazardous, and may result in serious health problems. A substance which causes little or no reaction in one individual can prove harmful to another.

Since these effects may vary in each of us, it is vital that these factors be considered when choosing dental and other materials for use in the body, especially in patients with special or unique health concerns. Clifford Materials Reactivity Testing provides dentists and physicians with extensive information about their patient's individual sensitivities so that least offensive materials can be chosen and used in their treatments.

THE CLIFFORD MATERIALS REACTIVITY TEST

When we come in contact with harmful substances, the body's natural defense system produces antibodies to counter these agents. Among other things, these IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies provide an immunological record of chemical families which have proven offensive.

The Clifford Materials Reactivity Test, developed by Walter J. Clifford, screens patient blood samples for these antibodies. Antibodies which have been specifically formed against harmful agents are detected and analyzed. The agents against which these antibodies were formed are then cross referenced against a list of over 1900 dental and medical trade-named products for personal suitability.

The Clifford Materials Reactivity Test results allow your dentist or physician to quickly determine from a extensive lists of materials those which could be used with least degree of risk in meeting your needs. The report also lists trade-named products with simple suited/not suited indicators for rapid spot checks of products in question.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE TESTING

-Clifford Materials Reactivity Testing (CMRT) is intended as a screen for least offensive and for potentially unsafe materials for use in patients. It is in no way a diagnosis, prognosis or cure of any disease or condition.

-Clifford Consulting and Research(CCR) has found that most people have come in contact with a sufficient variety of substances to form a mature bio record by the age of puberty. Because their bio-records may not be fully mature, caution should be used when considering this kind of testing for children

-Long term exposure to therapies such as steroids can interfere with general antibody productions, suppressing antibody levels below reliable detection limits. (Nutritional Supplements and antibiotics are not known to induce such problems)

-While CMRT may be useful in detecting chemical groups and products which are least offensive biologically for a patient, it does not address issues of mechanical performance nor electro-activity between materials.

-Testing charges are the responsibility of the patient and are due at time of testing. While it is possible that insurance may pay for this lab test, CCR does not accept insurance assignment.

-If you would like testing done, we would send you to Clinical Labs here in Waimea. They would do the blood draw and freeze the blood. We would then pick it up and arrange for Federal Express to ship to CCR in Colorado Springs, Co. The test results would be sent to our office in about a week. We would send one report to you and keep the other report in your chart. I would go over any questions you may have about the test.