The Olympics have come to an end (sad). I love the excitement these athletes bring to the world stage as they fight for gold. The United States was on top this year...we tied with China for number of gold medals but won overall with the amount of medals we won spanning all sports.
It was crazy to learn gold medals were not given out as awards in the Olympics until the 1900's....especially since we all seem to know the Olympic games themselves have been around for centuries.
Gold is often known as a sign of wealth, but did you know that gold has been used in dentistry for over 2500 years?!?! Yep. Dentists have been using gold to restore teeth for a very long time.
Why is this?
Let's talk about it.
Gold - Precious Yet Historically Practical?
Dating all the way back to ancient Egypt....we have historical accounts of gold wire being used to "strengthen teeth". We assume this to mean the wire was bound to nearby teeth to stabilize one or two loose teeth.
The British Dental Association Museum found from ancient texts that as metallurgy developed so did the production of wire. As man changed from traditional hunting, to a more mixed hunting and farming lifestyle - their lifespan increased. The longer they lived, the more tooth problems they developed - (presumably periodontal disease). And the reason we can ascertain this is because these texts mention the need to strengthen loose teeth. And from previous blog posts, we know that periodontal disease disrupts and destroys the structures that keep your teeth solidified within your jaw bone (read the blog on periodontal disease here for a refresh).
But, Why Gold?
Gold has been used in dentistry for centuries. Why did we....and why do we....still use gold to restore teeth?
Well, there are four main reasons gold HAS been and IS a great option to restore teeth.
1) Durability
- Gold is a material that does not corrode easily. That is an important factor when considering materials to restore teeth with because the oral cavity is constantly challenged by acid.
- Gold has bacteriostatic properties meaning bacteria doesn't love to grow on its surface.
- Due to the above reasons - gold can last for decades with the correct maintenance.
2) Biocompatibility
- Gold is not considered a toxic material to the human body and is actually compatible with oral health.
3) Flexibility
- Gold has some give to it - meaning it is able to withstand the forces of mastication without breaking or chipping.
4) Softness
- This goes with its flexible properties but, gold also has a softness to it which means it is kinder to opposing teeth
- Gold is softer than enamel and does not wear away opposing teeth when you bite and chew
So, gold is used more in the Olympics but less in dentistry?
We (dentists) have handed off the staff to the people of the Olympics - the staff being gold. I mean I love gold in dentistry, but patients aren't convinced.
Why?
Well, people want a tooth colored filling and well...gold is gold. Shocker.
I mean I get it. We want things to match and be harmonious - so when given the option between a gold colored restoration and a tooth colored restoration...who would choose gold?
When does Dr. Mike use Gold?
Well, I do tell patients that gold is tried and true and sometimes on back teeth it is a better option.
Gold, when compared to tooth colored materials, can be thinner and maintain its shape. This is important when restoring back teeth because sometimes there is not enough room without removing a lot of natural tooth - so I often advise these patients on using gold.
But, to be completely honest...like most things...advances in technology really allows us to change the way we operate.
Tooth colored fillings have come a long way and now can be just as strong (if not stronger than gold).
Cheers to the Olympics and thank you for reading! Please reach out with any questions!
-Dr. Mike
