I am experiencing some difficultly in locating a suitable dentist to replace my 9 amalgams (possibly 1 more under an old crown), do 5 new fillings and extract one Wisdom tooth. The two I have used in the past decade do not use any protocols so I will not be using them. I have recently consulted and made enquiries with several Dentists. The first a Dr Graeme Stuart McNeil does some (limited) protocols but did not want to do my revision. The second a Dr George Papadopolous does more of the protocols but only uses specific Dental Materials. Further he doesn't have a galvonometer in his office (he relies on another business to do readings before each appointment) and only does 1-2 amalgam removals at a time with at least one month inbetween. Yet another a Dr Russell Thomas West does most protocols including having his own galvonometer. He is prepared to do the removals in 2 or 4 (by quadrant order) appointments which is my preference. He does use Cerec Vita Mark II for crowns which seems reasonably biocompatible. However he doesn't offer DiamondCrown or DiamondLite for small/medium fillings but uses Filtek Z250. I'm not happy about using that or the bonds/cements he offers.

I have even made enquiries with a seemingly well regarded Biological Dentist a Dr Eric Davis located in Brisbane Queensland some 4000km away. It takes almost a year to get an appointment with him! Initially he said he could arrange Serum Compatibility testing and would supply specifics of dental material. He now says he can't arrange the serum tests and seems very reluctant to give me those material details. Instead he wants me to wait until my appoinment at the end of May 2008, travel all the way over there and then do EAV(electro dermal testing) and select materials to use immediately.I am not happy relying on EAV solely and I'm not happy that he does not provide Materials details for me to research before incurring considerable expense and time!!
He has confirmed that he usually uses a PFM crown with a noble Gold alloy. I was also most surprised to learn that he does not offer IV Sedation and as I also need a Wisdom tooth extraction I'm not happy about that.

I have already arranged my own Panoramic X-rays and I am currently trying to arrange the Serum Testing myself. I would appreciate it if any readers or members have any recommendations for Dentists in Australia (preferably in Perth WA) who follow protocol, offer IV Sedation and is flexible about choice of material to suit test results for compatibilty.

Hi Lethal Lee, I have dealt with Eric Davis across email, I eventually moved on. I asked him about three times very politely if he could please tell me what the names are of the dental materials he already has there in his office. He continued to avoid answering this and kept saying "i'll test you when I see you" and I said "I am from new zealand, I am trying to get as many answers as I can from here before I make a trip. I have already had serum testing done, could you just tell me which ones you already have so I can check them on my form, and you can test me as well if/when I get there". Still avoided telling me. And finally I got no response to the last email. I was not overly impressed and lost confidence after that and as well as realsing I would most likely have to go through a lot of finance because they have a health advisor etc that you're to do phone consults with if you can't see them in person (think of the ongoing costs). To prepare you for it all. For me, there is NO way I could afford that. I needed to find a dentist that would be flexible to a point to my needs, particualrly if I was coming from overseas. I think it's good that more are taking onboard the health needs of patients and getting them on protocols, but NOT when you see you'll end up being stripped of your savings for that alone, rather than the actual dental work. There are ways a dentist can help a patient via email and phone without ongoing charges. Doesn't hurt to give some answers that way before a consult.

One dentist I found in Sydney I was impressed with. He answered my emails when he could and answered my questions and even sent me a sample of the materials he uses. He said he uses cerec and heliomolar as his main materials because in his experience his patients are least reactive to them overall.

However, I am sure he would be open to using a material that suits you. Here is his website. He also is very aware of the health side of it and diet etc, though he was sensitive to the fact that I was overseas.

http://www.shdc.com.au/

Hi there,
Unfortunately I don't know of any dentists in W.A (although I was there on business a couple of weeks ago). I originally also wanted to see Eric Davis but due to the long wait I decided to see another dentist called David Cowhig (Holistic / Mercury free dentist) in Brisbane. He removed about 25 of my amalgams and replaced with composites. He appeared to follow all of the normal safety protocols for amalgam removal, however I believe that he botched up a few of my new fillings and I ended up losing a tooth and ended up on some pretty powerful pain killers for about 6 weeks.

Have you looked in the Yellow pages for Biological or Holistic Dentists in Perth? May be your best bet. I have an appt now with Eric Davies in Novembert o fix my cavitation problem. I had a 5 month wait for that appt.

Let me know if you need anymore info.

Hello Bex
Thanks for your feedback about Eric Davis. I must admit I was having doubts and hearing that he is reluctant to give materials details to others as well has just about made up my mind. I'm also not interested in the nutritional counselling and extensive blood work he requires. That is handled by my own nutritional doctor who has supported me for over 7 years and will do so through the Dental Revision and afterwards. Insisting on patients doing so called long distance counselling just seems a money grabbing venture to me. I will take a look at the other dentist you mentioned.

Hi, you're welcome. I also got sent all the stuff that would be required before any dental work got done (blood work etc) and it was so extensive and indepth, that I felt that for me as a toxic patient and one from overseas, that I would not have a hope in hell of ever being able to afford it all, much-less actually get there for the dental work itself. The consultations themselves by phone alone would have probaby blown me away I am sure.

I also sent my panoramic xray and asked specific questions on cavitations, he mentioned that he felt I had braces at onetime. I said "yes I did, but did you note any cavitations"? I did not receive an answer on that one. I would have been happy even if he had said "Look, I am not absolutely certain from viewing this xray alone". But to receive no answer made my nose twitch.

I am no longer going to any dentist in Australia, I realise that the expense of the trip and hotel stay would be ridiculous, but I guess desperation leads you to hunt down a dentist that states they do all these things (which is what you want). But sometimes when actually getting in touch with them, you can get quite disheartened by the reaction. I understand how busy they are, that is understandable, but if they can answer the email at all, why then can they not answer the question as asked?

These were not overly complicated questions - what dental materials to you use there in your office? - did you see any cavitations on my panoramic xray?

Does anyone out there have any recommendations for Australian dentists at all? I think I have crossed off Eric Davis (Queensland) due to the above post comments but would welcome any other names. Would really like some WA names in particular. Surely some forum readers members live in WA and have had amalgams replaced? Are there no good dentists in WA?