Hi everyone,
Just wondering if anyone has heard of a composite called 'Gradia'. This is the material that dentist would like to use. Any one heard any good or bad reports. The only thing that I have mangaged to find so far is that it is aesthetically pleasing (which I actually don't care about!!) and that it is not very durable.

Hi Rachie, I don't know about Gradia, haven't really heard of it. Probably heard the name and that's it.

You might be wise to get testing done before launching forth and having your dental materials removed and redone to make sure at least on one level, the new material will be biocompatible. I don't know if there is any total full proof test, but here is one avenue for your to consider.

There is a serum compatibility test recommended that all toxic people have. One lab that does this is the Clifford reactivity testing lab in USA. It is run by a W.J. Clifford MS, member of IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology). His full name is Walter Clifford.

You can contact him via email and if you want to try this test, he can help advise you how to go about having it done and post you the information, forms and details. He is very well versed on what is contained in pretty much all dental matarials used today in dentistry and will no doubt be familiar with Gradia and will probably be able to give you a basic outline of what is contained in this material.

But the test is advised because not all people are going to be ok with the same material.

Here is his email - Cliffordwjclifford@ccrlab.com

You may want to take the chance and have it done regardless, that is your business, but just in case you want to go down this road, you can get in touch with Walter Clifford and I'm sure he can help.

The test isn't overly cheap, but it's probably worth it. Some people like to narrow things down even more and have both this test done and other testing done also (like EAV testing etc). But some just rely on the serum test alone. I had the serum test done myself and need to have some materials redone again as I am not well and one reason might be because I replaced my amalgam with some incompatible dental materials (which can cause their own problems). I've just checked out my form which lists nearly every dental materials there is and I saw Gradia in there and I showed to be compatible with it (and I am very toxic and sensitive). So for me? It would probably be ok. But you would be wise to check how things are for you.

Hope that helps a bit.

Hi Bex,
Thanks heaps for your email. My first appointment for removal is in 2 weeks (and I have been waiting for nearly 4 months!) so what I think I might do is go to one of the doctors here (Australia) that does some type of compatibility testing though probably not as good as Clifford.

Thanks for letting me know that it came up as an an okay product for you on your test results. That reassures me a little more. However, I was just looking at Gradia's website before and apparently this particular composite emits fluoride. This is not good is it? Actually, I don't know what the detrimental effects of fluoride are but I hear a lot of controversy surrounding it lately.

Thanks again !

I found this:

"New GC GRADIA is a unique light-cured Micro-Ceramic-Composite system..."

http://gcgradia.gceurope.com/en/direct/index.php

Ceramic usually means that is contains aluminum. I usually try to avoid these, especially with those who are mercury toxic.

Hi Rachie, the australian test will probably be just as good. Gradia is not a composite as such, I looked on my serum testing form and it's under the title of ceramic.

Usually these are pretty biocompatible with most people. Russ is concerned about the aluminium and I was too with the one I'm probably getting. But the form of aluminium in these materials is aluminium oxide, which is pretty bio inert. It actually isn't a metal anymore, because it has been altered into a form that is no longer metallic. Aluminium oxide (alumina) is found just about anywhere. Baking powder, and will be in vegetables due to the soil they grow in. WE pick it up anywhere. Walter Clifford told me that they are very very concerned about aluminium, but he said they take NO notice of aluminium oxide in dental materials, even for those allergic to aluminium. It is not in a form that is bioavailable and as he told me, you'd get more from diet alone that you would with a full set of ceramic dental materials in a lifetime. How true this is? I do not know, but you're hearing from someone with a biochemistry degree, so he must know what he's talking about.

He told me that every single dental materials contains metals, even simple denture acrylic and that there is NO such thing as a truly metal free dental material. All of them contain chemicals, metals and other things that have potential to cause immune reactions and disturbances/allergies. Anything in them that is an issue with your immune system will challenge and burden it and may hinder or even prevent healing from mercury.

Some people have gotten a porcelain replacement material but have not made sure it's solid porcelain and didn't realise it had a solid metal base in it that was covered with porcelain. So sometimes this is the problem, not the porcelain itself.

I wish I knew the answers, I am in the same boat. I want to get cerec porcelain, and yes it contains aluminium oxide in it, as do many dental materials, but I show to be compatible with it and have heard many good things about htis material from biologic dentists. Many of whom are stating it is the most biocompatible dental material to date and the closest thing to human enamel.

Nothing will ever be perfect. If it is any consolation, I had a ceramic in my teeth that had fluoride and no doubt aluminium oxide in it too if it was a ceramic (Tetric Ceram). I had them replaced years ago with another material and I got extremely ill and wished I had never touched them. The stuff I have in my mouth now after them is obviously worse. I cannt heal now or detox properly. I found out the ones I have now contain phenol (which isn't even a metal, but a different toxic substance for those reactive to it, like myself). Whether this is the culprit, or not I cannot be sure. But I am definitely worse off. HOwever, I had wisdom teeth removed too and possibly have jawbone cavitations, so it could be that. I really have no idea.

I do know the ceramic I had was obviously "ok". And Gradia is a ceramic also, so I fear those less than I do some of these other ones.

At any rate, you could email Walter CLifford and ask him about Gradia and what is in it etc and ask him what does he think of it as a material? and is it pretty biocompatible etc.

If you wanted to that is.