When you visit an overseas dentist, you cannot be sure what type of materials they might be using. Some may in fact do a great job, but you can’t be sure and definitely would not have the same level of recourse that you might by receiving care by the hard-working dentists right here in the USA.

A report of lead in a dental prosthesis produced in an overseas dental laboratory from an overseas dental lab got everyone’s knickers in a twist, but it is unclear how widespread this is, or if there is a real danger to consumers.

That said, most people never ask about the materials used in a dental prosthesis that they may get in the US, or even read the labels on food items that they buy. Regulation of the dental profession, plus regulation of medical devices, will vary dramatically from country to country, as will views on safety. For example, bovine growth hormone is permitted to be given to cows in the U.S. to increase milk supply (another reason to buy organic milk and dairy products), but yet is banned virtually everywhere else in the world including our neighbor Canada. The reason? Lack of evidence proving its safety, plus evidence strongly suggesting that it may not be safe. So you can’t always blindly trust products born in the U.S. either.

If it’s at all possible, you can ask about the materials being used in a dental prosthesis that you may be contemplating from an overseas dentist. They may be quite willing to give you a list, if its a reputable dentist and they feel they have nothing to hide. And then do some research, like finding out how a comparable product is made in the U.S., and take it from there.