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Originally posted by quidscribis:

And at the risk of antagonizing any dentists or pro-amalgam filling people out there, you do realize that amalgam fillings are over 50% mercury? Don't know why they're called silver fillings when they're only 25% silver, unless it's to make us all forget they're actually mostly mercury, which is poisonous to humans.

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You can believe amalgam fillings are safe if you like. I believe it's possible they're not.

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But take a look at unicornwhisperer's first reaction - surprise. How many people get these fillings without knowing that there's mercury in them? Why not give people a choice instead of the dentist deciding for them? What happened to informed consent?

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In every dentist's office I've ever been in, there's a notice on the wall informing everyone that fillings contain mercury but that it is rendered harmless, and that there is no known risk, and to ask the dentist if you have any other questions.

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and is undergoing injection treatments to rid herself of the mercury.

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Injections of WHAT? And how is the injection and getting your fillings all removed less damaging to your health than mercury amalgam fillings?

What's Prop. 65, rivka? Is that the reason that buildings will have signs that say, "This area contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm"?

Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004  |  IP: Logged | 

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Dental amalgams (fillings) are composed of 50% elemental mercury. Once placed in the mouth, they undergo degradation due to the release of mercury vapours.

The presence of dental amalgams in the buccal cavity and their insertion by the dentist constitute a source of exposure to mercury, although at a very low level.

Data evaluating the risk from fillings are insufficient. According to these data, it has not been proved that exposure to the mercury released by dental amalgams leads to tangible adverse effects; however, this cannot be excluded.

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Concerning the health hazards posed by dental amalgam, no firm conclusions could be reached in the light of severe weaknesses in the design of most epidemiological studies. The book also includes information on reported levels of mercury vapour in dental clinics and the corresponding risk to the dental profession.

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The use of dental amalgams for repair work has been widespread and is considered to
be an important source of exposure for those with amalgam dental work

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The clinical studies of how mercury vapour influences the immune system show clearly that effects can be demonstrated down to dose levels corresponding to exposure to amalgam. The clinical significance of these effects, on the other hand, is unclear. The observations based on animal experiments provide evidence that genetic make-up and gender have a bearing on the nature and intensity of reactions.

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The most probable side-effect of amalgam seems to be a reaction mediated by the immune system. This does not exclude the possibility of genetically
conditioned high sensitivity to mercury in the nervous system.

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The past five yearsÂ’ research has yielded further evidence that amalgam can give rise to side-effects in a sensitive portion of the population. Thus:
• Research in molecular biology has elucidated mechanisms that may underlie the toxic effects of mercury.
• Studies of the effects of mercury on the immune system in rodents have enhanced knowledge of the mechanisms whereby mercury affects the immune system. Clinical studies of occupationally exposed employees have objectively confirmed subclinical influence of mercury on the immune system at low levels of mercury exposure.
• The thyroid has been identified as the target organ for the toxic effect of mercury in occupational exposure to mercury vapour in low doses.
• Experimental studies of primates and rodents have revealed that mercury is accumulated and persists for years in the retina as a result of exposure to mercury vapour. The consequences of this accumulation are, however, unclear.
• Clinical studies of the effects of mercury on occupationally exposed workers, using modern diagnostic methods, have elucidated the connection between dose and effect. They have also identified and quantified neuropsychological symptoms at low exposure levels.
• The lowest exposure, in terms of urinary mercury secretion, that has been found to give rise to a demonstrable toxic effect has fallen from 30–50 µg/l till 10–25 µg/l. Accordingly, the safety margin that it was thought existed with respect to mercury exposure from amalgam has been erased.
• Studies of workers previously exposed to mercury have shown that prolonged exposure to mercury vapour, with mercury concentrations in urine
of some 100 µg/l, may result in symptoms emanating from the nervous system that persist decades after exposure has ceased. This suggests that exposure causes lasting damage to the central nervous system, which complicates the interpretation of results of low-dose studies of occupationally
exposed populations.
• Clinical reports of acute or subacute cases of mercury intoxication where modern diagnostic methods have been applied have revealed a remarkably high degree of polymorphism in human reactions to toxic mercury exposure.
• Both animal experiments and clinical observations have demonstrated gender differences in the toxicokinetics of mercury.
• Additional facts have come to light that may indicate that mercury vapour can affect human foetal development.
• Clinical provocation studies, with exposure to small quantities of mercury through skin exposure or inhalation, have confirmed that individuals with deviant high sensitivity exist.

With reference to the fact that mercury is a multipotent toxin with effects on several levels of the biochemical dynamics of the cell, amalgam must be considered to be an unsuitable material for dental restoration. This is especially
true since fully adequate and less toxic alternatives are available.

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For medical reasons, amalgam should be eliminated in dental care as soon as possible. This will confer gains in three respects. The prevalence of side-effects from patientsÂ’ mercury exposure will decline; occupational exposure to mercury
can cease in dental care; and one of our largest sources of mercury in the environment can be eliminated.

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Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003  |  IP: Logged | 

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Originally posted by ketchupqueen:

What's Prop. 65, rivka? Is that the reason that buildings will have signs that say, "This area contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm"?

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Originally posted by Katarain:
I got white fillings... I don't know if they're more expensive. Maybe I just had good insurance... or maybe I wondered why the bill was high. It's been a while.

The mercury thing is worrisome, though. Was there really a few kids who were swimming in mercury, Ryoko? Some died? And some were mentally impared afterward? I didn't know mercury could do that. I don't know much... I thought it could just kill you.

-Katarain

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The children had an average of 15 fillings done over the five years the study lasted.

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Three cavities a year?

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One year later, Olea’s team reported finding that bisphenol A leaches from some of the plastic resins commonly used to seal tooth surfaces. While these sealants reduce the risk that treated teeth will develop cavities, the Spanish researchers pointed out that newly applied sealants leave measurable quantities of bisphenol A in the mouth. It turned up in samples of saliva collected an hour after treatment—and in one case, 2 years later (SN: 4/6/96, p. 214).

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Posts: 9057 | Registered: Nov 2000  |  IP: Logged | 

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There are health concerns about amalgam fillings because they contain mercury. A small amount of mercury vapor is continually released into the mouth from amalgams fillings (Mackert and Berglund, 1997). Mercury vapor released from amalgam fillings can be inhaled and absorbed into the body. Chewing, drinking hot liquids, brushing, and grinding teeth can increase how much mercury vapor is released from amalgam fillings. In addition to mercury vapor released from amalgams, small pieces of amalgam can break off from fillings and be swallowed. However, mercury in amalgam particles is not easily absorbed into the body when ingested.

It is well known that mercury vapor can cause health problems. The extent to which a person will have health problems will depend on how much mercury the person is exposed to and how much mercury gets into their body. Mercury vapor mainly affects the central nervous system and kidneys. Workers exposed to mercury vapor have experienced many symptoms including physical tremors, slowed muscle responses, loss of feeling in hands and feet, emotional disturbances, personality changes, reduced kidney function, and kidney failure (ATSDR, 1999). However, these workers were exposed to much higher levels of mercury than what is released from amalgam fillings.

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