Amalgam Fillings: Dangerous or Not for Your Health?
The FDA characterizes the silver plugs that are used for filling in the cavities of the teeth, as representing “moderate risk” for the health of people. However, these fillings contain extremely low levels of mercury, and they do not pose any kind of risk for your health. Therefore, many scientists and organizations agree that the FDA should categorize the amalgam fillings as “low risk” and not moderate risk.
The FDA characterizes the silver plugs that are used for filling in the cavities of the teeth, as representing “moderate risk” for the health of people.
However, amalgam fillings contain extremely low levels of mercury, and they do not pose any kind of risk for your health.
Therefore, many scientists and organizations agree that the FDA should categorize the amalgam fillings as “low risk” and not moderate risk.
One patient called Virginia Pritchett strongly believes that her immune system suffered greatly exactly because of these amalgam fillings. She also reported that she has felt dizzy and since so many organizations warn people about the mercury levels as a potent risk in the fish, the amalgam fillings containing mercury should not belong in the human mouth.
Further, according to Dr. Kathy Driscoll from Allegheny General Hospital Dentistry there are indeed so many groups out there (especially the environmentalists) who raise awareness against the harmful effects of mercury and who say that these restorations should be replaced using less harmful materials.
When the plugs are being fabricated, several metals are mixed, such as tin, copper or zinc and liquid mercury is added. Then, dangerous vapors are being released from the mercury and these become especially toxic from the moment the filling is placed, or while the patient is chewing the food.
It is also generally stated that if high levels of mercury enter the human organism, this can cause extremely bad complications in major organs such as kidneys or the brain. However, Dr. Driscoll says she has never heard of such incidences, nor has she found any scientific linking to the fact that mercury can be the direct cause for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, different neurological injuries or multiple sclerosis.
Amalgam fillings are being used in the field of dentistry for well over a century, and they are used even today especially for cavities that are difficult to reach. Over the past 20 years, around 150 cases of side effects directly linked to mercury fillings were reported, but none of these cases was fatal to the patient.
Join our page on Facebook to know about latest dental tips and news, free/affordable dental care opportunities!
Categories: Dental News
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1981. 3 hospitalizations, 8 different medications including oral and intravenous chemotherapy for MS, experimental Plasmaphoresis, bedridden for 10 years, slurred speech and dying. I had my dental amalgam mercury “silver” fillings removed and guess what? All symptoms gradually disappeared, NO medication, NO relapses, NO symptoms, except this left me in a wheelchair! Improvement started to happen 2 weeks after all amalgam fillings were removed. Prior to mercury dental removal I had 1 to 3 relapses per year and haven’t had 1 relapse since 1989.
I have been in contact with people since 1996 regarding their symptoms of mercury toxicity. The diseases encompass a wide range of symptoms from autoimmunity to heart problems etc. Unfortunately, some symptoms like mine manifest later in life. According to Dr. Boyd Haley, former Professor and Chair of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky and renowned toxicologist, says there are NO SAFE LEVELS OF MERCURY.
Amalgams contain 50% mercury, a poison and a neuro-toxin. A cross and skull bones with the word poison are on the label when the mercury comes into the dentists’ office. Mercury vapors are released 24/7 every time a person chews, drinks hot liquids, brushs their teeth, etc. See “The Smoking Teeth” at www.iaomt.org.
If denial is everywhere let the manufacturers determine if “mercury” is safe and that should end the discussion of safety vs. non-safety! It’s your decision…maybe nothing has happened yet… but when?
Linda Brocato
DAMS-IL
Consumers for Dental Choice, Washington, D.C.
I am another patient who believes that FDA should classify dental amalgam as “high risk”. In fact FDA should ban the use of dental amalgam. I was diagnosed with MS, Lupus and Myasthenia Gravis seven days after having an amalgam filling drilled out and replaced with a new filling. The dentist should have told me that silver amalgam fillings contain 50% mercury, and that the mercury is constantly released from the filling and is absorbed by the body via inhalation into the lungs, fat tissues and organs including the heart, kidneys and liver.
Unfortunately Dr.Driskall has been misinformed. FDA has received thousands of adverse reaction reports from consumers who have become ill from their mercury fillings including MS, Lupus,Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, mental illness, thyroid,kidney and lung disease and neurological impairment to the fetus from a pregnant woman’s fillings. Mercury has also been found in breastmilk.
I recommend that anyone reading this article and my comment, particularly dentists who still believe that the amalgam mercury fillings they are using are safe, read the scientific articles at www.iaomt.org, www.mercuryexposure.info and the consumer website: www.toxicteeth.org.
MERCURY FILLINGS ARE DANGEROUS TO HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
Freya Koss
President and founder, PA Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry