For Patients

 Sunday, July 13, 2008

The World Health Organization's policy paper on mercury released in 2007 states that "In 1991, the World Health Organization confirmed that dental amalgam is the greatest source of mercury vapour in non-industrial settings, exposing the concerned population to mercury levels significantly exceeding those set for food and air." It recommends that countries "support a ban on use of mercury-containing devices."

Should you avoid amalgam for new fillings? It's not a bad idea. Should you have your old ones taken out? It depends; the dental association doesn't recommend that. Many dentists will remove and replace fillings, but the removal must be done carefully, or the risk of exposure will be even greater than that of leaving them in. Mercury from amalgam going down the drain or into a landfill is another environmental issue. The dental association encourages, but does not require, dentists to recycle waste metals. It also suggests that dentists use amalgam separators, which prevent most mercury particles in water from reaching the sewer system and waterways. If you're having fillings removed, ask your dentist about exposure-prevention methods, and make sure the office uses an amalgam separator.

Regardless of whether amalgam fillings will be phased out altogether, the popularity of tooth-colored composite and porcelain fillings has skyrocketed. "That's not because they're green," Messina says, "but because they're white."

 

-- Eviana Hartman

 

 1

Taken from the Los Angelos Times Health Section.

The debate over the continued use of mercury in dental fillings was the focus of Thursday's FDA town–hall meeting in Orlando as more than a dozen anti-mercury activists demanded that the government restrict or ban them.

Although mercury is considered toxic, the Food and Drug Administration has classified amalgam fillings — the silver-colored fillings, which contain mercury — as safe. Activists noted that several European counties, including Sweden, Denmark and Norway, have banned use of mercury fillings in recent years.

Although dentists can use other types of fillings — composite materials or gold — experts say that these are more expensive than the mercury alternatives.

At the Orlando hearing, FDA officials — led by Dr. Jeff Shuren, head of the agency's Center for Devices and Radiologic Health — said they have reconvened a scientific panel to study the agency's position on amalgam fillings. Shuren would not say, however, what action the agency might take — or when a decision might be made.

"If I had my druthers, I would like to say something this year," said Shuren, adding that the agency would have to reconsider the scientific and legal issues.

"I empathize with all the people who have experienced medical problems, whatever the cause may be," Shuren said. "We take it seriously, which is why we've reconvened our scientific advisory panel."

Among those at the Orlando town-hall meeting was Freya Koss of Pennsylvania.

"I am one of millions of Americans who have suffered grave medical costs from mercury dental fillings," said Koss, who said she was diagnosed with lupus, multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis in 1998, after a dentist removed a mercury-laden amalgam filling and replaced it with a similar one. Within a week, Koss began experiencing double vision, droopy eyelids and a loss of equilibrium. Her symptoms gradually disappeared, she said, after she had her mercury fillings removed.

Also lining up to speak were three dentists, including Dr. James Hardy of Winter Park, who does not put in mercury fillings. Hardy, author of a book titled "Mercury Free," said that any unused dental amalgam is considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of carefully.

"After it [an amalgam filling] is taken out of a patient's mouth, it is treated as hazardous waste," Hardy said. "But somehow, when it is in the patient's mouth, it is not."

Because much of the debate focuses on the extraction of the mercury during removal of old fillings, Hardy takes it a step further. He has invested in a system that prevents particles of mercury from being spread through the air.

This is the second FDA town-hall meeting where anti-mercury activists have dominated the agenda. The first, held in Dallas in March, featured dentists and consumers who complained that mercury caused a myriad of health problems.

Yet the American Dental Association says that dental amalgam "is considered a safe, affordable and durable material that has been used to restore the teeth of more than 100 million Americans."

And at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, Associate Dean Boyd Robinson said scientific evidence hasn't shown harm from mercury fillings.

"Even the people who hate it haven't been able to prove it," Robinson said.

However, the days of mercury fillings, used since the Civil War, may be slowly ending anyway. At UF's dental clinics and dental school, 80 percent of the fillings students now put in are composite fillings — tooth-colored fillings made of crushed silicate glass and resin — while only 20 percent are amalgam. That ratio has flipped from 15 years ago, he said, when 80 percent of the fillings were amalgam.

Although amalgam fillings historically have lasted longer than composite fillings, many patients today prefer the look of the tooth-colored fillings.

"When you say, 'I can put a silver-colored filling in your mouth or a tooth-colored filling,' people pick the tooth-colored filling," Robinson said.

However, composite or resin fillings are more expensive than amalgam fillings, and low-income patients, he said, may be more likely to get amalgams.

 

This article was taken from the Los Angelos Times and can be found here.  http://www.latimes.com/health/os-mercury-fillings-fda-20110505,0,5010652.story

 

 Sam Hozan Testimonial:

I just want to say a special “Thank You” to Dr. Chester V. Clark, Jr. and to the dental staff at Amity Gentle Dental for removing and replacing all silver fillings with white composite fillings. I had 9 silver fillings that I was extremely concerned about, especially after discovering the dangers and risks behind silver mercury amalgam fillings.

I have suffered hundreds of severe headaches and migraines during the past years of my life, and had taken every precaution I could to avoid these spontaneous headaches and migraines. Some of the headaches and migraines were so severe at times, that I ended up taking up to 8 of the 500mg Tylenol pills a day. I soon realized that this was a dangerous alternative to dealing with the pain and, in the long run, excessive use of Tylenol would eventuality impact my liver.

I knew it was time to deal with the root cause of my headaches and migraines instead of treating the symptoms. It was quite difficult to pin-point the root cause of these headaches and migraines until one day, I had a discussion with my sister Anca, who currently works as a dental hygienist for Dr. Clark.  After sharing with her my frustrations and methods of trying to figure out the root cause of my headaches and migraines, she asked me to do some research on silver fillings.

Once I began to research and learn more about silver fillings, I had discovered and learned all about the dangers involved with having silver fillings. I knew of many things that could possibly cause severe headaches and migraines, but had never thought about the concept of silver fillings being the root cause.

After spending a week researching everything there is to know about silver fillings, I was convinced that this could be it. Finally, I decided to take the big step of having all 9 fillings removed. This was accomplished in a few different appointments within a timeframe of a few months.

After each appointment, I began to feel better and realized that my headaches and migraines were slowly going away. With each appointment, my headaches and migraines slowly started to disappear. Right after my last appointment, when the last silver fillings were removed, I realized that I no longer experience any headaches or migraines, and I suddenly felt as if a great burden had been lifted from by life.

I realized that I can think more clearly and that I can make better decisions in my life than before. I no longer experience the headaches and migraines that were caused by silver fillings, and making the change to have the silver fillings replaced with white composite fillings was the best decision I have made.

Once again, I want to thank Dr. Clark and the entire dental staff at Amity Gentle Dental for the great experience and their support.

Sam Hozan