Mercury fillings

Pet

..And the dangers thereof. What do people think?

A quick google throws up thousands of results, but many of which are from "alternative health" sites which may not have the scientific studies to back up their claims (even if it completely contradicts common sense to put mercury into somebody's mouth, especially on such a large scale..).

However, amalgam.org cites scientific studies to back up its claims.

Especially interesting are the sections about neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, and the roles Hg toxicity have to play in them.

Another interesting effect of dental amalgams is their galvanic action inside the mouth, especially when other metals are present (bridges, caps, crowns, etc). Not only does this create an electric current inside the mouth, but the current itself further increases the release of mercury from the amalgam and into the body. And for anyone who doubts that mercury is released from amalgam fillings, I have cold, hard evidence right here in my hands...

John

Do they still use mercury in fillings? I've a load of metal in my mouth but I don't know what kind. To the mass spectrometer!

Pet

Yep. The dental associations are caught between a rock and a hard place. They probably wanted to phase mercury out years ago, but they can't admit that there's a problem with it or they'll have the biggest class action lawsuit ever on their hands. So, it continues.

I've three fillings in my mouth. My orthodontic retainer (plastic pull-on) has dark grey discolouration over the parts where the mercury fillings are, and nowhere else. Composite fillings cause no discolouration.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Mercury fillings have been proved in the dental journals over the last 150 years to be perfectly safe. We would not use them if they were not. I am a practicing dentist and I have them in my mouth.
White fillings or composite fillings cost more for the patient and because they shrink when they set (shining a blue light on them usually) they leak and cause recurrent decay more often than the silver fillings. The literature says an amalgam filling will last on average 7 years while a composite one about 4-5 years. So composite leaks, is more sensitive after placement, costs more, is difficult to place and has to be replaced more. Amalgam is a great material and has many uses. In fact composite fillings are speculated to release oestrogen like compounds which are detrimental for men's health (I don't really believe this but there is so much rubbish spouted for anti amalgam sites. Read only peer review scientific journals, most of the so called evidence against amalgam is of very poor quality). People often get all their amalgam removed (this is when you will be exposed to the highest amount of mercury) replaced with white fillings (which many dentists find difficult to place really well) and have chronic sensitivity, then because the fillings fail more, in 10-12 years after 2-3 replacements they are left with no choice but to go to a specialist and have all the fillings replaced with 5-15k worth of crowns, bridges, implants and such!
My advice, if you have amalgams leave them alone, they always look poor cause they are silver and tarnish ( the stain around the edge is like rust and is actually good as it seals any little gaps).
If you need a new filling or one replaced - choose your personal preference. Composite nearly always look better than it actually is. If you have High aesthetic demands, well get the white filling but bear in mind that it will cost more and have to be replaced more often.

That's my two cents anyway, as with anything look into it yourself and make up your own mind..its your mouth.

http://www.fdiworldental.org/federation/assets/statements/ENGLISH/Amalgam/Dental_Amalgam.pdf
http://www.ada.org/public/media/presskits/fillings/bibliography.pdf
http://www.dentalhealth.org.uk/downloads/f030711103426_amalgam_policy_statement.pdf
http://www.dentalwatch.org/hg/myths108.html