Recently, dentists have been questioned on their use of mercury in oral fillings. The fillings are usually called “silver,” yet they contain approximately 40 percent mercury. Although the FDA has determined that the use of mercury in fillings is not harmful, they have also admitted that further studies on the fillings’ effects on certain groups of people such as pregnant women and children are necessary.
Over the past 20 years, the FDA has received 141 adverse event reports due to the use of metal fillings. Michael Aschner, a consultant on the panel and a professor of pediatrics and pharmacology at Vanderbilt University, stated: “there are many things that we don’t know and too many things that were excluded from the study.” A panel of government health advisors subsequently voted to reject the findings of the FDA and to begin studies on the potential toxic effects of the metal in dentistry.
Some dentists would like to join a movement to ban mercury fillings, believing that once the metal is put into a person’s mouth, it begins to break down into mercury vapor. Inhaled mercury vapor may be a cause of low-level poisoning that could potentially lead to neurological disorders, chronic illnesses, autoimmune disorders, and complications in pregnancy. This vapor might be released by simple, everyday activities such as chewing or brushing. Although most scientists agree that mercury fillings release mercury into the system, there are disparate results as to the levels and whether or not they are high enough to pose a serious health threat.
Most dentists do not tell their patients what their “metal” fillings are composed of, and that they are putting mercury into the mouths of their patients. A survey conducted in 2006 revealed that over 70 percent of patients did not know that mercury is a main component of “silver” fillings.
Although the FDA and the ADA are not currently recommending that people with metal fillings have them removed, many people have been scared by the controversy over mercury poisoning and have sought out dentists who will remove their amalgam fillings and replace them with other materials. This process can be difficult, as many dentists disagree with the theory that metal fillings can be harmful to their patients. They obviously feel strongly about the fact that the mercury in the fillings is not toxic, or they would not be using it in the first place. There is also a risk of exposing the patient to more mercury ingestion in the process of removal. The FDA has issued warnings about dentists providing proper ventilation during the process of filling or removal. Many patients, however, who have gone through successful replacements, reported that they have experienced better health after the metal has been removed. (If you need fillings, we advise you to visit your Port Washington dentist.)
According to the ADA, the decision of whether or not to continue to use mercury fillings should be left in the hands of the dentist and his or her patient. As a result of the studies and inconclusive findings, some dentists now favor white composite or porcelain fillings, but these materials are more expensive than the metal and are often not an option for low-income patients.
