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Amalgam (Silver) Dental Fillings

Do They Pose a Serious Health Threat?

Jul 7, 2009 James Jackson

Dental fillings made of Amalgam (Silver) have been around for over 100 years, but in the past few decades serious concern has arisen over their safety,

Amalgam has been called an "excellent and versatile restorative material" and is used in dentistry for a number of reasons.

It is inexpensive and relatively easy to use and manipulate during placement; it remains soft for a short time so it can be packed to fill any irregular volume, and then forms a hard compound. Amalgam possesses greater longevity when compared to other direct restorative materials, such as composite.

Yet the health risks associated with these dental fillings, particularly mercury leaking into the human body, has been well documented.

Do Amalgam Fillings Leak Mercury into the Human Body?

Scientific studies have not verified that dental amalgam is causing illness in the general population. It has been known for some time that amalgam fillings release minute amounts of mercury vapour, especially with chewing, and that this mercury can be absorbed, reach body organs, and cross the placenta.

As a single element, mercury is a poisonous metal to which we are all exposed through air, water, soil and food. In dental amalgam, it is bound in an alloy, which also includes silver, copper and tin. Very small amounts of mercury vapour are released from amalgam with chewing.

Mercury's toxicity is related to the amount absorbed. The mercury absorbed from all sources accumulates in body organs and tissues, mostly in the kidneys, but also in the brain, lungs, liver and gastrointestinal tract.

Isn't Mercury Deadly?

Mercury vapour, methyl mercury and ethyl mercury all target the central nervous system and mercury vapour and ethyl mercury also target the kidneys. Inorganic (metallic) mercury primarily targets the kidneys and stomach.
The allowable or safe intake of mercury has recently been reduced to 0.1 microgram/day per kilogram of body weight.
There is concern, but no clear evidence, that mercury emitted from amalgam fillings may cause or worsen degenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease.
It is important to realize that consuming just one 7 oz (198 grams) can of tuna per week translates into a mercury intake of 0.1 microgram/day of mercury per kilogram of body weight – equivalent to the currently recommended maximum daily intake.

How Dangerous are Amalgam Fillings?

Doctors and researchers point to incontrovertible evidence that mercury continually leaches from amalgam fillings at a rate of about 10-50 times the safe limit (0.28 microgram/day) set by the US Public Health Service.

Several studies have found that chewing markedly increases the amount of mercury released from amalgam fillings into the mouth and that these mercury vapours easily find their way into the pituitary gland and the brain.

Autopsies performed at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden revealed that people with amalgam fillings had three times more mercury in the brain and nine times more in the kidneys than did people with no amalgam fillings.

How Can Dentists Still Use Amalgam Fillings?

Dentists continue to state that every time a foreign substance is used in the human body for therapeutic purposes, there is an element of risk. Health professionals must constantly weigh the known risks of a particular intervention against known benefits.

In the case of dental amalgam, the scientific evidence indicates that no significant risks are involved. If there were risks, they would have been clearly observed during the 150 years that this material has been in use.

There are some patients who are sensitive to the components of amalgam, just as there are individuals who are sensitive or allergic to other chemical substances or even foods such as milk or bread. It has been estimated that the prevalence of mercury sensitivity in the general population is approximately three per cent.

Can Patients Refuse Amalgam Fillings?

Dentists recognize patient concerns with respect to choice of restorative materials and the patient's right to choose a dental material or to refuse treatment with any material. The dentist may, however, be concerned about the retention, durability or strength of alternative restorations in particular applications, and advise them to choose amalgam. The final choice, however, is the patient's.

The Canadian Dental Association, Your Dental Health
Your Health Base, Amalgam Fillings

The copyright of the article Amalgam (Silver) Dental Fillings in General Medicine is owned by James Jackson. Permission to republish Amalgam (Silver) Dental Fillings in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.