The amalgam dental filling toxicity controversy. What do you think?

[Eva]

What are your thoughts and opinions, or personal experiences with regards to the above subject, forgetting the Dental Association Claims that " ....FDA considers dental amalgam fillings safe for adults and children ages 6 and above. The amount of mercury measured in the bodies of people with dental amalgam fillings is well below levels associated with adverse health effects" http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/P.../DentalProducts/DentalAmalgam/ucm171094.htm#2

I shall start with sharing my personal views and experience.

At a dental routine cleaning visit at age 13, the dentist recommended to fill my back five molars. My kind father agreed, and I did not know better then.

After a year or so, I started getting sick which was unsual for me, I had repeated cases of ear infection, tonsillitis, my vision became weaker, my gum started receding, and falling asleep became difficult. Then, at age 19 cardio heard the murmur which was a surprise, as I never had rheumatic heart fever!! Well, all of these could be co-incidences! But, some studies revealed that mercury causes gum/periodontal diseases which over time may affect the heart. In my case, I am the only one in the family with the receding gum and leaky valve!
[I am glad I did not allow other dentist to fill the rest of my teetch despite their warnings 20 years ago that I would lose those teeth. :thumbup: to me. All my *bad* teeth are still healthy and strong. So, if you have no pain, do not let any dentist convince you that your tooth needs filling.]

As far as I remember, I always noticed how I felt better on the days I ate very little or none! But I could not analyze why until recently I read the following in: http://www.holisticmed.com/dental/amalgam/


QUOTE: ...............chewing cause the release of significantly increased amounts of mercury from the fillings ..................

..........Mercury released from fillings builds up in the brain, pituitary, adrenals, and other parts of the body................


................A recent study published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine related to the proper removal of mercury amalgam fillings from 118 subjects showed an elimination or reduction or 80% of the classic mercury poisoning symptoms. In many cases, it took 6 to 12 months after mercury amalgam removal for the symptoms to disappear.


.................. Lars Friberg, the lead toxicologist on the World Health Organization team looking at inorganic mercury and health effects recently stated that he believes that mercury is unsuitable for dental materials because of safety concerns.
According to Huggins, "sensitive" individuals can develop emotional problems (depression, anxiety, irritability), neurological disorders (facial twitches, muscle spasms, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis), cardiovascular problems (unexplained rapid heart rate, unidentified chest pains), collagen diseases (arthritis, scleroderma, lupus erythematosus), allergies, digestive problems (ulcers, regional ileitis), and immunologic disorders (which he claims include leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and mononucleosis). He recommends replacing mercury fillings with other materials and taking vitamins and other supplements to prevent trouble following amalgam removal. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/mercury.html



I am removing mine on April 15 Am I doing the right thing? I hope there will be gain more than loss!

 

[Bill B]

If this were a common, serious issue, I'd be dead. I had the absolute worst dental problems when I was young. Every tooth in my head that could has had amalgam for more than 50 years. Perhaps some people are more sensitive to mercury than others, but I'm not one of them. My valve issue was congenital, and it did remarkably well for over 60 years, so I can't blame that on mercury in my fillings. Other than that, I've always been healthy as a horse. Millions and millions of people have amalgam fillings. I can't see the dental community being in some conspiracy to cover up mercury posioning.

 

[Bina]

I've got 8 molars filled with that amalgam stuff ever since I was a young child. I guess I'll just add it to the
never ending list of things that is harmful and should end up killing me.
My larger concern is the amount of plastics and hormones and chemicals and pesticides in our foods and
daily life.
Thanks for sharing, Eva.

 

[Natina13]

Bill B
Same here.. had several fillings as a child, and have had a very healthy life for 58 years. My heart issues are congenital and hereditary. But since I watch Dr. Oz 5 days a week....I will add fillings to my notebook's growing list of things that are probably going to kill us. I hate to sound cynical...but, one year they tell us not to eat eggs, then they switch a few years later, and decide we need some in our diet. Scientists,Dietitians, Researchers and Doctors change their minds so frequently, on what is good for us and what is bad for us....it makes it very hard to keep up with it all.
So, for ME......I am just going to try to eat the best I can, take a multivitamin, walk/exercise ,hike/camp in Yosemite, laugh, smile alot, love even more, those I cherish and enjoy what-ever life, I have left on this earth....and stop worrying about the ever changing opinions.......as I know 100%, worrying is not good for us either. SERENITY NOW..is my new motto
Renee
Oh....and watching Sci-fi movies ( Avatar) is good for our health too ....if no research shows it yet, it sure should ...IMHO !

 

[Herb_Webb]

Everyone is different. I would imagine that the stuff that is in amalgem is like any other substance. Put 10 people in a field of blooming flowers, some will smile and sniff each one while inhaling deeply and a few will run for kleenex with runny noses and teary eyes. Similar things happen with foods. Here is the link to a video that might interest you. I'm not saying this is the answer but it sounds like you are searching and this is one source. Best of luck in your search and better luck in your health. http://www.youtube.com/user/joshrubineastwest#p/search/0/BIri1QQFnMo

 

[Natina13]

I agree with Herb, all our bodies can react differently. And, anytime you have a health concern, finding the best answer, is a good way to find peace of mind.

Yikes.....adds lidocaine to my list of might kill me list, thanks Herb The young man was very well spoken, seems educated and knowledgeable too. One small note on the video though...I did notice he had numerous tattoos, and am wondering if he realizes, tattoo ink contains mercury ( among other heavy metals), and it is not regulated by the FDA.There is a growing body of scientific research that suggests heavy metals contribute to carcinogenesis by inducing/increasing oxidative stress. Oxidative stress damages DNA and can lead to mutations which promote cancer. Heavy metals also appear to disrupt the process of Apoptosis (programmed cell death). Apoptosis is vital for safe removal of sick/unhealthy cells, including cells that may become cancerous.
I am still getting Tinker-Bell put on my shoulder for my 60th Birthday, though.........heck, I figure once my heart is fixed, I will finally throw caution to the wind and do everything I wanted to do in my youth. This is why I love life so much..at times, we sometimes get to actually made a personal choice, as to how we would like to live it. The only thing I am 100% sure about in life, is no one gets out of it, alive....so, I intend to be....Happy and maintain my warped sense of humor to the end.
Renee

( Any opinion given here, is only my own.....never meant to offend, dishearten or discourage, or be unkind... so please always take it with a grain of salt and a smile !)

 

[Herb_Webb]

Natina, I'm not into tattoos and wonder about those risks as well. But to each their own and I'm sure TinkerBell will look lovely on either of your shoulders. Josh does seem knowledgeable and he does have some posts on heart health. The one on heart liver connection is pretty good.
http://www.youtube.com/user/joshrubineastwest#p/u/45/etrVl1YylDU

Eva good luck with your search and health.

Herb

 

[Natina13]

Interesting one as well, Thanks Herb. My mind is always open to new knowledge, whether I agree or disagree is never an issue......learning different points of views, always stimulates, entertains and nothing wrong with gaining knowledge, at any age. BTW.......That will be my 1st Tattoo,lol
Renee

ps...I actually got on the floor to try it...as I certainly never wish to accused of being full of S--T and with the narcotics I will require with my upcoming surgery....always best to start out empty

Life isn't how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain......... unknown

 

[Bina]

Temporary tatts are guaranteed harmless and won't look weird when we are all old and droopy. LOL

 

[Eva]

Thanks to you all, for sharing your views; and thanks, Herb for the links. I appreciate it:smile2:

I thought about removing my fillings ten years ago, but I gave up on the idea thinking it was silly. But, this is not silly anymore to me. Being an oversensitive person who responds to the tiniest amount of medicine, scent, etc. can equally be sensitive to the tiny mercury leach during food chewing...a fact none could deny...a fact that explained my feeling sick after I ate....the fact that caused me to think it was the food though I cook healthy and cookd everything fresh and from scratch!

So, I won't hesitate to grab a chance that may help me feel better. If it won't, I won't be disappointed. I have hosted those fillings for 47 years! Time for them to go .

:smile2:

 

[Protimenow]

I have a problem believing that ANY mercury can remain in the amalgam fillings after decades of chewing and running saliva around the fillings. How much was actually IN the fillings when they were put into the tooth? Microliters? A couple drops? After decades can ANY still even BE there?

Years ago, when we used silver in our coins, if a thermometer would break, I'd hurry to find a dime and watch what the mercury does to it. The mercury in the amalgam filling, from what I recall, is there to make the silver soft so it can be molded into the tooth. I can't imagine that it persists in the metal for many years.

Personally, I'd be more concerned with getting mercury from tuna or other coastal fish than I would be getting any minuscule trace from my fillings. (I recently had some plastic fillings in a couple teeth that my amalgam filllings fell out of after decades of decay eroded the tooth they were put into -- one of those fillings lasted a few days, the other one, after just a few months, is well on its way to crumbling and falling out.)

I haven't checked the links that Herb posted, so I don't know what they're saying about residual mercury, but I just can't see how it's possible that measurable levels of mercury floating around in this swimming pool of saliva can possibly be around after decades in our mouths.

 

[drivetopless]

Hi, Eva-
Like you I was unfortunate enough to have a drill happy dentist when I was a child. All of my molars were filled with ugly silver fillings. I had horrible allergies and ear infections as a child, but I never associated it with the fillings. I also had the heart murmur.

Now I'm 47. My fillings were very large and "old." THey were developing cracks and crevices around the edges. So I have been having them replaced as needed on the suggestion of my current dentist. I've been having them replaced with porcelin. I don't know if they are making a difference in my health, but they sure do look better!

 

[Eva]

Protime,

Thanks for sharing your opinion. Ten years ago when I first heard about this, I felt the same way you did and I shrugged my shoulders. lly that my filllings were still OK and strong then. Different opinions from different people is why this whole issue is still a controversy.
Here is a link from the "National Academy of the Oral Medicine and Toxicology" showing vapor coming out from a 25-year old mercury filling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ylnQ-T7oiA

An interview with Chief Executive of the British Dental Association unable to deny the vapor coming out with chewing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq8E84PgP3g&feature=related, while the Sweedish CEO confirmed the leach with chewing.

Drivertopless, Thanks for sharing. Like you, mine are starting to crack and so I need to have them removed anyway. I may ask for porcelain as the composites may not last long. When did you have yours removed. I heard it might take a few months before seeing an improvement.

Thanks again to all.

 

[Bina]

I would love to magically switch my old fillings for new stuff, but I'm a wimp at the dentist office.
Anyway, it just so happens that my Springtime visit is on Thursday so I will ask the good doctor what his
latest thoughts are on my ancient fillings. Will get back to you.