FDA - Dental Fillings Found to Have Health Risks

FDA Logo Following a recent court case in California the FDA has been forced to take a closer look at dental mercury/metal fillings. The group “Mom’s Against Mercury” has won a court settlement, which now forces the FDA to reconsider the status and safety of mercury metal fillings. The settled agreement calls for the FDA to complete its reclassification of dental amalgam by July of 2009. At that point there will be specific guidelines and descriptive health risks associated with mercury/metal fillings. As for now, the FDA has updated its consumer information on the subject of mercury metal fillings. The FDA no longer claims mercury is harmless. The language has now been dramatically changed.

“Dental amalgams contain mercury which may have neurotoxic affects on the nervous system of developing children and fetuses. When amalgam fillings are placed in teeth or removed from teeth they release mercury vapor. Mercury vapor is also released during chewing. FDA’s rule making will examine evidence concerning whether release of mercury vapor can cause health problems, including neurological disorders, in children and fetuses. Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bioburden, should not avoid dental care, but should discuss the options with their health practitioner.”

According to John J. Kelly DDS, these types of materials are outdated and have been debated for over 150 years since they were introduced. “Our nerves and neural tissues are most susceptible to mercury. Our nerves are kind of like electrical wiring. They have insulating sheath around them much like the plastic coating around an electrical wire. Some people have thicker insulation than others. Some may have thicker insulation in spots and thinner in others. Wherever it is thin, this barrier can be more easily ruptured or broken. Because mercury can attack any nerve anywhere, the symptoms that one person has may not even remotely resemble the problems that someone else is having. An example could be multiple sclerosis vs. dermatitis. They both could easily have their origins in a mercury toxicity problem. One person’s weakest link is not the same as another person’s.”