lute@abnjh.UUCP (J. Collymore) (09/14/84)
I have received several requests to post any replies that I got regarding my question on whether silver/mercury amalgam dental fillings cause low-level mercury poisoning. Several people have already posted replies to the net. Those replies I have not included here. These are merely a few replies that I received from other netters. None of these are definitive answers, and none of the respondents (to my knowledge) are dentists. So take the following remarks with that in mind. From discussion with my own dentist, it would seem that there has not been a great deal of research yet done regarding this matter. He has told me that many dentists disagree on the potential problems of such fillings, but a growing number of dentists are switching to "composite" fillings to avoid the use of the mercury. If you have any further questions on the subject, I would recommend you ask your dentist, or your family physician. They probably won't have any solid answers for you either since not much research (as far as I can tell) has been done on this subject. However, if you think of the millions of people in the U.S. who have had these fillings over the past 30 or 40 years; it might be an issue, that if asked by enough Drs.' patients, may generate more research. That research may yield more definitive answers. Jim Collymore ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Mercury poisoning from dental fillings? A certain amount of mercury leaches out of new fillings, but it is small enough that the liver and kidneys can detoxify it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Mercury poisoning from dental fillings? I recently read an article in Atlanta magazine about a local dentist who has been working with low-level mercury poisoning from fillings. The physical sign of leaching mercury is a purplish stain in the gums aropund the tooth with the filling. He found that some people are very sensitive to mercury and display fatigue and irritability which is reversed when the amalgam fillings are replaced. I don't have any more specific info. The dentist seemsed to feel that the patients were not receiving clinical mercury poisoning, but it was an interaction between mercury and sensitivity. If you find more info please post to the net. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: mercury poisoning from fillings Jim, There is a dentist in Colorado Springs, named Huggins. He says that this low grade mercury poisoning can affect the immune system, often manifesting itself in environmental illness, or allergies to everything. I have environmental illness, with sensitivities to many things derived from petrochemicals, perfume, many foods, chemicals in many common products like soap, deodorant, detergents, etc. I have not had my few mercury fillings removed and replaced by composite fillings, but as they need to be redone (future), I will not use amalgam. If I was convinced that my problems were due entirely to mercury, I would not hesitate to find a dentist knowledgeable about this to have my mouth worked over. I have several friends who have taken this step with excellent results. It is not cheap, however.