For some considerable time now, Dental Amalgam has been implicated by many top researchers and bio-chemists as a possible cause of many conditions. Yet, despite these warnings, the US, UK and European governments continue to support its use. I present here some disturbing evidence, which I hope will cause you to at least dig deeper into the matter. First, by way of introduction, I present a summary of the BBC Panorama program - not totally comprehensive, but it provides an excellent introduction to the subject. The evidence produced in this program has not been refuted - although some may argue it has been swept under the carpet!

THE BBC PANORAMA DOCUMENTARY ON AMALGAM FILLINGS

Title : POISON IN THE MOUTH : Broadcast June 1994.

In the program's opening statement: "Mercury is so toxic that at certain levels, it drives people mad, but even the tiniest amounts are regarded as unsafe. At lower levels, and no-one knows how low they are, mercury attacks the brain, and the central nervous system, producing symptoms that include nervousness and irritability, lack of concentration, loss of memory and self confidence, mood swings, anxiety, depression, fatigue and insomnia. Because there can be other causes for these symptoms, nobody has associated amalgam with it"

Dr Lars Friburg is probably the worlds leading authority on mercury poisoning, and was advisor to the World Health Organisation on mercury safety. He is the author of recognised standard textbooks on the subject. Upto this point in time, he has remained neutral in the debate - however he has carried out intensive research into the subject, and has arrived at a conclusion. When interviewed on the program he states that there is NO safe level, and that he is of the opinion that amalgam should not be used. The program then quotes research conducted 10 years ago, that showed that mercury is NOT safely locked into the amalgam, but leaks away. Electron microscope pictures of old fillings showed holes where the mercury has evaporated - typically 40% of the mercury can be released over a ten year period.

Picking up on this research, Fritz Lorscheider (Professor of Medical Physiology at University of Calgary) and Murray Vimy (World Health Organisation consultant) conducted an experiment, where a Sheep was give amalgam fillings prepared with a radioactive isotope of mercury that shows up on X-rays. It was shown that large amounts of the mercury leaked and was absorbed by the body. Dental experts raised an objection - a sheep chews and grinds its food a lot more that a human - so the research was re-conducted with monkeys, with the same results. They found that the mercury actually damaged the kidneys the sheep. [My note - if anything humans are put at greater risk of exposure than the sheep in this experiment - humans can have their amalgams drilled/replaced continuously over a 70 year lifetime.] Murray Vimy was asked "When you look at all the current scientific evidence, what do you think its trying to tell you?" He replied "It tells me very succinctly that there is a chronic low-dose exposure to a toxic heavy metal that 80-85 percent of the industrialised world have implanted in their teeth, and its a situation of timed-release poisoning."

Professor Vasken Aposhian, world-renowned head at the Dept of molecular and Cellular biology of the University of Arizona, conducted a study of humans, using chelating agents (DMSA) to flush mercury from the body of volunteers. He established that on average two-thirds of the mercury in the body comes from amalgam fillings - disproving the dentist's claims that none of the mercury from amalgam is absorbed by the body. Dr David Eggelston of the University of Southern California, an eminent dentist, has conducted post-mortem research that showed that dental mercury accumulated and stayed in the brain - for around 40 years. His research again that mercury is released from amalgam fillings. Quoting him: "My greatest worry would be among children. Children are going to school, they are being taught things, they are being taught how to handle everyday situations, they're being given information that we hope they'll keep in their minds for a better way of life. It is conceivable that, as they're being educated and as they're being trained to do something, their training will not stay with them as long, they may not be able to do things as quickly, and therefore they will not be able to be judged proficient in certain tasks"

Dr Boyd Haley, head of medicinal and biochemistry at the University of Kentucky is conducting research into the link between dental mercury and Alzheimer's disease. He is quoted as saying that while he would not like to specifically say (yet) that mercury causes Alzheimer's disease, there is no doubt in his mind that low levels of mercury present in the brain cause neural cell death that causes a dementia similar to Alzheimer's. He has just made a dramatic breakthrough, that establishes that dental mercury inhibits the production of vital chemicals (tubilin), leading to changes identical to the changes that occur with Alzheimer's disease. He considers that amalgam is a time-bomb. (A from him from another source: "If I was diagnosed as having Alzheimer's, I would start taking DMSA (anti-mercury chelator) like it was going out of fashion).

The program then had an interview with Professor Gustav Drasch, of the University of Munich. He has examined the brains of dead babies and foetuses and found mercury deposits had appeared in their skulls. He said "I think the implications are serious. It is a question of whether or not we have to restrict the application of dental amalgam for women, not only of childbearing age, but even before - because if, for instance, a girl of 15 gets an amalgam filling, this filling lies in her mouth for ten years, all the time releasing some mercury. If this girl gets pregnant, say five years after she has a mercury filling, the mercury goes to the baby. So really the question now being discussed in Germany today is, not to forbid it, but to restrict amalgam fillings for women from, say, 15 to 50 years"

Dr Diana Echeverria, a neuro-toxicologist, has completed a remarkable new study. It tested reaction times of Dentists to do specific manual tasks, and showed losses in manual dexterity and concentration. She is quoted as saying that the exposure of mercury for patients with a large number of fillings and Dentists overlap - ie. patients are at the same risk. The US environmental protection safety limits for mercury vapour are 10 Micrograms per day, yet research shows that fillings contribute between 1 and 29 ug/day - 3 times the limit. Dr Steven Challacombe, Professor of oral medicine at St Guys and one of Britain's leading dental researchers, has followed this new research and is not satisfied amalgam is safe. He believes that further action and research is required by the British government.

Many countries in the world have now officially banned Amalgam fillings, including Sweden and some mid-European countries. Other countries seem to be replacing amalgam by stealth - without actually wanting to admit legal liability. A number of other studies were quoted however the above summarises the principle medical arguments put forward by the Program.

My Comments

The program shows Dentists using considerable precautions when removing fillings - Rubber dams in the mouth, low speed drills and independent air supplies for both patient and dentist. This is because of the very high levels of mercury released when an old filling is drilled out. Similar precautions are now being adopted by many UK dentists. It is interesting to note that there has been much more 'drilling out' of old teeth performed recently than in previous times, since in pre-antibiotic days an infected tooth could be a life-threatening infection, and had to be pulled. Modern dentists make 'rescuing' teeth a high priority - maybe this accounts for an increase in amalgam related problems.

There is just SO much evidence now that:A) Mercury is very dangerous. (one of the most toxic metals known to man)

B) It DOES leak from an amalgam filling, often in large quantities. Also, when old fillings are drilled out to make way for new, large amounts of Mercury are released from the old filling. (Remember, those "silver" fillings in your mouth CONTAIN 50% MERCURY! Thetas something a dentist never tells you..)

C) Many people consequently suffer serious illness. Incidentally I believe that this is often diagnosed as being ME - which in a way it probably is, since ME is a neurological disorder that is also not understood, and Mercury poisoning is probably at least a contributing factor in some cases. The symptoms of "classic" Mercury poisoning and ME bear some striking resemblance's.

Also make sure to read these books: Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings...Hazardous to Your Health! and Mercury Detoxification by Tom McGuire