The Amalgam Fillings Dilemma
An article published in the Sun Times (July 3, 2008) titled “Fighting Tooth and Nail,” said that the claims made about the danger of dental fillings that contain mercury are unwarranted. Also, that many investigations maintain the opposite, and even showed that there are no dissimilarities in children that had amalgam fillings versus those that had composite fillings, in terms of their neurological testing.
Dentists have higher mercury levels than non-dentists; however, this was attributed to dietary habits, such as eating tuna and other salt water fish. Not an occupational hazard. Even though, several individuals with multiple sclerosis said that their symptoms decreased after their amalgam fillings were removed, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society stated that no systematic proof associating amalgam fillings and diseases of neurological origin(s) exists.
“Moms against Mercury” have been trying to “ban” amalgam fillings from this country. They say that filling made of amalgam are less expensive, but traditionally stay in place longer (i.e., they wear out less often), so that is why the dentists use them. Dental caries are associated with demographics and socio-economic status in this country. By removing affordable dental treatment from lower income patients, dentists risk having people not see the dentist due to finances, and more severe problems can arise.
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