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Food and Drug Administration warns pregnant women and children about mercury fillings

Email|Link|Comments (6) Posted by bdaley June 11, 2008 09:21 AM

By Beth Daley, Globe Staff

Despite the steady drumbeat of health warnings not to ingest mercury, most of us still have the stuff in our mouths: Mercury-based metals have been used for over a century to fill cavities.

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But now, in response to a legal challenge by groups seeking to end mercury's use in fillings, the US Food and Drug Administration has altered its long-held stance that silver-colored mercury fillings are safe. In a revised assessment on its website, the government agency now says that the fillings may be harmful to pregnant women, children, fetuses and others who are sensitive to mercury exposure.

"Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses," the FDA's new website warning says.

"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 seeking dental care, but should discuss options with their health practitioner," the agency says.

Yet the agency does not recommend removal of old mercury fillings.

Confused?

A little more clarity may come next year when the FDA will finish a review it began in 2002 of dental amalgams -- the alloy of mercury and other compounds in fillings -- and decide whether to put more controls on mercury's use in dental products.

Several reviews have determined there is no evidence that mercury in fillings causes health problems. But a 2006 FDA advisory panel said more information is needed to properly assess the potential harm.

Critics have long said it seems preposterous that the metal is still used in dental fillings. They say minute amounts of mercury vapor are released during chewing and when fillings are put in and taken out.

"We're encouraged that the FDA website now provides links to other countries' websites where they discourage placement of mercury tooth fillings in pregnant women,'' said Michael Bender of the Vermont-based Mercury Policy Project.

For more information go to http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/amalgams.html

www.mercurypolicy.org

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6 comments so far...

I don't know how accurate the comment about replacements not being as durable is. Over 15 years ago I had 6 mercury fillings in molar teeth changed over to the white resin fillings they commonly use for front teeth. The dentist told me they'd only have a 5 year lifespan but 15 years later 5 out of 6 changed are still going strong having no problems (only 1 having to be replaced after 10 years). Changing over these filling I believe was the best thing I did for my health. My dentist for several years now doesn't even offer the mercury fillings (he didn't like the mercury exposure he was getting and people were asking more and more for the white fillings). Think about it what about the repeated exposure the dentist and hygienists that assist with the fillings are getting can't be good for their health.

Posted by Sue June 11, 08 01:29 PM

I've had mercury fillings for 50 years, no problems, and I am in excellent health. No way would I even consider replacing them.

Posted by Mary June 11, 08 02:10 PM

Just because autism has skyrocketed from 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 100, doesn't mean mercury is bad for you. It's only in 96% of all vaccines.

I say If mercury is good enough for our children, it must be good enough for mommy too.

Stop whining about it and drink your fluoridated diet sodas with aspartame. Everything will be fine as long as you never question your government.

Posted by Truthurts June 11, 08 08:35 PM

Sue- I had all my mercury fillings replaced, also- about 10 years ago. My cosmetic dentist did not offer mercury either. She did use a dental dam, and hopefully I did not inhale too much mercury "dust"...but here's the clincher! I recently read that resin fillings are made with BPA (bisphenol A)...which has been found to be a hormone disruptor (and thus, can cause cancer). It's the bad chemical discussed in all the news reports lately- baby bottles and water bottles are made from it. So...who really knows if we made a good choice? It seems like everything we do is dangerous to our health. : (

Posted by Cindy June 11, 08 11:49 PM

Addressing many of your comments:
Composite fillings have been greatly improved through the years, and do last as long or longer than mercury amalgam fillings, deceptively called "silver" by the American Dental Assoc. ALL SILVER FILLINGS are 50% MERCURY, a known neurotoxin. Mercury is also the 2nd most non-radioactive toxic element on the face of this earth and does not belong in our bodies. MERCURY is being removed from all products for health and environmental reasons...think about, why would you choose MERCURY when there are safe alternatives available? A recent survey concluded that 52% of dentists no longer use amalgam filings. Do you think it purely for ethetic reasons? Dentists and their personnel are exposed to mercury
vapors on a daily basis, but the American Dental Assoc. has lied to them telling them its SAFE. Dentists have high percentage of suicide and neuroloigcal illnesses, which often start off with hand tremors, similar to Parkinson's syndrome.
Female dental personnel have a high percentage of infertility and miscarriage due
ot mercury exposure. This is not anecdotal information. There are hundreds of scientific studies supporting this evidence, see: www.iaomt.org. A Swedish study of 800 individuals concluded that a very large percentge had improved health or
complete recovery after amalgams were removed.

Symptoms of mercury toxicity from mercury dental vapors vary in individuals depending upon genetic predisposition, the number of fillings and general health
conditions. Most consumers do not understand what illnesses and symptoms may be related to their mercury fillings. I was struck with double vision 7 days after having an old amalgam improperly removed and a new one placed. The doctor diagnosed me with MS and Lupus and told me that I would be ill for the rest of my
life. He also noted that there was no known etiology for these diseases. Within a week my eyelids started to droop and I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis.

Bottom line: I was mercury poisoned from my dental fillings. I had them slowly
removed by a mercury-free dentist. I slowly recovered. My story: http://www.toxicteeth.org/forms/mainLineToday.pdf. Many of the symptoms we are told are part of the aging process. I no longer wear glasses since my fillings were removed. I no long have neck and shoulder muscle spasms. I no longer have any gastrointestinal problems, and I only have slight double vision and my eyelids no longer droop.

Mercury in vaccines is deadly. there is 25% Thimerosal in childhood vaccines, and children were being given 5 to 8 vaccines at one time. There is clear scientific evidence that mercury in vaccines is a contributing factor to autism. When I was a child we were given one vaccine with Thimerosal in it...that is why there wasn't any autism. Supposedly Thimerosal has been removed from childhood vaccines with the exception of the flu vaccines, still being adlministered to babies. However, children treated in clinics are still being given vaccines containing mercury.

FDA and the ADA have covered up the risks of dental amalgam far too long. The public deserves to know the truth so that they can make educated decisions about their dental care and health.

My advice is, do your research, be your own advocate, and if you have a young child or you are pregnant, do not allow a dentist to place mercury in your teeth or your child's teeth. White fillings are safe alternatives for yourself and your children.

Freya, PA Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry

www.toxicteeth.org
www.iaomt.org

Posted by Freya Koss June 12, 08 04:06 PM

Thank you for writing this story and making Greater Boston aware of the dangers of mercury.

A nice adjunct to this story would be The Green Our Vaccines rally that took place last week in Washington, D.C. There were an estimated 8,000 of us there including RFK, Jr., Jenny McCarthy, Jim Carrey and many MDs, parents, grandparents and children with autism and other vaccine-injuries advocating for a safer vaccination program for our children.

The three bills that are already in Congress and need additional sponsors and support are:

House Resolution 881, Mercury-Free Vaccine Act of 2007 would ban the use of mercury-containing vaccine in pregnant women and children younger than 6. It would ban the use of any vaccine with more than 1 microgram of mercury for the rest of the population.

House Resolution 1973, Vaccine Safety and Public Confidence Act of 2007, This bill would create a new agency completely separate form the Centers for Disease Control and Representatives Dave Weldon, MD, (Republican- Florida) and Carolyn Maloney (Democrat-New York) along with other thoughtful Representatives have sponsored three bills that move us toward greener vaccines.

House Resolution 2832, Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Un-Vaccinated Populations Act of 2007, This bill would have the National Institute of Health do the obvious, but never performed, analysis of the health outcomes with vaccinated and un-vaccinated groups.

To send a message to your legislators, go to the ACHAMP website.

Thank you.

Posted by Dana Read June 17, 08 11:54 AM