The FDA Finally States Mercury Fillings May Cause Health Problems

Silver-colored metal dental fillings contain
mercury that may cause health problems in
pregnant women, children and fetuses, the
Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday
after settling a related lawsuit.

As part of the settlement with several consumer
advocacy groups, the FDA agreed to alert
consumers about the potential risks on its
website and to issue a more specific rule next
year for fillings that contain mercury, FDA
spokeswoman Peper Long said.

Millions of Americans have the fillings, or
amalgams, to patch cavities in their teeth.

"Dental amalgams contain mercury, which have
neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of
developing children and fetuses," the FDA said
in a notice on its Web site.

"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 said.

According to Dr. Robert O. Young, a research
scientist at the pH Miracle Living Center,
"mercury fillings can be a focal point for acidic
toxicity and poisoning of the blood and tissues.
Mercury is known to be one of the most dangerous
and toxic substances on the planet."

"Many people are unaware that “silver” amalgam dental
fillings are actually 50% mercury. The American
Dental Association (ADA) refuses to publicly state
that dental amalgam fillings contain a high level
of mercury, and adamantly denies that the mercury
escaping from them can cause serious health issues."

"Yet it has been proven that fillings lose their
mercury content. According to Joyal Taylor, DDS,
one dental researcher removed fillings that had
been in a patient’s mouth for five years. He
also removed twenty year old fillings from another
patient’s mouth. He tested the percentage of
mercury content if both fillings, and found that
the five year old fillings had lost one half of
their mercury, and the twenty year old fillings
had lost all of their mercury. Fillings tend to
fracture at the edges and begin to crumble away,
and mercury is absorbed by the roots of the teeth
as well as the surrounding bone and adjacent gum
tissue."

"Every day, we do things that can increase the
release of mercury vapor from amalgam fillings:
brushing our teeth, using a water pick, chewing
gum, and consume hot foods and drinks can all release
up to 300 parts per million of mercury colloids.
Any levels over 1 part per million can be cytotoxic
to the blood and tissues."

"Removing amalgams without special precautions
increases mercury blood levels for a period of
time. Such a concentrated release of mercury can
severely exacerbate existing neurological conditions."

"It is best to consult with your Dentist about removing
your mercury filings over a 6 to 12 month period
of time so the body can adequately remove this
highly acidic material out through the elimination
organs."

The FDA must issue the new rules in July 2009,
Long said.

The lawsuit settlement was reached on Monday
with several advocacy groups, including Moms
Against Mercury, which had sought to have mercury
fillings removed from the U.S. market.

While the FDA previously said various studies
showed no harm from mercury fillings, some
consumer groups contend the fillings can trigger
a range of health problems such as multiple
sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.

In 2006, an FDA advisory panel of outside
experts said most people would not be harmed by
them, but said the agency needed more information.

Mercury has been linked to brain and kidney damage
at certain levels. Amalgams contain half mercury
and half a combination of other metals.

Charles Brown, a lawyer for one of the groups
called Consumers for Dental Choice, said the
agency's move represented an about-face. "Gone,
gone, gone are all of FDA's claims that no science
exists that amalgam is unsafe," he said in a
statement.

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. analyst Ipsita
Smolinski said the FDA is not likely to outright
ban the fillings next year but will probably call
for restrictions.

"We do believe that the agency will ask for the
label to indicate that mercury is an ingredient
in the filling, and that special populations
should be exempt from such fillings, such as:
nursing women, pregnant women, young children,
and immunocompromised individuals," Smolinski
wrote in a research note on Wednesday.

Dr. Young stated, "mercury fillings are one of
the major contributors to an acidic environment
and can cause an imbalance in the alkaline
design of the body leading to dis-ease of
the blood and tissues."