Comments on: The Amalgam Controversy Is Alive and Thriving http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/ Jim Du Molin offers dental marketing news and dental practice management advice for dentists. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:32:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Jens http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/comment-page-1/#comment-3139 Jens Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:00:07 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=910#comment-3139 Neither me or any of my patients have experienced any symptoms mentioned which could be releated to the use or removal of amalgam. However I very much prefer to place composites as they look much better and I just simply enjoy doing a nice natural looking work. Mercury in the air after filling removal is not the best thing but what about dioxine from laser printer toners, car fumes (we have quite a lot here in london) or conservatives in food? Neither me or any of my patients have experienced any symptoms mentioned which could be releated to the use or removal of amalgam. However I very much prefer to place composites as they look much better and I just simply enjoy doing a nice natural looking work. Mercury in the air after filling removal is not the best thing but what about dioxine from laser printer toners, car fumes (we have quite a lot here in london) or conservatives in food?

]]> By: Emily Gallios http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/comment-page-1/#comment-2885 Emily Gallios Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:39:11 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=910#comment-2885 When I had my cracking amalgum fillings (3 large per each of the 4 sections of my jaw, upper and lower, left and right, 12 total) replaced at the age of 45, I immediately developed all the symptoms of alzheimers, and parkinsons. I could not remember anything from the previous day, just blackness, and my hands shook and trembled severely. I was unabable to work and was tested by the doctors at the Oregon Health & Sciences Hospital in Portland. They could not figure it out. The symtoms gradually diminished over a couple of years, but I remained a very nervous person. When I was 58, I had the upper right quadrant replaced with resin composites. But the dentist drilled the fillings to dust instead of removing in chunks, and did not provide me with a rubber damn or breathing mask. Immediately, I developoed a large cararact on my right eye (rapidly over a period of only 3 months) My vision went from 20/40 to 20/600! Last year, I went to a Health Conference in Austin, Texas and attended a lecture by a well known and respected Opthamologist and Toxicologist speaking about the dangers of mercury poisoning. Afterwards I began to tell him of my experience, and before I could ask if he thought there was a causal relationship between my cararact and the clumsey removal of my amalgums, he asked me if I thought there was, I nodded, and he said very affirmatively that there absolutely was. I had the other 9 fillings replaced by a knowledgeable dentist who protected me and himself and his staff during removal. I still suffer from my cataract-limited vision as I have no insurance to pay for its removal, but...my nervous disorders have gone almost completely, my liver now functions normally, and I feel so much better without mercury in my body. When I had my cracking amalgum fillings (3 large per each of the 4 sections of my jaw, upper and lower, left and right, 12 total) replaced at the age of 45, I immediately developed all the symptoms of alzheimers, and parkinsons. I could not remember anything from the previous day, just blackness, and my hands shook and trembled severely. I was unabable to work and was tested by the doctors at the Oregon Health & Sciences Hospital in Portland. They could not figure it out. The symtoms gradually diminished over a couple of years, but I remained a very nervous person. When I was 58, I had the upper right quadrant replaced with resin composites. But the dentist drilled the fillings to dust instead of removing in chunks, and did not provide me with a rubber damn or breathing mask. Immediately, I developoed a large cararact on my right eye (rapidly over a period of only 3 months) My vision went from 20/40 to 20/600! Last year, I went to a Health Conference in Austin, Texas and attended a lecture by a well known and respected Opthamologist and Toxicologist speaking about the dangers of mercury poisoning. Afterwards I began to tell him of my experience, and before I could ask if he thought there was a causal relationship between my cararact and the clumsey removal of my amalgums, he asked me if I thought there was, I nodded, and he said very affirmatively that there absolutely was. I had the other 9 fillings replaced by a knowledgeable dentist who protected me and himself and his staff during removal.

I still suffer from my cataract-limited vision as I have no insurance to pay for its removal, but…my nervous disorders have gone almost completely, my liver now functions normally, and I feel so much better without mercury in my body.

]]> By: Bob McBride, DDS http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/comment-page-1/#comment-2875 Bob McBride, DDS Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:19:08 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=910#comment-2875 The only mercury in my office resides within the teeth of patients who bring them in. There are better and more safe materials available. The coefficient of expansion between tooth structure and amalgams causes cracks, and if you don't think that mercury is released from them, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ylnQ-T7oiA The only mercury in my office resides within the teeth of patients who bring them in. There are better and more safe materials available. The coefficient of expansion between tooth structure and amalgams causes cracks, and if you don’t think that mercury is released from them, check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ylnQ-T7oiA

]]> By: David Kennedy DDS http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/comment-page-1/#comment-2862 David Kennedy DDS Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:46:14 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=910#comment-2862 Mercury from amalgam is the predominant source of human exposure to mercury. Eggleston and Nylander 1987 study by Autopsy reveals that the amount of mercury in your brain and kidney the day you die is proportional to the number and size of amalgam fillings in you teeth at time of death. Controls were people with 32 perfect unrestored teeth. Confirmed numerous times by other investigators. Mercury from amalgam is the predominant source of human exposure to mercury.

Eggleston and Nylander 1987 study by Autopsy reveals that the amount of mercury in your brain and kidney the day you die is proportional to the number and size of amalgam fillings in you teeth at time of death. Controls were people with 32 perfect unrestored teeth. Confirmed numerous times by other investigators.

]]> By: Fred Bergamo http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/comment-page-1/#comment-2855 Fred Bergamo Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:57:24 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=910#comment-2855 Composite restorations, though aesthetic, have proven to be a great gift to the practice of endodontics.Compare a 20 year old amalgam to a 20 year old composite.....if you can find one......the evidence speaks for itself Composite restorations, though aesthetic, have proven to be a great gift to the practice of endodontics.Compare a 20 year old amalgam to a 20 year old composite…..if you can find one……the evidence speaks for itself

]]> By: Tom Risbrudt, DDS http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/comment-page-1/#comment-2854 Tom Risbrudt, DDS Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:38:59 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=910#comment-2854 "The most savage controversies are about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way." --Bertrand Russell Having submitted that quote, let me say that I have yet to find a tooth where I removed an old alloy that didn't have some kind of crack in the surrounding tooth structure. To me, the underlying issue, irrespective of the mercury, is delayed expansion and tooth fracture. That can lead to what we call "money pit mouth" in our practice. Large alloy, cracked tooth syndrome, crown preparation and placement, root canal, root canal failure if the original crack microscopically compromised the root structure, extraction and eventual implant placement. I quit using alloy in 1980 for strength and mercury reasons. That ought to provoke some feedback!! “The most savage controversies are about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way.”
–Bertrand Russell

Having submitted that quote, let me say that I have yet to find a tooth where I removed an old alloy that didn’t have some kind of crack in the surrounding tooth structure. To me, the underlying issue, irrespective of the mercury, is delayed expansion and tooth fracture. That can lead to what we call “money pit mouth” in our practice. Large alloy, cracked tooth syndrome, crown preparation and placement, root canal, root canal failure if the original crack microscopically compromised the root structure, extraction and eventual implant placement. I quit using alloy in 1980 for strength and mercury reasons. That ought to provoke some feedback!!

]]> By: John Sackman http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/comment-page-1/#comment-2852 John Sackman Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:53:06 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=910#comment-2852 In your article you note: a Virginia dentist stated, “There is no real controversy in the scientific arena. Mercury release from amalgam is the primary contributor of human body burden and causes pathophysiology. It should be banned.” Now I am all for having your opinion, but don't get on your high horse and claim that science is 100% behind you. Mercury is measurably released from amalgams, but is not the primary contributor of human body burden. And the statement that it causes pathophysiology is also a huge leap of unsubstantiated BS. Do this mental exercise: Look at that amalgam in your elderly patient that has been in place for over 30 years. If you could take it out and weigh it and then compare that with its weight when it was originally placed, I am guessing that the two are almost identical. So where is all the exposure/body burden? Next exercise: That composite that you placed into that same tooth today; how does it look in 30 years? In your article you note:

a Virginia dentist stated, “There is no real controversy in the scientific arena. Mercury release from amalgam is the primary contributor of human body burden and causes pathophysiology. It should be banned.”

Now I am all for having your opinion, but don’t get on your high horse and claim that science is 100% behind you. Mercury is measurably released from amalgams, but is not the primary contributor of human body burden. And the statement that it causes pathophysiology is also a huge leap of unsubstantiated BS.

Do this mental exercise: Look at that amalgam in your elderly patient that has been in place for over 30 years. If you could take it out and weigh it and then compare that with its weight when it was originally placed, I am guessing that the two are almost identical. So where is all the exposure/body burden?

Next exercise: That composite that you placed into that same tooth today; how does it look in 30 years?

]]> By: Doug Decker DDS http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/comment-page-1/#comment-2846 Doug Decker DDS Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:49:17 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=910#comment-2846 An MD friend of mine asked me "Since Hg is so toxic and we should avoid it in our fish and the coal burning industry is villified for releasing Hg into the atmosphere,why do you put it in people's mouths?" Do I really believe that the Hg is "locked up" in the amalgam? I never do amalgams 'cause pts. do not want them. I still have some amalgams in my mouth. Who knows! An MD friend of mine asked me “Since Hg is so toxic and we should avoid it in our fish and the coal burning industry is villified for releasing Hg into the atmosphere,why do you put it in people’s mouths?” Do I really believe that the Hg is “locked up” in the amalgam? I never do amalgams ’cause pts. do not want them. I still have some amalgams in my mouth. Who knows!

]]> By: allen sachs http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/comment-page-1/#comment-2844 allen sachs Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:09:11 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=910#comment-2844 when the coefficients of expansion and contraction of composites match those of enamel and dentin, I'll switch to all composites. Meanwhile, we'll just keep referring those now painful 3-4 year old "white" restorations with their usual brown line at the margins to endo and then pros for a crown. when the coefficients of expansion and contraction of composites match those of enamel and dentin, I’ll switch to all composites. Meanwhile, we’ll just keep referring those now painful 3-4 year old “white” restorations with their usual brown line at the margins to endo and then pros for a crown.

]]> By: MICHAEL P. HEALEY, DDS http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/910/amalgam-controversy-is-thriving/comment-page-1/#comment-2843 MICHAEL P. HEALEY, DDS Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:07:06 +0000 http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/?p=910#comment-2843 The biggest danger of mercury-silver amalgam is to the dentist and his staff who get daily exposure. The U S Nsvy found mercury to be so toxic in a closed enviroment that they banned its use in nuclear submarines way back in the 1950's. It is a neurotoxin and a depressant. Perhaps that is why restorative dentists have such an unusually high suicide rate. The biggest danger of mercury-silver amalgam is to the dentist and his staff who get daily exposure. The U S Nsvy found mercury to be so toxic in a closed enviroment that they banned its use in nuclear submarines way back in the 1950’s. It is a neurotoxin and a depressant. Perhaps that is why restorative dentists have such an unusually high suicide rate.

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