Amalgam Archives - Page 3 of 6 - The Wealthy Dentist

What Dentists Think About Dental Chemicals (video)

July 31, 2012 By Jim Du Molin

With the FDA’s decision that baby bottles and sippy cups can no longer contain Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical that has endocrine-disrupting, estrogenic properties, attention is once again being directed at dental materials.

Fluoride, amalgam, and BPA are three chemicals that can be highly toxic, or highly helpful to dental health.

The scientific evidence isn’t clear.

Dentists use a number of chemical products in their dental practices and The Wealthy Dentist conducted a survey asking doctors how concerned they are about potential public health risks linked to chemicals in dentistry.

Sighed one dentist, “I find it ironic that some patients don’t want ‘artificial chemicals’ in their mouth and decline the natural elements in amalgam in favor of the complex chemistry of composites.”

To hear more of what dentists had to say about the subject of chemicals in dentistry, Click on Play on the following dental survey video:

What are your thoughts on the chemicals used in oral health?

Filed Under: Dental Videos, The Wealthy Dentist Tagged With: Amalgam, BPA, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Care, dental survey, dental survey videos, dentist, dentistry, dentists, flouride

Dental Amalgam: Is the Safety Issue Resolved?

August 30, 2011 By Jim Du Molin

According to the FDA, clinical studies in adults and children ages 6 and above have found no link between dental amalgam fillings and health problems.

The Wealthy Dentist decided to survey dentists to find out their thoughts on this subject, and if they are still using amalgam.

40% of the dentists who responded are still placing amalgam. Another 27% place amalgam in only special circumstances, while 33% do not use amalgam at all.

What is even more interesting are the comments we received —

The positives

“It’s still an excellent restorative material that has a proven track record. I don’t understand what the big hoopla is about banning it entirely. Health concerns? Unproven. Mercury in environment? Don’t blame the dentists.” (New York dentist)

“A much maligned, but excellent restorative material that in some, but not all instances is superior to composite, depending on the situation.” (Ohio dentist)

“The greatest posterior restoration ever!” (General dentist)

“In children’s primary teeth, they will last and not re-decay until they lose them. In the elderly, they are resistant to root decay and will last when crowns are not in their budget. I would grieve if I could not use this material.” (Texas dentist)

“They are the most technically forgiving, economical workable restorative still.” (New York dentist)

“There is nothing wrong with amalgam restorations — they are efficient and cost effective for the patient!” (Oklahoma dentist)

“It’s still a wonderful filling material posteriorly, and affordable for most dental patients.” (Suburban dentist)

“They last much longer, less sensitivity and there is no credible evidence they have killed anyone. Remember composites contain Bis-Phenol and I still place many more composites, GI’s, then amalgams. Because of their proven longevity, it is unethical to not offer amalgam to your dental patients.” (California dentist)

“I still love amalgams. I am also tired of all the amalgam-bashing. I believe most of it is profit-driven. I had great gold and amalgams placed years ago in my mouth. No one ever notices. I realize people think composite looks nice but who sees these restorations?” (California dentist)

The negatives

“I haven’t placed an amalgam in 30 years. I quit because I couldn’t think of a benefit that outweighed the risks!” (Texas dentist)

“The material should be banned!“ (Kentucky dentist)

“There are far better materials available. The vapor is toxic. Have you seen the “smoking teeth” video?” (California dentist)

“Do the research. Mercury, even in small amounts, is ultra-toxic — probably the most toxic heavy metal to which people are routinely exposed.” (Ohio dentist)

“I have not placed an amalgam since 1986!” (Massachusetts dentist)

“I haven’t place an amalgam since Reagan was President…you have got to be kidding!“ (General dentist)

“My biggest concern is with the fact that amalgam imbibes moisture for the first 24 hours after placement and swells internally within the tooth, creating crazes and cracks, ultimately leading to fracture of the tooth (see article by Drs. Assif, Marshak, and Pilo in the JPD 1990). After reading the article, I photographed 50 consecutive teeth on which I had just removed amalgam restorations. The number of teeth with cracks or crazes: 50.” (Massachusetts prosthodontist)

“Haven’t placed them in 30 years. Any doctor who doesn’t know mercury is a poison should have his degree cancelled!“ (Florida dentist)

This issue is still one of the most contentious in dentistry for the last 30 years. Recently Dr. Mercola, a well-known health care advocate, interviewed Charlie Brown a leader in the mercury-free dentistry movement.

Here is the interview –

Your comments both pro and con are appreciated.

Filed Under: Dental Safety, Dental Surveys, The Wealthy Dentist Tagged With: Amalgam, Dental, dental survey, dentist, dentistry, dentists, mercury

Dentist Amalgam Separators To Be Required by EPA

October 5, 2010 By Jim Du Molin

Dentists, take note! The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to require every US dentist have an amalgam separator.

The proposed rule would likely take effect by 2014. Twelve US states already require separators.

In their announcement, the EPA stated that 3.7 tons of mercury are discharged each year by US dental practices. A 2003 study funded by the ADA found that dental mercury is the source of about 50% of the mercury encountered by water treatment plants.

Expect this to be a topic of discussion at the ADA annual meeting later this month.

Filed Under: Dental News Tagged With: Amalgam, Dental Amalgam, EPA, Hg, mercury

Mercury Fillings Get Less Toxic As They Age…?

November 17, 2009 By Jim Du Molin

A new study from the University of Saskatchewan suggests that old silver fillings may contain less mercury — or at least less toxic mercury — than new amalgam fillings.

This would be great news… except for the all-important unanswered question: where did the mercury go?

The optimistic explanation is that the metallic mercury turns into metacinnabar (beta-mercuric sulfide), believed to be non-toxic, certainly known to be less toxic than elemental mercury.

The pessimistic explanation, of course, has the mercury being released directly into the body, where it can wreak all kinds of havoc.

The researchers found that fresh amalgams showed the chemical signature of metallic mercury, 20-year-old dental fillings showed metacinnabar instead.

Read the press release or read the full report

Filed Under: Science & Technology Tagged With: Amalgam

Mercury Safe Dentistry: Protect Your Patients – and Yourself

August 25, 2009 By Guest Author

Dr. Tom McGuire, DDS, a leading authority on the occupational safety of mercury in the dental office, addresses the sometimes confusing difference between “mercury free dentists” and “mercury safe dentists,” and makes the argument that all dentists should be practicing mercury safe dentistry – and why.

Mercury Free and Mercury Safe: What’s in a Name?

Strictly speaking, the term “mercury free” refers to dentists who do not put amalgam fillings in their patients’ teeth. But over time, the term “mercury free” came to indicate those dentists who not only didn’t put amalgam fillings into their patients teeth, but those who also safely removed them.

However, mercury free isn’t really an accurate description because as long as dentists still remove amalgam fillings, their offices can’t officially be called “mercury free.” Therefore, mercury safe is a more accurate description of those who not only don’t put amalgam fillings in teeth, but also remove them as safely as possible. Another way to put it is that safely removing amalgam fillings means you are dramatically reducing the occupational exposure to mercury at the dental office.

Thus, I encourage true mercury free dentists to use the term “mercury safe” to describe themselves if they not only do not place amalgam fillings but also use a safe protocol to remove them. There can also be distinct promotional advantages to being mercury safe. (You can click to access a list of amalgam removal protocols and read why they are so important.)

While I absolutely respect the right of pro-amalgam dentists to expose themselves to mercury, I don’t believe they have the right to expose their patients, their staff and the environment to mercury – just because they’ve chosen to believe what the ADA tells them; that mercury amalgam fillings are safe.

It’s one thing to believe that the mercury released from a patient’s amalgam fillings on a daily basis isn’t a health hazard. But it’s another thing entirely not to offer the dental patient protection against mercury vapor exposure during the removal process. These are really two separate issues because there’s a huge difference between the amount of mercury emitted from the fillings on a daily basis and the amount released during their removal at the dental office, up to 1000 times more during unsafe removal.

The only effective way to protect the patient, the dentist and staff, and the environment from unnecessary and excessive exposure to elemental mercury vapor is to make your office mercury safe. I simply can’t imagine the ADA not supporting the practice of mercury safe dentistry.

Amazingly, the dental profession uses more mercury per year than any other business. In fact, it’s the only industry using elemental mercury that isn’t regulated by the government.

Written by Tom McGuire, DDS

Tom McGuire, DDS

Dr. McGuire and Dr. Paul Rubin will be presenting a one-day seminar on “How to Make Your Practice Mercury Safe” in San Francisco on September 26 and in Portland, OR on October 10. Learn more at www.NewDirectionsDentistry.com.This unique seminar is the only one of its kind available to dentists and nothing you could do for your practice will be as important to you, your staff and your patients’ as making your office Mercury Safe.