The Government of Sweden publicly announced the final timetable for the ban on the use of mercury/silver amalgam as a dental filling material as February 18, 1994 !

We have been drawn together by our common experiences with mercury poisoning. Following 'silver' mercury amalgam removal we have collectively received relief from symptoms as diverse as:

heart palpitations,  food & environmental allergies,
numbness of limbs,      visual sensitivity to light, 
digestive disorders,     psychological disturbances, 
memory loss, menstrual problems, migraines, tremors

Mercury Contribution to Body Burden.

J. W. Reinhardt (1992) noted the following from autopsy studies:

• Until recently, there have been few published studies examining the relationship between dental amalgams and tissue mercury levels.

• Two of the primary target organs of concern are the central nervous system and kidneys.

• Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between controls (without amalgams) and subjects (with amalgams).

• Individuals with amalgams had a mean concentration (10 times higher) in their kidney cortex tissue ... than (the) amalgam-free individuals.

• The dental staff subjects had mean tissue mercury concentrations that were from 5 to 10 times greater than the controls in the occipital cortex (brain), pituitary gland, and kidney ...

• The Seattle study concluded that urban populations have a greater mercury tissue burden than do rural populations.

• Subjects with Parkinson's disease had significantly higher mean levels of mercury in (blood, urine, and scalp hair) than did the controls. ... mercury is strongly associated with Parkinson's disease.

• The Alzheimer's subjects had significantly higher levels of mercury in their microsomes, higher ratios of mercury to selenium in both their nuclei and microsomes, and an elevation of mercury relative to zinc in the microsomes.

• ... expressed concern ... about the diminished selenium and zinc levels, because these elements help protect biological tissue against mercury toxicity.

[ Perhaps many dentists have such "tunnel vision" and defensiveness against considering mercury toxicity in their patients --- even when 3rd party specialists have diagnosed it --- because they are expressing symptoms of mercury toxicity themselves.]

  Electromagnetic Dissolving of Amalgam Fillings.

Mats Hanson, Ph.D., of Sweden (1994) noted the following from his own and other researchers' efforts:

• ... amalgam (3 different types) placed in synthetic saliva in front of computer screens for 6 hours, corroded and released mercury.

• ... in Sweden there is now a separate organization solely for individuals who believe their health problems stem from electromagnetic emissions received through the use of computers. This group has also affiliated itself with the Swedish patient organization for victims of mercury intoxication from amalgam dental fillings. Many of the group have had an amelioration of symptoms or complete elimination of their health problems after amalgam replacement with non-mercury-containing materials.

Chronic Illness and Chronic Mercury Exposure ....

Stephen B. Edelson, M.D. (1995) has provided the following and many other details on his website:

• The defenders of amalgams (in the mid-1800s) argued that it was safe and cheap.

• In 1926, a chemist in Germany named Stock brought attention to the release of mercury from the dental amalgam. ... From 1926-1943 Dr. Stock published 50 scientific papers on dental amalgams and mercury. A very lively debate lasted until after World War II and then quieted down (a second time).

• ... brushing, eating, chewing, and drinking hot beverages increase mercury release.

• ... 80% of mercury vapor is absorbed into the bloodstream .... Some animal experiments indicate a direct transport of mercury through peripheral nerves to the (brain).

• Mercury is retained in (the) brain, nerves, kidneys, liver, and endocrine glands.

• Mercury's effect on the biochemical level ... DNA damage, alteration of protein structure, alteration of the transport of calcium through calcium channels leading to disruption of the communication between cells, induction of free radical formation (pre-cancerous) and inhibition of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase as well as immune system damage.

• (the presence of ) tiny amalgam fillings in the mouth ... a significant increase in mercury and antibiotic resistant bacteria ....

• ... studies recording the improvement or disappearance of long standing symptoms in 70-80% of cases after amalgam removal. After the removal of amalgams there is commonly an acute occurrence or aggravation of symptoms hours or days after. There is a similar set of circumstances occurring during the chelated removal of mercury from the body. Headache, dizziness, depression, muscles and joint pains, tachycardia, diarrhea, and chills are reported. Occasionally, the patient is acutely confused and disoriented. Most symptoms are cured or significantly reduced when removal occurs.

• ... correlation between "Chronic Fatigue" symptom complex and amalgam patients:
  1. Low grade fever
  2. Sore throat
  3. Painful lymph nodes
  4. Generalized muscle weakness
  5. Fatigue
  6. Headache
  7. Joint pains
  8. Sleep disturbances

A recent study from Sweden has identified mercury problems in 81% of patients with chronic fatigue-like illness.

Dental Amalgam: The Materials

Marshall and Marshall (1992) have outlined the bio-metallurgical aspects of amalgams in their articles. Some highlights include:

• Dental amalgam is the most complex metallurgical system used as a biomaterial. A clinical amalgam restoration may contain as many as 8-10 distinct phases and microstructural features with distributions and compositions dependent on the specific dental amalgam alloy used, conditions of its preparation and placement, and patient or host characteristics.

• Its continued popularity is based on its longevity, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. Amalgam restorations can be very durable, and some types have shown survival rates of 80% at 12.5 years in clinical trials.

• Measurements of the Hg (mercury) content from retrieved amalgams have demonstrated that nearly all of the expected Hg content remains after periods of up to 8 years.

[Longevity appears to range from 8 years (safe) to 12.5 years (marginal).]

TOXICOLOGY Versus ALLERGY ...

Munksgaard (1992) in reviewing health considerations and mercury-silver amalgams wrote the following:

• The content of mercury in amalgam is a concern, because small amounts of mercury are liberated from the fillings. ... It has been shown that there is a 70% conversion in 18 years (leak-out!). The surface conversion will cause evaporation of mercury, which will be absorbed after inhalation.

• There are about 36 elements among the casting alloys and metals used in dentistry (Munksgaard, 1989). At least 10 of them have been classified as allergens. Three of them are potentially poisonous (Be, Cd, Hg)

• Cases of brain damage caused by MMA and intoxication by mercury vapor necessitate that the dental staff should constantly be warned and advised regarding the proper handling of these materials.

PROBLEMS and BENEFITS... Side-Effects ... Cost

Mjor (1992) :

• The Medical Device Amendments of 1976 in the US were the first regulations which emphasized the need for biological standardization and testing of dental materials.

• ** The cost-effectiveness of dental restoration is based on two major factors: the cost at the time of insertion, referred to as the initial cost, and the time the restorations remain functional, which will be referred to as longevity. In deciduous teeth, the maximum longevity of restorations required is about 10 years for posterior teeth and five years for anterior teeth.

• ... restorative dentistry for adults is mainly a replacement type of therapy. As restorations (fillings) are replaced, the cavity becomes larger and larger not only because it needs to include recurrent disease, but also because clinicians tend to "freshen up" the margins of cavity preparations regardless of their quality (Elderton, 1977).

• ... risk assessments have not been included in the evaluation of the biological effects of dental treatment, ....

• The clinical symptoms of acute effects were burning sensations in the mouth, swelling, mucosal ulceration, and, in some cases, itching on the palms of the hands or limbs. One patient had an acute, anaphylactic shock.
  
  

• Lichenoid reactions in the oral mucous membrane adjacent to amalgam restorations occurred more often than other long-term side-effects. ... Lichenoid/white or erosive red lesions in the oral mucosa in direct topographical relation to restorations were first associated with large corroding amalgam restorations (Banoczy et al., 1979).

• Dental materials contain components which are common allergens, e.g., chromium, cobalt, mercury, eugenol, components of resin-based materials, colophonium, and formaldehyde.

• Compacted gold restorations, despite their limited use, are considered to be the longest lasting restorations, estimated by clinicians as 25 years (Christensen, 1971) and recorded as 22 years for restorations in situ (Mjor and Medina, 1991).
  
  

• In a recent literature survey of the longevity of posterior restorations (Mjor at al., 1990), 7-8 years' median longevity were considered representative for amalgam. Maryniuk and Kaplan (1986) have indicated 11 years for 1-3-surface and 6 years for 4-5 surface (sides) amalgams. Qvist et al. (1990a) reported about 8 years' longevity for all amalgam restorations, ...

  Judged on available data, a median longevity of 4 years for posterior composite restorations in general practice appears realistic, while the median longevity of similar amalgams may be more than twice as long (8 years).

• Dentists asked to estimate the longevity of gold castings indicated that they lasted 20 years, compared with about 14 years for amalgam, slightly less for porcelain inlays, and about 7 years for composites (Christensen, 1971).

• ... the median longevity for failed amalgam restorations was less than 2 years and that for composite restorations was less than one year, regardless of the type of restoration.
  
  

• ... the total cost for the restoration of ONE posterior tooth (over a 60-year period) would be almost $2,600 for the tooth with initial composite restoration and almost $1,900 for the tooth restored initially with amalgam. Tooth loss will undoubtedly be caused by repeated restoration failures, including the patient's inability to cover the cost of extensive and repeated treatment.

• ... compacted gold in a more favorable position from an economical point of view, but indications for their use are limited. Composites have the advantage that they are "tooth saving", because retention is achieved by acid-etching of enamel rather than by prepared undercuts and grooves.