Mercury fillings pose health risks, FDA warns

CBC News ^ | Last Updated: Thursday, June 5, 2008 | 11:17 AM ET | Staff

[Paleo Conservative]

Mercury in dental amalgams may pose health risks to children, fetuses and pregnant women, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning.

The FDA issued a statement, on its website Wednesday, about the potential dangers of dental amalgams.

As part of a legal settlement reached Monday, the federal agency has agreed to release a new ruling on the safety of dental amalgams in July 2009, and alert consumers about potential related hazards. Consumer advocacy groups, including Moms Against Mercury, called for a ban on the fillings in the U.S.

"Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses," the FDA said.

"When amalgam fillings are placed in teeth or removed from teeth, they release mercury vapour. Mercury vapour is also released during chewing."

The FDA says consumers should not have amalgam fillings removed.

Health Canada says that while amalgam has been shown to release mercury in the body, the levels are not serious enough to cause adverse health effects.

The federal agency says current data does not support hypotheses linking mercury exposure with Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

But the federal agency notes patients with kidney disease and pregnant women should avoid dental amalgams given that mercury has been shown to cross the placental barrier and weaken kidney function at sub-clinical levels of exposure.

Sweden and Norway have banned the use of dental amalgams, citing health concerns.

[Perdogg]

I had the last two removed in 2005.

[Red Badger]

Then I better start pulling out all my teeth!............HMMM, now where are those pliers?.....

[DesScorp]

So what do you use for fillings then?

[svcw]

Hasn’t this been the warning for like 40 + years now?

[bert]

Hey Red..... come on over to my house and I’ll drill them out for you with my Foredom . No cost if I get to keep the silver.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Really???

I had mine removed 20 years ago.

[Hot Tabasco]

Is this a 20 year old article? I read the same thing back in the ‘80’s......

[whipitgood]

Ceramic composites which are cured with UV light, FAR better than amalgam fillings. I had all my amalgam fillings removed and replaced 20 years ago, when the FDA and the ADA were still swearing they were safe.

[Always Right]

Which is why liberals have mandated we all have mercury filled lightbulbs in our homes.

[Cold Heart]

“The FDA says consumers should not have amalgam fillings removed”

“I had the last two removed in 2005”

Are you still alive?

[Red Badger]

I got a Dremel tool.........

[Battle Axe]

I had a silver filling in every space possible and at a very young age. I chewed, released the mercury, and the filling shrank and fell out. Had to replace all that with gold and white plastic.

Also lost my only pregnancy at 5 weeks.

What do I do now??

[vietvet67]

Notice that they won’t admit it as a fact but rather use the word “may”..

[End Times Sentinel]

Mercury in dental fillings???

That makes about as much sense as filling a bowling ball with nitroglycerin.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

You did not know that the old fillings contained mercury?

[BallyBill]

I actually went Wednesday and had an old filling removed. For years I didn't know why my one canine tooth was stained, figured it was from smoking. Turns out it was an old amalgam filling I got as a kid and didn't remember.

I have big old white smile now :)!

[B4Ranch]

I thought old teeth contained Mercury. I was just about to say how glad I was that I had mine taken out long ago. Now you’re saying it’s the fillings that had Mercury in them.

[End Times Sentinel]

Actually, I don't have any fillings, so I probably missed that fact.

Owl_Eagle

If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.

[library user]

Mercury fillings

Now that's a strrrrrrrrretch.