Against Amalgam

Against AmalgamAgainst Amalgam


• Amalgam – Made of: Mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc and copper.

Mercury is nearly 50 percent of the mixture. – Types: Traditional (non-bonded), bonded – Used for: Fillings in back teeth – Lasts: At least seven years, usually longer – Costs: The least expensive type of restorative material

• Amalgam – Made of: Mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc and copper.

Mercury is nearly 50 percent of the mixture. – Types: Traditional (non-bonded), bonded – Used for: Fillings in back teeth – Lasts: At least seven years, usually longer – Costs: The least expensive type of restorative material


• Amalgam– Disadvantages

• Amalgam doesn't match the color of your teeth.• Healthy parts of your tooth must often be removed to make a space large

enough to hold an amalgam filling.• Amalgam fillings can corrode over time, causing discoloration where the

filling meets the tooth.• A traditional (non-bonded) amalgam filling does not bond to the tooth. It

just sits in a pocket created by your dentist.• Some people may be allergic to mercury or be concerned about its effects,

although research shows the amount of mercury exposure from fillings is comparable to what people get from other sources in the environment.


• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Mercury distributes to tissues around the body – Maternal – fetal transfer of mercury – Adverse physiological changes due to exposure to amalgam

mercury – Risk assessment– Immune System– Renal System– Intestinal Flora– Are we dentists harming ourselves?– The unique neurotoxicity of mercury, and the Alzheimer’s

connection– Neurite growth inhibition on video

• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Mercury distributes to tissues around the body – Maternal – fetal transfer of mercury – Adverse physiological changes due to exposure to amalgam

mercury – Risk assessment– Immune System– Renal System– Intestinal Flora– Are we dentists harming ourselves?– The unique neurotoxicity of mercury, and the Alzheimer’s

connection– Neurite growth inhibition on video


• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury

Microscopic beads of liquid mercury expressed from the surface of amalgam metallurgical sample, following pressure from a microprobe. (from Masi, 1994)

Microscopic beads of liquid mercury expressed from the surface of amalgam metallurgical sample, following pressure from a microprobe. (from Masi, 1994)

The smoking tooth. The smoking tooth.

Against AmalgamAgainst Amalgam• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury

– Mercury distributes to tissues around the body • Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury

– Mercury distributes to tissues around the body Tissue ng Hg/g Whole blood 9.0 Urine 4.7 Skeletal muscle (gluteus) 10.1 Fat (mesentery) 0.9 Cortical maxillary bone 3.6 Tooth alveolar bone 318.2 Gum mucosa 323.7 Mouth papilla 19.7 Tongue 13.0 Parotid gland 7.8 Ethmoturbinal (nasal) bone 10.7 Stomach 929.0 Small intestine 28.0 Large intestine 63.1 Colon 43.1 Bile 19.3 Feces 4489.3 Heart muscle (ventricle) 13.1 Lung 30.8 Tracheal lining 121.8 Kidney 7438.0 Liver 772.1 Spleen 48.3 Frontal cortex 18.9 Occipital cortex 3.5 Thalamus 14.9 Cerebrospinal fluid 2.3 Pituitary gland 44.4 Thyroid 44.2 Adrenal 37.8 Pancreas 45.7 Ovary 26.7

Tissue ng Hg/g Whole blood 9.0 Urine 4.7 Skeletal muscle (gluteus) 10.1 Fat (mesentery) 0.9 Cortical maxillary bone 3.6 Tooth alveolar bone 318.2 Gum mucosa 323.7 Mouth papilla 19.7 Tongue 13.0 Parotid gland 7.8 Ethmoturbinal (nasal) bone 10.7 Stomach 929.0 Small intestine 28.0 Large intestine 63.1 Colon 43.1 Bile 19.3 Feces 4489.3 Heart muscle (ventricle) 13.1 Lung 30.8 Tracheal lining 121.8 Kidney 7438.0 Liver 772.1 Spleen 48.3 Frontal cortex 18.9 Occipital cortex 3.5 Thalamus 14.9 Cerebrospinal fluid 2.3 Pituitary gland 44.4 Thyroid 44.2 Adrenal 37.8 Pancreas 45.7 Ovary 26.7


• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Mercury distributes to tissues around the body

• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Mercury distributes to tissues around the body

The smoking tooth. The smoking tooth.


• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Maternal – fetal transfer of mercury

• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Maternal – fetal transfer of mercury


• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Adverse physiological changes due to exposure to amalgam

mercury

• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Adverse physiological changes due to exposure to amalgam

mercury


• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Risk assessment

• Avoid using mercury to restore children's teeth. • Avoid placing or removing amalgam in the teeth of pregnant women. • Avoid using dental amalgams in patients suffering from kidney ailments. • Use methods and equipment to reduce the risks of exposure to mercury vapor to

protect their patients and their staff.• Avoid using amalgams in patients who risk suffering from allergic hypersensitivity (5 to

15% of the population).• On the advice of a physician, remove amalgams from a patient who has become

sensitive. • Avoid placing amalgam in contact with other metal appliances in the mouth (orthodontic

appliances, etc). • Fully inform patients of the risks and benefits involved. • Recognize the patient's right to refuse treatment using a “specific material.”

• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Risk assessment

• Avoid using mercury to restore children's teeth. • Avoid placing or removing amalgam in the teeth of pregnant women. • Avoid using dental amalgams in patients suffering from kidney ailments. • Use methods and equipment to reduce the risks of exposure to mercury vapor to

protect their patients and their staff.• Avoid using amalgams in patients who risk suffering from allergic hypersensitivity (5 to

15% of the population).• On the advice of a physician, remove amalgams from a patient who has become

sensitive. • Avoid placing amalgam in contact with other metal appliances in the mouth (orthodontic

appliances, etc). • Fully inform patients of the risks and benefits involved. • Recognize the patient's right to refuse treatment using a “specific material.”


• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Immune System

• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Immune System


• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Renal System

• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Renal System


• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Are we dentists harming ourselves?

• The general population has a range of 0 – 5 μg Hg per liter of urine, while 10.9% of the dentists in this study had over 30 μg per liter, including 1.3% with over 100 μg per liter!

• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– Are we dentists harming ourselves?

• The general population has a range of 0 – 5 μg Hg per liter of urine, while 10.9% of the dentists in this study had over 30 μg per liter, including 1.3% with over 100 μg per liter!


• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– The unique neurotoxicity of mercury

• Alzheimer’s connection• Neurite growth inhibition on video

• Amalgam releases significant quantities of mercury– The unique neurotoxicity of mercury

• Alzheimer’s connection• Neurite growth inhibition on video I can´t remember

if I already pass the Board 1!!!


Symptom Reported Percentage of patients claiming substantial relief

Allergy 89 % Anxiety 93 Bad temper 89 Bloating 88 Blood pressure problems 54 Chest pains 87 Depression 91 Dizziness 88 Fatigue 86 Gastrointestinal problems 83 Gum problems 94 Headaches 87 Migraine 87 Insomnia 78 Irregular heartbeat 87 Irritability 90 Lack of concentration 80 Lack of energy 97 Memory loss 73 Metallic taste 95 Multiple sclerosis 76 Muscle tremor 83 Nervousness 83 Numbness 82 Skin disturbances 81 Sore throat 86 Tachycardia 70 Thyroid problems 79 Oral ulcers 86 Urinary tract problems 76 Vision problems 63

The anecdotes The anecdotes


• Composite Resin – Made of: A mixture of plastic and fine glass particles. – Types: Direct or indirect – Used for: Small and large fillings, especially in front teeth

or the visible parts of teeth; inlays – Lasts: At least five years

• Composite Resin – Made of: A mixture of plastic and fine glass particles. – Types: Direct or indirect – Used for: Small and large fillings, especially in front teeth

or the visible parts of teeth; inlays – Lasts: At least five years


• Composite Resin – Advantages

• Your fillings or inlay will be invisible. • A resin can matches the color of your teeth. • A filling can be completed during one dental visit. • An inlay may require two visits. • Composite fillings can bond directly to the tooth, making the tooth stronger than it

would be with an amalgam filling.• Less drilling is involved than with amalgam fillings because your dentist does not

have to shape the space as much to hold the filling securely. • The bonding process holds the composite resin in the tooth.

Indirect composite fillings and inlays are heat-cured, increasing their strength. • Composite resin can be combined with glass ionomer to provide the benefits of

both materials.

• Composite Resin – Advantages

• Your fillings or inlay will be invisible. • A resin can matches the color of your teeth. • A filling can be completed during one dental visit. • An inlay may require two visits. • Composite fillings can bond directly to the tooth, making the tooth stronger than it

would be with an amalgam filling.• Less drilling is involved than with amalgam fillings because your dentist does not

have to shape the space as much to hold the filling securely. • The bonding process holds the composite resin in the tooth.

Indirect composite fillings and inlays are heat-cured, increasing their strength. • Composite resin can be combined with glass ionomer to provide the benefits of

both materials.


• Esthetic• Esthetic

VSVS


• Conclusion:– Fillings which require the dentist to remove excessive amounts of good tooth

structure are not cheap. Which is best?. – Since the mid-80's a new system, called indirect composites combines the

best of the composite and the strength of a natural tooth. This inlay process is much easier on the patient (and dentist) and has virtually eliminated the two major drawbacks to the composite restoration. Lab processed composites and porcelain fillings appear to have solved both the wear and placement problems.

– First in every concerned doctor's mind is the protection of the patient from additional exposure to mercury. This is especially true of the mercury toxic patient. The mercury toxic patient may have been exposed to varying amounts of mercury from diet, environment, employment or from mercury/silver dental fillings. All forms are cumulative and can contribute to the body burden. The goal of this preferred procedure is to minimize any additional exposure of the patient, ourselves, or staff to mercury

• Conclusion:– Fillings which require the dentist to remove excessive amounts of good tooth

structure are not cheap. Which is best?. – Since the mid-80's a new system, called indirect composites combines the

best of the composite and the strength of a natural tooth. This inlay process is much easier on the patient (and dentist) and has virtually eliminated the two major drawbacks to the composite restoration. Lab processed composites and porcelain fillings appear to have solved both the wear and placement problems.

– First in every concerned doctor's mind is the protection of the patient from additional exposure to mercury. This is especially true of the mercury toxic patient. The mercury toxic patient may have been exposed to varying amounts of mercury from diet, environment, employment or from mercury/silver dental fillings. All forms are cumulative and can contribute to the body burden. The goal of this preferred procedure is to minimize any additional exposure of the patient, ourselves, or staff to mercury


As Hippocrates said, "First and foremost do no harm". I don't think he would have approved either toxic fillings or drilling away the good tooth.

Against Amalgam

Health & Medicine

Transcript of Against Amalgam