“Silver” Mercury Fillings: What’s the issue?
Mercury fillings have been in question for the length of its time in dentistry beginning in 1845, and luckily scientists have been driven in the last few decades to thoroughly research the negative effects it can have on us. On September 24, 2020, the FDA released a statement with immediate recommendations for stopping mercury filling placement on “high-risk individuals.” The only question I have is that if there is a risk for this group of people, shouldn’t everyone else avoid them too?
The FDA stated,
“The FDA has found that certain groups may be at greater risk for potential harmful health effects of mercury vapor released from the device. As a result, the agency is recommending certain high-risk groups avoid getting dental amalgam whenever possible and appropriate.
These groups that may be at a greater risk for potential harmful health effects include:
Pregnant women and their developing fetuses;
Women who are planning to become pregnant;
Nursing women and their newborns and infants;
Children, especially those younger than six years of age;
People with pre-existing neurological disease such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease
People with impaired kidney function; and
People with known heightened sensitivity (allergy) to mercury or other components of dental amalgam,” (1).
As a dental hygienist, I have worked with various dentists in my career - some of them swearing by mercury fillings due to them being used for over 150 years, being more affordable for patients, longer lasting, and more easily applicable and moldable to fill a cavity. A big reason people decide against mercury fillings are for aesthetic reasons. They are shiny, silver and can darken overtime - looking unappealing in the mouth if someone is talking - which is why they would only be used in posterior teeth. Composite or white fillings would normally be placed in anterior (front) teeth instead since they are able to match the color almost perfectly to the color of the tooth being fixed. Mercury fillings are usually less expensive or partially covered by insurance because many insurance companies believe composite fillings are used for purely aesthetic purposes and one could simply choose a mercury filling to do the same job.
Mercury fillings aren’t as “technique sensitive,” compared to composite fillings. Composite fillings must bond to the tooth with etch, primer, bond and a super dry tooth - or else the filling won’t last. Mercury fillings can simply be packed into the open filling area without worrying about if the tooth is extremely dry and able to bond to the tooth. They are easier to shape and mold to the tooth structure compared to the liquidy composite material.
So why would we not just stick with mercury fillings? I write mercury fillings instead of the common name amalgam, because amalgam fillings are approximately 50% mercury. “Mercury (Hg) has been identified as one of the most toxic nonradioactive materials known to man. Although mercury is a naturally occurring element, anthropogenic mercury is now a major worldwide concern and is an international priority toxic pollutant. It also comprises one of the primary constituents of dental amalgam fillings,” (2). We can also find mercury in certain fish and seafood products, however many of the commercial fish are now being grown in farming conditions where they are less exposed to mercury like their wild free-foraging cousins because of their controlled diet and location, (3). When ingesting mercury, most of it is eliminated, but some of it accumulates and finds its way to the brain and causes many pathological conditions. Some of these conditions include: immunosuppression, neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, hormonal imbalance, and gingivitis. Recent studies have shown maternal mercury exposure relating to their child having a higher risk for autism, and some explored mothers with many mercury fillings may be at a higher risk for miscarraige.
Thus, the FDA has released the statement that women of child-bearing age as well as pregnant women should avoid getting any mercury fillings.
They do not recommend removing pre-existing fillings, reason being exposure to more mercury could occur due to the mercury vapors releasing while removing the fillings, as well as removing more tooth structure. Biological dentists are trained to use special protocols to remove mercury fillings where exposure is minimized and mercury fillings may then be replaced with composites.
Mercury vapors from fillings have also been shown to release from simple daily chewing, brushing, grinding teeth and exposure to hot temperatures like drinking hot tea or coffee. Due to corrosion, the microscopic particles of mercury are released into the saliva and soft tissues of the mouth, and consequently absorbed into the body. “Autopsy studies have demonstrated the presence of mercury in a variety of tissues including brain, kidney, thyroid, pituitary, skin, and blood,” (7).
Other conditions that have been studied and suggest mercury fillings can contribute to negative health conditions.
These conditions include:
Dental professionals using mercury are at higher risk.
So what can we do?
Avoid getting any mercury fillings.
Have your mercury levels tested.
Speak with your dentist about removing any existing mercury fillings.
Only have it done if:
The dentist is performing the SMART protocol for mercury removal
You exhibit adverse effects of mercury exposure (insomnia, muscle weakness, dizziness, mood swings, headaches, tremors, etc.)
The IAOMT has developed great resources regarding this topic.
Leave them alone. If you are not experiencing side effects and your dentist believes your fillings to look intact and not “leaking". Sometimes, leaving your existing amalgam fillings alone is the safest option.
References
Commissioner, Office of the. “FDA Issues Recommendations for Certain High-Risk Groups Regarding Mercury-Containing Dental Amalgam.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-issues-recommendations-certain-high-risk-groups-regarding-mercury-containing-dental-amalgam.
Jirau-Colón, Hector, et al. “Rethinking the Dental Amalgam Dilemma: An Integrated Toxicological Approach.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI, 22 Mar. 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6466133/.
Scheer, Roddy, and Doug Moss. “Harvest of Fears: Farm-Raised Fish May Not Be Free of Mercury and Other Pollutants.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 15 June 2011, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/farm-raised-fish-not-free-mercury-pcb-dioxin/.
MR;, Geier DA;Kern JK;Geier. “A Prospective Study of Prenatal Mercury Exposure from Maternal Dental Amalgams and Autism Severity.” Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19593333/.
Björkman, Lars, et al. “Perinatal Death and Exposure to Dental Amalgam Fillings during Pregnancy in the Population-Based MoBa Cohort.” PloS One, Public Library of Science, 7 Dec. 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6286137/.
“The Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART).” IAOMT, 10 Feb. 2021, https://iaomt.org/resources/safe-removal-amalgam-fillings/.
Ertaş E;Aksoy A;Turla A;Karaarslan ES;Karaarslan B;Aydın A;Eken A; “Human Brain Mercury Levels Related to Exposure to Amalgam Fillings.” Human & Experimental Toxicology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24178888/.
Bose-O'Reilly, Stephan, et al. “Mercury Exposure and Children's Health.” Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2010, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3096006/.
Bjørklund, Geir, et al. “Mercury-Induced Autoimmunity: Drifting from Micro to Macro Concerns on Autoimmune Disorders.” Clinical Immunology, Academic Press, 4 Feb. 2020, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1521661620300279.
Foley, Madeline M., et al. “One Man's Swordfish Story: The Link between Alzheimer's Disease and Mercury Exposure.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Churchill Livingstone, 2 July 2020, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0965229920307366.
Moore, Randall. “Dental Amalgam Mercury and Multiple Sclerosis (MS); Summary and References.” IAOMT, The International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology, 23 Feb. 2021, https://iaomt.org/resources/dental-mercury-facts/dental-amalgam-mercury-multiple-sclerosis/.
Shin, Sae-Ron, and A-Lum Han. “Improved Chronic Fatigue Symptoms after Removal of Mercury in Patient with Increased Mercury Concentration in Hair Toxic Mineral Assay: a Case.” Korean Journal of Family Medicine, The Korean Academy of Family Medicine, Sept. 2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3481032/.
T;, Szklarek M;Kostka. “The Impact of the Use of Amalgam in Dental Treatment on the Prevalence of Restless Legs Syndrome in Older People.” Medycyna Pracy, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30653198/.
Warwick, David, et al. “Mercury Vapor Volatilization from Particulate Generated from Dental Amalgam Removal with a High-Speed Dental Drill – a Significant Source of Exposure - Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology.” BioMed Central, BioMed Central, 17 July 2019, https://occup-med.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12995-019-0240-2.
Sterzl I;Prochazkova J;Hrda P;Matucha P;Bartova J;Stejskal V; “Removal of Dental Amalgam Decreases Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg Autoantibodies in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis.” Neuro Endocrinology Letters, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16804512/.
“SMART = Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique.” The SMART Choice, 16 Apr. 2021, https://thesmartchoice.com/.
Burhenne, Mark.. “Mercury Fillings Dangers, Who Is At Risk & Removal Checklist.” Ask the Dentist, 26 Oct. 2021, https://askthedentist.com/mercury-fillings-safe/.
