Amalgam Mercury Does Not Adversely Affect Brain Development

Amalgam is commonly used in tooth fillings for over one hundred years. However, in recent decades there have been concerns about health issues related to the ingredients amalgam, mainly mercury. The contents of amalgam can result in allergic reactions in some people with the respective negative health consequences. However, a joint long-term study by researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle and the University of Lisbon in Portugal now provided results that refute this assumption in regards to adverse neurological effects of amalgam mercury on the developing brain. According to this study, mercury in amalgam filling has no effect on a child's brain development. The study will appear in the February edition of 'The Journal of the American Dental Association'.

In order to save a decaying tooth, dentists commonly use amalgam to fill the gap in the tooth caused by the cavity and its removal. Amalgam is cheap, durable, and easy to use. Yet, its blend of metals (silver, tin, copper, zinc, and others) and mercury has been cause for concern because wear and tear can cause these ingredients to migrate into the body. Primarily, mercury, which is highly toxic even in small doses, has many parents worried about having amalgam used as a filling in their children's teeth. Mercury is known to cause health problems. In fact, mercury in childhood vaccines has made headlines as a possible cause of autism. And many of us know that consumption of fish, especially those kinds known to contain high levels of mercury, should be limited.

The joint study conducted by the scientists from Seattle and Lisbon investigated whether the small amount of mercury emitted from amalgam fillings might have adverse neurological effects on the developing human brain. The study began in 1997. The scientists enrolled 507 Portuguese children in their study. They ranged in age from eight to twelve years old. These children were placed in two groups. One group received amalgam fillings, the other resin-based composite fillings. Over the course of the next seven plus years, the children were routinely checked. The scientists conducted clinical neurological examinations to check for signs of damage to certain neural structures in the brain and signs of central nervous system dysfunctions, which lead to immature sensory-motor skills. The scientists also checked whether the children experienced any tremor.

At the end of the study, the scientists found that both groups showed the same level of presence or absence or severity of structural brain damage, tremor, or central nervous system dysfunction. From this observation it can only be concluded that exposure to mercury through amalgam fillings does not have a negative effect on a child's neurological brain development.

However, the scientists do point out that while they did not find an indication for it, an adverse reaction to mercury might occur in individual children.

It should also be pointed out that children (and adults) could develop allergic reactions to one or more components of amalgam. Such reactions usually present themselves through pain or infections, which not necessarily present themselves around the tooth with the amalgam filling. Relieve might be found in the removal of the amalgam filling and the selection of a different filling under the careful guidance of a dentist and immunologist. I, myself, experienced pain and later severe one-sided sinus and ear infections, before the removal of my amalgam filling caused these symptoms to disappear in a matter of weeks. It should also be pointed out that children (and adults) could develop allergic reactions to one or more components of amalgam. Such reactions usually present themselves through pain or infections, which not necessarily present themselves around the tooth with the amalgam filling. Relieve might be found in the removal of the amalgam filling and the selection of a different filling under the careful guidance of a dentist and immunologist. I, myself, experienced pain and later severe one-sided sinus and ear infections, before the removal of my amalgam filling caused these symptoms to disappear in a matter of weeks.