FDA Slides Past Court on Restricting Mercury Dental Fillings

On Friday, the Federal Court of Appeals said that it couldn't force the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to tighten restrictions on mercury laden dental fillings. Many advocacy groups have been fighting to get the use of the use of such dental materials banned and to force the FDA to label them as risky.

The groups say that the fillings pose health risks to patients who inhale the fumes from the procedures of implanting the fillings and to the employees that handle the material. One holistic medicine site takes it a step further and is offering studies that prove a large variety of health risks during the entire duration of having them in your mouth.

The holistic site, holisticmed.org, states that the Amalgam fillings lead to such conditions as: brain damage in children, neurological and gastrointestinal problems, links to Alzheimer's and possible damage to a fetus if the mother has Amalgam fillings, among other things.

They also conclude that having other dental work such as gold crowns or fillings can cause the mercury to release more toxins. They also state that gum chewing; brushing your teeth, grinding your teeth and even the simple act of eating can cause the toxin to release more of its harmful poison into your body.

The mercury mixture has been in use for over 100 years and has been controversial throughout that entire time. While, significant levels of mercury exposure can cause permanent damage to the brain and kidneys, the FDA stand by their claim that only those allergic to the material are affected.

Furthermore, the ADA claims, "Studies have failed to find any link between amalgam restorations and any medical disorders."(www.ada.org)

Amalgam fillings are around 50% mercury with the rest made up of silver, cooper and tin. Millions of Americans receive mercury fillings each year, though there is now another option. Many dentists have begun the switch to resin composite fillings which blend better with the teeth, though the majority of fillings still done are the mercury material.

This is because of two major reasons: the mercury fillings are stronger and more durable. They are the best for back teeth where the chewing forces are the greatest. The other factor is with insurance coverage. Mercury fillings are more cost effective and thus more vastly covered by dental insurance companies; some patients may not even have a choice between fillings types if they have a state insurance plan that only covers the mercury filling.

With all of the controversy surrounding this issue the best person to talk to is your primary care physician, they can help you determine if you are allergic to mercury or if you have been experiencing symptoms of mercury poisoning. Federal health officials are now into a new review of the safety of these fillings.