FDA Says Mercury Dental Fillings Are Not Harmful. Really?

I usually start off my day by checking out what’s the latest in the health news world and stumbled across this very interesting article regarding “mercury” dental amalgams. The FDA came out with a report this past Tuesday stating that dental amalgams are safe to be in human bodies. Much controversy has erupted over the issue of mercury in our environment and it’s alleged harmful effects upon our bodies. There was even a lawsuit in 2006 where Moms Against Mercury sued the FDA wanting them to remove mercury from the US market.

Here’s my critique on this whole situation:

The FDA states: “While elemental mercury has been associated with adverse health effects at high exposures, the levels released by dental amalgam fillings are not high enough to cause harm in patients.” This statement is comparing apples to oranges. What exactly is high exposure? Well…what they’re getting at here is an acute exposure to high levels of mercury. The fact of the matter is that anything at an acute high exposure can induce adverse side effects. Too much water or even air at an acute exposure can cause adverse health effects. But what we’re dealing with in this statement is the difference between acute high dose exposure and chronic low dose exposure. So essentially the basis of this statement is correct, when you just take this statement as it is: acute “low” dose exposure will not induce any harm in comparison to an acute high dose exposure.

Susan Runner (acting director for the FDA division that oversees dental devices) states: “The best available scientific evidence supports the conclusion that patients with dental amalgam fillings are not at risk,” she told reporters on a conference call. Over the past 20 years, the agency has received just 141 reports of problems in patients with the fillings, she added. Here’s the problem with these statistics: it is very difficult to pinpoint heavy metal toxicity as the ultimate causative factor for a health problem! Our current medical model does not account for the cumulative effects of low dose exposure and the subtle biochemical changes due to that exposure. Most chronic diseases cannot be linked to one specific causative factor. These adverse reports are that of POISONING. Again, comparing apples to oranges.

Now let’s take a look at the economics behind this. The FDA’s decision could impact makers of metal fillings, which include Dentsply International Inc and Danaher Corp’s unit Kerr, as well as distributors such as Henry Schein Inc and Patterson Cos Inc. Hmm…I wonder how it can impact these companies? Charlie Brown, a lawyer for Consumers for Dental Choice, said poorer people or those who receive their health care through large institutions such as the U.S. military are more likely to receive the cheaper, silver-colored fillings and are at greater risk for harm. Oh…yeah now I see it? Since the economy has been in a decline, more and more people are looking for ways to be frugal. So when presented with a choice, the majority will always choose the cheaper of the two if they are told that there’s essentially no difference between the two. This will then drive up the profit margins for the dental supply companies. Is this part of the economic stimulus package?

Initially the FDA issued a warning regarding dental amalgams (See post here). Then the “final” verdict was released this past tuesday stating that dental amalgams are safe. When I did a Google search for “FDA Mercury Fillings”

http://akdocmike.com/2009/07/29/fda-says-mercury-dental-fillings-are-not...

But then when you click on the link here’s what you get:

http://akdocmike.com/2009/07/29/fda-says-mercury-dental-fillings-are-not...

Not there anymore (obviously). It always makes me question when Google has the link in a search, but then the page doesn’t exist anymore and does not direct you to the page where the information was moved to. Just some food for thought.

When I did find the information on the FDA website here’s a key paragraph:

FDA has reviewed the best available scientific evidence to determine whether the low levels of mercury vapor associated with dental amalgam fillings are a cause for concern. Based on this evidence, FDA considers dental amalgam fillings safe for adults and children ages 6 and above. The amount of mercury measured in the bodies of people with dental amalgam fillings is well below levels associated with adverse health effects. Even in adults and children ages 6 and above who have fifteen or more amalgam surfaces, mercury exposure due to dental amalgam fillings has been found to be far below the lowest levels associated with harm. Clinical studies in adults and children ages 6 and above have also found no link between dental amalgam fillings and health problems.

Very straightforward and to the point. No frills or gimmicks. The kind of information that will ease the mind of the average person. But when I went to dig deeper into their website here’s what I found in the appendix:

On July 27, 2009, FDA issued a final rule that: (1) reclassified mercury from a class I (least risk) device to class II (more risk) device; (2) classified dental amalgam as a class II device; and (3) designated a special controls guidance document for dental amalgam. (Source: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/DentalPro...)

So from what I understand here is that it was formely classified as a “least risk” device and then upgraded to a “more risk” device and then the news headlines come out and state that it’s “safe.” I’ll let you make the call here.

Here is a very interesting video that will present you with a visual of what’s going on with dental amalgams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ylnQ-T7oiA&feature=player_embedded

Solutions: do your homework so that you can make an informed decision. Don’t just take some “authority’s” statement to be your answer. Don’t even take what I’m saying to be your answer. Look past all the hype and propaganda and get down to the facts.

I have a proposal to all the CEO’s of these dental amalgam companies and those in the FDA who state that these amalgams are safe. Put your money where your mouth is (literally) and use the products which you promote and state are safe. Fair enough? Even if you have no “need” for it, I think you should at least try the product out right? I’m just saying.