Are Your Dental Fillings Poisoning You?

Ty Bollinger in his book Cancer - Step Outside the Box claims that one reason the incidence of cancer has gone up so dramatically in recent years is because of mercury, a toxic metal, from fillings in our teeth.

Mercury is a major component in the "silver" fillings or amalgams dentists put in our teeth to plug the holes left after removing cavities.  These so called "silver" fillings contain approximately 50% mercury.

Mercury containing "silver" amalgams are used because of their ease of application, durability, low cost and antibacterial effects.  Substitutes are available but "silver" amalgams are still in use by most dentists.
 
Is there any truth to the alarming claims of mercury toxicity originating from our teeth?  Well, I'll try to present both sides and then my take on it.

First, Ty's side.  Ty claims that since mercury is a toxic metal it has no place in our mouth, just inches from the most sensitive of all our organs, our brain. There is disagreement that elemental mercury is very toxic metal.  That is one reason why you don't see mercury in thermometers any more.  Ty claims the mercury is labeled as bio-hazardous when shipped to dentists, before being placed in patient's mouths.

The major concern is that small quantities of mercury out-gas from the solid metal.  Since the vapors out-gas into the mouth it is easy for the mercury to pass into your lungs by inhaling, then absorbed by your body thus poisoning us.  See some of the evidence here and here.

Many people have elected to have amalgams removed from their teeth because of concern over toxic mercury out-gassing from the amalgams.

As might be expected the American Dental Association (ADA) has a different take on things.  Below is an excerpt from their website.  You can read their statement in its entirety here.

Dental amalgam is considered a safe, affordable and durable material that has been used to restore the teeth of more than 100 million Americans. It contains a mixture of metals such as silver, copper and tin, in addition to mercury, which binds these components into a hard, stable and safe substance. Dental amalgam has been studied and reviewed extensively, and has established a record of safety and effectiveness. 

My position:  I do find suspect extremely alarmist claims put forth by some anti-mercurial critics, especially those selling costly remedies.  On the other hand, it is wrong to denigrate or ridicule those who may be rightly concerned over long term chronic effects of mercurial poisoning from amalgams.

The ADA is way out of line if they censor dentists for removing amalgams.  This is a legitimate issue.  Dr. Russell Erickson DDS of Portland Oregon probably reflexes my views best.  You can read his take on the controversy by clicking here.

Dr. Erickson listens to his patients and to some extent agree with their concerns over the mercury in their teeth.  Read his position.