JustTheScience

Amalgam fillings, commonly used for the last century, are an alloy of approximately 50% mercury, 35% silver with other trace elements (Hahn et al 1989)¹.  Mercury is a versatile element, and is utilized in both organic and inorganic forms; both of which are toxic (Langford and Ferner 1999).² A study by Nylander et al (1987) demonstrated a statistical correlation between number of amalgam fillings  and amount of accumulated inorganic mercury in an individuals body. ³  Hahn et al (1989) found mercury vapor is released into the mouth by chewing action, and activities that increase this activity such as chewing gum and brushing teeth increase the level of mercury released.  Likely routes of uptakes of released vapors suggested in this study include inhalation, swallowing, and absorption through bone, tooth, and gum tissues in the mouth.  However, the actual amount of mercury absorbed into body tissue was undetermined, and the authors suggest more research is required to determine this.  ⁴  The results of this study suggest that there is an increase in mercury exposure in individuals with amalgam fillings, however,  it is necessary to ascertain both how much mercury is actually absorbed, as well as the effect this mercury has on an individual.

Myriad results have been found in regards to determining the effects of absorbed mercury from amalgam fillings.  Sandborgh-Englund et al (1996)  and Bates (2006) found no evidence of renal toxicity, chronic fatigue syndrome, reproductive, or other chronic diseases  from mercury absorbed from amalgams, but a evidence of susceptibility to Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s from mercury absorbed from amalgams. ^5 6  In addition, Grandjean et al (1997) found that individuals treated for self reported amalgam related psychotic disorders responded equally to a mercury purging drug in both treatment and placebo groups, while those in the treatment group actually expelled much higher levels of mercury in their urine.⁷  Further study is required for a more definitive answer to whether or not amalgam fillings should be considered a health threat, however, the aforementioned studies have demonstrated that chronic physiological disorders are not associated with amalgams while neurological disorders can be.

1. Dental “silver” tooth fillings: a source of mercury exposure revealed by whole-body image scan and tissue analysis [↩]
2. Toxicity of mercury [↩]
3. Mercury concentrations in the human brain and kidneys in relation to exposure from dental amalgam fillings [↩]
4. Dental “silver” tooth fillings: a source of mercury exposure revealed by whole-body image scan and tissue analysis [↩]
5. No evidence of renal toxicity from amalgam fillings [↩]
6. Mercury amalgam dental fillings: an epidemiologic assessment [↩]
7. Placebo Response in Environmental Disease: Chelation Therapy of Patients With Symptoms Attributed to Amalgam Fillings [↩]