By Dr. Mercola
Efforts to stop the archaic practice of using amalgam
“mercury” fillings have been gaining speed, with several
significant milestones taking place in 2013.
The culmination took place in October, when a legally binding
international treaty to control the use of this toxic metal was
signed into action (and, victoriously, the treaty gives special
attention to the use of amalgam).
A sign that the issue of mercury toxicity is becoming well
established in the dental field came when two publications –
Dental Tribune and Dentistry IQ – posted articles
online
The articles addressed a letter from environmental, health,
social justice, and consumer groups from 40 nations calling on a
leading amalgam manufacturer to cease the toxic trade in dental
mercury.
The articles, which appeared in September and October,
mysteriously disappeared, however, and now it’s been confirmed
that Dentsply was behind the disappearance of at least one of
them.
Amalgam Manufacturer Effectively Silences Mercury Toxicity Info
The Dental Tribune acknowledged that they removed
the mercury and Dentsply articles “because [they] received a big
complaint from the company [Dentsply].”1
The move has environmental and health activists worried that
the industry bigwig has no plans to stop their mercury
manufacturing and, instead, may be simply switching their target
markets. According to Consumers for Dental Choice:2
“The censored Dental Tribune piece included
references to ‘the treaty on phasing down the use of
amalgam’ and widely held concerns that ‘the dental companies
will dispose of mercury-containing filling materials in
Africa, South Asia and Latin America.’”
…Fears that Dentsply might now be looking at
developing countries as major markets for mercury-amalgam
fillings were heightened after Dentsply's sponsorship of a
conference in Birmingham, England, in August.
A critical theme of the conference — ‘the demise of
amalgam’ — appeared to apply only to the distribution of
amalgam products in European countries. By taking the
unusual step of censoring these articles in prominent dental
publications, Dentsply has exacerbated those fears.”
Are Amalgam Manufacturers Planning to Sell Their Toxic Wares to
Developing Countries?
The
international mercury treaty mandates that each nation phase
down amalgam use. But there is concern that amalgam
manufacturers such as Dentsply are seeking ways around this
treaty, which when ratified by 50 nations will be legally
binding. Consumers for Dental Choice reported:3
“…health and environmental activists from around the
world sent a letter to Dentsply CEO Bret W. Wise, urging him
not to use the treaty's provision on the ‘phase down’ of
mercury-based dental amalgam as a pretext for dumping its
products in developing countries. This was precisely the
course of action that American tobacco companies took after
the U.S. and many other governments began issuing warnings
about the dangers of smoking in the 1960s.”
Ironically, amalgam is only a tiny portion of Dentsply’s
annual profits, as the company also makes other dental
materials, so they could easily stop selling this toxic
substance. The company could adopt a phase-out plan of its own
and stop selling the material to dentists, a move that would not
only improve patients’ health but also the environment.
Exiting amalgam might be welcome news to Dentsply shareholders,
who in past years have filed petitions with the Securities and
Exchange Commission to get answers from Dentsply’s board of
directors about its intentions on amalgam.
As it stands, Dentsply, as an aggressive manufacturer and
marketer of mercury fillings, is also one of the world’s major
mercury polluters. Amalgam contributes an estimated 10 percent
of environmental mercury pollution, which means that amalgam
manufactured by Dentsply and other major manufacturers is in
fact causing direct harm to the environment.
Mercury from dental amalgam is released into the air when people
are cremated, for example. It also enters soils and waterways,
where it becomes a major contaminant of our food supply.
The sad fact is that American taxpayers pay the many indirect
costs that dentists are causing by polluting your environment
with mercury. It’s time the pro-mercury dentists either stop
using amalgam or pay for the damage they’re contributing to.
Truly, any responsible dentist in today’s day and age would
simply stop using amalgam -- and any responsible corporation
would stop making it.
Currently, Dentsply is being challenged to switch to
mercury-free alternatives, both via a grassroots campaign in
York, Pennsylvania (where the company is based), and a call from
environmental and social justice organizations on six continents
not to dump amalgam in developing nations.
Dentsply is already planning its exit from Europe. But if the
children of Europe are no longer getting mercury in their
mouths, why should the children of North and South America,
Africa, or Asia still be getting mercury in theirs?
Pakistan Hospital Bans Mercury Fillings Over Health Hazards
Earlier this year, research conducted in collaboration with
the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) and the Sustainable
Development Policy Institute found that some dental hospitals in
Pakistan had hazardous levels of mercury pollutants in the air.4
The study found some dental teaching hospitals with indoor air
levels of mercury between eight and 20 times higher than the
permissible level for human health, posing risks not only to
patients but also to medical staff.
In response to the study, Polyclinic hospital in Pakistan has
become the country’s first to ban mercury fillings, citing
hazards to human health. Dr. Pakiza Hyder, who heads
Polyclinic’s dental surgery department, said:5
“…it is seen that toxic mercury vapors leak and
travel throughout the body before being deposited in vital
organs and causing multiple health problems. Mercury vapors
are not only harmful to patients but dental surgeons and
their assistants, too, are exposed to them. In this light,
we’ve banned mercury fillings.”
In a study of amalgam use in the central African nation of
Cameroun, the Research and Education Center for Development
found that at least one hospital in the capital city of Yaoundé
has been amalgam-free for years. So mercury-free dentistry can
work in the hospitals of Asia and Africa!
The International Association of Oral Medicine and
Toxicology—Philippines and Ban Toxics also recently passed a
resolution asking Congress to pass a law that would stop the use
of dental amalgam in children.6
So it’s clear that mercury-free dentistry is gaining global
momentum.
Tips for Removing Your Mercury Fillings
For those of you who have mercury fillings, I recommend that
you have them removed… but avoid making the mistake I did nearly
20 years ago. I had the procedure done by a non-biological
dentist. When you have these fillings removed you can be exposed
to significant amounts of mercury vapors if the dentist doesn't
know what he or she is doing.
Replacement of amalgam is a serious medical procedure. Do not go
to a dentist who does not fear the toxicity of mercury and who
does not use a protocol that both builds up your strength
beforehand and limits in every possible way your exposure to
mercury.
You can find a mercury-free dentist of your own on
Consumers for Dental Choice’s website, or check out dental
listings from their close allies at the
International
Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine and the
Holistic Dental Association – two dental associations whose
support for mercury-free dentistry has been unflagging. It's
also for this reason that I strongly suggest you get healthy
BEFORE having your fillings removed, as you want your
detoxification mechanisms optimized prior to removal. My
struggles with my own teeth led me to learn about and embrace
biological dentistry, also known as holistic or environmental
dentistry.
In a nutshell, biological dentistry views your teeth and gums
as an integrated part of your entire body, and any medical
treatments performed takes this fact into account. The primary
aim of holistic dentistry is to resolve your dental problems
while working in harmony with the rest of your body. Biological
dentists are well aware of the dangers involved with toxic
materials such as mercury fillings (aka amalgams). Some things
that need to be done to keep you (and your dentist) safe during
amalgam removal include:
- Providing you with an alternative air source and
instructing you not to breathe through your mouth
- Using a cold-water spray to minimize mercury vapors, and
putting a rubber dam in your mouth so you don't swallow or
inhale any toxins
- Using a high-volume evacuator near the tooth at all
times to evacuate the mercury vapor
- Washing your mouth out immediately after the fillings
have been removed (the dentist should also change gloves
after the removal)
- Immediately cleaning your protective wear and face once
the fillings are removed, and using room air purifiers
The Plan Moving Forward
Getting the mercury treaty was just the first step. “The
treaty gives us the framework we need to make mercury-free
dentistry a reality for everyone,” says Charlie Brown. “But now
it’s up to us to see that it is implemented effectively.” The
treaty will require nations to take two of the listed phase-down
measures… but some of these measures are more effective at
phasing down amalgam use than others. Here is a summary of the
best treaty measures for phasing down amalgam use, as supported
by the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry:
- Promoting Mercury-Free Dental Fillings:
This measure includes educating dental consumers about the
mercury in amalgam and the availability of mercury-free
alternatives. As Zogby polls have shown, over 75% of
consumers choose mercury-free fillings as soon as they find
out amalgam is 50% mercury. So this step is proven to phase
down amalgam use.
- Training in Mercury-Free Alternatives:
Dental schools should phase out amalgam instruction. In the
interim, nations can require training on mercury-free
alternatives for dentists and tell government-funded dental
schools to teach students how to use mercury-free dental
fillings and techniques, while not requiring competency
exams on amalgam and not permitting students to use amalgam
in children in school dental clinics.
- Adjusting Government Programs and Insurance:
Most people end up with amalgam not because it is the least
expensive material or it is the best option for their health
(it never is), but because it is all their insurance or
Medicaid will pay for. Therefore, governments should urge
insurance companies to fully cover mercury-free alternatives
and no longer purchase amalgam for use in government
programs (like for our soldiers and sailors in the
military).
- Making a Plan to Minimize Amalgam Use:
Setting goals to minimize amalgam use is a good first step
to start phasing down amalgam.
How You Can Support Mercury-Free Dentistry–Sign This Petition to
Dentsply
An estimated 40-50 percent of dentists in the US no longer
use amalgam. That’s a good start, but it’s not enough. I urge
you to get involved in this issue to help us phase out amalgams
entirely. As mentioned, Dentsply is a leading manufacturer of
mercury fillings – and it’s time to tell them to stop.
Please take a moment to
sign this petition. For additional timely updates and
information, please
join
Consumers for Dental Choice on Facebook.
© Copyright 1997-2013 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.