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.