Do no harm

Article Abstract:

Eliminating dental amalgam as a choice for filling cavities would increase the cost of dental care, particularly for poor people. There is no scientific evidence that the mercury in dental amalgam is toxic and other types of fillings such as composite resin are more expensive.

Editorial

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''...Potential unreasonable risk...'' (whether mercury-containing amalgam should be considered risky to health) (editorial)

Article Abstract:

Recent hearings convened by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed evidence presented concerning whether dental mercury and amalgam alloy (for use in fillings) should be reclassified as constituting a ''potential unreasonable risk'' - an action that could result in significant increases in the cost of dental care. No scientific evidence has been presented to implicate dental amalgam as a health hazard to normal healthy people, and dentistry has always been careful to monitor the safety of its products and techniques. Even though the mercury concentrations in dentists' blood and urine are four times higher than in the general public, dentists do not suffer a higher incidence of neurological disease. A segment of the television program ''60 Minutes'' raised anxieties about dental amalgam unnecessarily, and falsely suggested to suffering patients that this might be the cause of their disease. The alarm caused by the program probably provided the impetus for the FDA's investigation. If amalgam were reclassified, even briefly while further research were performed, people would want to have their fillings replaced, an extremely expensive proposition. Even if only 10 percent of the existing amalgam fillings were replaced, dental costs for adults would double. Only the wealthy could afford such replacements; private insurance or governmental coverage would be unlikely. The only basis for such drastic measures should be a scientifically based determination that amalgam is harmful. The FDA should consider the emotional components and social ramifications of product reclassification. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Laws, regulations and rules, United States. Food and Drug Administration, Mercury, Mercury poisoning

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The amalgam restoration-worth its weight in gold

Article Abstract:

Dental amalgam is the material dentists have used for many years to fill teeth after removing areas of the teeth with cavities. Amalgam has many positive qualities that have brought it into such wide use, with only its metallic color being a major problem. Many attempts have been made to find an alternative substance for fillings that matches the color of the teeth. Composite resin is the only alternative to amalgam that has been used with any success. It provides the right color, but is neither as durable nor as easy to use as amalgam. Much recent attention has been focused on the safety of amalgam, particularly regarding its mercury content. Both the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute of Dental Research have held hearings on the issue of the safety of amalgam. The evidence produced at these hearings was convincing that amalgam is safe. Both bodies concluded there was little substantive evidence that amalgam posed a danger to patients and that its use should continue until evidence to the contrary is produced. At least in the near future, amalgam is the best material available for dental use. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Teeth, Fillings (Dentistry), Dental fillings, Materials

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