Dental amalgam is a dental filling material used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay. It is also used in the lining of older dental crowns. It has been used for more than 150 years in hundreds of millions of patients around the world.

Dental amalgam is a mixture fo metals, consisting of liquid (elemental) mercury and a powdered alloy composed of sliver, tin, and copper. Approximately 50% of dental amalgam is elemental mercury by weight. The chemical properties of elemental mercury allow it to react with and bind together the silver/copper/tin alloy particles to form an amalgam.

Dental amalgam fillings are also known as “silver fillings” because of their silver-like appearance. Despite the name, “silver fillings” they do contain elemental mercury.

When placing dental amalgam, the dentist first drills the tooth to remove the decay and then shapes the tooth cavity for placement of the amalgam filling. Next, under appropriate safety conditions, the dentist mixes the powdered alloy with the liquid mercury to form an amalgam putty. This softened amalgam putty is placed and shaped in the prepared cavity, where it rapidly hardens into a solid filling. Dental amalgam is the least expensive type of filling material. Other materials can be used in place of amalgam.

There is a theory that elemental metals as well as any metals inside the body (joint repairs, etc.) can leach out and become toxic to the immune system. Causing autoimmune disorders.

In a report written by Dr. Jonathan B. Levine, aesthetic dentist, oral health expert, author and inventor, writes that “Amazingly, 72% of those surveyed in the U.S. did not know that silver fillings contain mercury and when they do find out, 91% of the respondents would have wanted to know about the possible mercury issues when the siver filling were first placed.”

Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin and, at certain levels, can cause neurological issues, autoimmune disease, chronic illnesses and mental disorders. Dr. Levine also says, “The burning question is whether an unknown quantity of mercury vapor in our silver fillings at a constant exposure poses a significant health risk.”

Amalgams consist of 50% mercury along with a combination of silver, tin and copper. Studies have found that the amount of mercury vapor from amalgams varies from 1 – 3 ug/day (micrograms/day), at the low estimation up to 27 ug/day. This translates to 4% to 68% of workplace air quality standards that are allowable by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration  (OSHA, our federal environmental agency). What this means is that at the high level – and with continuous exposure – we could be at levels that OSHA says are unhealthy. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the exposure to mercury vapor can greatly increase beyond this number to personal habits such as grinding of the teeth, chewing gum, and drinking carbonated drinks. This could lead to a fivefold increase in mercury levels after these activities.

In addition to the problem with mercury vapor coming off of silver fillings in our mouth, there is the issue of water contamination from removing the silver fillings and the ensuing environmental impact as the mercury finds its way into the water supply.

The WHO (World Health Organization) reports that mercury from amalgam and laboratory devices accounts for 53% of total mercury emissions into our environment. The EPA recommends that dentists use amalgam separators to catch and hold excess amalgam waste, to decrease the release of mercury into the sewer system. At this time, these are not mandatory in the U.S. We should all be aware of the environmental issues surrounding amalgam removed and nudge our elected officials go get current on this problem and come up with solutions.

The United States is not alone in this problem. In 2008, Scandinavian countries took action and banned the use of amalgam fillings for environmental and health reasons.

There are conflicting studies between Sweden and the United States. In Sweden, they have conducted a number of studies where people, with pre-existing neurological and health issues (Chronic Fatigue-type symptoms), had amalgams removal; 78% reported improvement in their health status. In the United States , official studies hired by the FDA and The National Institute of Health (NIH)  stated that “current data is insufficient to support an association between mercury release from amalgams and the various complaints that have been attributed to this restorative material.”

Mercury from dental amalgam and other sources (fish) is bioaccumulative. Which refers to the build-up or steadily increasing concentration of a chemical in organs or tissues in the body. Studies of healthy subjects with amalgam fillings have shown that mercury from exposure to mercury vapor bioaccumulates in certain tissues of the body including kidneys and brain. Studies have not shown that bioaccumulation of mercury from dental amalgam results in damage to target organs. It is controversial.

However, if all dental amalgam is removed this doesn’t make the toxic absorbtion go away. Alternative health care providers have their patients go through an elimination process known as Chelation therapy. This helps eliminate the build up in your bodies. In an article on WebMD it explains that “When metals like lead, mercury, iron, and arsenic build up in your body, they can be toxic. Chelation therapy is a treatment that uses medicine to remove these metals so they don’t make you sick!”

This treatment can be done through special drugs that bind to metals in your blood. You can have Chelating medicine given through an intravenous (IV) tube in your arm. It is also available in pill form. Once the drug has attached to the metal, your body removes them both through your urination.

Before you get this treatment, your doctor will do a blood test to make sure you have metal poisoning.

Some natural health care providers and supplement companies claim they use Chelation therapy to reduce symptoms of autism, Alzheimer’s disease, or heart disease. Yet this treatment is only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat metal poisoning. There just isn’t enough evidence to support its use for other conditions. And, as research shows, it can be dangerous if it’s used for an unapproved reason.

Beware of any online products or health care providers who try to use this treatment for other purposes. Chelating products are also not approved for home use. Only talk to your alternative care doctor for direction on using this treatment. Many dentists won’t know about Chelating therapies.