Hello to all of you again. I decided to write every several weeks about some dental product or treatment that may give you more information for you to make good, informed decisions on your dental work when you go to the dentist. I hope you all realized, after my last introductory message several weeks ago that I am NOT retiring.
After going through just some of the collected articles over the years, it was hard to pick one specific subject to talk about. Also, the limited space on these e-mails doesn’t give me much room for a thorough review of all the information that is available. Also, please realize that I will not be including the references for each quote I include. If you wish to know where the information came from, please let me know and I can furnish it for you. Also, as I stated in my first e-mail, all of the things I say will be my own ideas and someone else may have a different opinion. There are a lot of conflicting opinions these days, aren’t there. Very confusing sometimes.
I decided to discuss amalgam (silver fillings) this time. This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. Now, I am an older dentist. When I went to dental school, all fillings on back teeth were made of the silver material. We did not have a good, longer lasting white filling material. That has changed and we now have an acceptable white filling that can look very nice and last for an acceptable length of time. I love white fillings. Years ago I had to put ugly silver fillings in everyone’s back teeth that could be seen, including kid’s teeth. Now, I can put in a nice white one that you cannot see. That is satisfying and a big help to someone’s nice smile.
Twenty or so years ago (probably longer) there was a TV article about silver fillings. The article mis-quoted many facts about this material. It claimed un-proven dangers and adverse health effects from silver fillings. It was a terrible show and many dentists, the American Dental Association, the American Medical Association, and a number of countries wrote to this company who had aired this article and told them their information was wrong. But, the damage was done and the TV Company had achieved its objective and that was to get as many people to watch the program as possible and make as much money as they could.
The result was that many people were concerned. Some went as far as to ask their dentist to remove all of their silver fillings because the TV program claimed that doing so would “cure” them of their problem or disease. Of course, it was found that this did not help.
Today the controversy still exists but not at an alarming rate as it did then. The issue with silver fillings is the mercury contained in them. Yes, mercury, in a high enough dose, can be very dangerous to our health. There are so many chemicals in our foods and drinks now days that I, for one, don’t really know what is safe and what is not. Several of these chemicals will be addressed in future e-mails I will send.
I still, occasionally, place a silver filling. Why? Because it is stronger than the white material and will last longer in many situations. If it is in a back area that will not be seen, I will give my patient my recommendation and then they can decide which type of material they would prefer. There are places on our teeth that the silver material will seal the cavity better and will last much longer than the white filling.
If you are concerned about silver fillings because of the mercury, let me list several sources regarding the use of amalgam. The following agencies have issued statements about the use of silver fillings as not showing any deleterious effects and they do not see any connection related to the silver material and the need to remove them: The Alzheimer’s Association, The National Institutes of Health, The New England Journal of Medicine, The Autism Society of America, The Mayo Clinic, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, The World Dental Federation, The World Health Organization, The American Dental Association. There are others.
I see numerous old silver fillings on my patients. I have silver fillings in my mouth and they have been working well for over 60 years. I have no intention of removing them unless they break or develop decay. But, when they do need replaced, you can decide between a silver one and a white one. But, let me quote from several sources about the removal of silver fillings.
Gordon Christensen, a world-renowned Dentist, researcher, and lecturer stated, “Convincing patients that removal of amalgam restorations is mandatory (needed) for systemic (bodily) health reasons is not a legitimate or logical practice in most situations.” The only reason is if there is a possible allergic response to the filling material. I have maybe seen this three or four times in 42 years of being a dentist. The National Council Against Health Fraud stated, “Dentists who make false claims about amalgam safety create unnecessary patient anxiety and undermine confidence in the (dental) profession. Such behavior should be considered unprofessional conduct.”
Now, of course, the decision as to what to do will be up to you. White fillings will do very well. But, in my opinion, you should not worry about the silver fillings you presently have on your teeth. You, certainly want to trust your dentist. But, I would advise asking questions about any treatment any health professional recommends you have, especially if the dentist recommends taking out all of your silver fillings and replacing them with white ones. Have him or her explain their reasoning behind every procedure they do. It is your mouth and you deserve to know what is happening to it. Thanks. Dr. Dodds
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