Mercury Poisoning

Dr. Anthony McLaughlin, a Redmond, Wash., dentist says he isn’t necessarily in the anti-mercury camp but has eliminated amalgams from his practice for his own safety and that of his staff; he also removed all the mercury from his own teeth, and that of his wife and his staff.

Remembering how he had to dispose of his scrap amalgam as hazardous waste, he says, “It’s OK to place these in people’s mouths yet it’s considered hazardous when you take it out. Go figure that one out.”

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

Answers

Luckily, I have been blessed with good teeth. Never had a cavity.

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

My grandson has stainless steel instead of mercury...I never would have thought it!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

Big Kumara - I was right, I didn't think aliens got cavities. ;^)

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

A few years back, 60 minutes did a special on amalgam (mercury) fillings. What came out was this: Mercury is very poisonous to us, including mercury vapor. Tests showed that mercury vapor is released when we chew (with amalgam fillings) and that is then ingested. Dentists are given strict guidelines for handling of the mercury. They have to be very careful about breathing the vapors. They have to treat the waste mercury as hazardous, just like was said above.

So, how can these type fillings be safe? It reminds me of so many things that were once considered safe, like DDT, or aspirin, but later were shown to be dangerous in some ways. The dental group, and the AMA, has so much of their reputation invested in the whole amalgam story that they don't seem to want to admit they could have been wrong about it for all these years.

I don't know if it affects everybody in the same way, but apparently there have been some fillings that leaked more mercury vapor than others, and some people are much more sensitive to mercury vapor than others. Symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning include arthritis like joint pains, headaches, and many other problems. Something to think about next time you are having a filling, or having one changed. Unfortunately the alternatives are either more expensive, like gold, or less durable, or more trouble to install in the tooth. Still.....

-- Anonymous, July 15, 2001

Brooks--

My cover is blown.

Damn.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001