dental work and silver fillings

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There is a thread in the archives but it doesnt answer this question. can anyone tell me what kind of medical problems are thought to be caused by silver fillings? I have a mouthfull of them and am wondering if I should be concerned? and what problems others have had with them. I am very concerned about my memory problems at this time in my life the problem seems to be more than just the usual forgetfulness. I am especially worried because my mother passed away from alzheimers at a rather young age and don't wantto repeat that. thanks Ronda

-- ronda (the johnsons@localaccess.com), May 07, 2002

Answers

Ronda, I don't have any idea about the fillings, but get yourself a rosemary plant and smell it dailey. It will help with the memory, or at least it does mine. Alzheimer's runs in my family, also. I read an article that stated that if you shampoo with a rosemary shampoo regularly, You won't have to worry about memory loss. I just run my hand across the plant every time I pass it so I can smell the fragrance. I really do believe it works. My memory is a lot better since I started doing this.

-- Robin Downing (Southpawrobin1@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

I suspect your fillings aren't silver (no-one else's are), but rather amalgam - an amalgam of mercury with other metals (maybe including silver). Try going to www.google.com and searching on "amalgam". You'll find an awful lot of scare stuff with no supporting evidence, and you MIGHT find something that resonates with you and and does have real evidence. Silver or gold is unlikely to cause problems, mercury might.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), May 07, 2002.

It's not the silver in the fillings that is the problem, it's the mercury that is mixed in to make a workable paste. I think it is referred to as an amalgamate. This might help with google searches.

-- Deborah Hardy (virgil@igs.net), May 07, 2002.

As in many health issues, this is a BIG controversy. Some say it is detrimental because the mercury vaporizes as you chew and is absorbed by your body. Others say it is stable in the amalgam.

Who knows???

In fifty years, they may discover that dust mites cause cancer. We just don't know the answers that we pretend to. Life is a big science experiment.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.


Just the other night I was looking through past Countryside magazines and came across the article on dental fillings. The issue was JaN/FEB 1996. Interesting ariticle. But what are we all suppose to do ?? Can hardly afford to visit the dentist when you need to never mind have all of your fillings removed. It's hard to understand sometimes about health care. I understood that Alzheimers was an inherited factor in families and unless an autopsy was preformed on the death of that person ..on the brain...you would not know for sure if it was Alzheimers. Not a pleasant thing to think on but maybe after the passing of a family member that procedure would be able to tell you for sure if that is the problem. Guess with the questions on dental fillings all we can do is to continue to brush and floss !!!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), May 07, 2002.


They've been blamed from everything from autism to Alzheimer's disease. Just read a book called "Beating Alzheimer's" on the subject. If you decide to get them replaced, though, you have to do it right; if one little smidgen of mercury is left in, the rest of the procedure is worthless.

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.

I know.

I've been poisoned by the mercury in amalgam fillings. We don't need to wait 50 years for the evidence to come in. The evidence has actually been obvious for years.

http://www.talkinternational.com

http://www.ithyroid.com/mercury.htm

-- Rick7 (rick7@postmark.net), May 07, 2002.


I did that Rosemary plant thing for a while then I forgot where I put the plant.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), May 07, 2002.

I have a friend who had the fillings removed. Because of the special procedures, etc. it cost about $12,000.

I'd suggest staying away from any kind of organophosphate pesticide. That includes the stuff used for head lice.

Gingko has helped people with memory loss. It dilates the fine capillaries which helps the blood transport oxygen to the brain cells. Gingko takes at least six weeks to begin to have an effect and you must take a capsule several times a day.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), May 07, 2002.


My dentist will use amalgam only on the back teeth because the composite stuff is just not as durable over time when that is where you do the most chewing. Also, most dental insurance won't cover composite fillings--so you will be paying the difference between the two types of fillings.

And, from what I've read, the Dentists are the ones who really should be worried, they're the ones mixing up the stuff in the offices all day, and supposedly the amalgam is stable once set up and in the filling.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), May 07, 2002.



Ronda, You might address the aluminum factor if you are concerned about Alzheimers. Avoid any use of aluminum cooking utensils, deoderant with aluminum, detergents have aluminum ect. There are homeopathics that will draw the aluminum out of your body also.

The fillings in your teeth could also be a problem because everything corrodes and everything seeps, as metal corrodes, your body absorbs it and will store it somewhere. I know having composites to replace amalgom fillings is expensive, but I guess one has to decide if it is worth it. Best Wishes to You.

-- Marilyn in CO (www.tomeatbeef@aol.com), May 07, 2002.


It seems that the mercury (amalgam) fillings deteriorate over time-- I've had some that are 30+ years old start to fall apart--and I suspect that some of the mercury from them is going into your body through your digestive system. My wife had all of hers changed a few years back (maybe a dozen or so- -I really don't know the exact number) and it was not a terrible expense. We don't have any dental insurance, but decided to do it anyway as we thought it might be affecting some of her allergies, and she is better now that the amalgam fillings are gone.

Jim

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.


I'll answer your question directly. Fatigue, headache, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, apathy, depression, outburst of anger, decline of intellect, numbness of hands or tingling, muscle weakness, dim vision, hearing problems, speech disorders, loss of memory, incoordination, emotional instability, dermatitis, renal damage, general central nervous system dysfunction. I've had all mine out. Most dental plans cover this because the fillings are often deteriorated and need replacing. Find a dentist who will do this without all the foo-fa stuff like ventilators etc, and you won't have much expense. I had 5 fillings replaced with composite, which is holding up nicely. All of this was covered by my insurance, and the doctor was understanding. He doesn't go off the deep end, but understands the problems associated with mercury. My sister had MS and got her fillings replaced and hasn't had an episode of MS since, and it's been two years. I would recommend reading "Dental Mercury Detox" and "Dentistry without Mercury" by Sam Ziff and Michael Ziff, DDS. Mary

-- Mary (kmfraley@orwell.net), May 07, 2002.

There isn't any hard scientific evidence regarding metal fillings and side effects. The fillings are mostly copper, not mercury. Most dentists will not replace all your fillings because they feel it is unnecessary and unethical. Your dental insurance will not pay for replacing"good" fillings.

I personally think you are exposing yourself to more amalgam dust while the dentist is drilling out the old fillings, then you would get under normal exposure over a period of years.

-- Dash (forthechix@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.


Well Dash ol boy, some of us couldnt give a knat's ass about what some folks might consider "hard scientific evidence regarding metal fillings and side effects"......nor what most dentists would consider um.....unethical!

"Studies" and "opinions" aside, we suggest you talk to folks who have actually been through this process; who have seen their lives change for the better or worse. All else seems like supposition, eh?

And as an aside, I had my amalgams removed some years ago; did my homework ahead of time so I knew whereof I was headed, and it cost me a mere pittance compared to what Darren's poor friend was ripped of off. Did it help me? Yes....

Peace,

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.



Hi as the only dentist to answer this question raised, I use both amalgam and composite (white fillings) in my patients mouths. The white fillings are technically inferior to the metal amalgam...wear out quickly, leach fluids at the margins leading to recurrent decay, technique sensitive, require the use of etching with acid to make microscopic holes in enamel and dentin for bonding retention, higher rate of post op sensitivity than silver amalgam (usually due to the acid etching, and are more expensive. So why use them? Patients choose them because they are more asthetic. Dentists place them for more revenue. Simple, give them what they want. But to be fair there are people (rare however) who are truly allergic to mercury. I have two in my practice of several thousand. Also some studies suggest that people with degenerative muscle diseases like MS, myesthenia gravis, etc. should not have silver amalgam placed in their mouths due to possible complications from the heavy metals. The FDA has confirmed that amalgams are safe to use for the vast and I mean vast majority of people. Billions of amalgam fillings have been placed in the last 150 years they have been used. Yes there is concern with mercury...but the ones who have the most to loose are us dentists who deal with this material 40 hours a week plus what we have in our bodies. I dont see the entire dental community debilitated on the golf course. If one does have sensitivity to mercury than stay away from Tuna fish which has more mercury in a readily digestible state (in the meat) than from amalgam...Simply put dental amalgam is not a perfect material, but its the best weve got for now in a lot of situations and will continue to be used until we truly get something better. I really dont wish to debate, but if people wish to write me fine, theres more to it than I can say in a "sound bite" on this forum.

-- B T Clowne (lakebreezefan@yahoo.com), May 10, 2002.

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