Dental Amalgam

[Guest guest]

The following has been taken from the Consumer Health Digest #02-09,

February 26, 2002. I post it here for the interest it may generate.

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>FDA endorses dental amalgam. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration

>has issued a " Consumer Update " statement that " no valid scientific

>evidence has ever shown that amalgams cause harm to patients with

>dental restorations. " While indicating that research continues to

>look for " possible subtle and long-range health effects, " the

>statement notes that in 1997, the World Health Organization

>concluded that, " Dental amalgam restorations are considered safe,

>but components of amalgam and other dental restorative materials

>may, in rare instances, cause local side effects or allergic

>reactions. The small amount of mercury released from amalgam

>restorations, especially during placement and removal, has not been

>shown to cause any other adverse health effects. " Similar

>conclusions have been reached by the United States Public Health

>Service, the European Commission, the National Board of Health and

>Welfare in Sweden, the New Zealand Ministry of Health, and Health

>Canada. [Consumer Update: Dental amalgams. FDA Center for Devices

>and Radiological Health, Feb 11, 2002.]

>http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/amalgams.html

----------Thus far, the Quoted Material----------

My dentist informs me that whatever harm may be caused, it took place

during the filling process and essentially ends when the amalgam

hardens.

Removing the amalgam would result in more damage from the release of

mercury, similar to what took place when the fillings were put in

place.

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IRA L. JACOBSON

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