Sometimes, you just can’t help but take the click-bait:
But while old school procedures such as trepanation, lobotomies, and fecal transplants continue today in updated, more specific forms – and occasionally rebranded to move away from the stigma surrounding them – there are others that many would argue are long overdue for retirement.
Case in point? The placement of mercury amalgam fillings.
Of course, they’ve been rebranded, too, as “silver” fillings – a term most Americans consider misleading. After all, they contain far more mercury than silver or any other metal commonly found in them.
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal, particularly dangerous when inhaled. Yet people with amalgam fillings are doing that 24/7 by virtue of the fact that with every bite and swallow, mercury vapor is off-gassed.
Once inhaled, it goes straight from the lungs into the circulatory system and throughout the rest of the body, gravitating toward vital organs, especially fatty organs such as the brain.
While some people can excrete mercury quite efficiently, in others – particularly those with additional toxic burdens – the build-up over time can lead to neurological symptoms, cardiovascular issues, gastrointestinal problems, and autoimmune conditions.
And this raises a thorny question: Why did mercury amalgam become the dental standard in the first place? A quick history lesson:
Both the IAOMT and DAMS provide excellent resources for folks to learn more about the risks of mercury amalgam, and we encourage you to explore them – risks not just to personal health but that of our environment, as well.
As with any dental or medical procedure, once you’ve learned about both risks and benefits alike, you’re in the best position to decide what you want to do about them.