World News – CA – FDA issues mercury amalgam refill warning, group calls for even more protection

CHAMPIONSGATE, Fla., Sept. Feb. 25, 2020 / PRNewswire / – The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) congratulates the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its statement yesterday which highlights High-risk groups are guarding the potential for adverse health effects of mercury from dental amalgam fillings However, the IAOMT, which has demanded more stringent protection against dental mercury for more than three decades, is now calling on the FDA to even more protection for all dental patients

Yesterday, the FDA updated its recommendations for dental amalgam fillings and warned that « the harmful health effects of the mercury vapor released by the device » could impact populations at high risk Sensitive groups advised to avoid filling with mercury amalgam include pregnant women and fetuses; women planning to become pregnant; breastfeeding women and their newborns and infants; children; people with neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease; people with impaired kidney function; and people with known increased sensitivity (allergy) to mercury or other components of dental amalgam

“This is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Jack Kall, DMD, Executive Chairman of the IAOMT Board of Directors “But mercury should not be placed in anyone’s mouth All patients dental work must be protected, and dentists and their staff must also be protected against working with this toxic substance « 

Dr Kall is one of a number of dentists and IAOMT member researchers who have testified to the FDA about the dangers of dental amalgam over decades When IAOMT was founded in 1984, the nonprofit was committed to reviewing the safety of dental products based on peer-reviewed scientific research In 1985, after the release of mercury vapor from fillings was established in the scientific literature, IAOMT issued a statement that placement of silver / mercury dental amalgam fillings should cease until evidence of safety can be produced No proof of safety has ever been produced, and in the meantime, IAOMT has assembled thousands of peer-reviewed scientific research papers to support its position that dental mercury use should to cease

« As a result of our advocacy for safer, evidence-based dentistry, we have finally convinced the FDA that, at a minimum, some people are at risk, » said David Kennedy, DDS, Board of Directors of IAOMT “It is estimated that over 45% of dentists worldwide still use amalgam fillings, including a large majority of dentists for military and welfare agencies It shouldn’t have taken 35 years to get to this point, and the FDA must now protect everyone « 

IAOMT compared the delayed route in safety regulations for mercury fillings to the same scenario that happened with cigarettes and lead products such as gasoline and paint The organization is also concerned about the increased mercury exposure of patients and dental professionals when amalgam fillings are unsafe removed, as well as the health risks caused by exposure to fluoride.

Amalgam, Food and Drug Administration, Dentistry, Dental Restoration, Mercury, Health Care