Re: Is one filling possibly dangerous?
Hi! I know that the newer modern silver
Amalgams have a larger percentage of mercury added in them than the older fillings installed in people back in the 60's and early 70's. The old ones (the type I had that caused me problems) were about 50% mercury. The newer ones are like 60-75% mercury. They like to use mercury in the
Amalgam along with other toxic metals because it applies so nicely into the teeth and wears nicely.
Now that you have it in- I would suggest that next chance you get-- ask the dentist to replace it with composite/porcelain. If it is a molar, you will be using it to chew and will be continuously emit methyl mercury vapor into your teeth roots and tissues. Composite/Porcelain also wears nicely --especially the newer types. They've improved on them since the 1990's.
One is enough to cause annoying health issues now-- like headaches, dizzyness if you drink hot drinks on that side of the mouth or if you eat anything crunchy, brush that tooth or get your teeth cleaned.
When you're in your 60's., the decades of mercury vapor from that one filling will further aggravate your body and when your immune system backslides- the mercury lodged in your tissus-(that was vaporized there from daily living with that filling for 5-10-30 years) will cause more problems that doctors wont be able to explain. They will prescribe you meds that they think will help --but will only compound the problem and not get to the root of it.
Getting your metal filling replaced if it is only one shouldnt cost all that much. The sooner you get it out- the least amount of mercury will lodge in your tissues.
Don't expect your dentist to sympathize with you- Just tell him you dont like the taste of silver in your mouth and that it reminds you of sucking on a gum wrapper and leave it at that. He will replace it as long as you dont mention that your afraid of mercury vapor. Dont mention to him your concern regardng mercury, because he was taught in medical school that mercury is harmless as long as it is solid. They dont believe in methyl mercury vapor- yet it has been photographed with a black light and measured with certain instruments.
Sure Mercury is more dangeourous when in liquid form-- however, normal friction and food temperatures in the mouth-- and even your own saliva causeses a reaction with the filling that makes it emit vapor anyway.
The American Dental Association has all dentists obligated to them-- so a dentist doesnt want to lose his license if he starts believing that mercury is actually bad in the mouth.