Most of us don’t give too much thought to all those mercury fillings in your mouth as being a significant health hazard. Today, we’re going to discuss the chemical element mercury and the harm it can cause your body. Mercury is a potent, heavy metal toxin that can poison your brain, central nervous system and kidneys. Children and fetuses, whose brains are still developing, are most at risk, nearly anyone can be impacted. This issue is just too important, too critical to your health and the long-term health of your children. In fact, just one drop of mercury in a lake would poison the lake to the extent that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would ban it from fishing. Yet, unbelievably, they let you carry around a mouthful of this toxic metal and would have you believe it somehow loses its capacity to do harm if installed in your teeth. The average person in the U.S. has eight amalgam fillings. Clearly, this is no small problem and calls for urgent action.

Well, this should come as no surprise, but our friends at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have long been the world's number one protector of mercury fillings. And believe or not, the U.S. is lagging behind the rest of the world, and even behind some third world countries, in protecting its citizens from this toxic product: In fact, in the United States, four out of five dental specialists still use amalgams, and the material continues to be endorsed by the American Dental Association. The FDA's determination to protect mercury fillings has no doubt had something to do with its commissioner. The new commissioner entered the FDA through the revolving government/private industry door after allegedly making millions as the director of the largest seller of dental amalgam (mercury fillings). The FDA has a history of stacking the deck of its advisory panels so that the pro-industry, pro-mercury position is upheld.

There is some relief on the horizon. Most recently, the U.S. State Department has called for a "phase down" of mercury fillings, followed by an "eventual" phase out. The State Department also called for:

· Educating patients and parents (about amalgam) in order to protect children and fetuses

· Training of dental professionals on the environmental impacts of mercury in dental amalgams

This is a very encouraging turn of events that brings us one step closer to mercury-free dentistry for all. Even though the FDA signed on to this statement internationally, they have yet to change the rule at home. According to a recent poll, 77 percent of consumers would willingly pay more to opt out of dental amalgam in favor of safer dental fillings. If this opt-out occurred, it would effectively reduce the number of patients your dentist could funnel through his office on any given day.

Although mercury fillings are quick and easy to put in, it isn't that composite materials cost more—they just take longer to make. Not only can dentists buzz through a lot of mercury amalgam fillings each day, but these amalgams also require the destruction of quite a lot of good tooth matter, which sets you up for more dental problems down the road… meaning, more dental work, including root canals. It's the gift that keeps on giving, from a dentist's perspective. So, the perceived profitability of mercury fillings has led to what is referred to as the "drill, fill and bill" mentality. Fewer patients coming through the door each day isn't the only issue striking fear in the heart of the mercury-loving dentist. Many dentists are also wary of the possibility that thousands, if not millions, of lawsuits could arise if they -- or the FDA -- admitted to the damage mercury amalgams have done to public health. Litigation and class action lawsuits could deliver an incapacitating blow to the dental industry.

If we are to gain the support of government regulators and the American Dental Association (ADA), then some protection from liability must be addressed. This is why the environmental approach is ideal, because it offers some insulation from liability on the part of the dental industry, hopefully making new regulations a bit more palatable and easier to get passed.

The ADA and other pro-mercury proponents have always claimed that mercury fillings are a very cost effective way to treat dental decay. But is this true? NOT when you examine the true cost to human health and the environment.

Mercury from dental offices is actually the largest source of mercury found in wastewater. According to an article, at least 40 percent of mercury flowing into municipal water treatment plants comes from dentist offices! And urban water treatment plants are not set up to remove it, so eventually this dental mercury will end up in the fish on your dinner plate. The risk doesn't end there, however.

Mercury fillings in the teeth of someone who dies actually pose a risk to the living. Emissions from the combustion of mercury fillings during cremation are a significant contaminator of air, waterways, soil, wildlife and food. Seven to nine metric tons of mercury per year escapes into the atmosphere during cremations, and it’s estimated that, left unchecked, crematoria will be the largest single cause of mercury pollution by the year 2020. When you factor in environmental costs and cleanup costs, amalgam is actually the MOST EXPENSIVE dental material in the world! It makes perfect sense to approach legislative change regarding amalgams from the environmental perspective, which is why the mercury treaty has made environmental cleanup its central focus.

“Drilling and filling" is not the only option for treatment of dental caries. For minor cavities, a less invasive and less painful technique called Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) has proven quite effective, especially in underserved populations in both developing and industrialized countries. ART involves manual excavation of the decayed area with hand tools, eliminating the need for expensive drills and anesthesia. Since ART is noninvasive, it’s tolerated very well by patients, who experience less pain than with traditional fillings. The dental industry has been less than eager to hop on board, afraid this would cut into their exclusive cavity-busting monopoly. However, dentists would still make plenty of money from more complicated dental work. In fact, they would probably earn even MORE because the work

What can we do to help? Tell your family, friends, and neighbors the truth about dental amalgams. Don't let your dentist talk you into one for yourself or for your child. It's not your dentist's mouth—it's YOUR mouth. And YOUR pocket book—which holds a great deal of buying power. If your dentist insists mercury is safe, you may want to seek mercury-free dentist.