Health Effects of Dental Amalgam Fillings in Children

Scientists supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health, report in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association the results of the first-ever randomized clinical trials to evaluate the safety of placing amalgam fillings, which contain mercury, in the teeth of children.

Both studies—one conducted in Europe, the other in the United States—independently reached the conclusion: Children whose cavities were filled with dental amalgam had no adverse health effects. The findings included no detectable loss of intelligence, memory, coordination, concentration, nerve conduction, or kidney function during the 5-7 years the children were followed. The researchers looked for measurable signs of damage to the brain and kidneys because previous studies with adults indicated these organs might be especially sensitive to mercury.

For Full Article: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/ResearchResults/NewsReleases/ArchivedNewsReleases/NRY2006/PR04182006.htm

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Content on this blog are for informational purposes only, is neither intended to and does not establish a standard of care, and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ACES is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this website.

A point pollution source, not only of mercury but also of other amalgam constituents

Shraim A, Alsuhaimi A, Al-Thakafy JT Taibah University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia; University of Queensland, National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (EnTox), 39 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD 4108, Australia. Current literature suggests that amalgam waste from dental clinics is a point-source of mercury pollution in the environment. However, apart from mercury, other amalgam constituents (e.g. Ag, Sn, Cu, and Zn) in dental clinics' wastewater have not been reported in the literature before. The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of mercury and other metals in the wastewater of some dental clinics and the influent of a wastewater treatment plant in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah (KSA). This renders dental clinics wastewater a hazardous waste which should be properly treated before it is discharged into the environment.

For full article: http://dental.researchtoday.net/archive/8/5/8972.htm

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Content on this blog are for informational purposes only, is neither intended to and does not establish a standard of care, and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ACES is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this website.

FDA Issues Final Regulation on Dental Amalgam

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a final regulation classifying dental amalgam and its component parts – elemental mercury and a powder alloy—used in dental fillings. While elemental mercury has been associated with adverse health effects at high exposures, the levels released by dental amalgam fillings are not high enough to cause harm in patients.

The regulation classifies dental amalgam into Class II (moderate risk). By classifying a device into Class II, the FDA can impose special controls (in addition to general controls such as good manufacturing practices that apply to all medical devices regardless of risk) to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device.

The special controls that the FDA is imposing on dental amalgam are contained in a guidance document that contains, among other things, recommendations on performance testing, device composition, and labeling statements.

Specifically, the FDA recommended that the product labeling include:

• A warning against the use of dental amalgam in patients with mercury allergy;
• A warning that dental professionals use adequate ventilation when handling dental amalgam;
• A statement discussing the scientific evidence on the benefits and risk of dental amalgam, including the risks of inhaled mercury vapor. The statement will help dentists and patients make informed decisions about the use of dental amalgam.

For full article: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm173992.htm

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ACES is the world's leader in providing live webcast dental continuing education

Disclaimer

Content on this blog are for informational purposes only, is neither intended to and does not establish a standard of care, and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ACES is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this website.

Dental clinics: A point pollution source, not only of mercury but also of other amalgam constituents

Current literature suggests that amalgam waste from dental clinics is a point-source of mercury pollution in the environment. However, apart from mercury, other amalgam constituents (e.g. Ag, Sn, Cu, and Zn) in dental clinics' wastewater have not been reported in the literature before. The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of mercury and other metals in the wastewater of some dental clinics and the influent of a wastewater treatment plant in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah (KSA).

For full article: http://dental.researchtoday.net/archive/8/5/8972.htm

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ACES is the world's leader in providing live webcast dental continuing education

Disclaimer

Content on this blog are for informational purposes only, is neither intended to and does not establish a standard of care, and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ACES is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this website.

FDA takes another look at mercury-based dental fillings

Although there are no new data on the safety of mercury alloy dental fillings, the Food & Drug Administration wants to know whether the methods used to ascertain their safety were adequate.

Last year the Food & Drug Administration ruled that the mercury-containing metal in dental fillings is safe, but the agency wants to know if the methods it used to determine the alloy's safety were satisfactory.

The FDA is holding a public meeting today and tomorrow on the issue, focusing on the risk of the dental amalgam for children and pregnant women.

For full article: http://www.massdevice.com/news/fda-takes-another-look-mercury-based-dental-fillings?source=http://www.dentalindia.com

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ACES is the world's leader in providing live webcast dental continuing education

Disclaimer

Content on this blog are for informational purposes only, is neither intended to and does not establish a standard of care, and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ACES is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this website.