20+ QUESTIONS ON DENTAL AMALGAM AND MERCURY HEALTH RISKS: DID YOU KNOW?

These questions are posted as a guide to increase consumer, patient and parent awareness about a toxic substance - mercury - that is mixed with amalgam and installed in our teeth without any labels, warnings, or the basic human and medical right of informed written consent in the United States.

20+ QUESTIONS ON DENTAL AMALGAM AND MERCURY HEALTH RISKS: DID YOU KNOW?

THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION (ADA)

1.  The ADA was founded in 1859 (155 years ago) as a pro-amalgam trade association?

2.  A 1990 60 Minutes special, Is There Poison in Your Mouth? the highest-watched 60 Minutes show at the time, was pulled and never again shown or referred to on network TV? 

3.  The ADA put a gag order clause in its Code of Ethics saying that dentists who promote removal of amalgam for health reasons will be expelled, and expelled dentists until the courts put a stop to it? 

4.  Center for Responsive Politics calls ADA a ‘heavy hitter’ for campaign contributions, legal expenses?

5.  The ADA is also a commercial organization, with 83 patents in 38 years, while the AMA has none? 

DENTISTS AND DENTAL PLANS

6.  There are serious health warnings on mercury amalgam that dentists receive from manufacturers?

7.  About half of dentists don’t use amalgam any more, out of concerns for safety or environment?

8.  Dentists who want to teach at US dental schools keep quiet any concerns or reservations about the health impacts of amalgam?

9.  Dental plans are not cost neutral, the vast majority only pay the amount it would cost to put more amalgam back in the back of your mouth, and deny appeals despite medical proof of toxicity?

10. Removal of amalgam by regular dentists without special techniques and equipment beyond a dental dam increases exposure to mercury vapor, while biologic dentists use special training and equipment?

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND REPORTING

11. Blood, urine and hair tests for mercury levels are not that reliable with false negatives, as how your metabolism processes mercury determines if it shows up in tests, or stays in body, cells and brain?

12. More reliable tests for mercury damage may include urinary porphyrin levels, and glutathione levels?

13. A biocompatibility blood test can determine, among the vast quantity of dental metals and materials, which are most reactive, somewhat reactive and least reactive to your individual immune system?

14. Simple genetic tests can find at-risk gene types impacting methylation and detoxification pathways?

15. Reporting amalgam reactions is not mandatory, nor billable, and is confusing, so rarely happens?

16. The FDA considers sensitivity or reactivity reactions rare, because they are rarely reported?

17. You can and should report adverse events to the FDA, and report unsafe medical devices?

18. You can and should also report adverse events to the State Dental Board, and Poison Control Hotline?

THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)

19. Mercury amalgam is considered a medical device, a prosthetic device, not a substance, by the FDA?

20. The FDA long grandfathered it “generally recognized at safe,” never rigorously tested or proven safe?

21. As a result of a lawsuit, the FDA only ruled it Class II, with a guidance document for manufacturers to dentists in 2009 stating that mixed metals should not be used in the same or abutting teeth, because it creates galvanic micro-electrical currents that can degrade mercury in amalgam?

22. The FDA Commissioner recused herself because she sat on the board of an amalgam distributor for six years before taking this position?

23. The FDA ignored recommendations of its own Scientific Advisory Panels in 2010 to restrict its use and post warnings for use in children, pregnant women and people with a known allergy to mercury?

24. Thomas Duplinsky of Yale SOM published a 2012 study finding dentists have higher prescription usage for neurological, psychiatric, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases than matched controls?

GENES AND IMMUNE SYSTEM

25. People with ApoE4, CPOX4, or with a number of other common genetic mutations (SNPs) affecting methylation and detoxification do not clear mercury well, so have higher rates of toxicity?

26. People with these gene types have higher rates of Alzheimers, autoimmune and movement disorders?

27. Genetic screening diagnostic tests for the above, and for immune pathways are covered by insurance?

28. Mercury can cause allergies and skin reactions to yeasts, sugars, wheat, gluten, corn and soy?

29. Monkeys and sheep with amalgam placed in their teeth immediately start redistributing it throughout their bodies and brains? And get very ill pretty quickly when amalgam is put in their teeth?

HEALTH AND HEALTH IMPACTS

30. Mothers pass mercury on to our children via the placenta and breast milk?

31. There are changes in children’s urinary porphyrins evident soon after amalgam is installed?

32. Loss of teeth does not protect one from mercury poisoning, as the body and brain burden persists if one does not clear mercury well, or follow an effective, medically supervised detox protocol?

33. Populations with high amalgam exposures include midlifers, boomers and older adults, Native Americans, the Military, Medicaid patients, and all who don’t know or can’t afford alternatives?

34. Crematoria are exempt from adequate pollution controls, and have no provisions to remove mercury amalgam dental fillings prior to cremation? 

35. Health disparities and chronic health problems have proven correlations with amalgam exposure, but this is not considered sufficient proof to act to ban or restrict its use?

36. James S Woods, an author of the Children’s Amalgam Trial in Portugal, reanalyzed data by gender and gene type, publishing new studies that amalgam led to kidney and behavioral problems in some boys?

OTHER NATIONS

37. Amalgam was banned in Norway and Denmark in 2008, Sweden 2009, and other nations restrict it?

38. The third largest Israeli dental plan will not pay for amalgams in children?

39. Parker Hannifin, a major engineering company that self-insures, pays for amalgam removal to protect the health of its employees, and only pays for fillings using safer, biocompatible alternatives?

40. The World Health Organization has called for its end in dentistry, and under a new International Treaty signed in 2013, many nations are working to phase out its use in dentistry worldwide?

41. The EEC is laying the groundwork to follow the Scandinavian countries and stop using it?

WHAT STATES CAN DO (AND CANNOT DO)

42. Courts have ruled that states cannot ban amalgam because of the Interstate Commerce Clause, as long as the FDA maintains in is safe, despite the recommendations of the FDA Scientific Advisory Panel?

43. That there are no informed consents required or health warnings shared with patients, except in the four informed consent states of Maine, California, Connecticut and Vermont, and Philadelphia, PA?

44. Consumers do not get a label or the most basic right of informed written consent for use of amalgam?

45. The FDA was sued by the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology et al in March 2014 for violating the federal APA law by not responding to petitions for reconsideration for years?

46. What can we do?  What ideas do you have?  What can you do?  What can we all do together?

 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. 

Deborah Sampson vs. Goliath: Will Sharon Make History as First Town to Call for Surgeon General Report on Mercury Health Risks?

Article 24 is expected to come up on the second night, Tuesday May 6th, at Town Meeting at the Sharon High School Auditorium. Non-residents must request permission in advance to attend Town Meeting.

Watch Russell's Presentation to Sharon Finance Committee on Article 24: Why We Need a Surgeon General Report  

Sharon resident Laura Henze Russell filed Article 24 to raise awareness, and begin to change official government policy on dental amalgam, which is still in unrestricted use in the United States. Four Scandinavian nations and Japan ban amalgam. Canada and much of Europe have warnings and consent.

Russell is acting in the spirit of Deborah Sampson, a patriot who fought against all odds for her beliefs and for the rights of others. She is acting in the tradition of promoting an environment free of toxins for health and wellness, and lessening the burden and impact of chronic diseases. She is acting as a witness to her personal experience of illness and recovery, that of others she has met with similar experiences, and her belief, faith and knowledge from two years of in-depth research.

Russell was an ocean lifeguard in her youth. In her late 30s Russell developed fibromyalgia that restricted her physical activities. In her 40s she was treated for breast cancer and developed osteopenia that contributed to fractures of her foot, wrist and elbow. In her late 50s she developed escalating problems that specialists at leading Boston hospitals were unable to diagnose, and had to stop working.

Finally diagnosed and treated for mercury toxicity, she learned she has some common genetic glitches that increase susceptibility to heavy metals and toxins, and impact immunity. Large amalgams were drilled out with only a dental dam (inadequate protect from inhaled vapor) after she stopped breastfeeding, right before she developed fibromyalgia. Russell has experienced a remarkable recovery, and resolved to help others avoid her fate.  

James S Woods et al have published three peer reviewed studies retracting their prior findings of amalgam safety in the Children’s Amalgam Trial, finding neurobehavioral deficits in boys with certain gene types. Many studies show associations between amalgam and chronic diseases. Three dental associations – International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, International Association of Biologic Dentistry and Medicine, and Holistic Dental - are opposed to its use as mercury vapor off-gasses with heath and abrasion, harming genetically susceptible patients, dentists and staff.  They provide training in safer removal.

The FDA has a logjam on amalgam. We do not get labels, we do not get information, we do not have the basic human and medical right of informed written consent for a medical device that has a potent neurotoxin. Unlike the AMA, the ADA is also a commercial and trade association, with 83 patents in the 38 years in which the US Patent Office has fully digitized records. The ADA’s last patents on dental amalgam were filed in the mid 1970s and expired in the mid 1990s. 

During the last 12 years, the only new patents granted on dental amalgam are to help mitigate its impacts on the environment, through better wastewater separators, and for encapsulation in corpses prior to cremation to minimize release of toxic mercury vapor from crematoria, which are exempt from strict pollution controls.

Russell has provided extensive information the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Executive Office of Human Services, and the Division of Insurance which regulates dental insurance, but they can take no action as long as the FDA says it is safe. The IAOMT sued FDA March 5th for failing to respond to a petition to reconsider its Class II ruling with numerous errors in its risk assessment. States are permitted to require labels and give information for patients, as in CA, CT, ME and NH.

Rep. Kafka and Sen. Joyce filed bills on amalgam; they were sent to study. Russell shared extensive information with Rep. Kennedy, Sen. Warren and Sen. Markey. Rep. Kennedy and Sen. Markey are not on the right committees to lead. Sen. Warren's staff said they will need to see a large coalition before taking action. This is a step to raise awareness and help build momentum.

Russell founded Hidden River Health Challenge: A Social Innovation Enterprise, to help people learn about genes and toxins, and the importance of our own health information, share what we learn, and take action to help ourselves and others. Hidden River is forming a Coalition for Good Health, co-sponsored by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.  For information, contact Laura Henze Russell, laurarussell2@comcast.net.  

Filed by Laura Henze Russell, here is Article 24: "To see if the Town will request that the Sharon Board of Selectmen write to President Obama asking him to instruct the Surgeon General of the United States to prepare a report on Dental Amalgam and Health Risks; or take any other action relative thereto." 

The Board of Selectmen voted 2-0-0 against approval. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTED 8-0-1 AGAINST APPROVAL."

Why Dental Tourism is Booming - Journalist Resource

There are several major reasons for the growth of dental tourism within and outside the U.S.

1) We do not have integrated health and dental insurance in the U.S.  Dental insurance is strictly a business contract that has no provisions for medical necessity or patient protection.  When patients need to do thing outside the scope of the contract, even when medically necessary, it is expensive, and there is no coverage.

2) The costs of dental materials in the U.S. are much higher than the cost of those same materials overseas.  Talk with people from other countries, and you may learn they get their dental work done when visiting home, saving thousands of dollars.

3) The U.S. lags much of the advanced and some of the developing world in recognizing the health impacts and risks of dental amalgam, which off-gases mercury, for genetically susceptible children and adults.  The FDA ruled in 2009 it is only Class II with Special Controls, requiring warnings from manufacturers to dentists, but not from dentists to patients. There are no consumer labels, no patient information, and no written informed consent for installation of a medical device that contains a neurotoxin. Five advanced nations ban amalgam use, and many including Canada and much of Europe now require health warnings and informed written consent.

4) This gives dental amalgam protected status as "standard of care" even if you are in a high risk group.  This is why dental insurers can ignore, and deny, appeals based on medical necessity despite doctors letters and proof of harm such as elevated mercury levels and chronic diseases and symptoms consistent with mercury poisoning. 

5) Depending on the number of molars and bicuspids involved, patients are forced to pay five figures and cannot access the premiums they paid for decades for the additional cost of alternative filling materials, so they go overseas. It can cost as much as one or two cars, and often hits at or after the time of retirement, making it an extra unexpected whammy.

6) The ADA fights tooth and nail to defend amalgam use at all costs, and the FDA is happy to oblige.  Former Commissioner Hamburg held stock options from Henry Schein as FDA Commissioner and sat on their board for six years before taking office.  She only recused herself from the flawed 2009 ruling within the last few weeks, and Schein wrote that it was deeply indebted to her work on the FDA ruling.

7) There are three U.S.-based dental associations that train dentists in biologic, biocompatible dentistry, and attract dentists internationally: the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, the International Association of Biological Dentistry and Medicine, and the Holistic Dental Association.

8) There is also a considerable amount of dental tourism within the United States.  People drive good distances, even out of state, to find knowledgeable, expertly trained biologic dentists.  There are nearly 760 IAOMT members, about 640 in the US, 50 in Canada, and 70 from other nations. IABDM has about 210 members, and Holistic Dental Association 260. There is some overlap; so there are 1,000 biologic dentists in the U.S. or 20 per state, on average, 50 in Canada and 70 in other nations. In the nations that have banned amalgam there is less need to join such associations; Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Japan.

9) Journalists need to take a fresh look.  Resources such as the Shorenstein Center’s Journalist Resource admit that their algorithms are inadequate to give accurate, current guidance on medical topics, but they do not post a disclaimer.  The APHA rescinded its support in 2013 for an interim policy statement that declared dental amalgam a safe and effective restorative material.  I ask other journalists why they do not cover the issue and I am told that there is a long history of controversy.  There is controversy for a reason.  The job of independent media and journalists is to dive deeply into these kinds of issues, not avoid or sidestep them.

10) The IAOMT is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed March 5^th against the FDA and HHS for failure to respond to a petition for reconsideration of its flawed 2009 Class II rule, which detailed numerous errors in the FDA’s risk assessment, and ignored the recommendations of its Scientific Advisory Panel.  The APA requires a response within one year, it has been 54 months.  The FDA’s response has been to archive all of the materials related to its 2010 Hearing on the Petition for Reconsideration and Regional Public Hearings, which had strong testimony on this, so they are hard to locate through a search.  I have the links for interested reporters.

If you want sources for in-depth reporting on this issue, additionally google and contact me.  I am working on a major piece on this and am happy to share as this topic needs the broadest national, regional and local coverage.  I'd also recommend the IAOMT website and searchable library, and the DrBicuspid website, for which it is free to register, the DAMS International Facebook page, and the website of the 2015 Documentary, You Put What In My Mouth?  Learn about the inside debates within in the industry, and listen to injured and recovered patients and dental staff, including biologic dentists themselves, not just what the ADA and FDA want you to hear.  

Where to Find a Biologic Dentist:
International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, Find a Dentist US 637, Canada 51, International 71. International Association of Biologic Dentistry and Medicine, Find a Dentist  US 212, International 1. Holistic Dental Association, Find a Dentist US 259.

Sound an Alarm on Dental Amalgam: House Call for the Surgeon General

Sound an alarm on dental amalgam

2014 January 10

by Rick Holmes
A guest post from Laura Henze Russell:

Fifty years after the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking, it is high time for President Obama to ask the U.S. Surgeon General to prepare a Report on Dental Amalgam.

The great United States of America, through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, lags behind other advanced, emerging and developing nations in recognizing and protecting its citizens from dental amalgam’s scientifically proven health risks to genetically susceptible children and adults.

The FDA refuses to follow the recommendations of its own Scientific Advisory Panels on amalgam in 2006 and 2010 which called for clear health warnings, patient restrictions, and specific prior informed written consent before its use. Instead, the FDA requires clear health warnings and contraindications to be provided to dentists, but not patients.

Why? The American Dental Association and FDA fight tooth and nail to preserve its use as a “safe, effective restorative material.”  The ADA was founded as a pro-amalgam trade association, has filed patents on it.  Whistleblowers at the FDA went to Congress, but nothing happened.  There was a 36-year delay in classifying amalgam as a medical device, then in 2010 the FDA shocked everyone by only making it Class II, with special controls for dentists and none for patients, instead of Class III, which requires proof of safety. The International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology (IAOMT) and injured patients petitioned for reconsideration, nothing happened.

They have not convinced the IAOMT, IABDM, Holistic Dental Association, or a growing number of doctors treating the growing number of patients recovering from the raft of chronic autoimmune, neurological and other diseases that plague us as we age.

They have not convinced the over 100,000 people who finally figured out why they were ill, and contacted the volunteer patient counseling, information and referral, and support group Dental Amalgam Mercury Solutions (DAMS), which is run by a volunteer executive director, board members, and volunteer coordinators in all 50 states, many of whom are on disability due to mercury poisoning from amalgam.

They have not convinced the American Public Health Association, a majority of whose members declined in 2013 to ratify a policy somewhat hastily pushed through by ADA allies in late 2012, so APHA no longer endorses dental amalgam as safe and effective for use.

The U.S. signed the Minamata Treaty in Japan this year to phase out use of mercury worldwide, in all products, to reduce the burden of this potent neurotoxin on human health.  But when it comes to dental amalgam mercury, the U.S. takes baby steps, backward steps, bumbling steps.

Industrial and medicinal mercury gave us Mad Hatter’s Disease, Pink’s Disease for toddlers and children, Minamata Disease in Japan, and took down a number of venerated nurses and healers, including Clara Barton and Florence Nightingale.

We need a house call, and a wake up call, from the Surgeon General. May he come soon to save us from ourselves and our dentists, so we can all get and stay healthier and make the need for health care fall for the first time in the U.S.

Laura Henze Russell is the Founder of Hidden River Health Challenge: A Social Innovation Enterprise Promoting Health.

Audio: Rob Moir's Environmental Dialogues with Laura Henze Russell

Audio: Moir's Environmental Dialogues

Listen to Dr. Rob Moir and Laura Henze Russell discuss mercury poisoning and safer alternatives in dentistry.

March 20,2014 Episode  - Dental Assistant Karen Palmer of Bethlehem, PA talks about her occupational mercury poisoning.

March 6, 2014 Episode - Laura Henze Russell talks about the Campaign for Good Health, Call for a Surgeon General's Report, and IAOMT Lawsuit Against the FDA and HHS.

November 29, 2012 Episode - Laura Henze Russell talks about the upcoming Sharon, MA Town Warrant Articles.

Hidden River Health Challenge on YouTube - Watch Us!

Hidden River Health Challenge on YouTube - Watch Us!

March 2014 Resolution for Surgeon General Report to Sharon Finance Committee for May Town Meeting, and IAOMT Lawsuit vs. FDA in a Nutshell (14 min)


December 2012 Articles at Sharon Town Meeting to Learn About, Share and Act on Health Risks of Mercury Dental Amalgam for Genetically Susceptible Children and Adults (14 min)

November 2012 Cable TV Show FYI with Colleen Tuck

October 2012 Presentation to Board of Selectmen on Articles for Town Meeting Dec 2012

Oct. 2012 Presentation to Sharon Finance Committee on Articles for Town Meeting Dec. 2012

July 2012 Presentation to Sharon Board of Health on Health Risks for Dental Mercury Amalgam for Genetically Susceptible Children and Adults

Resources for Patients and Policy Makers: Lawsuit v FDA, Call for Surgeon General Report, FDA Guidance Document, State Dental Code, IAOMT Questions for Dentist

Lawsuit Against FDA For Failure on Health Risks of Mercury Dental Amalgam

Good Health Coalition Calls for Surgeon General Report on Dental Mercury

20+ Questions on Amalgam: Did You Know?

Save Health Health Care Costs and Protect Our Health Across Generations

FDA Guidance Document on Amalgam and MA State Dental Code Flyer

IAOMT Questions for Your Dentist, and How to Find a Dentist

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