BIODEGRADATION of Restorative Metallic Systems
Lucas and Lemons (1992) discuss the properties of dental filling alloys in their article. Some of their findings include:
- The gold-based alloys have been used longer than any of the other alloys and are referred to as noble alloys, ....
- The alloys contain gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, and zinc (Tesk, 1986). The corrosion resistance of the alloys is due to the high thermodynamic stability of the gold in the alloys (Marek, 1986).
- Base Metal/Alloys
... include nickel, cobalt, copper, iron, or titanium (which) are not as thermodynamically stable (as noble alloys), and a major aspect of their corrosion resistance is related to the formation of a thin, protective oxide film (passive film) on the surface of the metal. If the oxide film is disrupted, then the metal or the alloy must repassivate in order for the material to be protected.
- Titanium is one of the most corrosion-resistant materials used for biomedical applications. ... However, it should be pointed out that the oxide film is not sufficiently stable to prevent galling and seizing under loading conditions (Williams, 1981).
Amalgam Removal Precautions
A Citizens for Mercury Free Dentistry
advisory sheet notes the following:
- It is very important that you are not harmfully exposed to the mercury when each filling is removed. The IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology) has developed a protocol "Reducing Mercury Exposure to the Patient During Amalgam Removal". ... The majority of dental practitioners are NOT aware of these protocols because they lack formal training on amalgam removal.
- If you choose gold as a replacement material all amalgam fillings should be removed BEFORE any gold is placed. Gold increases the release of mercury. (This applies to caps, crowns, bridges and other dental appliances.)
- Amalgam can be under crowns and bridges.
- Know the composition of the replacement material you choose. Some types of plastic (composite resin or ceramic resin) contain metals like barium, aluminum and mercury. Porcelain may contain nickel and other metal oxides. Low gold may be high nickel. High gold may contain nickel and other non-precious metals.
- Your body needs time between removals to assist in expelling any mercury you are exposed to during removal.
The Mercury Emergency ...
Misdiagnoses
of medical health problems influenced by mercury toxicity is considered frequent by some researchers.
- Mercury poisoning mimics other pathological processes.
- Small amounts have the potential to result in considerable morbidity and deteriorating school performance.
- Especially when heated, mercury can be easily dispersed through the air.
- Misdiagnoses in children include rheumatic fever, psychotic depression, viral illness.
Mercury, Diet, and Health Effects.
Harte, Holdren, Schneider, and Shirley warn of non-dental mercury hazards:
- Mercury is listed as a hazardous air pollutant in the 1990 USA Clean Air Act;
- Mercury vapor is more hazardous than liquid mercury because it can be inhaled and is easily absorbed into the bloodstream;
- Bacteria easily converts mercury from composite substances (paints, anti-mildew agents, batteries) into far more hazardous organic forms ... methylmercury ....
- Inorganic mercury ... (is) converted by bacteria in freshwater and seawater and in sediments to organic methylmercury (which) is rapidly absorbed by fish (dimethyl-to-monomethlymercury) thus raising the level in fish;
- Selenium in seawater provides partial protection (to fish) against mercury's effects;
- Freshwater fish have slightly higher levels of mercury accumulation than marine species;
- Pike, trout, and bass are the freshwater varieties tending to have the highest concentrations;
- Shrimp, snapper, and halibut are the marine species most frequently consumed having the highest levels;
- Various species of algae are also affected;
- Can readily pass through the placenta of pregnant women (to the fetus) ... and through the blood-brain barrier into the brain;
- Health Effects (include) memory losses, tremors, emotional instability (anxiety and irritability), insomnia, and loss of appetite characterize milder exposures;
- At moderate exposures, more significant mental disorders and motor disturbances, as well as kidney damage ...
- The milder effects of mercury vapor appear to reverse after exposure is stopped, with the muscular disorders improving sooner than the mental ones;
- Evidence does show a higher rate of spontaneous abortions and other complications of pregnancy (from mercury toxicity);
- Mildest cases of (methylmercury) poisoning show nonspecific symptoms, such as malaise, blurred vision, and pins-and-needles tingling;
- Symptoms usually appear after a latency period of a few weeks to months during chronic low-level exposures or following acute high-level exposure;
- More severe cases show constriction of vision, diminished hearing, speech disorders, and shaky movements and unsteady gaits;
- Consumption of several grams of mercury compounds can cause death by kidney failure, and smaller doses over longer times can lead to kidney and nerve damage ...
- The most severe cases show mental derangement and coma, with death the frequent outcome.
RESEARCH REVIEW, Ziff, 1986.
Sam Ziff reviews the scientific literature for the consumer:
page 1, Man, in his never ending struggle to improve his quality of life, has increased the metallic contamination of his environment to the point where it is the major source of heavy metal pollution and poisoning.
page 2, Man in his infinite wisdom has always been capable of doing things in the name of "progress" without due regard to the impact and effect his acts or creations have on life in later years or generations of the species.
page 11 (from Dr. Alfred Stock's 1926 article)
"Dentistry should completely avoid the use of amalgam for fillings or at least not use it whenever this is possible. There is no doubt that many symptoms: tiredness, depression, irritability, vertigo, weak memory, mouth inflammations, diarrhea, loss of appetite and chronic catarrhs often are caused by mercury which the body is exposed to from amalgam fillings, in small amounts, but continuously. Doctors should give this fact their serious consideration. It will then likely be found that the thoughtless introduction of amalgam as a filling material for teeth was a severe sin against humanity."
page 59, Researchers have shown that a substantial loss of mercury occurs. This was proven by actually weighing the amalgam filling in teeth that had been extracted. What these researchers found was an astonishing loss of as high as 84% of the original mercury content of the amalgam filling ....
page 73, Mercury is cytotoxic. This means it acts as a toxin or an antibody and has a specific poisonous effect on the cells. Bleeding gums and alveolar bone loss, which results in loosening of the teeth, are both classic signs of mercury toxicity. Of course these conditions can also be caused by germs or bacteria but according to Till in 1978, who used germ free animals in his experiment, mercury in amounts released from amalgam fillings could produce the same signs plus inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth. ... gingivitis, pyorrhea, or peridontis
page 85, #7. Neurological disturbances consisting mainly of mild tremor, ataxia (failure of muscular co-ordination and irregular movement), and sensory and visual loss were very prevalent in the clinical observations of methylmercury poisoning.
page 86, #12. Komulain and Tuomisto in 1981 ... found that methylmercury, even in low concentrations, inhibited the uptake in synaptic nerve endings in the brain of the neurotransmitters dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin.
page 90, #3. Exposure to mercury compounds has been found to induce cardiovascular impairment.
page 91, #5. Electrocardiographs (ECG's) were studied from 42 victims of organic mercurial poisoning. The ECG's were abnormal in all 42 cases.
page 94,
#1. The pituitary and thyroid glands in humans display an affinity for the accumulation of mercury. ...
#2. The concentrations of mercury in the pituitary and thyroid glans were much higher than found in the kidney, brain, or liver in humans.
#3. ... the depression of thyroid function did not improve and was concluded to be permanent and irreversible.
page 109,
#4. ... evaluation study of patients (suffering from) methylmercury poisoning ... there appeared to be a significant number suffering from depression. Of the 43 patients in the study, thirty-two (74.4%) were consistently depressed. Clinically depressive symptoms were mild to moderate in degree, consisting mainly of a feeling of depression, lack of interest, deficient concentration, and a wish to be left alone.
page 120, Stock characterized micromercurialism symptoms in three groups according to their degree of intensity of the phenomenon.
"First degree micromercurialism results in lowered work capacity, increased fatigue, light nervous excitability. Often, in the second degree there is swelling of the nasal membranes, progressive weakening of memory, feelings of fear and loss of self-confidence, irritability, headaches. Simultaneously there may be catarrhal symptoms and upper respiratory discomfort, changes in the mucous membranes of the mouth, bleeding gums. Sometimes there are feelings of coronary insufficiency, shivering, quickening pulse, and a tendency towards diarrhea. Third degree micromercurialism is characterized by ... headaches, general weakness, sleeplessness, decline in intellectual capacity, depression. Among other signs are tears, diarrhea, frequent urination, a feeling of pressure in the cardiac region and shivering."
page 148, The brains and kidneys of these accident victims were evaluated for mercury content. The researchers found a clear correlation between the number and surfaces of silver amalgam fillings and the mercury content of the brain and kidneys. The researchers were also able to determine that there was a correlation between age and mercury content in the brain.
page 154, "Dental amalgam restorations and mercury vapor exposure were shown to be causally related. Chewing increased the evaporation of mercury from one week old dental amalgams." ... went on to demonstrate the same or higher release of mercury vapor from amalgam fillings after tooth brushing for one minute with a soft tooth brush and commercial tooth paste.
page 155, Dr. Bengt Fredin ... determined that the ingestion of hot liquids (soup, coffee, tea, etc.) also stimulated the release of mercury vapor from dental amalgam fillings the same as chewing or tooth brushing.
page 172,
#2) Selenium.
Selenium binds with mercury to render it biologically inactive in some respects (this is why tuna is not poisoned by the mercury in its system). ...
#3) Zinc.
Mercury competes biologically with zinc ... zinc is protective to some extent against mercury.
pages 189-195, (Detoxification)
Cysteine ... Glutathione ... Vitamin C ... Vitamin E ... Selenium ... Zinc
... Vitamin B6 ... Pantothenic Acid ... Acidophilus ...
In most instances, use of detoxification nutrients and the removal of the amalgam fillings will cause a redistribution of mercury within your body. This fact together with the possibility of a temporary increase in mercury body burden resulting from the amalgam removal process, may cause an exacerbation of your symptoms. ... time to excrete and reduce the total body burden of mercury. This can take anywhere from one week to one year after the last amalgam has been removed, ....
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