New challenges to FDA's 'no risk' classification of mercury fillings

Dec 10 2010

FDA Device Division, still concerned about mercury toxicity in American dentistry, is convening yet another professional panel review regarding safety issues.  A nationwide convergence of scientists, dental and medical professionals, lead by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) are provoking new challenges to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) July'09 "no risk" classification of mercury fillings . The Holiday Inn, Gaithersburg MD is the site of FDA's Dental Products Panel meeting December 14 & 15 where scientific and public testimony will be presented.

The use of mercury fillings, deceptively called "silver" by the dental profession, has been controversial since introduced more than 150 years ago, simply because they contain 50%  mercury,  a known poison which is neurotoxic.  A 2006 Zogby poll indicated that 76% of Americans were not aware that their silver fillings contained mercury, and would have chosen non-mercury fillings had they been advised of the mercury content known to be poisonous to every living cell.  

Denmark, Sweden and Norway have already banned dental amalgam use, while other countries, including Canada, Germany, France and Italy, have restricted the use of dental amalgam for children, pregnant women, mothers who are breast feeding, people with kidney problems, and/or individuals with mercury sensitivity.

In 2006 FDA convened a joint meeting of its dental and neurology panels asking approval of the FDA "White Paper" which declared mercury fillings were not a danger.  In an unlikely turn of events, the Joint Panel voted13 to 7 rejecting the FDA's contention.  Despite the fact that FDA had no scientific support of their claim, three years later in July 2009 the FDA strongly endorsed the safety of mercury fillings, still with no credible scientific evidence that the general or vulnerable populations were not at risk.

The FDA's nearly unprecedented hearing next week on the claims of safety versus danger was prompted by a Petition for Reconsideration prepared by the IAOMT's attorneys Jim Love and Bob Reeves, which pointed out that FDA's past reporting of dental mercury disregarded the harm of mercury dosages on the vulnerable population of smaller size and lighter weight children, relying on improper assumptions and outdated reviews of scientific literature.  

A new risk assessment by Dr. Mark Richardson and his colleagues at SNC-Lavalin Environmental sent to FDA by Love last month concludes that the mercury vapor from fillings is absorbed and distributed into every tissue and organ in the body including the brain, resulting in excessive exposure of this poison to 122 million Americans. The risk assessment proves that mercury from all sources such as fillings, vaccines, and fish is cumulative and compounded by other toxins particularly lead.  

Matthew Young DDS, President of the IAOMT emphasized: "The cumulative dose and health effects of mercury from all sources will eventually force a ban on all optional use of this toxic metal. Mercury based fillings are the greatest contributor to mercury exposure in humans according to this recent risk assessment and the World Health Organization's Mercury Policy Report."  Young calls for a ban now instead of years from now, stating "the elimination of mercury fillings will be the greatest health benefit to humankind."