IAOMT: Common stressors increase mercury release from amalgam fillings

USA: The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) has raised concerns over the increased risk of mercury released from amalgam dental fillings, citing results of a study.

Titled “How Do Different Physical Stressors’ Affect the Mercury Release from Dental Amalgam Fillings and Microleakage? A Systematic Review”, the study indicated that a wide variety of common activity significantly accelerates the release of mercury from amalgam dental fillings.

Common triggers

The common activities that could significantly increase the release of mercury from amalgam restorations and/or cause microleakage, include: Exposure to static magnetic fields (SMF) such as those generated by MRI; electromagnetic fields (EMF) such as those produced by wi-fi and mobile phones; ionizing electromagnetic radiations such as X-rays and non-Ionizing electromagnetic radiation such as lasers and light cure devices

According to the Study authors, specific groups such as children, fertile women, elderly and hypersensitive individuals may be at risk. These high-risk populations were also included in the Food and Drug Administrations 2020 amalgam warnings to avoid dental amalgam.

Previous studies have found that even one amalgam dental filling can exceed the minimum risk level for mercury. Mercury released from dental amalgam fillings has been associated with a wide variety of adverse health effects.

“Huge implications”

“Considering the mountain of scientific evidence showing harm by the mercury released from amalgam dental fillings, it’s therefore important for patients with dental amalgam fillings to either avoid future mercury fillings or have them safely removed by an IAOMT dentist certified in the Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART),” said David Edwards, DMD, President of the IAOMT.

“These findings have huge implications for both patient safety and public health.”

About IAOMT

Founded in 1984, the IAOMT is a non-profit organization dedicated to biological dentistry and its mission of protecting public health and the environment. The Academy is committed to ensuring that dental care practices remain safe by researching potential risks associated with dental treatments.