FDA Warns Of Mercury Dental Fillings

Mercury is known to cause numerous serious diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, brain and kidney damage. Most of teeth fillings currently available are mercury based. Previously FDA did not have any reasonable basis that the amalgams are posing health risk, but several consumer advocacy groups, such as Moms Against Mercury, urged FDA to issue the warning.

Finally, FDA warned the public of health complications that mercury can cause. It is known that mercury especially affects those with weakened immune system. FDA doesn't recommend that those who already have the filling should remove them, but the agency urges that pregnant women, children, and those with diseases should consult a dentist before choosing a tooth filling type. In July 2009 FDA will issue new rules for mercury based amalgams.

"We do believe that the agency will ask for the label to indicate that mercury is an ingredient in the filling, and that special populations should be exempt from such fillings, such as: nursing women, pregnant women, young children, and immunocompromised individuals," said Ipsita Smolinski from J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

By Ruzanna Haroutiunyan
According to the American Dental Association statistics, only about 30% of patients had mercury fillings since 2003. These amalgams contain 50% mercury and 50% other metals. There are many other options for teeth filling, such as tooth-colored resin composites, glass cement, porcelain, and other metals like gold. However, the best option is still mercury, because it doesn't cost much and it is very durable.