Dental fillings made with silver-colored amalgam and containing mercury were introduced in the United States in 1833. Fifty percent of the composition of these fillings is accounted for by the presence of liquid mercury. According to Dr. Paul Gilbert, master practitioner of the Academy of General Dentistry, mercury is surpassed only by plutonium as the most toxic substance on Earth. The amalgam mixtures allows fillings to remain pliable during the dental process and then harden thereafter, which has kept them popular for use in dentistry in spite of their alleged dangers.
The side effects from amalgam fillings are due to exposure to mercury and are virtually identical to those of mercury poisoning. Hal Huggins, an expert in amalgam filling removal, explains that recovering from the side effects of mercury amalgams is a long, tedious process.
Oral
Oral galvanism is a condition where a person's fillings become like a battery when exposed to saliva, and an electric current may be released in the mouth causing an allergy-like response, according to M.F. Ziff, in his research paper "Documented Clinical Side Effects to Dental Amalgam" from Advances in Dental Research. Shocks are felt in the teeth and throughout the mouth upon introduction of metallic objects such as food utensils. Other oral side effects from amalgam fillings are gingivitis, multiple root canals, periodontal disease and tooth loss.
Reproductive
Exposure to mercury in dental amalgams has raised the question about a variety of reproductive disorders being associated with mercury poisoning, such as difficulties conceiving, problematic menopause, birth defects, miscarriage, hot flashes, infertility and PMS.
Neurological
Many neurological diseases are attributed to exposure to mercury through dental amalgams, according to Dr. Gilbert in "Healthy Teeth and Gums." Some of these more well-known conditions are Lou Gehrig's disease, various learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Parkinson's disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, autism, Alzheimer's disease and memory loss.
Enzymatic/Hormonal
Adding to the list of mercury-related disorders, Dr. Gilbert points out problems with the endocrine system, multiple chemical sensitivities, leaky-gut syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, Grave's disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, lupus, psoriasis and environmental sensitivities.
Mental
Dr. Hal Huggins discusses certain psychological disorders that may be associated with exposure to mercury in fillings. Some of these conditions are borderline personality disorder, insanity of all kinds, depression, panic attacks, anxiety, shizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Respiratory, Vision, System-wide
Mercury in amalgam fillings may leak into the bloodstream affecting the entire system, including the respiratory organs with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and emphysema; vision and eyes with floaters, glaucoma, near- and farsightedness; and a variety of cancers and heart disease, according to Ziff.
