Filling Debate: Should Mercury Go in Teeth?

Are dental fillings that contain mercury poisonous or harmless? It’s a debate that seems to resurface every few years, and it’s heating up again.

Some dentists believe that mercury in fillings can lead to serious problems.

But other dentists--and the American Dental Assn.--say mercury has been used in fillings for 150 years and is not dangerous. About 100 million fillings with mercury are inserted each year, according to the ADA. Here, two dentists debate the wisdom of mercury fillings.

Joyal Taylor, San Diego dentist; president, Environmental Dental Assn.

“Mercury fillings do not belong in the mouth, period. Mercury is poisonous for all people. Some people may be able to handle it better than other people. Some people who have had all their fillings removed for preventive reasons report the disappearance of minor health problems, such as ringing in the ears, headache and metallic taste in the mouth.

“The American Dental Assn. has stated in its code of ethics that it considers it unethical for a dentist to remove (serviceable) fillings because of mercury (content) unless a patient asks him or her to do so. Our code of ethics (of the Environmental Dental Assn.) considers it unethical for a dentist to put silver fillings in a patient’s mouth without telling the patient ahead of time about the mercury content.

Terry Donovan, chair, Department of Restorative Dentistry, USC School of Dentistry, spokesman for the American Dental Assn.

“There is no scientific evidence that removal of silver fillings will remedy any of the diseases reputedly associated with them. All such evidence of a mercury filling disease link is anecdotal.

“For instance, one woman who had symptoms of arthritis had her silver fillings removed and said she was cured the same day--and went dancing that night. But if her symptoms were due to the mercury, she would have had more mercury in her system for about a week after the removal than she had when the fillings were in place. If her symptoms were due to the mercury, she should have felt worse during that period.

“American dentists are exposed to more mercury than patients, and studies show dentists suffer no higher degree of autoimmune diseases . . . than the general public.”