Dr. Don Robbins of Philadelphia files letter of protest to Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) for falling on its sword for mercury. We encourage other members of AGD to do the same.
-- Charlie Brown
From: Dr Donald Robbins
To: ExecutiveOffice@agd.org;washingtonbriefing@agd.org
Re: Protecting the Public
March 31, 2006
Dear Dr. Bruce A. Burton,
I have been a strong supporter and member of the AGD since the 1970’s. I feel it is a far superior organization than the ADA. The AGD has always been more responsive to its members views and needs. The AGD has always kept an “open mind” when new ideas and materials came on the dental scene. It was always objective when reviewing the scientific literature in a fair and open perspective from both sides of the controversy. It has never been politically controlled as far as I can tell.
It is because of this that I was dismayed reading that the AGD will support the use of mercury amalgam dental fillings if needed to sway the Courts and Congress. This is blindly following outmoded and archaic treatment and is blatantly a health hazard to dentists, staff and patients. Mercury is an environmental hazard and is considered by WHO to be the number two environmental health hazard to humans (Plutonium is #1).
How can we consider ourselves scientists and health professionals if we do not examine the overwhelming scientific literature, hundreds of articles, showing the hazards of mercury in the mouth? Amalgam fillings have never been proven to be safe (they were grandfathered under FDA regulations) and should not be used until they are. Research on my own patients clearly show the continuous emission of mercury from their oral amalgam fillings, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Many of my patients have levels far in excess of OSHA maximum guidelines for mercury exposure.
I strongly urge the AGD to not take the pro-mercury dental use side of this issue. You will incur the anger of many of us, members of the AGD, who know better. If our members doubt the truth of the points made at the IAOMT press conference, you should urge them to investigate medical and toxicological internet sites that are NOT RELATED TO THE ADA. They will be amazed at the reams of information regarding hazards of mercury and dental fillings. All they have to do is enter any of the dental mercury or toxic terms into the search engines.
Donald Robbins, DMD, FAGD
Exton, PA