By Dale Rodebaugh, Durango Herald Staff Writer
http://durangoherald.com
October 20, 2005
A dentist's ad in The Durango Herald regarding silver fillings has upset several of his Durango colleagues and raised safety concerns among patients.
"The ad has caused some panic in Durango dental practices," Molly Osberg, director of communications at the Colorado Dental Association, said by telephone Wednesday. "Dentists are upset and say there is a big fear among some patients who think they have something unsafe in their mouths.
"In fact, amalgam fillings - silver-colored fillings - have been scientifically proven to be safe."
The ad by Dr. Matt Falkenstein, which has run at least twice in the Herald, shows a close-up of a thumb and forefinger holding a vial containing a globule of what is apparently mercury. In large type, the viewer is asked: "Are you sure you want this in your mouth?" In smaller type is: "All silver fillings contain 45%-55% mercury" and "Call for a mercury-free appointment."
Some dentists and holistic healers are concerned about mercury toxicity. They say that mercury, a major component of amalgam fillings, can vaporize, damaging brains, kidneys and immune systems, particularly in children.
"There is nothing wrong with the (Falkenstein) ad, but what it implies about mercury is just not true," Osberg said. "You get more exposure to mercury in tuna fish."
Osberg said a half-dozen Durango dentists have called her or Dr. Rhett Murray, an Aurora dentist who is chairperson of the ethics committee of the Colorado Dental Association, regarding the ad by Falkenstein, who also is a Herald columnist.
In a statement e-mailed to the Herald, Falkenstein said "The issue of mercury-silver fillings is very controversial in the dental profession. More than 50 percent of dentists and the American Dental Association believe the fillings are harmless. Many dentists disagree. I believe people should know that all silver fillings have 45 percent to 55 percent mercury in them and that some of that mercury goes directly into the body. I also believe people should investigate their options before accepting mercury-silver fillings in their mouths."
The American Dental Association says amalgam fillings are safe. A message on the ADA Web site says "Dental amalgam (silver filling) is considered a safe, affordable and durable material that has been used to restore the teeth of more than 100 million Americans. It contains a mixture of metals such as silver, copper and tin, which chemically bind these components into a hard, stable and safe substance.
"Dental amalgam has been studied and reviewed extensively, and has established a record of safety and effectiveness."
Dr. James Eich, a Durango dentist, said Falkenstein's ad implies that elemental mercury is used in fillings. It is not, he said. The mercury in amalgam fillings is bound to other metals to make it safe.
Eich uses amalgam and composite resin, which he said is the wave of the future. He likes composite resin for its esthetic qualities. But the jury is out on the durability of resin compared to amalgam, he said.
In a reply to a Front Range newspaper article regarding the potential hazard of amalgam fillings, Dr. Kenneth Versman, immediate past president of the Colorado Dental Association, said that sodium, chlorine, oxygen and hydrogen can be hazardous in their pure states, but when combined form salt and water.
Mercury combines with other metals to form a stable alloy that dentists have used to fill cavities for 150 years, Versman said.