Daily Local News
By Dr. Linda K. Himmelberger, Guest Columnist
February 5, 2004
Like Chicken Little, Freya Koss and Consumers for Dental Choice are trying to make us believe the sky is falling when it comes to a commonly used dental filling called amalgam. Koss authored the letter to the editor titled, "The dark side of free dental care" (DLN, Feb. 4).
Yes, amalgam contains mercury; but similar to the way sodium and chlorine (both hazardous in their pure state) combine to form ordinary table salt, the mercury in dental amalgam combines with other metals to form a stable alloy that dentists have used for years to successfully treat cavities. As an alloy, dental amalgam has entirely different properties from mercury by itself. In short, it is more than the sum of its parts.
Koss certainly has a right to her opinion. But we like to base our dental decisions on the weight of scientific evidence and our own clinical experiences. We also rely on organizations responsible for protecting the nation's health such as the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization. All of these organizations have reviewed the evidence on amalgam. Their positions support its safety and effectiveness. The most recent reaffirmation of amalgam's safety was published in the Oct. 30 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
We find it deplorable that Koss would try to dissuade parents from allowing their children to get desperately needed dental care on Give Kids A Smile Day. The children seen at these events across the nation typically are children who are either under- or uninsured and would receive no dental care at all if not for voluntary, charitable efforts like this Give Kids a Smile Day.
Locally, children seen at Community Volunteers in Medicine receive comprehensive dental screening, treatment and preventive services. Once seen at Community Volunteers on this special day, the children become patients of record and receive regular, follow-up care. At last year's event, 73 children received more than $23,000 worth of free dental care. This care included full dental examinations, applications of fluoride and sealants, amalgam and composite restorations, root canals and extractions plus dental health education.
People shouldn't let Chicken Little scare them without learning the facts about the various types of dental fillings available. Whether it be gold, amalgam or composite resin, dentists can advise patients on the types of fillings that are right for them, taking into account the size and location of the cavity, their patient history, cosmetic concerns and cost. As with most things in life, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Dr. Linda K. Himmelberger and Dr. Bernadette A. Logan are the coordinators of the Give Kids a Smile event at Community Volunteers in Medicine and are members of the Dental Society of Chester County and Delaware County. Himmelberger, a general dentist who practices in Devon and lives in Berwyn, is currently secretary of the Pennsylvania Dental Association. She has been practicing dentistry for 25 years. Logan, a general dentist who practices and lives in Paoli, has been practicing dentistry for 13 years.
©Daily Local News 2004
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