JAMA Reports Dental Amalgam Is Safe

The "60 Minutes" segment on dental amalgam was called "Poison In Your Mouth." It interspersed remarks from an American Dental Association representative with statements by three amalgam critics and four patients who claimed to have made a remarkable recovery from arthritis or multiple sclerosis after their amalgam fillings were removed. Well now there is some new evidence that sheds a different light on the amalgam safety controversy.
According to two studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, children with dental amalgam fillings do not experience adverse effects related to neurobehavioral, neuropsychological (IQ) and kidney function, reinforcing the ADA's longstanding position on the safety of dental amalgam.The ADA reports that both independent studies "reinforce the substantial body of peer-reviewed scientific literature that supports the safety of dental amalgam."According to JAMA, both articles, "Neurobehavioral Effects of Dental Amalgam in Children" and "Neuropsychological and Renal Effects of Dental Amalgam in Children," are the first randomized controlled trials comparing the health effects in children treated with amalgam fillings with those treated with composite resins. The former was conducted in Lisbon, Portugal, and involved 508 children, ages 8 to 10, who were randomly assigned amalgam or composite fillings. The latter took place in Boston and Farmingham, Maine, and comprised 534 children, ages 6 to 10, who also were randomly picked to receive amalgam or composites. Both studies were funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and were made up of children who had no previous restorations. The studies conclude that there were no clinical adverse effects on neurological and kidney function in children with dental amalgam fillings and health effects of amalgam restorations should not be an issue when choosing a restorative material. The studies also noted mercury in urine increased in children exposed to amalgam restorations, but remained within the range of normal background levels. The ADA's press release to the public says, "The bottom line for consumers: Dental amalgam remains among several safe, effective options for treating dental decay."