Mercury Risk Means Certain People Shouldn’t Get Amalgam Dental Fillings: FDA
MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Certain people are at higher risk for health problems from mercury-containing amalgam dental fillings and should avoid them if possible, a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommendation says.
Groups that may be at greater risk of harm from mercury vapor released by these fillings include: pregnant women and their developing fetuses; women who are planning to become pregnant; nursing women and their newborns and infants; children, especially those younger than six years of age; people with pre-existing neurological disease such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease; people with impaired kidney function; and people with known allergy to mercury or other components of dental amalgam, which also includes silver, tin and copper.
The recommendation was issued after a review of research, monitoring reports and public discussions.
“The FDA is not recommending anyone remove or replace existing amalgam fillings in good condition unless it is considered medically necessary because removing intact amalgam fillings can cause a temporary increase in exposure to mercury vapor and the potential loss of healthy tooth structure, potentially resulting in more risks than benefits,” Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, director of FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in an agency news release.
“While the available evidence suggests that dental amalgam use has generally declined over recent years, due to more alternative products being offered and used effectively for dental restorations, high-risk individuals, as noted in our recommendations, should discuss alternative products for restoring teeth with their dentist,” Shuren said.
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