To properly answer this question, let us examine the scientific literature published in reputable dental journals:
In 1957, Zander (JADA 55:11-15) reported “materials used in restorative dentistry may be a contributing factor in gingival disease”.
In 1961, App (JProsthDent 11:522-532) suggested that there was greater chronic inflammation around amalgam sites than non-amalgam areas.
In 1964, Trott and Sherkat (JCDA 30:766-770) showed that the presence of amalgam correlates with gingival disease. Such disease was not present at contralateral amalgam-free sites.
In 1969, Sanches Sotres et al. (JPeriodon 140:543-546) confirmed Trott and Sherkat’s findings.
In 1972, Turgeon et al. (JCDA 37:255-256) reported the presence of very significant erythema around amalgam restorations that was not present at control non-amalgam sites.
In 1973, Trivedi and Talim (JProsthDent 29:73-81) demonstrated that 62.5% of amalgam sites have inflammatory periodontal tissue reaction.
In 1974, Freden et al. (OdontolRevy 25:207-210) showed that gingival biopsy material not adjacent to amalgam had 1 to 10μg mercury/gram of tissue (mean=3) whereas gingival biopsy sites near amalgams contained 19 to 380 μg of mercury per gram of tissue (mean=147) – or 50 times more!
In 1976, Goldschmidt et al. (JPerioRes 11:108-115) demonstrated that amalgam corrosion products were cytotoxic to gingival cells at concentrations of 10-6 (μg Hg/g of tissue).
In 1984, the year of the National Institutes of Dental Research and the American Dental Association Workshop, Fisher et al. (JOralRehab 11:399-405) reported that at amalgam sites, alveolar bone loss was very pronounced and statistically significant as compared to control non-amalgam sites – confirming the amalgam/periodontal disease link !
Periodontal disease is one one the most prevalent chronic diseases in modern man and mercury amalgam fillings seem to be an important contributing factor. Should you have your amalgam fillings replaced with safer restorative materials in order to better control gum disease?
Talk to your dentist about it !
Thanks to Pierre Larose for this great blog post. You can find more about Pierre Larose at his website Sante Dentaire Larose
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Dental school is a professional school you would apply to after completing a 4-year college degree. Most dental schools in the United States require 1 year each of general physics, general biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry – all with labs, plus 1 year of English and 1 semester of biochemistry. Some schools require a semester of psychology. Typically an applicant would apply to dental school during their junior year of college. While finishing the senior year the applicant will hopefully be interviewing and getting ready to start school.
I see lots of gingival irritation from old amalgams. Perhaps an allergy response?
They tend to do better with ceramic restorations. Preferably porcelain over composite resin.
Hi, I have been to an oral surgeon recently. I have old mercury fillings from Germany. I now have gum disease and bone loss. However, the oral surgeon seems to want to push the cause on genetics. I don’t have this problem on either side of the family. I do have extreme sensitivity on the teeth the the mercury fillings, around the gum, etc… Seems to me that this problem is being shoved under the rug and not taken seriously. Now I’m at a loss at where to go next, what to do? Go to a regular dentist and get the fillings removed? Will it be safe to do that? What happens to my bone loss after the teeth are fixed? I have also had hair loss I couldn’t figure out, and in the midst of doing research, I found out that these fillings can cause this as well. If any of you can offer me help here as to what I should do next, especially after the fillings are removed, I would appreciate it.
Periodontal disease can start from a simple gum inflammation but can lead to major damage of the soft tissue and bone that support the teeth. Gum diseases are mainly due to the plaque formation on the top surface of the teeth. These plaque formations over a period of time can transform into tartar that is even harder to remove by brushing and flossing. The symptoms of Gum Disease are bleeding during brushing and flossing, receding gums, red swollen gums and chronic bad breath. Gum dentist alexandria