Mercury amalgam fillings have been the subject of much controversy in the past two decades. Countless clinical studies have shown their harmful effects. Problems are caused by the mercury contained in the filling material - sometimes as much as 50% of a filling is composed of mercury - as well as other toxic metals in the amalgam, which can leak into the body and wreak havoc.

The American Dental Association (ADA) claims that mercury does not leak out of fillings into the body, but research contradicts that position. A recent study found evidence of mercury uptake from the teeth into the lungs, the gastrointestinal tract, and jaw tissue, after less than a month. Once absorbed at these sites, high concentrations of mercury rapidly localize in the kidneys and the liver.¹

Other research indicates that mercury can transform a normal bacterial organism into one that is resistant to antibiotics. Also, there is evidence of a direct effect of mercury amalgams on the suppression of protective white blood cells.²

The pathology of mercury poisoning is complicated because mercury binds to many different sites in the body. For example, mercury is especially attracted to sulfur and there are a number of "sulfur sites" in the body. Sulfur is found in red blood cells, heart muscle, and in portions of the cells that control genetic reproduction. Mercury will poison any enzymes containing sulfur, including those involved in the formation of insulin, the ability of blood to clot, and processes related to DNA.

Additionally, mercury suppresses thyroid functions by poisoning the enzyme required to produce the active form of the thyroid hormone (T3) from the inactive form (T4). Mercury poisoning has the curious ability of being able to mimic certain diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, scleroderma, and lupus.

California Dental Board Ousted Over Mercury-amalgam Fight

GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS of California signed a bill Oct. 5, 2001, that reverberated across the nation, eliminating a state agency because it repeatedly refused to follow the law - or common sense. It is only the first of a series of setbacks for a defiant dental establishment that will not listen to even its own constituency. It is expected that the Department of Consumer Affairs will provide a refreshing outlook that actually will place the interests of the consumer above the special interest agendas of the dental politicos.

The bill Gov. Davis signed was SB-134 whereby on Dec. 31, 2001, the current California Dental Board ceases to exist. A brand new Board will be appointed.

The law also required the California Dental Association (CDA) to send health warnings about mercury fillings to all dental California dentists by March 9 to be posted for patients. The court rebuffed an effort by the ADA to intervene and obstruct the case The language is harsh:

Finally, the Board executive director must be approved by Director Hamilton of the Department of Consumers Affairs, a step to ensure more consumer accountability. Clearly, the Governor has listened to the California public and put his signature to an excellent new law. Senator Liz Figueroa wrote the right bill for the right situation.

For years, the Board harassed and intimidated mercury-free dentists, threatening and even taking their licenses, preventing the emergence of informed consumer choice. And for nine years, the Board had refused to comply with the Watson law, which requires a Fact Sheet from the Board to list the "risks" of mercury amalgam. (Diane Watson is now a U.S. Congresswoman and she continues to play a major role in insisting that the law she wrote be complied with.)

At meeting after meeting, the Dental Board chose to ignore the presence and testimony of legions of California consumers, instead adopting to the position of the American Dental Association and covering up the risks of mercury fillings. So, by kowtowing to the outrageous position that mercury is safe, the California Dental Board signed its own political death warrant.

To put a state agency out of business is almost unprecedented. Kudos to us all, but especially to Anita Vazquez Tibau, who truly electrified this movement in California and built a broad-based coalition of rich and poor, of Hispanic, African-American, Caucasian, and Asian, of victims and consumer advocates.

The message is now clear across the nation. In California, the nation's trendsetter state, freedom now exists to practice mercury-free dentistry. Now, it is hoped the Governor will choose to appoint a diversity of dentists, including some from the large and growing contingency of mercury-free men and women dentists in the state. It is time that the CDA monopoly on dentist appointments be broken; this is the right time for the Governor to do it.

The Technique The Dental Boards Used...

In a body blow to the American Dental Association, the Attorney General of Iowa has declared that the state dental board’s Gag Rule to be unconstitutional.

The Gag Rule has been the principle method that the ADA, the state dental associations, and their henchmen at the state dental boards have used to stop communications between mercury-free dentists and their patients, and advertising to inform the public about their choices.

Now other states are issuing similar rulings.

Consumer Choice and Implementing Full Disclosure in Dentistry

The U.S. Congress is now getting into the act as the Government Reform Sub committee on Human Rights and Wellness chaired by Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) with minority ranking member, Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA), are holding congressional hearing on the health hazards of mercury poisoning from dental amalgam fillings. Two panels will testify, one comprised of three expert scientists and the other of those testifying about the right for informed choice and disclosure.

Even the FDA has changed course on its mercury policy. The agency is now using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) much lower safe level for mercury in the human body. Previously, the FDA had maintained there was no danger in having four times more mercury in the human body than the safe level set by EPA.

Our Main Stream Media...

Why has our main stream media been so quite about the dangers of amalgam fillings? Why has there been no reporting of the stand the state of California has taken with its dentists on mercury fillings? It should come as no surprise that our media is not interest in reporting news that the consumer is interested in. With them, it is business as usual. Protect the status quo of big business at the expense of the public. Aren't they the ones that are the first to cry... the public has the right to information when they think they're being denied access to something they want? If it wasn't for the Internet, we would still think fluoride was good for us and amalgam fillings were safe.

We encourage you to let us know what you think of this newsletter. Your comments are important to us. We can be reach at: newsletter@holygroundfarm.org.

NOTE:
This newsletter references a PDF file that requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click on the following icon to download the current version: