Dental Mercury Exposure - Dental Mercury Detox

[Guest guest]

-

* Health and Healing *

Sunday, April 21, 2002 10:11 AM

Dental Mercury Exposure - Dental Mercury Detox

 

 

 

 

Important : Always consult your physician for recognized medical

treatments. The information on this page is for educational purposes, and should

not be viewed as a substitute for legally licensed medical/dental professional

advice.

 

 

--------

 

 

Mercury exposure from mercury dental fillings, also known as " silver "

fillings and " amalgams " , is a life long threat. When a person chews, drinks,

swallows and breathes, mercury released from dental fillings is absorbed by the

lungs and the linings of the digestive system into the bloodstream. As they

corrode, mercury fillings release ionized mercury into the saliva, tooth pulp,

and gum tissues leading to the digestive system and bloodstream.

 

There has been a long running debate over the safety of these dental

fillings. Dental industry trade representatives, most notably the American

Dental Association (ADA) have long denied that there is any detrimental effects

from the use of mercury in repairing dental cavities.

 

For more than a century, the ADA has contended that once a mercury amalgam

filling has " cured " , the mercury is chemically bound, and cannot escape the

filling. This speculation has always been at odds with the commonplace

observation that mercury fillings " wear out " ; corroding, eroding, breaking, and

falling out of the teeth - requiring replacement with new fillings over time.

 

Recently, evidence has come forward that soundly refutes the

contention/speculation that the mercury " stays put " in the fillings. (Please see

our page: Dental Mercury Exposure).

 

The center of debate over safety has now switched to the question of " how

much mercury exposure does it take to become ill ? " . Most of the classical work

establishing mercury as a potent neuro-toxin has come from acute, that is high

dose, short duration exposures. Such exposures demonstrate high levels of

mercury in blood and urine, and are the basis of present diagnostic standards

for mercury toxicity.

 

Many current investigators have come to believe that chronic low-dose

exposure - small amounts over a long time - such as is received from mercury

dental fillings follow a different dynamic.

 

Because of the strong attraction for molecules containing sulfur, low

doses of mercury clear from the blood quickly taking residence in the body in an

immobilized and not easily detected state. Traditional diagnostic methods and

standards for acute mercury toxicity are inadequate for determining health

dysfunctions arising from long term low-dose exposure to mercury via dental

fillings.

 

Recent scientific investigations have shown that persons suffering from

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) commonly demonstrate immune T-cells that are

programmed to react against mercury and other dental metals. (Please see our

page: MELISA and Dental Metals)

 

Independent researchers have also shown that CFS sufferers have

continuously activated immune systems, though a long sought viral cause for this

activation still cannot be identified.

 

Immune sensitization against mercury and other dental metals changes the

nature of the discussion regarding the safety of dental metals. Acute exposure

criteria no longer apply when the immune system is directly involved. The

standard of practice in allergic immunology is to avoid the substance that

stimulates the immune system.

 

Below we outline what we have gathered from various sources, including

researchers and those practicing dentistry and medicine, regarding the

resolution of dental mercury and/or dental metal caused illness.

 

 

 

--------

 

 

1. Diagnosing metal caused illness. Every commonly used method of

diagnosing dental metal caused illness has problems. Hair tests can show

elevated mercury, but very rarely show enough mercury to meet acute exposure

standards. Urine studies are also insufficient to agree with acute exposure

criteria. Even with a chelation challenge, persons who are not ill will often

show similar levels of mercury as those who are ill and suspecting their dental

fillings.

 

We are left with only two methods of diagnosing dental metal caused

illness that appear logical, supported by the objective facts.

 

Process of elimination. When all other potential causes have been

eliminated, then the teeth at long last become suspect. If you have mercury

dental fillings, you have mercury exposure.

 

You don't need hair, urine or blood studies to determine that you are

exposed to mercury- just count your fillings in the mirror. All dental metals

release small amounts of their metal in the mouth under normal conditions.

Mercury amalgams are reliably exposing the person to mercury on a near constant

basis - the more amalgam surfaces, the greater the exposure.

 

You are immune exposed to all the dental metals in your mouth. However,

that alone doesn't mean you are immune sensitized to any of the metals.

 

People ultimately act on faith and hope to remove their mercury dental

fillings when following a process of elimination.

 

MELISA® Test. Melisa is the only objective test in our awareness that

provides direct evidence for illness caused by dental metals. Lymphocytes don't

lie or imagine, they swell up and multiply when stimulated with the metal or

pathogen they are programmed to remember - or they don't if there is no direct

connection.

 

2. Detoxifying the teeth. Whether a person is receiving toxicity from a

mercury buildup, or immune stimulation from a sensitized metal, the first step

towards recovering health is to remove the controllable metal sources. This

would be the metal dental restorations in the teeth.

 

Safe removal of mercury fillings is an important consideration. Drilling

can cause a large one-time exposure of mercury vapor. Mercury vapor is

poisonous, and can cause a worsening of problems if allowed to be added to your

other exposures. 80% of mercury vapor breathed into the lungs enters the

bloodstream where it freely travels to the brain and other vital organs and

tissues.

 

A rubber dam properly installed during drilling will slow the rate mercury

vapor directly enters the tissues of the mouth, will stop amalgam particles from

going down the throat, and will funnel mercury vapor out of your mouth.

 

Suction under the rubber dam will remove mercury vapor that accumulates

underneath the dam. A rubber dam doesn't stop mercury vapor, it slows it down so

that the high speed drill created vapor doesn't impell directly into the mouth

tissues.

 

Breathing from a respirator becomes essential to reduce exposure since the

opening to the mouth is in the immediate area where your nostrils draw air.

Using the rubber dam will protect the mouth and throat tissues while increasing

the mercury vapor available for nostril breathing.

 

There are other considerations that don't have a wide consensus, such as

the order the fillings should be removed, and how much to do in one sitting.

These are important individual considerations for you and your physician(s) to

work out.

 

3. Go to metal-free dental restoration materials. All ceramic systems are

now becoming widely available. These have the highly desirable attribute of not

corroding and releasing any metals into the mouth.

 

Metal-free is the standard of care for those suffering " amalgam illness "

in Sweden. Even with a MELISA test you cannot determine what metals you will

become immune sensitized against. Persons with immune sensitivity to one metal

have much higher odds of developing a similar sensitivity to another metal.

 

If you are acting on a process of elimination and without certain

knowledge from a MELISA test, then you are further increasing your odds of a

positive outcome by eliminating all metals - since you cannot know which ones or

how many you are reacting against. It is very common to be sensitized to more

than one dental metal.

 

Every metal used in dentistry, including gold, titanium, and platinum, has

been demonstrated to cause a T-cell mediated immune allergy in some people.

 

Nickel, a common base metal used in low cost crowns and as a hardening

agent in expensive gold crowns, causes immune sensitivity the most often,

followed by inorganic mercury. Even with gold a CFS sufferer has a 1 in 3 chance

of being immune sensitized to the metal.

 

We are aware of a case where a person became immune sensitized to gold

after having all amalgams removed and gold alloy crowns installed for the first

time.

 

Gold sensitivity was demonstrated by bleeding gums in association with the

gold crowns, and a ring finger rash from a previously tolerated gold ring. This

person was objectively demonstrated to be immune sensitized to gold, nickel, and

mercury via subsequent MELISA® testing.

 

4. Restore normal metabolism. Many of the symptoms arising from " amalgam

illness " are believed to result from a persistent immune activation wasting away

nutritional resources, and the direct consumption and disregulation of

nutritional resources by metals, particularly mercury.

 

Depletion of intracellular glutathione stores are a common result of

extended immune activation and from extended mercury exposure. This depletion

can be directly related to symptoms of poor immune response and symptoms of

hypothyroidism (low thyroid), among many other problems.

 

In a healthy state the body's stores of glutathione come to the defense by

binding circulating mercury as it oxidizes, and carrying the metal in the waste

flow via the liver and kidneys. A slow down in this natural process may be the

first step in immune sensitization, allowing mercury levels to build to a level

that enrages the immune system.

 

An activated immune system further consumes body stores of glutathione,

possibly leaving the body even more sensitive and with less defense against the

continuous exposure of toxic dental mercury.

 

Restoring intracellular glutathione, antioxidants, B-vitamins, and rare

trace minerals are the long term remedy for many of the symptoms of " amalgam

illness " . Metabolic restoration can begin even when the suspect metals are still

in the teeth.

 

For some people, IV preparations of nutrients will be required at first to

by-pass disrupted digestion and absorption.

 

Others can go straight to much less expensive oral supplements such as

" Double Defense & Double Replenish " from CFS Nutrition.

 

5. Reduce the body burden of mercury. There are several drugs and at least

one nutrient that seem quite effective in enhancing the body's detoxification

rate of extracellular mercury. Each of these are described as a " dithiol "

compound.

 

DMPS is an experimental drug, legally available in the USA only from

medical researchers under special FDA license.

 

DMSA is available for prescription under a general FDA approval, though

its primary approval is for eliminating a body burden of lead, not mercury.

 

Alpha lipoic acid is a naturally occurring compound found in very small

amounts in potatoes and other foods, and is available over-the-counter as a food

supplement.

 

In doses able to heavily influence the excretion of mercury, all of these

compounds have anecdotal problem reports. One reason that seems likely is the

further disregulation of important trace minerals caused by these powerful

chelating agents. Dithiols pull strongly on essential minerals and not just

heavy metals like mercury and lead.

 

You should know there is an ongoing controversy regarding the safety of

dithiol chelators and the use of DMPS in particular. Visit Jana's DMPS Backfire

website for information you may not recieve at a DMPS chelation clinic.

 

We suggest that a person be on a sure metabolic footing before pursuing

any chelation strategy to further enhance mercury detoxification beyond the

normal glutathione pathway.

 

These offer relatively small and periodic doses of lipoic acid while

supporting glutathione levels. We are aware of some persons advocating much more

aggressive dosing of lipoic acid for mercury detoxification. We urge caution.

 

 

For more aggressive strategies in enhancing mercury excretion, we strongly

recommend you consult a physician with a proven record of success in chelating

heavy metals while avoiding " backfires " , restoring their patients to a more

normal health.

 

 

 

 

 

To learn more about the group, please visit

 

 

To to this group, simply send a blank e-mail message to:

-

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Is there an established relationship between mercury poisoning and

coronary artery disease? references?

 

 

Gettingwell, " Elaine " <mem121@u...> wrote:

> -

> * Health and Healing *

> Sunday, April 21, 2002 10:11 AM

> Dental Mercury Exposure - Dental

Mercury Detox

>

>

>

>

> Important : Always consult your physician for recognized

medical treatments. The information on this page is for educational

purposes, and should not be viewed as a substitute for legally

licensed medical/dental professional advice.

>

>

>

----

----

>

>

> Mercury exposure from mercury dental fillings, also known as

" silver " fillings and " amalgams " , is a life long threat. When a person

chews, drinks, swallows and breathes, mercury released from dental

fillings is absorbed by the lungs and the linings of the digestive

system into the bloodstream. As they corrode, mercury fillings release

ionized mercury into the saliva, tooth pulp, and gum tissues leading

to the digestive system and bloodstream.

>

> There has been a long running debate over the safety of these

dental fillings. Dental industry trade representatives, most notably

the American Dental Association (ADA) have long denied that there is

any detrimental effects from the use of mercury in repairing dental

cavities.

>

> For more than a century, the ADA has contended that once a

mercury amalgam filling has " cured " , the mercury is chemically bound,

and cannot escape the filling. This speculation has always been at

odds with the commonplace observation that mercury fillings " wear

out " ; corroding, eroding, breaking, and falling out of the teeth -

requiring replacement with new fillings over time.

>

> Recently, evidence has come forward that soundly refutes the

contention/speculation that the mercury " stays put " in the fillings.

(Please see our page: Dental Mercury Exposure).

>

> The center of debate over safety has now switched to the

question of " how much mercury exposure does it take to become ill ? " .

Most of the classical work establishing mercury as a potent

neuro-toxin has come from acute, that is high dose, short duration

exposures. Such exposures demonstrate high levels of mercury in blood

and urine, and are the basis of present diagnostic standards for

mercury toxicity.

>

> Many current investigators have come to believe that chronic

low-dose exposure - small amounts over a long time - such as is

received from mercury dental fillings follow a different dynamic.

>

> Because of the strong attraction for molecules containing

sulfur, low doses of mercury clear from the blood quickly taking

residence in the body in an immobilized and not easily detected state.

Traditional diagnostic methods and standards for acute mercury

toxicity are inadequate for determining health dysfunctions arising

from long term low-dose exposure to mercury via dental fillings.

>

> Recent scientific investigations have shown that persons

suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) commonly demonstrate

immune T-cells that are programmed to react against mercury and other

dental metals. (Please see our page: MELISA and Dental Metals)

>

> Independent researchers have also shown that CFS sufferers

have continuously activated immune systems, though a long sought viral

cause for this activation still cannot be identified.

>

> Immune sensitization against mercury and other dental metals

changes the nature of the discussion regarding the safety of dental

metals. Acute exposure criteria no longer apply when the immune system

is directly involved. The standard of practice in allergic immunology

is to avoid the substance that stimulates the immune system.

>

> Below we outline what we have gathered from various sources,

including researchers and those practicing dentistry and medicine,

regarding the resolution of dental mercury and/or dental metal caused

illness.

>

>

>

>

----

----

>

>

> 1. Diagnosing metal caused illness. Every commonly used method

of diagnosing dental metal caused illness has problems. Hair tests can

show elevated mercury, but very rarely show enough mercury to meet

acute exposure standards. Urine studies are also insufficient to agree

with acute exposure criteria. Even with a chelation challenge, persons

who are not ill will often show similar levels of mercury as those who

are ill and suspecting their dental fillings.

>

> We are left with only two methods of diagnosing dental metal

caused illness that appear logical, supported by the objective facts.

>

> Process of elimination. When all other potential causes have

been eliminated, then the teeth at long last become suspect. If you

have mercury dental fillings, you have mercury exposure.

>

> You don't need hair, urine or blood studies to determine that

you are exposed to mercury- just count your fillings in the mirror.

All dental metals release small amounts of their metal in the mouth

under normal conditions. Mercury amalgams are reliably exposing the

person to mercury on a near constant basis - the more amalgam

surfaces, the greater the exposure.

>

> You are immune exposed to all the dental metals in your mouth.

However, that alone doesn't mean you are immune sensitized to any of

the metals.

>

> People ultimately act on faith and hope to remove their

mercury dental fillings when following a process of elimination.

>

> MELISA® Test. Melisa is the only objective test in our

awareness that provides direct evidence for illness caused by dental

metals. Lymphocytes don't lie or imagine, they swell up and multiply

when stimulated with the metal or pathogen they are programmed to

remember - or they don't if there is no direct connection.

>

> 2. Detoxifying the teeth. Whether a person is receiving

toxicity from a mercury buildup, or immune stimulation from a

sensitized metal, the first step towards recovering health is to

remove the controllable metal sources. This would be the metal dental

restorations in the teeth.

>

> Safe removal of mercury fillings is an important

consideration. Drilling can cause a large one-time exposure of mercury

vapor. Mercury vapor is poisonous, and can cause a worsening of

problems if allowed to be added to your other exposures. 80% of

mercury vapor breathed into the lungs enters the bloodstream where it

freely travels to the brain and other vital organs and tissues.

>

> A rubber dam properly installed during drilling will slow the

rate mercury vapor directly enters the tissues of the mouth, will stop

amalgam particles from going down the throat, and will funnel mercury

vapor out of your mouth.

>

> Suction under the rubber dam will remove mercury vapor that

accumulates underneath the dam. A rubber dam doesn't stop mercury

vapor, it slows it down so that the high speed drill created vapor

doesn't impell directly into the mouth tissues.

>

> Breathing from a respirator becomes essential to reduce

exposure since the opening to the mouth is in the immediate area where

your nostrils draw air. Using the rubber dam will protect the mouth

and throat tissues while increasing the mercury vapor available for

nostril breathing.

>

> There are other considerations that don't have a wide

consensus, such as the order the fillings should be removed, and how

much to do in one sitting. These are important individual

considerations for you and your physician(s) to work out.

>

> 3. Go to metal-free dental restoration materials. All ceramic

systems are now becoming widely available. These have the highly

desirable attribute of not corroding and releasing any metals into the

mouth.

>

> Metal-free is the standard of care for those suffering

" amalgam illness " in Sweden. Even with a MELISA test you cannot

determine what metals you will become immune sensitized against.

Persons with immune sensitivity to one metal have much higher odds of

developing a similar sensitivity to another metal.

>

> If you are acting on a process of elimination and without

certain knowledge from a MELISA test, then you are further increasing

your odds of a positive outcome by eliminating all metals - since you

cannot know which ones or how many you are reacting against. It is

very common to be sensitized to more than one dental metal.

>

> Every metal used in dentistry, including gold, titanium, and

platinum, has been demonstrated to cause a T-cell mediated immune

allergy in some people.

>

> Nickel, a common base metal used in low cost crowns and as a

hardening agent in expensive gold crowns, causes immune sensitivity

the most often, followed by inorganic mercury. Even with gold a CFS

sufferer has a 1 in 3 chance of being immune sensitized to the metal.

>

> We are aware of a case where a person became immune sensitized

to gold after having all amalgams removed and gold alloy crowns

installed for the first time.

>

> Gold sensitivity was demonstrated by bleeding gums in

association with the gold crowns, and a ring finger rash from a

previously tolerated gold ring. This person was objectively

demonstrated to be immune sensitized to gold, nickel, and mercury via

subsequent MELISA® testing.

>

> 4. Restore normal metabolism. Many of the symptoms arising

from " amalgam illness " are believed to result from a persistent immune

activation wasting away nutritional resources, and the direct

consumption and disregulation of nutritional resources by metals,

particularly mercury.

>

> Depletion of intracellular glutathione stores are a common

result of extended immune activation and from extended mercury

exposure. This depletion can be directly related to symptoms of poor

immune response and symptoms of hypothyroidism (low thyroid), among

many other problems.

>

> In a healthy state the body's stores of glutathione come to

the defense by binding circulating mercury as it oxidizes, and

carrying the metal in the waste flow via the liver and kidneys. A slow

down in this natural process may be the first step in immune

sensitization, allowing mercury levels to build to a level that

enrages the immune system.

>

> An activated immune system further consumes body stores of

glutathione, possibly leaving the body even more sensitive and with

less defense against the continuous exposure of toxic dental mercury.

>

> Restoring intracellular glutathione, antioxidants, B-vitamins,

and rare trace minerals are the long term remedy for many of the

symptoms of " amalgam illness " . Metabolic restoration can begin even

when the suspect metals are still in the teeth.

>

> For some people, IV preparations of nutrients will be required

at first to by-pass disrupted digestion and absorption.

>

> Others can go straight to much less expensive oral supplements

such as " Double Defense & Double Replenish " from CFS Nutrition.

>

> 5. Reduce the body burden of mercury. There are several drugs

and at least one nutrient that seem quite effective in enhancing the

body's detoxification rate of extracellular mercury. Each of these are

described as a " dithiol " compound.

>

> DMPS is an experimental drug, legally available in the USA

only from medical researchers under special FDA license.

>

> DMSA is available for prescription under a general FDA

approval, though its primary approval is for eliminating a body burden

of lead, not mercury.

>

> Alpha lipoic acid is a naturally occurring compound found in

very small amounts in potatoes and other foods, and is available

over-the-counter as a food supplement.

>

> In doses able to heavily influence the excretion of mercury,

all of these compounds have anecdotal problem reports. One reason that

seems likely is the further disregulation of important trace minerals

caused by these powerful chelating agents. Dithiols pull strongly on

essential minerals and not just heavy metals like mercury and lead.

>

> You should know there is an ongoing controversy regarding the

safety of dithiol chelators and the use of DMPS in particular. Visit

Jana's DMPS Backfire website for information you may not recieve at a

DMPS chelation clinic.

>

> We suggest that a person be on a sure metabolic footing before

pursuing any chelation strategy to further enhance mercury

detoxification beyond the normal glutathione pathway.

>

> These offer relatively small and periodic doses of lipoic acid

while supporting glutathione levels. We are aware of some persons

advocating much more aggressive dosing of lipoic acid for mercury

detoxification. We urge caution.

>

>

> For more aggressive strategies in enhancing mercury excretion,

we strongly recommend you consult a physician with a proven record of

success in chelating heavy metals while avoiding " backfires " ,

restoring their patients to a more normal health.

>

>

>

>

>

> To learn more about the group, please visit

>

>

> To to this group, simply send a blank e-mail message to:

> -

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I wasn't the one who post that mercury message but I just

finished reading a book " Heart Disease, Stroke & High Blood

Pressure " by Burton Goldberg. My interest was in learning

more about cholesteral and heat disease.

 

In this book there are a few references to mercury and heart

disease. This is because the metal interferes with the

liver function of enzymes and cell communication. With

liver function no working properly then you open up a

window to different health problems. Heart disease can

be one of them.

 

Liz D.

 

Gettingwell, " mrplease49 " <mrplease49> wrote:

> Is there an established relationship between mercury poisoning and

> coronary artery disease? references?

removed]