Court Won't Force FDA to Restrict Mercury Dental Fillings as Risky

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Court Won't Force FDA to Restrict Mercury Dental Fillings as Risky

 

April 13, 2007— WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal appeals court said Friday it could

not force the Food and Drug Administration to tighten restrictions on dental

fillings containing mercury.

Advocacy groups sought to ban the use of such fillings and to force the FDA to

classify them as risky, subjecting them to tougher regulations.

The groups say the fillings pose health risks to patients who inhale mercury

vapors and dental office employees who handle the materials.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously

ruled that, while certain FDA actions can be appealed, the court has no

jurisdiction to review agency inaction.

The mercury mixture has stirred controversy since dentists began using it to

fill cavities in the 1800s. Significant levels of mercury exposure can cause

permanent damage to the brain and kidneys, but the FDA has said for years that

mercury fillings don't harm patients, except in rare cases when they have

allergic reactions.

Amalgam fillings are about 50 percent mercury, joined with silver, copper and

tin. Tens of millions of Americans receive mercury fillings each year. Many

doctors have begun switching to resin composite fillings that blend better with

the natural coloring of teeth.

Federal health officials began a new review of the safety of the fillings last

year.

 

 

 

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