healthbriefs
Well-Being Is Just a Breath Away
Mercury-Free Dentistry, Part 1 by Linda J. Golden, DDS
F
or many years, the cheapest option for dental fillings has been dental
amalgam. Dental amalgam is a com- bination of mostly powdered silver, tin and copper and liquid mercury. Before use as a filling material, the amalgam components are mixed by the dentist or assistant in measured proportions, and the resultant paste is placed in the cavity. Dental amalgam, however, does not bond to tooth tissue and therefore requires quite an extensive cavity preparation in order to produce a retentive dental restoration. It also has a silver color, which eventually becomes dark and unsightly, due to oxidation of the metallic components. Utilizing dental amalgam poses great risk to dental staff
Linda J. Golden, DDS
and patients. Mixing of dental amalgam results in exposure of all present in the dental facility to mercury vapor. A patient with an amalgam filling also inhales mercury fumes, which evaporate from the filling due to wear. Again, unreacted liq- uid mercury present in the filling may leak into the surround- ing gingiva and other tissues. Removal of a failed amalgam filling also releases even more mercury vapor, which is inhaled by all present at the dental facility, including patients
that opt for other nonmetallic filling materials. Liquid mercury is toxic even in low amounts, and its ex- posure results in such symptoms as irritability, headaches and general malaise. It may even result in more severe complica- tions, such as brain and kidney disease, with high or constant contact, such as is the case for dental staff. There are some arguments about the levels of mercury
vapor released from dental amalgam, with some suggesting that these levels are too low to cause any harm. However, most experts agree that there is always some amount of mercury vapor escape during placing and especially when removing dental amalgam. Therefore, the use of mercury must be avoided in the dental setting at all costs, and tooth-colored materials, which bind to tooth tissue and are more aesthetic, should be encouraged. However, for a practice to be truly mercury-free, there should be safe removal of old amalgam fillings by extracting resultant mercury fumes from the dental facility, thus, pre-
venting any further unnecessary exposure to staff or patients. Mercury-free dentistry is a safe and inevitable way for- ward and should be embraced everywhere.
Source: Linda J. Golden, DDS, of Golden Dental Wellness Center (444 Community Dr., Ste. 204, Manhasset). For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 516-627- 8400. See ad on page 3.
Center for the Alignment of Body, Mind & Spirit
We provide Gentle Chiropractic Care for the whole family in a relaxing, friendly and supportive environment.
Chiropractic is a natural, drug-free, safe and effective method to help:
Relieve Pain • Heal Your Body • Optimize Your Health Call for a Complimentary
Phone Consultation
Other services offered at the Center include Acupuncture, Reiki, Nutrition Counseling, Spiritual Counseling and Massage Therapy
Dr. Gina Marino
2050 Wantagh Avenue Wantagh, NY 11793 516-221-3500
www.align-me.com natural awakenings October 2016 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56