BIOSAFEDENTISTRYTM For Optimum Health
By Donald Robbins, DMD (See Full Profile)
“Dr. Robbins, I am having trouble concentrating at my job. It is like my mind is foggy.”
“My daughter is at college and keeps falling asleep. She can’t concentrate on one topic for long before she gets ‘mind fog’ and looses focus.”
“I am forgetting little details when doing projects at work. My eyes don’t focus on the computer screen very long before I have to take a break.”
Patients relate these and similar complaints—persistent muscle aches, daily tiredness regardless of how much sleep they get, odd sensations in their arms, legs, fingers, and toes— to me during their initial biosafe dental consultation in my integrative dental practice. Although these symptoms may have other causes, mercury exposure and the resulting mercury toxicity may be the root cause of the symptoms. All of us—patients and healthcare professionals alike—have been led to believe, from “experts” at the American Dental Association (ADA), that the silver colored mercury dental fillings in our teeth are safe and do not harm our health. That is a lie.
When I first realized that mercury in the mouth, in any form, might not be safe, I began to research the scientific and medical studies outside of conventional dental authorities. That was twenty-five years ago. Since then, I have reviewed countless clinical and scientific studies which prove that mercury is a neurotoxin and that toxic mercury vapor is released from the amalgam fillings in teeth. That release of mercury vapor from amalgam fillings occurs all day and all night – 24/7. And the mercury vapor is released at high level—inside your head. What health authority could possibly claim that such exposure could be “safe”? Why is this powerful and insidious toxin is not making headline news? I am continually appalled and angry over the political cover-up of such an important health risk to the general public.
Let’s look at the evidence about mercury vapor. Mercury vapor which is released (off-gassed) from dental fillings is the most toxic form of environmental mercury exposure most of us will experience in our lifetimes. Mercury vapor released from dental fillings is inhaled and immediately absorbed into the bloodstream from the lungs. Once in the bloodstream, mercury is deposited in the kidneys, liver, brain, and fat cells throughout the body. Most critically, mercury is neurotoxic. It destroys nerve cells. Mercury is one of the contributing causes of cognitive dysfunctions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and general “senility”, and general muscle pains. And if a pregnant woman is exposed to mercury vapor, her fetus absorbs 10 times more mercury than she does. Such a high exposure can affect the brain and nervous system of developing babies and young children. That is why in my practice I will not remove mercury fillings while a woman is pregnant or if she is nursing a baby. We only treat emergency conditions until that time when they mother can no longer expose the child to the harmful effects of mercury.
Considering these few details about the toxic effects of mercury, does anyone actually think they can maintain a healthy mind and body if they are constantly being exposed to mercury? The diagram above is the mission of my practice: to incorporate biosafe dental care with complete integrative medical care and thereby improve the mental health and physical functioning of a person. Almost all of the patients I have treated who complained about “mind fog” have returned to normal functioning after the safe replacement of their mercury dental fillings. Some of those patients developed mental fog originally because a mercury filling was removed without precautions! Taking mercury amalgam fillings out without proper protection exposes the dentist and the staff as well as the patient. Procedures for safely removing mercury amalgam fillings are available at our office.
Each of us must be responsible for our own health decisions. That includes investigating the healthcare practitioners we need before we choose one. It also includes considering the short- and long-term costs associated with healthcare decisions. Selecting a healthcare provider who participates or is “in the network” of an insurance plan may seem to save expenses. In the long run, the costs may be less financial (ie, saved money) and more overall health issues (ie, serious health disorders or disease). Before selecting a dental practice that removes mercury fillings, ask questions about how the dentist protects patients from exposure to mercury.
And what about the authorities in the United States who are supposed to be protecting our health? As of last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reversed its official position on mercury amalgam fillings and no longer supports false statements from the ADA. The FDA now states on their website:
“Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetus.”
“Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bioburden, should not avoid seeking dental care, but should discuss options with their health practitioner.”
Over the next year the FDA will reclassify dental amalgam, the mercury filling material that more than 50% of dentists use to repair teeth.. Mercury amalgam should be classified as a Class III material: it must be proven safe for use in humans or it is not to be used at all. My hope for the overall well being of patients is that existing scientific evidence prevails over political and private interests.
340 North Pottstown Pike (Route 100)
Exton, PA 19341
Phone: (610)363-1980
www.donaldrobbinsdmd.com