Dental Amalgam and Health Issues

Update:  The FDA has set a deadline for its reclassification of dental amalgam.  See the ADA News Press Release. 

Ongoing concern over the use of mercury amalgam as a dental filling centers around possible long-term health effects which may be associated with constant mercury exposure.

In 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for a reclassification of dental amalgam and its components. A final ruling will be issued in July 2008 on the basis of empirical data and scientific evidence.

In a recent press release, the American Dental Association (ADA) stated that “dental amalgam remains a safe, affordable and durable cavity filling choice for dental patients“.

The following is a list of links to resources and research pertaining to this issue:

• Clinical trials indexed in PubMed.
• Recent articles indexed in PubMed.
• Consumer information from the FDA.
• FDA dental products panel meeting documents.
• FDA amalgam classifications.
• Overview from the ADA
• From the National Library of Medicine Environmental Health and Toxicology.