Health Tips:
Discuss your situation with your Dentist if you currently have silver mercury fillings and are planning to become pregnant. Dr. Bayne does not advise silver mercury filling replacement during pregnancy.

Safety for Children
Silver mercury fillings are still commonly used to treat cavities in children; however, many options are available. Glass ionomers, resin ionomers, and composite resin can all be used for a wide range of dental procedures. White fillings contain no mercury.

FDA: Fillings May Harm Fetus
by Dr. Matthew Bayne, DDS
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) recently changed their position on the safety of silver mercury tooth fillings.

For decades, the FDA has claimed that silver mercury tooth fillings were safe.

In June of 2008, the FDA reversed its opinion. “Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses," the FDA now says on its Web site.

This came after a new study found detectable levels of mercury in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with silver mercury fillings.

Relevant links for this story are:

Newsweek says: FDA does "about face" on mercury tooth fillings

FDA Likely to Make Decision on Mercury Fillings by July 2009 - JP Morgan

Possible Risk From Dental Fillings - WebMD -- after you read the article, you can go to the web based form at http://www.webmd.com/policies/about-contact-us and click on letter to the editor - thanks!

Top Regulator Admits Mercury Fillings May Be Toxic

Remember all of us can help by trying to get your local paper to run the story or write a letter to your paper and share thru the letters to the editor. 

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How You Can Stay Safe
by Dr. Matthew Bayne, DDS
If you are planning on becoming pregnant, and have existing silver mercury tooth fillings, consult with your dentist regarding their safety and the safety of your fetus.
Mercury is a heavy metal, and the vapor released during the removal of silver mercury fillings can be absorbed by the human body, where it can persist for months. Evidence of this was anecdotal until recently.
New protocol will probably begin to surface about the exact methods for mercury removal when the FDA releases its followup report, which is due in 2009.
Until then, barrier techniques are the safest technique.
The best guess at the upcoming protocol is that, if you have a silver mercury filling removed within six months or so before becoming pregnant, request a non-latex dental dam be used. Normal, latex dental dams are permeable to mercury vapor and do not, in this author's opinion, provide adequate protection. Also, the high-speed vacuum should be used intra orally during the procedure to evacuate toxic vapors.
Other factors are involved in the dental treatment of the pregnant dental patient as well, such as the use of local anesthetics and X-rays. Be sure that your dentist is current with the latest protocols.
More information and articles on this topic can be found on our website: www.ParadiseValleyCosmeticDental.com

About the author:
Dr. Matthew Bayne, DDS maintains a private practice in Scottsdale, AZ, and has practiced mercury-free since 1998. www.ParadiseValleyCosmeticDental.com

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