The NobleDentist Blog

An article titled Study says mercury fillings OK has appeared in the Bangor Daily News.

A much anticipated study of the health impacts of dental fillings containing mercury has ended. Researchers in Maine and Massachusetts monitored more than 530 school-age children including about 250 in Farmington over five years and have concluded that the silver-colored amalgam material has no negative effect on children’s neurological functioning.

The study report appears in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. A study conducted in Portugal reports similar findings in the same issue.

Exposure to mercury in the environment is associated with behavioral changes, reduced IQ, learning problems and other disorders including, at high levels, convulsions, coma and death. Autism also is suspected of being related. Some consumer groups including some here in Maine have recently advocated for laws prohibiting the use of mercury amalgam fillings especially in young children and pregnant women who are especially at risk.

Most dentists and public health officials, however, have argued that the mercury in dental fillings is so tightly bound to the tin and silver also contained in the material that only minute amounts of vapor are released harmlessly. They say eliminating amalgam fillings ultimately would harm children’s dental health because many public and private payers won’t pay for the more expensive white fillings consumer groups advocate. Additionally, many dentists prefer to use the amalgam because it is more durable and easier to handle especially in younger children or those with special needs who find it difficult or impossible to cooperate in the dentist’s chair.

In response to the growing debate over the safety of mercury amalgam fillings, researchers from the New England Research Institutes, the Forsythe Institute, Children’s Hospital in Boston and the University of Rochester School of Medicine designed the New England Children’s Amalgam Trial. They recruited children 6 to 10 years old from the Farmington area and from the Boston vicinity. The children were eligible to participate in the study and to receive free dental care if they were fluent in English, had no known prior or existing amalgam fillings, had at least two back teeth with existing cavities, and, by their parents’ report, had no diagnosed psychological, behavioral or neurological disorders. They also were required to have a healthy immune system and healthy kidneys.

The children received a comprehensive examination at the outset of the study, including urine tests and a battery of assessments designed to measure their IQ, memory and eye-hand coordination. They then were randomly assigned to receive either mercury amalgam fillings or a white, resin-based filling in any cavities that developed during the study. They were seen twice each year for dental care, more often if dental problems arose.

Researchers in Massachusetts and Maine readministered the neurological exams at the end of the first, second and fourth year to measure whether the children were showing any damage. They also monitored kidney function for changes that might be attributable to mercury exposure. The study found no statistically significant differences between the two groups of children.

“These findings suggest that the health effects of amalgam restorations in children need not be the basis of treatment decisions when choosing restorative dental materials,” the report states.

Reactions to the report in Maine were mixed this week. John Bastey of the Maine Dental Association said the results were not unexpected. While consumers’ concerns make sense on one level, he said, dentists have believed for years that mercury binds so tightly to the other materials in the amalgam that only tiny amounts are released, not enough to cause any harm. Bastey said many dentists prefer amalgam because it is longer-lasting, easier to place and less expensive than white composite fillings.

Pediatric dentist Jonathan Shenkin of Bangor said younger dentists are using less of the amalgam in response to consumer demand for the more visually pleasing white composite fillings. Though he uses amalgam only rarely, he said restricting its use ultimately would be detrimental to children’s dental health. The best solution, though, is better prevention so children don’t need fillings at all, he said.

Jon Hinck of the Natural Resources Counsel of Maine said it’s only logical for consumers to be worried about the health implications of filling their children’s teeth with a known toxin such as mercury. While the study may be reassuring on that count, he said NRCM continues to focus on the environmental impact of mercury and pointed out that “a healthy percentage of what goes into teeth ends up in the environment.”

Efforts this week to reach Pam Anderson and her dentist husband, Thomas Anderson, of Houlton, persistent advocates of mercury-free dentistry, were unsuccessful. But Maine Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton, sponsor of a measure during the last session that would have phased out dental mercury, said Monday that he remains skeptical. Common-sense concerns and anecdotal accounts of neurological changes associated with mercury amalgam fillings will keep the debate alive, he predicted, even though the study may allay some fears.

A spokesman from the New England Research Institute said the studies in New England and Portugal, taken together, make a powerful argument for the safety of dental amalgam.

“From a scientific point of view, it gives us the confidence that these findings are not equivocal, and the similarity suggests that the results are real,” said Dushanka Kleinman, the institute’s deputy director.

Charlie Brown, counsel for Consumers for Dental Choice, an advocacy group pushing to end the use of mercury in dental fillings, said both studies ignore research that indicates mercury causes a host of physical and mental problems. Brown blasted the studies as unethical, saying that children or their guardians were never told of the potential risks of the mercury fillings.

Authors of both studies disputed that contention, saying they disclosed what they were doing and why. Dr. Timothy DeRouen, who led the study in Portugal, said, “We weren’t doing anything experimental. We were giving standard dental treatment.”

DeRouen said a review board at the University of Washington found the allegations to be unfounded.

An anti-amalgam group called the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology announced it was filing ethics complaints with institutions that took part in what it characterized as “outrageous” experimentation on children.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research funded both the studies.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars at the dentist, click on NobleDentist.

An article titled Study Shows Early Dental Care Critical to Long-Term Health has appeared on a PR Newswire.

Tooth decay even at a very young age can have serious repercussions to a child’s long-term health. A recent study found a 15.2% increase in cavities among two-to five-year olds according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Early preventative care is a sound health and economic investment. Many parents avoid taking children to the dentist at a young age to save money, yet studies show that the dental cost for children who have their first dental visit before age one are 40% lower in the first five years than those who do not see a dentist prior to their first birthday.

Here’s some facts…

• Regular dental visits help kids stay cavity-free.


• 90% of all cavities are preventable.


• A 1996 survey showed that parents are taking children to the dentist too late – a full three years after the pediatric dentist recommendation. The ADA recommends by age one.


• Water fluoridation is still the No. 1 way to prevent tooth decay.


• Most cavities occur in places that sealants could have protected.


• Children with just a single application of sealants on their back teeth had 50% less tooth decay after 15 years than children without sealants.

Pediatric dentists, as opposed to general dentists, are the pediatricians of dentistry and provide both primary and specialised care in children’s health and enjoy working with children. They have a three-part approach: prevention and treatment, education and research.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars at the dentist, click on NobleDentist.

An article titled 2 studies vindicate mercury fillings: No link found to impairments has appeared on a Seattle newswire.

Two new studies, one from the University of Washington involving orphans in Portugal, found no evidence of IQ or other neurological impairment caused by dental fillings made with mercury.

The studies are the first to follow children from the time they received the fillings rather than trying to piece together evidence of health problems in retrospect. “It’s the first bit of objective evidence other than heated opinion and observational studies,” said Dr. Timothy DeRouen, lead author of the Lisbon study and executive associate dean for research and academic affairs at the UW School of Dentistry. DeRouen tracked neurological development in 507 children, ages 8 to 10, at a school in Lisbon.

The other study, led by researchers in Boston, looked at the effect on intelligence, memory and kidney function in 534 children, ages 6 to 10, from New England.

Neither study found a difference in neurological or kidney function in the children with amalgam fillings compared with their peers who received fillings made with other materials. But those with amalgam fillings did have higher levels of mercury in their urine.

The studies, which both began enrolling children in 1997 and ended last year, did not test for autism. In recent years, the discussion about mercury toxicity has centered on parents who believe a mercury-based preservative used in vaccines may have caused their children’s autism. Most experts, however, say there is no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism.

Fewer and fewer dentists are using amalgam fillings. Patients prefer the newer white, resin composite fillings because they blend with teeth, said Dr. Robert Kelly, spokesman for the American Dental Association and a professor of dentistry at the University of Connecticut. Some dentists, however, still favour amalgam for its durability, Kelly said. Amalgam can last up to 14 years, while composite fillings need replacing after four to six years, he said. “I have amalgams in my teeth, and I would use them in my family.”

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars at the dentist, click on NobleDentist.

Dr Sai Paidi of Conceptual Dentistry has recently become a participating dentist.

Conceptual Dentistry is located at 4 Ridge Street, North Sydney, New South Wales.

Dr Sai Paidi and the team look forward to assisting members of NobleDentist.

Members wanting to make an appointment can simply click on Sydney Dentists for contact details.

Surrounding suburbs include McMahons Point, Milsons Point, Waverton, Wollstonecraft, Greenwich, Crows Nest, Neutral Bay, Cremorne, Kirribilli, St Leonards, Naremburn, Mosman, Northwood, Osborne Park, Lane Cove, Cammeray, and Northbridge.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars at the dentist, click on NobleDentist.

Dr Dammika Sainath of Conceptual Dentistry is becoming a participating dentist.

This should take place by Friday, 26 May 2006. Contact details will soon be included in Sydney Dentists.

Conceptual Dentistry is located at 4 Ridge Street, North Sydney.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars at the dentist, click on NobleDentist.

This is just a short note to thank people who take the time to send me emails.

Each day I receive emails regarding various issues. I certainly appreciate the emails alerting me to a technical glitch regarding the website or about the service itself. These emails are always welcome. It’s virtually impossible to monitor the website 24/7. And usually a problem that occurs is a result of an external factor. I therefore appreciate receiving an email highighting a problem. That way I can resolve the issue quickly.

It also isn’t easy to monitor the level of member satisfaction unless I receive emails containing constructive criticism or singing praises. It is certainly important for me to know those things you believe are being done well and those items that need some attention. That way I know whether any changes need to be made. I also enjoy hearing from intelligent people who disagree with me. So please keep those emails coming.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars off dentist fees, click on NobleDentist.

Dr Pravin Soni of Soni Dental has recently become a participating dentist.

Soni Dental is located at Suite 20, 250 Ipswich Road, Buranda, Queensland.

Dr Pravin Soni and the team look forward to assisting members of NobleDentist.

Members wanting to make an appointment can simply click on Brisbane Dentists for contact details.

Surrounding suburbs include Greenslopes, Holland Park, Annerley, Ekibin, Wellers Hill, Tarragindi, Coorparoo, Fairfield, Yeronga, Stones Corner, Nathan, Moorooka, Salisbury, and Carina.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars at the dentist, click on NobleDentist.

Dr Michael Urwand, Dr Daniel Urwand, and Dr Michelle Petterson have recently become participating dentists.

The dental practice is located at Level 3, 362 Kent Street, Sydney, New South Wales.

Dr Michael Urwand and the team look forward to assisting members of NobleDentist.

Members wanting to make an appointment can simply click on Sydney Dentists for contact details.

Surrounding suburbs include Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay, Rushcutters Bay, Darling Point, Darlinghurst, Pyrmont, Ultimo, Haymarket, Surry Hills, Chippendale, Millers Point, The Rocks, Dawes Point, Double Bay, Bellevue Hill, Centennial Park, Redfern, Darlington, Balmain, Glebe, Milsons, Kirribilli, Neutral Bay, and Cremorne Point.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars at the dentist, click on NobleDentist.

Dr Michael Urwand, Dr Daniel Urwand, and Dr Michelle Petterson have recently become participating dentists.

The dental practice is located at 29 Belmore Road, Randwick, New South Wales.

Dr Michael Urwand and the team look forward to assisting members of NobleDentist.

Members wanting to make an appointment can simply click on Sydney Dentists for contact details.

Surrounding suburbs include Matraville, Hillsdale, Banksmeadow, Pagewood, Maroubra, Coogee, Daceyville, Eastlakes, Kingsford, Rosebery, Kensington, Clovelly, Beaconsfield, Zetland, Waterloo, Moore Park, Centennial Park, Queens Park, Waverley Bronte, Tamarama, Bondi, Mascot, Botany, Banksmeadow, and Chifley.

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars at the dentist, click on NobleDentist.

An article titled Delays to Dentistry Bite Hard has appeared in the Bendigo Advertiser.

The following are some of the main points mentioned.

• A report released by the Australian Dental Association has stated that public dental patients are waiting up to 4 years to get an appointment in the Loddon Mallee region.


• Bendigo dentist, Dr Frank Thomas, said “It is only going to get worse as a lot of us are set to retire. There is often a shortage in the hospital system because a lot of the dentists like to come and go; one, because they are not paid enough, and two, they are young and like to move around.”


• The National’s spokesman for health, Hugh Delahunty, said that, “The longer the wait, the greater the likelihood that untreated oral problems will worsen inflicting an even greater burden on the public health system. It is little wonder that about 250,000 Victorians are currently waiting for dentures.


• “The Bracks Government need to actively encourage dentists to set up practice in rural and regional areas. Other assistance could include additional funding for training opportunities and an expanded scholarship program for those prepared to work in regional areas. Victoria had just one dental school at Melbourne University which produced about 70 new dentists each year – half of which are international students.”

To learn how to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars at the dentist, click on NobleDentist.