Discovered over a century and a half ago, amalgam fillings were once popularly used for filling cavities. With limited research and resources, there weren’t many options that didn’t require excruciatingly amounts of pain available; however, it didn’t take very long for the original Amalgam Wars to begin in the late 1800’s.
Putting aside data spreadsheets and machines that didn’t yet exist, very evident signs of mercury toxicity appeared in mouths that blistered, gum lines that bled and even disorientation. Obviously, this led to many disagreements with one side stating that the process involved minimal pain with long-lasting durability and the other refuting this claim, stating that the side effects of mercury were too harmful to the human system, having negative, long-lasting side effects.
The progression in the use of ‘silver’ amalgams has always maintained the debate of ‘Is it or isn’t it’ harmful to people up until this very day! What has changed, though, are the new medicines used in dental offices to numb pain and more importantly, the new uses of different elements combined to create composite fillings and fillings made with porcelain or glass.
While the world is shifting towards the removal of amalgam fillings (not to mention the decline of initial amalgam placements), there are still a vast number of people who already have multiple dental amalgams or are receiving them for the very first time.
By continuing to raise awareness on the dangers of mercury, the numbers of amalgam fillings will continue to decline allowing the number of healthy persons to continually increase.
Watch the video to learn the story behind amalgam fillings… I warn you it’s shocking!
