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Millions of dental patients are given mercury fillings every year by their dentists. But the fillings may actually be bad for health. Harmful vapors of mercury can be released by the simple act of chewing. These mercury vapors may then be breathed into the lungs which may cause serious complications. Many children and young adults are routinely given mercury fillings.

Fatigue, Alzheimer's disease, depression and heart conditions may be the side effects that are caused by the highly toxic mercury that is found in amalgam fillings. The dental amalgams that are used in fillings may have mercury that has severe neuro-toxic effects especially on the nervous system of young children. If a pregnant woman gets the filling, it may also cause serious complications in the nervous system of the fetus.

The toxic mercury vapors are released when the person chews food and when the amalgam fillings are removed or placed. Some countries have banned the usage of mercury in dental filling amalgams and others place severe restrictions. Since more than half the amalgam consists of mercury, the danger is quite high.

Mercury is actually much more poisonous than lead. In the dental amalgam, it is mixed with tin, silver and copper which forms a very durable material that locks in the mercury. But small amounts of mercury vapor still escape and causes harm when passed into internal organs via the bloodstream. Mercury can also leach into saliva and also get into the dentinal tubules from where it can get into the blood supply to the pulp.

Research indicates that this could even be linked to infertility, increase in blood pressure and central nervous system disorders. Even dentists who put the mercury fillings into their patient's teeth have high levels of mercury in their bloodstream.

The dental amalgams that contain mercury were first used in France as a restorative for dental problems. With the ease of installation, minimal changes in dimension over the years and the great strength of the amalgam, it is an ideal restorative when you consider all factors other than the negative effects on health.

Dental amalgams containing mercury have become highly controversial and several European countries have banned it. In North America though, the view is still traditional; that the advantages of using mercury fillings outweigh the possible negative side effects. Therefore it is still quite widely used.

Millions of people have their teeth restored using amalgam fillings containing mercury. It is only recently that studies have demonstrated minute quantities of mercury being released into the blood stream from the fillings. Dentists are still divided on whether to discontinue the use of mercury fillings.