>I live in Canada and am on social assistance (welfare).  I was givin a
>card that entitles me to emergency dental coverage paid for by the
>government.  According to my dentist, for treatment, this basically
>will cover fillings or extractions.  I have a couple of cavities that
>my dentist found and he wants to put amalgam fillings in them.  I
>asked about the white fillings but he said my insurance only covers
>the cost of doing the amalgam fillings.  He said that for him to do a
>proper white filling that it takes more time, skill, and more
>expensive materials to place this type of filling and since my
>insurance did not cover this additional cost that he would be placing
>the amalgam fillings.  He gave me the option that if I wanted a white
>filling then I would have to pay for this additional cost myself which
>is out of the question based on my current financial situation.

>Now I don't really care about the colour of the filling.  I just want
>it to last the longest that it can.  I've read that the amalgam
>fillings might be harmful.  If that is so, why is the Canadian
>government only covering the cost of an amalgam filling instead of the
>more expensive but safer white fillings.  Isn't the health of the
>people of this country worth the extra expense?  Why isn't amalgam
>banned yet in this country or the USA?

>Rob

>>>California Judge Approves Landmark Warning on Mercury Use in Dentistry.

>>>(San Francisco, CA) - For the first time anywhere, dentists will be
>>>required to post a warning about the dangers of mercury in their dental
>>>fillings.  A California Superior court judge finalized the language for
>>>the warning to be posted in dentists' offices here today.

>>>The warning will read as follows:

>>>Notice to Patients, Proposition 65:

>>>Warning on dental amalgams, used in many dental fillings, causes exposure
>>>to mercury, a chemical known to the state of California to cause birth
>>>defects or other reproductive harm.

>>>Root c{*filter*}treatments and restorations including fillings, crowns and
>>>bridges, use chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer.

>>>The U.S. cooking.net">food and Drug Administration has studied the situation and
>>>approved for use all dental restorative materials.

>>>Consult your dentist to determine which materials are appropriate for your
>>>treatment.

>>>The exact language of the warning was argued and then finalized before
>>>Superior Court Judge James A. Robertson II between the California Dental
>>>Association, the largest constituent organization of the American Dental
>>>Association and Attorney Shawn Khorrami (Cor-ahm-mee). The agreement
>>>requires its member dentists to warn patients about the toxic dangers of
>>>mercury dental fillings and root canals. The agreement also allows non-CDA
>>>dentists to opt in to the agreement and post the warning.

>>>The warning is the result of a lawsuit filed by The Law Offices of Shawn
>>>Khorrami on behalf of As You Sow, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to
>>>advocacy and activism in the public interest.

>>>"This is the first admission by organized dentistry that amalgams pose a
>>>potential health risk," says Shawn Khorrami, lead attorney. "The only
>>>problem is that it's about 100 years too late."

>>>This California consent judgment follows on the heels of recent lawsuits
>>>filed in Georgia, Texas, Ohio and Los Angeles, California charging that
>>>mercury fillings placed in a woman's mouth contributed to the autism of
>>>her child, as well as lawsuits in Maryland, California, and New York
>>>charging the American Dental Association with misrepresenting amalgam
>>>dental fillings as "silver."  The lawsuits basically allege that such
>>>fillings actually contain approximately 50% mercury by weight. They cause
>>>continuous, daily exposure to mercury and, thereby pose substantial health
>>>risks to certain users. Mercury, a highly toxic substance, is the most
>>>widely used substance in dental fillings today.

>>>The use of mercury-based thimerosal in vaccines also has been the source
>>>of the recent controversy in the Homeland Security legislation.

>>>Khorrami filed the lawsuit against Roger Fieldman D.D.S., Inc., the
>>>Citadel Dental Group, Inc.  dental offices, dental laboratories and
>>>private dental schools and training programs with more than nine
>>>employees. The suit won the enforcement of Proposition 65, Safe Drinking
>>>Water and Toxics Enforcement Act [Health & Safety Code 25249.6].

>>>Proposition 65 requires that a clear and reasonable warning be provided to
>>>persons prior to their exposure to a chemical known to cause cancer or
>>>reproductive harm.  This statute lists mercury, contained in dental
>>>amalgam, as a substance that can cause reproductive toxicity. The lawsuit
>>>was based on the absence of warnings to patients treated with amalgam
>>>restorative materials in dental offices.

>>>The judgment on Proposition 65 mandates that all dental offices with more
>>>than nine employees provide warnings on the dangers of Mercury dental
>>>fillings to patients. Those in non-compliance could incur a fine of up to
>>>$2,500 per day.

>>>Press may contact: Jackie Gladfelter at 650-218-1856 or D. Infusino at
>>>415-225-7970; call Attorney Shawn Khorrami at 818-947-5111.

> Now I don't really care about the colour of the filling.  I just want
> it to last the longest that it can.  I've read that the amalgam
> fillings might be harmful.  If that is so, why is the Canadian
> government only covering the cost of an amalgam filling instead of the
> more expensive but safer white fillings.  Isn't the health of the
> people of this country worth the extra expense?  Why isn't amalgam
> banned yet in this country or the USA?

> My dentist said that I shouldn't worry about the amalgam fillings that
> he wants to place and that they are safe and will probably last a long
> time in my mouth as long as I clean my teeth regularly and properly.

> Do you other dentists agree with my dentist about placing the amalgam
> fillings?  Do I have anything to worry about?

> Rob

> Now I don't really care about the colour of the filling.  I just want
> it to last the longest that it can.  I've read that the amalgam
> fillings might be harmful.  If that is so, why is the Canadian
> government only covering the cost of an amalgam filling instead of the
> more expensive but safer white fillings.  Isn't the health of the
> people of this country worth the extra expense?

> Do you other dentists agree with my dentist about placing the amalgam
> fillings?

>The situation is the same in the UK, and for some of the same reasons your
>dentist notes. In addition, amalgam is much harder wearing than the white
>fillings and should thus have a longer lifespan (a further reason why our
>NHS permits only amalgams in back teeth).

>Research is ongoing in the UK (independent of the Health Dept.) into all
>previous studies conducted on the subject of amalgam safety. Whilst none of
>the bodies has yet formally reported (there are, I think, 3 separate studies
>running), the largest has reported that every prior piece of research which
>claimed amalgam was unsafe was actually biased in its design in order to
>produce that very result.

>In other words, whilst we admit that amalgam contains mercury, there has
>been no scientifically proven, UNBIASED research confirming that amalgam is
>hazardous to health in the long term.

>Richard

>The odds are amalgams will serve you well.

>This person has three options -

>1. do nothing.
>2. get the amalgam restorations.
>3. have the teeth extracted.

>What would you suggest?

>carabelli

> >The situation is the same in the UK, and for some of the same reasons
your
> >dentist notes. In addition, amalgam is much harder wearing than the white
> >fillings and should thus have a longer lifespan (a further reason why our
> >NHS permits only amalgams in back teeth).

> >Research is ongoing in the UK (independent of the Health Dept.) into all
> >previous studies conducted on the subject of amalgam safety. Whilst none
of
> >the bodies has yet formally reported (there are, I think, 3 separate
studies
> >running), the largest has reported that every prior piece of research
which
> >claimed amalgam was unsafe was actually biased in its design in order to
> >produce that very result.

> >In other words, whilst we admit that amalgam contains mercury, there has
> >been no scientifically proven, UNBIASED research confirming that amalgam
is
> >hazardous to health in the long term.

> This is the denial I spoke of.

> http://www.algonet.se/~leif/FUSCIFCT.html

> http://www.mercuryfilling.com/

> http://www.earthtym.net/merc-links.htm#L-3

> http://www.amalgam.ukgo.com/amalgm21.htm

> http://www.vimy-dentistry.com/nhanesstudy.htm

> >Richard

> Know the risks.

> >The odds are amalgams will serve you well.

> Could be and could not be.

> >Question for Jan.

> >This person has three options -

> >1. do nothing.
> >2. get the amalgam restorations.
> >3. have the teeth extracted.

> >What would you suggest?

> >carabelli

> That is a real toughy and I appreciate this person's position.

> Knowing what I know now, I would NOT get amalgams.

> Where there is a will, there is a way.

> Could be and could not be.

> >Question for Jan.

> >This person has three options -

> >1. do nothing.
> >2. get the amalgam restorations.
> >3. have the teeth extracted.

> >What would you suggest?

> >carabelli

> That is a real toughy and I appreciate this person's position.

> Knowing what I know now, I would NOT get amalgams.

> Where there is a will, there is a way.

> Life has no value without one's health.

> Jan

>> >Subject: Re: Welfare dental coverage / amalgam fillings vs white fillings

>> >Date: 3/15/03 7:20 PM US Eastern Standard Time

>> >The situation is the same in the UK, and for some of the same reasons
>your
>> >dentist notes. In addition, amalgam is much harder wearing than the white
>> >fillings and should thus have a longer lifespan (a further reason why our
>> >NHS permits only amalgams in back teeth).

>> >Research is ongoing in the UK (independent of the Health Dept.) into all
>> >previous studies conducted on the subject of amalgam safety. Whilst none
>of
>> >the bodies has yet formally reported (there are, I think, 3 separate
>studies
>> >running), the largest has reported that every prior piece of research
>which
>> >claimed amalgam was unsafe was actually biased in its design in order to
>> >produce that very result.

>> >In other words, whilst we admit that amalgam contains mercury, there has
>> >been no scientifically proven, UNBIASED research confirming that amalgam
>is
>> >hazardous to health in the long term.

>> This is the denial I spoke of.

>> http://www.algonet.se/~leif/FUSCIFCT.html

>> http://www.mercuryfilling.com/

>> http://www.earthtym.net/merc-links.htm#L-3

>> http://www.amalgam.ukgo.com/amalgm21.htm

>> http://www.vimy-dentistry.com/nhanesstudy.htm

>And these are examples of the biased research I spoke of!

>> >Richard

>> Know the risks.

>But take advice from those qualified to provide it!

>> >Subject: Re: Welfare dental coverage / amalgam fillings vs white fillings

>> >Date: 3/15/03 7:44 PM US Eastern Standard Time

>> >The odds are amalgams will serve you well.

>> Could be and could not be.

>> >Question for Jan.

>> >This person has three options -

>> >1. do nothing.
>> >2. get the amalgam restorations.
>> >3. have the teeth extracted.

>> >What would you suggest?

>> >carabelli

>> That is a real toughy and I appreciate this person's position.

>> Knowing what I know now, I would NOT get amalgams.

>> Where there is a will, there is a way.

>Robert stated that paying for composites was out of the question.
>Platitudes such as "Where there is a will, there is a way" sound good until
>you are the one behind the eight ball.

>(snip)
>> >The odds are amalgams will serve you well.

>> Could be and could not be.

>> >Question for Jan.

>> >This person has three options -

>> >1. do nothing.
>> >2. get the amalgam restorations.
>> >3. have the teeth extracted.

>> >What would you suggest?

>> >carabelli

>> That is a real toughy and I appreciate this person's position.

>> Knowing what I know now, I would NOT get amalgams.

>> Where there is a will, there is a way.

>> Life has no value without one's health.

>> Jan

>Hello Jan,
>No offense intended

> >> >Subject: Re: Welfare dental coverage / amalgam fillings vs white
fillings

> >> >Date: 3/15/03 7:44 PM US Eastern Standard Time
> >> >Message-id:

> >> >The odds are amalgams will serve you well.

> >> Could be and could not be.

> >> >Question for Jan.

> >> >This person has three options -

> >> >1. do nothing.
> >> >2. get the amalgam restorations.
> >> >3. have the teeth extracted.

> >> >What would you suggest?

> >> >carabelli

> >> That is a real toughy and I appreciate this person's position.

> >> Knowing what I know now, I would NOT get amalgams.

> >> Where there is a will, there is a way.

> >Robert stated that paying for composites was out of the question.
> >Platitudes such as "Where there is a will, there is a way" sound good
until
> >you are the one behind the eight ball.

> Yes, I agree.

> However one must make choices.

> >Sounds to me like you are leaning towards option number 1.  Dental caries
> >usually progresses and arranging for emergency extractions at 2:00 AM on
a
> >Sunday is not always easy.

> Tell me about life not being easy.

> Jan

> >(snip)
snip

>  but I wondering if you really believe what you say.  Why
> >haven't you persuaded your husband to have his amalgam fillings removed?

> A very good question.

> Because he is having no health problems. He has a few left that will be
> replaced when needed. I have long said they may never bother some people, if
> not leave well enough along.