The Effect of Dental Amalgams on Mercury Levels in Expired Air

Svare, Carl W.; Peterson, Lawrence C.; Reinhardt, John W.; Boyer, Daniel; Frank, C. W.; Cox, Robert D.

doi:10.1177/00220345810600090601

Cited by 157 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Chewing has been pointed out by many authors as a factor strongly increasing the amount of mercury vapor emitted from restorations. The emission of mercury vapor after some minutes of inten se chewing is normally increased three-to fivefold , and sometimes by more than that , according to Abraham et al (38), Svare et al (39), Vimy & Lorscheider (40,41), and our unpublished results. In referen ce to these experiences the present result indicating only a weak influence from "chewing" was a surprise.…”

Section: Mercury Exposure Of Dentists and Dental Nursessupporting

confidence: 66%

Mercury exposure of different origins among dentists and dental nurses.

Skare¹,

Bergström²,

Engqvist³

et al. 1990

Scand J Work Environ Health

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Section: Mercury Exposure Of Dentists and Dental Nursessupporting

confidence: 66%

Mercury exposure of different origins among dentists and dental nurses.

Skare¹,

Bergström²,

Engqvist³

et al. 1990

Scand J Work Environ Health

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“…However, several studies in the late 1970s and early 1980s determined that this was not the case. [13][14][15][16] A number of studies have attempted to quantify the amount of mercury vapor released from existing amalgam restorations. [16][17][18][19] The use of different methodologies in these studies, however, makes comparison of their results difficult, if not impossible.…”

Section: Mercury Release From Dental Amalgam Restorationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Release of Mercury from Amalgam Restorations and Its Health Effects: A Review

Roberts¹,

Charlton

2009

Operative Dentistry

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©Operative Dentistry, 2009, 34-5, 605-614 HW Roberts • DG Charlton SUMMARYAmalgam has successfully been used as a restorative material in dentistry for over a century. It has proven to be a cost-effective, wear-resistant material which, when properly placed, can provide many years of service. However, amalgam's popularity has decreased in recent years due, in part, to patient concerns about its potential for adversely affecting their health. Other reasons for its reduced use include the increased emphasis on more esthetic restorative materials and environmental concerns regarding the amount of mercury discharged into wastewater from dental offices. Controversy persists about amalgam's possible role in causing health problems due to its release of mercury. Although conclusive evidence is lacking that directly correlates amalgam with adverse health effects, clinicians should remain knowledgeable about mercury release from amalgam in order to intelligently address their patients' concerns. This article reviews the latest published scientific literature to provide this information. INTRODUCTIONAmalgam has been used in dentistry for more than 150 years, 1 and its excellent clinical track record is well known. Despite some shortcomings, amalgam has several positive characteristics compared with other restorative materials, including relatively low cost, good wear resistance, low technique sensitivity and high strength.2-3 While amalgam's use has declined in recent years due to an increased emphasis on the use of esthetic restorative materials and concerns about potential environmental hazards related to its mercury (Hg) content, countless amalgam restorations remain in patients' mouths. Because of this fact and the plethora of misinformation about mercury in amal- Clinical RelevanceAmalgam remains an important restorative material in dentistry. Because of continuing controversy concerning the material's safety and environmental friendliness, dentists should remain current in their knowledge of the effect of mercury and its release from amalgam. This will enable dentists to provide accurate, evidence-based information to their patients.

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“…Although several investigators had shown that mercury vapor is released from hardened dental amalgam (Gay et al, 1979;Svare et al, 1981;Abraham et al, 1984), Vimy and Lorscheider (1985a,b) were the first to perform systematic intra-oral mercury vapor measurements in order to estimate the daily intake of mercury from amalgam fillings. In interpreting each subject's intra-oral mercury vapor readings, however, Vimy and Lorscheider treated the measurements as though the subject were exposed to room air at those concentrations.…”

Section: Intra-oral Hg Vapor Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gum chewing has been used in the majority of the studies published (Gay et al, 1979;Svare et al, 1981;Abraham et al, 1984;Vimy and Lorscheider 1985a,b;Ott et al, 1986;Aronsson et al, 1989;Berglund, 1990;Bjorkman and Lind, 1992). Toothbrushing has also been used (Patterson et al, 1985;Langworth et al, 1988b;Berglund, 1990;Berglund and Molin, 1996).…”

Section: Intra-oral Hg Vapor Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury Exposure From Dental Amalgam Fillings: Absorbed Dose and the Potential for Adverse Health Effects

Mackert

Berglund

1997

Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine

109

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This review examines the question of whether adverse health effects are attributable to amalgam-derived mercury. The issue of absorbed dose of mercury from amalgam is addressed first. The use of intra-oral Hg vapor measurements to estimate daily uptake must take into account the differences between the collection volume and flow rate of the measuring instrument and the inspiratory volume and flow rate of air through the mouth during inhalation of a single breath. Failure to account for these differences will result in substantial overestimation of the absorbed dose. Other factors that must be considered when making estimates of Hg uptake from amalgam include the accurate measurement of baseline (unstimulated) mercury release rates and the greater stimulation of Hg release afforded by chewing gum relative to ordinary food. The measured levels of amalgam-derived mercury in brain, blood, and urine are shown to be consistent with low absorbed doses (1-3 pLg/day). Published relationships between the number of amalgam surfaces and urine levels are used to estimate the number of amalgam surfaces that would be required to produce the 30 plg/g creatinine urine mercury level stated by WHO to be associated with the most subtle, pre-clinical effects in the most sensitive individuals. From 450 to 530 amalgam surfaces would be required to produce the 30 pg/g creatinine urine mercury level for people without any excessive gum-chewing habits. The potential for adverse health effects and for improvement in health following amalgam removal is also addressed. Finally, the issue of whether any material can ever be completely exonerated of claims of producing adverse health effects is considered.

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The Effect of Dental Amalgams on Mercury Levels in Expired Air

Cited by 157 publications

References 5 publications

Mercury exposure of different origins among dentists and dental nurses.

Mercury exposure of different origins among dentists and dental nurses.

The Release of Mercury from Amalgam Restorations and Its Health Effects: A Review

Mercury Exposure From Dental Amalgam Fillings: Absorbed Dose and the Potential for Adverse Health Effects

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