ADA & Mercury Amalgams; The Protest Demonstration in Philadelphia

(This was posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)

I flew from Phoenix to Philadelphia last Thursday to attend a protest demonstration on Friday outside the downtown convention center where thousands of dentists were attending the annual American Dental Association meeting.  The purpose of the protest, organized by Pennsylvania Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry and supported by Consumers for Dental Choice, was two-fold.  First, to help promote awareness among the citizens of Philadelphia that "silver fillings" are 50% mercury.  And second, to show the ADA that as consumers, we will no longer stand for their gag rule that hinders dentists from allowing patients to give informed consent when deciding which dental filling material to use. 

(Hint, it should NEVER be mercury!)

First a few pictures...Here you can see the entrance to the Philadelphia Convention Center, pre-rally. 

During the rally, there were protesters on both sides of the street.  By my estimate, there were about 30 or 40 protesters, most of whom were wearing green shirts.  This obviously wasn't a big group, but in my opinion, there were definitely enough of us to be noticed.  In the 2 hours that we were outside, I would estimate that 2,000 - 3,000 dentists walked through that entrance and hundreds of Philadelphians walked by.  (More on my discussions with several dentists later in the post.) 

Along with our green "smoking tooth" T-shirts, we had a lot of signage.  I thought this "head in the sand" sign was particularly good at helping to remind dentists that when the lawsuits begin, as they inevitably will, the ADA has stated quite emphatically that they have no liability to protect/defend amalgam use.  (Read the orange box in this post.)

 

After the protest, the group marched to Philadelphia City Hall for a press conference.  (More on this in a different post.)

The entire event made the local evening news for Philadelphia ABC 6.  I think the coverage was fair and balanced.  And it helped to accomplish objective number 1.  (Sorry, but as of Monday afternoon, the story had not been transcribed for their website.)

The media coverage of the rally and press conference was actually decent -- and by that I mean there were reporters and camera crew in attendence at both events * -- but I think the PR firm did a HORRIBLE job of handling the media personel to make sure that the dissenting view got fair coverage.  Case in point, the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote a 343-word, 95% pro-mercury, pro-ADA story.  (BugMeNot.com to get past the registration.)  Not well done at all.

I spoke to about 20 or 25 individual dentists as they passed by heading for the convention center.  Here are my statistically invalid observations.

• Much to my surprise, close to 12 or 13 of the dentists said something like, "We haven't been using amalgams for the last 10 years."  Essentially, voluntary discontinuation, for which I thanked them.
• 5 or 6 dentists added, "Please educate consumers because I make more money putting in alternatives."  Somewhat greedy, but OK I guess. Money can be a darn good motivator!
• 2 or 3 dentists whispered under their breath to me, "Thanks for doing this, the ADA's lawyers won't let us tell customers about it."  No kidding...that's why we are against the gag rule on dentists!
• 3 or 4 dentists that argued with me that mercury amalgams are just fine.  One older dentist just yelled "IDIOTS!" at me at walked away.  I did argue for about 3 minutes with a military dentist.  I could barely get a word in with him and he appeared to have a good grasp on the supposed science.  My rebuttal, once I finally had a chance to speak was, "You have to admit that this is a controversial topic and there is much science that calls into question the safety of mercury amalgams, no?  So if there is even a suspicion of danger, and there are safe alternatives, shouldn't the precautionary principle apply?"  His answer was that my side's science was bad and that there wasn't a controversy.  Since he had a pretty good grasp of the "facts" and loved to talk, I offered to walk 20 feet away and get one of our scientists that were at the rally so the two of them could debate right then and there.  That was when he instantly backed down and started walking away claiming instead that the ADA has their scientists and it's their job to do the debating.  Thanks for poisoning our military, sir! 
• There was an untold number of passer-by's who didn't say anything, wouldn't take any of our fliers, etc.  They were obviously very uncomfortable with the fact that we were there and absolutely did NOT want to talk.  (And I was even wearing a shirt and tie!  It was my first protest, what do you expect?)
• At the same time, there were quite a few people walking by that took our pictures.  I don't know if that's good or bad? 
• While standing on the sidewalk protesting and on our 3 block "march" to city hall, I personally heard about half a dozen regular people say things like, "There's mercury in there?" and "I've got those in my mouth right now, are they bad?"  Have a flier ma'am/sir.

All in all, the event was pretty good and the rain didn't start coming down until the last sign was shoved into the back of the car.  PERFECT timing.  (Thanks Mom! ;-)  But it's obvious by the press coverage that we've got a long way to go before the ADA will break -- which is HIGHLY unlikely to happen and probably will never happen without litigation -- and before consumers are made aware of the danger that is leaking out of their "silver fillings."

Related Post on Pat Sullivan Blog: Mercury Toxicity & National Amalgam Awareness Week

UPDATE 10/12/05: Dr. Markus posts a few more pictures and has more commentary here.  You'll note in his entry that Dr. Buttar, Dr. Geier, and David Geier -- all despised by the anti-mercury/autism crowd -- were all at the press conference in Philadelphia.  I did not mention this in this blog post because I wanted to write a separate entry about it.  Unfortunately, a few work projects have been getting in the way of blogging again. ;-)  I promise to write about my encouter and discussions with each of them ASAP. 

* UPDATE 10/12/05 12:56pm PST:  I added the disclaimer ("and by that I mean there were reporters and camera crew in attendence at both events") because after re-reading my own writing, one might mistakenly think that I am saying that I thought the press coverage was favorable.  The ABC 6 evening news piece was fair, but the Inquirer story was awful.

UPDATE 10/14/05 9:48am PST:  The transcript of the story by Philadelphia ABC 6 has been posted here.  I mentioned previously on this post that I thought the story was fair and balanced.  Reading back through the transcript, I think I've changed my mind. 

AMALGAM FILLINGS
10/7/05

Some 30-thousand people are expected in Philadelphia this weekend, for the American Dental Association annual conference. Tonight, health reporter Anita Brikman looks at an issue that has dogged dentists for years, and is drawing controversy this weekend as well.

As thousands of dental professionals made their way into the Pennsylvania Convention Center today. They were greeted by a band of protestors passionate about their cause... Mercury in amalgam fillings.

Freya Koss/Mercury-Free Advocate "I am advocating that people know that their fillings are not silver they are mercury, the 2nd most neurotoxic element, it doesn't belong in anyone's body."
Freya Koss believes mercury poisoning from amalgam caused her MS and Lupus. She had her fillings removed.

Dr. Kimberly Harms/ADA: "The science keeps telling us time and time again, (there's) no reason to take them out."

Both sides agree on one thing, some mercury vapor gets out. But they're at odds on whether it causes harm.

"You breathe that mercury daily. It is going to affect your brain."

Dr. Fred Eichmiller/ADA: "When chewing on amalgam you can release very small amounts of vapor. But it is well below levels that have even been shown to have any kind of health effect."

It's estimated about 30 percent of fillings put in today are silver amalgam, far less than just a few years ago. But dentists say safety is not the issue.

"Patients want tooth colored materials and we have so many more choices."

And that, says Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, is something ALL patients should know. Today at City Hall, she discussed her bill that would require Philadelphia dentists to post information about mercury in amalgam and cavity filling alternatives.

Blondell Reynolds Brown/Council At Large: "We want there to be a universal practice that dentists tell you- you really do have an option."

UPDATE 10/19/05 7:50 PST:  Finally, some favorable press coverage from the event here and here.

Technorati Tags: ADA, Mercury, Protest, Philadelphia

Comments

[Joe Kim]

My name is Joseph Kim. I am a dentist in Sandusky, Ohio. My friend Scott and I have had many discussions regarding this very topic. You featured Scott and his son Joshua recently in one of your blog entries.

When I opened my office in 1998, I chose to purchase only tooth-colored (composite) restorative materials. I made this choice mostly as an economic one as much as a cosmetic one. I did not want to stockpile two different materials on my shelves, but more importantly I think people prefer the aesthetics offered by composite restorations (they look nicer!)

During the past 7 years of practice, I have removed many amalgam fillings. So I have seen firsthand the damage caused to a tooth by a degraded, broken or damaged filling that has outlived its usefullness. The tooth becomes further undermined by decay- marginal leakage forms- and ultimately pulpal damage occurs resulting in root canal therapy or tooth loss.

Having said all that, I still don't believe that all amalgams should be replaced. There are a great number of competant dentists who properly place amalgams with an unsurpassed quality. These restorations are highly polished, free of defects and have strong margins which exhibit no signs of leakage or recurrent decay. The fillings that I have replaced (which match this description) posed no problems to the patients oral health. And I was mistaken in replacing these particular amalgams for no good reason. The ultimate goal of every filling (no matter the material) is to prevent the formation of an oxidized layer ( ie. rust on metal.) All fillings in dentistry have a certain life span and when that time comes they should be replaced or decay will run rampant.

Now I do believe that a correlation may exist between mercury preservative vaccinations and developmental disabilites such as autism. I won't let my own kids be vaccinated by Thimeresol containing products, period. And I am certainly not a cheerleader for the amalgam producing industry (remember I don't use them.) But I do have to say that the Dental Profession, in general, does have the public's best interests at heart. I know I do-

[Patrick Sullivan Jr.]

Dr. Joe, thanks for your comment. I do agree with you that not *all* amalgams should be removed. (Pat says the same thing in his book.) A good example of this is a relative of mine in their mid-40s who has a mouthful of amalgams and she's as healthy as a horse. IMO, there is no pressing reason for her to have them replaced.

I am sure that there are wonderfully skilled dentists at placing mercury amalgams. However, there is a virtual mountain of scientific evidence proving the danger of the mercury vapor that continually leaks from the fillings. From the research I have read, I'm not sure that I have ever read that the amount of vapor leaking from the filling is dependent on how well it was set.

The IAOMT put together "The Scientific Case Against Amalgams." Included on page 17 is a summary of the findings from six different studies that summarizes the experiences of 1,569 patients who had their mercury fillings removed.

I'm certainly glad to hear that you aren't placing mercury fillings yourself. Out of curiousity, do you follow the IAOMT's protocol for removing mercury amalgams?

At the end of Dr. David Kennedy's "The Smoking Tooth" DVD, he demonstrates the equipment considered necessary by the IAOMT for the safe removal of mercury. Here's a link to the transcript of the video.

Again, thanks for taking time to comment Dr. Joe. Looking forward to your reply.

[Dr. Andrea Brockman]

My name is Dr. Andrea Brockman. I practiced dentistry for almost 25 years in Philadelphia, PA. I got my undergraduate degree in Nursing and practiced for 6 years in medical-surgical, intensive care and geriatrics. When working in hospitals, we were prohibited from entering a room where there were mercury spills from sphygmomanometers or thermometers. Until the room was properly cleaned by specialized and protected people, the room was considered a hazardous site.

It was quite confusing to me to be in dental school and be in a student clinic of 300 dentists placing amalgams, spilling more mercury on the floor than 300 thermometers. My questions to instructors of why we were handling such a poisonous substance evoked anger and the same stock answer, "It gets locked into the filling and becomes inert." Well, even if that were true, it still made no sense to me at all that the dentists were squashing the excess mercury out of the amalgam in squeeze cloths and burning the caked on amalgam from condensing instruments. In those days, we didn't wear gloves or masks.

I never put two and two together that when I started working in the clinic that I ended up in the hospital with heart arrhythmias, started getting panic attacks, migraine headaches and later that year a miscarriage. I was a previously healthy 25 year old and attributed my new problems to the stress of being in dental school.

Composite resins were just coming out for anterior teeth and were not strong enough for posterior teeth. Our materials were limited to amalgams or gold foils for direct restorations. We were taught to place pins in teeth for larger restorations and polish amalgams for greater longevity. Each time we placed, polished and drilled out old amalgams, the dentist and everyone else in the room was exposed to mercury vapor. I couldn't tell you how many micrograms of mercury were coming out of fillings, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that dental personnel are being exposed to dangerous amounts.

Every business that uses mercury has specific procedures coming down from OSHA for protection of employees and the EPA for protection of the environment. There have never been any guidelines for protection of dental workers nor for the protection of the water where tons of mercury from excess amalgam from newly placed fillings and drilled out fillings go into the suction system directly into the water. I've heard the statistics that 60% of the mercury at the water treatment plants are coming from dental offices.

In the earlier years of my practice when I was pregnant and placing and removing amalgams without any masks or gloves, I became very concerned that I was now also exposing my unborn child to mercury vapor. There was nothing I could find in the literature (there was no internet then)that gave me any statistics on fetal exposure to mercury vapor in dental personnel. I thought that if anyone had that information, it would certainly be the American Dental Association. I believed that their interests would be to protect its members.

I called the ADA and spoke with several scientists and respectfully acknowledged their position that mercury gets locked into the filling. My question to them was, "I'm a female dentist and I'm pregnant. I've already had one miscarriage and it has taken me several years to become pregnant again. I drill out hundreds of amalgams a week. Could you tell me what my exposure is to the mercury vapor created by the aerosol of drilling? And how is this effecting my baby?" The answer I got was, "I'll get back to you." That was 25 years ago and I'm still waiting.

I had a difficult delivery and had a son that was hyperactive, asthmatic, a bed wetter, suffers from chronic sinus and digestive problems, periods of depression, difficulty focusing and impulsive behavior. The gamut of doctors treated his symptoms but the problems were never corrected. It was not until he was in his late teens that I had him tested for mercury. Provoked urine challenge test showed that he was loaded with mercury and there was no other possible place he could have been exposed other than from me in utero or through my breast milk.

I was also tested and showed large amounts of mercury on provoked urine challenge tests. The science that the ADA produces has not definitively proven that the mercury in amalgam is not linked to any illness. They continue to espouse that the amount that escapes from the filling is so minute that it is insignificant.

Cigarettes are a contributing factor in lung cancer and heart disease, but are not the total cause. There are always other factors. Cigarettes do, however, present a risk and should be avoided for optimum health. That doesn't mean that a person who gives up smoking or who doesn't smoke will never get sick. In the case of amalgams, it is prudent never to have them placed in the first place. In the case of a healthy person, if removed safely (precautions should be taken like asbestos removal), it is a positive health choice. If a person's health is already compromised, it is very important to have mercury amalgams removed, but only if proper precautions and strict protocols are followed. Otherwise, the person can be exposed to more mercury and can deteriorate.

As far as dental personnel are concerned, they need to wake up and start doing their own research and not taking the word of the ADA that there is no scientific proof that amalgam is dangerous. Every dentist should obtain the government's "Toxicological Profile of Mercury" available from the Department of Commerce through the Freedom of Information Act.

We should demand tests for ourselves and our employees and gather true health statistics. Dentists are at risk and putting their families at risk. Even if amalgams are deemed safe, dentists are putting their patients at risk from placing and drilling out fillings. Hygienists are risking exposure for themselves and their patients from polishing amalgams. The amount of vapor released from the heat of friction of a prophy cup can be measured with a Jerome Mercury Vapor Analyzer. Dentists are putting people, animals, fish, if not the entire food chain at risk by not separating out the mercury in the suction system before it leaves the office and goes into the water supply.

Forget the debate that amalgams are dangerous for patients. I believe that if dentists are not protecting themselves they are hiding their heads in the sand. Irritability is one of the symptoms of mercury toxicity. Perhaps the anger expressed by the dentists over this issue is not only a need to defend a long trusted belief, but a reaction triggered by the mercury in their own systems.

[Scott Shoemaker]

Dr. Brockman, your story sounds very familiar to me. We are using a nutritionist for our children that has a very similar story. You can read about her here. This woman got her PHD after she recovered herself and is now helping others that have similar problems. Hopefully, you have made a full recovery yourself.

As for Dr. Joe, when can I come up to Norwalk and have my two fillings safely replaced? I hate having them in my mouth. Thank God there are only two of them! You do not have to be a rocket scientist or have a PSD to figure out that mercury in any quantity is not good for you and should never be injected or placed in the body in the first place!

[Frank T. Schubert]

Wonderful report-- grateful thanks to all involved. Thanks also for the many links.
" The best way to bring about change,
is the sharing of information "

How can we have more demonstrations in other cities? We are making inroads, and it is great.

[Brian]

Wow. These are powerful comments and powerful stories. As I've told Patrick before, there will be no more mercury in my mouth, or in my family's mouths.

[Patrick Sullivan Jr.]

Frank, in-roads are definitely being made with dentists and consumers. As I stated previously, I was pleased to hear how many of the dentists I talked to in Philadelphia had already stopped using of mercury amalgams.

However, we must continue to hammer on the ADA and work to promote legislation that bans the use of mercury amalgams. It's the right thing to do!

If you are interested in being involved or supporting the cause, contact Consumers for Dental Choice.

[Steve Markus]

Pat, great work on the blog site. There is inertia building, and we will be able to say that we were there to make it happen. Anyone who wants to see or learn more can check out the mercury issues page of my website http://www.cent4dent.com and also the blog I created at
http://mercuryprotest.blogspot.com

[Joanne Laabs]

Thanks for standing up on this issue!

After losing about 12 years I can scarcely account for, my amalgams came out in January. The problem of combining GOLD crowns with amalgam fillings is of particular concern for me. The 'battery' effect this created left my mind like an 'Etch-a-Sketch', it was as if every thought, everything I wanted to say, and the link to every memory was continually being 'shaken' and 'erased'. The unbelievable fatigue, constant infections, thyroid & other hormone problems, and digestive difficulties were never acknowledged by mainstream physicians (who either told me I was fine or treated a 'symptom'!), and I was left to my own (very slow) resources to seek out a way to get well.

It's been a strange experience to realize that, in my 40's, I did not have Alzheimer's and that my mind is capable of functioning just as well as it did in my 20's!!! I was like so many others, with difficulty believing dental work could devastate one's health in this way. It took 1 1/2 years for me to make the decision to have the amalgams removed. It took just ONE DAY after the work was done to have brain function restored!

I don't favor a massive amalgam panacea that will pollute waters beyond hope, but patients HAVE TO HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW what they are getting and what the inherent risks are with dental materials. In my case, dental insurance companies were making the decisions for me.

I hope to see patient 'right to know' legal action for dental materials, and I hope to see medical insurance companies picking up on this situation and forcing dentistry to GROW UP. After enduring needless surgeries and years of improper medications, I have faith in insurance companies getting to the bottom of this.

Thanks to people like you who are willing to get the word out and fight, my health has been remarkably restored in just months. I need to know others get the same opportunities to get well, ending the needless suffering. Let me know about future protests; I hate to miss out on all the fun!!!

[Patrick Sullivan Jr.]

Joanne said, "It took just ONE DAY after the work was done to have brain function restored!"

That is incredible!!! Thanks for sharing your story.

Joanne, you also bring up an excellent point about insurance companies. I have often wondered, if post-mercury treatment is on their nickel (tests, treatments, drugs for symptoms, etc. etc. etc.), wouldn't it be in their best interest to do their own studies and come to their own conclusion on the alleged safety of amalgams. What if they determined that by removing this chronic source of poison, their long-term costs were cut by 10, 20, 30%? That has to equate to some BIG dollars!

I'm too busy to go search for it right now, but I think there are like 100 million people in America with dental fillings. Whether that is accurate or not, I think we can all safely assume it's a really big number.

If the insurance companies are blindly relying on the ADA's claims of safety, that is a pretty darn big financial decision.

If anyone knows anything more about the insurance industry's stance on mercury amalgams, please post it.

[Erik Nanstiel]

Dr. Boyd Haley makes some great anti-amalgam and anti-thimerosal comments in the interview he did with us on camera.

http://www.autismmedia.org/media2.html

http://www.autismmedia.org/media8.html

This is SUCH an important national issue, and I applaud all those who fight the ADA on this topic. Let's stop poisoning people!

Erik Nanstiel
Administrative Director,
Foundation for Autism Information & Research, Inc.
a 501(c)(3) organization
http://www.autismmedia.org/

[Mike Thompson]

FUCK THE ADA.

DECIETFUL LIARS THAT PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS IN THE MERCURY METAL BUSINESS AT THE EXPENSE OF THOSE THAT SUFFER WITH CHRONIC DISEASES.

I HATE THE ADA.

CANT ADMIT THE TRUTH BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT YOUR INSURANCE CARRIERS OBLITERATED BY THE PUBLIC FROM YOUR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

YOUR GREED CAUSED THIS PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH YOU FUCK TARDS.

[Paul Killmier]

I wish I had a time machine so I could go back to 1984 and stop mercury being put in my mouth. I haven't enjoyed my life, Ive endured it thanks to amalgam fillings and mercury poisoning. What a disgraceful organisation the ada are I dont know how there executives can live with themselves knowing what they have done to innocent people.If you are from the ADA hang your head in shame then get off your arse and do something to help these desperate victims of your blunder.There are truly desperate people out there and they need help NOW!!!!

[peter reynolds]

too the united states, english, and australian governments, id like to say that the first step to getting out of a hole is to stop digging!!!! Putting mercury in peoples mouth was always a stupid idea just imagine the reduced burden on society if by removing this terrible situation we could eliminate alzheimers,multiple schlerosis and autism think of all the wasted money and needless suffering that these fillings are causing. cheers Peter

[john king]

until dentists are poisoned by mercury themselves they will have no idea of how toxic it is and will continue to make massive returns on putting it in.Unfortunately for them mercury is tasteless colourless and odourless and can easily be inhaled without anyone knowing about it.Perhaps its about time they got a taste of their own medicine its an easy objective to attain.If you have been poisoned like me give it a little thought Im sure if you think long and hard enough you will come up with a brilliant way to get your revenge, after all I wouldnt wish mercury poisoning on my worst enemy but dentists they deserve it!!!!!

[paul killmier]

which part of the body does mercury hurt the most in? I bet the dentist who called you idiots cant aswer that because hes never had mercury poisoning the answer is eyes then ears then brain then heart and then kidneys I wish i didnt know the answer to this but i didnt have a choice this shit was placed in my mouth without my knowledge. You take a migraine and multiply it by about 5 times until your rolling around on the floor in complete agony and then you have yourself what i call a mercury headache I would like to visit the dentist who called u idiots with a pair of toecutters and a blowtorch so that he too could understand the meaning of the word pain!!!!

[paul killmier]

heres a list of things i hate about the australian dental association 1 they took a ridiculously toxic metal and used it in peoples mouths without doing any research to determine if it was safe 2 they then told people for 160 years that the mercury was locked into the amalgam and completely safe 3 they changed there mind and said the mercury did in fact leak but was completely harmless 4 they poisoned innocent people beyond belief 5 they did nothing to help victims of there stupidity 6 they continue to do nothing and deny there is a problem. If ever there was an organisation that deserved to have a nuclear bomb dropped on it it is the australian dental association!!!!!!!!!!!

[James Leech]

I was extremely ill with depression and anxiety and fully recovered just after removing my 14 amalgams. I was better within the next 2-3 days and havnt had serious mood swings since. I think the mercury messes with your hormones and blood sugar and thyroid status adn cant be proven but you need to do what is right for you.

[James Leech]

I was extremely ill with depression and anxiety and fully recovered just after removing my 14 amalgams. I was better within the next 2-3 days and havnt had serious mood swings since. I think the mercury messes with your hormones and blood sugar and thyroid status adn cant be proven but you need to do what is right for you.