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Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic
AMALGAM FILLINGS: DRILLING DOWN TO THE FACTS
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Can amalgam fillings cause mouth pain? — Ft. Wayne, Ind.
ANSWER: Amalgam fillings have been used for more than 100 years and studied extensively. There is no evidence that amalgam fillings cause mouth pain, or other health problems, except in the rare instance of an allergic reaction.
According to the American Dental Association, there have been fewer than 100 reported cases of allergic reactions to amalgam fillings. Symptoms are similar to a typical skin allergy including rash and itching.
Dental amalgam fillings contain a mixture of metals including mercury, silver, tin, copper and zinc. The mercury chemically binds the metals into a hard, stable substance. Because of their appearance they are sometimes called silver fillings.
The fact that mercury is used in amalgam has raised questions about safety and possible links to neurological diseases. No data backs up these concerns.
There is a possibility of discomfort if you have an amalgam filling next to a gold crown because of the reaction between the metals.
If you have a filling that is causing pain, see your dentist. It could be that the seal between the tooth and filling has weakened, chipped or cracked, and new decay is causing pain.
— Sreenivas Koka, D.D.S., Ph.D., Prosthodontics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Additional Resources:
Dental Specialties
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Readers:
What you don't know about Alzheimer's disease could hurt you. That's why it's important to seek medical attention if you experience warning signs of Alzheimer's disease:
Increasing and persistent forgetfulness
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
Problems with finding the right words to express your thoughts
Disorientation with time and place
Poor or impaired judgment
Problems with abstract thinking
Putting everyday items in illogical places
Noticeable changes in mood, behavior or personality
Forgetfulness and confusion also can be caused by diabetes, thyroid disease, depression, drug interaction or vitamin deficiencies. These symptoms may also indicate the presence of another form of dementia. Although treating these problems may not fully reverse memory impairment, knowing what's wrong can benefit your overall health and help keep other medical problems from developing.
If you have Alzheimer's or another form of dementia, the sooner you're evaluated and diagnosed, the more options you're likely to have in improving your symptoms.
While Alzheimer's is a progressive disease with no known cure, drugs may temporarily slow the progression of the disease or improve symptoms. An early diagnosis may give you the opportunity to be involved in making important legal, financial, social and medical decisions that will affect you and your family.
Additional Resources:
Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
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Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t
replace regular medical care. To e-mail a question, go to www.mayoclinic.org,
or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave.,
Suite 114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.
© 2006 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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