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Non-precious metal toxicity
As strange as it may seem, the presence of several metals in the mouth, each with a different electrical potential, soaking in an electrolytic solution such as saliva effectively brings together all the conditions required to generate an electrical current commonly known as a galvanic current.
Although an electrician would hardly be concerned by an electrical current of this strength (approximately five microamperes), once inside the mouth, such a current is strong enough to irritate the gums, despite thorough patient hygiene and the best intentions of the dental practitioner. Non-precious metals such as mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) are only some of the materials that are used when making restorations, crowns, bridges and partials, and can be consequently lurking in the mouth. These various metals interact to create a battery in the truest sense of the word.
The central nervous system also uses a current to propagate signals; however it is no more than a few nanoamperes, which is 1000 times weaker than the currents resulting from non-precious metals in the oral cavity. A mercury amalgam, commonly referred to as a silver filling, is composed of five distinct metals [mercury (Hg): 50%, silver (Ag): 34.6%, copper (Cu): 6%, tin (Sn): 8.9%, zinc (Zn): 0.5%], each of which with a different reduction potential. Increased acidity of the saliva due to an unbalanced diet will further escalate electrical activity inside the mouth and likely have a negative impact on surrounding tissue, as well as on health and general well-being. A direct relationship has been established between the level of electrical activity and the rate at which the amalgams’ mercury is evaporated. Furthermore, people who grind their teeth (bruxism) or regularly chew gum will also substantially accentuate the evaporation of mercury, if any, in their mouth.
If that weren’t enough, the latest generation of mercury amalgams with a high concentration of copper (developed to reduce corrosion of the filling material) causes the mercury to evaporate 50 times faster than the previous composition. Mercury is considered more toxic than either cadmium or arsenic, and its continual evaporation in the mouth should be avoided at all costs. Among individuals with gold crowns, it is not uncommon to observe instances of a grayish discoloration deep in the oral soft tissues known as an amalgam tattoo. This discoloration stems from mercury deposits (anode) in the adjacent restorative work that are attracted by the gold (cathode) when the two alloys coexist in the same mouth.
If simply wearing jewellery of lesser quality can lead to redness of the skin or even an allergic reaction, one can only imagine the extent to which the highly-permeable oral soft tissues can become irritated and inflamed by the permanent presence of non-precious metals. Once sufficiently irritated, these tissues can become a gateway for easy access to the bloodstream and the rest of the body. More general side-effects including headaches, irritability, chronic fatigue, memory loss, depression and auto-immune disorders can also be associated with heavy metal intoxication.
It bears mention that not all metals are to blame, but the most harmful are non-precious metals, particularly when several different metals are found in the same oral cavity.
Once a crown or bridge has been put in, it is difficult to know what metal(s) were used. A handy way of determining whether the alloy is non-precious, however, is to closely examine the panoramic X-ray in the area surrounding the bridges and crowns and evaluate the radiopacity. A non-precious metal will be less radiopaque, i.e. it will not appear as white on the film, because x-rays penetrate it more easily. The radiographic image gives the impression the metal is translucent if it contains a low concentration of gold. Gold is a metal of choice for the oral cavity because it is neutral and long lasting, will not oxidize and readily adapts to the tooth. Problems arise when gold is combined with other metals that do not have these same properties.
The utmost care must be taken when choosing the method in which the mercury (the most highly volatile of all) is eliminated and replaced by biocompatible material. Dr. Carl Benoit of the Montreal-based Global Dental Art Clinic insists on taking preventative measures when removing amalgams because their vapors and fragments can be highly toxic if they are not controlled by strict protocols. These protocols can be consulted on the website of Quebec’s Holistic Dental Association (l’Association de Médecine Dentaire Holistique du Québec) www.amdhq.qc.ca, as well as on the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology’s website: www.iaomt.org.
Fortunately for all of us, there exist alternatives that are biocompatible, esthetically pleasing and durable. Future generations will benefit from the growing awareness of the general public and dental professionals alike; their teeth will be beautifully restored using quality materials that will not adversely affect their health.
info@drcarlbenoit.com
Dr. Carl Benoit,
Dental Surgeon
