The safety of dental fillings containing the toxic metal mercury will be debated at public hearings later this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.
Amalgam fillings, which contain mercury and other metals, are commonly used by dentists in Canada and the United States. Both nations have declared the fillings to be safe, but a public outcry in the U.S. has prompted a review of the evidence.
A citizen's petition filed with the FDA in July 2009 asks the agency to "formally ban the use of encapsulated mercury fillings as dental restorative material."
All of the petitions filed with the FDA oppose the use of amalgam fillings. The primary concern is that mercury from the fillings might leach into the body and accumulate, possibly causing damage to the kidneys or central nervous system.
In a position statement on amalgam, the Canadian Dental Association states, "although amalgam fillings release minute amounts of mercury vapour, current scientific consensus supports the position that amalgam does not contribute to illness."
(From CBC News )
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