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One of those irritating "further study required" conclusions, but the link with amalgam appears weak so far. Size may matter though, (of fillings):

Dental amalgam and multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Aminzadeh KK, Etminan M.
Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.

OBJECTIVES: Amalgam restorations have long been controversial due to their mercury content. Allegations that the mercury may be linked to nervous disorders such as Alzheimer's, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple sclerosis (MS) have fueled the calls for the removal of amalgam restorations from dentists' armamentarium. To explore and quantify the association between amalgam restorations and MS we have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. METHODS: A systematic search in Medline (from 1966 to April 2006), EMBASE (2006, Week 16), and the Cochrane library (Issue 2, 2006) for English-language articles meeting specific definitions of MS and amalgam exposure was conducted. Studies were also identified using the references of retrieved articles. Studies were independently reviewed by two authors and disagreements were resolved by consensus. Studies were selected based on an a priori of defined criteria. Odds ratios (ORs) or relative risks were pooled using the random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using Q statistics. RESULTS: The pooled OR for the risk of MS among amalgam users was consistent, with a slight, nonstatistically significant increase between amalgam use and risk of MS. CONCLUSION: Future studies that take into consideration the amalgam restoration size and surface area along with the duration of exposure are needed in order to definitively rule out any link between amalgam and MS.

PMID: 17436982 [PubMed - in process]

I'm bumping this thread, Dom...because hubby just saw a doctor who looked in his mouth and exclaimed, "Look at all that amalgam!"
My husband has 12 amalgam fillings, and this doctor advised seeing a biological dentist and having the mercury fillings replaced with porcelain.

His feeling was that my husband's MS has been exacerbated (if not caused) by mercury toxicity. We went to see this doc, since he is Lyme literate...and he was more concerned with teeth.

Wondering how many folks have gone thru with this procedure. It seems a bit risky, since removing the amalgam can stir up even more mercury fumes and increase the body's toxic load.

Informal survey...how many amalgam fillings do people have? I have one- but my husband's the one with MS. What do folks think?
inquiring minds want to know-
AC

I don't have any fillings. This just seems like another one of those teaser studies. This is all so complicated

Cheerleader,
My first obvious MS symptoms followed having a leaky amalgam filling removed. I always wondered if this had something to do with it. I had symptoms before that (mostly ignored by me) but this is when I had to use a cane and was dx'ed.
I have not been back to the dentist since. I'd like to have the rest removed and there are ways to do this carefully, even cleanse the system I think, but I haven't done it yet.
Terry

Hi AC,
I'm not pro amalgam, in fact I don't like the idea of them, but this has a long history and has been blamed in almost every illness known to man, studied to death by a multitude of institutions and no conclusive evidence has ever been found.

Like so many other things, you could make a great case against amalgam in that it's use lines up very well with the times and locations of the populations experiencing the drastic increase in incidence of MS....in addition to the use of amalgam just "seeming" dangerous, but having those fillings removed is most likely an expensive and needless undertaking. It's just another MS "tail chaser".

Bob

About 10 years ago I had all of my mercury fillings removed and replaced with porcelain. It made no difference with my MS symptoms and I would do it again only for cosmetic reasons.

gwa

I wonder where and why the original link between the MS and mercury poisoning was first hypothesised? Some of the symptoms of mercury poisoning resemble MS, (unsteady gait, vision problems etc.), because of the neurological damage, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are the same thing,

I had all my mercury fillings removed about 5 years ago. I have only had porcelain ones put in since. I don't know if it has made a difference or not. But I felt it was something that I could do that may help. Most were going to need to be replaced soon any way. The dentist was very careful when he removed them. I have only allowed porcelain fillings put in my children's mouths. No one knows if the mercury ones are really a problem or not, but I decided why risk it?
Lori

I forgot earlier. I was looking into vaccines and the mercury they contain. Apparently they found ill effects in children and children's inoculations, in the US anyways, no longer contain mercury. I couldn't find it for sure but I think that adult vaccinations, such as the flu shot, still contain Thimerosal (mercury) as a preservative.

On whether it is good or bad for you? Well I look at it like this: they tell you not to eat too much fish because of its mercury content but they will allow you to have it injected into your body? To me it sounds like money at work....

There are many sources of mercury...some people ( 1%) are extremely sensitive to it..It took 20 yrs for me to make my brain absorb and realize the connection...some bodies do not have the metabolism that enables excretion of mercury so need to actively chelate after amalgam removal. I have never had an exacerbation of "MS " that didn't follow amalgam placement. Had 10+ amalgams removed three days ago..I am now mercury free and about to chelate the stuff out of my brain...We shall see...I will post results here, katie

"Individual Results May Vary"

All of my mercury fillings fell out as they were only in baby teeth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I saw my first dentist when I was 10..he placed 1 amalgam filling...2 weeks later I had a blindness episode while in the gym at school..I recovered after 2 hrs. When I was 24, I had another filling, went blind again for an entire day. At 29 after getting 2 more amalgams I had a terrible reaction that I now know was mercury poisoning. It took me 4 months to recover..walk without dragging my leg,write,regain my vision etc (they called it possible ms) At 44 I had more dental work and paid extra for "no metal" The dentist lied and used amalgam anyway..I've been in a wheelchair for the last 5 years..I'm having the amalgam removed in 2 days.Please pray for me...I want to walk with my grandkids again. kathy

Posted [quote][/quote]

Hi y'all-
The United States EPA says it - "Mercury is a neurotoxin."
http://www.epa.gov/mercury/health.htm
Yet it's alright to put in people's mouths...so close to the brain and spine? I think the ADA has a mess on its hands.

Katie-
Thanks for posting all the info. I look forward to hearing about your progress since your amalgam removal. Interesting to read about the trumpet player who had mouth sores. My husband is also a trumpet player, and has had issues with mouth sores for years. Perhaps the extra air pressure exerted playing the instrument releases more mercury from the amalgams? Because the doctor we are consulting for his MS alerted us to this issue, we are researching biological dentists in the Los Angeles area now.

If any folks in southern California have a referral for a biological dentist, please post or contact me personally.

step by step, we're reclaiming his health...
AC

Hi Cheer, I edited out most of the last post...glad you caught it...I've been convinced many times of the cause of my "MS" but was unable each time to map any real consistent event that preceded the flairs...til now...Best of luck to you and "the trumpeter" I'll bet you're onto something here!

Talking about "Tail Chasing" Could you post one scientific article/study which proves mercury in any of it's forms (elemental, vapor etc) in the mouths of humans is non toxic and does not cause neuron cell damage/death. thanks katie