By
John McDonnell
http://www.dentalproducts.net/webextra/protest.html
More than a dozen demonstrators took to the sidewalk
in front of the American Dental Association's Chicago
headquarters Sept. 7. Carrying anti-amalgam signs, the
group called on ADA leaders to stop supporting the use
of mercury in dental fillings. "It is time we
consumers go to the ADA's front door and tell them to
say the 'm' word to the American people," says Leo
Cashman, president of Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome
Inc. (DAMS). "If people only knew the risks, no
child in America would be given mercury amalgam
fillings."
The protesters say the ADA admitted in a court filing
several weeks ago that it receives money from mercury
amalgam manufacturers. Protest organizers want to know
how much money the ADA gets from those manufacturers and
why they continue to take money for endorsing products.
Amalgam manufacturers do give the ADA money for its Seal
of Acceptance program, but association officials deny
conflict of interest. Fees charged to manufacturers with
products in the Seal program cover about 40 percent of
its total cost, which runs about $1.5 million annually,
says an ADA spokesperson. The balance is funded by
membership dues. "A total of about $5,100 per year
is generated from amalgam manufacturers with products in
the Seal program," adds the ADA spokesperson.
DAMS members insist amalgam is dangerous to humans,
especially pregnant women and children. Officials with
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in
Atlanta disagree. "Analysis of currently available
peer-reviewed scientific data does not support claims
that individuals with dental amalgam restorations will
experience adverse effects, including renal,
neurological or developmental, except for very rare
allergic or hypersensitivity reactions," says a CDC
spokesperson.
CDC officials also say there is no proof that removal
of amalgam can cure some illnesses as ADA protesters
claim. "While there have been a number of case
studies and anecdotal reports about adverse effects from
amalgam, no published controlled studies have
demonstrated systemic adverse effects," says the
CDC. "There is also no scientific evidence that
general symptoms are relieved by removal of existing
amalgam restorations."
ADA officials say groups like DAMS prey on the fears
of people with serious medical conditions by leading
them to believe that costly dental treatment (removal
and replacement of amalgam fillings) will cure any
number of diseases. "There is no sound scientific
evidence supporting a link between amalgam fillings and
systemic diseases or chronic illness," ADA
President Robert M. Anderton says. "This is a
position shared by the ADA and all major U.S. public
health agencies and is a matter of public record."
It appears as though the ADA is growing tired of
amalgam protestors. In the September 2001 issue of the Journal
of the American Dental Association, Editor Lawrence
Meskin writes: "It's the mercury in amalgam that
has it's detractors dancing around like the Mad Hatter
from 'Alice in Wonderland.' Attributing almost every
conceivable health woe to a person's dental fillings,
amalgam opponents state that these restorations release
sufficient mercury to cause multiple sclerosis, or MS;
Parkinson's disease; Alzheimer's disease; and a host of
other conditions."
Meskin sternly addresses amalgam protestors at the
end of that editoral. "Antiamalgamists, take note.
Regardless of what you may think, there still is no
sound scientific evidence supporting links between
amalgam fillings and systemic diseases or chronic
illness. However, if ongoing scientific inquiry ever
were to indicate that amalgam is detrimental to the
health and welfare of the public, I can assure you that
dentistry would need no outside organization, group or
individual to remind it of its obligation to do no
harm."
In their own words ...
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dentalproducts.net grabbed its
digital video camera and met the antiamalgamists who
staged a protest at ADA headquarters Sept. 7. Though
you've likely heard their argument before, we hope the
following video/audio clips with three of the protestors
will provide you with some added insight into an age-old
debate. (You will need the Windows
Media Player to view these clips.)
 |
Karen Truskowski, DAMS Illinois
coordinator. To view clip, select between the 56K
or broadband
versions. |
 |
Linda Brocato, DAMS member. To view clip,
select between the 56K
or broadband
versions. |
 |
Boyd Haley, University of
Kentucky, professor and chairman, department of
chemistry. To view clip, select between the 56K
or broadband
versions. |
|
It should be noted that the American Dental
Association refuted several claims made by Haley at an
April 25 hearing held by the U.S. House of
Representatives' committee on government reform. At the
hearing, titled "Autism -- Why the increased rates?
A one-year update," Haley testisfied against the
use of mercury in dental amalgam. (View the clip above
to hear what Haley has to say about the mercury in
amalgam.)
The ADA's response to the federal committee -- penned
by ADA President Robert M. Anderton, D.D.S. -- denies
the existence of any "scientifically valid evidence
linking either autism or Alzheimer's disease with dental
amalgam.
"And there is no scientifically valid evidence
demonstrating in vivo transformation of inorganic or
mercury vapor into organo mercury species in individuals
occupationally exposed to amalgam mercury vapor,"
Anderton said.