DENTAL AMALGAM - ALLERGY AND CONTROVERSY

Safety concerns regarding dental amalgam have been voiced ever since i ts introduction 150 years ago. As most people have amalgam fillings, t he issue has received extensive coverage in the lay as well as the med ical media. This has led to confusion about the terms amalgam allergy, mercury burden and intoxication, and amalgam disease, an understandin g of which is crucial in consideration of this controversy. Allergy to amalgam is rare and should be investigated by a specialist, as diagno sis may result in a decision to remove dental amalgam. Dental amalgam is the most important source of mercury burden in the general populati on. Occupational exposure to mercury within established exposure limit s reaches Levels much higher without evidence of intoxication. However , mercury released from dental amalgam induces measurable organ effect s. Amalgam disease has been introduced as a term to identify patients who typically ascribe a variety of symptoms to their amalgam fillings. Current literature lacks sound evidence of a role for amalgam in huma n disease other than allergy.