Amalgam dental fillings are one of the biggest culprits behind rising medical costs, but no one wants to talk about it.
Mercury has long been recognized as a serious toxin. There is no legal “acceptable limit” of mercury declared by any health organization, because in even the tiniest amounts – mercury is still incredibly toxic.
So, why is it that mercury amalgam fillings even exist anymore? These fillings are often up to 50% mercury!
While the American Dental Association may continue to claim that mercury vapors in amalgam fillings are harmless, it’s important to note that as early as 1991, the World Health Organization began to question their safety.
In 2011, the WHO released a report stating that mercury amalgam fillings, and their vapors, were indeed dangerous to human but did not call for a ban due to lacking alternatives.
Mercury amalgam fillings are not banned due to affordability of the product, and its durability. Composite fillings cost roughly $41 more to implant, but over the cost of a patient’s lifetime – they may be more cost effective when side effects from mercury amalgam are factored in. Many people are suffer from mercury toxicity due to amalgam fillings, and it leads to exorbitant medical costs.
The true cost of mercury may unfortunately be paid with a patient’s life and wellbeing – something they should be made aware of when looking at that $40 difference on paper.
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