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About Mercury Fillings in Children

Mercury fillings have been the traditional standard of care for dental fillings for about 150 years, with an estimated 70 million implanted yearly in the United States alone. But lately mercury fillings have come under media and medical scrutiny, owing primarily to their purported propensity to leak, contaminating the body with this toxic substance. But are mercury fillings actually hazardous, or has the media hype overestimated the potential danger? And are there special considerations that should be weighed for mercury fillings and children?

  1. About mercury

    • Mercury is the 80th element on the period table, and is one of the few elements that exists in a liquid form at room temperature. Mercury is identified by its trademark viscosity and its silvery color. Mercury is probably best-known for its inclusion in thermometers, but it is also well-known for its inclusion in traditional dental fillings. Mercury is highly toxic to humans, and undue accumulation in the body will eventually result in death.

    Mercury poisoning symptoms in children

    • As stated, mercury is highly toxic and can cause a wide range of problems for both adults and children. In children, mercury poisoning can cause symptoms such as flat affect (no emotion in voice), decreased levels of eye contact, poor concentration levels, loss of speech, social withdrawal, aggressive behavior, night terrors and other sleep problems. While mercury poisoning is not the sole cause of these events, it is a possibility that should be examined if symptoms are present.

    Are mercury fillings safe for children?

    • There is evidence on both sides of the fence, but in June 2008, the FDA declared that mercury fillings could be potentially harmful. Proponents of eliminating mercury in fillings insist that that mercury fillings release vapor while individuals are eating and also while being inserted or removed. Going further, the FDA states that fillings that contain mercury "may have neuro-toxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses." Complications resulting from mercury poisoning could include Alzheimer's Disease and heart problems.

    Counter-evidence

    • However, there is also evidence to the contrary. A pair of 2006 studies reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that no measurable difference existed between control groups and children who had mercury fillings. All participants in the studies were given memory, visual, and IQ tests over a period of five to seven years. Although the children with mercury fillings were exposed to higher levels of mercury, the levels were too insignificant to have any measurable effect.

    Considerations

    • On balance after considering both sides of the story, it would appear that mercury fillings may indeed have hazardous effects on children. For those families who are conscious of the well-being of their offspring and have the financial means to do so, it would only seem prudent to avoid mercury fillings until more conclusive evidence is determined one way or the other. After all, one can never be too safe when it comes to the health of their families. Even if the risk posed by mercury fillings is too minimal to have any effect (as claimed by the 2006 studies), where viable alternatives to mercury fillings exist, they should be explored in full.

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