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April 9, 2015 We've become aware that an anti-amalgam film is going to be shown April 18-19, 2015 as a part of the Kansas City Filmfest. Below you can read the press release that was received by the ADA who alerted the MDA. If you receive patient inquiries about Amalgam safety, please us the attached talking points. Documentary Exposes Occupational Hazards of Mercury Dental Fillings Premiers at Kansas City FilmFest KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Do No Harm, LLC, the production company behind You Put What in My Mouth?, has announced that its independent film will be shown at the Kansas City FilmFest on April 18-19, 2015.

You Put What in My Mouth? follows the lives of three health advocates as they struggle to inform the federal government and public that vast amounts of mercury vapor and particulate matter are being released during the removal of "silver" amalgam dental fillings. When the fillings containing 50% mercury are heated by the friction of a dentist's drill, toxic mercury vapors are released that are invisible, colorless and odorless. "Exposure to these toxic vapors contribute to a host of adverse health symptoms," said biochemist Boyd Haley, PhD.

Haley went on to explain, "We have visually demonstrated the mercury vapors generated during routine dental procedures and this shocking footage reveals the peak levels of mercury released during an amalgam removal are vastly higher than limits at which people are evacuated from buildings."

"Since dental professionals are not taught about the toxicity of mercury amalgam nor of the hazardous vapors it emits, they are unaware of occupational safety regulations mandating that employees be informed about and protected from toxic exposures," says Matt Young, DDS. Young, a member of the biological dental organization, the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), is a "mercury safe" dentist. The IAOMT has created a number of mercury safe protocols to reduce the amount of mercury to which both dental staff and patients are exposed.

Government reviews of mercury have found its toxic effects are broad, variable, idiosyncratic, and often delayed. Neurological problems, cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction, and many other disorders have been linked to mercury.

The public is invited to attend the showing of You Put What in My Mouth? at the Kansas City FilmFest. The movie will play April 18-19, 2015 at the Cinemark Palace at the Plaza, 526 Nichols Rd., Kansas City, MO 64112. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or at www.kcfilmfest.org.

About the Film, You Put What in My Mouth? This documentary was created to raise awareness about the toxic effects of mercury dental fillings on patients, staff and the environment.

Video - http://youtu.be/JUmiRI42KYg Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150406/196727

Media Contact: Randall Moore, Do No Harm, LLC, Phone: (913)731-0164, Email: randall@youputwhatinmymouth.com

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This document is intended as an educational resource for dentists and others who wish to respond in accessible language to inquiries from media and consumers about dental amalgam. The information is to promote public understanding and should be used freely, but the document itself should not be reproduced or distributed.

Amalgam Talking Points April 8, 2013

The following are key messages. When you answer a reporter’s question, you should always include a key message since they are what you want your audience to remember long after the interview is over. You do not have to use these messages verbatim; in fact, we encourage you to personalize your responses to reporters.

Health and Safety Key MessagesIt’s important to separate fear from facts. People who might be concerned about dental amalgam because it contains mercury can be reassured that credible scientific studies show no cause for alarm. Study after study shows amalgam is safe and effective for filling cavities.

Amalgam has unique characteristics, and is sometimes the best option for saving a person’s tooth.

The American Dental Association wants to preserve the right of patients to choose from the full range of cavity filling materials that science has shown is safe to use.

Environment Key MessagesAs a dentist, I’m a member of the community. Protecting the environment is just as important to me as it is to my neighbors.

Less than one percent of mercury released to the environment from man-made sources comes from dentistry, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The American Dental Association and dentists across the country are committed to recycling amalgam to help protect the environment.

Health and SafetyDentists have used amalgam for more than 150 years, and we have learned a great deal about its durability, reliability and safety.

Untreated cavities can lead to serious health consequences. Over the years, dental amalgam has helped millions of people save their teeth and their health.

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People who might be concerned about dental amalgam because it contains mercury can be reassured that credible scientific studies show no cause for alarm:

• Two key studies published in the April 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association found no difference in I.Q., behavior and kidney function between the group with amalgam fillings compared to the group with tooth colored fillings.

• Another study published in November 2011 Journal of the American Dental Association found no support for the hypothesis that prenatal mercury exposure arising from maternal dental amalgam restorations re-sults in neurobehavioral consequences in the child (http://jada.ada.org/content/142/11/1283.abstract).

• Based on scientific findings and clinical data, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded in July 2009 that the exposures to mercury vapor from dental amalgam do not put individuals age six and older at risk for mercury-associated adverse health effects.

• A 2003 article in the New England Journal of Medicine states that “the available evidence shows no connection” between amalgam and degenerative diseases. To put the issue into perspective, one expert said a person would need to have nearly 300 amalgam fillings to experience even the mildest symptoms in the most sensitive patient.

No properly designed, scientific study demonstrates that dental amalgam causes any long-term health effects or disease. The ADA welcomes continued research on all dental filling materials and would promptly inform the public if the scientific community determined that any cavity filling material was unsafe for patients.

Moreover, leading U.S. public health agencies have reviewed a wealth of scientific studies on dental amalgam and determined it is a safe and effective cavity filling material. These organizations include the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Is Amalgam Hazardous?Whether you’re considering its effect on the body or on the environment, you cannot compare exposure to amalgam to exposure to an equivalent amount of mercury.

Amalgam fillings release an extremely small amount of mercury vapor — so small it’s measured in billionths of an ounce. This tiny amount is well within levels considered safe.

Even in adults and children ages 6 and above who have 15 or more amalgam surfaces, mercury exposure due to dental amalgam fillings has been found to be far below the lowest levels associated with harm, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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Patient ChoiceThere are a number of dental fillings available.

• Dental amalgam, which is silver-colored, is the most durable and affordable

• It combines a mixture of mercury with silver, copper, tin and zinc

• Because it is made of a combination of metals, amalgam has entirely different properties than mercury

• Amalgam is often the best choice to fill cavities below the gumline or for large cavities in back teeth

• Because it’s less technique sensitive, amalgam is also a useful material for children and special needs people who might be restless or can’t control their motor functions

• Dental amalgam use is declining, as more people choose newer, more natural-looking, tooth-colored fillings. If trends continue, newer materials eventually may replace dental amalgam entirely

• But for now, dentists and patients still value amalgam in numerous instances, and the ADA is therefore committed to protecting their right to choose this safe, durable, and cost-effective cavity filling material

• Tooth-colored fillings composite fillings are great for smaller cavities or if you want the filling to look more natural

• They are more expensive than amalgam and not all insurance plans cover them

• Some studies show that composite fillings need to be replaced more often than amalgam fillings

• Tooth colored fillings are now used more often than amalgam or gold fillings probably due to esthetics

• Gold fillings are the most durable, but they are also the most expensive and they do not match tooth color

In July 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided not to place any restriction on the use of dental amalgam and categorized it as a class II medical device, placing it in the same class as gold and tooth-colored composite fillings. The ADA has supported a class II designation for dental amalgam since 2002 when first proposed by the FDA.

EthicsThe ADA Code of Ethics states that a dentist who removes a serviceable amalgam from a non-allergic patient, claiming that doing so will remove toxic substances from the body to improve or cure a health condi-tion or disease, is acting unethically by misleading the patient about the therapeutic value of the treatment.

The ADA supports and defends the right of dentists to discuss freely, appropriately and accurately all aspects of dental care with their patients. Information that a dentist gives a patient should be consistent with accepted science and the applicable standard of care governing clinical practice.

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One of the American Dental Association’s greatest concerns is that vulnerable people with incurable diseases are being preyed upon and told that removal of their amalgam fillings can “cure” them. There isn’t a single credible scientific study to back up that claim.

If dentists believed that we could cure disabling diseases by removing people’s amalgam fillings, we would shout it from the rooftops. The fact is we can’t. But we can act as responsible health professionals and provide information to people that is consistent with accepted science and the appropriate standard of care for clinical practice.

ADA Seal of Acceptance Program and Patents on Dental AmalgamThe ADA has never profited from dental amalgam. ADA Foundation obtained two patents for a particular formulation of dental amalgam in the early 1970s by scientists working for the Foundation. These patents have long since expired. Neither the ADA nor the ADA Foundation earned any money from the patents. No products based on these patents were ever made.

In the past, the ADA charged a modest fee to manufacturers to help cover a small part of the cost of evaluating products submitted to the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance program. Participation was strictly voluntary, and the fee was charged regardless of whether the product was accepted or not. The ADA receives no money from the sale of an accepted product.

Fees paid by amalgam manufacturers to the Seal program totaled about $5,100 per year, or less than one-half of one percent of the program’s total costs. ADA members paid most of the cost of operating the Seal program though their membership dues as a service to the public and the profession.

In 2002, the ADA eliminated fees for evaluating all professional products, including dental amalgam and in 2007, the ADA discontinued its Seal of Acceptance program for professional dental products and focused instead on the Professional Product Review, a product evaluation newsletter for ADA member dentists.

Environment Dentists and their families are part of communities across the country and protecting the environment is just as important to us as it is to our neighbors.

Just as people increasingly are recycling at home, the American Dental Association encourages recycling in the dental office, and we provide dentists with the “how tos” in order to do it.

The ADA and its member dentists are committed, both as health professionals and as members of their communities, to using “best management practices” which include recycling and the use of amalgam separa-tors to minimize the amount of amalgam discharged by dental offices to wastewater treatment plants.

Just as every dentist should use a surgical mask and gloves when caring for patients, the ADA hopes all dentists who use amalgam will follow best management practices to help protect the environment.

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Waste amalgam is not a significant source of mercury pollution. According to the EPA, less than 1 percent of the total amount of mercury released to the environment from human activity comes from dentistry. Nevertheless, the ADA encourages dentists to help protect the environment we all share by capturing and recycling amalgam waste.

Dental amalgam waste occurs when dentists place or remove amalgam fillings. Standard dental office equipment captures up to 80 percent of amalgam waste and most of the remaining 20 percent is captured at wastewater treatment plants.

If the dental office has an amalgam separator, 95 percent of amalgam waste is captured and can be recycled, preventing its release to the environment. The ADA recommends that dentists recycle amalgam captured in dental offices to help protect the environment.

There’s a big difference between mercury and dental amalgam and an even bigger difference between dental amalgam and methylmercury — the form of mercury that is of greater concern to the environment.

Methylmercury is created when mercury is deposited into surface waters (like lakes and ponds) and transformed by bacteria in the soil. Fish can then ingest methylmercury and become contaminated.

If amalgam is incinerated, mercury can be released into the air. Dentists across the country are becoming much more aware about the importance of capturing and recycling amalgam waste to help protect our environment.

The ADA serves as a clearinghouse for state dental societies seeking information and advice on environmental issues. The ADA encourages state dental societies to work cooperatively with state and local environmental regulators to develop effective programs to reduce amalgam waste discharges.

CremationSome have suggested that, as an alternative to emission controls at crematoria, teeth containing amalgam den-tal fillings should be removed from the deceased prior to cremation in an effort to protect the environment.

The American Dental Association (ADA) believes that this is a highly personal and complex issue that includes not just environmental, but also cultural and religious considerations. As such, the ADA defers to the expertise of the funeral profession, believing it will act responsibly, in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and with its characteristic sensitivity to grieving loved ones.

According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency testing data, all U.S. crematories combined emitted a total of 238 pounds of mercury in 1999 — a miniscule percentage (less than 0.3 percent) of the more than 45 tons of mercury emitted from coal-fired utilities.

Out of concern for the environment, the American Dental Association provides guidelines to its member dentists concerning the handling and recycling of dental amalgam within the dental office. The ADA has shared information with the funeral profession about dental amalgam, and stands ready to serve as a resource to the profession in this delicate matter.

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In the matter of human cremation and the impact it may have upon the environment, the American Dental Association believes the funeral profession is best suited to address this issue with the families they serve.

Other OrganizationsOther organizations concerned about public health, including the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have publicly stated that there is no scientific evidence linking dental amalgam with any disease or syndrome.

Health Canada’s amalgam advisory clearly states that current scientific evidence does not indicate that dental amalgam is causing illness in the general population. It also states that neither a ban on amalgam or removal of existing sound amalgam fillings is justified.

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What Others Say About Dental AmalgamUpdated: July 8, 2013

Outside OrganizationsAlzheimer’s Association “ According to the best available scientific evidence, there is no relationship between silver dental fillings and Alzheimer’s … Public health agencies, including the FDA, the U.S. Public Health Service and the World Health Organization, endorse the continued use of amalgam as safe, strong, inexpensive material for dental restorations.” Source: Alzheimer’s Association website

American Academy of Pediatrics “ Although dental amalgams are a source of mercury exposure and are associated with slightly higher urinary mercury excretion, there is no scientific evidence of any measurable clinical toxic effects other than rare hypersensitivity reactions. An expert panel for the National Institutes of Health has concluded that existing evidence indicates dental amalgams do not pose a health risk and should not be replaced merely to decrease mercury exposure.” Source: American Academy of Pediatrics website

Autism Society of America “ There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism versus neuro-typical children. Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics and medical problems. In many families, there appears to be a pattern of autism or related disabilities, further supporting a genetic basis to the disorder. While no one gene has been identified as causing autism, researchers are searching for irregular segments of genetic code that children with autism may have inherited. It also appears that some children are born with a susceptibility to autism, but researchers have not yet identified a single “trigger” that causes autism to develop.” Source: Autism Society of America website

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “ Since the 1990s, several federal agencies have reviewed the scientific literature looking for links between dental amalgam and health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is little scientific evidence that the health of the vast majority of people with dental amalgam is com-promised, nor that removing amalgam fillings has any beneficial effect on health.” Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website

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Mayo Clinic “ Amalgam fillings are safe. A great deal of research has examined these fillings and found them to be an effective, long-lasting treatment for dental decay. Amalgam, or silver, fillings are made with mercury, silver, tin and copper. In some cases, other metals may be included in amalgam fillings, too. Amalgam has been used for many years to replace decayed areas within teeth. It’s an excellent material for this purpose. Amalgam is a strong, stable substance that holds up well when placed in a moist environment. It’s also a good choice because it can tolerate the dramatic changes in temperature within your mouth.” Source: “Amalgam is a safe and durable choice for fillings” in Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, January 28, 2013 Mayo Clinic website

National Multiple Sclerosis Society “ There is no scientific evidence to connect the development or worsening of MS with dental fillings containing mercury, and therefore no reason to have those fillings removed. Although poisoning with heavy metals-such as mercury, lead, or manganese can damage the nervous system and produce symptoms such as tremor and weakness, the damage is inflicted in a different way than occurs in MS and the process is also different.” Source: National Multiple Sclerosis Society website

“ There have been claims over the years that mercury leaking from amalgam dental fillings damages the immune system and causes a broad range of diseases, including MS. While the cause of MS remains unknown, there is no scientific evidence that heavy metal poisoning is responsible for either the onset or worsening of MS. There is no reason to have your dental fillings removed or replaced. This is a very expensive procedure with no proven benefit for people with MS.” Source: National Multple Sclerosis Society website — ”Dental Health” brochure

U.S. Food and Drug Administration “ FDA has reviewed the best available scientific evidence to determine whether the low levels of mercury vapor associated with dental amalgam fillings are a cause for concern. Based on this evidence, FDA considers dental amalgam fillings safe for adults and children ages 6 and above. The amount of mercury measured in the bodies of people with dental amalgam fillings is well below levels associated with adverse health effects …FDA concludes that the existing data support a finding that infants are not at risk for adverse health effects from the breast milk of women exposed to mercury vapor from dental amalgam. The estimated daily dose of mercury vapor in children under age 6 with dental amalgams is also expected to be at or below levels that the EPA and CDC consider safe.” Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration website

New England Journal of Medicine “ Current concern arises from claims that long-term exposure to low concentrations of mercury vapor from amalgams either causes or exacerbates degenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,

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Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Speculation has been most intense with respect to Alzheimer’s disease after a report that the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease had elevated mercury concentrations. However, several epidemiological investigations failed to provide evidence of a role of amalgam in these degenerative diseases ... Patients who have questions about the potential relation between mercury and degenerative diseases can be assured that the available evidence shows no connection.” Source: New England Journal of Medicine 349;18, October 30, 2003, pp.1731-1737.

International Journal of Dentistry “ According to the available articles and data reviewed in this paper, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1) Mercury released from dental amalgam restorations does not contribute to systemic disease or systemic toxicological effects, 2) Allergic reactions to mercury from dental amalgam restorations have been demonstrated, but these are extremely rare, and 3) Available scientific data do not justify the discontinuation of dental amalgam use from clinical practice or the replacement with other single-tooth restorative dental materials.” Source: “Biocompatibility of Dental Amalgams”, November 2011

National Council Against Health Fraud “The National Council Against Health Fraud believes that amalgam fillings are safe … ” “ There is no logical reason to worry about the safety of amalgam fillings.” Source: National Council Against Health Fraud website, 2002

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR – part of the National Institutes of Health) “ Both studies — one conducted in Europe, the other in the United States — independently reached the conclusion: Children whose cavities were filled with dental amalgam had no adverse health effects. The findings included no detectable loss of intelligence, memory, coordination, concentration, nerve conduction, or kidney function during the 5-7 years the children were followed.” Source: “Studies Evaluate Health Effects of Dental Amalgam Fillings in Children”, 2006

American Cancer Society “ The American Cancer Society has no formal position on the use of mercury in dental fillings. We did have a document called Biological Dentistry on our site that discussed the studies and science around mercury fillings, which stated there was no good evidence that dental amalgams cause health problems in most people. It cited studies that found no link between mercury-containing fillings and the development of cancer and other diseases.” Source: Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies, 2nd edition, 2009, pp.164-166.

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Lupus Foundation of America “ At the present time, we do not have any scientific data that indicates that dental fillings may act as a trigger of lupus. In fact, it is highly unlikely that dental fillings aggravate or cause SLE.” Source: Lupus Foundation of America website

WebMD “ The cause of autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis remains unknown. Additionally, there is no solid, scientific evidence to back up the claim that if a person has amalgam fillings removed, he or she will be cured of these or any other diseases … Although amalgams do contain mercury, when they are mixed with other metals, such as silver, copper, tin, and zinc, they form a stable alloy that dentists have used for more than 100 years to fill and preserve hundreds of millions of decayed teeth.” Source: WebMD website

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