Page 62 - Spring2018

I have noted practices in more affluent metropolitan areas to waking up to its dangers and embracing less

a growing phase out the use of mercury fillings, but this toxic alternatives.
is due to clients’ demand for more esthetically
trend for pleasing dentistry and not for any other reason. Carl McMillan, DMD, began with a traditional
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dental A survey of five hundred pediatric dentists practice in general dentistry but made the deci-
practices in reported that parents’ top concern about dental sion to practice holistic dentistry after realizing
materials related to esthetics. Dental practices that the traditional model did not match his
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more affluent in poorer and more rural areas still are more beliefs and values. Twenty years into his holistic
metropolitan likely to use mercury fillings versus other types dentistry practice, he now serves patients from
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areas to of fillings. all over the U.S. in two locations in Cary and
When the demand for amalgam eventually Cornelius, North Carolina. His belief that total
phase out drops to such an extent that manufacturers can body wellness starts in the mouth is the founda-
the use of no longer produce it for a profit, then and only tion of his practice. Dr. McMillan is a member
mercury then will we see, finally, the end of mercury fill- and director of the International Academy of
ings. To hasten amalgam's demise, the IAOMT Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). For
fillings, but membership currently is leading an initiative more information, visit his website (http://www.
this is due to challenge mercury usage in dentistry not smilesraleigh.com/).

to clients’ only to alleviate human health risks but for the
sake of the environment. Other organizations REFERENCES
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demand such as Consumers for Dental Choice and the 1. Bengtsson UG, Hylander LD. Increased mercury
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for more World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry emissions from modern dental amalgams. Biomet-
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als 2017;30:277-283.
esthetically also have called attention to the wide variety 2. Hermesch CB, Wall BS, McEntire JF. Dimensional
of reasons to eliminate mercury from dentistry.
stability of dental restorative materials and cements
pleasing All of these movements are gaining ground over four years. Gen Dent 2003;51:518-523.
dentistry and around the world, as evidenced by the European 3. Seo DG, Yi YA, Shin SJ, Park JW. Analysis of fac-
tors associated with cracked teeth. J Endod 2012;38:
288-292.
not for any Parliament’s partial ban of amalgam as of 2018 4. https://iaomt.org/about-iaomt/.
following ratification of the Minimata Conven-
other reason. tion on Mercury. 5. Carocci A, Rovito N, Sinicropi MS, Genchi G.
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Mercury toxicity and neurodegenerative effects.
Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 2014;229:1-18.
DUAL JOURNEYS 6. Homme KG, Kern JK, Haley BE et al. New science
My journey toward holistic dentistry has challenges old notion that mercury dental amalgam
been one of both personal and professional is safe. Biometals 2014;27:19-24.
challenges. On the personal level, I learned the 7. Colson DG. A safe protocol for amalgam removal.
J Environ Public Health 2012;2012:517391.
hard way about the impact that toxins such as 8. Puckett AD, Fitchie JG, Kirk PC, Gamblin J. Direct
mercury are having on our children—and on the composite restorative materials. Dent Clin North
most vulnerable members of our society. On a Am 2007;51:659-675.
professional level, I have learned that until our 9. Zimmerman JA, Feigal RJ, Till MJ, Hodges JS.
Parental attitudes on restorative materials as fac-
beliefs are challenged by these types of personal tors influencing current use in pediatric dentistry.
experiences, we often cannot see the truth. Pediatr Dent 2009;31:63-70.
Fortunately, the word about mercury amalgam 10. IAOMT. A comprehensive review of the toxic ef-
is getting out, and more and more dentists are fects of mercury in dental amalgam fillings on the
environment and human health, 2016 update. https://
iaomt.org/wp-content/uploads/Comprehensive-
ERRATA Review-Dental-Mercury.pdf.
In the Raw Milk Update on page 98 of the Winter 2017 issue, one foot 11. http://www.toxicteeth.org/.
12. https://mercuryfreedentistry.net/.
note is missing from the section called PENNSYLVANIA: FDA ANTIBI- 13. European Parliament votes to partially ban amal-
OTIC TEST REQUIREMENT THREATENS TO CUT RAW MILK SUPPLY gam. http://www.toxicteeth.org/pressRoom_recent-
News/March-2017/European-Parliament-votes-to-
Missing Footnote: partially-ban-amalgam.aspx.
2. PDA Commissioner Russell Redding, Letter to Pennsylvania Milk
Permitholders, 4 October 2017.

60 Wise Traditions SPRING 2018