2006N-0352
FDA Comment Number : EC30
Submitter : Mrs. Diana Green Date & Time: 09/05/2006 11:09:28
Organization : Mrs. Diana Green
Category : Individual Consumer
Issue Areas/Comments
GENERAL
GENERAL
I had an interesting experience with my teeth this last week and a friend
suggested I write to you about it. I am a 69-year-old woman with five
aged amalgam fillings. I eat right, don't smoke or drink and keep active.
A week ago, I noticed my teeth were dingy. So I began brushing my teeth
2-3 times a day with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide. After each
brushing, I also swished some more peroxide around in my mouth for a
minute, before spitting it out. Each time (especially the first) I
noticed a metallic taste in my mouth afterward. I thought I should look
up on the Internet to see if the peroxide would react with my fillings.
But I didn't get around to it. I assumed that if there were any danger,
the teeth-whitening business would have advised its customers.

By the third day of using peroxide, I developed arthritic pains in my
ankles, legs, wrists and arms. I have never had arthritis in my life and
wondered what was happening. Then it struck me. I remembered hearing
recently that amalgam had mercury in it. Could the mercury in my fillings
be poisoning me? I was startled to discover on www.pubmed.gov that many
scientific studies indicated that peroxide did indeed increase mercury
release into the body. (See some of the specific reports below.)

Of course, I immediately stopped using the peroxide. The next few days I
was involved in house redecorating and yard work that caused a great deal
of perspiration. I think that helped me get rid of some of the poison
because I now no longer have any pains (in spite of the hard work.)

It seems obvious to me that the mercury in my fillings had a definite
toxic effect on my body.

Sincerely,Diana Green


Changes in surface levels of mercury, silver, tin, and copper of dental
amalgam treated with carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide in vitro.
by Rotstein I, Mor C, and Arwaz JR. Department of Endodontics, Hebrew
University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
rotstein@cc.huji.ac.il
"CONCLUSIONS: It appears that prolonged treatment with bleaching agents
may cause microstructural changes in amalgam surfaces, possibly
INCREASING EXPOSURE OF PATIENTS TO TOXIC BYPRODUCTS."

The effect of bleaching agents on mercury release from spherical dental
amalgam.
by Certosimo A, Robertello F, Dishman M, Bogacki R, Wexel M.
Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of General Practice,
Richmond, USA.
"CONCLUSIONS: All groups exposed to bleach showed INCREASED MERCURY
RELEASE over time."

Mercury release from dental amalgam after treatment with 10% carbamide
peroxide in vitro.
by Rotstein I, Dogan H, Avron Y, Shemesh H, and Steinberg D.
Department of Endodontics, Hebrew University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental
Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
"CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching agents
caused an INCREASE IN MERCURY RELEASE from amalgam restorations, possibly
increasing exposure of patients to its adverse effects. Amalgam brands
differed in the amounts of mercury release after bleaching with carbamide
peroxide."

Mercury in solution following exposure of various amalgams to carbamide
peroxides.
by Hummert TW, Osborne JW, Norling BK, and Cardenas HL.
Division of Biomaterials, University of Texas Health Science Center,
Dental School, San Antonio 78284-7890.
"All background mercury levels were zero, but following the experiment
there were SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER AMOUNTS OF MERCURY in the CP solutions as
compared to the 100% saline solutions. These results suggest there is an
active oxidation of the amalgam releasing mercury ions into solution."

Protective effect of Copalite surface coating on mercury release from
dental amalgam following treatment with carbamide peroxide.
by Rotstein I, Dogan H, Avron Y, Shemesh H, Mor C, Steinberg D.
Department of Endodontics, Hebrew University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental
Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. rotstein@cc.huji.ac.il
"CONCLUSION, exposure of amalgam