I agree with pertykitty to a point. I would put amalgam in my child's mouth. Take a moment to pick your battles though. Take a look at the other restorations that are offered and what all is in them and the other things that go along with them. Like she said there are so many negatives to things, everything! Amalgam has mercury in it to allow it to be flowable and pliable to be formed into the correct shape needed for an individual. Most of the material "floats" up to the top and is removed from the oral cavity.
You make some well thought out and valid points. I'm surprised that this travesty has gone on as long as it has. I guess this is as good a forum as any to vent your grievances with the AMA and the FDA. Good luck with getting the word out.
Obviously there are a very broad group of the scientific,medical, and legal community that believe the AMA do have a liability stake in this issue along with the FDA who has allowed this product to continue in the market place without even the simplist of thier own rules of approval to be met. That being the responsibility of the producer of a product to prove to the FDA it's safety to the public. That has never been done with mercury amalgams and is the only product to date to have the dubious title of the only product to be mysteriously omitted from that very important responsibility. Mercury is dangerous in every single form. That is not in debate. Including the product that you dentists use. It comes in a canister with a skull and crossbones on it accompaning some very serious warnings to you and your dental assistants and thier unborn fetus if present. The spit from your sinks has been proven as the #1 contaminator of our water systems and is being currently regulated at various gov. levels because even the minute particles picked up by fish after it goes out the rivers to the ocean, contaminates our food supply to a poisionious level. don't you think it is more than a little nieve to think this stuff is ok to carry around in your mouth for 40 years?? Now I am as far from being a tree-hugger as it gets, but there is something very wrong with this picture.Inexpensive?yes Easy to use?yes,Safe???not in a million yrs!Its not a crusade needed just common sense.
have you had troubles with mercury fillings? do you have any? i have one. i have had no troubles with it nor do i think i will. im sure there are some that have situations that caused health issues, but look at the whole picture. do you eat meat? do you eat veg. that have been sprayed with pesticides? have you ever smoked a cigar? there are many things that cause problems, we just seem to choose the "one" thing that gets our blood boiling. i wouldnt put them in my sons mouth. but still i dont think its a "pandemic" situation. most dr.'s dont use them these days so i dont see what your point is. just breathing the air these days can cause problems. fight for what you believe in. there are hundreds of things out there that arent good for you. microwaves, cell phones, fast food. we seem to be in an age that you have to work hard to make a better way of life.
Thank you for your strong opinion. It certainly is a topic worth discussing and further studies. I don't see how the AMA would be the ones with the most to lose, they'd be liable for nothing. Good luck with your crusade.