Dental Care for Kids

Sticking with the subject of public outcry from last time (Fluoride in Drinking Water - 7/30) and how these situations call for strong behavior in the dimension of critical thinking, a number of years ago a group began to warn against the use of amalgam dental fillings, especially for children.  These fillings contain mercury, which is known to slowly leach into the mouth.  Mercury in sufficient doses can lead to serious health problems.  The anti-amalgam movement, taking the common, but often erroneous stance that any amount more than zero must be dangerous, began a campaign against this practice.  You can look up one of the main promoters of this view in a YouTube video telling us “amalgam fillings in your mouth are poisoning you.”

While the FDA, American Dental Association and others assured us that amalgam fillings were safe and have been standard practice for over 150 years, some dentists, based on these scary warnings, began recommending removal and replacement of all fillings with a newer type.  (Of course, they didn't do this for free.)  Statements such as those seen in this article fueled the controversy: "When you plant a neurotoxin two inches from the brain, can you say no one is ever harmed from that?" and "His group advocates that dentists be required to disclose the mercury content of amalgam fillings to patients. Four states and several cities mandate such disclosure…”

Now comes the irony.  The latest findings recently reported on CNN are that the alternative material for dental fillings contains bisphenol A (BPA), the same material used in the linings of metal cans that is under investigation for suspected links with problems related to “the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children.”  As a result the industry voluntarily stopped using BPA in the linings of baby bottles and tippy cups because of the bad publicity, although they continue to argue that it is safe.  BPA is still used in the newer dental fillings.

Taken at face value this news could leave us in a quandary.  We are told that both choices are dangerous, but so far neither the FDA nor any credible authority has declared either type of filling material unsafe.  Both are better than leaving children’s teeth untreated.

This dental story is a good reminder that we only have enough time and energy to be worried or scared about a few important things.  We can’t get upset and join the protest against every product, insisting that they be 100% pure, and boycotting all products that are not.  That unrealistic attitude would kill us for lack of anything to eat or drink.  Despite that, we can always count on the hype from advocates and the crisis-prone media, both of whom have their own vested interests - funding and audience.  


Our only defense against an unhealthy, knee-jerk reaction when it comes to our safety and that of our children is to exercise good perspective, remembering moderation and the importance of staying calm. Then use good critical thinking, separating fact from opinion and overblown claims, and acting accordingly.