MERCURY SAFE DENTISTRY
Health Improvements Related to Amalgam Filling Removal & Mercury Detoxification: By Dr. Tom McGuire
Amalgam Filling Removal and Symptom Improvement
This section will be extremely valuable to you if:
- You now have mercury amalgam silver fillings and want to know how your health may improve if you have them removed
- You’ve already had these fillings removed and want to know the benefits of participating in a mercury detoxification program
- You have any symptoms or diseases related to mercury amalgam fillings
Symptom Improvement Chart
This chart is a compilation of studies organized by Sam Ziff of Bio-Probe, Inc. A total of 1569 patients participated. We’ve arranged the results to emphasize the Percentage Improved or Cured, highlighting those symptoms most improved solely from the removal of mercury-amalgam fillings. The other columns also yield important data. For example, the Percentage with Symptom and the Total Number of Symptoms columns show that the most common symptoms related to mercury-amalgam fillings in this particular study are fatigue, headaches, vision problems, and depression. But as you can see, it covers a vast array of mercury related symptoms.
Before and after the removal of their mercury amalgam fillings, patients were evaluated for the symptoms listed in the chart. Allowing for minimal variables, the only constant was that all participants had their amalgam fillings removed. It is common sense that if a symptom wasn’t related to mercury poisoning, it wouldn’t show improvement after the fillings were removed.
Amalgam Filling Removal & Symptom Improvement
| Percentage with Symptom | Symptom | Percentage Improved or Cured | Number Improved or Cured | Total Number of Symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Lack of energy | 97 | 88 | 91 |
| 17 | Metallic taste | 95 | 247 | 260 |
| 8 | Gum problems | 94 | 121 | 129 |
| 5 | Anxiety | 93 | 80 | 86 |
| 22 | Depression | 91 | 315 | 347 |
| 8 | Irritability | 90 | 119 | 132 |
| 14 | Allergy | 89 | 68 | 81 |
| 22 | Dizziness | 88 | 301 | 343 |
| 6 | Bloating | 88 | 70 | 88 |
| 5 | Chest pains | 87 | 69 | 79 |
| 34 | Headaches | 87 | 460 | 531 |
| 10 | Irregular heart beat | 87 | 139 | 159 |
| 45 | Fatigue | 86 | 603 | 705 |
| 12 | Ulcers (oral cavity) | 86 | 162 | 189 |
| 10 | Nervousness | 83 | 131 | 158 |
| 8 | Muscle tremor | 83 | 104 | 126 |
| 15 | Intestinal problems | 83 | 192 | 231 |
| 8 | Numbness anywhere | 82 | 97 | 118 |
| 17 | Lack of concentration | 80 | 216 | 270 |
| 12 | Insomnia | 78 | 146 | 187 |
| 7 | Multiple sclerosis | 76 | 86 | 113 |
| 17 | Memory loss | 73 | 193 | 265 |
| 29 | Vision problems | 63 | 289 | 462 |
| 6 | Blood pressure problems | 54 | 53 | 99 |
In our opinion, the extent of symptom improvement was primarily related to the length of time the individual was mercury toxic, the amount of damage mercury had done to the general body and central nervous system (CNS), the participant’s overall health at the time of removal, the health of the immune and detoxification systems, and the amount and kind of any supplementation a participant was taking.
For the purposes of this article, the “general body” includes every part of the body except the Central Nervous System (CNS).
Amalgam Removal: Health Observations Before and After
Another excellent study, Health Observations Before and After Amalgam Removal by Dr. Paul Engel, a Swiss dentist, showed significant improvement in a number of health issues directly related to chronic mercury poisoning. All of the patients tested had been treated in his practice, and once he became aware of the health hazards of mercury amalgam fillings he encouraged his patients to have them safely removed and replaced with a healthier dental filling. The purpose of the study was to determine which symptoms existed prior to amalgam filling removal and which ones improved after removal. Again, the improvements recorded were solely the result of mercury amalgam filling removal. Other than any supplements a participant may have been taking before or after amalgam removal, none of the patients participated in a standardized mercury detoxification program.
Seventy-five patients (52 women and 23 men) were evaluated, all having one or more of the 53 symptoms that were evaluated. The symptoms ranged from 36 complaints of migraines to one case of diabetes. Those with the greatest number of complaints are shown below:
Symptoms Prior to Amalgam Removal
| Migraine | 36 |
| Headache | 32 |
| Gastro-intestinal problems | 27 |
| Neck tensions | 25 |
| Paresthesia | 19 |
| Dizziness | 18 |
| Allergies | 13 |
| Vision disturbances | 13 |
| Back pain | 12 |
| Mental disorder | 12 |
| Joint pain | 10 |
| Shoulder/arm pain | 10 |
After the amalgams were removed, all of the participating patients rated changes to their health as follows:
Percent of Subjects Reporting Changes Due to Filling Removal
| Change Noted | % |
|---|---|
| Much better | 68 |
| Better | 12 |
| Somewhat better | 9 |
| No improvement | 7 |
| Worse | 1 |
| No Assessment | 3 |
Mercury Detoxification Program & Amalgam Removal: Related Health Improvements
A study assessed by Linda Jones, Dental Amalgam and Health Experience: Exploring Health Outcomes and Issues for People Medically Diagnosed with Mercury Poisoning, evaluated 35 people who had previously been told that their symptoms, including cognitive deficits and mood swings, were psychosomatic. The most common conditions they expressed were chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), candidiasis, allergies, migraines, and chronic or recurring flu symptoms, all of which can be related to chronic mercury poisoning. Of the 32 who had begun amalgam removal, 29 reported enduring health gains. Of the 30 who had completed both amalgam removal and a mercury detoxification program, 21 experienced a full return to health and the activities of daily life. Eight others in the study reported recovering from the symptoms they attributed to mercury, but now had either a new problem related to detoxification or a pre-existing condition that didn’t improve. Only one person following the protocols experienced no lasting improvement. The three who hadn’t begun amalgam removal were still ill and felt that they were deteriorating.
Another study by Lindh and associates looked at improvements in symptoms and quality of life of 776 people who had their mercury amalgam fillings removed and participated in a mercury detoxification program. The subjects suffered from an array of symptoms related to chronic mercury poisoning; including those related to general, neurological, psychiatric, and oral health. More than 70% of those who completed both removal and detoxification reported a substantial recovery and increased quality of life.
Though not everyone got completely better and not every symptom was eliminated, each of these studies showed a high percentage of improvement in symptoms related to chronic mercury poisoning for those who had their amalgam fillings removed and participated in a mercury detoxification program.
Mercury Detoxification and Health Improvements Related to Chronic Mercury Poisoning
The studies described above dealt mainly with improvement in symptoms. The next logical step is to evaluate improvements in specific illnesses. Thanks to a recent DAMS (Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome) project, detailed information is now available. The DAMS group evaluated over 1000 peer-reviewed and government studies that showed mercury as the cause or major factor in over 40 chronic health conditions. They also reviewed over 60,000 cases of amalgam removal and replacement showing evidence of cure or significant improvement in numerous chronic conditions, as documented by treating health professionals. Note that this study wasn’t conducted by pro-amalgam dentists.
While the study didn’t include a detailed breakdown, it indicated which symptoms and diseases can be most improved by removing amalgam fillings and participating in a mercury detoxification program. While each disease had a relationship to chronic mercury poisoning, the extent of the disease, the individual’s state of health and factors such as genetics, diet, and environment affect the positive outcome of amalgam removal and mercury detoxification. This table shows conditions that significantly improved after amalgam replacement:
| Type | Symptom or Disease that Improved |
|---|---|
| Autoimmune disorders | Arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), Parkinson's disease, muscle tremor, Alzheimer's, muscular and joint pain, fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, lupus, scleroderma, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), endometriosis, diabete |
| Neurological (including mood disorders) | Memory loss, depression, schizophrenia, insomnia, anger, anxiety, mental confusion, neuropathy/paresthesia, tinnitus, dizziness/vertigo, headaches/ migraines, epilepsy, ADD, autism, dyslexia, learning disabilities, hearing loss. |
| Oral disease | Periodontal diseases, oral lichen planus, amalgam tattoos, metal mouth, halitosis, oral keratosis (pre cancerous). |
| Immune system disorders | Allergies, asthma, multiple chemical sensitivities, eczema, psoriasis, other skin conditions, susceptibility to infections, antibiotic resistant infection, sinus problems. |
| Cardiovascular conditions | Tachycardia, angina, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and other blood conditions. |
| Hormonal conditions | Hypothyroidism, adrenal problems, chronic chills, Hashimoto's disease, alopecia/hair loss, urinary/ prostrate problems, depression, suicidal thoughts. |
| Reproductive disorders | Infertility, reduced sperm counts, PMS, spontaneous abortions, birth defects, developmental disabilities, children with learning disabilities and low IQ. |
| Eye Conditions | Inflammation, iritis, astigmatism, myopia, cataracts, macular degeneration, color blindness, vision disturbances. |
| Stomach/digestive problems | Leaky gut, candidiasis, malabsorption of essential minerals and essential fatty acids, blocked cellular enzymatic processes related to the ATPASE energy function and sulfur oxidation. |
What Does It mean to You?
In these studies, the majority of people who took no other action than having their amalgam fillings removed experienced improvement in a significant percentage of their symptoms. It was also shown that participating in a mercury detoxification program after filling removal resulted in more significant health improvements.
It’s my opinion that safely removing these poisonous fillings and participating in a mercury detoxification program should be regarded as essential treatment for chronic mercury poisoning. We also believe it is the only way you can determine which health effects are related to chronic mercury poisoning and which result from other factors. (For more details about how to support your body's efforts to eliminate mercury, see Mercury Detoxification: The Natural Way to Remove Mercury from Your Body.)
