Mercury Amalgam Ruling Overturned by FDA

A friend of mine knowing my challenges I have had with mercury poisoning forwarded me recently a series of interviews on the legal battle surrounding Mercury amalgam fillings.

Dr. Mercola interviews Charlie Brown consumer attorney and advocate for the Counsel for Consumers for Dental Choice. He has been an advocate for consumers in regards to dental amalgams for over a decade. One of the challenges that dentists have been dealing with for years is the pressure by state dental boards that they can not discuss the potential harm of mercury amalgams with their patients.

A big win by Charlie Brown and his legal team was to over rule on the gag order by the California State Dental Board in regards to having full disclosure of the harm caused by mercury dental fillings.

It is  sad that 9 out of 10 of my friends that I bring up the issues with mercury amalgams, have no idea of the potential hazards of mercury amalgams and most don’t know that a high percentage of what is contained in a silver filling is the neurotoxin mercury. The gag rule on the freedom of information has been so pervasive in regards to mercury’s use in dental amalgams in the United States that the consumer in most cases is in the dark.

Charlie Brown says, that iron triangle that has kept the gag rule in place in regards to mercury’s dangers is the FDA, Dental Board and the ADA. Our government agencies have been keeping Americans in the dark including pregnant women and young children.

The standard line by dentists who still support the use of mercury in amalgams is drill, fill and bill. Because dentists can get through more patients with dental amalgams there has been resistance by some dentists to change this practice.

The good news is that now over 52% of American dentists are now mercury free. The historic safe haven for dentists is to provide mercury free dentistry for cosmetic purposes. Charlie Brown mentions, that Einstein was known to have said “Intellectual curiosity often doesn’t survive formal education.” This can been seen among many medical professionals.

Charlie Brown and his team are fighting the mercury battle on three fronts.

1. The Health Battle
2. Environmental
3. The Work Place

There is huge evidence of the reproductive and neurological damage being experienced by female dental assistants exposed to mercury amalgam. His team won in court in 2008 requiring the FDA to re-classify mercury amalgams and to state the known dangers to pregnant women and young children on the FDA web site.

Recently the ruling was reversed by a new commissioner who took office in 2009. Her name is Margaret Homberg and she has very close ties to the largest manufacturer of mercury amalgams in the United States, the Henry Shine Corporation. She made over a million dollars in six years as a director of this corporation. When Margaret Homberg took office she stilled owned between $250,000.00 – $500,000.00 in stock with the Henry Shine Corporation.

Clearly a conflict of interest and as you would expect she over ruled the courts decision. Charlie Brown and his team have filed a complaint with the U.S. Inspector General to investigate this clear conflict of interest by Margaret Homberg.

Margaret Homberg recently stepped down however her ruling is still standing. Dr. Sharfstein has taken her place.

Charlie gives a clear course of action that we can take to be sure the public’s voice is heard. Call Dr. Sharfstein’s office and state that the ruling is tainted and to support Dr. Sharfstein’s role as a child advocate and the public’s right to know. Charlie emphasized the importance of immediately stopping the use of mercury amalgam in pregnant women and young children and that this needs to be FDA’s stance and stated on their website.

Dr Sharfstein’s office number is 301-796-5000 and his email address is jmsharf1@fda.hhs.gov

Also, call your congressman or congresswomen to voice your complaint of the FDA’s position and clear issue of conflict of interest in regards to this matter.
Call: 202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121 and/or email riterep.house.gov to determine the Congress person who represents your area.

If you have any ideas that could help turn the tide on the Mercury Cover up and protect the public interests please email info@toxicteeth.org

We have an opportunity to make our voices heard on an issue which effects us all and to insure that future generations are not exposed to mercury in dentistry.  Please take the time to call and email.  When we all speak up it can make a world of difference.

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