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ESSENTIAL DENTAL KNOWLEDGE
Published by
The Canadian Dental Association
A Canadian Study
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DES CONNAISSANCES
DENTAIRES INDISPENSABLES
Do Amalgam Fillings Affect
Mercury Levels in Urine?
Publié par
l’Association dentaire canadienne
Canadians are not exposing themselves to unsafe levels of
mercury due to their dental amalgam restorations, according
to a study1 published in BMC Oral Health.
U
sing data from the 2007/09 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) the research team assessed the relationship between mean urinary mercury concentration in the general Canadian population and the number
of amalgam surfaces. The researchers also reviewed data on mercury levels for males and females and for different age groups.
The results show that overall mean mercury concentration was well below levels associated with any health risks,
regardless of the number of amalgam surfaces. Overall, approximately 98% of participants had mercury levels
that were lower than levels considered to pose a health risk. In general, the mean urinary mercury concentration tended to increase with the number of amalgam surfaces, appeared to be influenced by age, and was slightly
higher in females compared to males.
One of the study’s authors, Dr. Carlos Quiñonez, assistant professor and program director of dental public
health at the University of Toronto’s faculty of dentistry, puts the results into context: “Our research comes into
line with studies conducted in the US and Europe, demonstrating that dental amalgams are not a hazardous
source of elemental and inorganic mercury in human beings.”
“If patients are worried that dental amalgam is unsafe, there is now current Canadian data that can help ease
their concerns,” says Dr. Quiñonez.
The study authors acknowledge that the levels of mercury
they measured could not be attributed to dental amalgam
alone, since other sources of mercury, such as contaminated fish and seafood, could also contribute to the mercury
levels they observed.
Urinary mercury concentrations are expressed as µg Hg per
gram creatinine or µg Hg per litre of urine. Mercury levels
considered to be safe are 5 µg Hg/g Cr or 7 µg Hg/L. a
Reference
“If patients are worried
that dental amalgam is
unsafe, there is now current
Canadian data that can help
ease their concerns.”
– Dr. Carlos Quiñonez
1. Nicolae A, Ames H, Quiñonez C. Dental amalgam and urinary mercury concentrations:
a descriptive study. BMC Oral Health 2013;13:44.
Cite this as: J Can Dent Assoc 2013;79:d163
jcda
ca | 2014 | Vol. 80, No. 1 |
ESSENTIAL DENTAL KNOWLEDGE
Published by
The Canadian Dental Association
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ca
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