Toxic Mercury and Changes

WHY is Mercury Still Used?

At Least One Dental School is Forward-Looking

Research from major universities and the World Health Organization (WHO) clearly indicate that amalgam, mercury-based filling are toxic, adversely affecting the body’s immune response and the environment in general.  

Research has also indicated that the most toxic metal is mercury -- considered to be more toxic that lead, arsenic or cadmium.

With all of the negative indicators piling up,  nearly fifty percent of all U. S. dentists still use mercury fillings in their practices and a large number of U. S. dental schools continue to teach with mercury fillings as the material of choice.

In contrast, graduates of the New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry will not be taught with mercury amalgam materials.   A faculty letter recently sent to students at NYU cited the United Nations Environmental Program which proposes that mercury-containing products, including amalgam, be phased out of use.  The faculty letter also cited the large mercury load in the waterways of the world, including those of America.  A major source of that mercury is dental offices.

NYU, reported these and other issues that caused it to take the course of teaching students alternative ways to care to patient teeth, stating that, "all treatment plans should consider alternative restorative materials other than amalgam."

NYU is not going completely mercury-free,  will still include amalgam preparation design and placement, however, they have officially revised the default restoration material from amalgam to composite. The letter also states that:

·              Amalgam may still be used, however, approval for placement must be received from faculty after student-proposed justification.

·              Dental students will be trained in use of amalgam, but will be instructed in  indications and contraindications.

·              Strict mercury hygiene procedures are to be followed when using amalgam in both the clinic and preclinical settings.

For more information on the effects of mercury -- watch the video below ...

Then call your holistic dentist - Dr. Fallah -- 760-730-1600  - TODAY!

The Headache and TMJ

Tension headaches are the most commonly occurring type of headache. These may be due to depression, anxiety, stress or holding the neck and head in abnormal positions. This causes the headache as the muscles tighten in the neck, shoulders, scalp and jaw. Tension headaches most often occur on both sides of the head, generally starting at the back of the head and spreading forward. Pain associated with tension headaches can be squeezing or dull, like a tightening vice or band – that’s why we often feel the urge to rub the painful area – a natural move to loosen the muscles.

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) headaches may feel similar to the tension headache, as the mucles of the head, neck and jaw contract.

Additional symptoms, however, may be associated with TMJ problems such as:
• Jaw popping, clicking or grating sounds when opening and closing the mouth
• Pains and dull aching of the face and facial muscles
• Discomfort or difficulty when chewing or biting.
• Biting or chewing difficulty or discomfort
• Earache
• Painful jaw – or jaw tenderness
• Reduction in jaw range – or inability to widely open or easily close the mouth.

Whatever the symptoms and causes of your own TMJ and headaches, Dr. Fallah is specially trained in dealing with TMJ and all of its ramifications. He uses state-of-the art procedures and equipment to measure and analyze your unique situation. Call today and find immediate relief.

San Diego headache

and facial pain relief ---

760-730-1600

Mercury Free Dentist -- Alzheimer's Information

Apolipoprotein E (APOE), a class of apolipoprotein found in the chylomicron and IDLs, binds to a specific receptor on liver cells and peripheral cells.

APOE was initially recognized for its important role in cardiovascular disease and lipoprotein metabolism. Recently APOE has been studied for its the part it plays in a number of biological processes not directly related to lipoprotein transport, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), immunoregulation, and cognition.

APO-E4 was identified in 1997 as a significant risk factor for early onset of Alzheimer's. APO-E2 was identified as protective against Alzheimer's.
APO-E has 299 amino acids with different ratios of arginine and cysteine at position 112 and 158.

APO-E2 has 2 cysteines. APO-E3 one cysteine and one arginine. APO-E4 two arginines.
Arginine, unlike cysteine, lacks the sulphydryl (SH) groups that potentially bind bivalent metals such as mercury, lead, copper or zinc.

Logically, the possibility of increased metal accumulation could be suspected in chronically exposed individuals
who did not gnentically inherit APO-E2.
In 2003, Godfrey found a statistically significant increase in adverse effects to patients having APO-E4/4 and APO-E 3/4 when those patients were chronically exposed mercury.

Boyd E. Haley, PhD surmises that mercury released from dental amalgams could be a potential cause of
autism and Alzheimer's disease. See his video below for more information:



Be sure to call Dr. Fallah -- your

San Diego Mercury Free Dentist

holistic dentist -- TODAY!

760-730-1600

Maternal Blood Mercury Concentration and Infant Weight

Birth weight is a strong determinant of attained weight at early ages. Until now, many studies have reported that low birth weight corresponds with high mercury levels. However, the relationship between mercury exposure and attained weight of infant has not been well studied.

Therefore, the aim of a recent study was to assess the degree of prenatal exposure to mercury by measuring the total mercury levels in maternal and cord blood, and examine the relationship between the mercury level during pregnancy and the attained weight of infant during the first 24 months of life.

The prospective cohort study of Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) was built up in 2006, and 921 mother–infant pairs were recruited. Information on the socio-demographic characteristics, health behavior and environmental exposure were collected from an interview with trained nurses.

After delivery, infants and mothers were followed up at 6, 12 and 24 months and the weights of the infants were measured.

The mercury concentrations in the late maternal blood (β=−0.19. p=0.05) and cord blood (β=−0.36. p=0.01) were negatively associated with the infants' attained weight over the first 24 months of age.

The infants' attained weight in the small for their gestational age (SGA) group was lower than the normal birth weight group at the highest quartile of the mercury level.

Therefore, efforts should be made to reduce the mercury level in the maternal blood at late pregnancy and cord blood.

Further research on the possible harmful effects of prenatal mercury exposure on postnatal growth is recommended.

See pdf report on Mercury and Infant weight >>>

Latest Office News

I would like to share with you some exciting developments in our office. I recently became accredited by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). IAOMT is dedicated in advancing safe and biologically compatible dentistry. Some of our Biologically Safe Dental services include:
1. Safe removal of mercury filling protocol.
2. Biocompatible metal free restorations
3. Laser/ O3 treatment as an adjunct modality for gum disease, tooth decay and treatment of jaw bone infections.

I am also a fellow of the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics (FICCMO), graduate of LVI, graduate of Occlusal Studies in Neuromuscular Orthodontics, training in Osteopathic Cranial Techniques, and Chirodontics. I also have many years of experience in treating TMJ/TMD patients.

In addition to ceiling mounted TV's with headphones, Nitrous Oxide, Oral Conscious Sedation, we have added Alpha Stim technology for the comfort of our patients. Alpha Stim is a totally harmless FDA approved technology that promotes drug free relaxation. Recently we had a 5 year old patient in our office who had a very deep cavity. We turned on the ceiling TV to her favorite cartoon, and put the Alpha Stim on her ear lobes. Without any anesthesia, we were able to completely take care of her deep cavity as she giggled while watching her cartoon.
Also being a graduate of LVI, Esthetic Dentistry residency, and trained in Cerec Technology, I have over 20 years of experience in esthetic dentistry, smile makeovers and full mouth reconstruction that has given me the pleasure of creating many happy, healthy, beautiful smiles.

Holistic Dentistry Approach

Metal-Free Dentistry

Following our holistic philosophy, we use only materials that are bio-compatible with the patient's mouth and body.

We do several bio-compatability tests to ensure that the patient's mouth is not going to create an adverse reaction and that the material to be used is going to be neutral to that patient's body.

We are metal-free. We avoid any sort of metal restorations and there are many reasons for that. One fundamental reason is that materials actually create an electrical field.

People in the profession of acupuncture understand that the teeth have an electromagentic connection to the body that is called the meridian-system which connects the body to the teeth and vice versa.

Metals can interfere with that field and that is one of the reasons that we avoid metals, not to mention that metal-free dentistry is very beautiful and natural looking dentistry which we prefer from all angles.

Infections and Treating Infected Teeth

One of the prevalent measures used to treat infected teeth is root-canals or endodontic treatment. Our philosophy is to avoid root canals any time it is possible and we go to great lengths to prevent root canals from happening.

However, if a tooth is presenting with an abcess and there is no way to reverse the course of the infection, then we are left with two options. One is to extract the tooth and that in itself requires all infection be cleared and cleaned as well, but also leaves us with the bio-mechanical problem of a deficiency in the bite-system.

We treat a large number of TMJ patients and that is something we'd like to avoid if we can because the associated bio-mechanical problems can create their own separate health issues. That leaves us with the option of saving the tooth with a root-canal procedure.

To make the root-canals as biological as possible we want to ensure that the infection is completely cleaned and removed. We use several modalities for that including Biolase, calcium-hydroxide and other modalities which create a very clean environment.

The biofilm needs to be addressed. The biofilm is the environment where the bacteria proliferate. Bacteria can thrive inside the cavernous area of the root system or even within the bone area all of which need to be cleaned with lasers or ultra-sonic measures and, of course, addressing the pH of the area is very critical. For example, cavitational lesions or apical lesions tend to be very acidic. In fact the pH may range from 3 to 5 and in that range the immune system cannot function, cannot thrive so that addressing the pH becomes very important so that the immune system can re-boot in the bone area and the vicinity of the tooth. Calcium hydroxide, being both anti-microbial and highly alkaline in nature, helps tremendously in creating more of a balanced pH to address the acidic environment.

So there are many, many measure that need to be carefully addressed in order to provide the safest possible root canal treatment for the patient.

In looking at this from an overall picture, our philosophy is to prevent root canals but the presence of infection is the worst circumstance that can occur and one in which the tooth needs to be removed or needs to be addressed with biologically sound root canal therapy.


San Diego TMJ Specialist and San Diego Sedation Dentist

THE MERCURY - SAFE ENVIRONMENT

If you choose to have silver-mercury fillings replaced, make sure that you are protecting yourself in the process of the removal.

The amalgam removal process needs to be very safe. The drilling on the silver-mercury filling releases a tremendous amount of mercury vapor. It is essential, especially if you have higher sensitivity to toxic substances that you are well-protected during this highly critical phase of the treatment.
We have two different protocols. One is a protocol that is advocated by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, and we have another protocol that is even more stringent that the Academy's. With either protocol we create an extremely safe environment where we are practically eliminating the exposure of the patient to mercury during the removal phase.
For example, one approach that I use is to place a rubber dam with a special ring around the tooth that has the silver-mercury filling, then squeeze a flowable composite material that literally flows between the rubber dam and the tooth
and the clamp. Then we use a light on it and it becomes solid so that a one-hundred percent seal is accomplished.
The seal is tested with water and air to check that nothing seeps in and that we do have a perfect seal.
Next an oxygen mask is placed on the patient's nose. We use a minimum of two very high-speed vacuum systems, one custom-manufactured for our office and the other is the high-speed suction that evacuates the material into a system which traps all the debris, such as the silver-mercury filling.
This is what we term "mercury-safe" dentistry. Just being "mercury-free" is not sufficient to protect the patient because it's also important to practice in the "mercury-safe" environment.