Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
I am equally concerned about the presence of ZINC (along with Mercury - Hg) in amalgams. Zinc is present in most other dental products..including toothpastes!
Bb needs Zn.
The anti-Borrelia activity of U-Cyt lysates and recombinant calprotectin was partially or completely reversed by specific antibody to calprotectin and
by Zn(2+), a cation essential for the growth of B. burgdorferi
and known to inhibit the antimicrobial activity of calprotectin. PMID: 12874352
In addition, the abundant cytosolic protein calprotectin is also bacteristatic, probably through chelation of Zn 2+ , an essential cation for Bb.
...designated it Borrelia oxidative stress regulator, BosR. BosR bound to a 50-nt region 180 bp upstream of the napA transcriptional start site and required DTT and Zn2+ for optimal binding.
Dent Res 82(3): 243-246, 2003 � 2003 International and American Associations for Dental Research RESEARCH REPORT Biomaterials & Bioengineering
Neurotoxicity of Dental Amalgam is Mediated by Zinc D Lobner1,*, and M Asrari2 1 Dept. of Biomedical Sciences and 2 Dept. of Endodontics, Marquette University, 561 N. 15th Street, Rm. 426, Milwaukee, WI 53201;
The use of dental amalgam is controversial largely because it contains mercury. We tested whether amalgam caused toxicity in neuronal cultures and whether that toxicity was caused by mercury.
In this study, we used cortical cell cultures to show for the first time that amalgam causes nerve cell toxicity in culture.
However, the toxicity was not blocked by the mercury chelator, 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonate (DMPS), but was blocked by the metal chelator, calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CaEDTA).
DMPS was an effective mercury chelator in this system, since it blocked mercury toxicity. Of the components that comprise amalgam (mercury, zinc, tin, copper, and silver),
only zinc neurotoxicity was blocked by CaEDTA.
These results indicate that amalgam is toxic to nerve cells in culture by releasing zinc.
While zinc is known to be neurotoxic, ingestion of zinc is not a major concern because zinc levels in the body are tightly regulated.
Amalgam is composed of silver, tin, copper, mercury, and zinc.
Composite, resin, or white fillings have been around for about two decades. Composite fillings are composed of an organic polymer known as bisphenol-A-glycidyl methacrylate (BIS-GMA), and inorganic particles such as quartz, borosilicate glass, and lithium aluminum silicate.
They have the advantage of requiring a more conservative tooth preparation, (less drilling required), can have a strengthening effect on the tooth, and are very aesthetic, virtually blending in with the tooth.
Composite fillings are the material of choice for repairing the front teeth. On the down side, they are more technique sensitive for the dentist to place, and are highly susceptible to decay in the future if placed improperly.
They usually cost more than an amalgam, and recent research has shown that a by-product of some resin restorations called bisphenol-A may be estrogenic and increase the risk of breast cancer. Despite this research composite fillings are considered safe, and like the other dental filling materials, they are approved by the American Dental Association.
Porcelain is sometimes used for dental fillings called inlays. Porcelain is a non-crystalline glass composed of silicon and oxygen. It has the advantage of being highly aesthetic, and is the restoration of choice for people who place the highest value in the appearance of their teeth.
Porcelain has the disadvantage of being brittle and therefore susceptible to breakage. It is also even more technique sensitive to use than composite, requires two dental visits to place the filling, and costs significantly more than amalgam or composite fillings. Porcelain can also cause accelerated wear of the opposing tooth when biting.
Gold is sometimes used for dental fillings, most commonly as an inlay. Gold is not used in its pure form, but as an alloy containing 75% gold, as well as copper, silver, platinum, palladium, and zinc.
Gold is extremely durable; fairly esthetic, does not damage the opposing tooth when biting, and is very well tolerated by the gums and other intra-oral tissues. A well-done gold filling can last two to four times longer than any other dental material, and might be considered the "gold standard" for dental fillings.
Gold inlays, like porcelain inlays, take two dental visits to complete and are also much more costly than amalgam or composite. They are also not nearly as aesthetic as composite or porcelain.
In addition, gold inlays are fairly difficult to prepare and place - just ask any third-year or fourth-year dental student. They are usually required for graduation from dental school.
The micro probe analysis, BE, BSE and x-ray distribution maps are compelling evidence that mercury and silver are released from dental amalgam and that dental amalgam is not a stable alloy. 65% of the mercury and 44% of the silver that was in the amalgam when it was first prepared leached out over 9 + years.
Approximately 30 micrograms of mercury was calculated to be released per day and 13 micrograms of silver were calculated to be released per day. Over the 9+ year life of the amalgam, 101.2 mg of mercury left the silver amalgam covering the abutment tooth and 48.08 mg of silver left the silver amalgam.
No one can seriously argue that 101.2 mg of mercury in the body isn't harmful. Faraday's law of 96,500 coulombs (ampere seconds) can be used to show that a 1 microamp current between a gold alloy crown or bridge and an amalgam filling that are in continuous contact for 10 years will release 90 micrograms of mercury per day.
Since aged amalgam has not been tested by the scientific community in the United States, it is suggested that any individual, any interested dentist, chemist, material science experts, and metallurgists save any amalgam that is removed from their teeth and to send it in for analysis and send the results to this web site so that a body of evidence can be gathered.
As the author has his amalgam removed, he will have it tested and will add the results to this web site. Milton L. Pierson, M. Sci, Geology, Micro probe Technician (email: [email protected]) is an excellent resource for having the amalgam tested.
The analysis of this data by the author is a beginning and is by no means the definitive analysis. Analysis by chemists, dentists, metallurgists, material scientists and individuals is welcome and may be directed to the author at the email address below.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Amalgam restorations containing zinc that are in contact with gold restorations occasionally elicit galvanic pain.
Selection of a non-zinc-containing amalgam will reduce the level of galvanic interaction. Galvanic pain from occlusal contact is reduced or eliminated when the restoration is brushed with tin oxide immediately after carving or is treated with 2 percent silver nitrate. Some patients may benefit from having their teeth separated with nonconducting rubber dam material.
PMID: 14664264
Title toxicity of amalgams, alloys, and their elements and phases. Author Kaga M; Seale NS; Hanawa T; Ferracane JL; Waite DE; Okabe T Address Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas. Source Dent Mater, 1991 Jan, 7:1, 68-72
Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the relative cytotoxicity of amalgams, alloys, and their constituent elements and phases, by means of a rapid and sensitive in vitro cell culture test.
Pure copper and zinc showed intensive cytotoxicity, significantly greater than that of pure silver and mercury.
Pure tin was non-cytotoxic. The gamma-one phase (Ag2Hg3) revealed moderate cytotoxicity, which was significantly decreased by the addition of 1.5% and 5% Sn.
However, the addition of 1.5% Zn to gamma 1 containing 1.5% Sn dramatically increased the cytotoxicity of gamma 1 to the same level as that of pure zinc.
Whenever zinc was present in amalgams, higher cytotoxicity was revealed.
High-copper amalgams showed the same cytotoxicity as a zinc-free low-copper amalgam.
The addition of selenium did not reduce the cytotoxicity of amalgam.
The cytotoxicity of amalgams was reduced after 24 h. The results of this study suggest that the major contributor to the cytotoxicity of alloy for amalgam is probably copper, while that for amalgam is zinc.
Unilever Dental Research, Port Sunlight Laboratory, Bebington, UK.
As some currently available toothpastes contain zinc compounds, the reaction of zinc with dental mineral and its effect on crystal growth rates were studied using three synthetic calcium-deficient hydroxyapatites (HAP) as being representative of dental mineral.
Zinc was readily acquired by all HAP samples in the absence of added calcium, the amount adsorbed being proportional to the HAP surface area; about 9 mumol Zn/m2 was adsorbed at high zinc concentrations.
As zinc was acquired, calcium was released, consistent with 1:1 Ca:Zn exchange. Soluble calcium reduced zinc uptake and similarly, calcium post-treatment released zinc.
Pretreatment of HAP with 0.5 mM zinc reduced its subsequent ability to undergo seeded crystal growth, as did extracts of a toothpaste containing 0.5% zinc citrate, even in the presence of saliva.
The reverse reaction, i.e. displacement of adsorbed zinc by salivary levels of calcium, however, indicates the mechanism by which zinc can reduce calculus formation in vivo by inhibiting plaque mineralisation without adversely affecting the anti-caries effects of fluoride.
PMID: 1330308
Dental Zinc Oxide Eugenol Cements A temporary cement with a zinc oxide eugenol base for crown and bridge procedures.
Additional Information Applications:*Cementing temporary crown and bridge restorations.*Provisional cementation of permanent crown and bridge restorations.
The space between the restoration and the tooth is filled with a waterproof cement such as zinc phosphate which hardens and "locks" the restoration onto or in the tooth.
Zinc phosphate cement is one of the oldest dental materials. It has been used for at least two hundred years. It is still used for cementing cast metal crowns and onlays. It is made by mixing a strong solution (37%) of phosphoric acid with zinc oxide powder.
The zinc oxide powder partially dissolves in the acid creating zinc phosphate which when dry is a very hard, waterproof matrix which bonds unreacted zinc oxide particles together. Mixing and cementing with this material is something of an art since it must be mixed slowly or else it will harden too quickly, and the work must be kept dry until the cement is set or else it will dissolve in saliva or water.
Once set, it is still one of the most reliable and most durable cements for luting (cementing) cast metal crowns and onlays on teeth. It is also used to cement posts in teeth and was used until quite recently as a base under amalgam fillings.
(A base is a layer of material placed under a filling to protect the nerve from hot and cold while the overlying filling is in service. some bases can also be useful as a method of desensitizing the nerve.)
Zinc oxide has an added benefit since the acidity of the phosphoric acid etches the enamel on the tooth creating the irregular surface seen in the micrograph above. The cement flows into these irregularities to create a tight mechanical seal with the tooth itself.
It also flows into irregularities in the structure of the casting to form a "lock and key" type of bond between the tooth and casting thus locking it in place. With the advent of newer cements with a quicker working time and less demanding technique, zinc phosphate is used less and less today.
Note that zinc oxide is an opaque white powder. While it can be manufactured to be any color, the set material remains perfectly opaque. For this reason, and the fact that it lacks wear resistance, zinc oxide is not esthetic or tough enough to be used as a "tooth colored" filling restorative.
olycarboxylate cement Polycarboxylate cement is a newer innovation than zinc phosphate cement. In this case, zinc oxide powder is mixed with polyacrylic acid.
Sometimes the polyacrylic acid is freeze dried into a powder and mixed with the zinc oxide powder, in which case the powder is mixed with distilled water. As with zinc phosphate, the zinc oxide dissolves and creates a matrix which eventually becomes quite waterproof, and though not nearly as strong a cement as zinc phosphate, it is much easier to work with, sets much more quickly and is less irritating to the nerve of the tooth.
As with zinc phosphate, the zinc oxide remains opaque and the color of this material is not easily controlled. It is rarely used as a restorative filling material. Like zinc phosphate, this cement is somewhat technique sensitive in that it too must be kept dry until it is completely set.
P.S. Many of our grandparents brushed with baking soda and salt...
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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Marnie, it is not nearly as complicated as some people make it sound:
There are a just a few toxic heavy metals - and mercury is one of them. It's that simple and it causes horrendous problems for some people, even at minimal exposure.
I don't want to go into details of some of the sites you listed - there is much misinformation - let's put it that way. But today is Father's Evening!
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Marnie, it is not nearly as complicated as some people make it sound:
There are a just a few toxic heavy metals - and mercury is one of them. It's that simple and it causes horrendous problems for some people, even at minimal exposure.
I don't want to go into details of some of the sites you listed - there is much misinformation and half-information -- let's put it that way. But today is Father's Evening!
Take care.
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
"Today is Fathers' Evening"?
posted at 12:30am June 19th.
My post was on Fathers' Day, Sunday, June 18th earlier in the day...before the nice meal prep and relaxing evening.
"Just a FEW toxic metals"?
Why did Doctor's Data check for these "toxic metals"?
aluminum
antimony
arsenic
beryllium
bismuth
cadmium
lead
mercury
nickel
platinum
thallium
thorium
tin
tungsten
uranium
On the same page, creatinine was measured also.
Zinc IS toxic in high doses. This is well known and accepted. So are some of the other minerals/metals. Overdose lithium and see what happens.
If Bb is capturing and storing zinc and making cholesterol in the outer cell wall, when the cell wall is destroyed, this will make the system very acidic. This combination is very acidic. I have documented, linked that information. The body will use the most abundant mineral to compensate...calcium. This will trigger TNF alpha...which triggers angiotensin II which triggers...
"It is not nearly as complicated as some people make it sound."
I strongly disagree. It is VERY complicated!!!
"There is much misinformation".
Where? Please document your answers with links to other research done by Doctors, PhD's etc.
The reality is:
1. Most persons here who are suffering from lyme cannot AFFORD to have their amalgam fillings replaced by a SPECIALIST who knows how to do this safely.
2. Even IF they are replaced, the replacement substances contain zinc...which will make Bb very happy.
[ 19. June 2006, 02:19 PM: Message edited by: Marnie ]
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Marnie...I thought it was interesting that those responding under "vitamin deficiency spectracell test",zinc deficiency was a factor.
I wish more people with a science backround would responed to your post...are you into reasearch? Alan
-------------------- Charter member of the ~ Delux Toasting Club ~ Our Moto: "Take No Prisoners" Posts: 95 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2005
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Marnie
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Member # 773
posted
I do not have lyme, my sister does. I have been researching nonstop for over 5 years to try to figure out why antibiotics failed her...all of them, the big guns too...along with a LOT of supplements.
She is now "autoimmune". Ongoing elevation of TNF alpha.
I have over 1400 MS word files as I tried to understand this pathogen, this disease and...
Ancora Imparo...translation: I am still learning!
I believe zinc isn't "gone"...it is simply locked onto Bb's outer cell wall....attached to cholesterol (an acidic protein). Releasing too much too fast into the system presents a problem.
By preventing the formation of Bb's cell wall in the first place -(INactivating an enzyme called HMG CoA reductase) via statins/arbs (supp.CoQ10!) or Mg...safer...is the way to go. Once the cell wall is absent, this weakens the pathogen. This is what antibiotics are supposed to do...weaken the cell wall or prevent its formation. That's the first step to destroying a gram negative pathogen.
This is a UNIQUE pathogen. It's outer cell wall is NOT an LPS layer (think: sugary)...instead it it cholesterol. Since cholesterol and zinc are normally present in our bodies...how does the body know it is under attack? But it does...and responds accordingly...very fast.
The customary approach to fighting bacteria is to use antibiotics. In this case, I think we're using the wrong class of drugs to fight a very unique pathogen.
I also believe we have to go after this pathogen FIRST...contrary to many doctors' viewpoints. I am not afraid to "buck" doctors...even those who in the past, asked me to break the law so they could remain at a cocktail party a little longer...("No, I won't start IV pitocin until you get here.") I do not put ANY doctor on a pedestal. I have great respect for many of them, especially those who openly admit they do not have all the answers.
I believe antibiotics cause this pathogen to mutate, destroy the beneficial bacteria, and alter our body's chosen immune response to THIS pathogen.
This pathogen is not only following the cholesterol pathway (like cholera does...only faster), but also follows the glycolysis pathway...it wants sugar...fructose specifically.
By keeping the sugar supply ever-present...it makes a nice "home" for "buddies".
Get this pathogen first. THEN the "traditional" means will erradicate the rest.
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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GiGi
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Marnie, you know darn well that I am much too practical and not educated in this field to become the scientific type. Rolling out the books of theories is not for me.
Here is where a lot of what I have posted over the years originates:
www.melisa.org and VS's many years of her research and practical application
In reality, every patient is a guinea pig and what works for one, brings no improvement for another. We are unique creatures, each one of us. Usually, when the major culprit is removed, problems start to leave. In connection with any chronic disease, mercury is definitely at the top of the list.
Take care. And please keep on researching. Some day you might find this one thing that will cure this multi-factorial disease called Lyme. I am definitely on your side - but until we know more, I will stick with what has been proven so far: about a hundred different modalities that make the cure. And patience.
Take care.
P.S. Doctor's Data tests for "potentially toxic metals". Every one you listed is in most of our foods and normally are not at a toxic level.
The accompanying Essential Elements (minerals/metals) are always done together. They give a good indication for interpretation of the test.
Cost for both together is $99.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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You have me confused. In one post on your thread you listed the ingredients in composite fillings and zinc was not listed. The in other post on this thread you said zinc was in replacement fillings. Which is it? Ann
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 10177 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
If anyone wants to order ONLY the urine toxic metals test, Doctors Data will oblige.
For those who might not know...this is NOT covered by insurance. Only lead testing is covered as far as I know.
RE: Zn in composites...at first glance, it does not appear that they contain zinc. They are in most dental supplies...cements, temporary impression materials, etc.
That said:
"I feel that one of the more potentially serious consequences of composite bonding and sealants is xenoestrogen exposure from bis-GMA resin in children.
Scientists speculate that the bis-GMA resins are estrogenic, that is, mimic the behavior of the female estrogen hormone. Estrogen mimickers are responsible for premature female development and delayed male development. The problem of xenoestrogens is well recognized by the environmental community. Large amounts of bis-GMA resin residue are released from sealing the teeth."
Most of these materials, except gold which has been used longer than amalgam, have not had as long a period of use and study as amalgam, and some of them are known to contain other potentially hazardous compounds.
This is one reason why biocompatibility testing is recommended for all dental materials as per ADA/ANSA or ISO standards, and can be performed by specialized laboratories.[11].
Dr. Gotthelf also uses holistic methods to protect you from exposure to toxins during the removal of old amalgam fillings. She uses white bonded resin fillings to eliminate the possibility of releasing toxic mercury caused by silver amalgam fillings. She even provides antioxidant vitamins to fight tissue-damaging free radicals from X-rays.
For peridontal therapy, all natural non-toxic antibacterial agents containing zinc, chlorine dioxide and aloe are used wherever possible.
Stronger agents such as antibiotics are used locally, avoiding the damaging effects to the immune system caused by systemic antibiotics.
The `resin' in composite resin materials and also in dental sealants is usually Bis-GMA. Written out more fully this is bisphenol A diglycidylether methacrylate Bisphenol A (or BPA) can also be called diphenol dimethyl methane
For those of you who like to worry, BPA has been identified as an estrogen mimic (`hormonally active agent'), and if no BPA has been found leaking from dental materials, well, you should look harder.
After the tooth has been prepared, a liner is often used to reduce tooth sensitivity. Common liners include gluma, copalite varnish and dycal. Dycal is a compound containing calcium hydroxide, and is used in deep cavities to stimulate the dentin to regenerate and protect the dental pulp.
In deeper fillings, a base is used in addition to the liner. Common bases used under dental fillings are glass ionomer cement, and zinc phosphate cement.
The main purpose of the base is to insulate the tooth from temperature changes in the mouth. The dentist and patient can then choose a number of different materials to fill the tooth, but the most common are silver (amalgam), white (resin), porcelain, or gold.
These materials are layered on top of the liner or base to finish the process of rebuilding the tooth.
The following is a new patent...zinc is being added:
It has been discovered that glasses containing high levels of zinc can be prepared which possess physical characteristics (e.g. refractive index, pH, coefficient of expansion) making them especially suitable for use in dental prostheses, dental restorative compositions, hard tissue cements, medical prostheses, and other articles.
Moreover, these glasses have been found to be radiopaque and to be capable of being made into dental composites and other articles which have greater radiopacity than those made with barium, the best known radiopacifying agent used heretofore.
Moreover, it has been found possible to make the new zinc glasses with refractive indices in the desired range for dental restorative compositions. In addition, the new glasses can be prepared at a pH close to 7. This is a highly desirable feature in regard to the preparation of high quality dental composites.
In particular, when the glass is near neutral in pH (i.e. 6.5 to 8), the stability of the dental composite is significantly enhanced.
A significant advantage of the new glasses, which is an improvement over any known heretofore, is that they contain an element, namely, zinc, that has been in regular dental use for many years.
Zinc oxide-containing ointments have long been used in medicine as safe and mild antibacterial agents and zinc oxide has long been used as a component in dental cements or adhesives. These latter agents are used for cementing prostheses, onlays, bridges, crowns, and the like, to the teeth.
In this use they have proved safe and effective over many years. In other words, zinc compounds have a long history of being safe to use in the oral cavity, and are thus vastly preferable to use compared with those of unknown safety or known toxicity, such as compounds of barium.
The zinc glass is then mixed into a dental paste. The paste may be formed of any of the polymerizable resin systems useful in dentistry. Especially useful resin systems comprise free-radically polymerizable materials such as the polyfunctional acrylate systems.
Particularly useful in the system is BIS-GMA, a well-known material which is the reaction product of bisphenol-A and glycidyl methacrylate, widely used in dentistry. Other commonly used resin binders include polyurethanes, methyl methacrylate, and isobutyl methacrylate.
The zinc glass may be used alone or it may be blended with other suitable materials, such as inert glass powders, when mixed into the binder-depending, for example, on the degree of radiopacity desired in the final composite.
Along with the glass, other materials may also be mixed into the paste, such as pigments for making the restoration match the patient's natural tooth color, and reagents like hydroquinone monomethyl ether, as an inhibitor of premature polymerization of the binder.
Immediately before use, and after the dentist has prepared the tooth for receiving the restoration, the paste is activated by mixing into it the appropriate amount of catalyst, such as benzoyl peroxide.
For example, the dental restorative composition may be in the form of two pastes (one paste containing filler, resin binder and catalyst while the other contains filler, resin binder and accelerator), or a liquid resin and powdered filler system, or a paste-liquid system, or any other desired form.
The mixed composition is promptly emplaced in the tooth, hardening in the manner characteristic of the resin binder and catalyst system being used. For example, using the well-known BIS-GMA/benzoyl peroxide system, the composite becomes grossly rigid in about 5 minutes and may be finely ground and polished, to give the finished restoration, in about 10 minutes.
At any time after emplacement, but more particularly after significant time has elapsed, such as many months or years afterwards, the condition of the restoration and the adjacent tooth structures can be determined by diagnostic dental X-rays.
Sue vG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3143
posted
Without reading all the replies, I must respond to the original post:
Zinc is one element that is very hazardous to tinker with. If anything, it's the copper in fillings that's worse, and perhaps the zinc is added to balance it since they are antagonists in the body.
I have diagnosed metal issues, and the more common problem found in the population is LOW zinc and high copper. Esp. in women. (google Biamonte and copper for a comprehensive though sloppily written run-down on that).
I HAVE TO TAKE ZINC!!!!! I HAVE TO AVOID COPPER!!!! For my health. Maybe other folks out there are in the same boat.
Before I ever got lyme, after I had 3 large old amalgams drilled out within 8 months to without precautions, I developed serious cognitive and attention deficit problems. Yes, it was like adult onset ADD! (After I got sick but before I knew it was lyme, I had my last 3 amalgams out by a biological dentist who used the Huggins protocol, and my health quickly IMPROVED.)
Very long story short, I flew across the country to the Pfeiffer Treatment Center near Chicago and got a diagnosis (from MDs on the cutting edge of metal metabolism) of a metallothionein disorder that results in high copper and low zinc, and impaired ability to eliminate mercury. This is COMMON. It can be treated.
People, PLEASE don't anyone eliminate zinc from your bodies without a true clinical diagnosis that says that you should.
Sorry Marnie, this is the first time I've truly disagreed with you, but my information is IN VIVO, not in theory. I live my need for zinc every day.
posted
So it seems like the debate to remove mercury fillings or not to remove mercury fillings remains. Hmm. If half of my fillings are mercury and half are composite, do they cancel each other out?
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 10177 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Hiker, absolutely not.
Mercury is a toxin - there is hardly another one that is worse. Thioethers and mercaptans in root filled teeth are worse.
Composite fillings - carbon based -- there are many different ones available now. You should have the different materials energy tested by a competent tester (not Clifford). Testing for compatibility is the major issue. Write to VeraS at www.melisa.org - she will give you a correct and up-to-date science based response. She is now Professor of Immuno-Toxicology at the University in Prague and she or her assistant can advice you how to approach this.
As I posted earlier, Marnie is trying hard, but some of the info she pulled off the internet is dated and incorrect and misleading. I will not go into detail because I would have to sit here all night pulling these comments apart. Got a lot better things to do.
Just one quick reaction from me on one of the links Marnie posted:
It is a fact that Gold/palladium is toxic for many people. To this day, I still have to detoxify palladium out of my face from gold crowns that were removed in 1998. That's how bad some of that stuff is for certain people. It almost killed me.
My suggestion would be to go to the people who deal with this every day. www.melisa.org. VeraS worked at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden for many years - Dr. K. calls it the Holy Grail of research, one of the institutions that has dealt with mercury, etc. for decades. They haven't used amalgam for many years - against the law!
Do your own research - every bit of material that is put into a person's mouth affects people in a different way. There is no material that fits all. It has to be compatible with your personal immune system. My advice: if you do it, do it right or at least as best you can. Ask the experts. It's your body and your life.
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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Marnie
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Gi Gi...You said:
"As I posted earlier, Marnie is trying hard, but some of the info she pulled off the internet is dated and incorrect and misleading. I will not go into detail because I would have to sit here all night pulling these comments apart. Got a lot better things to do."
So...you attack my post (``dated and incorrect and misleading'') and you chose not to spend any time to point out what you feel is incorrect or misleading? I welcome well documented, linked opposing viewpoints. What EXACTLY was incorrect and misleading?
I am waiting for YOUR intelligent, researched, linked response specifically addressed to those statements I quoted that you feel were misleading...not simply to link some website I should contact in Europe that deals with heavy metal toxicity testing.
I KNOW Hg is toxic. So is zinc in high amts. MY question is: what is the level of zinc in the brain of lyme patients? Is it low? Is it high? Is it attached to Bb's outer cell wall? What might happen if suddenly the material used to cement, or the new composite, had zinc as one of the minerals in it?
You said, ``Just one quick reaction from me on one of the links Marnie posted:
It is a fact that Gold/palladium is toxic for many people.''
That makes it sound like I was suggesting gold fillings. I was not. If you read what I quoted it was talking simply about all the various fillings/inlays, etc. and what they are composed of. I made no judgements or filling suggestions. I just presented the information.
Gi Gi...I am against amalgam fillings! I know they are very toxic. I know mercury (Hg) is being continually released into our systems and we are exposed to it from our environment and from some foods too.
However, I am ALSO concerned about the amt. of zinc that is used in dental practice, from cements, to it being in composites. Normally this is NOT harmful to us...we need zinc. However, it looks as though Bb likes zinc too.
When one is already neurotoxic, is it advisable and SAFE to have any dental work if it is not absolutely necessary?
I don't think we know for absolute certainty. I am concerned about the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw which is KNOWN to be increased in the presence of anemia, blood clotting disorders (hypercoagulation),if someone is taking certain drugs and in the presence of infection.
These all increase the risk of this very serious jaw bone death.
Sue...I never, ever said we need to eliminate zinc from our bodies. Actually our WBCs do that for us. Calprotectin, in our neutrophils binds zinc, for example.
We need some zinc, too much is toxic.
Our immune system depends on zinc (as well as other nutrients). Yes, many often have an imbalance in the minerals, esp. the trace minerals. Sometimes this is due to the foods grown in our local areas. Some areas of the world have very little selenium in the soil, for example and the people who live in those regions have a deficiency of this mineral.
"Daily dosages of more than 100 milligrams of zinc can depress the immune system while dosages under 100 milligrams can enhance immune response. Zinc levels may be lowered by diarrhea, kidney disease, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, and fiber. The phylates found in grains and legumes bind with zinc so that it cannot be absorbed.
The proper copper and zinc balance should be maintained. Consumption of hard water can upset zinc levels."
"Copper levels in the body are reduced if high amounts of zinc or vitamin C are taken. If copper intake it too high, the levels of vitamin C and zinc will drop."
From Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Dr. Balch, M.D. and Balch C.N.C.
Re: high copper. My first thought is: how is your water - contaminated? Has it been tested? Are you exposed to high levels of copper at a job? Do you feel this is/has been a genetic problem all along?
Some copper research:
COPPER OVERLOAD The late psychiatrist, Dr. Carl Pfeiffer of Princeton University, reported in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine in 1987 that 64% of his female patients and 37% of males had elevated copper.
Women tend to have higher copper levels than men because of their higher estrogen levels.
Dr. Pfeiffer correlated high copper levels with high blood pressure, hair loss, PMS, insomnia, tinnitis, depression, schizophrenia, learning disability, autism and hyperactivity.
RISK FACTORS FOR COPPER OVERLOAD Excess copper could be in your drinking water or it could be caused by your plumbing.
Well water often has high copper levels.
Back in May 1997, hydro admitted that they dumped about 20 tons of copper into Lake Ontario; They started doing it in the 70's and continued well into the 80's.
Chocolate, peanuts, shellfish, mushrooms, wheatgerm, liver, citrus fruits and dairy are all sources of copper. Smoking, clothing dyes (especially dark ones), copper pots, the new high copper amalgam fillings, and herbicides and pesticides can increase your copper. Animal feed contains copper because animals grow faster and gain weight when they are fed copper. This suggests elevated copper may be a factor in weight gain.
(Apparently copper is in some birth control pills too.)
Integr Environ Assess Manag. 2005 Nov;1(4):333-42.
Copper (Cu) concentrations in waterways of the United States are of widespread concern. Presently, 692 waterway segments around the United States are listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as having unacceptably high copper concentrations. PMID: 11880902
Wilson's disease is a genetic disorder that results in excessive accumulation of copper in many parts of the body, particularly the liver. This condition is readily treatable.
= J Dent Res 82(3): 243-246, 2003 � 2003 International and American Associations for Dental Research 6
http://health.howstuffworks.com/cavity6.htm = exact date unsure, but... 1998-2006 HowStuffWorks, Inc. The author is: ``Dr. Jerry Gordon is a general dentist practicing in Bensalem, PA, a few miles outside of Philadelphia. He completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, majoring in biological sciences. Dr. Gordon was an academic scholarship student at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in NJ, and completed a general practice residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NY.''
http://www.ibiblio.org/amalgam/ = date uncertain...but ``The author decided to do a microprobe of the cross section of the amalgam after reading the full article by M. Hanson and J. Pleva, titled "The Dental Amalgam Issue. A review", Experientia, 1991 Jan 15;47(1):9-22, PMID: 1999251''
PMID: 14664264 = J Am Dent Assoc. 2003 Nov;134(11):1463-7.
� CONCLUSIONS: In this study, children who received dental restorative treatment with amalgam did not, on average, have statistically significant differences in neurobehavioral assessments or in nerve conduction velocity when compared with children who received resin composite materials without amalgam. These findings, combined with the trend of higher treatment need later among those receiving composite, suggest that amalgam should remain a viable dental restorative option for children. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00066118.
Dental amalgam fillings containing approximately 50% mercury have been used for almost 200 years and have been controversial for almost the same time. Allegations of effects caused by amalgams have involved many diseases.
Recent evidence that small amounts of mercury are continuously released from amalgam fillings has fuelled the controversy.
This is a comprehensive review of the epidemiologic evidence for the safety of dental amalgam fillings, with an emphasis on methodological issues and identifying gaps in the literature.
Studies show little evidence of effects on general chronic disease incidence or mortality.
Limited evidence exists for an association with multiple sclerosis, but few studies on either Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases.
The preponderance of evidence suggests no renal effects and that ill-defined symptom complexes, including chronic fatigue syndrome, are not caused by amalgams.
There is little direct evidence that can be used to assess reproductive hazards. Overall, few relevant epidemiologic studies are available.
Most prior assessments of possible amalgam health effects have been based on comparisons of dental mercury exposures with occupational exposures causing harm.
However, the amalgam-exposed population contains a broader, possibly more susceptible, spectrum of people. Common limitations of population-based studies of dental amalgam effects include inadequate longitudinal exposure assessment and negative confounding by better access to dental care in higher socioeconomic groups. Better designed studies are needed, particularly for investigation of neurodegenerative diseases and effects on infants and children.
PMID: 16448848 = Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2006 Jan 27;
J Nutr Biochem. 2006 Jun 15; [Epub ahead of print]
Mercury as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
Virtanen JK, Rissanen TH, Voutilainen S, Tuomainen TP.
Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
Mercury is a heavy metal that exists naturally in the environment. Major sources include the burning of fossil fuels (especially coal) and municipal waste incineration.
Mercury can exist in several forms, with the most hazardous being organic methylmercury. In waterways (lakes, rivers, reservoirs, etc.), mercury is converted to methylmercury, which then accumulates in fish, especially in large predatory fish.
Fish and fish products are the major-if not the only-source of methylmercury in humans. Mercury has long been recognized as a neurotoxin for humans, but in the last 10 years, its potentially harmful effects on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have raised a cause for concern, mostly due to the proposed role of mercury in oxidative stress propagation.
Some epidemiological studies have indeed found an association between increased levels of mercury in the body and risk of CVD. There are several plausible mechanisms to explain the association; these are discussed in this review. We also review the epidemiological studies that have investigated the association between mercury and CVD.
PMID: 16781863
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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Sue vG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3143
posted
Thanks for your update, Marnie. My copper excess is due less to oversupply than to inability to excrete. (PST deficiency > impaired methylation > metallothionein dysfunction).
Though, looking back I can see that my copper-related problems begain in the 80s when coincidentally they started adding more copper to fillings, and I had a lot of fillings drilled out at that time for bigger ones.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg - the mercury and copper in my fillings, or my inability to detoxify it? Hard to say, but the folks studying autism note that about 30% of the caucasian population has some degree of PST deficiency, causing impaired ability to excrete metals.
Over 90% of autistics have PST deficiency, meanting that they can't excrete the mercury in today's vaccines. So it's probably hereditary, and if you get the neurotoxins too early in your development, you get autism, and if a PST deficient person's exposure to metals is later than 3 years of age, like my generation, you get subtle cognitive, endocrine, and neuro symptoms that worsen with age and exposure.
It would make sense that people who have good methylation (i.e., don't have PST deficiency) can tolerate a lot more mercury and other heavy metals than those who don't and can't excrete the metals adequately.
This would explain why the majority of people actually do exhibit no ill effects from "typical" environmental and dental metal exposures, while there is a significant subpopulation of poor methylators that is harmed. I can guarantee that autistics are never allowed into ADA and AMA-supported studies.
That's why the argument goes on about mercury - for most people, there seem to be "safe levels", and that's what everyone wants to go by, but for some people, there is *NO* safe level since there is little or no excretion possible.
I wish I'd known which group I was in 45 years ago - I could have protected myself from metal exposure at the hands of those too arrogantly ignorant to try to protect me.
[ 22. June 2006, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: Sue vG ]
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