Consumer Advocacy Coalition Protests MERCURY FILLINGS at UPENN's "Nation of Smiles..." Day

PHILADELPHIA, June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry will  PROTEST the use of silver/amalgam dental fillings, containing  50% MERCURY at the "Nation of Smiles…"  free dental event treating 600 underserved Pennsylvanians. Although free, the consumer advocacy organization is concerned about patients receiving toxic MERCURY dental fillings.  The co-sponsors, University of Pennsylvania Dental School and the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) have been put on notice to adhere to Philadelphia's "informed consent" ordinance on Saturday, June 23, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the UPENN Dental School clinic, 40th and Spruces Streets, Philadelphia.

Freya Koss, President of the PA Coalition, officially advised the AGD about their required compliance with Philadelphia City Council's "Use of Mercury in Dentistry" law,  mandating Philadelphia dentists to provide every patient with the "Amalgam Fillings Containing Mercury- Information Sheet" explaining neurological and other health risks related to mercury exposure from amalgams.  Passed into law in 2009, Philadelphia became the first city in the nation requiring signed patient consent prior to having mercury-containing fillings placed.

Although the fact sheet includes precautions from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about  mercury risks to pregnant women and their unborn babies (particularly dangerous during placement or removal of amalgam fillings), Koss questions whether patients will be adequately guided by dental staff to sufficiently read and comprehend the warnings, specifically related to the main ingredient MERCURY, a known neurotoxin. 

Many of those seeking treatment are expected to be senior citizens and the homeless.  Koss fears those in dire need of dental care will make rash decisions based on misunderstanding of the health ramifications of this hazardous material, and is apprehensive about whether cost rather than health will take precedent.

Ardmore resident Carol Ward, VP/Dental Amalgam Mercury Solutions, wants patients to know of the scientific research supporting the links between Alzheimer's  Disease and inorganic mercury from dental amalgams. Ward points to published studies substantiating MERCURY and only MERCURY can cause the major biochemical hallmarks of this dreaded disease.

While other countries have banned mercury-containing fillings or restricted their use for pregnant women, children, and those with kidney disease, the U.S. dental industry still promotes their safety.  However, Blanche Grube, DMD, Scranton, PA mercury-free dentist, brings attention to the current U.N.E.P. Treaty to phase-down the use of mercury amalgam fillings, and two significant reports indicating that white non-mercury fillings are safer for health and the environment.

Among those protesting will be injured consumers and occupationally exposed dental personnel. Philadelphia resident, Sharon  Moore, diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Sarcoidosis in 1993, recovered in 2008 after her mercury filling were safely removed.  Moore is livid: "They should've told me they were MERCURY."

Dental assistants Karen Palmer of Bethlehem and Karen Burns of NJ were both misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, when in fact,  they were suffering from chronic occupational mercury toxicity in the workplace. 

Koss believes "Dentists should protect patients and dental personnel, not the industry!"

Contact: Freya Koss, President, Pennsylvania Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry 
(610) 649-2606, (267) 290-7685, [email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry