The brain of your child could be in danger. Doctors don't think it isn't, but they aren't sure. If you have time, you should worry, but only if you have time.
Dentists have been putting possibly harmful fillings into the teeth of your children. Amalgam fillings, composed from a variety of metals, have small amounts of mercury in them. Some of this mercury leaks out of the filling over time.
"This probably won't affect your children," said a doctor. "I'm like ninety percent sure of it, maybe."
Believe it or not, these filling are kind of controversial. Doctors and researchers have half a mind to do something about this possible but unlikely problem.
Many scientists are looking for replacements for amalgam fillings. Here is a short list of materials that they've rejected out of hand.
- Cement
- Asbestos/Lead
- Smaller Teeth
- Plutonium
- Pancake Batter
Mercury poisoning is hard to detect. The symptoms are vague. Some of the more noticeable ones are loss of attention, loss of appetite, irritability, anxiety, low self control, bad breath (this describes everyone in Los Angeles so far) increased timidity, mouth ulcers, weight loss, stiffness and frequent headaches.
Don't worry too much about filling-related mercury poisoning. The studies all indicate that it is safe, probably. You should just relax, possibly.
A doctor who is clinically interested in Toxicology can help you detect mercury poisoning. Find a local doctor.
