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Quelle:
BBC News
Amagam-Zahnfüllungen
sind sicher
von
Dr. med. Jochen Kubitschek
Seit
vielen Jahren wird befürchtet, daß das aus Amalgam-Zahnfüllungen
freigesetzte Quecksilber insbesondere das Nervensystem von
Kindern dauerhaft schädigen kann. Um diesem verdacht nachzugehen
wurden wurden in den USA und in Portugal 1.000 bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt
unbehandelte Kinder entweder mit den seit 150 Jahren üblichen
Amalgam-Zahnfüllungen versorgt, oder aber mit weißen Kunststoff-Füllungen.
Nach mehreren Jahren wurden die Kinder gründlich nervenärztlich
untersucht. Zwar fanden die Forscher im Blut der mit Amalgamüllungen
versorgten Kinder tatsächlich minimal erhöhte Quecksilberwerte,
doch die nervenärztlichen Untersuchungen ergaben in Bezug auf
die Nervenfunktionen, bzw. die Gedächtnisleistung der Kinder keine
auffälligen Unterschiede. Die Wissenschaftler sehen dies als endgültigen
Beweis dafür an, daß Amalgam-Zahnfüllungen sicher sind und daher
auch in Zukunft weiterverwendet werden sollten.
mehr
Informationen
hier
Silver fillings 'carry no risk'
Dentist: Silver fillings have been used for 150 years
BBC
News Tuesday, 18 April 2006, 22:57 GMT 23:57
UK
Silver fillings pose no risk to children from mercury poisoning,
according to new research. Such fillings or amalgam have been
used for 150 years, but in recent years fears have been
raised about mercury vapour being absorbed into the body.
Mercury poisoning can lead to memory loss and kidney failure,
the Journal of the American Medical Association said. But
the report found no evidence of harm in the study of more than
1,000 children in the US and Portugal. US experts believe any
lingering fears about the safety of such fillings should be dispelled
by the report.
Silver fillings are made from silver, copper, zinc and other metals
held together like glue by mercury. Hopefully this will help reassure
parents who are concerned about the safety of amalgam fillings
in children Dr Nigel Carter, of the British Dental Health Foundation
Originally, it was thought that a person's exposure to mercury
was brief, lasting only when the filling was put in. But in the
1980s scientists showed that amalgam continuously released vapour
in the mouth, which is inhaled and absorbed by the body. A Department
of Health-commissioned review in the UK nine years ago found the
use of dental amalgam was free from the risk of toxicity and,
as a result, it is still used by NHS dentists, although white
fillings are sometimes used for front teeth.
And despite other studies showing similar results, fears have
persisted that amalgam fillings are not completely safe.
The researchers from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research, who conducted two studies in Portugal and the US,
took a group of children with tooth decay but no existing fillings
and gave them either silver fillings or white composite resin
fillings. After several years they were tested for changes to
memory, co-ordination and nerve conduction.
Mercury
No deterioration was measured, although researchers did find those
with sliver fillings had slightly higher levels of mercury in
their urine.
Institute director Dr Lawrence Tabak said the levels of
mercury were so low they were not causing a problem. But he said:
"It was clear that we needed to determine whether the potential
risks of dental amalgam in any way outweigh its benefits and we
needed to make the determination first in children, who may be
more sensitive to any adverse effects of mercury.
"What's particularly impressive is the strength of the evidence.
The studies evaluated mercury exposure in two large, geographically
distinct groups of children and reached similar conclusions."
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental
Health Foundation, said: "These studies are the latest
to find that there is no link between amalgam fillings and any
medical disorder. "Hopefully this will help reassure parents
who are concerned about the safety of amalgam fillings in children.
"However, if parents are still concerned about their child
having amalgam fillings, it is worth remembering that there are
alternatives, such as white fillings, though your dentist will
usually charge extra for these."
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