This study examined the relationship between mercury content and mercury evaporation from amalgams during setting. Two different types of commercial high-copper amalgams (single composition and admixed types) were used. Cylindrical specimens of each amalgam were prepared with five different mercury contents according to ADA Specification No.1. Specimens were also prepared by hand condensation. ...

OBJECTIVES To determine contact allergies in patients with oral lichen planus and to monitor the effect of partial or complete replacement of amalgam fillings following a positive patch test reaction to ammoniated mercury, metallic mercury, or amalgam. DESIGN In group A (20 patients), the oral lesions were confined to areas in close contact with amalgam fillings. In group B (20 patients), the...

BACKGROUND Amalgam tattoos result from deposition of metallic particles (eg, silver, mercury, copper, zinc, and tin) into the oral mucosa. Their clinical and histologic appearance is similar to that of decorative tattoos. OBJECTIVE To describe the successful use of a Q-switched alexandrite laser for removal of an amalgam tattoo. MATERIALS AND METHODS An amalgam tattoo on the buccal mucosa a...

BACKGROUND Urinary mercury concentrations are widely used as a measure of mercury exposure from dental amalgam fillings. No studies have evaluated the relationship of these measures in a longitudinal context in children. OBJECTIVE We evaluated urinary mercury in children 8-18 years of age in relation to number of amalgam surfaces and time since placement over a 7-year course of amalgam treatm...

BACKGROUND Mercury vapor poses a known health risk with no clearly established safe level of exposure. Consequently there is debate over whether the level of prolonged exposure to mercury vapor from dental amalgam fillings, combining approximately 50% mercury with other metals, is sufficiently high to represent a risk to health. The objective of our study is to determine if mercury exposure fro...

AIM To estimate the quantity of dental amalgam that Ontario dentists release into waste water. METHODS Information from a self-administered postal survey of Ontario dentists was combined with the results of other experiments on the weight of amalgam restorations and the quantity of amalgam waste that bypasses solids separators in dental offices. Algorithms were developed to compute the quanti...

Aim: To review the release of mercury from the amalgam restorations and its effects on health. Objective: The main objective of the review is to analyse the various causes for the release of mercury and the amount of mercury released from restorative procedures and its intensity of toxicity that causes various significant hazards to the health of an individual. Background: Amalgam is one of the...

Mercury-containing dental amalgam is known to be a source of human exposure to mercury. We have explored the use of electron yield Hg L(III) X-ray absorption spectroscopy to characterize the chemical nature of dental amalgam surfaces. We find that the method is practical and that it shows extensive mercury depletion in the surface of the aged amalgam with significant differences between old and...

Dentistry and society have long recognized the benefits of using silver-based amalgams to restore and maintain the dental health of patients. However, recent studies by health and environment experts have shown that mercury is of great concern when it enters the biosphere as a contaminant. A rational approach to pollution prevention is mandatory. This article explains the relationship between m...