International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology
Encyclopedia
The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology is formally chartered as a Canadian
non-profit corporation, representing dental, medical and research professionals who advocate mercury
-free dentistry
, the safe removal of mercury dental fillings, and improved standards for dental practices. The IAOMT North American office is located in Orlando
, Florida
, U.S.A. with international chapters in a dozen countries.
(FDA) panels to reject an FDA staff white paper
on the safety of mercury-based dental fillings, the IAOMT has formally requested an expanded review of current science on dental mercury amalgams, a firm date for a hearing on the matter, and assurance that the full range of health issues arising from the use of mercury fillings is assessed. By a 13-7 margin, representatives from two FDA committees (meeting as a joint panel) rejected the FDA's white paper as insufficiently representative of current science on the health risks associated with what most consumers are told are 'silver fillings', but which are actually about half mercury by weight.
, each time concluding that neither fluoridation
of public drinking water
supplies, nor fluoride prescriptions (as controlled-dose supplements), deliver any discernible health benefits; rather, the IAOMT found that fluoridation increases the incidence of adverse health effects.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
non-profit corporation, representing dental, medical and research professionals who advocate mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
-free dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
, the safe removal of mercury dental fillings, and improved standards for dental practices. The IAOMT North American office is located in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, U.S.A. with international chapters in a dozen countries.
Mission statement
The fundamental mission of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology is to promote the health of the public at large. Essentially, the Academy shall continually examine and compile scientific research relating to the biocompatibility of oral/dental materials. This agenda should ensure a more informed use of these materials in clinical practice. Within these confines, the Academy shall:- Accumulate and disseminate scientific information
- Promote relevant research and education
- Promote funding for relevant research
- Promote education of the public, professional organizations, and other groups, by providing scientific information
- Promote non-invasive scientifically sound therapies
- Provide advisory services
Dental amalgams
According to the IAOMT, potential health risks associated with mercury amalgams include:- Mercury's links to neurological diseases like Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
and autismAutismAutism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their... - Harm to unborn babies
- Vulnerability to toxicity, particularly among vulnerable pregnant women and young children
- Greater exposure to the effects of mercury due to chewing and drinking beverages
- Interaction with other metals and dental materials that increases risks
Safe removal of amalgam fillings
The mercury-free dentists represented by IAOMT cite the potential for excess exposure to mercury when removing amalgam fillings as a serious concern for dental practitioners, some of whom have devised various strategies for reducing the amount of mercury exposure for both patients and dental staff during the removal of mercury fillings.Opposition to FDA's position
In September 2006, in response to a vote by two US Food and Drug AdministrationFood and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
(FDA) panels to reject an FDA staff white paper
White paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
on the safety of mercury-based dental fillings, the IAOMT has formally requested an expanded review of current science on dental mercury amalgams, a firm date for a hearing on the matter, and assurance that the full range of health issues arising from the use of mercury fillings is assessed. By a 13-7 margin, representatives from two FDA committees (meeting as a joint panel) rejected the FDA's white paper as insufficiently representative of current science on the health risks associated with what most consumers are told are 'silver fillings', but which are actually about half mercury by weight.
Fluoridation of drinking water
The IAOMT has made several preliminary reviews of the toxicological data on fluorideFluoride
Fluoride is the anion F−, the reduced form of fluorine when as an ion and when bonded to another element. Both organofluorine compounds and inorganic fluorine containing compounds are called fluorides. Fluoride, like other halides, is a monovalent ion . Its compounds often have properties that are...
, each time concluding that neither fluoridation
Water fluoridation
Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay. Fluoridated water has fluoride at a level that is effective for preventing cavities; this can occur naturally or by adding fluoride...
of public drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
supplies, nor fluoride prescriptions (as controlled-dose supplements), deliver any discernible health benefits; rather, the IAOMT found that fluoridation increases the incidence of adverse health effects.
External links
- IAOMT.org - International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology homepage
- USNewsWire.com - 'Expanded FDA Review Sought into Safety of Mercury/Silver Dental Fillings', IAOMT (September 14, 2006)