Removal of mercury dental fillings for multiple sclerosis
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Removal of mercury dental fillings for multiple sclerosis
Some alternative medicine practitioners maintain that vapor escaping from the mercury in dental fillings can lead to changes in blood composition, possibly contributing to multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. They claim that removing the fillings can benefit people who have MS.
Treatment involves removing mercury amalgam fillings, testing for the optimum replacement filling material before substituting it for the mercury fillings, and detoxification therapy. This may include nutritional support to balance body chemistry, use of compounds to remove mercury from the body (chelating agents), vitamin C supplements, and psychological counseling.
There is no evidence to support the claim that mercury from dental fillings is a factor in the worsening of MS symptoms. Any reduction of MS symptoms after removal of mercury amalgam fillings is most likely a coincidence and occurs because the person has entered a period of remission unrelated to the dental treatment. The placebo response in people who have MS may be as high as 70%, making it very difficult to know that treatment is responsible for an improvement in symptoms.
Warning
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has warned against the removal of amalgam fillings in people who have MS and considers it an unethical practice.
Credits
| Author | Monica Rhodes |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Denele Ivins |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology |
| Last Updated | February 28, 2008 |
| Last updated: | February 28, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Monica Rhodes |
| Reviewed By: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC |
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