No verdict on dental amalgam

I READ with concern the article “More than eight tooth fillings could put your health at risk” (Star2.com, Oct 5) which was based on a study published in the Journal of Ecotoxicology and Environ­men­tal Safety. The details and methodology of the study were not elaborated, for example in terms of the demographic of the sample group, occupation, diet, size of the fillings and so on. All these factors may influence the interpretation of the final result.

The debate over the safety of amalgam fillings has been going on for decades and has caused much confusion and anxiety among consumers. The presence of mercury in amalgam has often been blamed for ill-health by some misinformed group or party with personal interest in this matter, in particular manufacturers of tooth-coloured dental materials.