There now follows a wide range of supporting texts and articles. Some of these are technical in nature, but I still recommend that you preserver - there is also much data for the layman here. First some texts I downloaded from the IAOMT WWW pages, addressing the central issues of the debate..

This response was prepared by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, a Canadian non-profit charitable organisation dedicated to research and education. The IAOMT's corporate centre is in Canada, but send all mail to its Executive Director, Michael Ziff, D.D.S, at P.O. Box 608531, Orlando, FL, 32860-8531.

(Note - numbered scientific references in [] - index given at end or article)

Background: 1985-1990

In 1985 the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) reviewed the transcript of the National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) Workshop on the Biocompatibility of Metals in Dentistry [1] and the then available scientific literature and concluded that there was reasonable doubt about the safety of dental amalgam. We recommended that:

The use of mercury/silver fillings should be discontinued until such time as primary pathological evidence of amalgam safety is produced.

Since that time, there have been a series of published statements/articles from the American Dental Association (ADA) and Canadian Dental Association (CDA), all claiming that dental amalgam was safe for use as a filling material. None of these pronouncements referenced or provided any basic scientific research showing the safety of amalgam. Since the majority of dentists in North America rely on the guidelines of the leadership of the ADA, the CDA and the NIDR, it is imperative that these organisations be scientifically accurate when they make statements to the profession which can affect the public health. To address this issue of accuracy the following scientific response was prepared by the Board of Directors of IAOMT on behalf of our members. Claims of alleged safety are compared with the documented scientific literature.

Since our 1985 recommended moratorium on future placement of mercury/silver fillings, scientific research has further reinforced the basis for our concern. The IAOMT acknowledges that primary pathological data linking mercury from dental amalgam with any specific disease is not available. This would in fact be impossible because primary studies have never been undertaken. However, we understand that such investigations are currently underway, partially funded by this academy. In the interest of public safety, we reaffirm our 1985 position that the use of this material should cease.

1990-Present

In April of 1990 the ADA published a Special Report, entitled "When Your Patients Ask About Mercury In Amalgam". [2] The ADA Special Report Is Misleading.

This American Dental Association Special Report is of concern because it omits information and contains misinformation which misleads patients and dentists regarding amalgam safety. This misinformation could have a serious impact, preventing patients from making an accurate informed consent. The IAOMT has reviewed a few of the pertinent statements and compared them to the published and documented scientific facts.

Also make sure to read these books: Poison in Your Teeth: Mercury Amalgam (Silver) Fillings...Hazardous to Your Health! and Mercury Detoxification by Tom McGuire