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Should we get our mercury-amalgam fillings replaced–or would it be easier just to grow new teeth?

A common test used to determine mercury exposure from dental amalgam fillings may significantly overestimate the amount of the toxic metal released from fillings. While scientists agree that dental amalgam fillings slowly release mercury vapor into the mouth, both the amount of mercury released and the question of whether this exposure presents a significant health risk remain controversial.
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If you want to get pregnant, see your dentist (No, we don’t mean you should have sex in the dental chair). A recent Australian study compared rates of periodontal disease with the speed by which women conceived and found that women with fewer cavities got pregnant more quickly. It turns out that the kind of oral bacteria that causes cavities also increases inflammation, which not only impacts placental health, but might even increase the risk of miscarriage or premature birth.
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People who received frequent dental x-rays in the past have an increased risk of developing the most commonly diagnosed primary brain tumor in the US. But don’t panic–today’s dental patients are exposed to lower doses of radiation than in the past.

When researchers studied almost 1,500 brain tumor patients who were diagnosed with the disease between the ages of 20 and 79 and compared them with a control group, they found that patients with brain tumors were more than twice as likely as controls to report having ever had a bitewing exam, which uses an x-ray film held in place by a tab between the teeth.
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Get your dog ready for that Christmas party: Buy him a nice red sweater and BRUSH HIS TEETH! The problem isn’t just bad breath: By the age of 3, about 80% of dogs and 70% of cats already have gum disease, and preventative measures are key to identifying and stopping the disease before it gets too bad and teeth start falling out.
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