I just want to know why is it that so many of US are sensitive to mercury being in our bodies and how so many are not even affected? (Or so I think). I am a dental hygienist and have been one for 15 yrs. Fortunately, I only worked 2 days a week now that I have kids. Prior to that I was a dental asst so I've been working (in the back where all the amalgam is) for 25 yrs. As I clean teeth now I look at how many amalgams are still in many peoples mouths. True, many have gone to white fillings but there are still a lot of Hg filled teeth. And I talk to these people and realize many of them with all this silver/hg still there seem smart, alert, no health problems (as I reveiw their health history form). So many seem happy, healthy, balanced with a great head on their shoulders. Then of course there are some that I would bet money on they were definitell affected and afflicted with this Hg problem. Now that I know more about it I can see the correlation and connection. Lots of amalgam, lots of ADD, brain fog, memory problems, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, autism and as you know the list goes on. Its just weird that some can be hit so hard (like us) and others no problem. Reminds me of me not being able to drink caffeine, or consume sugar or bread/yeast. I feel so out there... most people think its rather strange I eat so weird. But most people can consume these things daily and be fine. Not necessarily my choice though. Letting go of coffee, diet coke and sugar was probably worse than cigareetes or meth. Not an easy road. Glad all you are here so I don't always feel like an outcast. Diane

Hey Diane. I'm starting to believe that everyone that has amalgams in their heads are affected in some way. It may not be noticeable to even themselves. Since we know that every time we chew vapors of this poison is entering into our bodies, some get flushed out immediately and others will find their journey into a hidden area in our body. I think looks are deceiving, I think that all those with amalgams are sick from one degree to another. For those who appear very healthy it many mean the poison has not caught up to them and may never catch up to them in their mortal existence. But I still think that their body is fighting the intruder in some way. I think sick is a very "relative" term.

Hi Diane,

I don't know why. I'm not sure if it's a case of just sensitivity either. I think it's got more to it than that. I think it has to do with immune status, overall toxic load, ability to excrete mercury (some tend to retain it), as to whether it's going to cripple a person, or not be noticed as much (though it often catches up with people later on, and/or when something else happens to them and their immunity).

Mercury is a insidious silent poison and is often not noticed for a long time that anything is happening, which is why, by the time symptoms show up, the person maybe seriously seriously poisoned to where even if they get the amalgams out, they take years to recover and detox.

Some people can work with mercury and seem fine, others cannot even enter a dental office itself without becoming affected. Some dentists i've heard have had to leave their job because they became so sensitised to mercury that they could no longer enter a dental office....

I had no idea you worked as a dental hygienist!!!! I would not go NEAR a job that entailed working in a dental office. Amalgam is either being placed into mouths or it's being removed, either way the air of a dental office (even ex dental office) is contaminated and can contribute to a person' toxic levels of this stuff considerably, even long after they have quit the job. Sorry Diane, but this is likely not helping your situation. And the fact you have worked as a dental assistant for 25 years previously? It is not surprising you are struggling as you are. They did a survey in new zealand with ex dental nurses and it seems, without exception they all struggled with some serious health problems, all very simlar to eachother and I think that entailed reproductive issues as well.

I would get out of that profession and stay away from it if at all possible. Some people cannot even go in for a check up without becoming further toxic, due to the mercury vapor in the air of the dental office. I know a guy that was chelating himself and starting to heal who got poisoned again from walking into a dental office (even though he made sure it was a biologic one). He had to chelate again at lower levels until he could build back up to where he had been.

One visit to a dentist can cause havoc on me. I went into a dental office one day (biologic) and only spent about an hour or so (consultation) and came out of it poisoned. I had wheezing in the lungs, uncontrollable giggling, and then depression and then severe itching and rashes in the face. I had to use DMSA to try and get the stuff back out of me, and thankfully it did help.

Yet other people have no such issues. It is sensitivity yes, but it is also tolerance of it depending on many things, genetics and all the above that I mentioned. I cannot readily eliminate it unfortunately and tend to hold onto it, which is, no doubt why it built up in my tissues and organs for years and left me severely and chronically poisoned. It was very very tough to get this stuff back out of my tissues. horrible experience and the withdrawal and detox from mercury is almost worse than the actual poisoning of it (that's how it was for me). Detoxification can be quite agonising, but it is worth it in the end.

Hi Bex, Ya I'm guilty of being a dental hygienist. The truth is out. And 19 years ago when I was in college pursuing this career I had no clue as to this dilema. Having ADD and learning disabilities it was definitely a struggle if not a miracle that I made it through. The reason I went into it was because number one I knew I'd have kids one day and wanted to be with my kids as much as possible. And that I have, I only have to work 2 days a week to make ends meet when everyone else there is there 5 days a week so I consider myself fortunate and blessed. If I were to switch jobs I'd be working 5 days a week to make the same income. I won't do that, I want to be a mom.But I understand your veiwpoint-its not at all a healthy enviornment. I take algin daily though so I have that as my defense not to mention endless supplements. And it has been a year since I got the stuff outta my mouth and began chelating. So I have come a long way. I still pray often that I will be released from this profession. Its all by Gods provision! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Diane

Hi Diane, I admire you for wanting to be with your child! I can see why you would make a sacrifice like that, but I'm just sad that this is the type of profession you are in with your state of health and what impact it could be having on you.

Two days is better than 5 days there, but may still be significant. If I can get sick from only spending an hour or so in a dental office, I cannot imagine a day or more and doing that every week. It can take months to recover from a visit...but perhaps I am more of an extreme case.

Do you mind if I ask what kind of dentist you work for? Biologic? Or mainstream? Even then mercury vapor is unavoidable, as they are either drilling it in, or drilling it out. Either or both, it's contaminating the office. If it's a biologic dentist or metal free, it would likely be safer than mainstream though, because at least they take some precautions and are aware of the dangers, but it is still contaminating their office whenever they remove it from patients mouths and sadly it stays in there for the most part, as it's a heavy metal vapor, not some smoke that can be sucked out. I read somewhere that they did studies on dentists homes and found their houses to have high levels of mercury in them, due to the fact it's taken home from the office on clothes, shoes etc.

It's absorbed into the nasal cavity, into the skin, everything.

I wish you all the best Diane, but I do hope that sometime you will find something else that offers you good money for part time work. If you feel you're coping, that's up to you. I'd be a mess doing that and wouldn't even cope past a week. I don't know how you do it. Maybe the supplements help, but sincerely no matter how many I took, I coudl not offset what it did to me each and everytime I went in there. Algin may help, but usually it helps with any mercury that's made it's way into the digestion area, which is why it's good to take when eating any fish, and/or during and after amalgam removal. I do not know how effective it is when your breathing vapor and having it absorbed into your skin.

I hope your prayers are answered that you will be released from that occupation.

Hi Bex, The dentist I work for is mainstream sad to say, a regular general dentist. Fortunately we have over the years phased out amalgam fillings however thet may still do a few (especially in kids). Figure that one out, (the sooner we can poison them the better?) The closest bio dentist is an hour away and I am on the email alert for hygiene jobs... I'd switch in a heartbeat if I had the opportunity but havn't seen any openings there. There is none in my local viscinity. I am grateful that I do not get as sick as you and so many others (maybe I got used to it after 25 yrs). I feel no different after being there a day as opposed to a day off. More than anything, my diet seems to affect me the most- what I eat or don't eat! Its huge! Nonetheless I know its best for me to not be there if I had a choice. I used to work with a woman dentist 23 yrs ago and knew her quite well but we lost touch. I ran into her husband about a year ago and we chatted for a few minutes to catch up. Well, shes in a mental institution now! He said she freaked out, went over the edge and into the psycho house she goes! Well I know deep inside what is probably the cause. I remember assisting her and she seemed very quiet, but sometimes borderline violent with the patient if she got frustrated. (Not uncommon for those of us toxic people).
My heart goes out to her especially cause she has 2 kids also. I am sorry that the dental office is such an extreme case for you. What do you do? Bio dentist? Is it much better there?
Diane

Hi Diane,

I'm sorry to hear that! Mainstream dentists really do not understand or "want" to understand the dangers of amalgam mercury. I went to a dentist recently who is "metal free", thinking he was a biologic dentist and he said the only reason he won't use amalgam mercury is because it's very toxic to the environment and then he paused and said "but it's safe inside the mouth" and I was stunned. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???? He admits it's super toxic to the environment and everything else, but safe in the mouth. Um yeah, it's safe in the oral environment where it's moist and warm and lots of chewing and lots of hot drinks. How can they honestly think we are that stupid as to believe that?

He then added "no proof it's toxic in the mouth anyway" and I said "um, it poisoned me for most of my life" and he didn't want to listen and told me it was sensitivity and I told him it took me years to detoxify from it, so it can't be just sensitivity. He went quiet and changed the topic.

I was just glad that I was in a dental clinic that used no amalgam, plus it's unlikey he'd do that many removals either, since he thinks it's "safe". So I figured his office would be probably the least toxic. But I can still feel the effects, so obviously he does "some" removals. However, it's much worse in other dental offices where they drill everyday or drill it out. Even biologic ones effect me, so yeah, not sure which is worse to be honest.

I would opt for biologic over mainstream, simply because of the awareness and probability of more caution in regards to the stuff and protection in the office (extraction systems etc), but beyond that, it's unavoidable. I would just not work in either of them. But I'm not in your situation, so easy to say that, but health is very important, including mental health.

I'm sorry to hear about the woman dentist, but not overly surprised. My father was chatting to a lady dentist (young too) and she privately admitted she is now having mental problems and having to seek help, yet there is no apparent cause of it. She's perfectly sane, lovely and in a sense happy....yet she's having mental symptoms that are distressing her. Dad mentioned mercury and she went quiet and looked very thoughtful, but didn't say much. Just looked very sad. All her training for this job, it was pretty much years of it. Mainstream dentist too.

It's lethal stuff, but obviously some handle it better than others.

Yes, I too have to pay attention to diet and not deviate from it! It's a big part of how I can even function actually. I do well on butter too, so I think Hal Huggins is right. He recommends it for people mercury poisoned. I think selenium is another important element to make sure you get enough of, particularly if you are exposed to higher levels of mercury, as you would be working in a dental office. Plenty of antioxidants.

Maybe you will find an opening elsewhere, though personally I hope that you find a way out of that profession full stop. But you've been trained in that job, so it's easier said than done I know. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I hope and pray that something, somewhere will pop up for you, some safer opportunity!