Dear Friends,

After months of preparation and an overwhelming response from you when we asked for help to get our movement to the world mercury treaty negotiations, we had an enormous impact at the first negotiating session in Stockholm, Sweden (to view photos click here*).  We had our first opportunity to address a hundred nations at once about our cause during our opening speech to the governmental delegates (to watch speech click here**).  Our highly talented and energetic international team of advocates and mercury-free dentists from seven nations ran an information booth, distributed literature, gave presentations, networked with like-minded organizations, educated delegates, and convinced the world that it must find a solution to the dental mercury problem:

— The United Nations Environmental Programme officials observed that dental amalgam drew more interest than any other single issue during the session.  As a result, substantial attention will be devoted to dental mercury between now and the next session in January.

— The Scandinavian nations pointedly asked the world’s nations to join them in phasing out amalgam.

— Leaders from four developing nations asked us to assist them in organizing pilot programs for phasing out amalgam, a critical step according to the UN.

— Diplomats from the U.S. State Department and top officials from the U.S. EPA were engaged in our message and requesting more information.

— The leaders of the World Health Organization shifted from defending amalgam use to outlining the steps it endorses to reduce its use.

I can’t say enough about the team we assembled in Stockholm.  We were tutored by Elisabet Carlsson, the advocate whose work led to the Swedish ban on amalgam.  Dentist Graeme Munro-Hall of Great Britain, co-author with his wife Lilian of ToxicDentistry Exposed, eloquently explained the science supporting mercury-free dentistry.  We joined forces with the dedicated leaders of our movement in other major countries, such as Servando Pérez-Dominguez of Spain, Marie Grosman of France, and Angela Kilmartin of Great Britain.  The multi-lingual talents of Anita Vazquez Tibau of California and Kathy Huddlestone of France allowed us to reach out to even more delegates.  And so many other outstanding folks stepped in to help out.

When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration showed up at the Stockholm session to protect mercury fillings, our international team was right there to expose the flaws in the agency’s amalgam defense.  Back in the United States, FDA was already facing a grassroots outcry from the American people and three separate petitions filed by Jim Turner, by Bob Reeves and Jim Love, and by emeritus University of Virginia professor Dr. Richard Edlich.  With the Scandinavians announcing that “dental treatment without mercury is becoming the norm” and other health departments at least putting limits on amalgam use, FDA realized that it is the pariah on the dental mercury issue (countries such as Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands have phased out amalgam; Germany and Canada direct dentists not to use it in vulnerable populations; Japan uses it in less than 4% of fillings; etc.).  In an attempt to save face the day before the negotiating session ended, FDA announced that it will hold hearings in December before the next UN session to consider whether American children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable populations should be protected from dental mercury exposure.

We could not have come this far without all our grassroots activists and supporters, both national and now international.  In the words of FDA Webview, your efforts have been “unprecedented”:  “No final rule in FDA’s modern history, or perhaps ever, has attracted this kind of organized opposition.”  Thanks to all of you, our movement has made FDA realize that the mercury fillings issue is not going away.

– Charlie

Charles G. Brown, National Counsel
Consumers for Dental Choice
316 F St., N.E., Suite 210, Washington, DC 20002
Ph. 202.544-6333; fax 202.544-6331

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The Interstate Mercury Education and Reduction Clearinghouse reports that amalgam use declined 46% in just a three-year period, 2004-2007 (the last years for which authoritative data are available). By contrast, there was virtually no decline (just 1%) in the period 2001-2004. This clearinghouse — a consortium of states which require reporting by all the big manufacturers — suggests amalgam is continuing to decline after 2007 as awareness of amalgam’s mercury grows.
The great news is that millions of individuals are no longer subjected to mercury fillings.

The bad news is that not everyone is benefiting equally from this momentous step forward: The pro-mercury forces are working hard to shove this neurotoxin into the bodies of children with disabilities, working families, and uninformed people who do not know that amalgam is mercury.  The Pennsylvania Dental Association has singled out children with disabilities as meriting mercury exposure, going so far as to endorse denying all treatment to these children unless their parents “consent” to amalgam.  The American Dental Association and the World Dental Federation advocate using mercury on low-income consumers — even the pregnant women and children who are most vulnerable to its neurotoxic effects.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has decided that non-elite populations are not even worthy of labeling to inform them that amalgam contains mercury.

As we continue fighting these injustices — boycotting top amalgam seller Henry Schein Inc., challenging government officials, approaching insurance companies that give primacy to amalgam, preparing for the upcoming mercury treaty negotiations, etc. — we can take heart that our efforts so far have contributed to substantial progress since 2004.  Halfway to our goal of no mercury in dentistry, we are winning!

Charlie Brown
19 April 2010

Charles G. Brown, National Counsel
Consumers for Dental Choice
316 F St., N.E., Suite 210, Washington, DC 20002
Ph. 202.544-6333; fax 202.544-6331
charlie@toxicteeth.org
www.toxicteeth.org
Working for Mercury-Free Dentistry

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This letter is a Must-Read about the current issues with Mercury Toxicity and the type of information given to consumers.

Amalgam apologist Sharfstein poised to attack state fact sheets

Is the Food and Drug Administration planning a sneak attack on state and local fact sheets? California, three New England states, and the city of Philadelphia have laws mandating that dental consumers and parents receive a fact sheet advising them that (1) amalgam is mainly mercury, (2) it can have neurological risks, and (3) non-toxic filling materials are available. Deputy Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein is about to send a letter to his friend Donald Schwarz, the Health Commissioner of Philadelphia, that may challenge the Philadelphia law and set the stage for FDA to obliterate warnings even in the fact sheet states.

Sharfstein, as the stand-in for Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, adopted a rule last year concealing warnings about neurological harm from parents, and authorizing amalgam sales without so much as a label to let consumers know about amalgam’s high mercury content. Sharfstein rubber-stamped the rule his boss handed him, even covering up the details of the mysterious recusal that Hamburg claims happened. Now the health commissioner of Philadelphia has asked Sharfstein to provide a letter that, as FDA leaders well know, could be used to block all fact sheets by all states and cities.

Something stands between amalgam ally Sharfstein and any attempt to interfere with local consumer protection programs: the law. To his credit, President Obama issued an Executive Order directing federal agencies not to overturn state and local consumer protection laws and not to limit their impact. On a level playing field, FDA should decline to interfere with Philadelphia’s fact sheet . . . if local law requires disclosure of the mercury and disclosure of the neurological risks, then that law must be respected. But we are talking about a federal agency corrupted by corporate influence. Remember that Commissioner Hamburg was on the board of top amalgam seller Henry Schein and continued to hold Schein stock options even while discussing FDA’s amalgam rule with staff. Immediately after the announcement of the pro-industry rule, Schein’s chief lawyer wrote Hamburg that the corporation is “indebted” to her for her work as Commissioner. Since FDA flaunted President Obama’s stance against mercury and unethical conflicts of interest, we have reason to fear it will likewise thumb its nose at his Executive Order.

As you may recall, it is in Philadelphia where organized dentistry’s strong-arm tactics to protect the market for mercury fillings recently reached a new zenith. Retaliating against parents who are demanding alternative filling materials for their children, the Pennsylvania Dental Association and the Philadelphia County Dental Society endorsed a program to deny all dental treatment – even tooth cleanings — to children with disabilities unless parents “consent” to amalgam. Consumers for Dental Choice petitioned the Attorney General to open a civil rights investigation; that request is pending.

With the stakes high — Sharfstein may seek to wipe out all fact sheet laws everywhere — I ask that you write the two lawyers charged with ensuring that Sharfstein follows the law, including the Executive Orders of the President of the United States:

David Cade, General Counsel, DHHS, David.Cade@hhs.gov
Ralph Tyler, Chief Counsel, FDA, ralph.tyler@fda.hhs.gov

Ask General Counsel Cade and Chief Counsel Tyler:
Gentlemen:
Will you, as FDA’s lawyer, advise Sharfstein that he must comply with the President’s Executive Order on Federalism?

Would you, as FDA’s lawyer, advise Sharfstein that — even though he doesn’t want young women to know about the mercury in amalgam and doesn’t want parents to learn of the damage mercury can do to children’s developing brains — the people of Philadelphia have the right to have their own consumer protection laws requiring disclosures and warnings?
– Charlie

Charles G. Brown, National Counsel
Consumers for Dental Choice
316 F St., N.E., Suite 210, Washington, DC 20002
Ph. 202.544-6333; fax 202.544-6331
charlie@toxicteeth.org
www.toxicteeth.org
Working for Mercury-Free Dentistry

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The Salem Dental Studio is more than just a dentistry practice that cares for your teeth and gums.  We truly care about your health.  We perform all Cosmetic Dentist Services from smile makeovers, smile reconstructions, teeth whitening, veneers, teeth contouring, and much more.  We also specialize in current health themes like Mercury/Amalgam Removal and Sedation Dentistry.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry alleviates not only issues you may have on your smile but also brings joy to one’s self-esteem.  Feeling confident with your smile is an incredible feeling that takes away a lot of stress that one may feel when around friends, family, and colleagues.

You can read more about the other services we provide throughout our site.  Feel free to browse.  If you need any questions answered or would like to schedule an appointment with us, call us at (503) 566-7000 or email Dr. Steven Lind.

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Dr. Steven Lind at the Salem Dental Studio Talks About The Very Real Effects of Mercury Toxicity

PODCAST

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The three main reasons to educate yourself on sedation dentistry:

1. Have past dental experiences prevented you from getting the treatment you need? Is fear or high anxiety the reason you keep putting off dental treatment?
   -  Don’t feel ashamed that you need some form of anxiety control. Either nitrous oxide and/or sedation techniques will help you.
   -  Over 50% of all patients are reported to have high anxiety in the dental office.
2. Sedation techniques allow the dental team to do comprehensive care including root canal treatment, extractions, implants, crowns, veneers, and advanced cleanings. Major work can be completed with only 1 to 3 appointments.
3. We have financing up to 84 months.

Visit http://www.sedationcare.com/ for more information on sedation dentistry.  We are here to help you if you can benefit from sedation dentistry. Call our office so that we can show you all the benefits. Schedule an appointment at (503) 566-7000.

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FDA Classification Disaster

Please read this entry from the IAOMT Blog: iaomt.blogspot.com.

“On Tuesday, July 28, 2009, the FDA completed its classification of the traditional dental amalgam filling material by making it a Class II Device with minimal controls.  Dr. Susan Runner, the acting director of the Dental Devices Division, stated flatly that, there are no serious concerns about the toxic mercury exposure from amalgams.”

Please go to iaomt.org to read the overwhelming body of research that disagrees with the FDA position.  The FDA changed its position on mercury toxicity because of pressure placed on them by dental companies that sell the toxic amalgam products.

My personal position on this is that mercury toxicity is a serious issue.  I believe that it has affected me personally, my staff, and patients.  Please GOOGLE keywords: MAD Hatter Disease.

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Smile makeovers are my life.  I really love changing peoples’ smiles because the way we smile changes the perception we have of ourselves.  Our self-esteem is enhanced and the relationships we have with others strengthen.  Confidence in the workplace is an important aspect of how we project our persona and confidence comes from a strong self-image.

As a cosmetic dentist for over 35 years, I’ve developed a sequence of events that has worked on 100% of my patients to ensure that the smile transformation is smooth and that both the patient and myself are excited to see some amazing smiles.

The cosmetic sequence that has assured 100% of my patients and has ensured acceptance is:

1. First I meet with the patient and discuss their goals.
2. We take photos and study various models.
3. We simulate the proposed changes with computer imaging and wax design of the new smile.
4. We go through a teeth preparation.
5. A placement of the temporary restoration called “The Trial Smile” based upon the pre-waxed mockup is placed in the patient’s mouth.
6. After 1 week the patient returns and together we correct the length and width of every tooth until both Dr. Lind and the patient is happy with the results.
7. Once we are happy with “The Trial Smile” then, and only then, will we proceed to the final restoration.
8. On the final cementation day the patient again will approve of the final shape, color, and contours before restorations are permanently placed.

This simple sequence has worked for me in over 500 smile makeovers and continues to be the sequence that I use today.  I still work with the same ceramist for over 16 years now to continuously produce amazing smiles.

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Some people share painful stories of going to the dentist and experiencing the most unpleasant moment of their lives. Others can’t bear to step into a dental office just thinking of the pain they are bound to experience.  We have heard many cases of people so afraid of visiting a dentist that they let their teeth and gums develop diseases and caries that could have been treated with proper oral care by visiting a dentist.

As a Salem, Oregon dental office we understand people have anxiety issues over oral care and cannot bear the notion of the fear that sets in.  There is a wonderful solution that alleviates the anxiety and allows our doctor, Dr. Steven Lind, to provide oral care for you.  It’s called Sedation Dentistry.  Sedation Dentistry is a form of dentistry that relaxes your nerves and senses through sedation medication to provide patients with the care needed for their smile while you, the patient, remains comfortable and completely relaxed.  You stay conscious throughout the procedure, but are free from anxiety and pain.  Sedation Dentistry helps you receive the proper care for your teeth and gums without the worry or fear that sets in without sedation.  You can even listen to music and relax while you are cared for.  Read more about Sedation Dentistry from Salem Dental Studio.  Call us and we can tell you all about Sedation Dentistry and how we can help take care of your health.

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When Mercury comes in contact with the body, it searches to bind to specific organic molecules that make up the neurofibrils, then stops these molecules from linking together with other molecules resulting in a degeneration of a neuron. This is related, if not directly, to the same degeneration that occurs in Alzheimer’s patients.

People who have amalgams, or mercury/metal-based fillings, have a higher risk of exposure to Mercury that has broken down, thus increasing the chances of neuron degeneration.  Read more…

Salem Dental Studio is equipped and experienced in removing mercury-based fillings safely and replace them with natural-looking, health-conscience composite fillings.  Contact us today to find out how we can help you.  We are always an email or phone call away, salemdentalstudio@yahoo.com; 503-566-7000.

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