DAMS: Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome Support Group

Visit the DAMS website: www.amalgam.org

The late Louise Herbeck founded DAMS, INC., Dental Amalgam Mercury Syndrome, in 1987. Louise recovered from Multiple Sclerosis after her amalgam fillings were replaced with bio-compatible dental materials. From its small beginning, DAMS has grown to its present size of over 3,000 members with 57 chapter coordinators and officers in 27 states, with affiliates abroad.

DAMS is a nonprofit-organization of volunteers. Because the members, or someone in their family, recovered from serious health problems after having amalgam fillings replaced, they decided to dedicate a portion of their time to helping others.

DAMS is a grass-roots movement dedicated to educating the public about the health hazards associated with chronic exposure to mercury from silver amalgam dental fillings. It is not commonly known that silver dental fillings contain up to 50% mercury. The mercury is not sealed safely in the fillings but escapes through saliva and vapor into the body and brain.

DAMS advocates that people who decide to replace amalgams with non-toxic dental materials go to holistic, biological, or mercury-free dentists. These dentists have the complex equipment in their offices that makes the removal of the amalgams a safer process. They will usually put you on a pre- and post-amalgam removal program of vitamin and mineral supplements.

Many who choose to replace their amalgams are chemically sensitive to a greater or lesser degree. Therefore, it may be advisable to have a blood bio-compatibility test or electro-dermal screening to make sure the replacement dental materials are bio-compatible with individual body chemistry.

The symptoms of mercury toxicity are numerous. They range from headaches, irritability, depression, memory and concentration loss, infertility, irregular heart beat, pain in the chest, connective tissue disorders, allergies, yeast (Candida), insomnia, shallow breathing, muscle weakness, fatigue, anemia, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss or unexplained weight gain, to name but a few. Later symptoms can be equilibrium problems, numbness of extremities, and tremors. Mercury penetrates the placenta barrier and can adversely affect an unborn child. Current research at universities in the U.S., Canada and Europe associate mercury toxicity with Alzheimer’s disease. Mercury easily penetrates the brain/blood barrier.

It has been conservatively estimated that between 1-15% of the population is sensitive to silver dental mercury fillings. Mercury is a poison. The replacement of a person’s fillings is an important step-by-step process. It should be thoroughly researched prior to any dental or medical treatments.

Dr. Gerald H. Smith

About The Author

Dr. Gerald H. Smith is certified by the World Organization for Natural Medicine to practice natural medicine globally. He is also a certified dental practitioner. His broad base of post-graduate training in dentistry and natural medicine enabled him to integrate many health care specialties.