"Mercury Vapor Ionizer" in my dentist's office

[tracer]

While glancing around my dentist's exam room today, I noticed a gizmo labelled "Mercury Vapor Ionizer".

I assumed that this device was designed to remove mercury vapor from the air when the dentist mixes mercury-silver amalgam fillings. But anything with the word "ionizer" in the name makes me suspicious. Are these things legitimate pieces of dental equipment that actually work, or are they just more pseudoscience to help the dentist feel like he's doing good?

[Rob Lister]

Originally posted by tracer
While glancing around my dentist's exam room today, I noticed a gizmo labelled "Mercury Vapor Ionizer".

I assumed that this device was designed to remove mercury vapor from the air when the dentist mixes mercury-silver amalgam fillings. But anything with the word "ionizer" in the name makes me suspicious. Are these things legitimate pieces of dental equipment that actually work, or are they just more pseudoscience to help the dentist feel like he's doing good?

I have it on very good personal sources that it is indeed "woo" in terms of risk. No data as to whether or not it does what it is advertised to do (but if products like the Ionic Breeze are any indication, I'd think no).

But that doesn't make it bad for business. A dentist provides a service for which there is much competition. Some dentists specialize somewhat in replacement of those oh so nasty amalgam fillings. Others promote it whenever possible. It would be nice to think that someone with a medical degree, quite the education, and a license to boot, wouldn't prostitute his profession for a profit. But, sad as it may be, reality steps in and smacks you about the head and shoulders.

Edit to add: I ran across this a while back and just now remembered the bookmark. This should be required reading for all skeptics. Have a beer before you click or you'll pop one of those tiny blood vessels in your eyeball.

http://www.saveyourteeth.com/amalgamremov.htm

Brought to you by...

http://www.saveyourteeth.com/index.htm

The woo is out there. And making a significant profit.

Hey? What? Your eyeball didn't pop? Did you click the "secret store" link on the main page?

[epepke]

I'm surprised that there are still dentists using amalgum. The newer compounds are so good now that there isn't any reason not to use them. I haven't been to a dentist that uses them in more than 5 years.

Also, it's been at least a couple of decades since dentists actually mixed amalgum using mercury and silver powder. They buy the stuff in pellets and shake it up to make it loose.

[CaveDave]

Originally posted by tracer
While glancing around my dentist's exam room today, I noticed a gizmo labelled "Mercury Vapor Ionizer".
Some antibacterial devices use mercury vapor lamps (tubes made of fused quartz) to generate intense ultraviolet (I don't remember which band) light. The UV rays also generate some ozone and can ionize other elements due to the high energy of the photons. Makes the air smell "clean" and kills some microbes. Might that be what you saw? (Don't look at the light, it can blind you.)

Originally posted by tracer
I assumed that this device was designed to remove mercury vapor from the air when the dentist mixes mercury-silver amalgam fillings. But anything with the word "ionizer" in the name makes me suspicious. Are these things legitimate pieces of dental equipment that actually work, or are they just more pseudoscience to help the dentist feel like he's doing good?
If that was the intent, I would provisionally classify it as bogus.

Dave

[CaveDave]

Originally posted by Rob Lister

http://www.saveyourteeth.com/amalgamremov.htm

Brought to you by...

http://www.saveyourteeth.com/index.htm

The woo is out there. And making a significant profit.

Hey? What? Your eyeball didn't pop? Did you click the "secret store" link on the main page?
OK, maybe I was wrong.

From RL's citation:
• The treatment room has a powerful air cleaning system, the Environmental Care System, from American Environmental Systems, which electrostatically removes and collects airborne heavy metal particles and contaminants without the use of fans or filters.Â_ It is similar to but much more powerful than an Alpine air ionizer.Â_ This Negative Ion Generator produces negative air ions which transfer their negative charges to airborne contaminants.Â_ The system’s Positive Field Collectors then electrostatically attract and retain the negatively charged contaminants by means of a positive electric field.Â_ It removes airborne particles from less than 0.01 micron to over 250 micron in diameter.Â_ This includes contaminants such as bacteria and spores, such as E. Coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus thuringensis and Staphylococcus aureus. Â_ Other particles such as pollens, dust, smoke, hydrocarbons and vapors of heavy metals are also effected by the Environmental Care System.

Bolding mine.

Dave

[Zep]

It could have been just an empty gizmo-box with a fancy label and fake electrical lead, etc. Designed to make the woo-ish feel comfortable about amalgam fillings going in or coming out.

In which case the dentist is as un-woo as you and I, but is also mindful of his customers' good will and his own business prospects. In other words, a smart move.

[Darat]

We have you breathe pure bottled oxygen through a nasal cannula (tube). This will minimize your breathing the air right around your face, which is full of mercury vapor.
Your nose will be covered with a dental mask to help keep the mercury vapor from going into your nostrils.


Pure oxygen? Wouldn't that be a tad dangerous? Ther eis some weirdness in thsi description, why have the cannula feeding oxygen if then you are still breathing in (with teh oxygen from the cannula) the air in teh room?


Adn:



My purpose is to help you achieve and maintain better health through our natural, holistic approach to dental care. Natural or Biological Dentistry means utilizing the safest, non-metal dental materials that exist on the market, and eliminating metals and other toxic factors from the mouth.


Strange definition of the word "natural". Natural dental care is picking bits out from between your teeth with your fingernails, any treatment beyond that is no longer “natural�.

[Rob Lister]

Originally posted by epepke
I'm surprised that there are still dentists using amalgum. The newer compounds are so good now that there isn't any reason not to use them. I haven't been to a dentist that uses them in more than 5 years.

Also, it's been at least a couple of decades since dentists actually mixed amalgum using mercury and silver powder. They buy the stuff in pellets and shake it up to make it loose.

It's still used fairly extensively, or so my sources say. There are a greater range of restoration technologies now but amalgam is still the most cost effective treatment available.

The dentist doesn't make as much of a profit from it's use however. He profits greatly from the fear of it, should he choose to do so. I suppose, like downloading pirated MP3 files, it's a temptation that a few (such as the one I linked to) seem to be unable to resist.

Still, I think most do resist -- even when several states have or have introduced legislation that effectively requires the dentist to promote the fear.