Health risks Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can release mercury from conventional dental fillings

How does a magnetic resonance tomography affect fillings??

Many people are afraid to go to the dentist. In most, this fear is rather unfounded, however, for example, some used fillings can pose an unforeseen risk. When patients who have such fillings in their teeth undergo magnetic resonance imaging, mercury may leak from their mouths.

The researchers at Akdeniz University found that amalgam fillings in teeth after magnetic resonance imaging can release mercury in the mouth. The physicians published the results of their study in the English language journal "Radiology".

Toxic metal is released in the mouth

Surely it is not a good idea that they could have mercury in their mouth after visiting the dentist. Experts from Turkey found that a relatively new type of magnetic resonance imaging allows mercury to leak into your mouth. In other words, a simple medical exam could release a toxic metal in your mouth.

How strong is the magnetic field in magnetic resonance imaging?

Magnetic resonance imaging is a technique for scanning the body, which has existed for almost 50 years. As the name implies, this technique relies on the use of strong magnetic fields to create images of internal organs, the authors of the study explain. In normal magnetic resonance imaging, a magnetic field of 1.5 T (Tesla - the unit of measurement for the magnetic field strength) is used. By comparison, the magnetic field surrounding our entire planet is only about 0.00005T.

How do ultra-high magnetic fields affect dental implants??

Since the early 2000s, a new type of MRI scanners is in commercial production. This can generate magnetic fields with a strength of 7 T and higher. Strengths of up to 8 T are not a significant health risk according to the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) and the new devices have become increasingly popular. Nevertheless, concerns remained that too little research was done on the safety of the equipment. In particular, physicians wondered if it was known how the ultra-high magnetic fields would affect patients' surgical and dental implants.

Research looked at 60 teeth with amalgam filling

In the current study, the experts researched 60 human teeth, which were extracted for various reasons. These teeth were given an amalgam filling - a type of silver that is usually used in a normal filling. Then the teeth were assigned to three different groups. One group was subjected to normal 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging, the second group was subjected to a 7 T examination, and a control group was not subjected to such treatment. The teeth were then exposed to artificial saliva in the laboratory for nine days. Then, the amount of mercury leaked from the teeth by the treatment was measured.

How much mercury left the fillings?

The mean amount of mercury exiting a normal MRI scan was slightly higher than the control group. When treated with an ultra-high magnetic field, nearly five times as much mercury leaked out. The researchers also found that other dental implants also had problems, with gold and platinum crowns getting hotter under the higher magnetic fields. (As)