Potential health hazard of use of mercury in dentistry: critical review of the literature.

This report examines recent publications on the health hazards associated with the use of mercury in dentistry with emphasis on the release of mercury vapor from silver-amalgam restorations. While there is consistent evidence indicating release of mercury vapor from the restorations during chewing, tooth brushing, and other oral activities, proof of a causal link of this specific source of the heavy metal to any major human health problem is lacking. Several gaps in our knowledge of the metabolism of mercury vapor in the human militate against accurate prediction of the potential health significance of chronic exposure to this source of mercury, and some relevant lines of research have been recommended.