Uninformed Consent : The Hidden Dangers in Dental Care

Dr. Huggins and Dr. Levy assert that a large number of disorders are, though often incurable, easily preventable. He proposes that multiple sclerosis, lupus, leukemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's disease, many mental disorders including Alzheimer's, and even major diseases like breast cancer are caused, in part, by the toxins we place in our bodies. Where do these toxins come from and how do they get into our bodies? You my be surprised to find that you have actually paid to have them put there. These dangerous materials--mercury, cadmium, beryllium, nickel, and others--are used in everyday dentistry to make up the fillings, root canals, and bridgework in our mouths, and are supposed to be "safe." But are they?

Doctors Huggins and Levy, who have spent years studying the toxic effects of dental materials, have written an authoritative book that accomplishes their stated purpose of "making the reader aware of the enormous and wide-ranging effects of dental toxicity." The authors have done an excellent job of describing the medical research in lay terms. They cover dental sources of toxicity, the body's reactions, specific diseases suspected or known to be caused by dental materials, and suggestions for dealing with such toxicity. Although a chapter with more clearly detailed information about alternative dental materials and detoxification methods would have been helpful, this work is well researched and well written. Recommended for public libraries.?Kristine Benishek, Good Samaritan Hosp. Lib., Dayton, OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Hal Huggins was an American campaigner against the use of dental amalgam fillings and other dental therapies that he believed to be unsafe. Huggins began to promote his ideas in the 1970s and played a major role in generating controversy over the use of amalgam.