Pentti J. Nupponen, D.M.D., owner and operator of the Halifax Center for Holistic and Cosmetic Dentistry, recently testified at hearings directed by the FDA Dental Products Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee, which discussed the health risks of mercury. Held in Gaithersburg, Maryland, the hearings reviewed the safety of mercury amalgam fillings, particularly for pregnant women, children and other sensitive populations.

According to Nupponen, one of the most studied and well-known nerve toxins used in dentistry is mercury. “Scientific research going back almost 200 years indicates that exposure to dental mercury could be the most serious health hazard known to mankind in this 21st century,” he says.

He explains that mercury is released from mercury-based dental fillings constantly, which can lead to toxic buildup in organs, tissues and cells, including the kidney, liver, thyroid, colon and brain. Nupponen offers non-mercury-based dental materials and can remove and replace old mercury-based materials.

Location: 207 Market St., Halifax 17032. For information, call 717-896-3911 or visit DrNupe.com.