The Oregonian
Make Those Smiles Mercury-Free
February 19, 2004

In the Feb. 7 paper, I saw the picture of the child who was getting free dental care thanks to the Oregon Dental Association's Smile Day. He didn't look like he was smiling. His parents should not be smiling either if he got a dental filling. Why? His shiny silver amalgam filling is 50 percent mercury.

I am not opposed to free dental care. I am opposed to giving mercury dental fillings to any children, regardless of income. I believe that every parent has a right to know that a silver amalgam filling that is 50 percent mercury is treated as hazardous material before going into a child's mouth and is treated as hazardous waste when it is removed.

If the Oregon Dental Association wants to make kids and parents really smile, then give all kids mercury-free smiles.

MARY ANN NEWELL, Vancouver