There is not enough research on dental galvanism, the electrical current between dissimilar metals, nevertheless here is a theory:
Electrical theory is difficult to explain, especially without a drawing. Therefore,
here is an attampt to create a drawing in words: Picture a battery with two posts, a + post and a - post. Picture a light bulb with two wires attached, one leading to each post of the battery. Internally, electrons travel through the battery from plus to minus post, but externally to the battery, travel from the minus post through the load
(light bulb) back to the positive post again. The chemical galvanic action of the battery keeps the electrons going around and around that way.
Consider a battery, with multiple loads, some with high resistance and some with lower resistance. The load with lower resistance will get the most current flow, and the load with higher resistance will get a higher current flow.
Consider a human mouth with positively charged amalgams in the left lower jaw, and negatively charged amalgams in the right lower jaw, as the equivalent of the internal schematic of a battery, and the human head as a theoretically infinite number of loads, since each return path through the head is of a different distance, and therefore, different resistance. Other things being equal, those paths which are shorter will offer less resistance than those paths that are longer, so less current can be expected to flow through the roof of the mouth and lower brain, than through the floor of the mouth. (Since adjoining amalgams often touch, this situation can happen.)
Consider a similar human mouth with similar fillings, but in the upper jaw. Current return path through the roof of the mouth and lower brain would offer lower resistance than the floor of the mouth, in that case, because the lower brain and roof of mouth are the shorter return paths.
Finally, consider a human mouth with positive fillings in three quadrants, and negative fillings in the upper right quadrant only. Current is divided as electrons flow from the negative fillings, down through the teeth, and out through the jaw hinges to the lower jaw as well as through the roof of the mouth and lower brain. A finite number of electrons are available, to create multiple complex flow paths. If a dentist suddenly removes all the lower amalgams, leaving the upper amalgams, that finite number of available electrons is now available to go straight from the negative upper jaw to the positive upper jaw without being divided toward the hinges and lower jaw. A much increased flow of current would then be available to flow to the other upper jaw, through the roof of the mouth and lower brain, possibly causing great distress to the patient while waiting for further removal. If the wait is extended for economic reasons, this could be serious. If the wait never ends because the reaction scares the patient away, that could be disasterous.
Other schematics could be theorized, showing how the removal of the "current divider rule" can increase current flow in a remaining path. Desire for brevity prevents me.
Removal of upper amalgams before lower ones seems the safest course, not only in view of the "current divider rule", but in view of the fact that it produced no ill effects during removal, in spite of pronounced symptoms before removal commenced.
Title: Gold dermatitis due to ear piercing: correlations between gold and mercury hypersensitivities.
Osawa J, Kitamura K, Ikezawa Z, Hariya T, Nakajima H
Contact Dermatitis 31(2):89-91 (1994)
Abstract: "A case of allergic contact dermatitis due to gold pierced earrings is reported. The patient developed recurring redness and swelling on her earlobes a month after the wearing of pierced-type gold earrings, which was followed by the appearance of reddish nodules around the puncture marks. Patch tests revealed positive reactions to 0.1% mercuric chloride, 1% gold sodium thiomalate and 0.2% chloroauric acid. We also demonstrated that guinea pigs contact-sensitized with a mercuric compound developed positive patch test reactions to both mercuric and gold compounds. These results suggest that there may be correlations between gold and mercury hypersensitivities."
Title: Metal ion induced autoimmunity. [Review article]
Griem P, Gleichmann E
Current Opinion in Immunology 1995 7:831-838.
Abstract: Metal-induced autoimmunity is a well established but poorly understood phenomenon. Recent work has begun to elucidate the molecular interactions of metal ions with immune cells and self-proteins. Metal-induced presentation of cryptic self-peptides emerges as a possible mechanism for activation of 'metal-specific' T cells, challenging the hypothesis of a random polyclonal activation of T and B cells by metals. A preferential T-helper cell type 2 response is involved in metal ion induced systemic autoimmune disease.
Title: [Mercury and creatinine in urine of employees exposed to magnetic fields. A study of a group electrolysis-operators in Norzink A/S in Odda]
Schmidt F M
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 1997,Jan 20; 117:2, pp 199-202
Abstract: The results described are based on a study of 26 male cell house employees. They were exposed to a combination of static magnetic fields (3-10 mT) and low frequency oscillating magnetic fields of variable frequency and strength for eight hours a day over a period of four weeks. Every fifth week was spent off work. Urine samples collected at the end of the four weeks of exposure were compared with samples collected at the end of the week off work. The results show that the cell house workers excreted significantly more mercury in their urine after exposure to magnetic fields (p = 0.01). The mercury/creatinine ratio was also significantly higher after exposure (p < 0.01). These results support findings by Schmidt in a study from 1992 when the levels of mercury and creatinine in the urine of cell house workers were compared office personnel.
Is your computer releasing mercury?
Some English patients claim that they are able to listen to the radio through their fillings. Dental amalgam consists of 50 % mercury combined with silver, tin and copper. Metals are released from dental amalgam by mechanical corrosion, heat and/or electric currents between dissimilar metals, facilitated by an electrolyte, here saliva.
Commissioned to find out why divers working with under-water welding constantly lost their amalgam fillings, T. …rtendahl and P. Hsgstedt, at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, found that EMF-exposure more than doubled the mercury release from amalgam (2,6 average value).
New dental amalgam blocks of 3 different types (DAB Fine Alloy, high-copper ANA 2000 and Dispersalloy) were exposed to 4 different computer screens (Ericsson DMU 3715-002, Ericsson DMU 3715-005, IBM 8503-002, IBM 8513 type 5157 and Macintosh Plus. The IBM screens, however, did not show any increased liberation of mercury. The reason for this is unknown, and it made no difference whether the screen was of a so-called "low-radiation" type, compensated to diminish the magnetic fields. The alternation of the magnetic fields probably determines how much mercury is liberated. Amalgam has a complex structure and it can not be excluded that it reacts to certain combinations of field strength and frequencies. More knowledge about the factors involved is required to know exactly why and what is happening.
In an attempt to calm the readers, Örtendahl and Högstedt, in their documentation, finally emphasize that more mercury is dissolved from amalgam fillings during chewing than in front of the VDT. However, it's not that we do one thing or the other - we usually do both, sometimes even simultaneously. In the investigation, amalgam blocks - not fillings -.were investigated, which means there was no saliva or any biologically active component, that could increase the effects, present.
It is possible that other equipment, such as mobile telephones, where some of the radio waves go through the head, has the same effect on the dissolution of mercury from amalgam. According to Dr. Scheingraber (biologist, mineralist and dentist, Germany), there are indications that simultaneous exposure to heavy metals and EMF could increase the effects with a synergetic factor of 5-10.
With electron ron micrographs, the Norwegian scientist, Wedberg, showed that sulphur is excreted from the bodies of VDT users. If the protective enzyme PSH (phosphate, sulphur and hydrogen) is destroyed, the cell cannot repair itself or combat radiation). Since sulphur binds with mercury, it cannot be excluded that this could also diminish the body's defence to mercury from dental amalgam.
Some patients exclusively react to particular equipment and certain frequencies. Sensitivities may also suddenly change frequency and/or be intensified during certain periods of time, sometimes in connection with other exposures. Some women feel that the level of sensitivity is affected by the menstruation cycle.
Title: Mercury vapor release from dental amalgam in vitro caused by magnetic fields generated by CRT's and electrical cutting procedures.
Ortendahl T W, Hogstedt P & Holland R P
Swed Dent J 1991 p 31 Abstract 22
Abstract: "People working in front of a cathode-ray tube screen (CRT) and who report they are negatively affected, sometimes complain about symptoms often related to "Oral galvanism". Another group of workers, occupationally exposed to magnetic fields, are divers, welding and cutting electrically under water. It has been repoerted (Ortendahl et. al. J. Undersea Biomed Res 1988;15:443-456) that the magnetic field flux density intraoraly at a certain current and with a specific distance relation between the oral cavity and the electric cord was 1.12 mT with a specific frequency spectra. Exposure of amalgam specimens to a magnetic field with 1.15 mT (50 Hz) caused morhological and chemical changes on the surfaces of the dental amalgams. Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyze if work in front of a CRT-screen would have any influence on the mercury vapor release from dental amalgam. The aim was also to analyze if a magnetic field with a complex frequency spectra and a flux density of 1.15 mT would influence the mercury vapor release. Materials and Methods: 5 CRT-screens were selected as sources for the magnetic field exposure. The criterias for the selection of screens were: 1 occurring frequently in swedish officies, 2. compensated and uncompensated screens with respect to the megnetic fields. From three types of dental amalgams, representative to swedish dentistry, cylindrical amalgam specimens were prepared and were immersed in artificial saliva in an electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cells were located exactly in front of the CRT-screens with a distance amalgam - CRT-screen of 50 cm during 6 hours. On a specific electrolytic cell, coils were adapted and supplied with a current to simulate the electrical cutting situation. The created field had a complex frequency spectra in order to create a more realistic simulation of the in vivo situation than the earlier used 50 Hz field. The mercury vapor release (Hg0) was registered continously and were determined by a gold-foil mercury vapor analyzer (Jerome 411). As control served amalgam specimens, not exposed to a magnetic field but immersed in the artificial saliva and a reference group which were not exposed to either the magnetic fields or artificial saliva. Results and Conclusion: 2 of the CRT-screens significantly increased the mercury vapor release from all three types of amalgam. One of these two screens were compensated and one were uncompensated. The magnetic fields which were supposed to simulate the electrical cutting situation did not cause any increased mercury vapor release. The study was supported by The Swedish Work Environmental found."
Galvanism