University of Maryland Dental School warns of potential zinc hazards for patients

Dentists need to take a closer look at potential hazards of exposing patients to zinc, a common ingredient of many dental products, according to a report by Amar Patel, DDS, resident and colleagues at the University of Maryland Dental School in the March/April 2011 issue of the journal General Dentistry.

Small amounts of the element zinc are essential to the proper functioning of nearly every body system, but too much can be toxic. Some patients develop neurological problems from zinc. Toxicity from zinc also can be manifested as nausea, stomachache, and mouth irritation.

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Today, March 3, 2011, the FDA has asked dentistry to limit zinc in its products.

Click here to read the article "FDA Urges Fixodent, Other Dental Cream Makers to Remove Zinc After Studies Link Excessive Use to Nerve Damage."