Effect of dental amalgam restorations on the mercury content of nerve tissues

In an autopsy study in two men and an experimental study performed on three female beagles the mercury burden of nerve tissues was determined. Nerve tissues from the head and face region and from three peripheral nerves were analyzed for mercury content with the aid of atomic absorption spectroscopy. In the dogs dental amalgam restorations were placed so as to investigate the possible influence from the amalgam on the mercury content of the tissues under study. The mercury content in man and dogs differed widely from one nerve to another, with no apparent relation to the number, type, or location of tooth restorations.