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In conclusion, some evidence does exist for the presence of oral galvanism as a legitimate medical/dental entity. Nevertheless, it appears to be a self-limited condition that can be treated via various standard dental and medical treatments. The incidence, however, is very low and prior studies have shown that mental illness can play an important role in the belief that one has oral galvanism. Consequently, the number of actual cases of oral galvanism that are uncomplicated by contributory factors are most likely extremely limited. The devices and treatments used by "biological dentists" appear to have no scientific basis whatsoever and, at worst, appear to be merely a business scheme intended to swindle unsuspecting dental patients. The fact that Dr. Huggins was banned from selling his Amalgameter by the FDA speaks to this possibility. Furthermore, practitioners who are treating oral galvanism are forced to disclose that they are not treating a "medical condition". The "Rita Meter" was also taken off the market because it was marketing itself as a medical device without any scientific evidence that it was doing anything. The removal of dental fillings appears to be an unnecessarily invasive procedure for a condition that most other dental practitioners believe can be resolved with time or with silver nitrate or tin oxide swabbing of the fillings. Therefore, oral galvanism appears, to this author, to be a legitimate, self-limited condition which is being taken advantage of by opportunistic alternative practitioners attempting to prey upon the limited knowledge of this topic amongst the general public. |
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