Last weekend, when the American Dental Association gathered in Philadelphia for its annual conference, it was met by about 30 demonstrators who argue that the "silver" fillings commonly used in dentistry, which are made partly of mercury, are poisonous. By endorsing "Dental Amalgam," the Pennsylvania Coalition for Mercury-Free Dentistry says, the ADA is encouraging dentists to poison their patients. City Paper caught up with coalition director Freya Koss to have her explain this position.

CP: You started advocating against mercury amalgam after you had a bad experience with it, is that right?

Koss: In 1998, I was struck with double vision suddenly one evening leaving the theater. … I came across a Web site where people were reporting information about eye conditions. Seven days before, I had had a mercury filling drilled out and replaced. That was my first clue that what I was really experiencing was mercury poisoning.

CP: Do you have a hard time convincing people that the American Dental Association, of all things, is a heartless villain?

Koss: I want to read you something. In 1995, there was a lawsuit by a consumer who became ill with an autoimmune disease in California and he sued the ADA and the dentist. The response of the ADA, in their brief, was:

The ADA owes no legal duty of care to protect the public from allegedly dangerous products used by dentists. The ADA did not manufacture, design, supply or install the mercury-containing amalgams. The ADA does not control those who do. The ADA's only alleged involvement was to provide information regarding its use.

What this says is they are not directly responsible for protecting the public. But the ADA endorses the product, and tells the dentists it's safe!