9 Aug. 2007

The Iowa dental board has given the green light to mercury-free dentistry.  The board voted on July 31 to re-activate the license of Iowa’s leading advocate of mercury-free dentistry, Dr. Larry J. Hanus, subject to his completing a series of skill tests.   http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/NEWS/7080203...

The dental board has kept Dr. Hanus out of practice for the past 13 years.  In 1994 it de-activated his license due primarily to his warning patients that silver fillings are mainly mercury, a neuro-toxin.  Like other dental boards of that era, the Iowa board applied the ADA’s notorious gag rule, a directive to dentists to stand silent instead of telling patients the truth about mercury fillings.  But in 2002 Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller ruled the gag rule to be unconstitutional, because it so obviously violates the free speech rights of dentists.

So Dr. Hanus -- with Michele Ramsey of Des Moines and me as his lawyers -- petitioned to re-activate.  On July 10, we had a spirited hearing in front of a large crowd of enthusiastic Hanus supporters.  www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007707110362  The board issued its ruling three weeks later, noting that the outpouring of dental patient testimony showed the desire of consumers for mercury-free dentistry in Iowa.

Another positive development:  the creation of an Iowa Chapter of Consumers for Dental Choice.  Volunteers Angela Clark and Jason Chance petitioned the Governor, asking him to assure the presence of mercury-free dentistry in their state; and the state Attorney General, asking for legal accountability by the dental board.  Via volunteer Joanna Johnson, the Iowa chapter had the following comment to the ruling:  “[We are] sincerely grateful to the current Iowa Dental Board for their decision, which respects free speech as well as Iowa citizens' right to have access to a mercury-free dentist.”

Charles G. Brown, National Counsel
Consumers for Dental Choice
316 F St., N.E., Suite 210, Washington, DC 20002
Ph. 202.544-6333; fax 544-6331
charlie@toxicteeth.org