The RITA Meter AKA Electro-Galvanic Testing
Metal fillings have been described as being like tiny batteries because they are composed of dissimilar metals in an electrolyte a.k.a. saliva. The warm temperature of the mouth, bacteria and food debris provide an even better electrical environment. Perhaps fillings could be better described electrically by calling them capacitators. Capacitators, like the flash portion of a flash camera, build up a charge over a period of time, then discharge much of their stored current in an instant. That is what the RITA meter is attempting to capture.
Natural teeth with no fillings frequently emit a reading of 1 to 4 micro-amps of current just because our bodies are electrical entities. It is important to note that a reading of 4 micro-amps is considered the maximum allowable electrical output.
With metal/ amalgam fillings, mercury is the biggest concern, but copper is close behind in toxicity and amount. The brain operates on 7 to 9 nano-amps and a metal filling provides up to 100 or more micro-amps. That is the difference between touching a 9 volt battery and sticking your finger in a light socket as far as the brain is concerned. Since the upper teeth are less than 2 inches from the brain, it is of concern that adding this much excess electrical activity into the brain has the potential of creating mis-directed impulses to the brain.
With the use of this RITA meter, we have the capability of determining the amount of electrical current emitted by each metal restoration. This device is not intended to diagnose any condition, it is simply an adjunct to aid in gathering information.