How to Safely Remove Dental Amalgam Fillings
This Video shows the basic setup and procedure to safely remove a mercury filling. The setup includes a tooth isolation apparatus called a rubber dental damn, a vent or suction to remove amalgam vapors or aerosols during the amalgam removal, positive O2 flow for the patient, eye protection and mask to removal mercury vapors for the doctor. #holisticdentistry #amalgamremoval #mercuryfillingremoval
Category: Blog
When should a tooth filling be replaced?
When is it necessary to replace fillings?
It is necessary to replace a tooth filling when:
- if the filling is leaking
- if the tooth has suffered a new infection with new decay around the filling
- the tooth structure around the filling is cracked
- the filling is cracked
- the patient is having a reaction to the material.
A Filling may leak or come loose for many reasons, but over time fillings separate from the tooth and come loose naturally. When fillings become loose, bacteria leaks under the filling and the tooth will decay under the existing filling. Decay or dental cavities under fillings can become big problems because cavities under fillings can escape detection by even the best dentist and persist causing a lot more damage to the tooth and the need for tooth procedures such a root canals, crowns and extractions.
Teeth with dental fillings can get new cavities next to an existing filling. In fact if is more likely to get a cavity around a filling than in an area where there is no filling. Ultimately dietary sugars and normal wear and tear cause dental cavities to occur.
Many people clench and grind their teeth. Clenching and grinding is cause by a misalignment between the way teeth fit top to bottom and the way the jaw should close. This condition is called TMD or TMJ or temporal mandibular joint disorder. People who clench their teeth get more cracks and teeth with fillings more easily crack than ones without fillings. Clenching also can cause cracks in dental filling and fillings to come loose from teeth.
Some people are allergic or hypersensitive to dental materials. For this reason a new material may need to be selected and the filling removed.
Replacing fillings in a timely fashion is a matter of preventative care. It is better to replace a filling early to prevent further decay to the tooth and prevent more complex procedures such as root canals, extractions and dental implants.
It is necessary to take extra care when taking out toxic materials such as Amalgam. We have a Safe Amalgam Removal protocol in our holistic dental offices in Rockville Maryland.
One Stop Dental Implants
We are a full service Dental Implant Office
Our goal is to simplify the dental implant process by providing all phases of dental implant therapy without the need for a referral to see another doctor at a different location. We recommend dental implants to restore missing and broken teeth. Tooth replacement solutions have evolved to meet the dental needs of the population. As of now, dental implants have served as the standard of care for tooth replacement in the dental profession for more than two decades. Research shows that patients who received dental implants during the 1980′s and 1990′s report that their implants continue to perform at an optimal level. This research demonstrates that dental implants provide a long-term solution for replacing missing or broken teeth. One big advantage of dental implants, is that adjacent teeth do not need to be prepared or ground down to hold your new replacement tooth/teeth in place. IV Sedation Dentistry is available for this procedure in Rockville, Maryland.
Dental Implant FAQ
How Long Does it Take to replace a tooth with a Dental Implant?
A tooth can be replaced with a dental implant on the same day as a tooth extraction. The New implant can be viewed as a new root. It takes 8-11 weeks for bone to grow around and attach to the new implant. After bone has grown and attached, implant integration, a Zirconia Crown can be placed on top of the dental implant. During the healing time, a temporary tooth can be provided for cosmetic reasons if necessary.
Dental implants look and function just like your natural teeth.
Dental implants consist of three parts: a root replacement form, a crown that is shaped and shaded to match your natural teeth. As well as an abutment that connects the new root or dental implant to the crown portion of the newly implanted tooth. Each dental implant functions as your tooth and tooth root would function. They form a strong foundation for chewing and of course your beautiful smile.
We offer Zirconia Metal-Free Implants and Titanium Dental Implants.
Replacing a missing tooth or teeth is a two part procedure. At Natural Dentist Associates we do both parts of the procedure. Our dental team places the implant root and then restores it with a crown. It has been noted that many patients who opt for dentures are dissatisfied and wish they had opted for dental implants.
FAQ Amalgam Fillings
Are the fillings Safe? Should I have them removed?
Many of my patients ask about the risks of Metal aka Amalgam and Mercury Fillings. Are the fillings Safe? Should I have them removed? Am I being exposed or poisoned by the Mercury in the metal fillings that are in my mouth? Will the Metal and Amalgam fillings make me sick? What is the best material to replace metal and amalgam fillings? I spend hours a day discussing all the above questions with my patients. So let’s start from the top and I hope this post answers my patients most frequently asked questions.
Question #1
Are metal, mercury, amalgam fillings safe?
Amalgam fillings contain approximately 50% mercury and mercury is one of the most poisonous materials on planet earth. Years ago, if a thermometer broke and there was a mercury spill in a public building, the building was evacuated and a HazMat team was dispatched to clean up the dangerous, toxic mess. So tell me how it is OK to have mercury in your mouth and placed in contact with living tissue permanently?
Question #2
Should I have my fillings removed?
Yes, but the amalgam fillings need to be removed safely using the proper equipment to insure your and my safety. I do not want to make you sick, but think about how bad removing this material is for me? I remove this poisonous stuff all day everyday. Before we remove your metal fillings, we have a plan to replace the mercury fillings with another material.
Question #3
Am I being exposed or poisoned by the Mercury in the metal fillings in my mouth?
Yes you are being exposed, but you may or may not be sick or get sick depending on the conditions in your mouth and your genetics. The truth is that every time you eat, or perform any function on your teeth where your mercury fillings are touched, you are exposed to mercury. In fact, if you clench your teeth and you have mercury fillings you have an even higher exposure to the mercury in the metal fillings due to the increased clenching or grinding on the mercury surfaces of your teeth.
Question #4
Will the metal and amalgam fillings make me sick?
Whether you get sick or not depends on the amount of mercury you are exposed to and your genetics. Some people have genes where they are more tolerant to mercury and other metal exposures. Others are more sensitive and can get quite sick even to very small exposures.
Question #5
What is the best material to replace metal and amalgam fillings?
Once the amalgam with mercury is removed from your teeth, we evaluate the tooth for decay and cracks. Any external cracks need to be supported or removed and all soft rotten tooth structure needs to be also removed. Your tooth is then treated with oxygen and ozone to be sure the tooth is free of bacteria and to promote healing. At this point your tooth is ready to be filled or rebuilt.
New Filling Material
A BPA free composite or tooth colored filling can be placed as long as there is more than 50% of your tooth structure remaining.If the tooth is more broken down and more than 50% of the tooth is missing than your tooth lacks the structural integrity to support another filling and it needs to be rebuilt with a tooth colored, metal-free porcelain or a porcelain-like tooth colored material called zirconia. It is very important to place crowns when more than 50% of the structure is missing. Teeth that are over filled will not hold up to the forces of chewing and the tooth will break and more aggressive treatment such as a root canal or an extraction may be consequently necessary.
I hope this post answers my patients most frequently asked questions about mercury dental fillings. If you have any other questions please send me an email.
Lawsuit Filed Against FDA for Failing to Address Dangers of Mercury Fillings
A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Washington DC’s U.S. District Court claims that despite growing evidence of harm caused by dental amalgam, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to delay its decision to protect public health against the dangers of mercury tooth fillings. Read More
Located in North Bethesda, Maryland, Natural Dentist Associates offers the highest quality in Natural Dentistry, Dental Implants, Sedation Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Orthodontics and Emergency Services. We invite you to visit our state of the art offices. Our mission to provide a well-balanced approach to dentistry that promotes dental and whole-body health and wellness.
Lawsuit Filed Against FDA Risks of Mercury Dental Fillings
(Washington, DC) — A lawsuit filed today in the DC District Federal Court claims that despite growing evidence of harm caused by dental amalgam, the FDA continues to delay its decision to protect public health against the dangers of mercury tooth fillings.
The case cites that the FDA has failed to respond within a reasonable time to petitions calling for either a formal ban of amalgam use, or placement in FDA’s Class III, which requires: 1) additional restrictions for vulnerable individuals; 2) more stringent proof of safety; and 3) an Environmental Impact Statement. Mercury is a persistent toxic chemical that can build up in the body. It is particularly toxic to the kidneys and the nervous system. Young children are more sensitive to mercury and are exposed to mercury through breast milk. The fetus is exposed to mercury from placental transfer of mercury from a pregnant woman’s teeth containing amalgam. Mercury dental fillings
More information on the health effects of mercury fillings can be seen in this video.
“We have banned mercury in disinfectants, thermometers, and many other consumer products,” said Griffin Cole, DDS, President of the IAOMT. “There is no magic formula that makes mercury safe when it’s put into our mouths. It’s inexcusable to use mercury in dental fillings when there are much safer alternatives.”
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