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: Mercury Removal
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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Top 5 Reasons to Avoid or Remove Dental Metal Fillings
5 reasons to remove or avoid dental metal fillings.
1) Dental amalgams aka silver fillings, metal fillings, mercury fillings are composed of 50% elemental mercury.
Mercury is one of the most toxic substances on our planet. The last place it should be found is in our mouths. I learned not to put poisonous substances into my mouth at a young age with the aid of the famous “Mr. Yuck” sticker. My mom placed the Mr. Yuck stickers on things like paint jars, cleaning chemicals and rat poison. It’s often a good idea to remove dental metal fillings.
2) Dental metal fillings are environmental pollutants.
Aren’t we trying to be more “Green” these days. Do we really want to continue to dump poisons such as mercury into our water? It is expensive to clean up and it is not safe to have any poisonous substances dumped into our environment where we can be exposed. Last but not least, save the dentist! Even using the best filters and barriers, at Natural Dentist Associates we are concerned about our work place and hope one day all dentists will use fillings that do not contain mercury. It’s often a good idea to remove dental metal fillings.
3) Metal fillings do not look natural and esthetic.
Tooth colored composites and porcelains can be placed and look just natural teeth. No one will ever know you have fillings or crowns. At Natural Dentist Associates in Rockville Maryland, we use only tooth colored fillings and treatments.
4) Metal fillings expand over time, and do not bond to teeth.
This often causes cracks, leaks and bigger tooth failures necessitating more aggressive dental treatments such as root canals, crowns or even tooth loss. At Natural Dentist Associates we use BPA free tooth colored composites to fill teeth. Composites bond tooth teeth and do not expand significantly over time.
5) Silver or Metal fillings release mercury vapor as you eat, drink, clench and grind your teeth.
If you drink soda or other acidic foods such as limes or tomatoes, this results in an even greater release of mercury vapor. At Natural Dentist Associates we evaluate all the materials we use for our patients and only select the safest biocompatible and natural treatments. We do not use silver, amalgam, metal or mercury fillings. It’s often a good idea to remove dental metal fillings.
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At Natural Dentist Associates we have a special air filtration system that is utilized along with supplemental oxygen for the patient. Dr. Baer, along with the staff wear special safety masks and remove the mercury fillings with a special suction. At Natural Dentist Associates we make sure you are protected during this procedure. Schedule an appointment to have your mercury fillings removed.