Silver Mercury Fillings (amalgams) Removal
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Dental amalgam has been widely used for more than a century. Called "silver fillings," silver mercury fillings (amalgams) contain a variety of metals, all bound together with mercury. Though there has been longstanding support for the use of amalgam fillings, even mainstream dental associations are now changing their stance, providing warnings for the use of silver mercury fillings(amalgams) in young children. At Palmer Distinctive Dentistry, we do not care what your age, your systemic health is too precious to risk with the placement of amalgam.
Why avoid silver mercury fillings(amalgams):
- Amalgam does not hold mercury. This substance leaks from fillings continuously, increasing when fillings warm up during mastication.
- Mercury is classified as a neurotoxin. As such, it has been removed from a number of household and consumer products. This poisonous substance, the second-most of all elements on earth does not belong in the human body.
- The World Health Organization recommends mercury exposure of no more than 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of weight per week. A single silver mercury filling (amalgam filling) weighs about 2 grams, or 2 million micrograms. Of this, half of the content is mercury, for 1 million micrograms. The organization states that dental fillings account for the largest amount of mercury in a person's body.
- Studies link mercury exposure to a number of serious health conditions affecting the immune, digestive, urinary, respiratory, and cardiac systems. Exposure to this substance is also linked to deterioration of brain cells.
- Studies also link the amount of mercury detected in a newborn correlate directly with the number of silver mercury fillings (amalgams) in the mother's mouth.
Why should silver mercury fillings (amalgams) be removed - Dr. John Palmer
Transcript
Silver or black fillings in people's mouths are 50% Mercury. Mercury is the second most toxic substance for a human. It doesn't make a lot of sense to have it in your teeth because when it doesn't stay in your teeth it's constantly going into your body.
The problem is they constantly emit mercury vapors. When you brush your teeth, when you eat on them or you drink some hot coffee they emit more vapor and it is in your mouth. You might breathe-in this vapor and you actually retain 20% of what you breathe-in while you exhale the rest of it.
What you retain can be methylated in the gut or it can cross into the brain. When you get enough of it, it's going to be stored in certain cells where it can cause damage to Mitochondria or it can hurt nerve endings.
Some people have the right genetics where they can excrete this mercury pretty good and it doesn't cause them any problems. Other people retain more of it and with time it can cause many kinds of chronic diseases. My opinion is it will be a lot better to get them out of your mouth.
The problem is they constantly emit mercury vapors. When you brush your teeth, when you eat on them or you drink some hot coffee they emit more vapor and it is in your mouth. You might breathe-in this vapor and you actually retain 20% of what you breathe-in while you exhale the rest of it.
What you retain can be methylated in the gut or it can cross into the brain. When you get enough of it, it's going to be stored in certain cells where it can cause damage to Mitochondria or it can hurt nerve endings.
Some people have the right genetics where they can excrete this mercury pretty good and it doesn't cause them any problems. Other people retain more of it and with time it can cause many kinds of chronic diseases. My opinion is it will be a lot better to get them out of your mouth.
Mercury Barrier Protection
Removing silver mercury fillings (amalgams) for improved health
There are many dental practices in which silver mercury fillings (amalgams) are avoided. There are fewer dental practices skilled in the safe removal of this toxic substance. An amalgam filling should not simply be drilled down and removed. The exposure to mercury particles would be far too great with this approach. Hence, many dentists advise their guests to leave silver mercury fillings (amalgams) in place as long as they are intact.Dr. John Palmer is a fellow of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. His skill in the safe removal of amalgam fillings is extensive and he trains other dentists in the strict protocols so that they, too, may provide the safest care to their guests.
Amalgam removal takes place with precautions including:
- The placement of a rubber dam to isolate the tooth and keep mercury particles from coming into contact with oral tissues.
- Clean, mercury-free air delivered via a comfortable nasal mask to inhibit the inhalation of mercury particulates.
- High volume suction with mercury filters to minimize mercury release into the air.
- Protective garments for dentist and staff.
- In-office air purifiers to remove mercury particulates from the immediate environment.
How silver mercury fillings (amalgams) are removed at Palmer Distinctive Dentistry explained by Debra G. Adams, DMD
Transcript
How important is it to follow safety protocols when removing mercury?
A normal dentist would grind it out, and this will create huge exposure because he hasn’t done anything to protect the patient.
In such a case, it could be more dangerous to get the mercury out than leaving it in. So when it is taken out, it should be done properly.
What are the measures Palmer Distinctive Dentistry take when removing mercury?
We cover the patient completely with protective clothing. We have a barrier that’s in their mouth, and it prevents them from breathing any of the vapors when we remove mercury.
We use high volume suction units during the procedure, and also have filtration systems in the office that run constantly to remove any mercury from the air.
My team and my self, wear biohazard suits and respiratory masks during the procedure. The patient is also breathing oxygen rather than breathing room air.
A normal dentist would grind it out, and this will create huge exposure because he hasn’t done anything to protect the patient.
In such a case, it could be more dangerous to get the mercury out than leaving it in. So when it is taken out, it should be done properly.
What are the measures Palmer Distinctive Dentistry take when removing mercury?
We cover the patient completely with protective clothing. We have a barrier that’s in their mouth, and it prevents them from breathing any of the vapors when we remove mercury.
We use high volume suction units during the procedure, and also have filtration systems in the office that run constantly to remove any mercury from the air.
My team and my self, wear biohazard suits and respiratory masks during the procedure. The patient is also breathing oxygen rather than breathing room air.
Safe Mercury AmalgamRemoval Technique
Karyn Moore, RDH, explains our Mercury detox protocol
Palmer Distinctive Dentistry
John J. Palmer, DMD
Dr. John J. Palmer, founder of Palmer Distinctive Dentistry, has been transforming smiles since 1983. A top graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina School of Dentistry, he is a pioneer in integrating biocompatible materials and advanced techniques like CEREC technology. Dr. Palmer is a Board Certified Naturopathic Physician and holds mastership with the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) in addition to being a member of Omicron Upsilon Dental Honor Society, International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine, Holistic Dental Association, and the International Association of Mercury Safe Dentists.
Debra G. Adams, DMD
Dr. Debra G. Adams joined Palmer Distinctive Dentistry in 2018. She received her Bachelor of Science from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL, and worked as a dental assistant before graduating from dental school at the University of Alabama, Birmingham in 2003. Dr Adams is SMART certified through the IAOMT and is trained in Ozone Therapy, with expertise in cosmetic dentistry and extractions from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and experience with pediatric, geriatric, and special needs dentistry.
