Silver (amalgam) fillings in your mouth

Dr Mercola article in part:

·                             Dental amalgam emits mercury vapor after it is implanted in your mouth. This mercury is bioaccumulative and endangers your health in many ways.

·                             Mercury impairs its own elimination mechanism by inhibiting the manufacturing of glutathione--an amino acid that acts as your body's main heavy metal detox agent.

·                             Vulnerable populations – such as children, especially unborn ones, hypersensitive individuals, and people with kidney impairments – are known to be particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of dental mercury.

·                             Safe alternatives to amalgam include resin composite, glass ionomers, and atraumatic restorative treatment (ART).

What You Need to Know about Amalgam Removal and Replacement

If you have amalgam in your teeth, removal and replacement with a safer material should be on the top of your list—especially if you are planning a future pregnancy. However, please do NOT make the mistake of having your amalgam fillings removed by a dentist who is not properly trained in safe amalgam removal. Doing so could expose you to tremendous health risks, due to the large amounts of mercury vapor being released during the removal process. So please, avoid making the same mistake I did 20 years ago when I had all my amalgams removed. My dentist at the time was a competent dentist. However, he was clueless about mercury toxicity and used no precautions.
As result I suffered kidney damage. It was a very expensive and health damaging mistake.
Research has shown that if you do not take proper safety precautions during the removal process, mercury levels in your blood can rise three to four-fold, which may result in acute toxicity. Hence, it's extremely important to find a biological dentist that is trained in properly removing mercury fillings. Some things that need to be done to keep you (and your dentist) safe during the procedure include:

·         Providing you with an alternative air source and instructing you not to breathe through your mouth

·         Using a cold-water spray to minimize mercury vapors

·         Putting a rubber dam in your mouth so you don't swallow or inhale any toxins

·         Using a high-volume evacuator near the tooth at all times to evacuate the mercury vapor

·         Washing your mouth out immediately after the fillings have been removed (the dentist should also change gloves after the removal)

·         Immediately cleaning your protective wear and face once the fillings are removed

·         Using room air purifiers

For a complete description of how to safely remove mercury amalgam, see this PDF created by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). Dr Simone also discusses the proper procedure in the featured interview. Here are several sources to help you locate a dentist trained in biological dentistry:

• Consumers for Dental Choice's Campaign for Mercury-Free Dentistry
• IAOMT's database 
• International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine
• The Holistic Dental Association

I also highly recommend getting healthy BEFORE having your fillings removed, as you want your detoxification mechanisms optimized prior to removal. To remove mercury that has already accumulated in your body, review my Mercury Detoxification Protocol, which details the things you can do right now to help rid your body of this toxin. If your mercury levels are seriously elevated, you should work with a knowledgeable health care practitioner to help you through the detoxification process.