Safer silver-mercury amalgam filling removal in Smart Dental

    Dr. Samuel follows a holistic approach to dental treatment and focuses on safer silver mercury amalgam filling removal. Care is taken to minimize his patient's exposure to toxic dental materials including mercury exposure during amalgam filling removal. Silver-mercury amalgam fillings consist of combined metals, including silver, mercury, tin and copper; these fillings contain 50-55% mercury, one of the most toxic nonradioactive elements on earth.

Since amalgam fillings contain mercury, Dr. Samuel does everything possible to reduce his patient's exposure to mercury vapor during amalgam removal. He adheres to the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) protocol (also known as the Huggins protocol).

The teeth are isolated with a rubber dam and/or special suction device to contain the amalgam debris and its harmful vapor during the removal process. A nose mask attached to 100% oxygen is used to be protect the patient form inhaling mercury vapor, which is generated in high amounts during drilling.

     Dr. Samuel sections the filling in large chunks therefore minimizing the pulverization (drilling) of the amalgam and thus reducing the vaporization of the mercury. Copious amounts of water is used to cool the drill and amalgam dust thereby reducing the vaporization of the mercury. The high-speed suction is placed next to the filling being removed to remove the water, amalgam particles, mercury and the suction off the mercury vapor.

A saliva ejector is placed under under the rubber dam next to the area where the filling is being removed. This is a protection to suction any vapor that goes through the dam and is now on the inside of the mouth. The saliva ejector and the fact that the patient is instructed to breath only from the nose are some of the precautions Dr. Samuel recommends to counter this problem. Following the procedure the mouth is rinsed with copious amounts of cool water and all amalgam dust and particles are suctioned out. Every patient wears tinted eye protection for their safety.  

    Dr. Samuel uses Bisphenol A-free tooth colored filling materials that are placed using the Biomimetic Dental protocol to ensure long lasting and safe dental fillings.

If you are concerned about your mercury exposure during amalgam filling please set up an appointment for an examination with Dr. Samuel by calling (866)55-White