Amalgam Fillings: Hazardous to Your Health
I’m aware that some dentists don’t believe the mercury released from amalgam fillings jeopardizes the health of the patient and dental office staff. It’s also true that many dentists who do believe that amalgam fillings are a health hazard aren’t necessarily aware of the safest removal protocol or benefits to the patient and dental office staff of doing so.
It’s also possible that a pro-amalgam dentist may abide by your decision to remove your amalgam fillings but lacks the necessary equipment and experience to remove them in the safest way possible. Or he, or she, may not fully understand the importance of following the correct removal procedure . . . or who just doesn't care. If your dentist falls into any of these categories, you should take the time to find a mercury free and mercury safe dentist who is well versed in this protocol. If you must work with a dentist who isn’t, I suggest you provide him with a copy of the guidelines I will recommend in the next section and ask him to follow them. If he won't, or argues with you, I suggest finding one who will. After all, you are the patient and you hire him; it is your body, not his; and it is YOUR choice.
Even if your dentist informs you that she is mercury safe and follows a safe removal protocol, it wouldn't hurt to have her explain what it is. You could ask her if her safe removal protocol is the same or similar to the one I suggest. Although her procedures don’t have to be exactly the same, if she deviates significantly from this protocol, make sure she gives you a satisfactory explanation as to why.
Should Safely Remove Amalgam Fillings
While I have made some modifications, the guidelines I recommend for safe amalgam filling removal are based on those of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). The value of this protocol is that it can reduce your exposure to mercury vapor and amalgam particles during filling removal by up to 90%. While this preventive approach is important for everyone, it’s an absolute must for those who:
• are pregnant or nursing and still choose to have mercury amalgam fillings removed;
• are allergic to mercury or any of the other materials used in an amalgam filling, particularly tin or silver;
• anyone who has ever had any adverse side effects after having mercury amalgam fillings placed or removed; and
• anyone who has immune system disorders, allergies, or other serious health problems.
Some dentists don’t follow every one of the guidelines listed in the next section, while others go even further to protect the patient and the office staff. I believe the basic IAOMT protocol is more than adequate and should be acceptable to most, if not all, dentists who subscribe to the basic concepts of mercury free and mercury safe, holistic, or biological dentistry.
Page 3 - Mercury Amalgam Filling Removal Guidelines>>
<Back to Page 1
