By: Jessica Davis-Thompson

In our last article, we addressed the dangers of mercury fillings and the importance of removing them. However, removing mercury fillings should be done only by an experienced dentist, who understands the careful detail it takes to safely remove amalgams. When someone is ready to take the step forward and begin the removal process, here are some steps their dentist should follow:

 

1. Prior to the procedure, the patient should be given a mixture of charcoal, chlorella, or similar adsorbent to rinse and swallow. An adsorbent is a substance that allows gas, liquid or solids in suspension to attach to its surface without itself undergoing a chemical change.
2. In order to protect the patient, and themselves, everyone in the procedure room should be wearing protective gowns and covers. The dental staff should be wearing hair/head covers, face covers, non-latex nitrile gloves, and either a positive pressure mask providing air or oxygen, or a respiratory grade mask rated to capture mercury. The patient should be fitted with a properly sealed dental dam made with non-latex nitrile material. The patient should also be wearing a full head/face/neck barrier under and around the dam, and a saliva ejector should be placed under the dental dam to reduce mercury exposure to the patient. In order to protect the patient from inhaling mercury vapors, an external source of air or oxygen should be provided. This can be done via a nasal mask, or a nasal cannula covered with a protective barrier.
3. The dental office should have a properly installed amalgam separator to collect mercury waste, so that the waste is not released into sewage. In addition, the procedure room should have an adequate filtration system in place capable of removing mercury vapor and amalgam particles.
4. During procedure, the amalgam should be sectioned into chunks and removed in as large of pieces as possible, using a small diameter carbide drill. The dental staff should make sure to utilize their filtration system no more than four inches from the patient’s mouth in order to prevent mercury exposure.
5. Dentists must comply with federal, state, and local regulations addressing the proper handling and cleaning/disposal of mercury-contaminated clothing, equipment, and surfaces in the dental office.
6. After the removal process is completed, the patient’s mouth should be thoroughly flushed with water and then rinsed with the same charcoal, chlorella, or similar adsorbent mixture thoroughly.

Even if a someone has the filling(s) removed, it does not mean that their mercury exposure ends there. It’s essential to undergo chelation therapy in order to ensure that the body is completely rid of the toxic element. Some natural mercury eliminating agents to use are: cilantro, chlorella, fresh garlic, selenium, vitamin c, and hyaluronic acid. Though the process seems challenging, even just starting with one mercury amalgam at a time, and beginning chelation therapy, can significantly improve your health!