Should I Have My Amalgam Fillings Replaced?

/in , /by

Almost half of the dental fillings in America are “silver amalgam” fillings, which contain about 50% mercury. Unfortunately, mercury is a neurotoxin. Although silver amalgam fillings are durable, they do degrade over time, giving off vapor that people can inhale. Mercury exposure like this has been linked to problems with:

  • Neurological and mental health complications
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Cardiovascular issues
  • Gastrointestinal problems

Here at Dental Wellness of Albany, your dentist in Albany, NY, is fully accredited and certified to use the “Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal” or SMART protocol to remove amalgam fillings and replace them with safer alternatives. The process works like this:

Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal (SMART)

Removing amalgam fillings comes with its own set of risks. Therefore, dental experts developed a protocol to protect patients who want their amalgam fillings replaced, as well as the dentists and staff who remove them. The protocol also provides for safe disposal of removed fillings to protect the environment. It’s called the Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal or SMART protocol, and it involves the following steps:

1. Preparing the Removal Space

The room where SMART removals take place has special high-volume air filters, aerosol vacuums, and special amalgam separators that separate the mercury from the rest of the metals.

2. Patient Preparation

If you decide to have your amalgam fillings replaced in Albany, NY, you will be totally covered in protective gowns and drapes to prevent you from inhaling any more mercury. Before the procedure, you’ll be asked to rinse your mouth out with and swallow a solution containing chlorella, charcoal, or other absorbing material that helps bind and remove heavy metals from your mouth and out of your system. You’ll also be given a nasal mask with oxygen provided through a cannula.

3. Dentist and Team Preparation

Your dentist in Albany, NY, and everyone working on the SAFE protocol will also wear full protective coverings, face shields, gloves, and masks.

4. During the Procedure

We create a non-latex, nitrile “dam” around your mouth, sealing the location of the filling, along with a saliva ejector that suctions away mercury particles in the saliva. An aerosol vacuum nearby removes any mercury vapor released during the procedure. We then drill out the filling in as few pieces as possible to reduce exposure from smaller chunks. Other types of equipment capture and remove mercury as it is removed from your mouth.

5. After the Amalgam is Removed

You’ll rinse your mouth with water, and then the same charcoal solution as before, binding any remaining mercury. Your cavity will then be refilled with a safer gold, composite resin, or glass ionomer filling.

Replacing Dental Fillings in Albany, NY with the Dentist Albany Trusts for SAFE Amalgam Removal

Many patients benefit from having their older mercury fillings replaced with better alternatives, but we do not recommend that pregnant or breastfeeding women undergo the procedure. If you have any questions about the SAFE protocol or about your health in relation to older mercury fillings, schedule an appointment with us here at Dental Wellness of Albany to discuss your options.