You must inform yourself about the dangers of dental amalgam fillings, which are made with a mixture of mercury, silver, copper, tin, and sometimes zinc. These fillings are still used in the United States and a number of other countries. Often called "silver fillings," all dental amalgams are 45-55% elemental mercury. Mercury is toxic, and this poison is recognized as a chemical of major concern because it poses a dangerous threat to public health. Mercury accumulates in the body, and any amount of mercury taken into the body should be considered hazardous. Scientific research demonstrates that dental mercury amalgam exposes not only patients and dental professionals to mercury vapor, but also the environment.Furthermore, mercury vapor is known to be released from dental mercury amalgam fillings at higher rates during brushing, cleaning, clenching of teeth, and chewing, among other activities.
If you have mercury or amalgam fillings, you may want to get them removed for the health reasons described above. However, mercury or amalgam filling removal, if not done correctly, can do more harm than good through the release of mercury. Therefore, it is crucial that proper protocol is followed. The Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART) was developed and is regulated by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), utilizing available scientific evidence and technology. There is an extensive list of safety recommendations for the safe removal of existing dental amalgam. The following protocols are listed below.
- An amalgam separator must be properly installed, utilized, and maintained to collect mercury amalgam waste, ensuring it is not released into the effluent from the dental office.
- Each room where mercury fillings are removed must have adequate filtration in place, which requires a high-volume air filtration system (such as an at-source oral aerosol vacuum) capable of removing mercury vapor and amalgam particles generated during the removal of one or more mercury fillings.
- The patient will be given a slurry of charcoal, chlorella, or similar adsorbent to rinse and swallow before the procedure (unless the patient declines or there are other contraindications making this clinically inappropriate).
- Protective gowns and covers must be in place for the dentist, dental personnel, and the patient. All individuals present in the room must be protected, as substantial quantities of particles generated during the procedure will escape collection by suction devices. It has been demonstrated that these particles can be spread from the patient's mouth to the hands, arms, face, chest, and other parts of the dental worker's and patient's anatomy.
- The dentist and all dental personnel in the room must utilize non-latex nitrile gloves.
- The dentist and all dental personnel in the room must wear face shields and hair/head coverings.
- Either a properly sealed, respiratory-grade mask rated to capture mercury or a positive-pressure, properly sealed mask providing air or oxygen must be worn by the dentist and all dental personnel in the room.
- To protect the patient's skin and clothing, a full-body impermeable barrier, as well as a full head/face/neck barrier under/around the dam, must be utilized.
- External air or oxygen delivered via a nasal mask for the patient also needs to be utilized to ensure the patient does not inhale any mercury vapor or amalgam particulate during the procedure.
- A dental dam made from non-latex nitrile material must be placed and sealed correctly in the patient's mouth.
- A saliva ejector must be placed under the dental dam to reduce mercury exposure to the patient.
- During amalgam filling removal, the dentist in Phoenix must utilize an at-source oral aerosol vacuum in proximity to the operating field (i.e., two to four inches from the patient's mouth) to mitigate mercury exposure 45, 88
- To reduce heat, copious amounts of water are required, along with a conventional high-speed evacuation device to capture mercury discharges, to lower ambient mercury levels.
- The amalgam needs to be sectioned into chunks and removed in as large pieces as possible using a small-diameter carbide drill.
- Once the removal process is complete, the patient's mouth should be thoroughly flushed with water and then rinsed out with a slurry of charcoal, chlorella, or similar adsorbent.
The use of mercury in dental amalgam fillings poses serious risks to human health, and dental mercury released into the environment can cause long-lasting damage to wildlife. The IAOMT is dedicated to sharing dental mercury facts so that professionals and consumers can recognize the risks associated with amalgam fillings. To learn more about the hazards of dental amalgam, check out the links below.
