What are amalgam fillings and are they dangerous? What is the removal process of these silver fillings? Our Gold Coast Holistic Dental Care team answered the most frequently asked questions about amalgam fillings.
September 9, 2019
Amalgam fillings or silver fillings are tooth fillings that consist of a mixture of metals. These metals are usually silver, copper, tin, and 50% mercury. They are an inexpensive solution, which is why they are commonly used for fillings in the back teeth.
However, the mercury content of the fillings has often raised concerns in past years due to the negative health effects of mercury exposure.
Amalgam fillings, as such, are not dangerous – the mercury that is included in the metal mixture that is released is a factor of concern.
Researchers found that amalgam fillings continuously release small amounts of mercury vapour into the mouth. 80% of this vapour is then inhaled into the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream. On average an amalgam filling can release up to 50 micrograms of mercury a day.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is NO safe level of mercury. Mercury is a cumulative toxin, and signs and symptoms of toxicity don’t show up for many years.
At Gold Coast Holistic Dental Care, the amalgam filling removal process consists of several steps.
Before one of our dentists removes your amalgam filling/s, your practitioner will work out a personalised amalgam removal and detoxification program with you. This will be individually tailored to suit your health requirements and concerns.
We will also conduct treatments that prepare the body for the detoxification process. Part of this can be a mercury speciation test, modifications to your diet, and colonic irrigation or enemas.
Our team will also recommend and provide you with supplements for the detoxification process. You will use these supplements prior to, during, and after the amalgam filling removal.
Additionally, we recommend using our infrared sauna to eliminate heavy metals from the skin. This may help to decrease the load on your liver and kidneys.
In our practice, we follow a strict removal protocol for amalgam fillings. These techniques ensure that we minimise any mercury exposure when extracting the fillings.
Part of the protocol includes the use of rubber dam. Moreover, we use separate oxygen supplies for our patients and our staff members. To further reduce the exposure, our practice is equipped with a high-volume suction and a separate high-volume extraction filtration system.
After the amalgam filling removal, your detoxification program will help to decrease the load of heavy metals and toxins in your body.
At Gold Coast Holistic Dental Care, we use the following materials to replace amalgam fillings:
Porcelain is the most biocompatible filling material we have available. We fabricate our same-day porcelain crowns and fillings on-site with our CEREC machine.
If you would like to find out more about safe amalgam filling removal, please call our friendly team, and they will be able to answer further questions. Alternatively, check our FAQs and Amalgam Filling Treatment page for more information.
For a consultation, please book an appointment online with one of our dentists.
Our Location:
3027 The Boulevard, Carrara QLD, Australia
Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
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